Congenerical

/kɑndʒɛˈnɛrɪkəl/ adjective

Definition

Belonging to or of the same genus; an archaic or alternate form of congeneric.

Etymology

An older variant of 'congeneric' using the '-ical' suffix instead of '-ic'. Appears primarily in 18th-century naturalist texts but is essentially obsolete.

Kelly Says

Language evolution: scientists gradually dropped the '-ical' ending in favor of cleaner '-ic' forms. You won't see this in modern biology journals, but Victorian naturalists loved it.

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