Saprobe
/ˈsæp.roʊb/noun
An organism that feeds on dead or decaying organic matter.
Did you know?Saprobe comes from Greek roots meaning “rotten” and “life,” so the word itself encodes a tiny biological paradox: life powered by decay.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
saprós
“rotten, putrid”
Ancient Greek
Greek
bíos
“life”
Late 19th Century
English
saprobe
“a living thing that obtains nourishment from dead organic matter”
Modern English
English
saprobe
“an organism feeding on dead or decaying matter”