melano-comb. form

Etymology: < ancient Greek μελανο-, combining form (in e.g. μελανοδέρματος dark-skinned) of μελαν-, μέλας black < the Indo-European base also of Sanskrit mala- dirt, filth, malina dirty, dark-coloured, black, Old Prussian melne bruise, Lithuanian mėlas, mėlynas blue, Latvian melns black. Compare French mélano-, German Melano-.Ancient Greek also has an athematic combining form μελαν- , without the thematic vowel -ο- (compare -o- connective), as in μελάνδετος bound or mounted with black (and note the existence of both μελάγχροος and μελανόχροος dark-skinned). This occurs in the forms μελαμ- before β , π , ϕ , and ψ (as in Hellenistic Greek μελάμπυρον melampyre n.) and μελαγ- before γ , κ , and χ (as in μελαγχολία melancholy n.¹). The Greek element occurs early in what is apparently an English formation in melanochalcographer n., and subsequently in melanaema n. and in melanosis n. and related words; English formations are common in the 19th cent. Chiefly combined with second elements ultimately of Greek origin.