Prefixes & Suffixes

The following list is by no means complete, but it may help in understanding some difficult terminology. The following abbreviations are used ; Gr., for the Greek ; L., for the Latin.

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Term Definition
pseudo-

(Or., false), pseudopodia , false feet.

prox-

(L., nearest), proximal , nearest.

proto-

(Or., first of essential), protoplasm , essential material of all plant and animal cells.

pro-

(Or., before), prostomium , portion ofthe head situated before the mouth of certain worms and molluscs.

pre-

(L. before), prenatal , before birth.

post-

(L., after), postnatal , after birth.

poly-

(Or., many), Polymorphous , having many for iris.

plio-

(Or., more), Pliocene , more recent geologic period.

platy-

(Or., nat), Platyhelminthes, phylum of Flatworms.

physio-

( Or., nature), physiology , study of the nature or function of living matter.

phyco-

(Or., alga, or seaweed), Phycomycetes , alga like fungus.

photo-

(Or., light), photosynthesis , formation of carbohydrates in the presence of light.

phor-

(Or., to bear), sporophore , part of a sporophyte that bears spores.

phago-

(Or., to eat), phagocyte , cell that eats or destroys.

phaeo-

(Or., dark or brown), Phaeophyta , phylum of brown algae.