different between polymorph vs polymorphous

English

Etymology

poly- +? -morph

Noun

polymorph (plural polymorphs)

1. (biology) Any organism that shows polymorphism.
2. (chemistry, geology) Any substance or mineral that forms different types of crystal.
3. (transitive, fiction) The transformation of an item or creature into something different by magic.

Derived terms

• polymorphic

Verb

polymorph (third-person singular simple present polymorphs, present participle polymorphing, simple past and past participle polymorphed)

1. (intransitive) To transform; to change into another form.
2. (fiction, transitive, intransitive) To transform into something different by magic.
   • 1999, "Robin Johnson", My gnomish healer has been having a rough time of it (on newsgroup rec.games.roguelike.nethack)

     I got hemmed in by the werewolf again and, in desperation, tried an experimental new wand on it; and polymorphed it into a black pudding.

German

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -??f

Adjective

polymorph (not comparable)

1. polymorphous

Declension

Antonyms

• monomorph

English

Etymology

From New Latin polymorphus, from Ancient Greek ?????????? (polúmorphos, “multiform, manifold”), from ????? (polús, “many, much”) + ????? (morph?, “form, shape”).

Adjective

polymorphous (comparative more polymorphous, superlative most polymorphous)

1. Having, or assuming, a variety of forms, characters, or styles
   • 1907, Anon translating Alfred Binet, The Mind and the Brain Book III Chapter II

     Idealism is an exceedingly complex system, varying much with varying authors, very polymorphous, and consequently very difficult to discuss.

2. (biology) Having, or occurring in, several distinct forms
   • 1913, R. Chodat in Popular Science Monthly Volume 82 Janauay 1913, A Grain of Wheat

     In order to establish itself in any locality a plant must hold its own against competitors which, masters of the soil from time immemorial, have been selected to fit the soil and climate. Moreover, emmer is not cultivated anywhere in Palestine. This wild wheat is furthermore a different plant from any known in cultivation, a polymorphous race, no doubt, but a distinct one.

3. (chemistry) Crystallizing in two or more different forms; polymorphic

Synonyms

• (having, or assuming, a variety of forms, characters, or styles): multiform, polymorphic, protean; See also Thesaurus:multiform

Antonyms

(in biology): monomorphic

Related terms

• polymorph
• polymorphic
• polymorphism

Translations

References

• polymorphous in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• polymorphous in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• polymorphous at OneLook Dictionary Search