Word Study
archegonium
CIDE DICTIONARY
archegonium, n. [NL., fr. Gr. the first of a race.].
The pistillidium or female organ in the higher cryptogamic plants, corresponding to the pistil in flowering plants. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
archegonium, n. (pl. archegonia) Bot. the female sex organ in mosses, ferns, conifers, etc.
Etymology
L, dimin. of Gk arkhegonos f. arkhe- chief + gonos race
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