curvi-a combining form of curve, as in curvilinear.
curvi-|ˈkɜːvɪ-|combining form of L. curv-us curved; chiefly in adjectives used in Nat.Hist. (of many of which analogous forms are used in modern French), as curviˈcaudate[L. cauda tail; in mod.F. curvicaude], having a curved tail. curviˈcostate[L. costa rib], ‘marked with small bent ribs’ (Webster 1864). curviˈdentate[L. dent-em tooth], having curved teeth. curviˈfoliate[L. folium leaf], ‘having leaves bent back’ (Webster). ˈcurviform[see -form], of a curved shape. curviˈnervate, curviˈnerved, =curve-veined(see curve a. andn. C). curviˈrostral[L. rostrum beak], having a curved beak. curviˈserial, forming a series disposed in a curve (of leaves on a stem).1880Gray Struct.Bot. iii. §4. 92 Curvinerved, when nerves curve in their course, as in the leaves of Funkia.1870Bentley Bot. 140 No leaf can be placed precisely in a straight line over any preceding leaf, but disposed in an infinite curve, and hence called curviserial.
curvi-/ˈkə:vi/combining form. M19.
ORIGIN: from Latincurvus bent, curved + -i-.
Having or consisting of (a) curved (what the second elem. denotes), as curvidentate, curviform.
curvi-
combining form. curved, as in curvifoliate.
[< Latin curvus]
curvi- combining form Etymology: Middle French or Late Latin; Middle French, from Late Latin, from Latin curvus : curved; bent < curviform > < curvifoliate > < curvirostral >