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comp·sog·na·thus

(kŏmp-sŏgnə-thəs, kŏmp′səg-nā-)

A carnivorous theropod dinosaur of the genus Compsognathus of the Jurassic Period, characterized by its very small size, thought to be about that of a chicken.

[New Latin genus name : Greek kompsos, refined, delicate + Greek gnathos, jaw; see genu-² in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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