before vowels spermat-, word-forming element meaning "seed, sperm," used from 1880s in scientific compounds, from Greek sperma (genitive spermatos "seed" of an animal or plant; see sperm).
spent
sperate
sperm
spermaceti
spermatic
spermato-
spermatogenesis
spermatozoa
spermatozoon
spermicide
spessartite