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.
Search for glossary terms (regular expression allowed)
Term Definition
a-or an-

(Gr., without or absent), asexual, without sex anaerobe organism that lives without free oxygen.

ab-

(L., away from or without), aboral, away from the mouth

acr, acri-, acis

(Gr-akris) Outermost top, point, tip

actin-actino

(Gr., ktis-ray)

ad-

(L., toward, upon, or equal), adrenal , relating to the kidney; adduct, to draw one part towards another.

ae

(L., plural ending of singular Latin nouns ending in a) alga and algae

aer-

(Gr, air), aerobe , organism that requires free air.

alb

(L., white), albino , organism exhibiting no pigment.

algia

(Gr., pain), neuralgia , pain in a nerve.

ambi-

(L., both), ambidextrous , being able to use eitherhand.

ambly

(Gr., ambulus, dull, dim) e.g. amblypoda, rangeextinct animals of the Eocene period.

amphi-

(Gr., on both sides), Amphibia , class of vertebrateanimals living in water and on land.

amyl-

(L., starch), amylase enzyme that changes starch to sugar.

ana-

(Gr., back or again), anabolism , building-up processof metabolism.

angio-

(Gr., enclosed), angiosperm , plant with enclosed or protected seeds.