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hypogeal

adjective hy·po·ge·al \ ˌhī-pə-ˈjē-əl \

variants: or hypogean play \ˌhī-pə-ˈjē-ən\ or hypogeous play \ˌhī-pə-ˈjē-əs\

Updated on: 28 Feb 2018

Definition of hypogeal

1 : growing or living below the surface of the ground

2 of a cotyledon : remaining below the ground while the epicotyl elongates

Origin and Etymology of hypogeal

Late Latin hypogēus, hypogaeos "underground, subterranean" (borrowed from Greek hypógeios, hypógaios, from hypo- hypo- + -geios, adjective derivative of gê "earth" and -gaios, adjective derivative of gaîa "earth") + ¹-al, ¹-an, -ous — more at geo-

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1686

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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