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Affixes: the building blocks of English
Affixes: the building blocks of English
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pteryg(o)-

Wing-like.

[Greek pterux, pterug-, wing.]

Something pterygoid is wing-shaped, but the word usually appears in the term pterygoid process for each of a pair of wing-like projections from the sphenoid bone that forms the base of the cranium; pterygomandibular refers to the pterygoid process and the mandible; a pterygium is a triangular, wing-like overgrowth of the corner of the cornea by thickened conjunctiva; a pterygote is a member of a large group of insects (the Pterygota) comprising those that have wings or winged ancestors, including the majority of modern species.

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