Vocab 2 (Suffixes) + Vocab 3 Flashcards
-ter (or -re, after a root ending in -t, from
French influence) (-τηρ)
NOUN FORMING SUFFIX
‘means of’, ‘place of’
* Ureter, sceptre, sphincter, crater,
theatre
-ist, -ast (-ιστης)
NOUN FORMING SUFFIX
‘one who’
* Antagonist, gymnast, psychiatrist,
bacteriologist
-te, -t (pl. -tes) (-της)
NOUN FORMING SUFFIX
‘one who’, ‘that which’,
* Prophet, gemete, antidote, diabetes
-ician (from French -icien)
NOUN FORMING SUFFIX
‘specialist in’, ‘practitioner of’
* Pediatrician, dietician, musician
-ia, -y (-ια)
NOUN FORMING SUFFIX
‘state of’, ‘condition of’, ‘quality of’
* Hysteria, neuralgia, agony,
philosophy
-ism, -ismus (-ισμος)
NOUN FORMING SUFFIX
‘condition of’ (‘belief in’)
* Alcoholism, botulism, metabolism,
largyngismus, strabism
-sis, -sia, -sy, -se (-σις)
NOUN FORMING SUFFIX
‘act of’, ‘process of’ (sometimes the result
of the process)
* Synthesis, diagnosis, amnesia,
anaesthesia, ecstasy,
NOTE: nouns created with this suffix often also
form adjectives with the -tic, -stic, suffix
‘pertaining to the act or process of’,
e.g. synthetic, analytic
-ma, -m, -me, -mat- (-μα, -ματος)
NOUN FORMING SUFFIX
‘result of the act of’
* Cinema, drama, stigma, schism,
theme
-oma, -omat- (-ομα, -οματος)
NOUN FORMING SUFFIX
denoting tumours and other abnormal
growths
* Melanoma, carcinoma, haematoma,
glaucoma,
* NOTE: When followed by another
element, the form is -omat-,
e.g. melanomatous.
NOTE: this ending originally in Greek (-ωμα) was
just a way to make any noun. In the 16th and 17th
centuries, it was favoured by doctors for describing
different medical conditions, and in the 19th century it
began being used for cancers especially.
-osis (-ωσις)
NOUN FORMING SUFFIX
‘diseased condition of’, ‘act of’, ‘process of’
* Psychosis, neurosis, hypnosis
-itis (-ιτις)
NOUN FORMING SUFFIX
‘inflammation of’, ‘inflammatory disease of’
* Appendicitis, arthritis, tonsillitis
-in (-inus)
NOUN FORMING SUFFIX
‘chemical substance’
* antitoxin, insulin, epinephrine
NOTE: Originally a Latin suffix, it was brought into
German and then specially used in chemistry, where
it was combined with many Greek roots.
-ium (-ιον → -ium)
NOUN FORMING SUFFIX
‘part’, ‘lining or enveloping tissue’, ‘region’
* Perinephrium (the connective and
fatty tissue about the kidney), epigastrium (the upper and middle
region of the abdomen)
-us (-ος → -us)
NOUN FORMING SUFFIX
‘condition’, ‘person’
* anotus (a Sphenomorphus anotus is a
lizard without external ears);
Hydrocephalus (a condition in which
fluid accumulates in the brain)
-idae, -ida, -id (-ιδ-)
NOUN FORMING SUFFIX
‘descended from’, ‘related to’
* Acaridae, arachnida/arachnid
-aemia, (-emia) ( = (H)AEM/(H)EM- + -ia)
COMPOUND SUFFIX
‘condition of the blood’, ‘congestion of
blood’
* anaemia, leukaemia, anoxaemia
-logy (= LOG- + -y)
COMPOUND SUFFIX
‘science of’
* physiology, cardiology, psychology
-lysis (= LY- + -sis)
COMPOUND SUFFIX
‘dissolution of or by’ (‘surgical division or
separation’)
* hydrolysis, nephrolysis, electrolysis
-mania (= MAIN- + -ia)
COMPOUND SUFFIX
‘madness for of about’
* kleptomania, dipsomania, egomania,
monomania
NOTE: the Greek root MAIN- used here means ‘fury,
anger.’ It is not learned as a separate root in this class
since it is mainly either used in this compound suffix
toda, or as the stand-alone noun ‘mania.
-pathy (= PATH- + -y)
COMPOUND SUFFIX
‘disease of’, ‘treatment of disease of or by’
* osteopathy, neuropathy, hydropathy
-phobia (= PHOB- + -ia)
COMPOUND SUFFIX
‘abnormal fear of’
* claustrophobia, agoraphobia,
hydrophobia
NOTE: the Greek root PHOB- used here means
‘fear.’ It is not learned as a separate root in this class
since it is mainly used in this compound suffix today.
-therapy (= THERAP- + -y)
COMPOUND SUFFIX
‘treatment of or by’
* chemotherapy, psychotherapy,
heliotherapy
NOTE: This one is taken straight from the Greek
noun θεραπεία, which means ‘service, healingservice.’ It is, of course, used as a stand-alone noun in
English today
-tomy (= TOM + -y)
COMPOUND SUFFIX
‘surgical operation on’, ‘surgical cutting of’
* glossotomy, gastrotomy, lobotomy
-ectomy ( = ec- + TOM- + -y)
COMPOUND SUFFIX
‘surgical operation’, ‘surgical removal of’ (specifically removal)
* appendectomy, tonsillectomy
-uria (= UR- + -ia)
COMPOUND SUFFIX
‘condition of the urine’
* haematuria, acetonuria,
noctambulminuria
-hedron
COMPOUND SUFFIX (not really)
‘solid figure having a (specified) number of
faces’
* icosohedron, dodecahedron
NOTE: This suffix is taken directly from Greek,
where the suffix -εδρον, derived from the noun ἕδρα
(‘seat, position’), was used in geometry to denote
figures.
-iasis (= -ia + -sis) (-ασις)
COMPOUND SUFFIX
‘diseased condition’; often refers to an
infestation by parasites
* psoriasis, amebiasis, elephantiasis
NOTE: Greek especially used the suffix -ασις for
nouns describing infestation, hence its modern usage.
-meter and -metry (= METR- + -re /
METR- + -y)
COMPOUND SUFFIX
‘instrument for measuring’, ‘measure’ and
‘art or science of measuring’;
* thermometer, anemometer,
perimeter, telemetry, optometry,
photometry
NOTE: the root METR- ‘measure’ is basically only
used today within one of these compound suffixes.
Don’t confuse it with the homonymous root METR-
‘uterus’ of List 3. The difference in Greek is the
vowel length: μετρ- + μητρ- respectively.
-nomy (= NOM- + -y)
COMPOUND SUFFIX
‘science of’, ‘system of laws governing’,
‘rules for the direction of’
* agronomy, astronomy, economy,
autonomy
NOTE: the root NOM- ‘law’ is basically only used
today within this compound suffix and so is not
learned separately. Don’t confuse it with the
homonymous Latin root NOM- ‘name’ of List 6.
-plasty (PLAST- + -y)
COMPOUND SUFFIX
‘formation’, ‘plastic surgical operation’
* arthroplasty, anaplasty, hysteroplasty
NOTE: the root PLAST- ‘mold, form’ is basically
only used today within this compound suffix.
-rrhoea (RRH- + -ia)
COMPOUND SUFFIX
‘flux’, ‘abnormal flow or discharge of’
* diarrhoea, gonorrhoea, logorrhoea
NOTE: the spelling is so because the whole Greek
work ῥοία, “a flowing” is used, not the root alone
-stomy- (STOM- + -y)
COMPOUND SUFFIX
‘the making of a surgical opening’
* gastrostomy, arthrostomy,
hepaticoenterostomy
-ium, -ion (-ιον)
DIMINUTIVE SUFFIX
‘little’
* BACTER-ium, ‘little rod’ (pl.
bacteria)
* POD-ium, ‘little foot’ (tube foot of
echinoderm);
* THEC-ium, ‘little case’ (the sporebearing layer in fungi’);
* STOM-ion, ‘little mouth’ (the
midpoint of the oral fissure
determined with the lips closed)
-idium, -idion (-ιδιον)
DIMINUTIVE SUFFIX
‘little’
* CONI, ‘dust’ + -idium = conidium, a
spore produced asexually by various
fungi;
* BAS-, ‘base’ + -idium = basidium, a
microscopic club-shaped sporebearing structure produced by certain
fungi;
* PLAST-, ‘to mould’ + -idion =
plastidion, any of various small bodies of specialized protoplasm
lying in the cytoplasm of cells
-arium, -arion (-αριον)
DIMINUTIVE SUFFIX
‘little’
* CON-, ‘cone’ + -arium = conarium,
pineal body;
* HIPP-, ‘horse’ + -arion = Hipparion,
a genus of extinct three-toed
mammals related to horses
-isk, -iscus (-ισκος)
DIMINUTIVE SUFFIX
‘little’
* ASTER-, ‘star’ + -isk = asterisk;
LEMN-, ‘ribbon’ + -iscus =
lemniscus, a secondary sensory
pathway of the central nervous
system;
* MEN-, ‘moon’ + -iscus = meniscus,
a crescent or crescentic body
-ize (-ιζειν)
VERB FORMING SUFFIX
to make’, ‘to treat’, ‘to do something with’
* Carbonize =
CARBON-, ‘coal’ + -ize
* Synchronize =
syn- + CHRON-, ‘time’ + -ize
* Antagonize =
ant(i) + AGON-, ‘to struggle’ + -ize
-ate (-atus, Latin, used with Greek roots)
VERB FORMING SUFFIX
‘to make’, ‘to treat’, ‘to do something with’
* Gyrate =
GYR-, ‘circle’ + -ate = gyrate;
* Aerate =
AER-, ‘air’ + -ate = aerate;
* Dehydrate =
de- + HYDR- + -ate = dehydrate
ADEN- (ἀδήν)
‘gland’
* ADENO-PHORE, the stalk of a
nectar gland;
* HETER-ADEN-ia, an abnormality in
the formation or location of gland
tissue
AGOG(UE)- (ἀγωγός)
‘inducing the flowing’, ‘expelling’ (orig. ‘to
lead’ or ‘to drive’)
* CHOL-AGOGUE, agent promoting
the flow of bile;
* GALACT-AGOGUE, an agent that
promotes the flow of milk;
* HELMINTH-AGOGUE, agent
expelling worms from the body, an
ant-HELMINT-ic
-AGRA (ἄγρα; ἀγρέω)
‘painful seizure’
* ARTH-AGRA, muscular pain in the
joints;
* MEL-AGRA, muscular pain in the
limbs
ANGI- (ἀγγεῖον)
‘vessel’
* ANGIO-STOMAT-ous, narrowmouthed (applicable to molluscs and
snakes with nondistensible mouths);
* GAMET-ANGI-um, a structure
producing sexual cells
ARACHN- (ἀράχνης)
‘spider’ (occasionally ‘arachnoid
membrane’)
* ARACHN-ida, a large class of
ARTHRO-POD-a which includes
spiders and mites;
* ARACHN-idium, device by which a
spider web is produced
ARCH(E)- (ἀρχρή)
‘ancient’, ‘beginning’, ‘primitive’
* ARCH-ENTER-on, embryonic
alimentary cavity
ASC- (ἀσκός)
‘bag’
* ASC-us (pl. asci), a sac, typically
cylindrical in shape, in which the
spores of ascomycete fungi develop;
* ASCO-genous, producing asci;
* ASCO-MYCETE, a fungus whose
spores develop within asci
ASTR-, ASTER- (ἀστήρ, ἀστέρος)
‘star’
* ASTER, the radiating structure
surrounding the centrosome of a cell,
seen at the beginning of mitosis;
* CYT-ASTER, the starlike system of
cytoplasmic radiations surrounding
the central body during mitosis;
* ASTER-oid, one of the small
‘planets’ between Jupiter and Mars
AUX(E)- (αὔξησις)
‘increase’
* AUXE-sis, increase in size or bulk;
AUX-in, a plant hormone which
governs cell extension or growth;
* AUXO-BAR-ic, increasing pressure,
denoting development of pressure in
the cardiac ventricle
BLAST- (βλαστός)
‘bud’, ‘germ’, ‘embryonic cell’
* ASTRO-BLAST, a primitive cell
which develops into an ASTROCYTE;
* LIPO-BLAST, a formative fat cell
BLEP- (βλέπω)
‘to see’
* a-BLEP-sia, loss or absence of
vision;
* MONO-BLEP-sia, a condition in
which either eye is stronger than
both together, or a form of colour
blindness in which only one colour
can be perceived
BRACHI- (βραχίων)
‘arm’
* BRACHI-al, relating to the arm;
* MACRO-BRACH-ia, excessive
development of the arms;
* MONO-BRACHI-us, an individual
congenitally lacking one arm;
* BRACHIO-SAUR-us, a dinosaur
with forelegs much longer than the
hind legs
NOTE: Not to be confused with the similar
BRACHY- ‘short’ of List 4
BRANCHI- (βράγχιον)
‘gills’
* BRANCHI-a, the gills of fish and
some invertebrate animals;
* meta-BRANCHI-al, pertaining to or
in the posterior gill region;
* PHYLLO-BRANCHI-a a gill
consisting of numbers of lamellae or
thin plates
CARP- (καρπός)
‘fruit’
* ACTINO-CARP-ous, of plants with
flowers and fruit radially arranged;
* ANGIO-CARP-ic, having or being
fruit enclosed within an external
covering, opposite of GYMNOCARP-ic
NOTE: not to be confused with the homonymous
CARP- ‘wrist’ of List 5
-CELE (κήλη)
‘hernia’, ‘swelling’
* ENTERO-CELE, hernia containing a
loop of intestine;
* HYDRO-MYELO-CELE, excessive
accumulation of a fluid in the central
canal of the spinal cord;
* GALACTO-CELE, a cystic tumour
in the ducts of the breast;
* VARICO-cele, a mass of varicose
veins in the spermatic cord
CENTE- (κεντέω)
‘to puncture’, ‘to prick’
* ENTERO-CENTE-sis, surgical
puncture of the intestine;
* PNEUMONO-CENTE-sis, surgical
puncturing of a lung;
* centre is also from this root (via
kentron, ‘sharp point, stationary
point of a pair of compasses’)
NOTE: not to be confused with the similar Latin root
CENT- ‘100’t of List 10
CHIR-, CHEIR (χείρ)
‘hand’
* CHIRO-PRACT-ic;
* CHIRO-GRAPH-y, handwriting;
* MEGALO-CHIR-ous, large-handed;
* POLY-CHEIR-ia state of having a
supernumerary hand
CHLOR- (χλωρός)
‘green’, ‘chlorine’
* CHLORO-PLAST, a minute granule
or plastid containing chlorophyll;
* CHLOR-osis, green sickness, a type
of anemia;
* hypo-CHLOR-uria, diminution in the
amount of chloride in the urine
COCC- (κόκκος)
‘berry-shaped organism’
* CYTO-COCC-us, nucleus of a
fertilized egg;
* PYO-COCC-us, any pus-producing
coccus;
* STREPTO-COCC-us, a genus of
gram-positive, chain-forming
bacteria
COEL(I)-, (CEL-), -COEL (κοιλία)
‘cavity’, ‘abdominal cavity’, ‘belly’
* COELI-ac, relating to the abdomen;
* COELIO-tomy, opening of the
abdominal cavity;
* ENCEPHALO-COEL, cavity within
the brain, cerebral ventricle
(cf. encephalocele, a hernia of the
brain)
COLP- (κόλπος)
‘vagina’, ‘womb’
* COLPO-SCOPE, a surgical
instrument used to examine the
vagina and the cervix of the womb;
* PYO-COLPO-CELE, a suppurating
cyst of the vagina
CONI- (κόνις)
‘dust’
* CON-idio-PHORE, bearing condia, a
fungal spore;
* OTO-CONI-um, one of minute
crystals of calcium carbonate found
in membranous labyrinth of the ear,
or ear dust
COR(E)- (κόρη)
‘pupil of the eye’
* CORE-dia-STA-sis, dilatation of the
pupil;
* CORE-LY-sis, the detachment of
iritic adhesions to the lens or cornea;
* POLY-COR-ia, the existence of
more than one pupil in an iris
CRA- (κρᾶσις; κεράννυμι –⟩ ἔκρησα)
‘to mix’
* CRA-sis, constitution, make-up;
* HAEMATO-dys-CRA-sia, diseased
state of the blood;
* hypo-CRA-ter-iform, saucer-shaped
CYAN- (κύανος)
‘blue’
* CYANO-PHYLL, a bluish-green
colouring matter in plants;
* CYAN-OP-ia or CYAN-OP-sia, a
condition in which all objects seen
are rendered blue
CYE- (κυέω)
‘to be pregnant’
* CYO-PHOR-ia, pregnancy,
gestation;
* pseduo-CYE-sis, false or phantom
pregnancy
DENDR- (δένδρον)
‘tree’
* RHODO-DENDR-on (RHODO-,
rose-coloured);
* DENDR-ite or DENDR-on, a short
branched extension of a nerve cell
DIDYM- (δίδυμος)
‘twin’, ‘testicle’
* ISCHIO-DIDYM-us, twins
conjoined at the hip;
* DIDYMO-SPORE, a two-celled
spore;
* DIDYM-itis, same as ORCH-itis
EO(S)- (ἠώς)
‘dawn or early age’, ‘rosy’
* EO-LITH-ic, relating to the earliest
period of the Stone Age;
* EOS-in, red crystalline fluorescent
dye
GALACT-, GALA- (γάλα, γάλακτος)
‘milk’
* GALACT-in, an amorphous
substance derived from milk, a
potent hormone stimulating
lactation;
* GALACTO-RRHE-a, excessive flow
of milk
GEU- (γεύω)
‘to taste’
* dys-GEU-sia, morbidity or distortion
of the sense of taste;
* hyper-GEU-sia, abnormal acuteness
of the sense of taste
GLOSS-, GLOT(T)- (γλῶσσα/γλῶττα)
GLOSS-, GLOT(T)- (γλῶσσα/γλῶττα)
‘tongue’, ‘language’
* BRADY-GLOSS-ia, slow speech
due to difficulty in tongue
movements;
* PHRENO-GLOTT-ismus, spasm of
the glottis caused by disease of the
diaphragm
GYR- (γῦρος)
‘circle’, ‘ring’
* GYR-oid-al, spiral in arrangement;
* GYR-ose, with undulating lines,
sinuous;
* OPTHALMO-GYR-ic, pertaining to
or causing movements of the eye
HELI- (ἥλιος)
‘sun’
* HELIO-CENTR-ic;
* HELI-um;
* HELIO-TAX-is, locomotor or other
response to stimulus of sunlight;
* HELIO-LITH-ic, marked by sun
worship and erection of megaliths
HIPP- (ἵππος)
‘horse’
* HIPPO-POTAM-us;
* HIPPO-DROME;
* EO-HIPP-us, a genus of small,
primitive horses;
* HIPP-UR-ic acid, an acid found in
high concentration in the urine of
herbivorous animals
HYAL- (ὕαλος)
‘glass’, ‘vitreous body of the eye’
* HYAL-in, a clear substance
produced especially by the
degeneration of epithelial or
connective tissues;
* HYAL-oid, glassy or transparent
(e.g. hyaloid membrane);
* HYLALO-MERE, clear,
homogeneous part of the blood
IDI- (ἴδιος)
‘one’s own’, ‘peculiar’, ‘distinct’
* IDIO-BIO-logy, the branch of
biology concerned with the study of
organisms as individuals;
* IDIO-CHROM-atic, having a
distinctive and constant coloration,
used especially of minerals;
* IDIO-TYPE, individual genotype,
set of all hereditary determinants of
an individual
IS- (ἴσος)
‘equal’, ‘same’
* ISO-ZO-ic, inhabited by similar
forms of life;
* ISO-metr-ic, pertaining to equality of
measure
ISCHI- (ἰσχίον)
‘hip’
* ISCHIO-ALG-ia, pain in the hip or
lower back, sciatica;
* SAUR-ISCH-ia, an order of class
Reptilia distinguished by a pelvis;
* ISCHIO-DIDYM-us, twins
conjoined at the hip
NOTE: careful not to confuse with similar ISCH-
‘suppress’ of List 2.
LAL- (λαλιά)
‘to talk’
* BRADY-LAL-ia, slowness of
utterance;
* ENANTIO-LAL-ia, a disturbance in
mental and speech function which
prompts ideas and words opposite
those presented as stimuli;
* RHINO-LAL-ia, a nasal tone in the
voice due to undue closure or
patulousness of the choanae
LARYNG- (λάρυγξ, λάρυγγος)
‘larynx’
* LARYNG-itis, inflammation of the
larynx;
* LARYNGE-al, relating to the larynx;
* LARYNGO-logy, the branch of
medicine that deals with the larynx
and its diseases;
* LARYNGO-tomy, surgical incision
into the larynx
LEI- (λεῖος)
‘smooth’
* LEIO-DERM-ia, condition of
abnormal smoothness and glossiness
of skin;
* LEIO-THRIX, an Asian bird of the
babbler family
LEP-, LEPS- (λείπω; λῆψις)
‘to seize’
* epi-LEP-sy;
* NARCO-LEP-sy, a condition
characterized by a transient
compulsive tendency to attacks of
deep sleep;
* NYMPHO-LEP-sy, ecstasy of an
erotic type, supposed to be caused by
nymphs
MACR- (μακρός)
‘large’, ‘long’
* MACRO-CARP-ous, producing
large fruit;
* MACRO-GLOSS-ia, enlargement of
the tongue;
* MACR-OPS-ia, disturbance of
vision in which objects seem larger
than they are
MALAC- (μαλακός)
‘soft’
* MALACO-logy, study of molluscs;
* MALACO-philous, adapted to
pollination by snails
MASTIG- (μάστιξ, μάστιγος)
‘whip’, ‘flagellum’
* MASTIG-ium, defensive posterior
lash of certain larvae;
* HETERO-MASTIG-ate, having two
different types of flagella (a
flagellum is a slender thread-like
structure, especially a microscopic
whip-like appendage which enables
many protozoa, bacteria,
spermatozoa, etc. to swim)
MEGA-, MEGAL- (μέγας, μεγάλου)
‘large’, ‘one million’
* HYDRO-MEGA-THERM, a plant
which must have much heat and
moisture to develop fully;
* MEGAL-OP-ic, belonging to the
megalops stage, i.e. a larval stage of
certain crustaceans, conspicuous by
large, stalked eyes;
* MEGA-PHYLL-ous, having
relatively large leaves
MEL- (μέλος)
‘limb’
* GASTRO-MEL-us an individual
with an accessory limb attached to
the abdomen;
* a-MEL-us, person minus a limb or
limbs
MENING- (μῆνιγξ, μήνιγγος)
‘membrane’, especially ‘meninges,
membranes enveloping the brain and spinal
cord’ (‘MENINX’)
* MENING-uria, presence or passage
of membranous shreds in the urine;
* MENING-itis, inflammation of the
membranes of the brain or spinal
cord
MER- (μέρος)
‘part’
* MER-ONYM, a term which denotes
part of something but which is used
to refer to the whole of it;
* ADENO-MERE, that portion of a
developing gland which will be
responsible for its functioning;
* dys-MERO-GENE-sis, segmentation
resulting in unlike parts
METR- (μήτρα)
‘uterus’
* HAEMATO-METR-a, an
accumulation of blood or menstrual
fluid in the uterus
NOTE: Don’t confuse it with the similar sounding
compound Suffixes -meter and -metry of List 2. The
difference in Greek is the vowel length: μετρ-
(measure) + μητρ- (uterus).
MICR- (μικρός)
MICR- (μικρός)
‘small’, ‘one millionth’
* hypo-MICRO-GNATH-us, an
individual having an abnormally
small lower jaw;
* MICRO-LITH-iasis, formation of
very minute calculi;
* MICRO-MEL-ia, abnormal
smallness of the limbs
MIS- (μῖσος)
‘hate’
* MIS-ANTHROP-y, a dislike of
humankind;
* MISO-GYN-ist, a person who hates
women;
* MISO-GAM-y, hatred of marriage
NOTE: not to be confused with the Latin Root MIS-
‘send’ of List 9
MOGI- (μόγις)
‘difficult’
* MOGI-LAL-ia, difficulty in speech,
such as stuttering or stammering;
* MOGI-GRAPH-ia, writer’s cramp
MYC-, MYCET- (μύκης, μύκητος)
‘fungus’
* ACTINO-MYC-osis, a parasitic,
infections, inoculable disease,
affecting cows, pigs and sometimes
humans;
* MYCO-DERM, a bacterial film
formed during fermentation
MYEL- (μυελός)
‘spinal cord’, ‘marrow’
* HYDRO-MYEL-ia, a dilatation of
the central canal of the spinal cord
containing an increased quantity of
cerebrospinal fluid;
* MENINGO-ENCEPHALO-MYELitis; inflammation of the meninges,
brain and spinal cord
NARC- (νάρκη)
‘stupor’, ‘make numb’
* NARCO-LEP-sy;
* NARCO-tic, drug which produces a
stupor, complete insensibility or
sleep
NE- (νέος)
‘new’, ‘new and different form of’
* GLYCO-NEO-GENE-sis, the
formation of carbohydrates from
substances which are not
carbohydrates;
* NEO-PLAS-m, any new growth,
usually applied to a tumour, an
aberrant new growth;
* NEO-phobia, dread of new scenes or
novelties
NEUR- (νεῦρον)
‘nerve’, ‘nervous system’, ‘tendon’
* ARGYRO-NEUR-ous, with silvercoloured nerves or veins;
* CRYPT-NEUR-ous, with no definite
or distinct nervous system;
* NEURO-ana-TOMY, the nervous
system;
* NEURO-TOMY, the division of a
nerve
NYCT- (νύξ, νυκτός)
‘night’
* NYCTI-TROP-ism, tendency of
certain leaves to curl upward at
night;
* NYCT-ALOP-ia, a condition
characterized by an abnormal
inability to see in dim light or at
night;
* NYCTO-phobia, extreme or
irrational fear of the night or of
darkness
ODYN- (ὀδύνη)
‘pain’
* an-ODYNE;
* GLOSS-ODYN-ia, pain in the
tongue;
* MY-ODYN-ia, muscular pain
OMPHAL- (ὀμφαλός)
‘navel’
* ACR-OMPHAL-us, centre of the
umbilicus, or unusual prominence of
the navel;
* OMPHALO-GENE-sis, development
of the umbilical vesicle and cord
ONYCH- (ὄνυξ, ὄνυχος)
‘finger or toenail’, ‘claw’
* ACR-ONYCH-ous, having claws,
nails or hoofs;
* ONYCHO-HETERO-TOP-ia, an
anomaly consisting of the presence
of abnormally situated nails
ONYM- (ὄνομα/ὄνυμα)
‘name’
* an-ONYM-ous;
* PSEUD-ONYM;
* hyp-ONYM, a generic name not
based on a type species
OO- (ᾠόν)
‘egg’
* OO-CYTE, a cell in an ovary which
may undergo meiotic division to
form an ovum;
* OO-CYST, a cyst containing a
zygote formed by a parasitic
protozoan such as the malaria
parasite
ORCH(I)-, ORCHID- (ὄρχις; ὄρχίδιον)
‘testicle’
* syn-ORCH-ism, partial or complete
fusion of the testes within the
abdomen or scrotum;
* CRYPT-ORCH-ism, failure of the
testes to descend;
* ORCHID-ectomy, surgical removal
of the testicles, castration
PACHY- (παχύς)
‘thick’
* PACHY-DERM, a very large
mammal with thick skin;
* PACHY-ACR-ia, condition marked
by clubbing fingers and toes;
* PACHY-CLAD-ous, thick-branched;
* PACHY-SANDR-a, an evergreen
creeping shrubby plant of the box
family
PAN-, PANT- (πᾶς, πάντος)
‘all’, ‘complete’
* PAN-GAM-ic, pertaining to
indiscriminate mating, or found in all
seeds;
* PAN-GE-a, term for the earth when
all the continents were still
connected
* PAN-ZOO-tic, in veterinary
medicine, affecting many kinds of
animals
PEN- (πένομαι)
‘deficiency’, ‘want’
* PEN-ury, extreme poverty;
* GLYCO-PEN-ia, tendency towards
hypoglycaemia
PEP(S)-, PEPT- (πέψις; πέπτω)
‘to digest’
* PEPS-in, a substance containing a
proteolytic enzyme obtained from
the glandular layer of a hog’s
stomach;
* PEPT-ic, pertaining to pepsin;
pertaining to digestion, as peptic
ulcer
PEX-; PAG- (πήγγνυμι; πῆξις)
‘to fasten’; ‘united’
* ISCHIO-PAG-us, same as ISCHIODIDYM-us;
* CRANIO-PAG-us, conjoined twins
united by their heads;
* HYSTERO-PEX-y, surgical
procedure used for a prolapsed
uterus
PHLEB- (φλέψ, φλεβός)
‘vein’
* PHLEB-itis, inflammation of the
walls of a vein; phlebotomy;
* METRO-PHLEB-itis, inflammation
of the veins of the uterus;
* PHLEBO-tomy, the surgical opening
or puncture of a vein in order to
withdraw blood, to introduce a fluid,
or (historically) when letting blood
PHYC- (φῦκος)
‘seaweed’, ‘algae’
* PHYCO-logy, the branch of botany
concerned with seaweeds and other
algae;
* CHLORO-PHYC-eae, algae having
clear, green colour;
* DREPANO-PHYC-us, genus of
fossil plans
PLATY(S)- (πλατύς)
‘broad’, ‘flat’
* PLATY-PUS (flat-footed);
* PLATY-CEPHAL-ic, characterizing
a person with a flat skull
PNEUMON-, PNEUM- (πνεῦμα;
πνεύμων)
‘lung’
* PNEUMO-LITH, a calculus or
concretion in a lung;
* PARA-PNEUMO-ia, a disease
presenting the symptoms of lobar
pneumonia but not caused by the
PNEUMO-COCC-us
POLI- (πολιός)
‘grey’
* POLI-ENCEPHALO-MYEL-itis,
inflammation of the grey matter of
the brain and spinal cord;
* POLIO-MYEL-itis, polio;
* POLIO-ENCEPHALO-pathy, any
disease of the grey matter of the
brain
PSEUD- (ψεῦδος)
‘false’
* PSEUDO-NYM;
* CHROMATO-PSEUD-OPS-is,
colour blindness;
* PSEUDO-BLEPS-ia, a visual
hallucination, a distorted visual
image;
* PSEUDO-CYE-sis, phantom
pregnancy
PTER-, PTERYG- (πτέρυξ, πτέρυγος)
‘wing’
* HELICO-PTER;
* PTERO-DACTYL;
* an-ISO-PTER-ous, unequally
winged, applies to seeds;
* HYALO-PTER-ous, having
transparent wings
PTO- (πίπτω; πτῶμα)
‘to fall’
* PTO-sis, drooping of the upper
eyelid;
* pro-PTO-sis, falling downward,
prolapse (e.g. abnormal protrusion of
the eyeball);
* PTO-ma-ine, an amino compound
which results from decomposition of
protein or dead animal matter by
micro-organisms
SALPING- (σάλπιγξ, σάλπιγγος)
‘tube’; specifically relating to the fallopian
tubes (orig. ‘trumpet’)
* SALPING-ectomy, surgical removal
of the fallopian tubes; SALPINGOCYE-sis, tubal pregnancy
SAPR- (σαπρὸς)
‘rotten’
* SAPRO-BI-c, living on decaying
organic matter;
* SAPRO-PHYT-ic, pertaining to a
plant that lives on decaying organic
matter
SAUR- (σαύρα)
‘lizard’
* DINO-SAUR;
* SAURO-POD, a dinosaur with
massive limbs;
* BRANCHIO-SAUR, small,
prehistoric amphibian, similar to a
salamander; SAUR-ian, like a lizard;
* SAURO-GNATH-us, with saurian
arrangement of jaw bones
SCHIZ-, SCHIS(T)- (σχίζω; σχίσις)
‘to split’
* SCHIZO-PHREN-ia, lit. having a
split mind; ana-SCHIS-tic, applied to
a type of tetrads which divides twice
longitudinally in meiosis;
* SCHISTO-GLOSS-ia, condition of
having a cleft tongue
SIAL- (σίαλον)
‘saliva’
* GLYCO-SIAL-ia, presence of
glucose in saliva;
* SIALO-LITH-iasis, presence of
salivary calculi
SPLANCHN- (σπλάγχνα)
‘entrails’, ‘viscera’
* SPLANCHN-ic, relating to the
viscera or internal organs, especially
those of the abdomen;
* SPLANCHNO-dia-STA-sis,
displacement or separation of the
viscera;
* SPLANCHNO-PLEURE, a layer of
tissue in a vertebrate embryo
comprising the endoderm and the
inner layer of mesoderm
(cf. somatopleure; pleura, ‘side’)
STHEN- (σθένος)
‘strength’
* ADEN-a-STHEN-ia, functional
deficiency of a gland;
* an-ISO-STHEN-ia, not of equal
power, said of pairs of muscles
TACH(Y)- (ταχύς)
‘swift’
* TACHY-PHAG-ia, rapid eating;
* TACH-inidae, a large family of
rapid-flying, two-winged insects
TELE- (τῆλε)
‘afar’, ‘operating at a distance’
* TELE-PHONE;
* TELE-therapy, treatment at a
distance, e.g. by a source or radiation
at a distance from the patient
NOTE: not to be confused with TEL(E)- ‘end’ of list
5
THI- (θεῖον)
‘sulphur’
* THIO-BACTER-ia, bacteria which
grow where decaying organic matter
releases hydrogen sulphide;
* THIO-GEN-ic, applies to sulphurproducing bacteria
THORAC- (θώραξ, θώρακος)
‘chest’, ‘thorax’
* THORAC-ic, relating to the thorax;
* THORACO-tomy, surgical incision
into the chest wall; HAEMO-
* THORAX, accumulation of blood in
the pleural cavity;
* THORACO-MEL-us, parasitic limb
attached to the thorax of a host
THROMB- (θρόμβος)
‘clot’
* THROMBO-CYTE, blood platelet;
* THROBO-CYTO-CRIT, a glass tube
for counting blood platelets;
* THROMBO-PLAST-in, extracts
which promotes clotting
TOX- (τόξον)
‘poison’
* TOX-ico-DERMAT-itis, skin
inflammation due to poison;
* TOX-ico-DENDR-on, genus of
plants including poison ivy and oak;
* TOX-ico-GNATH, poison fangs of
the centipede
TRICH-, (THRIX-) (θρίξ, τριχός)
‘hair’; ‘be hairy’
* TRICH-iasis, ingrowth or
introversion of the eyelashes;
* amphi-TRICH-ous, with flagellum at
each pole;
* SCHIZO-TRICH-ia, splitting of the
hair;
* TRICHO-logy, the branch of
medical and cosmetic study and
practice concerned with the hair and
scalp
UR- (οὐρά)
‘tail’
* URO-STHEN-ic, having tail strongly
developed for propuslion;
* URO-STYLE, posterior part of
vertebral column in anurous
amphibians
NOTE: don’t confuse this one with the homonymous
UR- ‘urine’ learned in List 1.
XANTH- (ξανθός)
‘yellow’
* XANTH-ic, yellowish;
* XANTH-OP-sia, visual disturbance
in which objects look yellow;
XANTHO-CHROM-ia, a yellowish
discolouration of the skin
XER- (ξηρὸς)
‘dry’
* XER-ic, containing little moisture;
* XERO-PHYTE, a plant which needs
very little water;
* XERO-PHOB-ous, having little
capacity to resist drought;
* XERO-THERM, a plant which
survives drought and heat
