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
thermo-

(Gr., heat), thermotropism , reaction to heat.
tetra-

(Gr., four), tetrapod , something that has four feet.
terato-

(Gr., marvel, or monster),teratology, study ofmonstrosities or deviations from the normal.
telo-

(Gr., complete or end), telophase , end stage of cell division.
taxo-, taxi-, taxis

(Gr., taxis-arrangement).
syn-

(Gr., together), synapsis , association or union.
sym-

(Gr., together), symbiosis , living together.
supra-

(L., above), suprarenal , above the kidney .
super-

(L., over or above), superior , higher, upper, or above.
sub-

(Gr., under), submaxillary , under the maxilla.
stoma-

(Gr., opening), stoma , opening, such as is found in leaves.
spor-

(Gr., seed), spore , reproductive structure.
soma-

(Gr., body), somatoplasm , protoplasm of the body.
sinu-

(L., hollow), sinus , hollow cavity.
set-

(L., bristle), seta , bristle-like structure.