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Lith- and -lith are combining forms meaning “stone.” They come from the Greek ��í�ٳ�Dz�, meaning “stone.”

What does lith- mean?

Lith- is a combining form used like a prefix. It is used in medicine, especially in pathology, and in science, especially in geology.

In pathology terms, lith- specifically refers to a calculus, “a stone, or concretion, formed in the gallbladder, kidneys, or other parts of the body.” The word calculus itself literally means “little stone” in calculus.

Lith- is a variant of litho-, which loses its -o– when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels. Want to know more? Read our �y��vlogs That Use litho- article.

What does -lith mean?

The combining form -lith is used like a suffix meaning “stone.” It is used in scientific and medical terms, especially in geology and pathology.

In pathology, it specifically refers to a calculus, “a stone, or concretion, formed in the gallbladder, kidneys, or other parts of the body.” The word calculus itself literally means “little stone” in calculus.

In geology, -lith is occasionally used as a variant of -lite and its variant -lyte, combining forms used to name minerals or fossils.

The corresponding form of -lith combined to the beginning of words is litho- and lith-. Learn more about their specific applications in our �y��vlogs That Use articles for the terms.

Closely related to -lith is -lithic, as in Paleolithic.

Lithectomy, also known as a lithotomy, is an example of a medical term that features the combining form lith-. It means “surgery to remove one or more stones from an organ or duct.”

The lith- portion of the word means “stone.” The -ectomy portion may also look familiar; it means “excision” or “removal.” Lithectomy literally translates to “stone removal.”

What are some words that use the combining form lith-?

Many of the following terms use the equivalent form of lith- in Greek or Latin.

• lithagogue
• lithemia
• lithify
• lithium
• lithops
• lithoid

What are some other forms that lith- may be commonly confused with?

• -lite
• -lyte
• with-
• lepto-
• lit-

Not every word that begins with the exact letters lith- is necessarily using the combining forming lith- to denote “stone.” One is lith, an archaic word for a “limb” that comes from Germanic roots. Another is lithe. Learn the meaning and history of lithe at our entry for the word.

Break it down!

The suffix -ify means “to become” or “be made.” With this in mind, what does it mean when a substance such as sediment becomes lithified?

An example of a word you may have encountered that features -lith ������monolith, “an obelisk, column, large statue, etc., formed of a single block of stone.” The word comes from the Greek ���Dz�ó�����ٳ�Dz�, which uses the equivalent of the form mono-.

We know mono- means “one,” so what about the -lith portion of the word? That’s right, -lith refers to “stone,” from the Greek ��í�ٳ�Dz�. Monolith literally translates to “single stone.”

What are some words that use the combining form -lith?

• bilith
• enterolith
• gastrolith
• hepatolith
• hysterolith
• laccolith
• megalith
• nephrolith
• oolith
• tonsillolith
• xenolith

What are some other forms that -lith may be commonly confused with?

• -ify
• with-
• lepto-
• lit-

Break it down!

The combining form mega- means “large, great, grand.” With this in mind, what is a megalith, such as those found at Stonehenge?