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
xiphi-

(Gr., xiphos, a sword) : e.g. xiphiosura, king crabs the hind part bearing a long tail spine
xero-

(Gr., xeros-dry) e.g. xerophyte e.g. climatic plant
xen-, xeno-

(Gr., xen-strange-different)
xantho-

(Gr., xanthos, yellow) : eg. xanthophyll, yellowpigment.
ventr-

(Gr., belly), ventral , pertaining to the lower or belly side.
vas-

(L., vessel), vas deferens , vessel to transmit male sex cells.
uni-

(L, one), unilateral , on one side.
ultra-

(L., beyond), ultramicroscopic, so small that it is beyond the microscope.
trop-

(Gr., reaction), tropism , reaction to stimuli.
tricho-

(Gr., hair), trichocyst , hair-like structure.
tri-

(Gr., three), trilobed , having three lobes.
trans-

(Gr., across), transfer , to carry across.
toxi-

(Gr., poison), toxin , poison.
ti-

(L., to turn), Vorticella , animal that turns as it moves.
thigmo-

(Gr., contact), thigmotropism , reaction to contact.