Organogenic

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Pertaining to the biological process in which organs develop and form within an organism
2. Connected to the developmental stage where distinct organs are generated in a living being
3. Involving the creation or origination of organs during the growth of plants or animals

Etymology: The word is a compound built from "organo-" and "-genic," and the second half carries most of the history. "-genic" comes from Ancient Greek "-genēs," meaning "produced by" or "born of," which in turn comes from "génos," meaning "birth," "descent," or "kind." That same Greek root gave English "genus," "gender," and "genesis," so the connection is not obvious at first glance but is direct. The suffix reached English through Latin and French. Greek "-genēs" was adopted into Latin as "-genes" and reshaped with the Latin adjective ending "-icus," which passed through Old French "-ique" into Middle English as "-ic." English then adopted "-genic" as a productive combining form, so it could be attached to new bases to describe what something produces or gives rise to. "Organo-" comes from "organ," from Greek "organon," a tool or instrument. Put the two together and "organogenic" describes the process by which organs form during growth in plants or animals.