porphyro-comb. form
Stress is usually determined by a subsequent element and vowels may be reduced accordingly; see e.g.
porphyroblastic adj.Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from Greek. Partly formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: Greek πορϕυρο- ; porphyry n., -o- connective.
Etymology: Partly < ancient Greek πορϕυρο-, combining form (in e.g. πορϕυρόβαπτος purple-dyed) of πορϕύρα purple (see purpure n. and adj.), and partly < porphyr- (in porphyry n.) + -o- connective. Compare post-classical Latin porphyro-.Formations with reference to the colour purple first occur in the mid 19th cent. (e.g. porphyrogene adj., porphyrogeniture n.). Formations in geology and petrography first occur in the first half of the 20th cent. (e.g. porphyroblastic adj., porphyroclastic adj.).
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2020).
comb. form