Vocab 1 + Vocab 2 (Roots) Flashcards
a- (an- before vowels or h) (ἀ-)
PREFIX
‘not’, ‘without’
* atheist, anaesthetic (inducing a lack
of sensation)
amphi-, ampho- (ἀμφί)
PREFIX
‘both’, ‘on both sides of’, ‘around’
* amphibious, amphitheatre
ana- (ἄνα)
PREFIX
‘up’, ‘back’, ‘again’
* analysis, anatomy, anachronism
ant(i)- (ἀντί)
PREFIX
‘against’, ‘opposite’
* antidote, antagonist, antarctic
ap(o)- (ἄπο)
PREFIX
‘from’, ‘off’, ‘away’
* apology, apostle, apheliotropism (the
habit in plants of bending away from
the light)
cat(a)- (κατά)
PREFIX
‘down’, ‘against’, ‘according to’
* catalyst, catastrophe, category,
catholic (universal, i.e. ‘in respect of
the whole’)
di(a)- (διά)
PREFIX
‘through’, ‘across’, ‘between’, ‘apart’
* diameter, diagnosis, diocese
NOTE: not to be confused with DI- ‘twice’ of List 4
or the Latin prefix dis-/di- ‘apart’ of List 6.
dys- (δυσ-)
PREFIX
‘bad’, ‘disordered’, ‘difficult’
* dysentery, dystrophy
es-, eis- (εἰς)
PREFIX
‘inward’, ‘into’
* esoteric, esodic (or eisodic)
ec- (ex- before vowels or h) (ἐκ, ἐξ)
PREFIX
‘out’, ‘out of’, ‘outside’
* exodus, exodontist
NOTE: not to be confused with the root EC ‘house’
below.
en- (em-, el- depending on letter it
connects with) (ἐν)
PREFIX
‘in’, ‘into’, ‘inward’
* energy, embryo, emphatic
enanti- (= en- + anti-) (ἐναντι-)
PREFIX
‘opposite’
* enantiopathy (the treatment of
disease by contraries), enantiobiosis
(the condition in which associated
organisms are antagonistic to each
other)
end(o)-, ent(o)- (ἔνδον, ἐντός)
PREFIX
‘within’, ‘inner’
* endocrine, entophyte, endarteritis,
entoptic
ep(i)- (ἐπί)
PREFIX
‘upon’, ‘on’, ‘to’, ‘in addition to’
* epidemic, epidermis, epitaph
eu- (εὖ)
PREFIX
‘well’, ‘good’, ‘normal’
* eugenics, eulogy
exo-, ecto- (ἐξο- , ἐκτός)
PREFIX
‘outside’, ‘external’
* exoskeleton, ectoparasite
hyper- (ὑπέρ)
PREFIX
‘over’, ‘excessive’, ‘more than normal’
* hypercritical, hypertension
hyp(o)- (ὑπό)
PREFIX
‘under’, ‘below normal’, ‘slightly’
* hypodermic, hypothesis, hyphen,
hypaesthesia
met(a)- (μετά)
PREFIX
‘after’, ‘change’, ‘transfer’
* metamorphosis, metencephalon
par(a)- (παρά)
PREFIX
‘beside’, ‘resembling’, ‘disordered’
* parasite, paratyphoid, parenthesis,
paramedical
peri- (περί)
PREFIX
‘around’, ‘near’
* periscope, perimeter
pro- (πρό)
PREFIX
‘before’, ‘in front of’, ‘forward’
* program, prologue, prostate
pros- (πρός)
PREFIX
‘toward’, ‘in addition’, ‘fronting’
* proselyte, prosthetic, prosencephalon
syn- (sym-, syl-, sy-, sys- depending on
letter it connects with) (σύν)
PREFIX
‘with’, ‘together’
* synthetic, symphony, systole,
synonym
-al (-alis)
SUFFIX
‘pertaining to’, ‘like’, ‘belonging to’,
‘having the character of’
* Biological
NOTE: this is technically derived from a Latin
adjective ending, though Latin used it to form
adjectives out of Greek words.
-an, -ian (-anus)
SUFFIX
‘pertaining to’, ‘like’, ‘one connected with’
* Amphibian, protozoan, theologian
NOTE: Same deal as with -al above.
-ous, -ious (-osus)
SUFFIX
‘full of’, ‘having’, ‘pertaining to’, ‘like’
* Amphibious, synonymous,
homogeneous
NOTE: Same deal as with -al above.
-ic, -tic, (-ac after -i) (-ικος)
SUFFIX
‘pertaining to’, ‘like’
* Gastric, static, cardiac
-ics, -tics (-ικος)
SUFFIX
‘art, science or study of’
* Physics, genetics, pediatrics =
-oid, -ode (-ωδης, -οειδης)
SUFFIX
‘like’, ‘having the shape of’
* Spheroid, adenoid, nematode,
phyllode
-genous, -genic (GEN- + -ous/-ic)
COMPOUND SUFFIX
‘producing’, ‘produced’
* photogenic, endogenous, cytogenous
NOTE: the root GEN- is Latin, and will be learned in Unit 10.
-oecious (OEC- + -ious)
COMPOUND SUFFIX
‘having a house or dwelling’
* monoecious (having male and female sex organs in the same individual), androdioecious
(having perfect and staminate flowers on different plants)
-philous, -philic (PHIL- + -ous/-ic)
COMPOUND SUFFIX
‘loving’, ‘thriving in’
* necrophilic, anemophilous
ACOU-, (ACU-) (ἀκούω)
‘to hear’
* ACOU-smat-a-GNO-sis; inability to
recognize spoken words;
* an-ACU-sia, complete deafness
AESTHE-, (ESTHE-) (αἴσθημα)
‘to feel’, ‘to perceive’
* syn-AESTHE-sia, a secondary
sensation accompanying an actual
perception;
* ACANTH-AESTHE-sia, a sensation
as of pricking with a needle
ALG- (ἄλγος)
‘pain’ (-algesia, ‘sense of pain’)
* an-ALG-esic, a drug acting to relieve
pain;
* nost-ALG-ia, a sentimental longing
or wistful affection for a period in
the past
AMBLY- (ἀμβλύς)
‘dull’
* AMBLY-CEPHAL-idae, a genus of
broad-headed, nonpoisonous snakes,
bluntheads;
* AMBLY-ACU-sia
ANTH- (ἄνθος)
‘flower’
* ANTHO-philous, attracted by
flowers, feeding on flowers;
* ex-ANTH-ema, an eruption on the
skin
ARTHR- (ἄρθρον)
‘joint’, ‘speech sound’, ‘articulation’
* dys-ARTHR-ia, impairment of
speech articulation
BI- (βίος)
‘life’
* sym-BIO-sis, living together for
mutual benefit
NOTE: Not to be confused with the homonymous
Latin root BI- ‘two’ of List 10.
BALL-, BOL-, BLE- (βάλλω)
‘to throw’, ‘to put’
* BALL-ist-ics;
* sym-BOL;
* em-BOL-ism, destruction of a blood
vessel by foreign matter lodged in it;
* em-BOLO-LAL-ia, insertion of
meaningless words into speech
BRADY- (βραδύς)
‘slow’
* BRADY-LEX-ia, slowness in
reading;
* BRADY-CARD-ia, slowness of the
heart
BUL- (BOUL-) (βούλομαι)
‘will’, ‘volition’
* a-BUL-ia, loss of ability to make
decisions
NOTE: Not to be confused with the similar Latin root
BULL- ‘bubble’ of List 7
CARDI- (καρδιά)
‘heart’
* MYO-CARDI-al, pertaining to the
muscular tissue of the heart
CEPHAL- (κεγαλή)
‘head’ (enCEPHAL-, ‘brain’)
* CEPHALO-POD;
* pros-ENCEPHAL-on, forebrain or
anterior brain vesicle of the embryo;
* met-ENCEPHAL-on
CHONDR-, CHONDRI- (χόνδρος)
‘cartilage’, ‘granule’ (orig, ‘groat (hulled
grain) of wheat’)
* peri-CHONDRI-um; fibrous
connective tissue covering cartilage
CHROM-, CHROMAT-, CHRO- (χρῶμα,
χρώματα)
‘colour’
* meta-CHRO-sis, the change or play
of colours seen in the squid,
chameleon, etc.
CRYPT- (κυπτός)
‘hidden’
* CRYPT; CRYPTO-GRAPH-y;
* CRYPT-ic;
* CRYPTO-PHYTE, a plant the
produces buds underground or
underwater;
* CRYPT-ORCH-ism; condition
wherein the testes do not descend
DACTYL- (δάκτυλος)
‘finger’, ‘toe’
* DACTYLO-lysis, a tropical disease
in which a toe is slowly and spontaneously amputated by a
fibrous ring
DE-; DESM- (δέω; δεσμός)
‘to bind’; ‘binding’, ‘ligament’
* amphi-DESM-ic, furnished with a
double ligament;
* syn-DESMO-logy, the study of
ligaments;
* syn-DE-sis, state of being bound
together
NOTE: not to be confused with the Latin prefix deof List 6.
DEM- (δῆμος)
‘people’, ‘country’
* apo-DEMI-ALG-ia, morbid dislike
of home life and a desire to wander;
* epi-DEM-ic, occurring widely within
a certain geographic area;
* ec-DEM-ic, of foreign origin, opp. of
en-DEM-ic
DERM- (δέρμα)
‘skin’
* PODO-DERM a hoof’s dermal layer;
* the DERM-is lays between the epiDERM-is and the subcutaneous
tissues
DROM- (δρόμος)
‘running’, ‘course’
* syn-DROME, symptoms that occur
together and characterize a particular
disease;
* a-DROM-ia; failure of impulse
conduction in muscles or nerves
ENTER- (ἔντερον)
‘intestine’
* an-ENTER-ous, having no
alimentary tract;
* MY-ENTER-ic, relating to the
muscular coat of the intestine;
* dys-ENTER-y
ERG- (ἔργον)
‘work’
* endo-ERG-ic; relating to the
absorption of heat, endothermic;
* ADREN-ERG-ic, activated by
adrenaline
GAM- (γάμος)
‘marriage’, ‘union’
* a-GAMO-GENE-sis, asexual
reproduction;
* GAM-ete, a sexual cell capable of
uniting with another to form a new
individual, such as sperms and eggs
GE- (γῆ)
‘earth’
* amphi-GE-an; living around the
world;
* GEO-CARP-y, ripening of fruits
underground (peanuts, for instance)
GEN(E), GON- (γίγνομαι –⟩ ἑγενόμην;
γένος; γονή)
‘to be produced’, ‘to produce’; ‘seed’
* GENE-sis;
* eu-GEN-ics (i.e. ‘producing well’);
* COCCO-GONE, a reproductive cell
in certain algae;
* GON-ad, an organ that produces
gametes; a testis or ovary
NOTE: not to be confused with the Latin roots
GEN(U)- ‘knee’ and GEN- ‘produce’ of List 10
GER-, GERONT- (γέρων, γέροντος)
‘old person’, ‘old age’
* GERONTO-phobia, morbid fear of
old age;
* GER-ODONT-ia, dentistry for the
aged;
* GERONTO-logy
NOTE: not to be confused with the Latin root GER-
‘carry’ of List 7.
GNATH- (γνάθος)
‘jaw’
* dys-GNATH-ic, pertaining to
improperly developed jaws;
* GNATHO-THECA, the horny outer
covering of a bird’s lower jaw
GNO- (γνώμα; γιγνώσκω)
‘to know’
* BAR-a-GNO-sis; loss of perception
of weight;
* AUTO-TOP-a-GNO-sia, loss of
ability to orient parts of one’s own
body
GRAPH-, GRAM- (γράφω; γράμμα)
‘to write’; ‘thing written’
* DROMO-GRAPH, instrument for
registering the velocity of blood
current
HEPAT-, HEPAR- (ἥπαρ, ἥπατος)
‘liver’
* HEPAR-in, a substance or mixture of
substances occurring in liver and
other tissues having the property of
prolonging the clotting time of
blood;
* HEPAT-itis, inflammation of the
liver
HOD-, OD- (ὁδός)
‘road’, ‘way’
* HODO-phobia, fear of travel;
* UR-OD-eum, a tract for carrying
urine
KINE- (CINE-) (κινέω)
‘to move’
* a-KIN-AESTHE-sia, loss of muscle
sense or sense of movement;
* eu-KINE-sia; normal power of
movement;
* TELE-KINE-sis; the alleged ability
to move objects without touching
them
LEX- (λέξις)
‘to read’
* BRADY-LEX-ia, abnormal slowness
in reading;
* dys-LEX-ia, impairment of the
ability to read
LECITH- (λέκιθος)
‘yolk’
* CENTRO-LECITH-al, having the
yolk aggregated in the centre;
* LECITH-in describes a group of
yellow-brown fatty substances first
isolated in egg yolks
MNE- (μνῆμα; μιμνῄσκω)
‘to remember’
* a-MNE-sia, loss of memory;
* ACOU-st-a-MNE-sia, inability to
remember sound;
* AUTO-ana-MNE-sia; history related
by the patient
MORPH- (μορφόω)
‘form’
* meta-MORPHO-sis; changing form;
* PHYLLO-MORPHO-sis; variation
of leaves in different seasons
MY-, MYS-, MYOS- (μῦς, μυός)
‘muscle’
* MYO-CHROME, any muscle
pigment;
* MY-ENTER-ic;
* MYO-CARDI-al
NEPHR- (νεφρός)
‘kidney’
* peri-NEPHR-ium, the connective or
adipose tissue surrounding a kidney
ODONT- (ὀδούς, ὀδόντος)
‘tooth’
* ex-ODONT-ist, a specialist in tooth
extraction;
* pros-TH-ODONT-ia; the
replacement of teeth by artificial
means, a branch of dentistry
OPHTHALM- (ὀφθαλμος)
‘eye’
* MEGAL-OPHTHALM-us or MEGOPTHALM-us, excessive largeness
of the eyes
OSM- (ὀσμή)
‘smell’
* an-OSM-ia, absence of sense of
smell;
* MACR-OSM-atic, possessing a
highly developed sense of smell
OST(E)- (ὀστέον)
‘bone’
* OSTEO-DERM-ia, bony formations
in the skin;
* OSTE-ana-GENE-sis, regeneration
of bone
NOTE: don’t confuse with Latin root OST- ‘door’ of
List 8.
EC-, (OEC-, OEK-), OIK-, OIC- (οἴκος)
‘house’
* ECO-nomy;
* ECO-logy, that part of biology which
deals with the relationship between
organisms and their surroundings;
* GYN-OEC-ium, pistils, carpels and
female organs of a flower
NOTE: not to be confused with the prefix ec- ‘out’
above.
PHIL- (φίλος)
‘to love’, ‘have an affinity for’
* GEO-philous, living on or around
earth;
* POLY-CHROMATO-PHIL-ism,
capacity to be stained with more than
one dye
PHOR-, PHER- (φέρω; φορά)
‘to bear’, ‘to go’
* eu-PHOR-ia, exaggerated feeling of
well-being;
* meta-PHER-y, displacement of
organs
PHYLL- (φύλλον)
‘leaf’
* PHYLLO-POD-ous, having leaflike
swimming feet, as in branchiopods,
(some shrimp, for instance)
PHYT- (φυτόν)
‘plant’, ‘growth’
* endo-PHYTE, a plant growing
within another;
* ZOO-PHYTE, an animal resembling
a plant, such as a sponge
PLAS(T)- (πλαστός)
‘to form’, ‘to mould’
* hyper-PLAS-ia, excessive formation
of tissue;
* meta-PLAS-ia, transformation of one
form of adult tissue to another
PLEX-, PLEG- (πληγή; πλήσσω–⟩
ἔπλεξα)
‘to strike’, ‘to paralyse’
* apo-PLEX-y, sudden paralysis with
loss of consciousness, when a blood
vessel in the brain breaks or is
blocked
NOTE: don’t confuse with Latin root PLEX- ‘braid’
of List 9
POD-, -PUS (πούς, ποδός)
‘foot’
* CEPHALO-POD; mollusc with
sucker-bearing arms on its head,
such as an octopus
PROCT- (πρωκτός)
‘anus’, ‘rectum’
* PROCTO-logy; medical specialty
concerned with the anus, the rectum
and the sigmoid colon
SOM-, SOMAT- (σῶμα, σώματα)
‘body’
* SOM-AESTHE-sia, sensibility to
bodily sensations;
* GYMNO-SOMAT-ous, having no
shell or mantle, as certain molluscs
STOL-, STAL-, -STLE (στάλσις;
στέλλειν)
‘to send’, ‘to contract’
* peri-STAL-sis, rhythmic contraction
of the alimentary canal that sends its
contents downward;
* ana-STAL-sis, its opposite, the same
as anti-peri-STAL-sis;
* sy-STOLE, contraction of the heart
STOM-, STOMAT- (στόμα, στόματα)
‘mouth’, ‘opening’
* STOMAT-itis; inflammation of the
mouth, not the stomach;
* ENTERO-stomy; operation to form
an opening into the intestine;
* MICRO-STOME, a small opening or
orifice
THE- (τίθημι)
‘to put’, ‘to place’
* ALL-en-THE-sis, introduction of
foreign substance into the body;
* meta-THE-sis, a chemical reaction
with an exchange of radicals
THEC- (θήκη)
‘case’, ‘sheath’
* THECA, spore or pollen case;
* THECA-PHORE, a structure on
which a theca is borne;
* THEC-ODONT, having teeth in
sockets
THERM- (θερμός)
‘heat’
* a-dia-THERM-ancy, imperviousness
to heat waves;
* hyper-THERM-algesia, abnormal
sensitivity to heat
TOM- (τομή)
TOM- (τομή)
‘cut’, ‘section’ (enTOM-, ‘insect’)
* LITHO-TOM-ous, stone-boring, as
certain molluscs
TOP- (τόπος)
‘place’
* a-TOPO-GNO-sia, lack of ability to
locate a sensation accurately;
* OST-ec-TOP-y, displacement of a
bone
TROP-, TREP- (τροπή; τρέπω)
‘to turn’, ‘response to stimulus’
* apo-TROP-aic; intended to avert
evil;
* ap-HELIO-TROP-ism, turning away
from the sun;
* TREP-omena, a genus of spiral
bacteria, including Trepomena
pallidum, which causes syphilis.
TROPH- (τροφή)
‘nourishment’, ‘development’
* AUTO-TROPH, organism capable of
self-nourishment;
* TROPHO-TROP-ism, tendency of
an organism to turn towards its food
supply;
* dys-TROPH-y; deficiency of
nourishment
UR- (οὖρον)
‘urine’, ‘urinary system’
* UR-EM-ic, describes the presence of
urine in the blood;
* UR-OD-eum, a tract for carrying
urine;
* URE-ter, the duct by which urine
passes from the kidney to the bladder
or cloaca (URE-, ‘to urinate’
NOTE: don’t confuse this one with the homonymous
UR- ‘tail’ to be learned in List 3
ZO- (ζῷον)
‘animal’, ‘living being’
* ZOO-GAM-y, sexual reproduction in
animals;
* ZOO-PHYTE
* ZOO-logy
ACANTH- (ἄκανθος)
‘thorn’, ‘prickle’
* ACANTH-AESTHE-sia, a sensation
as of pricking with needles;
* ACANTHO-CLAD-ous, having
spiny branches
ACR- (ἄκρα)
‘extremity’, ‘summit’
* ACRO-MICR-ia, underdevelopment
of the extremities and of the skull as
contrasted with visceral
development;
* ACRO-GER-ia, premature aging of
skin of the hands and feet
ACTIN- (ἀκτίς, ἀκτῖνος)
‘ray’
* ACTINO-GEN-ic, producing
radiation;
* ACTINO-STOME, mouth of the sea
anemone, or five-rayed oral aperture
of the starfish
AER- (ἀήρ)
‘air’, ‘gas’
* AERO-CYST, an air vescicle of
algae;
* AERO-CYSTO-SCOP-y,
examination of the interior of the
urinary bladder with a cystoscope,
with the bladder distended with air;
* AERO-PHYTE, a plant which grows
attached to an aerial portion of
another plant
AGON- (ἀγών)
‘contest’, ‘to struggle’
* AGON-y;
* AGON-ize;
* AGON-ist, (in anatomy) a muscle
whose contraction moves a part of
the body directly, (in biochemistry) a
substance which initiates a
physiological response when
combined with a receptor
AMYGDAL- (ἀμυγδάλη)
‘almond’, ‘tonsil’
* AMYGDAL-itis; inflammation of
the tonsils, tonsillitis;
* AMYGDALAE, almond-shaped
structures in the medial temporal
lobes of the brain, responsible for
memory and emotional reactions
AMYL- (ἄμυλον)
‘starch’
* AMYLO-LYSIS, the digestion of
starch or its conversion to maltose;
* AMYLO-PLAST, a leucoplast or
colourless, starch-forming granule
ANDR- (ἀνήρ, ἀνδρός)
‘man’, ‘male’
* ANDRO-GYN-y, hermaphroditism;
* ERG-at-ANDR-ous, having workerlike males
ANTHROP- (ἄνθρωπος)
‘human being’
* ANTHROPO-logy;
* ANTHROPO-MORPH-ism;
* ANTHROPO-philic, showing a
preference for human beings over
other animals
ARGYR- (ἄργυρος)
‘silver’
* ARGYR-ia, the dusty grey or bluish
discolouration of skin and mucous
membrane produced by the
prolonged administration or
application of silver preparations;
* HYDR-ARGYR-OPHTALMIA,
opthalmia due to mercurial poisoning
AUT- (αὐτός)
‘self’
* AUT-OPS-y;
* AUTO-CYTO-TOX-in, a cell toxin
produced against the cells of one’s
own body;
* AUT-ODONT, designating or
pertaining to teeth not directly
attached to jaws, as in cartilaginous
fish;
* AUTO-PHAG-ia, self-consumption,
emaciation; biting of one’s own
flesh, as in dementia
BA- (βαίνω)
‘to step’, ‘to go’, ‘to walk’
* BASO-phobia, morbid fear of
walking or of standing erect; basis;
acrobat
BAR-; BARY- (βαρύς)
‘weight’, ‘pressure’; ‘heavy’
* BAR-AESTHE-sia, perception of
weight or pressure;
* BAR-ODONT-ALG-ia, dental pain
occurring in individuals exposed to
decreased barometric pressures such
as occur in high-altitude flying, also
called
* AER-ODONT-ALG-ia
BLENN- (βλέννα)
‘mucus’
* BLENN-OPHTHALM-ia, catarrhal
conjunctivitis;
* OLIGO-BLENN-ia, a deficient
secretion of mucus
BLEPHAR- (βλέφαρον)
‘eyelid’
* a-BLEPHAR-y, congenital absence
of the eyelids;
* BLEPHARO-plasty, operation for
the restoration of the eyelids; sym-
* BLEPHAR-osis, adhesion of the
eyelids to the globe of the eye or to
each other
BROM- (βρῶμος)
‘stench’, ‘bromine’
* BROMO-DERM-a; skin eruption
due to ingestion of bromides;
* BROM-in-ism, bromine poisoning;
bromide
CARCIN- (καρκίνος)
‘cancer’
* CARCINO-GEN, any cancerproducing substance;
* MASTO-CARCIN-oma, malignant
mammary tumour
CHEIL-, CHIL- (χεῖλος)
‘lip’
* a-CHEIL-ia, congenital absence of
the lips
CHOL(E)- (χολή)
‘bile’, ‘gall’
* CHOL-AGOGUE, agent which
stimulates the flow of bile from the
liver;
* CHOLO-CHROME, any bile
pigment; EU-CHOLIA, normal
condition of the bile; choleric;
melancholy
CHRON- (χρόνος)
‘time’
* HETERO-CHRON-ism, departure
from typical sequence in time of
formation of organs;
* ana-CHRON-ism
CLAD- (κλάδος)
‘branch’
* HETERO-CLAD-ic, describing a
communication between branches of
different arteries;
* PHYLLO-CLAD (or CLADOPHYLL), a green, flattened or round
stem that functions as a leaf, as in
cacti.
CLAS- (κλάσις; κλάω)
‘to break’
* ARTHRO-CLAS-ia, breaking down
of ankylosis of a joint;
* CARDIO-CLAS-is, rupture of the
heart; iconoclast
COL- (κόλον)
‘colon’
* COLO-PROCTO-stomy, formation
of a new passage between the colon
and the rectum;
* para-COL-itis; inflammation of the
tissue adjacent to the colon;
* PHREN-ico-COL-ic or PHRENOCOL-ic, pertaining to the diaphragm
and the colon
NOTE: not to be confused with the similar
COLL(A)- ‘glue of List 5 or the homonymous Latin
roots COL- ‘inhabit’ and COLL- ‘neck’ of List 7.
COPR- (κόπρος)
‘excrement’
* COPR-OD-aeum, the division of the
cloaca which receives the rectum
(cf. UR-OD-aeum);
* COPRO-LITH, a hard mass of faecal
matter in the bowels
CRANI- (κρανίον)
‘cranium’
* amphi-CRAN-ia, headache affecting
both sides of the head, as opposed to
hemi-CRAN-ia;
* CHONDRO-CRANI-um, the
embryonic cartilaginous cranium;
* peri-CRANI-um, the periosteum on
the outer surface of the cranial bones
CRI-; CRIN- (κρίνω)
‘to separate’, ‘to distinguish’; ‘to secrete’
* epi-CRIT-ic, of sensory nerve fibres
permitting very fine distinctions of
temperature or touch; endo-CRINE,
secreting internally;
* ENTERO-CRIN-in, a hormone
produced by the intestinal mucosa
stimulating the glands of the small
intestine; critic; criterion
CRY-, CRYM- (κρύος; κρυμός)
‘cold’, ‘ice’
* CRY-AESTHE-sia, abnormal
sensitiveness to cold
CYST- (κύστις)
‘bladder’, ‘cyst’, ‘sac’
* CYST-itis, inflammation of the
urinary bladder;
* HAEMATO-CYST; a cyst
containing blood;
* POLY-CYST-ic, containing many
cysts
CYT- (κύτος)
‘cell’
* CHROMO-CYTE, any coloured cell;
* CYTO-DERM, in botany, a cell
wall;
* CYTO-STOME, the oral aperture of
a unicellular organism
DACRY- (δάκρυον)
‘tear’ (i.e. from crying, etc.)
* DACRYO-CYST-itis, inflammation
of the lacrimal sac
DIPS- (δίψα)
‘thirst’
* a-DIPS-ia, absence of thirst,
avoidance of drinking;
* DIPSO-phobia, a fear of drinking
DREPAN- (δρεπάνη)
‘sickle’
* DREPANO-CYTE, a crescentshaped cell
DYNAM-, DYN- (δύναμις)
‘power’
* a-DYNAM-ia, loss of vital strength
or muscular power, weakness;
* DYNAMO-meter, an instrument for
the measurement of muscular
strength
EME- (ἐμέω)
‘to vomit’
* hyper-EME-sis, excessive vomiting;
* EME-tic, having the power to evoke
vomiting
ERYTHR- (ἐρυθρός)
‘red’
* an-ERYTHRO-BLEPS-ia or anERYTH-OPS-ia, impaired colour
perception of red, red blindness;
* ERYTHRO-PHYLL, a red colouring
matter in some leaves and red algae
EURY(S)- (εὐρύς)
‘wide’
* EURY-PHAG-ous, subsisting on a
wide variety of foods;
* PROCT-EURY-nter, an instrument
for dilating the anus or rectum
GASTR-, GASTER- (γαστήρ, γαστρός)
‘stomach’, ‘belly of a muscle’
* GASTRO-POD, a mollusc with
ventral muscular disc adapted for
creeping;
* meta-GASTR-ic, pertaining to
posterior gastric regions
GLYC-; GLYCOS- (γλυκύς; γλεῦκος)
‘sugar’, ‘glucose’
* GLYCO-LYSIS, the process of
conversion of carbohydrate in tissue
into pyruvic acid or lactic acid;
* hyper-GLYCOS-uria, the presence
of excessive amounts of sugar in the
urine
GYMN- (γυμνάς)
‘naked’, ‘uncovered’
* GYMNO-SOMAT-ous;
* GYMNO-CARP-ous, with naked
fruit (applicable to lichens with
uncovered apothecia);
* GYMNO-RHIN-al, having nostril
region not covered by feathers, as
some birds
GYN(E), GYNAEC- (GYNEC-) (γυνή,
γυναικός)
‘female’
* GYNAECO-logy;
* ERG-ato-GYNE, female ant
resembling a worker;
* GYN-ANDR-ous, having stamens
fused with pistils, as some orchids;
* GYNAECO-MAST-ia, enlargement
of the mammary gland in the male
HAEM-, HAEMAT-, (HEM-, HEMAT-)
(αἶμα, αἵματος)
‘blood’
* a-CARDIO-HAEM-ia, lack of blood
in the heart;
* HAEMATO-BI-c, living in blood;
* HAEMATO-PHAG-ous, pertaining
to a blood-sucking insect
HELIC-, HELIX (ἕλιξ, ἕλικος)
‘spiral’
* HELIX, the rounded, convex margin
of the ear;
* ant-HELIX, the curved ridge of the
pinna just anterior to the helix
HELMINTH- (ἕλμινς, ἕλμινθος)
‘worm’
* ant-HELMINT-ic,destructive to
worms;
* HELMINTHO-logy, the study of
parasitic worms;
* HELMINTH-oma, a tumour caused
by the presence of a parasitic worm
HETER- (ἕτερος)
‘other’, ‘different’
* HETERO-CHROM-ia, a difference
in coloration in two parts or
structures that are normally alike, as
the the irises of the eyes;
* HETERO-PHOR-ia, any tendency of
the eyes to turn away from the
position correct for binocular vision;
* HERTERO-PHOR-ALG-ia, pain
caused by heterophoria
HIDRO(S)- (ἱδρώς)
‘sweat’
* syn-HIDROS-is, concurrent
sweating; the association of
perspiration with some other
condition;
* ACRO-hyper-HIDROS-is, increased
perspiration of the hands and feet;
* CHROM-HIDROS-is, a rare
condition in which the sweat is
coloured
HIST-, HISTI- (ἱστός)
‘tissue’
* HISTO-KINE-sis, movement that
takes place in the minute structural
elements of the body;
* HISTO-meta-PLAS-tic, causing the
transformation of one tissue into
another type
HYDR- (ὕδωρ, ὕδρος)
‘water’, ‘fluid’
* HYDR-ARTHR-osis, accumulation
of fluid in a joint;
* HYDRO-TROP-ism, response to the
stimulus of water
HYGR- (ὑγρός)
‘moisture’
* HYGRO-KINE-sis, movement in
response to changes in humidity;
* HYGRO-STOM-ia, chronic
salivation
HYSTER- (ὑστέρα)
‘uterus’, ‘hysteria’
* HYSTER-ia;
* HYSTERO-tomy, incision of the
uterus
IATR- (ἰατρός)
‘physician’, ‘medical treatment’
* PSYCH-IATR-y;
* POD-IATR-ist;
* IATRO-GEN-ic, induced by a
physician; effect of physician’s
words or actions upon a patient
ICHTHY- (ἰχθύς)
‘fish’
* ICHTY-ODONT, a fossil fish tooth;
* ICHTHYO-TOX-ismus, food
poisoning from fish
IRID-, IRIS- (ἶρις, ἴριδος)
‘iris’, ‘rainbow’
* IRIDO-CYTE, a special cell
responsible for the iridescence (!) of
many fishes;
* IRIDO-dia-lysis, the separation of
the iris from its attachments;
* IRIDO-KINE-sia, any movement of
the iris;
* IRIDO-PLEG-ia, paralysis of the
sphincter pupillae of the iris
ISCH- (ἴσχω)
‘to suppress’
* ISCHO-MEN-ia, suppression of the
menstrual flow;
* ISCH-uria, retention or suppression
of the urine
NOTE: careful not to confuse with similar ISCHI-
‘hip’ of List 3.
LAPAR- (λαπάρη)
‘abdomen’, ‘soft part of the body between
the ribs and abdomen’
* LAPARO-TRACHELO-tomy; low
caesarian section
LIP- (λίπος)
‘fat’
* LIPO-CHROME or CHROMOLIPO-id, any one of the group of fatlike substances containing a pigment
or colouring matter and occurring in
natural fats such as egg yolks
LITH-, -LITE (λίθος)
‘stone’
* CRYO-LITE, sodium-aluminium
fluoride, named from its icy
appearance;
* DACRYO-LITH, a calcareous
concretion in the lacrimal passages;
* LITHO-PHYLL, a fossil leaf or leaf
impression
LOG- (λόγος)
‘word’, ‘speech’, ‘reason’
* ana-LOG-ous; dys-LOG-ia,
difficulty in expression of words by
speech;
* LOGO-PLEG-ia, loss of power of
uttering articulate speech
LY- (λύω)
‘to loosen’, ‘to dissolve’, ‘to break up’
* DERMATO-LY-sis, abnormal
laxation of the skin;
* LITHO-dia-lysis, solution of calculi
in the urinary bladder; breaking up of
a vesical calculus before its removal;
* LY-sin, a cell-dissolving substance
MAST-, MAZ- (μαστός; μαζός)
‘breast’
* ACRO-MAST-itis, inflammation of
a nipple;
* hyper-MAST-ia, overgrowth of the
mammary gland;
* a-MAST-ia, congenital absence of
the mammae
MELAN- (μέλας, μέλανος)
‘black’, ‘dark’
* MELAN-CHOL-y;
* MELAN-in, a dark brown or black
animal or plant pigment;
* MELAN-IDR-osis, a form of
chromhidrosis in which the sweat is
dark coloured or black
MEN- (μήνη)
‘moon’, ‘menstruation’
* MENO-PAUSE; ISCHO-MEN-ia
MYI- (μυῖα)
‘fly (the insect)’
* MYI-[i]asis, a disease caused by the
invasion of fly larvae;
* OPTHALMO-MYI-[i]asis, disease
due to the presence of the larvae of
flies in the eye
NECR- (νεκρός)
‘corpse’, ‘dead tissue’
* NECRO-TOX-in, a toxin produced
by the death of cells;
* NECRO-PHAG-ous, eating carrion
OLIG- (ὀλίγος)
‘few’, ‘scanty’
* OLIG-ANDR-ous, having few
stamens;
* OLIGO-HYDR-uria, urine with a
relative diminution of water, highly
concentrated urine
OP-, OPT- (ὄψις; ὀπτικά)
‘to see’
* CHROMATO-PSEUD-OP-sis,
colour blindness;
* em-METR-OP-sia, normal or perfect
vision, wherein parallel rays are
focussed exactly on the retina
without the effect of
accommodation;
* PROSOP-a-GNO-sia, inability to
recognize faces (PROSOP-, ‘face’)
ORTH- (ὀρθός)
‘straight’, ‘correct’
* an-ORTH-ite, feldspar not at right
angles in cleavage, oblique cleavage;
* ORTH-optic, pertaining to normal
binocular vision
OT- (οὖς, ὠτός)
‘ear’
* di-OT-ic, binaural, pertaining to both
ears;
* OTO-CYST, in invertebrates, an
auditory vesicle, otocell or otidium,
or in vertebrates, an embryonic
auditory vesicle;
* OTO-LITH, calcareous particles or
platelike structures found in the
auditory organ of many mammals
PAED- (PED-) (παῖς, παιδός)
‘child’ (-pedia, ‘instruction’)
* PED-AGOG-y;
* PAED-IATR-ics;
* PAEDO-MORPH-ic, pertaining to
retention in the adult of youthful and
juvenile characteristics
PATH- (πάθος)
‘disease’, ‘suffering’, ‘feeling’
* sym-PATH-y;
* IDIO-PATH-ic, pertaining to a
primary disease, i.e., one not the
result of any other disease, but of
spontaneous origin, or a disease for
which no cause is known;
* PATHO-MIME-sis, imitation of the
symptoms and signs of a disease
PHA-, PHAN- (φαίνω)
‘to appear’, ‘to show’
* dia-PHANE, transparent investing
membrane of an organ or a cell;
* MYO-PHAN, muscle-like, applies to
striation of protozoa;
* MENO-PHAN-ia, first appearance of
the menses
NOTE: don’t confuse with PHA- ‘speak’ of List 4.
PHAG- (φαγεῖν)
‘to eat’
* PHAGO-CYTE, colourless blood
corpuscle which tends to ingest
foreign particles;
* PHYLLO-PHAG-ous, feeding on
leaves
PHREN- (φρήν)
‘mind’, ‘diaphragm’
* PHREN-ic, pertaining to the mind or
the diaphragm;
* GASTRO-PHREN-ic, pertaining to
the stomach and the diaphragm, as
the gastrophrenic ligament;
* HEBE-PHREN-ia, a type of
schizophrenia characterized by
extreme mannerisms, often
caricaturing adolescent behaviour
POLY- (πολύς)
‘many’, ‘much’
* POLY-AESTHE-sia, an abnormality
of sensation in which a single touch
is felt in two or more places at the
same time;
* POLY-PHAG-ous, eating various
kinds of food; POLY-POD,
furnished with many feet or legs
PSYCH- (ψυχή)
‘mind’, ‘soul’
* PSYCHO-logy;
* PSYCH-IATR-y
PY- (πύον)
‘pus’
* HYDRO-PYO-NEPHRO-sis,
distention of the pelvis of the kidney
with urine and pus;
* PYO-RRHE-a, a purulent discharge
RHE-, -RRH (ῥέω)
‘to flow’, ‘current’
* dia-RRHOE-a;
* CRYPTO-RHE-tic, secreting
internally, endocrine;
* RHEO-CARDIO-GRAPH-y,
recording of differences of electrical
conductivity of the body
synchronous with the cardiac cycle;
* RHEO-PHORE, an electrode
RHIN-, -RRHIN- (ῥίς, ῥινός)
‘nose’
* amphi-RHIN-al, having or pertaining
to two nostrils;
* GYMNO-RHIN-al, with nostril
region not covered by feathers, as in
some birds;
* RHIN-ENCEPHAL-on, that portion
of the cerebrum concerned with
olfactory impulses;
* RHINO-THECA, the sheath of the
upper jaw of a bird
SCOP- (σκοπός; σκοπέω)
‘to view’
* CRYO-SCOPE, device for
determining the freezing point of any
liquid; endo-SCOPE, instrument
used to examine an internal body
cavity or viscus through its natural
opening;
* SCOPO-phobia, morbid dread of
being seen
NOTE: don’t confuse with Latin root SCOP- ‘broom’
of List 10
STA- (στάσις; ἵστημι –⟩ ἔστην)
‘to stand’, ‘to stop’, ‘to fix’, ‘to regulate’
* a-cata-STA-sia, irregularity,
nonconforming to type;
* BLEPHARO-dia-STA-sis, excessive
separation of the eyelids, inability to
close the eyelids completely;
* HAEMO-STA-sis, the stopping of a
flow of blood
NOTE: Very similar to the Latin root STA- “stand”
of List 9.
STYL- (στῦλος)
‘pillar’
* STYLE, the slender upper part of the
pistil;
* sy-STYL-ous, in botany, with
coherent styles
TAC-, TAX- (τάξις; τάττω)
‘to arrange’, ‘to put in order’
* ANTHO-TAX-is, arrangement of
flowers on an axis;
* PHYLLO-TAX-is, arrangement of
leaves on an axis or stem;
* a-MYO-TAX-ia, muscular ataxia or
incoordination of spinal or cerebellar
origin
TARS- (ταρσός)
‘instep’, ‘edge of the eye’
* TARS-ALG-ia, pain, especially of
neuralgic character, in the tarsus of
the foot;
* TARSO-plasty, plastic surgery of the
eyelid
THANAT- (θάνατος)
‘death’
* THANTO-id, resembling death;
* THANATO-logy, the study of the
phenomenon of organic death;
* THANATO-phobia, a morbid fear of
death
