Stenotherm
/ˈstiːnəˌθɜːrm/noun
An organism that can live only within a narrow range of temperatures.
Did you know?It’s built from Greek roots that also live in words like steno- in stenography, where “narrow” becomes speed and compression, not magic—but the root itself is ancient and precise.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Gk
stenós
“narrow, tight”
Ancient Greek
Gk
thérmē
“heat, warmth”
19th Century
English
stenotherm
“an organism restricted to a narrow temperature range”
Modern English
English
stenotherm
“a species or organism that tolerates only a limited range of temperatures”
Explore more surprising origins