1 stemma | Definition of stemma

stemma

noun
stem·​ma | \ ˈste-mÉ™ How to pronounce stemma (audio) \
plural stemmata\ ˈste-​mÉ™-​tÉ™ How to pronounce stemmata (audio) \

Definition of stemma

1 : a simple eye present in some insects
2 : a scroll (as among the ancient Romans) containing a genealogical list
3 : a tree showing the relationships of the manuscripts of a literary work

Other Words from stemma

stemmatic \ ste-​ˈma-​tik How to pronounce stemmatic (audio) , stÉ™-​ \ adjective

First Known Use of stemma

1826, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for stemma

Latin, wreath, pedigree (from the wreaths placed on ancestral images), from Greek, wreath, from stephein to crown, enwreathe

Keep scrolling for more

More from Merriam-Webster on stemma

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with stemma