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spe·le·o·them

(spēlē-ə--=…|th=-ĕm′)

A mineral deposit, such as a stalagmite or stalactite, formed in a cave from the dripping of mineral-rich water.

[Latin spēlaeum, spēlēum, cave (from Greek spēlaion) + Greek thema, thing put down, deposit (from tithenai, to put; see dhē- 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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