Basic Greek and Latin for understanding science and medicine
This document contains basic words from Greek and Latin that are components of many words used in the English language, particularly in scientific and medical terminology. Such terminology is often difficult to understand because of the number of words whose meaning must be memorized. However, there are far fewer components (prefixes, roots, and suffixes) than there are words that combine those components, so memorizing the meaning of the components can reduce how much you need to memorize, and can help you understand words that you haven’t yet been introduced to, but which are based on these components. The reuse is also helpful when crossing disciplines, e.g. once you know that “alto” means high from music, you can also guess that alto clouds are high clouds (clouds at altitide), again reducing the volume of material to memorize.
For example, the condition “pulmonary barotrauma” doesn’t sound like anything else in the English language, but by decomposing it into its components: pulmonary = lung, baro = pressure, trauma = wound, makes it much more meaningful: a wound to the lung caused by pressure. Knowing the root “baro” also helps to understand the word barometer.
At the same time, learning a list of words is almost as boring as reading a telephone directory or phonebook. To make it easier, learn words that are related to subjects of interest. This document is organized into areas of related words, and (eventually) the end of this document will contain indices pointing to words that are related to particular fields of interest (e.g. dinosaurs, anatomy, etc).
This document contain a series of entries of the following form:
|
English form |
Meaning |
Root |
Language
(Lat/Gk) |
Example |
|
carb carbo carbon carboni |
coal, charcoal |
carbo, carbon- |
L |
carboniferous |
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|
The “English form” column indicates how the component appears in English words. The components are capitalized in order to facilitate searching. For example, if you search for “ferous”, you must pass the entries for carb- and voc- which contain (carboniferous and vociferous) before reaching the entry for FEROUS. A case-sensitive search for “FEROUS” will lead you directly to the entry for ferous.
The root indicates the word from which the component was derived, and the Language column might indicate that the root was from Latin (L) or Greek (G). The Example column occasionally contains notes, e.g. “histogram” is derived from “histos” meaning mast, not “histo” meaning tissue.
Contents
Abstract concepts and characteristics
|
English form |
Meaning |
Root |
Language
(Lat/Gk) |
Example |
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ax, axi-, axo- |
axis, axle |
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axial |
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chiasm- |
crossing |
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foss |
ditch |
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fossil? |
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pelv |
a basin |
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seb |
grease |
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trab |
beam, timber |
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vulv- |
a covering |
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vulva |
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vagin- |
a sheath |
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vagina |
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-lemma |
sheath |
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foram- |
opening |
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sin-, sino- |
a hollow |
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sinuses of the skull |
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venter, ventr- |
hollow cavity, belly |
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ventral, ventricle |
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coel- |
hollow |
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lacun- |
space, cavity, lake |
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camera |
vault |
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L |
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areola- |
open space |
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atri- |
vestibule |
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atrium |
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claustr(o) |
enclosure |
claustrum |
L from claudere to shut |
claustrophobia |
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vestibul- |
a porch |
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vestibule: anterior entry to the mouth and nose |
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cyst- |
sac, bladder |
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blastocyst (growing sac) |
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vesic(o) |
bladder |
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cyt- cyto |
cell |
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tunic- covering
Chemical elements
|
English form |
Meaning |
Root |
Language
(Lat/Gk) |
Example |
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natri- |
sodium |
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argentum |
silver |
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L |
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aurum |
gold |
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L |
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ferr- |
iron |
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oxy- |
oxygen |
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Organic chemistry?
|
English form |
Meaning |
Root |
Language
(Lat/Gk) |
Example |
|
lip-, lipo- |
fat; containing a lipid |
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lipoprotein |
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steat- steato- |
fat |
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ather- athero- |
fatty |
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amyl- |
starch |
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G |
amylase |
Geology
|
English form |
Meaning |
Root |
Language
(Lat/Gk) |
Example |
|
carb(on)(i) |
coal, charcoal |
carbo, carbon- |
L |
carboniferous |
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calc |
stone, lime, chalk |
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L |
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lith |
stone, bone/rock? |
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|
English form |
Meaning |
Root |
Language
(Lat/Gk) |
Example |
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aster |
star |
aster |
G |
asteroid, astrology |
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vitre- |
glass |
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coloss |
gigantic statue |
kolossos colossus |
G L |
coliseum |
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lamell- |
small plate |
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lamina |
layer, sheet |
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laminate |
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mito- |
thread, filament |
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mitochondria |
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col(l) |
glue |
kolla |
G |
collagen |
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-glea, -glia |
glue |
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Forces?
|
English form |
Meaning |
Root |
Language
(Lat/Gk) |
Example |
|
pyr- pyro- |
fire, fever |
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pyromaniac, pyrotechnics |
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calor- |
heat |
calor |
L |
calories |
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therm- thermo- |
heat |
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thermometer |
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cry- cryo- |
cold |
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cryogenics |
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ster- |
solid |
steros |
G |
cholesterol (solid bile) |
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aqua-, aque- |
water |
aque |
L |
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hydr-, hydro- |
water |
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lymph |
water |
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nimbus |
rainy |
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nimbus clouds |
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humor- |
a fluid |
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rheum- |
watery flow, change, or flux |
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rheumatoid arthritis |
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rhe |
flow |
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-rrhea |
flow or discharge |
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diarrhea |
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xer(o) |
dry |
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xerox? (dry copying?) |
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ventus |
wind |
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ventilation |
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pneumo |
air, wind |
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pnea |
breathing |
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pneum(ato) |
breath, air |
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aer(o) |
air |
aer |
G |
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anem(o) |
wind |
anemos |
G |
anemone |
|
English form |
Meaning |
Root |
Language
(Lat/Gk) |
Example |
|
biblio- |
book |
biblion |
G |
bibliography |
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folli- |
bag, bellows |
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?follicle? |
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glom- |
ball |
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sagitt- |
arrow |
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sagitarius |
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septum |
fence |
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fenestr- |
window |
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fontan- |
fountain |
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clavic- |
key |
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flagell- |
whip |
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flagella |
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serrat- |
saw |
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serrated |
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thyro- |
a shield |
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trapez- |
table |
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tympan- |
drum |
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|
English form |
Meaning |
Root |
Language
(Lat/Gk) |
Example |
|
baro |
weight, pressure |
baros |
G |
barotrauma, barometer |
|
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heavy |
barys |
G |
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depth |
bathos |
G |
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tono- |
tension |
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hypertonic |
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valen- |
strength |
valere to be strong |
L |
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dura |
hard |
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sclero- |
hard |
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sclerosis |
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malac, -malacia |
soft |
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spondylomalacia = a softening of the vertebrae |
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alt(i) alto |
high, height |
altus |
L |
alto clouds alto pitch |
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leva- |
raise, elevate |
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death and destruction
|
English form |
Meaning |
Root |
Language
(Lat/Gk) |
Example |
|
ciner |
ashes |
cinis |
L |
incinerate |
|
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to burn |
ardere |
L |
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caust, caut |
|
kaustikos burning |
G |
caustic |
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bellum |
war |
|
L |
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|
cid –cidium -cida -cide |
a killing killer destroy or kill |
caedere to kill |
L |
fratricide, homicide, genocide, insecticide |
|
necr(o)- |
death |
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|
English form |
Meaning |
Root |
Language
(Lat/Gk) |
Example |
|
bios |
life |
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G |
biology |
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viv- vivi |
life |
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vivisection in vivo |
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vita- |
life |
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org- |
living |
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organism organic? |
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germin- |
grow |
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germinate? |
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-plas |
grow |
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|
English form |
Meaning |
Root |
Language
(Lat/Gk) |
Example |
|
gyn |
woman |
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gynacologist |
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andr- andro- |
man, male, husband |
aner |
G |
androgynous? android? |
|
gero-, geront- |
old man |
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mater |
mother |
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gam-, gamet- |
married, spouse |
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monogamy, bigamy |
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parous |
parent? |
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ped(o) |
child |
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ped also means foot, e.g. pedestrian, pedal, bipedal |
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gon-, gono- |
seed, offspring |
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semen |
seed, sperm |
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zyg- |
a yoke, twin |
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zygote |
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azyg- |
unpaired |
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-nata |
birth |
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prenatal, neonatal, antenatal |
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partum |
?birth? |
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postpartum |
microbiology:
|
English form |
Meaning |
Root |
Language
(Lat/Gk) |
Example |
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mening(o)- membrane meningitis
|
English form |
Meaning |
Root |
Language
(Lat/Gk) |
Example |
|
anth(o) |
flower |
anthos |
G |
chrysanthemum? anthology? |
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arbor |
tree |
|
L |
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dendr- |
tree, branch |
|
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dendrite |
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cort- |
bark |
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corticosteroids? |
|
phy- |
leaf |
phyllon |
G |
phyllo pastry, chlorophyl |
|
blast- -blast |
bud, germ, sprout generator |
blastos |
G |
blastocyst trophoblast |
|
caul(i) |
stalk |
caulis |
L |
cauliflower? |
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carp(o) |
fruit |
karpos |
G |
|
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cocc |
berry, seed |
kokkos |
|
staphylococus – staphylo- (cluster) + cocus (berry) = rounded bacteria clustered like bunches of grapes |
|
nucle- |
pit, kernel, little nut |
|
L |
nucleus |
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carot- |
carrot, stupor |
|
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rhachos |
thorn |
|
G |
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myc-, myco- |
fungus |
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|
English form |
Meaning |
Root |
Language
(Lat/Gk) |
Example |
|
anthro- |
human being |
anthropos |
G |
anthropology |
|
av- |
bird |
avis |
L |
aviary |
|
cani- |
dog |
canis |
L |
canine |
|
carcin-, carcino- |
crab a cancer (apparently because the veins around a cancerous tumour were thought to resemble the limbs of a crab) |
karkinos |
G |
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hippo- |
horse |
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caval |
horse |
caballus |
L |
cavalry |
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cet(ac) |
whale, sea-monster |
cetus ketos |
L G |
cetacean |
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vacc- |
cow |
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vaccine |
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cochlea |
snail shell |
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concha |
shell |
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coccy- |
cuckoo |
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|
English form |
Meaning |
Root |
Language
(Lat/Gk) |
Example |
|
corpor, corp- |
body |
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soma- somat somato -some |
body |
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chromosome? |
limbs:
|
English form |
Meaning |
Root |
Language
(Lat/Gk) |
Example |
|
brachi- |
arm |
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pinnis |
fin |
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peni- |
a tail |
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penna- |
a wing |
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pteron |
wing |
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pterosaur: pteron wing + sauros lizard |
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pterygote |
wings |
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soma- |
body |
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oura |
tail |
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caud- coda |
tail |
cauda, coda |
L |
caudal: towards the tail |
|
chir chiro |
hand |
cheir |
Gk |
chiropractic: hand activity |
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dactyl dactylo |
finger or toe |
|
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teradactyl? |
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carpal |
wrist |
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manus |
hand |
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tarsal |
ankle |
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pedal |
foot |
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ped also means foot, e.g. pedestrian, pedal, bipedal |
|
pod(o)- |
foot |
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|
head
|
English form |
Meaning |
Root |
Language
(Lat/Gk) |
Example |
|
cephal(o),
encephal(o) |
head |
kephale |
Gk |
|
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caput- |
head |
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-cipit |
head |
|
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?ocipital? |
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corona |
crown |
|
L |
coronary |
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oculo- |
eye |
|
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ophthalm(o) |
eye |
|
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ot(o)- |
ear |
|
|
otoscope |
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aur auri |
ear |
auris |
L |
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bucc- bucco- |
cheek |
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jaw |
gnathus |
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rhin(o)- |
nose |
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rostris |
nose |
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nas(o) |
nose |
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nasal |
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stom(a) |
mouth, opening |
|
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colostomy |
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labi-, labri- |
lip |
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See also Senses
regions:
|
English form |
Meaning |
Root |
Language
(Lat/Gk) |
Example |
|
cervic-, cervix |
neck |
cervix |
L |
cervix = neck of the womb |
|
col(l) |
neck |
collum |
L |
collar |
|
acromial |
point of shoulder? |
|
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axillary |
armpit |
|
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sternal |
breastbone |
|
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steth(o) |
chest |
stethos |
G |
stethoscope |
|
thorac(o) |
chest |
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cele- |
abdominal |
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vent- |
the belly-side |
venter = belly |
|
ventral |
|
lapar(o) |
flank, abdomen |
|
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glute- |
buttock |
|
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coxal |
hip |
|
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inguinal |
groin |
|
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|
English form |
Meaning |
Root |
Language
(Lat/Gk) |
Example |
|
pili |
hair |
|
|
|
|
capill- |
hair |
capillus |
L |
capillary |
|
hirsut- |
hairy |
|
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|
cili- |
small hair |
|
|
|
|
cili |
eyelid, eyelash |
cilium |
Lat |
cilia: eyelash-like appendages to cells |
|
|
long-haired |
kometes |
Gk from komes hair |
|
|
cirrus |
tuft of hair |
|
|
cirrus clouds |
|
villus |
shaggy hair |
|
|
|
|
barba |
beard |
|
L |
barbel - fish with beard-like appendages; barber? |
|
compho- |
nail |
|
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|
|
corn-, cornu- |
horn |
|
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kera- |
horn |
|
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|
cut-, cutic- |
skin |
|
|
cutaneous, cuticle? |
|
derm- |
skin |
derm(ato) |
|
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lepis |
scales |
|
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|
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lact-, lacto- |
milk |
|
|
|
|
mamm(o)- |
breast |
|
|
|
|
mast(o) |
breast |
|
|
mastectomy |
|
pect- |
breast |
pectus |
L |
pectoral muscles |
|
pipill- |
nipple |
|
|
|
|
English form |
Meaning |
Root |
Language
(Lat/Gk) |
Example |
|
splanchn- |
organ |
|
|
|
|
viscero- |
organ |
|
|
|
|
hist(o)- |
tissue |
|
|
?hysterectomy? Note: histogram from Greek histos mast |
|
sarco- |
flesh |
|
|
sarcophagus (flesh eating) |
|
carneo- carn(i) |
flesh |
caro |
L |
carnage – heap of flesh; carnival: lifting of flesh(-eating): carnival before Lenten fast, incarnate |
|
my(o)- |
muscle |
|
|
myocardial infarction heart muscle |
|
English form |
Meaning |
Root |
Language
(Lat/Gk) |
Example |
|
rachi(o) |
spine |
|
|
|
|
spondyl spondylo |
vertebra |
|
|
spondylolysis: + "lysis" = dissolve |
|
medull- |
marrow |
|
|
|
|
myelo- |
spinal cord, marrow |
|
|
|
|
noto- |
back |
|
|
notochord |
|
cani(o)- |
skull |
|
|
|
|
chrondr(o)- |
cartilage |
|
|
|
|
chondro |
cartilage |
|
|
hypochondriac = below cartilage (concern about parts under the breastbone) |
|
cost(o)- |
rib |
|
|
pentacostal |
|
pleur- |
side, rib |
|
|
|
|
den-, dent- |
tooth |
|
|
|
|
dontus |
teeth |
|
|
|
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odonto- |
teeth |
|
|
|
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adous |
tooth |
|
|
|
|
osse(o)- |
bone |
|
|
|
|
oste(o)- |
bone |
|
|
|
|
arthron arthr- arthro- |
joint |
|
G |
arthritis (inflamation of the joints) |
|
artus |