Morphological

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˌmɔːfəˈlɒd͡ʒɪkl̩/

Definitions

1. Pertaining to the analysis of biological structures and word formations, this term encompasses both the physical configuration in organisms and the structural relationships in language systems
2. This term relates to the study of both the forms of living things and the arrangement of words, highlighting the relationship between structure in biology and linguistics
3. Concerning the shapes and structures found in living organisms ; associated with the ways words are formed and structured in language

Etymology: The adjective is built from "morphology" plus a double suffix. English has stacked two adjectival endings here, "-ic" and "-al", and together they give the "-ical" ending found in many scientific terms. The "-ic" ending comes from Latin "-icus", which reached English through Middle English. The "-al" ending comes from Latin "-ālis", which passed through Old French before entering English. The Latin "-ālis" is thought to derive from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to grow", though that link is uncertain.

Synonyms: structural, formative, configurational, anatomical, physical