embryo

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: em=bry=o

CIDE DICTIONARY

embryo, n. [F. embryon, Gr. 'e`mbryon, perh. fr. in (akin to L. E. in) + to be full of, swell with; perh. akin to E. brew.].

 The first rudiments of an organism, whether animal or plant  [1913 Webster]

In embryo, in an incipient or undeveloped state; in conception, but not yet executed. “The company little suspected what a noble work I had then in embryo.” Swift.

embryo, a. 

 Pertaining to an embryo; rudimentary; undeveloped; as, an embryo bud.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

embryo, n. (pl. -os)
1 a an unborn or unhatched offspring. b a human offspring in the first eight weeks from conception.
2 a rudimentary plant contained in a seed.
3 a thing in a rudimentary stage.
4 (attrib.) undeveloped, immature.

Idiom

in embryo undeveloped.

Derivative

embryoid adj. embryonal adj. embryonic adj. embryonically adv.

Etymology

LL embryo -onis f. Gk embruon foetus (as EN-(2), bruo swell, grow)

ROGET THESAURUS

embryo

Cause

N cause, origin, source, principle, element, occasioner, prime mover, primum mobile, vera causa, author, mainspring, agent, leaven, groundwork, foundation, spring, fountain, well, font, fountainhead, spring head, wellhead, fons et origo, genesis, descent, remote cause, influence, pivot, hinge, turning point, lever, crux, fulcrum, key, proximate cause, causa causans, straw that breaks the camel's back, ground, reason, reason why, why and wherefore, rationale, occasion, derivation, final cause, les dessous des cartes, undercurrents, rudiment, egg, germ, embryo, bud, root, radix radical, etymon, nucleus, seed, stem, stock, stirps, trunk, tap-root, gemmule, radicle, semen, sperm, nest, cradle, nursery, womb, nidus, birthplace, hotbed, causality, causation, origination, production, caused, causal, original, primary, primitive, primordial, aboriginal, protogenal, radical, embryonic, embryotic, in embryo, in ovo, seminal, germinal, at the bottom of, connate, having a common origin, because, behind the scenes, causa latet vis est notissima, felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas.