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a·nas·to·mo·sis

(ə-năs′tə-mōsĭs)

n. pl. a·nas·to·mo·ses (-sēz)

1. The connection of separate parts of a branching system to form a network, as of leaf veins, blood vessels, or a river and its branches.

2. Medicine The surgical connection of separate or severed tubular hollow organs to form a continuous channel, as between two parts of the intestine.

[Late Latin anastomōsis, from Greek, outlet, from anastomoun, to furnish with a mouth : ana-, ana- + stoma, mouth.]

a·nas′to·motic (-mŏtĭk) adj.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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