mesomorph
UK[ˈmez.əʊ.mɔːf]US[ˈmez.oʊ.mɔːrf]
n
A person with a compact, muscular body type, characterized by a predominance of muscle and bone tissue, as contrasted with ectomorph and endomorph.
Morpheme Breakdown
meso
morph
meso
middle
morph
form
Etymology
The term 'mesomorph' is a modern scientific coinage, constructed from two ancient Greek roots to precisely classify human physique. The first element, 'meso-', derives from the Greek 'mesos', meaning "middle", indicating an intermediate position. The second element, '-morph', originates from the Greek 'morphē', meaning "form" or "shape". The word was systematically formed in the 20th century within the field of somatotype psychology, specifically by American psychologist William H. Sheldon, to logically denote a body type that is neither lean (ectomorph) nor soft (endomorph) but is characterized by a muscular and athletic middle-ground form.
Analysis
Structure: meso (middle) + morph (form)
- meso: From Greek 'mesos', meaning "middle". It functions as a combining form indicating an intermediate position or state.
- morph: From Greek 'morphē', meaning "form, shape". It functions as a combining form indicating structure or type.
Examples
As a natural mesomorph, he builds muscle mass relatively easily with weight training.
The somatotype classification system categorizes individuals as ectomorphs, mesomorphs, or endomorphs.
Her athletic, broad-shouldered build is typical of a mesomorph.