Dictionary 3

There are a couple of words that I get a little confused because they have the same suffix -‘-lecithal’. This suffix is derived from the Greek word lekithos which means ‘having yolk of an egg’. It would be easy to remember these terms from there etymology.

Isolethical :

• Derived from Greek isos which means EQUAL
• Having the yolk distributed EQUALLY throughout the egg
• In mammals, sea urchins, snails etc.

Mesolethical:

• Derived from Greek mésos which means middle
• Having an intermediate amount of yolk
• In amphibians

Telolethical

• Derived from Greek telos which means NEAR
• Having the yolk NEAR one end of the egg, hence uneven distribution of yolk
• Found in birds, reptiles, and fish.

Centrolethical

• Centro --> CENTER
• Having the yolk near the CENTRE of the egg
• In arthropods

Alethical:

• Relating to an egg with little or NO yolk

References:
Quinion, Michael. "Affixes: -lecithal." Affixes: the Building Blocks of English (2008). Received: Nov. 2010.