Etymology: < classical Latin ōvi-, combining form (in e.g. ōviparus : see oviparous adj.) of ōvum ovum n.; compare -i- connective. Compare oo- comb. form, ovo- comb. form.Attested earliest in borrowings and adaptations of Latin words from the mid 17th cent., first in oviparous adj. and oviparal adj. Apart from the apparently isolated oviform adj.¹, English formations are found from the early 19th cent. (e.g. ovivorous adj.¹). Compare French ovi- (formations in which are found from the 18th cent., in senses ‘ovoid (in shape)’ and (in biology) ‘relating to eggs’).

Etymology: < classical Latin ovi-, combining form (recorded in classical Latin in various suffixed formations, e.g. oviāria oviary n.) of ovis sheep < the same Indo-European base as ancient Greek ὄϊς , Sanskrit aviḥ , and ultimately also ewe n.¹Attested in a small number of either scientific or humorous words, earliest in the scientific Latin loan Ovibos n. (early 19th cent.). Formations in English are found from the first half of the 19th cent., apparently earliest in ovicide n.¹ Compare French ovi- (formations in which are found from the early 19th cent.).