herpet-

combining form

variants or herpeto-

1

: reptile or reptiles

herpetofauna

herpetology

2

: herpes

herpetiform

3

: creeping

herpetomonas

Word History

Etymology

partly from Greek herpeton animal that goes on all fours, snake, from neuter of herpetos creeping, from herpein to creep; partly from Latin herpet-, herpes herpes (also, a kind of animal, probably a snake), from Greek herpēt-, herpēs; partly from Greek herpetos creeping

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