xeno-, xen-, -xenic, -xenism, -xenist, -xenous, -xeny
(Greek: foreign, foreigner; alien; strange, stranger; and by extension, guest)
The "x" in xeno- is pronounced "z"; "zeno". Greeks are said to have considered any stranger a "guest" and modern Greek includes xenodocheion a "guest house" or "house for guests" or its modern version of "hotel".
The etymological meaning usually denotes some aspect of a relationship involving guests or visitors of some kind.
polyxeny, polyxenous
1. A parasite associated with many hosts during its life-cycle.
2. A parasite that is not host specific; also, pleioxeny.
proxeny
The office or function of a proxenus; the system of proxeni or hospitality between cities in ancient Greece. A proxenus was a resident citizen of a Greek state who was appointed by another state to represent and protect its interests.
pyrotechnic signal
A signal designed for military use to produce a colored light or smoke, for the purpose of transmitting information.
rheoxene
rheoxenous
rheoxenous, rheoxene
Used of organisms that occur only occasionally in running water.
stenoxenous
1. Tolerating only a narrow range of host species.
2. Restricted to a narrow range of hosts: said of parasites that are limited to one or a few host species.
stygoxenous, stygoxene
In biology, organisms found only occasionally in caves or subterranean passages.
synxeny, synxenic
A mixture of two or more organisms cultivated under controlled conditions.
toxenzyme
trixenous, trixeny
1. A reference to a parasite utilizing three host species during its life cycle.
2. A mixed culture of organisms, where one organism is associasted with three other species.
trogloxene, trogloxenous, trogloxeny
1. An organism found only occasionally in caves or subterranean passages.
2. A cave guest; an animal that spends occasionally short periods in dark caves.
3. Sometimes used to characterize organisms that do not complete all of their life cycles in caves.
xenacanth
xenagogue, xenogogic
From Greek, to lead, leading; bring, take; plus a “guest” or stranger. A reference to someone who conducts strangers or foreigners; a tour guide.
xenagogy
The leading or conducting of strangers, and refers to the title of a guide-book for foreigners.
Related "foreign, strange" word families:
allotrio-;
barbar-.
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