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chrys·o·mel·id

(krĭs′ə-mĕlĭd, -mēlĭd)

Any of various plant-eating beetles of the family Chrysomelidae, which includes the Colorado potato beetle.

[From New Latin Chrȳsomēlidae, family name, from Chrȳsomēla, type genus, from Greek khrūsomēlon, quince (literally, “golden apple,” the genus being so named by Carl Linnaeus in reference to the beetles' striking coloration and stout, rounded shape) : khrūso-, chryso- + mēlon, apple.]

chrys′o·melid 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:

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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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