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ter·mite

(tûrmīt′)

Any of numerous pale-colored, usually soft-bodied social insects of the order Isoptera that live mostly in warm regions. Many species of termites feed on wood, often destroying trees and wooden structures. Also called isopteran, white ant.

[New Latin Termes, genus name, from Late Latin termes, termit-, woodworm, alteration of Latin tarmes.]

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termite

eastern subterranean termites

Reticulitermes flavipes

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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