Science Terms

Made Easy
Science Terms
Made Easy
A Lexicon of Scientific Words and
Their Root Language Origins

Joseph S. Elias

GREENWOOD PRESS
Westport, Connecticut • London
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Elias, Joseph S., 1948–
Science terms made easy : a lexicon of scientific words and their root language origins / Joseph S. Elias.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0–313–33896–5 (alk. paper)
1. Science—Terminology. 2. Latin language—Technical Latin. 3. English language—Etymology. I. Title.
Q179.E45 2007
501'.4—dc22 2006026197

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available.

Copyright © 2007 by Joseph S. Elias
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be
reproduced, by any process or technique, without the
express written consent of the publisher.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2006026197
ISBN: 0–313–33896–5
First published in 2007
Greenwood Press, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
An imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc.
www.greenwood.com
Printed in the United States of America

The paper used in this book complies with the

Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National
Information Standards Organization (Z39.48–1984).
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
 For all you mean to me,
this book is dedicated to my mother and father;
to my brothers, Edward and Victor;
and to my daughters, Elizabeth, Kate, and Samantha.
 Contents

Preface ix

Acknowledgments xi

How to Use This Book xiii

Alphabetical Entries 1

Common Prefixes 205

Common Roots 209

Common Suffixes 217

Resources 219

The idea for writing this book came about as a result
of discussions with my pre-service science teacher
on effective ways to teach science vocabulary. Years
ago, I came to realize that high school and middle
school students viewed the complexities of scientific
vocabulary as a necessary burden that sometimes
interfered with their pursuit of understanding impor-
tant concepts. Students at these grade levels would
complain about words that were unfamiliar or unrec-
ognizable. Quite often science teachers new to the
profession would address the vocabulary by develop-
ing word lists and definitions or by coming up with
simple word association games promoting the ability
to recognize words and recall their meanings.
During my years as a teacher of human anatomy
and physiology, I developed a student assignment
called the “List of 50 Muscles.” Students were pro-
vided with a list of the muscles, and their task was to
examine the names and describe all they could about a
given muscle simply by analyzing the name. Muscles
such as the pterygoideus internus, the external carpi
radialis longus, or my favorite, the sternocleidomastoi-
deus, challenged students to go beyond the words
themselves and, in a sense, dissect the word as they
would if they were dissecting a preserved specimen.
Students discovered that the parts of these scientific
terms could be interchanged and still retain their
meanings.
As you might imagine, for me as a young teacher,
this was a breakthrough of sorts. I became as strong an
advocate for inquiry-type teaching approaches to sci-
entific terminology as I was for the teaching of inquiry
methods in science itself. I found a way to once again
Preface
challenge students to think, analyze, and reason their
way to a deeper understanding rather than resort to rote
memorization.
This, of course, led me to more deeply examine
the terminology that I used on a regular basis in all
my science classes. I became more curious about the
origins and the history of the words. If a student
wanted an explanation of a given word, I wanted to
be prepared to either point the student in a direction
where he could find an answer or, sometimes, to sim-
ply tell the tale myself.
What I discovered was that words have histories.
They move through cultures and times and mutate
along the way. So when you examine the list, you
will find descriptions of many roots that will call
upon you to make the connections between the origi-
nal meanings of the roots and their modern counter-
parts. Sometimes making those connections is a
stretch, and you’ll have to use your imagination. But
through all of this, I found the literal meanings to be
simple, if not humble, compared with the rather
sophisticated uses of the root words today.
I hope you will value the sidebars. You will proba-
bly notice that the ancient Greeks had much to do
with science, mathematics, and philosophy. These
great thinkers provided the world with its first really
grand period of scientific enlightenment. The philoso-
phers of the time pondered the order of the universe.
They speculated and hypothesized on all aspects of
order and chaos. They spoke of the things that were
earthly and of things that were divine, and they used
these models as the bases for their perception of the
physical world. Many of the terms used in science,
x Preface
especially the physical sciences, have their origins
in the Greek language.
The study of living things—anatomy, taxonomy,
and medicine—did not really move forward until
the next period of scientific enlightenment, in the
seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. By that time,
the great days of the Greek civilization were long
past and the age of exploration and investigation
moved more toward Western Europe. Thus, you will
notice that many of the root words associated with
living things are of Latin rather than Greek origin.
As a final note, this compilation of words is by
no means meant to be a complete text of scientific
terminology, but it does represent a very healthy
collection of the more common words used in sci-
ence courses in middle and high school science
classes. I imagine that students in lower-division
college courses will also find this book to be a
valuable reference. It is my sincere hope that
readers will have as much fun with this compila-
tion of science terminology as I had putting it all
together.
 Acknowledgments

First and foremost, I wish to acknowledge the many
science education students at Kutztown University
for their significant contributions to my list of
words. Without them, the task of gathering infor-
mation and developing the final product would have
been far more daunting of an undertaking.
I would also like to acknowledge the members of
the Department of Secondary Education at Kutztown
University. Their support, expertise, guidance, and
patience allowed me to focus on the task at hand.
I would also like to thank the regional science
teachers who, on occasion, would e-mail or pass
along words that caught their interest.

I have never underestimated the creativity of teach-
ers. When they were given the right tools and the
proper amount of time, the teachers that I have known
developed some fascinating perspectives on how to
teach science. Virtually all experienced and talented
science teachers pride themselves on being able to
challenge students to think, reason, predict, hypothe-
size, and interpret data collected from observation
and experimentation. This book provides another
valuable component to assist them in their efforts.
Teaching scientific terminology for understand-
ing has always been a challenge for teachers. The
words included in this text will provide the teacher
with a source for integrating complex terminology
into their lessons. I recommend that instructors
design activities that call for students to critically
examine the words they are learning in ways that
encourage them to look deeper into their meanings
and historic origins. The sidebars provide historical
perspectives and a quick study of interesting people
and events that led to the study of science and tech-
nology in the modern era. The reader will gain an
appreciation of how scientists, mathematicians, and
philosophers of past eras were able to develop theo-
How to Use
This Book
ries of the order of the universe based on reason
rather than experimentation. Many of these theories
went unchallenged for over a thousand years.
I would encourage students to become very
familiar with the common prefixes and suffixes.
Suffixes such as -or and -ion appear repeatedly in
words pertaining to actions or processes. Prefixes
such as a- or an- and con- or com- are very common
in scientific language. If students are made aware of
how these word fragments are used, they should be
able to recognize their relevance in terms that are
new to them. Teachers may also want to point out
that the o’s have been deliberately removed from
many of the word fragments, the reason being that
they are generally referred to as “combining vow-
els.” The o is used to connect many commonly used
prefixes and suffixes to the root words; such, for
instance, is the case with stern-o-mastoid.
This inquiry approach to language not only
strengthens the analytical skills of students, it also
fosters a sense of independence in the learner.
Students quickly learn that they have the power to
examine complex words and construct new mean-
ings independently of a teacher or professor.
Abdomen Abiotic
Latin Greek
abdomen belly, venter a- without
That portion of the body that lies between the -bios- life, living organisms or tissue
lower thorax (chest) and the pelvis. -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
The set of nonliving environmental factors or
Abdominalgia
conditions that are common within a given eco-
Latin/Greek
logical system.
abdomen- belly, venter
-algia pain, sense of pain; painful; hurting Abrasion
Pain in the abdomen; a belly ache. Latin
abradere- to scrape off
Abductor
-ion state, process, or quality of
Latin
The process of wearing down or scraping off by
ab- off, away from
means of rubbing one object against another object.
-ducere- to draw or lead
-or a condition or property of things or persons, Abscess
person that does something Greek
The name given to the function of a skeletal mus- ab- off, away from
cle used to pull a body part (arm or leg) away -cedere to go
from the midline of the body. A localized collection of pus in part of the body,
formed by tissue disintegration and surrounded
Aberration
by an inflamed area.
Latin
aberrare- deviation from the proper or expected Abscission
course Latin
-ion state, process, or quality of ab- off, away from
The bluring or distortion of an image, typically -caedere- to cut
caused by a defect in the lens. -ion state, process, or quality of
The shedding of leaves, flowers, or fruits follow-
Abiocoen
ing the formation of the abscission zone.
Greek
a- without Absorbance
-bios- life, living organisms or tissue Latin
-coen common, shared ab- off, away from
The sum total of the nonliving components of an -sorbere- to suck
environment. -ance brilliance, appearance
2 Abyssal

The relative ability of the surface of a substance Acclimation

to retain radiant energy. Greek
a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not
Abyssal
-klime- slope
Greek
-ion state, process, or quality of
a- without
Physiological responses to environmental change.
-bussos- bottom
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form Accommodation
or character of Latin
Of or relating to the region of the ocean bottom ad- to, a direction toward, addition to, near
between the bathyal and hadal zones, from depths -commodus- to adjust, suitable
of approximately 3,000 to 6,000 meters. -ion state, process, or quality of
The state or process of adjusting one item to another.
Acanthaceous
Greek/Latin Accuracy
akanthos- thorn plant Latin
-aceous having the quality of accuratus- done with care
Resembling or having the quality of the family of -cy state, condition, quality
plants that bear prickles or spines. Precision, exactness.
Acanthologist Acetabulum
Greek Latin
akanthos- thorn plant aceta- hip
-logist one who speaks in a certain manner; one -bul- place for
who deals with a certain topic -um (singular) structure
A person who studies spines or spiny creatures. -a (plural) structure
Cup-shaped cavity at the base of the hipbone.
Acapnia
Greek Acetylcholine
a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not Latin/Greek
-kapnos smoke, carbon dioxide (CO2) acetum- vinegar
A condition marked by the presence of less than -khole- bile
the normal amount of CO2 in blood and tissue. -ine a chemical substance
A neurotransmitter that mediates the synaptic
Acardia
activity of autonomic synapses and neuromuscular
Greek
junctions.
a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not
-kard- heart, pertaining to the heart Acheiria
-ia names of diseases, place names, Latinizing Greek
plurals a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not
A congenital condition, usually occurring with -chir- hand; pertaining to the hand or hands
twins, where one of the two siblings is born with- -ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing
out a heart, or a lone heart is shared by the two. plurals
Congenital absence of the hands.
Acaulescent
Latin Acidaminuria
a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not Latin
-caulis- stem acere- to be sour
-escent being in a specific state, beginning to be -amino- relating to an amine or other compound
A seemingly stemless plant, though the stem may containing an NH2 group
be small and sometimes belowground. -urina urine
A disorder involving the metabolism of protein
Accipitrine
where excessive amounts of amino acids are
Latin
found in the urine.
accipiter- hawk
-ine of or relating to Acidemia
Raptorial, hawklike, belonging to the genus Latin
Accipiter. acere- to be sour
-haima blood
 Actophilous 3

A medical condition in which blood pH is below In biology, describing a species that lives or
normal. thrives in treetop habitats.
Acidic Acromegaly
Latin Greek
acere- to be sour acro- high, highest, highest point; top, tip end,
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of outermost; extreme
Having the reactions or characteristics of an acid. -megas large, big, great
A chronic disease in which the bones of the
Acidiferous
extremities, face, and jaw become enlarged.
Latin
acere- to be sour Acrosome
-ferrous bear, carry; produce Greek
Producing or yielding an acid. acro- high, highest, highest point; top, tip end,
outermost; extreme
Acidize
-soma (somatiko) body
Latin/Greek
A caplike structure at the anterior end of a sper-
acere- to be sour
matozoon that produces enzymes aiding in egg
-ize to make, to treat, to do something with
penetration.
To treat with acid.
Actin
Acidosis
Latin
New Latin
acere- to be sour
actus- motion
-inus relating to
-sis action, process, state, condition
A protein found in muscle that, together with myo-
The condition in which there is an excessive
sin, functions in muscle contraction.
amount of acid in the blood.
Actinoid
Acoelomate
Greek
Latin/Greek
aktin- ray (as of light), radiance, radiating
a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not
-oid (oeides) resembling; having the appearance of
-coelom- (koilomat) cavity
Having a radial form, as a starfish.
-ate an organism having these characteristics
An organism lacking a body cavity between the Actinotherapy
gut and the outer musculature of the body wall. Greek
aktin- ray (as of light), radiance, radiating
Acology
-therapeuein heal, cure; treatment
Greek
Treatment of disease by means of light rays.
aco- remedy, cure
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or Activation
bodies of knowledge Latin
The science of remedies; therapeutics. actus- to set in motion
-ion state, process, or quality of
Acroanesthesia
Stimulation of activity in an organism or chemical.
Greek
acro- outermost; extreme; extremity of the body Activity
-an- without, not Latin
-aisthesis- feeling activus- to drive, do
-ia names of diseases, place names, or -ity state of, quality of
Latinizing plurals The state of being active; energetic action or
Loss of sensation in the extremities; such as the movement; liveliness.
hands, fingers, toes, and feet.
Actophilous
Acrodendrophile Greek
Greek acto- seashore, beach
acro- high, highest, highest point; top, tip end, -phile- one who loves or has a strong affinity or
outermost; extreme preference for
-dendron- tree, treelike structure -ous full of, having the quality of, relating to
-phile one who loves or has a strong affinity or In biology, organisms thriving on rocky seashores
preference for or growing on coasts.
4 Acuminate
Natural Selection
Over a century ago two men put forth a coherent
theory about the origin of new species. The expla-
nation was really quite simple and was based
mostly on observations of the natural world. Yet
today people in the Western world continue to con-
test the validity of the theory of evolution based on
natural selection.
Charles Darwin and Alfred Russell Wallace
contended that the world is full of different species,
and that any species, if allowed to do so, will grow
at a prolific rate, producing far more progeny than
can be handled by its environment. The results are
readily observable: the excess population of a given
species tends to die off, leaving behind an accept-
able number of organisms given the available
resources. Darwin believed that the organisms that
manage to survive do so because they are best
adapted to the particular set of environmental con-
ditions in which they exist. Since survivors tend to
live to reproduce, those managing to do so would
pass on to the next generation the same or similar
genetical traits that allowed them to be among the
“selected.” And because organisms tend do what
comes natural—eat, drink, seek shelter, and
breed—the progeny or filial generation would
invariably be confronted with environmental
stresses influencing their ability to carry out the
first three of these natural functions, leading to the
Acuminate
Latin
acus- (acuere) to sharpen; needle, point
-ate characterized by having
Describing the tip of some leaves tapering gradu-
ally at the end to a point.
Acute
Latin
acus sharp; needle
Severe and sharp, as in pain.
Adactylia
Greek
a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not
-daktulos toe, finger, digit
The absence of digits on the hand or foot.
Adaptation
Latin
ad- to, a direction toward, addition to, near
-aptare- fit, fitted, suited
-ion state, process, or quality of
Modification of an organism or its parts that
imposition of a selective process on their numbers
and leaving the survivors to breed among
themselves—that is, assuming they are sexual in
their habits
Now multiply this process by the time allotted
for each generation—which is considerably longer
for humans than for rats, for instance. The number
of offspring produced by fertile females varies, as
does their reproductive viability (how often they
reproduce). When we compare the number and fre-
quency of births for rats with those of even more
prolific species, such as fleas or bacteria, we natu-
rally find that the more prolific a species is, the
greater the likelihood of diversity in genotype and
phenotype.
It is all about adaptability. Through selection,
over time species tend to become more in tune with
their environment. Because of successful adapta-
tion and continual breeding, any given species has
the capacity to produce genetic mutations. These
continual, chance changes in genetic code over
extreme periods of time have the potential of mod-
ifying the individuals of a given species to the point
to where they significantly differ from their ances-
tors. These genetically produced modifications are
“tested” against environmental conditions and are
either selected for or selected against based on
whether the organism lives long enough to breed.
makes it more fit for existence under the condi-
tions of its environment.
Adduct
Latin
ad- to, a direction toward, addition to, near
-ducere to lead, bring, take, or draw
To draw inward toward the median axis of the
body or toward an adjacent part or limb.
Adductor
Latin
ad- to, a direction toward, addition to, near
-ducere- to lead, bring, take, or draw
-or a condition or property of things or persons;
person who does something
Any muscle used to draw a body part toward the
midline of the body.
Adelopod
Greek
a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not
-delo- visible, clear, clearly seen, obvious
-pod foot
An animal whose feet are not apparent.
 Advection 5

Adenalgia ad- to, a direction toward, addition to, near

Greek -haerere- stick to, cling to
aden- lymph gland(s) -ive performing an action
-algia pain, sense of pain; painful, hurting Tending to cling; sticky.
A painful swelling in a gland.
Adiabatic
Adendric Greek
Greek a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not
a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not -diabatos- passable
-dendr- tree, resembling a tree -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of Of, relating to, or being a reversible thermody-
Without dendrites. namic process that occurs without gain or loss of
heat and without a change in entropy.
Adenine
Greek Adipocyte
aden- lymph gland(s) Latin
-ine of or relating to adip- of or pertaining to fat
A white crystalline base found in various animal -cyte (kutos) sac or bladder that contains fluid
and vegetable tissues as one of the purine base A mature fat cell found in animals.
constituents.
Adiponecrosis
Adenitis Greek
Greek adip- of or pertaining to fat
aden- lymph gland(s) -necro- death
-itis inflammation, burning -sis action, process, state, condition
Inflammation of a lymph node or of a gland. Death of fatty tissue occurring in hemorrhagic
pancreatitis.
Adenocarcinoma
Greek Adipose
aden- lymph gland(s) Latin
-karkinos- crab, cancer adip- of or pertaining to fat
-oma tumor, neoplasm -ose sugar, carbohydrate
A malignant tumor originating in glandular Of a fatty nature; the fat present in the cells of adi-
epithelium. pose tissue.
Adenofibrosis Adjuvant
Greek/Latin Latin
aden- lymph gland(s) ad- to, a direction toward, addition to, near
-fibre- an elongated threadlike structure -jungere- to join or unite
-sis action, process, state, condition -an one that is of, relating to, or belonging to
Fibroid change in a gland. A substance added to a vaccine to increase its
effectiveness.
Adenoid
Greek Adrenal
aden- lymph gland(s) Latin
-oid (oeides) resembling; having the appearance of ad- to, a direction toward, addition to, near
Glandlike lymphoid tissue, similar to the tonsils, -ren- the kidneys
located high in the back of the pharynx. -al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
or character of
Adenovirus
Glands located on top of the kidneys.
Greek
aden- lymph gland(s) Advection
-virus poison Latin
Any of a group of DNA-containing viruses that ad- to, a direction toward, addition to, near
cause conjunctivitis and upper respiratory tract -vehere- to carry
infections in humans. -ion state, process, or quality of
The transfer of a property of the atmosphere, such
Adhesive
as heat, cold, or humidity, by the horizontal
Latin
movement of an air mass.
6 Adventitious

Adventitious Refers to plants that are pollinated by wind or fer-

Latin tilized by airborne pollen.
ad- to, a direction toward, addition to, near
Aerotaxis
-vent- come
Greek
-ous full of, having the quality of, relating to
aer- air, atmosphere, mist, wind
Describing buds of a plant developing in intern-
-taxis order or arrangement
odes or on roots.
Movement of an organism in response to the pres-
Adynamandrous ence of molecular oxygen.
Greek
Affect
a- without
Latin
-dunamikos- powerful
ad- to, a direction toward, addition to, near
-androus man, men, male, masculine
-facere to do, carry, bear, bring
Having nonfunctioning male reproductive organs.
To act upon or have an influence upon some
Aerenchyma behavior.
Latin
Affector
aer- air, atmosphere, mist, wind
Latin
-enchyma tissue
ad- to, a direction toward, addition to, near
Large air-filled cells that allow rapid diffusion of
-facere- to do, carry, bear, bring
oxygen within wetland plants.
-or a condition or property of things or persons;
Aerobacter person who does something
Greek In biology, the term given to a nerve cell.
aer- air, atmosphere, mist, wind
Afferent
-bacter rod-shaped microorganism
Latin
Any genus of bacteria normally found in the
ad- to, a direction toward, addition to, near
intestine.
-facere- to do, carry, bear, bring
Aerobic -ent causing an action, being in a specific state,
Greek within
aer- air, atmosphere, mist, wind Leading toward a region of interest; carrying
-bio- life, living organisms or tissue toward the center of an organ or section, such as
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of nerves that conduct impulses from the body to the
Pertaining to organisms or processes that require brain or spinal cord.
the presence of oxygen.
Agantha
Aerobiont Greek
Greek a- without
aer- air, atmosphere, mist, wind -gnatha jaw
-bio- life, living organisms or tissue A superclass of fish that lack a jaw and a pelvic fin.
-ont (einai) to be
Agglutination
Either an organism living in air as distinct from
a- without
water or soil or an organism requiring oxygen.
-glutinare- to glue
Aerolite -ion state, process, or quality of
Greek The process by which red blood cells clump
aer- air, atmosphere, mist, wind together.
-lite- (lith) stone or rock
Agonist
A meteorite that is composed of a siliceous stony
Greek
material.
agon- conflict, contest
Aerophilous -ist one who is engaged in
Greek A muscle that is contracting and has an opposing
aer- air, atmosphere, mist, wind muscle (antagonist) applying force on a bone in
-phile- one who loves or has a strong affinity or the opposite direction.
preference for
-ous full of, having the quality of, relating to

George Washington Carver
“Our creator is the same and never changes despite
the names given Him by people here and in all parts
of the world. Even if we gave Him no name at all,
He would still be there, within us, waiting to give us
good on this earth.”
—G.W. Carver
How eloquent this humble man and inventor
was during his life. George Washington Carver was
born in 1864, near the end of the American Civil
War, in Diamond Grove, Missouri. In these trou-
bled times, Carver was kidnapped along with his
mother by Confederate night raiders and wound up
in Arkansas. Moses Carver, the owner of the farm
that was George’s birthplace, later found George
and reclaimed him. He and his wife, Susan, raised
George as their own. His natural mother was never
found, and the identity of his father was not known.
He left home at the tender age of 12 to begin his
schooling. George suffered all the setbacks associ-
ated with racial segregation. He was the first black
student ever to be admitted into Simpson College of
Indianola, Iowa. There he studied piano and art, but
George wanted to study science, so he transferred
to Iowa Agricultural College in 1891, when he was
27 years old. George was a diligent student; he
earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in
bacterial botany and agriculture in 1897 and
became the first black member of the Iowa college.
Later that year, George Washington Carver
moved to Tuskegee, Alabama, to become the Direc-
tor of Agriculture at the Tuskegee Normal and
Industrial Institute for Negroes. It was here that
Agriculture
Latin
agros- of or belonging to fields or soil
-colere to till
The science, art, and business of cultivating soil,
producing crops, and raising livestock; farming.
Agroforestry
Greek/Latin
agros- of or belonging to fields or soil
-foris- outside
-y place for an activity, condition, state
Land management for simultaneous production
of food crops and trees.
Aigialophilous
Greek
aigial- beach, seashore, cliff
-phile- one who loves or has a strong affinity or
preference for
-ous full of, having the quality of, relating to
Albinism 7
Carver began a career that has impacted the lives of
millions. He helped revolutionize agricultural prac-
tices in the war-torn South. As a result of the con-
tinuous planting of either cotton or tobacco,
southern plantations had become virtually useless.
Carver taught farmers about crop rotation for the
purpose of enriching the fields with nutrients. He
taught them how to grow peanuts, soybeans, sweet
potatoes, and other soil-enriching crops. This
brought the South back to life again.
George Washington Carver was never interested
in wealth or profit from his work. He lived by his
words: “How far you go in life depends on your
being tender with the young, compassionate with
the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and toler-
ant of the weak and strong. Because someday in
your life you will have been all of these.” He held
three patents, but he did not patent the numerous
discoveries he made while at Tuskegee. He created
over 300 products from peanuts and more than 100
products from sweet potatoes.
Carver was a compassionate teacher. He taught
his students to love nature and to use the forces of
nature for the benefit of all. He believed that educa-
tion should be “made common” and that all mem-
bers of the community would profit by an educated
society.
George Washington Carver died in 1943. He
was honored by President Franklin Roosevelt with
a national monument, the first for an African
American, near Diamond Grove, the place of his
childhood.
A community of organisms that thrive in beach
habitats or among pebbles on the beach.
Albedo
Latin
albus- the color white
-oid (oeides) resembling; having the appearance of
The ability of the surface of a planet or a moon to
reflect light.
Albinism
Latin
albus- the color white
-ism state or condition, quality
The state or condition of being an albino; a group of
inherited disorders characterized by deficiency or
absence of pigment in the skin, hair, and eyes due to
an abnormality in the production of melanin.
8 Albumin

Albumin Alimentary
Latin Latin
albumo- the color white alimentum- nourishment, supplying food
-in protein or derived from a protein -ary of, relating to, or connected with
Blood plasma protein produced in the liver. Pertaining to food or nourishment and to the
digestive system/alimentary canal.
Alcohol
Med. Latin from Arabic Alinasal
al- the Latin/Greek
-kuhl- essences obtained by distillation ala- wing
-ol alcohol -nasus- nose
Any of a series of hydroxyl compounds having -al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
the general formula CnH2n+1OH. or character of
Pertaining to the flaring of the nostrils.
Aldehyde
Latin Aliphatic
al. dehyd- short for alcohol dehydrogenate Greek
Any of a class of highly reactive organic chemical aleiphein- to anoint with oil
compounds obtained by oxidation of primary -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
alcohols. Of or relating to a group of organic chemical
compounds with carbon atoms linked in open
Aldosterone
chains.
Greek/Latin
al. dehyd- dehydrogenized alcohol Alkalimeter
-stereos- solid Latin (from Arabic)/Greek
-one chemical compound containing oxygen in a alkali- (Latin) basic (pH more than 7)
carbonyl group alqili- (Arabic) ashes (originally from Arabic
A steroid hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex word al-qali, which means “ashes,” and recalls
that regulates the salt and water balance in the body. the elements Na [sodium] and K [potassium] left
in the ashes of burning wood or plants)
Algae (alga)
-meter (metron) instrument or means of measur-
Latin
ing; to measure
alga seaweed
An apparatus for measuring concentrations of
A very large, diverse group of plantlike organ-
alkalinity in solutions.
isms that are mostly aquatic or marine. They
range from the unicellular forms to the extremely Alkaline
large kelp forms. Latin (from Arabic)/Greek
alkali- (Latin) basic (pH more than 7)
Algaecide
alqili- (Arabic) ashes (originally from Arabic
Latin
word al-qali, which means “ashes,” and recalls
alga seaweed
the elements Na [sodium] and K [potassium] left
-cide (caedere) to cut, kill, hack at, or strike
in the ashes of burning wood or plants)
Type of pesticide that controls algae in bodies of
-ine of or relating to
water.
Relating to or containing the carbonate or hy-
Algesimeter droxide of an alkali metal (the aqueous solution
Greek of which is bitter, slippery, caustic, and basic).
algeis- pain
Alkalosis
-meter (metron) instrument or means of measur-
Latin (from Arabic)/Greek
ing; to measure
alkali- (Latin) basic (pH more than 7)
An instrument used to measure the sensitivity to pain,
alqili- (Arabic) ashes (originally from Arabic
such as that produced by pricking with a sharp point.
word al-qali, which means “ashes,” and recalls
Algesiogenic the elements Na [sodium] and K [potassium] left
Greek in the ashes of burning wood or plants)
algeis- pain -sis action, process, state, condition
-gen- to give birth, kind, produce The condition in which there is an excessive
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of amount of alkali in the blood.
Producing pain.
 Altruism 9

Alkane Allotropy
English/Arabic/French Greek
alkyl- (English) alcohol allos- other, different
al-kuhl- (Arabic) al- the + kuhl powder of antimony -trope- bend, curve, turn, a turning; response to a
-(meth)ane an odorless, colorless gas (CH4) stimulus
Any member of the alkane series. -y place for an activity, condition, state
The existence of two or more crystalline or
Alkene
molecular structural forms of an element (rotat-
Latin (from Arabic)/Greek
ing light in different directions).
alkyl- (English) alcohol
al-kuhl- (Arabic) al- the + kuhl powder of antimony Alloy
-ene an unsaturated organic compound Latin
Any of a series of unsaturated, open-chain hydrocar- alligare- to bind
bons with one or more carbon-carbon double bonds. -y place for an activity, condition, state
The state of mixing two or more metallic sub-
Alkyne
stances where the combination calls for each metal
Latin (from Arabic)/Greek
to occupy spaces within the molecules of the other.
alkyl- (English) alcohol
al-kuhl- (Arabic) al- the + kuhl powder of anti- Alluvion
mony Latin (alluere)
-ine a chemical compound ad- to, a direction toward, addition to, near
Any of a series of open-chain hydrocarbons with -luere- to wash
a carbon-carbon triple bond. -ion state, process, or quality of
The process by which the wash or flow of water
Allele
inundates a land mass; to wash against.
Greek
alleion mutually Altimeter
One of two or more alternative forms of a gene, occu- Latin
pying the same position on paired chromosomes altus- high, highest, tall, lofty
and controlling the same inherited characteristic. -meter (metron) instrument or means of measur-
ing, to measure
Allergen
A barometer-like device that is used in airplanes
Greek
to determine altitude.
allos- other, different
-gen to give birth, kind, produce Altitude
A substance, such as pollen, that causes an allergy. Latin
altus- high, highest, tall, lofty
Alliaceous
-ude state, quality, condition of
Latin
In astronomy, the angle between an object in the
allium- onion, garlic bulb
sky and the horizon.
-aceous having the quality of
Of or pertaining to the botanical genus Allium. Altricial
Latin
Allometry
alere- to nourish
Greek
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
allos- other, different
or character of
-metria (metron) the process of measuring
Referring to various bird species in which
The patterns of relationships among structure,
hatchlings are typically weak, naked, and depen-
function, and size.
dent on their parents.
Allosaur
Altruism
Greek
Latin
allos- other, different
alter- other
-sauros lizard
-ism state or condition, quality
Any one of a group of dinosaurs existing in the
Instinctive cooperative behavior that is detrimen-
late Jurassic and early Cretaceous periods. They
tal to the individual but contributes to the survival
had features similar to those of the tyrannosaur,
of the species.
but were small.
10 Alveolus

Alveolus Ammine
Latin Latin
alveus hollow, belly ammonia- a colorless, pungent gas, NH3
Microscopic air-containing sacs in the lungs where -ine a chemical compound
gases are exchanged during external respiration. Any of a class of inorganic coordination com-
pounds of ammonia and a magnetic salt.
Amalgam
Greek Ammophilous
a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not Greek
-malgama soft mass ammo- sand, sandy beach
A combination of different elements sometimes -phile- one who loves or has a strong affinity or
mixed with mercury to create an alloy used in preference for
dentistry. -ous full of, having the quality of, relating to
In biology, vegetation that thrives in sandy beach
Amalgamate
habitats.
Greek
amalgama- mixture Amniocentesis
-ate a derivative of a specific chemical compound Greek
or element amnion- embryo, bowl, lamb
To combine or mix a group of elements into an -kentein- to prick, puncture
integrated whole; the substance remains a mix- -sis action, process, state, condition
ture or alloy. A surgical procedure in which a small sample of
amniotic fluid is drawn from the uterus through a
Amblyopia
needle inserted in the abdomen.
New Latin
ambly- dull, dim Amniotic
-optic- eye, optic Greek
-ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing amnion- embryo, bowl, lamb
plurals -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Reduced or dim vision; also called lazy eye. Of or relating to the amnion, the sac or fluid that
protects the embryo (as in amniotic sac or amni-
Ambulacrum
otic fluid).
Latin
ambula- walk Amoeba
-crum planted with trees Greek
-um (singular) structure ameibein to change
-a (plural) structure One-celled aquatic or parasitic organism belong-
One of the five radial areas on the undersurface of ing to the genus Amoeba, appearing as a mass of
the starfish, from which the tube feet are pro- protoplasm with no definite shape.
truded and withdrawn.
Amoeboid
Amictic Greek
Greek ameibein- to change
a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not -oid (oeides) resembling; having the appearance of
-miktos- mixed or blended Amoeba-like in putting forth pseudopodia.
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Amorphous
Pertaining to female rotifers, which produce only
Greek
diploid eggs that cannot be fertilized, or to the
a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not
eggs produced by such females.
-morph- shape, form, figure, or appearance
Ammeter -ous full of, having the quality of, relating to
French/Greek Substance with a disjointed, incomplete crystal
am- (ampere) named for Andre Marie Ampere lattice or without shape.
-meter (metron) instrument or means of measur-
Amphibian
ing, to measure
Latin
A device used to measure electrical current in
amphi- on both or all sides, around
amperes.
-bios- life, living organisms or tissue
-an one that is of or relating to or belonging to
 Analog 11

An animal capable of living both on land and in Ampulla

water. Latin
amphi- on both or all sides, around
Amphibious
-phoreus bearer
Greek
Any membranous bag shaped like a leathern bot-
amphi- on both or all sides, around
tle, as the dilated end of a vessel or duct; especially,
-bios- life, living organisms or tissue
the dilations of the semicircular canals of the ear.
-ous full of, having the quality of, relating to
Relating to organisms that are able to live both on Amygdala
land and in water. Greek
amygdale almond
Amphiboles
An almond-shaped region of the brain, located in
Greek
the medial temporal lobe, believed to play a key
amphi- on both or all sides, around
role in the emotions.
-bol (ballein) to put or throw
Any of a large group of structurally similar Amylopsin
hydrated double-silicate minerals. Greek
amulon- starch; not ground at a mill
Amphigean
-tripsis- a rubbing (so named by its first being
Greek
obtained by rubbing a pancreas with glycerin)
amphi- on both or all sides, around
-in protein or protein derivative
-ge- earth, world
The starch-digesting amylase produced in the
-an one that is of, relating to, or belonging to
pancreas.
Extending all over the earth, from the equator to
both poles. Amyotonia
Greek
Amphioxus
a-, ano- no, absence of, lack of, without, not
Greek
-myo- muscle
amphi- on both or all sides, around
-tonia, -tone tension, pressure
-oxus sharp
Generalized absence of muscle tone, usually
Small, flattened marine organism with a noto-
associated with flabby musculature and an
chord (but no true vertebrae), which gives it a
increased range in passive movement at joints.
pointed shape; the lancelet.
Anabolism
Amphipathic
Greek
Greek
ana- anew, up
amphi- on both or all sides, around
-bol- (ballein) to put or throw
-path- suffering, disease
-ism state or condition, quality
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Building of complex molecules within a cell.
Relating to protein molecules with one surface
containing hydrophilic and the other hydrophobic Anaerobe
amino acid residues. Greek
an- no, absence of, without, lack of, not
Amphoteric
-aerobe organism requiring oxygen to live
Greek
Organism that can live in the absence of atmo-
ampho- (amphoteros) both, each of two
spheric oxygen.
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Capable of reacting chemically as either an acid Analgesic
or a base. Greek
an- no, absence of, without, lack of, not
Amplitude
-algesi- pain, sense of pain; painful, hurting
Latin
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
amplus- large, full
Referring to compounds that reduce pain perception.
-ude state, quality, or condition of
The maximum displacement of wave from a rest Analog
position; the measurement of a wave from the Greek
normal to the height of the wave (crest) or to the analogos proportionate
depth of the trough. In chemistry, a compound in which one or more
elements are replaced by other elements.
12 Analysis
Claudius Galenus of Pergamum
In the annals of medicine, the writings and teaching
of one Claudius Galenus, better known as Galen,
overshadow those of any other individual. The
medical perspectives of this ancient Greek physi-
cian occupied a position of prominence in the train-
ing of physicians throughout Europe for over a
thousand years. Galen was born in 129 AD in the
city of Pergamum, known today as Bergama, Tur-
key. Like many of the more learned people of his
time, he had a wide range of interests, including
astronomy, philosophy, astrology, and agriculture.
He chose to focus on medicine. After studying
medicine in Alexandria and Corinth, he practiced
wound treatment in gladiatorial schools.
He moved to Rome, where he began his career
as a lecturer and very quickly established himself
as an expert in the field. Soon he was appointed
physician to the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius
and later to his son Commodus.
Galen found himself in Rome at a time when
the Roman Empire was at constant war with fac-
tions on its northern border. As the empire slowly
crumbled around him, Galen spent his years in
Rome doing what he did best, dissecting animals.
It was this work that laid the foundation for the
Analysis
Greek
ana- anew, up
-ly- (luein) to loosen, dissolve, dissolution, break
-sis action, process, state, condition
Resolving or separating a whole into its elements
or component parts.
Anaphase
Greek
ana- anew, up
-phase a stage
The third of four stages of nuclear division in mito-
sis and in each of the two divisions of meiosis.
Anastomosis
Greek
ana- anew, up
-stoma- mouth
-sis action, process, state, condition
The connection of separate parts of a branching
system to form a network, such as blood vessels.
Anatomy
Greek
ana- anew, up
-temnein to cut
practice of medicine for over a thousand years. It
wasn’t a pretty sight to behold. Galen often dis-
sected live animals, and he would cut certain
nerve bundles to observe what happened as a
result. Galen was able to identify the causes of
paralysis by severing the spinal cords of pigs; he
cut the nerve controlling vocalization in the larynx
and, of course, discovered that the animal became
incapable of making sounds. He noted that blood
was carried through vessels, and he made accurate
observations about the brain that were contrary to
Aristotle’s notions of the roles of the brain and the
heart in the origination of conscious thought. He
had numerous scribes record his observations and
draw the organs and blood vessels of the dissected
animals, and this resulted in one of the major
works based on his research. This seventeen-
volume classic was titled On the Usefulness of the
Parts of the Human Body.
Galen did not, however, do significant work
with the human torso. Therefore, centuries later,
quite a few of Galen’s anatomical drawings proved
to be less than accurate, and it became necessary to
rob graves and to seek out the bodies of freshly exe-
cuted prisoners for dissection.
The structure of an animal or plant and any of its
parts.
Anconitis
Greek
ancon- elbow
-itis inflammation, burning sensation
An inflammation of the elbow joint.
Androecium
Greek
andros- male
-oikos house
Part of a flower that produces male gametes, or
pollen grains.
Androgen
Greek
andros- male
-gen to give birth, kind, produce
Male hormone secreted mostly by the testes and
to a lesser amount by the adrenal cortex.
Andronosia
Greek
andros- male
-nosia disease
Diseases occurring most often in males.
 Angular 13

Anemia -itis inflammation, burning sensation

Greek Inflammation of a blood or lymph vessel.
an- no, absence of, without, lack of, not
Angina
-haima blood
Greek
A pathological deficiency in the oxygen-carrying
ankhone a strangling
components of the blood.
A squeezing chest discomfort; angina pectoris
Anemometer occurs when blood oxygen is cut off from por-
Greek tions of the heart.
anemos- wind
Angiocarditis
-meter (metron) instrument or means of measur-
Greek
ing; to measure
angeion- vessel, usually a blood vessel
Instrument used to measure wind speed.
-kard- heart, pertaining to the heart
Anesthesia -itis inflammation, burning sensation
Greek Inflammation of the heart and great blood vessel.
an- no, absence of, without, lack of, not
Angiocarp
-aesthe- feeling, sensation, perception
Greek
-ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing
angeion- vessel, usually a blood vessel
plurals
-karpos fruit
Partial or total loss of the sense of pain, tempera-
A tree bearing fruit enclosed in a shell, involu-
ture, touch, etc., which may be produced by dis-
crum, or husk.
ease or an anesthetic.
Angiolith
Aneuploid
Greek
Greek
angeion- vessel, usually a blood vessel
a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not
-lithe stone, rock
-neur- nerve
A calcareous deposit in the wall of a blood vessel.
-nervus- sinew, tendon
-ploid having a number of chromosomes that has Angiolysis
a specified relationship to the basic number of Greek
chromosomes angeion- vessel, usually a blood vessel
Aberration in the chromosome number, in which -ly- (luein) to loosen, dissolve; dissolution, break
one or more extra chromosomes are present. -sis action, process, state, condition
The obliteration of blood vessels, such as occurs
Aneurysm
during embryonic development.
Greek
an- no, absence of, without, lack of, not Angionecrosis
-eurus- a widening; broad, wide Greek
-ism state or condition, quality angeion- vessel, usually a blood vessel
Abnormal dilation of a blood vessel due to a con- -nekros- death, corpse
genital defect or weakness of the wall of the vessel. -osis action, process, state, condition
Death of a blood vessel.
Angialgia
Greek Angiosperm
angeion- vessel, usually a blood vessel Greek
-algia pain, sense of pain; painful, hurting angeion- vessel, usually a blood vessel
Pain in a blood vessel. -sperma seed
Any of a class (Angiospermae) of vascular plants
Angiectasis
(such as orchids or roses) having the seeds in a
New Latin
closed ovary.
angeion- vessel, usually a blood vessel
-ectasis expansion, dilation Angular
Abnormal dilation of a blood vessel. Latin
angulus angle
Angiitis
Having, forming, or consisting of an angle or
Greek
angles.
angeion- vessel, usually a blood vessel
14 Anhydride

Anhydride Anorexia
Greek Greek
an- no, absence of, without, lack of, not an- no, absence of, without, lack of, not
-hydr- water -orexis- appetite
-ide binary compound -ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing
A chemical compound formed from another by plurals
the removal of water. Loss of appetite, sometimes because of a disease;
anorexia nervosa.
Anhydrous
Greek Anoxia
an- no, absence of, without, lack of, not Greek
-hydr- water an- no, absence of, without, lack of, not
-ous full of, having the quality of, relating to -oxo- oxygen
A compound in which all water has been -ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing
removed, usually through heating. plurals
Deprivation of oxygen that rapidly leads to col-
Anisotropic
lapse or death if not reversed.
Greek
an- no, absence of, without, lack of, not Antacid
-isos- equal Greek
-trope- bend, curve, turn, a turning; response to a anti- opposing, opposite, against
stimulus -acere to be sour
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of Any substance that reduces stomach acid.
Not isotropic; having different properties in dif-
Antagonist
ferent directions; thus, crystals of the isometric
Greek
system are optically isotropic, but all other crys-
anti- opposing, opposite, against
tals are anisotropic.
-agon- conflict, contest
Annelid -ist one who is engaged in
Latin A muscle or muscles that move in opposition to
annellus- little ring an agonist.
-id state, condition; having, being, pertaining to,
Antarctica
tending to, inclined to
Greek
Any of a phylum (Annelida) of coelomate and
ante- before or prior to
usually segmented invertebrates (such as earth-
-arc- bow arch or bent
worms, various marine worms, and leeches).
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Anode A body of land found mostly south of the Artic
Greek Circle. It covers an area of 5,500,000 square
an- no, absence of, without, lack of, not miles. About 98% of the land mass is covered
-hodós way or road with a thick continental ice sheet, and the remain-
The negative terminal of a voltaic cell or battery. ing 2% is barren rock.
Anomaly Anterior
Greek Latin
an- no, absence of, without, lack of, not ante- before or prior to
-homolus- even -or a condition or property of things or persons
-y place for an activity, condition, state Located near or toward the head in lower animals.
The angular deviation, as observed from the sun,
Anther
of a planet from its perihelion.
Greek
Anopheliphobia anth- flower; that which buds or sprouts
Greek -er one that performs an action
an- no, absence of, without, lack of, not Pollen-bearing part of a stamen.
-ophelos- advantage, use
Antheridia
-phob- fear, lacking an affinity for
Greek/Latin
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
anth- flower; that which buds or sprouts
or character of
-oidium fungus
An abnormal fear or hatred of mosquitoes.
 Anticline 15

A sperm-producing organ occurring in seedless Anthropoid

plants (fungi and algae). Greek
anthropo- man; human being, mankind
Anthodite
-oid (oeides) resembling; having the appearance of
Greek
A group of primates that resemble humans; apes
anth- flower; that which buds or sprouts
and monkeys.
-ite minerals and fossils
A period of the Paleozoic, spanning the time Anthropology
between 440 and 410 million years ago. Greek
anthropo- man; human being, mankind
Anthophilous
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or
Greek
bodies of knowledge
anth- flower; that which buds or sprouts
The scientific study of the history, culture,
-phile- one who loves or has a strong affinity or
genetic conditions, and lifestyles of a given popu-
preference for
lation of humans.
-ous full of, having the quality of, relating to
In biology, attracted to, or feeding on, flowers; Anthropozoonosis
living on or frequenting flowers. Greek
anthropo- man; human being, mankind
Anthracite
-zoon- animal
Greek
-nosis disease
anthrankitis- name of a fiery gem
An animal disease maintained in nature by ani-
-ite minerals and fossils
mals and transmissible to humans.
Hard coal that burns with very little smoke or
flame. Antibacterial
Greek
Anthropic
anti- opposing, opposite, against
Greek
-bacter- small rod
anthropo- man; human being, mankind
-ial (variation of -ia) relating to or characterized
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
by
Pertaining to humans or the period of their exist-
Pertaining to a substance that kills bacteria.
ence on earth.
Antibiotic
Anthropobiology
Greek
Greek
anti- opposing, opposite, against
anthropo- man; human being, mankind
-bios- life, living organisms or tissue
-bios- life, living organisms or tissue
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or
Any of a large class of substances produced by
bodies of knowledge
various microorganisms having the power to
The study of the biological relationships of
arrest the growth of other microorganisms or to
humans as a species.
destroy them.
Anthropocentric
Antibody
Greek
Greek/Old English
anthropo- man; human being, mankind
anti- opposing, opposite, against
-kentron- center, sharp point
-botah (body) the material frame of humans and
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
animals
Regarding humans as the central element of the
Protein produced by the immune system in
universe.
response to the presence of antigens in the body.
Anthropogenic
Anticline
Greek
Greek
anthropo- man; human being, mankind
anti- opposing, opposite, against
-gen- to give birth, kind, produce
-klinein sloping, to lean
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
A fold of the rock strata that slopes downward
Referring to pollutants and other impacts on nat-
from a center or common crest.
ural environments that can be traced to human
activities.
16 Anticoagulant
Anticoagulant
Latin
anti- opposing, opposite, against
-coagulum- coagulator
-ant performing, promoting, or causing a specific
event
A non–habit-forming medication that prevents
the formation of clots in the blood.
Anticodon
Greek
anti- opposing, opposite, against
-caudex book
A sequence of three nucleotides found in t-RNA.
Anticyclone
Greek
anti- opposing, opposite, against
-kyklos- circle, wheel, cycle
-ne of or relating to
A system of winds rotating about a center of high
atmospheric pressure, clockwise in the Northern
Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the South-
ern, that usually advances at 20 to 30 miles (about
30 to 50 kilometers) per hour.
Antigen
Latin
anti- opposing, opposite, against
-gen to give birth, kind, produce
Substance to which the body responds by produc-
ing antibodies.
Antimatter
Greek
anti- opposing, opposite, against
-mater mother
A hypothetical form of matter that is identical to
physical matter except that its atoms are com-
posed of antielectrons, antiprotons, and
antineutrons.
Antioxidant
Latin
anti- opposing, opposite, against
-oxy- pungent, sharp
-ant performing, promoting, or causing a specific
event
A substance or enzyme that inhibits oxidation
or inhibits the loss of an electron.
Antiparticle
Latin
anti- opposing, opposite, against
-particula a very small piece or part; a tiny por-
tion or speck
A subatomic particle, such as a positron, antiproton,
or antineutron, having the same mass, average life-
time, spin, magnitude of magnetic moment, and
magnitude of electric charge as the particle to which
it corresponds, but having the opposite sign of elec-
tric charge and opposite direction of magnetic
moment.
Antisense
Greek/Latin
anti- opposing, opposite, against
-senti re to feel
Of or relating to a nucleotide sequence that is
complementary to a sequence of messenger
RNA. When antisense DNA or RNA is added to a
cell, it binds to a specific messenger RNA mole-
cule and inactivates it.
Antiseptic
Greek
anti- opposing, opposite, against
-sepsis- putrefaction or decay
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Preventing or counteracting putrefaction or decay.
Antiserum
Greek/Latin
anti- opposing, opposite, against
-ser- the watery part of fluid
-um (singular) structure
-a (plural) structure
Animal or human serum containing antibodies
that are specific to a number of antigens.
Antitoxin
Greek
anti- opposing, opposite, against
-toxikos- poison
-in protein or derived from protein
An antibody with the ability to neutralize a spe-
cific toxin.
Aortic
Latin
aort- lower extremity of the windpipe; by exten-
sion, extremity of the heart, the great artery
-ic relating to or having some characteristics of
Relating to the main trunk of the systemic arteries,
carrying blood from the left side of the heart to the
arteries of all limbs and organs except the lungs.
Apatite
Greek
apate- deceit
-ite minerals and fossils
A natural, variously colored calcium fluoride
phosphate, Ca5F(PO4)3.
Aphasia
Greek
a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not
-phanai- speech
 Appendectomy 17

-ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing Apogeotropism

plurals Greek
A condition characterized by defective or absent apo- away from, off, separate
language abilities, typically caused by brain injury. -geo- earth, world
-trope- bend, curve, turn, a turning; response to a
Aphelion
stimulus
Greek
-ism state or condition
apo- away from
The response by an organism of turning away
-helios- sun
from the earth (e.g., plant stems growing upward).
-ion state, process, or quality of
The point on the orbit of a celestial body that is Apomixis
farthest from the sun. Greek
apo- away from, off, separate
Aphonia
-mixis mingling, intercourse
Greek
Reproduction without meiosis, or the formation
a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not
or fusion of gametes.
-phonos- voice
-ia names of disease, place names, or Latinizing Aponeurosis
plurals Greek
A condition characterized by the loss of one’s aponeurousthai to become tendinous
voice, caused by a disease, injury to the vocal Sheetlike fibrous membrane that binds muscle to
cords, or various psychological factors. muscle or muscle to bone.
Aplasia Apopyle
Greek Greek
a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not apo- away from, off, separate
-plassein- to form -pyle gate
-ia names of disease, place names, or Latinizing In sponges, opening of the radial canal into the
plurals spongocoel.
Developmental failure of an organ or tissue to
Apparatus
form, or the malformation of an organ or tissue.
Latin
Apnea ad- to, a direction toward, addition to, near
New Latin -parare to make ready
a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not A device or system composed of different parts
-pnea breathing or breath that act together to perform some special function.
Temporary cessation of breathing.
Appendage
Apocrine Latin
Greek ad- to, a direction toward, addition to, near
apo- away from, off, separate -pendere- to hang
-krinein to separate -age ( aticum) (Latin) condition or state
Applies to a type of mammalian sweat gland that A part or an organ that is attached to the axis of
produces a viscous secretion by breaking off a the body (i.e., arm, leg); a structure arising from
part of the cytoplasm of secreting cells. the surface or extending beyond the tip of another
structure.
Apoenzyme
Greek Appendectomy
apo- away from, off, separate Latin/Greek
-en- in ad- to, a direction toward, addition to, near
-zuma leaven, yeast -pendere- to hang
The protein part of an enzyme to which the coen- (ectomy)
zyme attaches to form an active enzyme. -ekt- outside, external, beyond
-tomos
Apogee
(temnein) to cut, incise, section
Greek
The surgical removal of the vermiform appendix.
apo- away from, off, separate
-gaia earth
Point of a satellite’s orbit that is farthest from the sun.
18 Appendicitis

Appendicitis Of or pertaining to life in the trees or living things

Latin in the trees.
ad- to, a direction toward, addition to, near
Archaeocytes
-pendere- to hang
Greek
-itis inflammation, burning sensation
archae- original, beginning, origin, ancient
An inflammation of the vermiform appendix.
-cyte (kutos) sac or bladder that contains fluid
Appendix Amoeboid cells of varied functions in sponges.
Latin
Archaeology
ad- to, a direction toward, addition to, near
Greek
-pendere to hang
archae- original, beginning, origin, ancient
A supplementary or accessory part of a bodily
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or
organ or structure.
bodies of knowledge
Aquatic The study of past human life and culture by the
Latin recovery and examination of remaining material
aqua- water evidence.
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Archaeopteryx
Consisting of, relating to, or being in water; an
Greek
organism that lives in, on, or near water.
archae- original, beginning, origin, ancient
Aquation -pterux wing
Latin A primitive group of birds existing in the Jurassic
aqua- water period, winged, with reptilian skin, teeth, and a
-ion state, process, or quality of long tail.
The process of replacement of other ligands by water.
Archean
Aqueous Greek
Latin archae- original, beginning, origin, ancient
aqua- water -an one that is of, relating to, or belonging to
-ous possessing, full of; characterized by The first formed rocks, characterized by cooling
Relating to, similar to, containing, or dissolved in periods 3.8 to 2.5 billion years ago.
water.
Archegonium
Aquifer Greek
Latin archae- original, beginning, origin, ancient
aqua- water -gonos- offspring
-ferre to carry -ium quality or relationship
Layer of rock or sediment that allows groundwa- A flasklike reproductive organ found in mosses,
ter to pass freely. ferns, and some other gymnosperms where the
eggs are produced.
Arachnid
Latin Archenteron
arakhn- spider Greek
-id state or condition; having, being, pertaining archae- original, beginning, origin, ancient
to, tending to, or inclined to -enteron gut
Arthropods characterized by four pairs of seg- The main cavity of an embryo in the gastrula stage.
mented legs and a body divided into two regions.
Archeognatha
Arboraceous Greek
French/Latin archae- original, beginning, origin, ancient
erbe- herb -gnatha jaw
-aceous having the quality of Bristletail; insect with cylindrical body, no wings,
A reference to a tree or woodlike substance. and three terminal “tails” with a medial caudal fil-
ament. Found in rocky areas, it is crepuscular or
Arboreal
nocturnal.
Latin
arbor- tree
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
or character of
 Arthroscopy 19

Archetype Small, terminal branch of an artery that leads into

Greek a capillary bed.
archae- original, beginning, origin, ancient
Arteriomalacia
-tupos type, model, stamp
Greek
An original model or pattern from which copies
arteria- windpipe, artery
are made or evolve.
-malacia softening of tissue
Area The softening of arteries, usually as a result of
Latin some disorder.
area open space
Arteriosclerosis
The extent of a planar region or of the surface of a
Greek
solid measured in square units.
arteria- windpipe, artery
Areola -sklero- (skleroun) to harden
Latin -sis action, process, state, condition
area- a courtyard, open space A chronic disease in which thickening, harden-
-ola little ing, and loss of elasticity of the arterial walls
A small ring of color around a center portion, as result in impaired blood circulation.
about the nipple of the breast, or the part of the
Artery
iris surrounding the pupil of the eye.
Greek
Argillaceous arteria windpipe, artery
Latin A vessel that carries blood from the heart to the
argillos- clay cells, tissues, and organs of the body.
-aceous having the quality of
Arthralgia
Of the nature of clay; largely composed of clay.
Greek
Argon arthr- joint
Greek -algia pain, sense of pain; painful, hurting
a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not Pain resulting from inflammation in a joint.
-ergon work
Arthritis
A colorless, inert gaseous element composing
Greek
approximately 1% of the earth’s atmosphere.
arthr- joint
Arillate -itis inflammation, burning sensation
Latin An inflammation of a joint.
arillus- grape seed
Arthroplasty
-ate characterized by having
Greek
A seed with an unusually brightly colored cover.
arthr- joint
Arithmetic -plastos- (plassein) something molded (to mold)
Greek -y place for an activity; condition, state
arithmos- number Surgical reconstruction or replacement of a mal-
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of formed or degenerated joint.
The computation of numbers having to do with
Arthropod
addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Greek
Aromatic arthr- joint
Greek -poda foot
aroma- smell (due to sweet smell of benzene and Any of numerous invertebrate animals of the phy-
related organic groups) lum Arthropoda, including insects, crustaceans,
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of arachnids, and myriapods.
Of, relating to, or containing one or more six-carbon
Arthroscopy
rings characteristic of benzene series and related
Greek
organic groups.
arthr- joint
Arteriole -skopion for viewing with the eye
Greek Visual examination of the inside of a joint with
arteria windpipe, artery the use of a specialized scope.
-ole little
20 Articulation
Astrology
The ancient Greeks bore witness to the orderly
nature of the daytime and nighttime skies. Based
on this recognition, they gave the name cosmos,
meaning “order,” to the celestial sphere. The
serenity of the cosmos apparently gave the
ancients a sense of security from the knowledge
that tomorrow’s nighttime sky would closely
resemble tonight’s.
The Mesopotamians are credited with the
advent of Western astrology in the second millen-
nium BC. They believed that the arrangement of
the stars and planets somehow influences human
existence here on earth. The term zodiac was
given to an imaginary band or belt spanning about
8 degrees on either side of the path of the sun.
Zodiac comes from the Greek word zoon, meaning
“animal” or “animal-like,” reflecting the fact that
the major constellations in the band are named
after animals or animal-like creatures. The path-
way defined by the zodiac also includes the orbital
paths of many planets in our solar system as well
as our moon. The Greeks are credited with the cre-
Articulation
Latin
articulus- small joint
-ate- of or having to do with
-ion state, process, or quality of
The action of bending the joints; a movable or
fixed joint between two or more bones.
Artificial
Latin
artificialis- not natural, man-made
-ial relating to or characterized by
Produced by humans rather than occurring natu-
rally; refers to something created or modified
through the effects of human or sociological forces.
Artiodactyla
Greek
artios- even
-daktulos toe, finger, digit
Order including even-toed mammals (deer, cows,
sheep).
Asbestos
Greek
a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not
-sbennunai to quench
Magnesium silicate; a fibrous, incombustible,
and chemical resistance substance used for fire-
proofing and insulation.
ation of the horoscope, which is a chart prepared
at the conception of a particular human being. By
plotting stellar and planetary positions in the
zodiac, ancient astrologers believed that the
course of one’s life could be foretold. So skillful
were these Greeks in the use of astrological charts
and prediction that over the course of human his-
tory few changes have been made to the methodol-
ogy of astrology as practiced by the Greeks.
Astrology, of course, is a pseudoscience. How-
ever, among the early Arab astrologers and later in
both Jewish and Christian sects, astrology devel-
oped into a vital component of the relationship
between man and his deity.
Astrology is as popular among the public today
as it was during the Middle Ages and before, espe-
cially in the United States. Scientists discount any
relationship between the positions of heavenly bod-
ies and prognosticative power. Most treat astrology
as it should be treated, as a source of amusement
and fun.
Ascarid
Greek
askarizein- to jump, throb
-id state or condition; having, being, pertaining
to, tending to, or inclined to
Any of a family of nematode worms, including
the common roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides),
which is parasitic in the human intestine.
Ascocarp
Greek
askos- bag
-karpos fruit
The mature, saclike fruiting body of an asco-
mycetes fungi.
Ascomycetes
Greek
askos- bag
-mukes fungus
A class of fungi containing an ascus and spores.
Ascus
Greek
askos- bag
A saclike spore capsule located at the tip of the
ascocarp in the phylum Ascomycota.
Asepsis
Latin

a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not
-sepein- to decay, cause to rot
-sis action, process, state, or condition
The absence of contamination by unwanted
organisms.
Aseptic
Greek
a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not
-sepein- to decay, cause to rot
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some character-
istic of
Pertaining to the condition of being free from
germs or other infection-causing microorganisms.
Asexual
Latin
a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not
-sexus sex
Refers to reproduction in which a single parent
produces offspring that are genetically identical
to the parent.
Asphyxia
Greek
a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not
-sphyzein- to throb; pulse, heartbeat
-ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing
plurals
A condition in which an extreme decrease in oxy-
gen in the body accompanied by an increase in
the concentration of carbon dioxide leads to loss
of consciousness or death.
Aspiration
Latin
a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not
-spir- breath of life, breath, breathing
-ion state, process, or quality of
The process of withdrawing fluid from a cavity or
sac by the use of a needle.
Assay
Latin
assa- pure, whole
-y place for an activity; condition or state
In chemistry, the determination of the quality of a
substance present in a sample.
Assimilate
Latin
ad- to, a direction toward, addition to, near
-simulare- to make similar or alike
-ate characterized by having
To consume, digest, absorb, and assimilate nutri-
ents into a living being.
Assimilation
Greek
Astigmatism 21
ad- to, a direction toward, addition to, near
-simulare- to make similar or alike
-ion state, process, or quality of
Process by which absorbed food molecules cir-
culating in the blood pass into the cells and are
used for growth, tissue repair, or other metabolic
activities.
Astatine
Greek
a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not
-statos- standing, stay, make firm, fixed, balanced
-ine in a chemical substance
A highly unstable, radioactive element.
Asteroid
Greek
aster- star
-oid (oeides) resembling; having the appearance
of
Any of the small celestial bodies between the
orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
Asteroidea
Greek
aster- star
-oid (oeides) resembling; having the appearance
of
Any of various marine echinoderms of the class
Asteroidea, characteristically having a thick,
often spiny body with five arms extending from a
central disk.
Asthenia
Greek
a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not
-sthenos- strength
-ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing
plurals
Loss or lack of bodily strength or energy; weak-
ness, debility.
Asthenosphere
Greek
a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not
-sthenos- strength
-sphaira a globe shape, ball, sphere
A layer of hot, weak material located in the man-
tle at a depth between 100 and 350 kilometers;
the rock within the zone is easily deformed.
Astigmatism
Greek
a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not
-stigma- a point, mark, spot, puncture
-ism state or condition, quality
A defect in an optical system (i.e., impaired eye-
sight) in which light rays fail to converge to a sin-
gle focal point.
22 Astrobiology
Galileo (1564–1642)
Galileo Galilei was born on February 15, 1564, in
the Tuscan region of Italy. His accomplishments in
the sciences are far too extensive to be covered in a
brief exposé. He spent most of his life studying
mathematics, astronomy, and physics. He was a
Catholic and had many friends who held esteemed
positions in the Catholic Church, but he found
himself on the defensive for his support of the
heliocentric configuration of the solar system as
described by Copernicus. For this position, in his
later years, he was put on trial and confined to
house arrest for the remaining days of his life.
Galileo is given credit for inventing the tele-
scope; he actually did not invent it but rather
refined and improved its design. With the advent of
the lens, he created a telescope that enabled him to
observe and study sunspots. This probably contrib-
uted to his loss of sight. He made it possible to see,
for the first time, the moons orbiting Jupiter. His
observations of Venus and its phases, which were
much like the phases of the moon, led Galileo to
side with the Copernican, heliocentric model of the
solar system rather than the widely accepted geo-
centric model put forth by Ptolemy. Galileo sold
quite a few of his telescopes and made a handsome
profit marketing them to seafarers.
Galileo is hailed as the standard-bearer for sci-
entific methodology. Influenced by his strong
background in mathematics, he advocated and pio-
neered experimental designs that included quanti-
fication of data. This was a dramatic departure
from earlier practices in science, where a more
philosophical, qualitative approach was the norm.
For this and other reasons, Galileo stood at odds
with the Church and with the more traditional,
Astrobiology
Greek
astros- star
-bios- life, living organisms or tissue
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or
bodies of knowledge
The branch of biology that deals with the search
for extraterrestrial life and the effects of extrater-
restrial surroundings on living organisms.
Astrocyte
Greek
astros- star
-cyte (kutos) sac or bladder that contains fluid
A star-shaped cell, especially a neuroglial cell of
nervous tissue.
Aristotelian thinkers. Looking back at his rather
radical departure from older approaches to sci-
ence, we acknowledge Galileo as the father of sci-
ence. He is also credited as the father of modern
physics and of modern astronomy.
We can confirm that Galileo had more than a
casual interest in technology. He developed a ther-
mometer using an enclosed tube, water, and
objects floating in the water. It operates on the
principles of temperature, compressed air and
buoyancy, and displacement. He designed and
developed the first compound microscope with
concave and convex lenses. Galileo also created a
vastly improved version of the military compass,
paving the way for improved weaponry. His mili-
tary compass provided a much safer way of elevat-
ing and supporting cannons, increasing their
firepower and accuracy.
Galileo studied pendulums and noted that the
period of the swing is independent of the wave’s
amplitude. The advent of the pendular clock later
developed by Christian Huygens depended on the
development of the escapement mechanism for the
pendulum created by Galileo.
His work in physics is well known and contin-
ues to be discussed in schools today. Recall his
experiment with two balls of unequal mass
dropped from the Tower of Pisa. He contended
that the time of descent of a ball was independent
of its mass. This was the exact opposite of what
Aristotle had proposed centuries before. Even
though Galileo was not the first person to make
this argument, he was able to demonstrate using
inclined planes and rolling balls that the principle
was indeed correct.
Astrology
Greek
astros- star
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or
bodies of knowledge
The study of the positions of the stars and planets
based on the belief that they can predict the future.
Astronaut
Greek
astros- star
-nautes sailor
A traveler in space; a member of a U.S. space
crew trained to pilot, navigate, or conduct
research in outer space.
 Atrium 23

Astronomy Athermy
Greek Greek
astros- star a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not
-nom (nemein) to dictate the laws of; knowledge, -thermos- combining form of “hot” (heat)
usage, order -y place for an activity; condition or state
Study of planets, stars, and other objects in space. A therapeutic treatment for certain diseases
involving no heat.
Astrophysics
Greek Atherosclerosis
astros- star Greek
-phusis- nature athera- tumors full of pus, like a gruel
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of -skleros- hardening
The branch of astronomy that deals with the -sis action, process, state, condition
physics of stellar phenomena. A stage of arteriosclerosis involving fatty depos-
its (atheromas) inside the arterial walls.
Asymmetric
Greek Atmosphere
a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not Greek
-summetros- of like measure atmos- vapor
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of -sphaira a globe shape, ball, sphere
Unequal in size or shape; having no balance. Mixture of gases that surrounds the earth.
Asymptotic Atoll
Greek Sanskrit
a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not antara interior
-sumptotos intersecting A nearly circular coral reef surrounding a shallow
Refers to a line whose distance to a given curve lagoon.
tends to zero; an asymptote may or may not inter-
Atom
sect its associated curve.
Greek
Asystole a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not
Greek -tomos (temnein) to cut, incise, section
a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not A unit of matter, the smallest of an element, hav-
-sustellein to contract ing all the characteristics of that element and con-
A life-threatening cardiac condition marked by sisting of a dense, positively charged nucleus
failure of the heart to contract. surrounded by an electron cloud.
Atactic Atonia
Greek Greek
a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not
-taktos ordered -tonos- tone, stretching, firm
The type of orientation of the methyl groups on a -ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing
polypropylene chain in plastics—in this case ran- plurals
dom orientation. Decrease in or lack of normal muscle tone, some-
times caused by prolonged paralysis.
Ataxia
Greek Atrioventricular
a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not atri- open area, central court, hall, entrance, or
-taxis order main room of an ancient roman house
Loss of the ability to coordinate muscular movements. -ventricul- belly
-ar relating to or resembling
Athermancy
Relating to, involving, or resembling the area of
Greek
the atrium or ventricle of the heart; the atrioven-
a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not
tricular valve.
-thermos- combining form of “hot” (heat)
-ancy condition or state of Atrium
Impermeability to heat (i.e., no heat passing Latin
through); the inability to transfer radiant energy. atri- open area, central court, hall, entrance, or
main room of an ancient roman house
24 Atrophy

-ium quality or relationship Autecology

Chamber associated with the heart; upper chamber.
Atrophy
Greek
a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not
-trophos- (trophein) to nourish, food, nutrition;
development
-y place for an activity; condition, state
A wasting away, deterioration, diminution, or
decrease in the size of a body organ, tissue, or part
owing to disease, injury, or lack of use.
Attenuate
Latin
ad- to, a direction toward, addition to, near
-tenuis- thin
-ate of or having to do with
To make or become weaker; to reduce the size,
strength, or density of something; to become thin-
ner, weaker, less dense, or less virulent.
Auditory
Latin
audit- hearing, listening, perception of sounds
-ory tending to, serving for
Of or relating to hearing, the organs of hearing, or
the sense of hearing.
Auricle
Latin
auricula ear
An ear-shaped part of an organ.
Aurora
Latin
aurora dawn
Short for aurora australis or aurora borealis
(luminous bands or streamers of light visible in
night sky).
Aurous
Latin
aurum- gold
-ous full of, having the quality of, relating to
Of, relating to, or containing gold.
Austral
Latin
austr- south; south wind
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
or character of
Relating to or coming from the south.
Australopithecus
Latin
austral- southern; human race classification
-pithecus ape, apelike creatures
Extinct genus of African hominid family thought
to have lived between 4 and 1 million years ago.
Greek
auto- self, same, spontaneous; directed from within
-oikos- home, house
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or
bodies of knowledge
The ecology of an individual organism or species.
Autism
Greek
auto- self, same, spontaneous; directed from within
-ism state or condition, quality
A psychiatric disorder of childhood characterized
by marked deficits in communication and social
interaction, preoc-cupation with fantasy, language
impairment, and abnormal behavior, such as repeti-
tive acts and excessive attachment to certain objects.
Autoclave
French
auto- self, same, spontaneous; directed from within
-clavis key (from the fact that it’s self-locking from
the pressurization)
A strong, pressurized, steam heat vessel, as used for
laboratory experiments, sterilization, or cooking.
Autogenous
Greek
auto- self, same, spontaneous; directed from within
-gen- to give birth, kind, produce
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Self-generated; produced independently. Coming
from the individual that it is growing in; a graft.
Autoionization
Greek
auto- self, same, spontaneous; directed from within
-ion- (ienai) to go; something that goes
-izein to cause or become
-ion state, process, or quality of
An ionization reaction between identical molecules.
Autolysis
Greek
auto- self, same, spontaneous; directed from within
-ly- (luein) to loosen, dissolve; dissolution, break
-sis action, process, state, condition
Self-acting disintegration of tissue by the release
of enzymes within the cells.
Autonomic
Greek
auto- self, same, spontaneous; directed from within
-nom (nemein) to dictate the laws of; knowledge,
usage, order
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Functioning independently of the will; not under
voluntary control (e.g., as with most functions of
the nervous system).
 Azimuth 25

Autopsy Average
Greek Arabic
auto- self, same, spontaneous; directed from within awariyah damaged merchandise
-opsy examination A single value that summarizes or represents the
Examination of the organs of a body to determine general significance of a set of unequal values.
the cause of death.
Avian
Autosomal Latin
Greek avis bird
auto- self, same, spontaneous; directed from within Of, relating to, or characteristic of birds.
-soma (somatiko) body
Aviation
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form or
Latin
character of
avis- bird
Pertaining to or characteristic of an autosome.
-ation state, process, or quality of
Autosome The art or science of flying, especially airplanes.
Greek
Avicide
auto- self, same, spontaneous; directed from within
Latin
-soma (somatiko) body
avis- bird
Any chromosome other than those that determine
-cide (caedere) to cut, kill, hack at, or strike
the sex of an organism.
Type of pesticide that controls populations of
Autotherm birds considered to be pests.
Greek
Axiom
auto- self, same, spontaneous; directed from within
Greek
-thermos combining form of “hot” (heat)
axios worthy
An organism that regulates its body heat indepen-
A universally recognized truth; self-evident, estab-
dently of ambient temperature changes.
lished rule.
Autotoxin
Axis
Greek
Latin
auto- self, same, spontaneous; directed from within
axis central
-toxikos poison
Any of the anatomical structures that lie centrally
Any harmful substance generated within the
or along a midcentral line within a body.
body; something that is self-poisonous.
Axon
Autotroph
Greek
Greek
axon axis
auto- self, same, spontaneous; directed from within
The usually long process of a nerve fiber that gen-
-trophos (trophein) to nourish; food, nutrition;
erally conducts impulses away from the body of
development
the nerve cell.
An organism that makes organic nutrients from
inorganic raw materials; any organism considered Azeotrope
to be a producer, capable of making its own food. Greek
a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not
Autotrophic
-zein- to boil
Greek
-trope bend, curve, turn, a turning; response to a
auto- self, same, spontaneous; directed from within
stimulus
-trophos- (trophein) to nourish; food, nutrition;
A mixture of two or more substances that has the
development
same composition in vapor state and liquid state.
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Relating to the process of synthesizing food Azimuth
either by photosynthesis or by chemosynthesis. Arabic
al- the
Auxin
-samt way, path
Greek
In astronomy, the horizontal measurement of the
auxein to grow
position of an object from north to east (clock-
Any of several plant hormones that regulate vari-
wise) in degrees from a reference direction or a
ous functions, including cell elongation.
celestial body (polaris).
Bacteremia Bacteriotherapy
Greek Greek
baktron- staff, rod baktron- staff, rod
-haima- blood -therapeuein heal, cure; treatment
-ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing Treatment of disease by introducing bacteria into
plurals the system.
Presence of bacteria in the blood.
Bacteriotropic
Bacteria Greek
Greek baktron- staff, rod
baktron- staff, rod -trope- bend, curve, turn, a turning; response to a
-ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing stimulus
plurals -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Single-celled or noncellular spherical or spiral- or Having an affinity for bacteria; moving toward
rod-shaped organism without chlorophyll. bacteria.
Bactericide Bacterium
Latin Greek
baktron- staff, rod baktron- staff, rod
-cida cutter, killer, slayer. -ium quality or relationship
Any chemical agent that kills bacteria A single-celled or non-cellular spherical or spi-
ral- or rod-shaped organism lacking chlorophyll
Bacteriophage
that reproduces by fission; important as a patho-
Greek
gen and for its biochemical properties; taxon-
baktron- staff, rod
omy is difficult (often considered a plant).
-phagein to eat
An ultra-microscopic filter-passing agent that has Bacteroid
the power to destroy bacteria and to induce bacte- Greek
rial mutation. baktron- staff, rod
-oid (oeides) resembling, having the appearance of
Bacteriostat
Resembling bacteria in appearance or action.
Greek
baktron- staff, rod Barometer
-statos standing; stay; make firm, fixed, balanced Greek
A class of antibiotics that prevents growth of bac- baro- weight, heavy; combining form meaning
terial cells. “pressure”
 Behavior 27

-meter (metron) instrument or means of measur-

ing; to measure The Greek Language
An instrument for determining the weight or
Examining the origins of the languages of
pressure of the atmosphere, and hence used for
Western cultures, we see that most had
judging probable changes in the weather.
their beginnings in the language of the
Baroreceptor Greeks. Around the sixth century BC , the
Greek ancient Greek culture flourished. Democ-
baro- weight, heavy; combining form meaning racy, cherished only by the wealthy, pro-
“pressure” vided a political and social environment
-reciepere- to receive for philosophers to ponder the nature of
-or a condition or property of things or persons; the universe. Some put down in words
person that does something their interpretations of order and chaos.
In living tissue, a receptor end organ that responds Plato (427–347 BC ), one of the most
to pressure. famous Greek philosophers, metaphori-
Base cally linked science to politics by stating
Latin that all things celestial were pure and
basis fundamental ingredient, foundation godly while earthly things were somehow
Any large class of compounds, including the tarnished and corrupted. He referred to
hydroxides and oxides of metals, having the abil- planets as crystalline spheres and made an
ity to react with acids to form salts. analogy between the good and the sun:
“though the good itself is not essence but
Basidiomycete still transcends essence in dignity and
Latin/Greek surpassing power.” In Plato’s Allegory of
basid- foundation or base the Cave he speaks of shadows and captiv-
-idion- (Greek) diminutive suffix ity and the darkness. In many such ways
-muket fungus Plato and others advanced the sciences in
Any of a large group of fungi, including puff- their time. Yet some would say they also
balls, shelf fungi, rusts, smuts, and mush- suppressed science and philosophy
rooms, that bear sexually produced spores on a through their belief that these endeavors
basidium. befit only the elite in Greek society.
Basidium
Latin Bathyal
basid- foundation or base Greek
-ium quality or relationship bathy- deep, depth
Club-shaped organ involved in sexual reproduc- -al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
tion in basidiomycete fungi (mushrooms, toad- or character of
stools etc.) and bearing four haploid basidiospores Of or relating to a region of the ocean between
at its tip. depths of 200 and 4,000 meters (660 and 13,000
Basophile feet).
Greek Bedrock
basis- fundamental ingredient, foundation Old English/Latin
-phile one who loves or has a strong affinity or bed- bed
preference for -rocca rock, stone
A granulocytic white blood cell characterized by The layer of solid rock beneath the gravel, soil,
cytoplasmic granules that stain blue when and stone of the earth’s surface.
exposed to a basic dye.
Behavior
Batholith Old English/French
Greek be- to cause, make, affect
bathy- deep, depth -havour to have
-lith rock, stone In biology, all of the responses to stimuli that an
A mass of igneous rock that has melted and organism is capable of displaying.
intruded into surrounding strata.
28 Benthic

Benthic bilis- bile

Greek -ruber- red
benthos- bottom -in protein or derived from protein
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of A pigmented substance in the hemoglobin that
Of the benthos, or bottom of the ocean or deep lake; appears in the urine, darkening it and indicative of
organisms existing at the bottom zone of the sea. liver or gallbladder disease.
Beta (rays) Bimetallic
Greek Latin
beta second letter of the Greek alphabet bi- two, twice, double, twofold
Electrons or positrons that are emitted from a -metallon- mine, ore, quarry; any of a category of
radioactive substance. electropositive elements from metallum
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Bias
Relating to a substance composed of two differ-
French
ent metals that are bonded together.
biais slant
To apply a small voltage to. Binary
Latin
Bicephalous
bini- two at a time, two by two
Greek
-ary of, relating to, or connected with
bi- two, twice, double, twofold
Consisting of or involving two, as in binary fission.
-cephalo- (kephalikos) head
-ous full of, having the quality of, relating to Binocular
Having two heads. Latin
bi- two, twice, double, twofold
Bicuspid
-ocul- of or relating to the eye
Latin
-ar relating to or resembling
bi- two, twice, double, twofold
Having two eyes arranged to produce stereo-
-cuspis- sharp point, cusp
scopic vision.
-id state, condition; having, being, pertaining to,
tending to, inclined to Binomial
Having two points or cusps, such as a premolar Latin
tooth. bi- two, twice, double, twofold
-nom- (nemein) to dictate the laws of; knowl-
Bidentate
edge, usage, order
Greek
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
bi- two, twice, double, twofold
or character of
-dentis- tooth
A taxonomic name consisting of two terms; bino-
-ate to cause to be affected or modified by
mial nomenclature.
To have two teeth or teethlike parts.
Bioaccumulation
Bifurcation
Greek/Latin
Latin
bios- life, living organisms or tissue
bi- two, twice, double, twofold
-ad- to, a direction toward, addition to, near
-furca- fork
-cumul are- to pile up
-ation state, process, or quality of
-ion state, process, or quality of
The point at which a splitting into two pieces occurs.
To accumulate in a biological system.
Bilateral
Bioaugmentation
Latin
Greek/Latin
bi- two, twice, double, twofold
bios- life, living organisms or tissue
-latus- side
-augere- to increase
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
-ion state, process, or quality of
or character of
Increasing the activity of bacteria that decompose
Referring to two-sided symmetrical animals;
pollutants, a technique used in bioremediation.
having identical parts on each side of an axis.
Biocentrism
Bilirubin
Greek
Latin
bios- life, living organisms or tissue
 Biomimetics 29

-kentron- center, sharp point bios- life, living organisms or tissue

-ism state or condition, quality -geo- earth
The belief that all life—or even the whole uni- -graphia (graphein) to write, record, draw, describe
verse, living or otherwise—taken as a whole, is The study of the geographical distribution of
equally valuable, and that humanity is not the organisms.
center of existence.
Biolith
Biodegradable Greek
Greek bios- life, living organisms or tissue
bios- life, living organisms or tissue -lithos stone or rock
-degrade- to impair physical structure A rock of organic origin.
-able capable, inclined to, tending to, given to
Biologics
Capable of being decomposed by biological agents,
Greek
especially bacteria.
bios- life, living organisms or tissue
Biodiversity -logics talk, speak; speech; word
Greek Agents, such as vaccines, that confer immunity to
bios- life, living organisms or tissue diseases or harmful biotic stresses.
-diverse- differing from another
Biology
-ity state, quality
Greek
The number and variety of organisms found within
bios- life, living organisms or tissue
a specified region.
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or
Bioecologist bodies of knowledge
Greek The science of life and of living organisms,
bios- life, living organisms or tissue including their structure, function, growth, ori-
-eco- environment, habitat gin, evolution, and distribution.
-logist a person who studies
Biomass
A specialist who studies the relation-ships of
Greek
organisms to their natural environments.
bios- life, living organisms or tissue
Bioenrichment -maza mass, large amount
Greek/Latin/French The total amount or weight of living material in a
bios- (Greek) life, living given area.
en- (Latin) in
Biome
-riche- (French) rich
Greek
-ment state or condition resulting from a (speci-
bios- life, living organisms or tissue
fied) action
-oma community
Adding nutrients or oxygen to increase the micro-
A major region, such as continental grassland, that
bial breakdown of pollutants.
has similar physical and climatological conditions.
Biofuel
Biomimesis
Various
Greek
bios- life, living organisms or tissue
bios- life, living organisms or tissue
-focus (fuel) hearth, fireplace
-minie- mimic, mime; imitate, act; simulation
Any fuel derived from biomass, such as treated
-sis action, process, state, condition
municipal and industrial wastes and methane pro-
In biology, the ability of an organism to mimic the
duced from renewable resources, especially plants.
physical characteristics of another species.
Biogenesis
Biomimetics
Greek
Greek
bios- life, living organisms or tissue
bios- life, living organisms or tissue
-gen- to give birth, kind, produce
-minie- mimic, mime; imitate, act; simulation
-sis action, process, state, condition
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some character-
The biological principle that life originates or
istic of
arises from life, and not from nonliving things.
A branch of biology that uses information from
Biogeography biological systems to develop synthetic systems.
Greek
30 Biopesticide

Biopesticide bi- two, twice, double, twofold

Latin/Greek -pectin- comb
bios- life, living organisms or tissue -ate characterized by having
-pestis- (Latin) plague, pestilance Feathery, with comblike branches or projections
-cide (caedere) to cut, kill, hack at, or strike growing out from both sides of the main axis
Naturally occurring substances with pesticidal (applied mainly to insect antennae).
properties.
Bipedal
Biopsy Latin
Greek bi- two, twice, double, twofold
bios- life, living organisms or tissue -ped- foot
-opsy examination -al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
Selection of tissue removed from a living specimen. or character of
An organism having two feet or capable of walk-
Bioremediation
ing on two feet.
Greek
bios- life, living organisms or tissue Biramous
-re- again Latin
-medi- middle bi- two, twice, double, twofold
-ion state, process, or quality of -ramus- branch
The process of using bacteria or other organisms -ous full of, having the quality of, relating to
to “clean up” toxins in the environment. Consisting of or having two branches, as the
appendages of an arthropod.
Biosphere
Greek Bitumen
bios- life, living organisms or tissue Latin
-sphaire to surround bitumen a mineral pitch from the Near East
The thin outer shell of the earth and the inner lay- Any of various flammable mixtures of hydrocar-
ers of its atmosphere, the place where all living bons and other substances, occurring naturally or
systems are found. obtained by distillation from coal or petroleum,
that are components of asphalt and tar and are
Biotechnology
used for surfacing roads and for waterproofing.
Greek
bios- life, living organisms or tissue Bivalve
-tekhne- skill, systematic treatment Latin
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or bi- two, twice, double, twofold
bodies of knowledge -valve leaf of a door
The scientific manipulation of living organisms, A mollusk that has a shell consisting of two
especially at the molecular genetic level, to produce hinged valves.
useful products. Gene splicing and the use of recom-
Bladder
binant DNA(rDNA) are major techniques used.
Latin
Biotic blaedre bladder
Greek In biology, any sac or saclike organ that is capable
bios- life, living organisms or tissue of distension as it fills with fluid.
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Blastocoel
Living materials in an ecosystem; having some
Greek
characteristics of living organisms.
blastos- germ, bud
Biotoxin -koilos hollow
Greek Cavity of the blastula.
bios- life, living organisms or tissue
Blastocyst
-toxikos poison
Greek
Any toxic substance formed in an animal body and
blastos- germ, bud
demonstrable in its tissues or body fluids, or both.
-kustis (cyst) sac or bladder that contains fluid
Bipectinate The modified blastula that is characteristic of pla-
Latin cental mammals.
 Bradycardia 31

Blastomere Botulism
Greek Latin
blastos- germ, bud botulus- sausage
-meros part -ism state or condition, quality
Name given to the early group of cells that result A severe, sometimes fatal poisoning caused by
from the fertilization and cleavage of an ovum. ingestion of food containing botulin and charac-
terized by nausea, vomiting, disturbed vision,
Blastopore
muscular weakness, and fatigue.
Greek
blastos- germ, bud Boule
-poros passage Latin
The opening of the archenteron (the central open- bulla bubble
ing of the gastrula, which ultimately becomes the A pear-shaped, aluminum-based synthetic mineral.
digestive cavity).
Bovine
Blastula Latin
Greek bov- cow
blastos- germ, bud -ine of or relating to
-ula diminutive Relating to, affecting, resembling, or derived
Early embryological stage of many animals; con- from a cow or bull.
sisting of a hollow mass of cells.
Bowel
Blennogenic Latin
Greek botulus sausage
blenno- mucus The intestines; sometimes refers to the large
-gen- to give birth, kind, produce intestine.
-ic relating to or having some characteristic of
Brachial
Producing or secreting mucus.
Greek
Blepharoplast brackhion upper arm
Greek -al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
blepharon- eyelid or character of
-plastos (plassein) something molded; to mold Of or relating to the arm, forelimb, or wing of a
A very small mass of cytoplasm at the base of a fla- vertebrate.
gellum, containing small amounts of chromatin.
Brachiopod
Blood Greek
Old English brakhin- upper arm
blod to thrive or bloom -pod foot
The fluid consisting of plasma, cells, and plate- Any of various marine invertebrates of the phy-
lets that is circulated by the heart through the ver- lum Brachiopoda, having bivalve dorsal and ven-
tebrate vascular system. tral shells enclosing a pair of tentacled, armlike
structures that are used to sweep minute food par-
Bomb
ticles into the mouth; also called lampshell.
Greek
bombos booming sound Brachiosaurus
A container capable of withstanding high internal Greek
pressure. brakhin- upper arm
-sauros lizard
Boreal
The group of very large, herbivorous dinosaurs exis-
Latin
ting in the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods; nota-
boreios coming from the north
ble features include long forelegs and a long neck.
Northern; of or relating to the north; the north wind.
Bradycardia
Botany
Latin/Greek
Greek
bradus- slow
botane- fodder, plants
-kard- heart; pertaining to the heart
-onuma name
-ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing
The science or study of plants.
plurals
32 Breeds

Slower-than-normal heart rate in humans, usually Bronchomalacia

considered to be less than 60 beats per minute. Greek
bronkhos- windpipe
Breeds
-malacia softening of tissue
Old English
The degeneration or softening of the trachea as a
bredan to breed
result of some disorder.
Variations within the same species that are capa-
ble of reproducing with one another; phenotypic Bronchus
modifications within a group. Greek
bronkhos- windpipe
Brevis
-us singular
Latin
Main branch of the windpipe.
brevis brief
An anatomical term meaning “short,” usually Bryophyte
associated with skeletal muscle. Greek
bruein- to swell or teem
Brittle
-phyte plant
Old English
Any of a division of nonvascular plants that lack
brytel to shatter
vascular tissue, including mosses and liverworts.
Likely to break, snap, or crack.
Bryozoan
Bronchitis
Greek
Greek
bruon- moss
bronkhos- windpipe
-zôion living being
-itis inflammation, burning sensation
Any of various small aquatic animals of the phy-
Chronic or acute inflammation of the mucous
lum Bryozoa that reproduce by budding and form
membrane of the bronchial tubes.
mosslike or branching colonies permanently
Bronchogenic attached to stones or seaweed; also called moss
Greek animal or polyzoan.
bronkhos- windpipe
Buoyancy
-gen- to give birth, kind, produce
Dutch/Latin
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
buoy- to float
Originating in the bronchi or having its origin in
-ancy condition or state of
the bronchus.
The tendency of a body to float or to rise when
submerged in a fluid
Cadaver Calomel
Latin Greek
cadere- to fall or die kalos- beautiful
-er one that performs that action -melas black
A corpse or dead body. A tasteless compound, Hg2Cl2, used as an
insecticide.
Caddisfly
Old English Calorie
cadace- cotton wool (refers to the tube in which Latin
the larva lives) calor- heat
-fleoge fly Any of several approximately equal units of heat,
Any of various insects with four hairy wings, each measured as the quantity of heat required to
chewing mouthparts, and long antennae; aquatic raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1
larvae. degree Celsius from a standard initial temperature.
Caldera Calorimeter
Late Latin Latin/Greek
caldaria cooking pot calor- heat
Large crater formed when the sides of a volcanic -meter (metron) instrument or means of measuring;
cone collapse. to measure
An apparatus for measuring quantities of absorbed
Calendar
or evolved heat typically generated in a reaction.
Latin
kalendae- account book Calorimetry
-ar relating to or resembling Latin
Any of various systems of reckoning time in calor- heat
which the beginning, length, and divisions of a -metria process of measuring
year are defined. Measurement of the amount of heat released or
absorbed during a chemical reaction.
Calibrate
Arabic Calving
qalib- shoemaker’s last Middle English
-ate characterized by having calve- calf
To check, adjust, or determine by comparison -ing the act or action of
with a standard. The process by which a block of a glacier breaks
off and falls into the sea to form an iceberg.
34 Calyx

Calyx
Greek The Heiki Warriors and Natural Selection
kalyx cup
Each year on April 24, fishermen who are
The outer whorl of a flower, the sepals.
descendants of the Heike warriors com-
Cambium memorate the last battle of the war between
Latin the Heike and Genji samurai clans. On this
cambiare- to exchange day, the Heike clan succumbed to its final
-ium quality or relationship defeat. The naval battle of Danno-ura was
Plant tissue commonly present as a thin layer that the last stand for this noble clan.
forms new cells on both sides; located either in The Heike fought gallantly against an
vascular tissue (vascular cambium), forming opposing force that greatly outnumbered
xylem on one side and phloem on the other, or in them. In the end, the survivors, rather than
cork (cork cambium or phellogen). being taken alive, jumped from their ships
Camouflage and committed mass suicide. Among them
French/Latin was their emperor, a seven-year-old boy
camoufler- to disguise named Antoku.
-age (aticum) (Latin) condition or state The story might have ended there, but
Concealment by means of disguise or protective for a small group of handmaidens who
coloring. remained on shore that day. After the war,
they lived among the fishermen of the vil-
Campodeiform lage and bore children.
Greek Over the centuries, the celebration has
campo- caterpillar, bend, curve grown into a legend. The story has it that
-dei- god, deity, divine nature the Heiki samurai still wander at the bottom
-form having the form of of the sea, as evidenced by the many crabs
Applied to insect larvae, grublike, flattened, and there with markings of what appears to be
elongated with well-developed legs and anten- the face of a samurai.
nae; many beetle larvae are of this type, as are This is a wonderful example of natural
those of the lacewings. selection. The fishermen of the Danno-ura
Canaliculus cast their nets into the inland sea and bring
Latin up thousands of crabs. Among them is one
canalis- conduit with markings vaguely resembling a face
-us thing on its carapace. The fishermen believe this
Very small channels or ducts in the body; nor- crab to be sacred and therefore throw it
mally associated with the Haversian system of back. The process is repeated countless
compact bone. times. The crabs breed and the likeness of a
face is selected for because the crabs bear-
Cancer ing it are not harvested. Thus, over time,
Latin humans preferentially selected a pheno-
cancer crab type, the face of a samurai, to predominate
A pathological condition marked by the growth among the population.
and proliferation of neoplastic cells.
Candle Capacitor
Latin Latin
candela candle capacitas- spacious
A unit of light intensity equal to the amount of -or person or thing that does something
light emitted from a standard source such as a An electrical circuit element used to store charge
candle or an incandescent light. temporarily.
Canine Capelin
Latin Latin
cani- dog cappa- cap or cape
-ine of or relating to -lin small or little
An animal of the family Canidae; belonging to or A small food fish of the smelt family, found in
characteristic of a dog. north Atlantic coastal waters.
 Cardiac 35

Capillary
Latin Impregnating Water with Fixed Air
capill- hairy Joseph Priestley was born in Birstall parish
-ary pertaining to near Leeds, England, in 1733. He was a
As fine or minute as a hair; having a very small man of many interests. He was persecuted
bore, as a tube. for his interest in civil rights, government,
Capsid religion, and philosophy, but it was his
Latin sympathetic view of the French people dur-
cap- catch, seize, take hold of, contain, take, ing the French Revolution that led to rumors
hold and conspiracy against him. His home, labora-
-sid state, condition; having, being, pertaining to, tory, and church in Birmingham were burned
tending to, inclined to to the ground in 1791. He later fled to the
The coating of a protein that encloses the nucleic United States and took up residence in
acid core of a virus. Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, where
he died in 1804.
Capsule
In 1772 Dr. Joseph Priestley published a
Latin
paper titled “Impregnating Water with Fixed
capsa- box
Air.” Here we have the beginnings of car-
-ule little, small
bonated beverages. Priestley experimented
A sticky layer that surrounds certain bacteria.
with the gas given off by fermenting beer
Carapace and soon discovered some very interesting
Spanish characteristics of his collected gas. For
carapacho covering example, he learned that the unknown gas
The fused chitonous exoskeleton of various inver- was heavier than air, for it remained in the
tebrates such as crustaceans. opened containers and did not mix with the
Carbohydrate ambient air. By performing a common sci-
French ence experiment that is duplicated in most
carbo- carbon secondary schools across the United States,
-hydr- solid compound containing water molecules he came to discover that this gas would
-ate characterized by having extinguish flaming wood chips. The gas that
Any of a group of organic compounds produced by Priestley called “fixed air” was also referred
photosynthetic plants, including sugars, starches, to as “mephitic air” by Joseph Black.
celluloses, and gums, and that serves as a major Dr. Priestley’s work with “fixed air” led
energy source in the animal diet. him to perform an experiment where he
placed a vessel of water in the gas lingering
Carbonation about the fermented beer. He found that
Latin some of the gas dissolved in the standing
carbonate- to charge with carbon dioxide gas water, producing a rather tasty beverage,
-ion state, process, or quality of which we know as soda water.
Saturation with carbon dioxide gas. Dr. Priestley’s work with gases further
Carcinogen led him to the “discovery” of oxygen in
Greek 1774. Although oxygen had been identified
karkinos- crab, cancer earlier by Michal Sedziwoj in the sixteenth
-gen to give birth, kind, produce century and later by Carl Wilhelm Scheele
A substance that induces cancer. Carcinogens are in 1772, Joseph Priestley was the first to
more likely to affect tissues where rapid cellular publish his results on the gas in 1775, two
reproduction takes place. years before Scheele published his own
work. Therefore, Dr. Priestley is commonly
Carcinoma credited with the discovery of oxygen.
Greek
karkinos- crab, cancer
Cardiac
-oma tumor, neoplasm Greek
A malignant growth or tumor. kard- heart; pertaining to the heart
-ac pertaining to
Referring to the heart.
36 Cardialgia

Cardialgia Carpal
Greek Greek
kard- heart; pertaining to the heart carpus- wrist; that which turns
-algia pain, sense of pain; painful, hurting -al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
Localized pain in the region of the heart. or character of
A bone of the wrist; of or relating to the wrist.
Cardiology
Greek Carpel
kard- heart; pertaining to the heart Greek
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or karpos fruit
bodies of knowledge One of the structural units of a pistil, representing
The study of the heart and its actions and diseases. a modified, ovule-bearing leaf.
Cardiomalacia Cartilage
Greek Latin
kard- heart; pertaining to the heart cartilago- cartilage
-malacia softening of tissue -age (aticum) (Latin) condition or state
The softening and degeneration of the walls of the Various tissues containing cartilaginous cells and a
heart, usually because of a disorder. matrix composed of water and fibers; it is com-
monly found in movable joints, the external ear, and
Cardiomyopathy
the nose, and is the precursor of numerous bones in
Greek
the human body.
kard- heart; pertaining to the heart
-myo- muscle Cartography
-patheia disease; feeling, sensation, perception Greek
A disease or disorder of the heart muscle, espe- khartes- map, chart, paper
cially one of unknown or obscure cause. -graphia (graphein) to write, record, draw, describe
The science of map or chart making.
Cardiovascular
Greek Catabolism
kard- heart; pertaining to the heart Greek
-vascul- small vessel kata- down, downward; under, lower; against;
-ar relating to or resembling entirely, completely
Relating to the heart and the blood vessels of the -bol- (ballein) to put or throw
circulatory system. -ism state, condition, or quality
Decomposition of larger molecules within cells.
Carnivore
Latin Catadromous
caro- meat Greek
-vorare to devour kata- down, downward; under, lower; against;
Any animal that kills and feeds on other animals. entirely, completely
-dramein/dromos to run
Carotenoid
Refers to fish that migrate from freshwater to the
Latin/Greek
ocean to spawn.
carota- carrot
-oid (oeides) resembling, having the appearance of Catalyst
Any of a class of yellow to red pigments, includ- Greek
ing the carotenes and the xanthophylls. kata- down, downward; under, lower; against;
entirely, completely
Carotid
-ly- (luein) to loosen, dissolve; dissolution, break
Greek
-sis action, process, state, condition
karoun- to put to sleep, plunge into sleep or stupor,
A substance that enables a chemical reaction to
stupefy
proceed, usually at a faster rate or under different
-id state or condition; having, being, pertaining to,
conditions than are otherwise possible.
tending to, inclined to
Either of the two major arteries, one on each side of Cataract
the neck, that carry blood to the head; their com- Greek
pression was believed to cause unconsciousness. kata- down, downward; under, lower; against;
entirely, completely
 Centripetal (force) 37

-arassein to strike Of or relating to the sky or the heavens; planets

Opacity of the lens or capsule of the eye, causing are celestial bodies.
impairment of vision or blindness.
Cell
Catenation Latin
Latin cella chamber
catena- connection of links or union of parts, as The smallest unit of a living thing that is capable
in a chain; a regular or connected series of carrying out all life processes.
-ion state, process, or quality of
Cellulose
Bonding of atoms of the same element into chains
Latin
or rings.
cellula- little cell
Cathode -ose sugar
Greek Colorless, insoluble, indigestible polysaccharide
kata- down, downward; under, lower; against; that makes up the cell wall.
entirely, completely
Celsius
-hodos way or road
Celsius Swedish scientist (Anders Celsius) who
A negatively charged electrode; an electrolytic
introduced the scale also known as centigrade for
cell or a storage battery.
measuring temperature
Cation Scale of temperature in which the range from the
Greek freezing to the boiling of water is divided into 100
kata- down, downward; under, lower; against; degrees (freezing being 0 and boiling being 100
entirely, completely degrees).
-ion (ienai) to go; something that goes
Cenozoic
An ion or group of ions having a positive charge and
Greek
moving toward the negative electrode in electrolysis.
kainos- new
Caudal -zoe- life
Latin -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
caud- tail Division of geologic time that lasted 65 million
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form years after the Mesozoic.
or character of
Centipede
Constituting, belonging to, or relating to a tail.
Latin
Cauterization centi- one hundred
Latin -pede feet
cauter- heat Wormlike arthropods in the class Chilopoda.
-ization action, process, or result of doing or making
Centrifuge
The process of searing a damaged part of the body
Greek/Latin
by the use of heat or a chemical.
kentron- center, sharp point
Cecum -fugere to flee
Latin A device for separating components of different den-
caecus blind sities contained in liquid by spinning at high speed.
A blind pouch that serves as the entrance to the large
Centriole
intestine.
Greek
Ceilometer kentron- center, sharp point
Latin -ole little
caelum- sky, heaven Organelle associated with spindle formation dur-
-meter (metron) instrument or means of measuring; ing mitosis in animal cells.
to measure
Centripetal (force)
A device that measures the height of cloud layers.
Greek/Latin
Celestial kentron- center, sharp point
Latin -petal (petere) moving toward; to seek
caelum- sky, heaven The force that opposes the inertia of a body and is
-ial (variation of -ia) relating to or characterized by required to keep a body in a circular motion.
38 Centroid

Centroid Ceraceous
Greek Latin
kentron- center, sharp point cer- wax
-oid (oeides) resembling, having the appearance of -aceous having the quality of
The point in a system of masses each of whose Waxen, like wax; covered with or resembling wax.
coordinates is a weighted mean of coordinates of
Cercaria
the same dimension of points within the system.
Greek
Centromere kerkos- tail
Greek -aria like or connected with
kentron- center, sharp point Tadpole-like juveniles of trematodes (flukes).
-mere part of
Cerebellum
The area of the chromosome, usually in the cen-
Latin
ter, where sister chromatids are attached.
cerebr- of or relating to the brain or cerebrum
Centrosome -bellum war
Greek A region of brain that lies posterior to the pons
kentron- center, sharp point and is responsible for voluntary muscular move-
-soma (somatiko) body ment, posture, and balance.
A small region of cytoplasm adjacent to the nucleus
Cerebral
that contains the centrioles and serves to organize.
Latin
Cephalic cerebr- of or relating to the brain or cerebrum
Greek -al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
cephalo- (kephalikos) head or character of
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of The largest part of the brain, consisting of two lobes,
Of or relating to the head; anatomical term for the right and left cerebral hemispheres. The cere-
“head.” brum controls thought and voluntary movement.
Cephalization Cerebromalacia
Greek Greek
cephalo- (kephalikos) head cerebr- of or relating to the brain or cerebrum
-ization action, process, or result of doing or making -malacia softening of tissue
Concentration of sensory and nervous systems in The abnormal softening of the cerebral parenchyma.
one area of the body, which is called a “head.”
Cerebroside
Cephalopod Latin
Greek cerebr- of or relating to the brain or cerebrum
cephalo- (kephalikos) head -ide group of related chemical compounds
-poda foot A group of lipids that occur most abundantly in
Group of mollusks having a large head, large the membranes of nerves and brain cells.
eyes, prehensile tentacles, and, in most species,
Cerussite
an ink sac for protection.
Latin
Cephalothorax cerussa- a white lead pigment, sometimes used in
Greek/Latin cosmetics
cephalo- (kephalikos) head -ite minerals and fossils
-thorax breastplate, chest Native lead carbonate; a mineral occurring in
The anterior section of arachnids and many crus- colorless, white, or yellowish transparent crys-
taceans, consisting of the fused head and thorax. tals, with an adamantine, and that is massive and
compact.
Cepheid
Greek Cervical
cephalo- (kephalikos) head Latin
-id state, condition; having, being, pertaining to, cervic- stem of cervix
tending to, inclined to -al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
A variable star that scientists can use to determine or character of
how distant a galaxy, or star cluster, is because of Relating to the neck or any part of the body that
its highly regular pulsation. resembles a neck.
 Chilopoda 39

Cetacean A pincerlike claw of a crustacean or arachnid,

cetu- whale such as a lobster, crab, or scorpion.
-an one that is of, relating to, or belonging to
Chemical
Order of marine mammals including whales, dol-
Greek
phins, and porpoises.
khemeia- chemical; alchemy
Chaetotaxy -al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
Greek or character of
chaeto- spine, bristle; long, flowing hair A substance composed of chemical elements or
-taxy arrangement, order; put in order one produced by or used in chemical processes.
The arrangement of the bristles or chaetae on an
Chemistry
insect, especially important in the classification of
Greek
the Diptera, Collembla, and several other groups.
khemeia- chemical; alchemy
Chalcopyrite -metria (metron) the process of measuring
Greek The science of the composition, structure, proper-
khalkos- copper ties, and reactions of matter, especially of atomic
-pur- fire and molecular systems.
-ite minerals and fossils
Chemoautotroph
A yellow mineral, essentially CuFeS2, that is an
Greek
important ore of copper; also called copper pyrite.
khemeia- chemical; alchemy
Charge -auto- self, same, spontaneous; directed from within
Latin -trophos (trophein) to nourish; food, nutrition;
carrus Gallic type of wagon. development
The intrinsic property of matter responsible for Organism that obtains its nourishment through
all electric phenomena—in particular, for the oxidation or inorganic chemical compounds.
force of the electromagnetic interaction—
Chemoheterotroph
occurring in two forms, arbitrarily designated
Greek
negative and positive.
khemeia- chemical; alchemy
Chatoyant -heteros- different
Latin -trophos (trophein) to nourish; food, nutrition;
cattus- cat development
-ant performing, promoting, or causing a specified Any of a group of bacteria that, in addition to deriv-
action ing energy from chemical reactions, synthesize all
A gemstone (cat’s-eye) having the capacity of necessary organic compounds from carbon dioxide.
changing its luster or color because of the way nar-
Chemotherapy
row bands or streaks of light reflect off its surface.
Latin
Cheilostomatoplasty khemeia- chemical; alchemy
Greek -therapeuein heal, cure; treatment
cheil- claw, lip, edge, or brim A treatment for cancers that involves administer-
-stomat- mouth, opening ing chemicals that are toxic to malignant cells.
-plastos- (plassein) something molded; to mold
Chiasma
-y place for an activity, condition, or state
Greek
Plastic surgery of the lips and mouth.
khiazein to mark with an X
Chelicera In anatomy, the crossing or intersecting of two
Greek tracts; the optic chiasma. In genetics, the point of
khele- claw contact between paired chromatids.
-keras horn
Chilopoda
One of a pair of the most anterior head appendages
Greek
on members of the subphylum Chelicerata.
kheilos- lip
Cheliped -poda foot
Greek A very large group of insects that includes centi-
khele- claw pedes; they are characterized by having elongated
-ped foot legs attached to each segment, with a pair of legs
40 Chimera

in the thorax that serve as fangs, and by having Green pigment found in photosynthetic organ-
very powerful mouthparts. isms that is capable of absorbing light and con-
verting it to energy from oxidation and reduction
Chimera
in the photosynthesis of carbohydrates.
Greek
chimaira she-goat Chloroplast
An organism composed of two or more geneti- Greek
cally distinct tissues, such as one that is partly chlor- the color green, yellow-green, or light green
male and partly female, or an artificially produced -plastos (plassein) something molded; to mold
individual having tissues of several species. Chlorophyll-containing plasmid found in algal
and green plants.
Chiropractic
Greek Choanoblast
chir- hand; pertaining to the hand or hands Greek
-praktikos- practical choane- funnel
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of -blastos bud, germ cell
A system of therapy in which disease is consid- A cell that gives rise to one or more collar bodies,
ered the result of abnormal function of the ner- especially in the sponge class Hexactinellida.
vous system; treatment usually involves
Choanocytes
manipulation of the spinal column and other
Greek
body structures.
choane- funnel
Chiroptera -cyte (kutos) sac or bladder that contains fluid
Greek One of the flagellate collar cells that line the cav-
chir- hand; pertaining to the hand or hands ities and canals of sponges.
-pteron wing
Cholecystectomy
Order of flying mammals (bats).
New Latin
Chloragogen khole- bile, gall
Greek -kustis- (cyst) sac or bladder that contains fluid
chlor- the color green, yellow-green, or light green -ekt- outside, external, beyond
-agogos- a leading, a guide -tomos (temnein) to cut, incise, section
-gen to give birth, kind, produce Surgical excision of the gallbladder.
Modified greenish or brownish peritoneal cells
Cholelith
clustered around the digestive tract of certain
Greek
annelids; they apparently aid in the elimination of
khole- bile, gall
nitrogenous wastes and in food transport.
-lith stone, rock
Chlorofluorocarbon A small, hard pathological concretion composed
Greek chiefly of cholesterol, calcium salts, and bile pigments,
chlor- the color green, yellow-green, or light green formed in the gallbladder or in a bile duct; gallstone.
-fluere- chemical element; to flow
Cholesterol
-carbo- coal, charcoal
Greek
-on a particle
khole- bile, gall
Any of several simple gaseous compounds that contain
-steros- solid
carbon, chlorine, fluorine, and sometimes hydrogen.
-ol chemical derivative
Chloroform A white crystalline substance found in animal tis-
Greek/Latin sues and various foods that is normally synthesized
chlor- the color green, yellow-green, or light green by the liver and is important as a constituent of cell
-formyl [-form(ic) found in ants + yle wood, matter] membranes and a precursor to steroid hormones.
A clear, colorless, sweet-smelling liquid used in
Chondroblast
refrigerants, propellants, and resins; as a solvent;
Greek
and sometimes as an anesthetic.
khondros- granule, cartilage
Chlorophyll -blastos bud, germ cell
Greek An immature cartilage cell found in growing cartilage.
chlor- the color green, yellow-green, or light green
Chondroclast
-phullon leaf
Greek
 Chronometry 41

khondros- granule, cartilage khromat- color

-klastos break, break in pieces -graphia (graphein) to write, record, draw, describe
A cartilaginous cell involved with the reabsorb- Analysis of mixtures of chemical compounds by
tion of the cartilaginous matrix. passing solutions of them through an absorbent.
Chondrocyte Chromogen
Greek Greek
khondros- granule, cartilage khromat- color
-cyte (kutos) sac or bladder that contains fluid -gen to give birth, kind, produce
A mature cartilage cell that can be found in the A substance capable of conversion to a pigment
lacunae of the cartilaginous matrix. or dye.
Chondromalacia Chromophore
Greek Greek
khondros- granule, cartilage khromat- color
-malacia softening of tissue -phore bearer, carrier
Softening of any cartilage, usually because of a A chemical group capable of selective light
physiological disorder. absorption resulting in the coloration of certain
organic compounds.
Chordate
Greek Chromosome
khorde- gut, string of a musical instrument Greek
-ate characterized by having khromat- color
Of, pertaining to, or belonging to the phylum -soma (somatiko) body
Chordata or to a chordate subphylum; animals Any one of the threadlike nucleoprotein struc-
having at least at some stage of development of a tures in the nucleus of the cell that function in the
notochord, a dorsally situated central nervous transmission of genetic information.
system, and gill clefts.
Chromosphere
Choroid Greek
Greek khromat- color
khorion- afterbirth -sphaira a globe shape, ball, sphere
-oid (oeides) resembling, having the appearance of An incandescent, transparent layer of gas lying
The very dark brown vascular coat found between above and surrounding the photosphere of the sun.
the sclerotic coat and the retina of the eye.
Chronic
Chromatics Greek
Greek khronos- time
khromat- color -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of of
The scientific study of color. Lasting a long time, long-continuing, lingering,
inveterate (as diseases).
Chromatid
Greek Chronobiology
khromat- color Greek
-id state, condition; having, being, pertaining to, khronos- time
tending to, inclined to -bios- life, living organisms or tissue
One of the two identical threadlike filaments of a -logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or
chromosome. bodies of knowledge
The scientific study of the effect of time on living
Chromatin
systems.
Greek
khromat- color Chronogram
-in protein or derived from protein Greek
A complex of nucleic acids and proteins in the cell khronos- time
nucleus that stains readily with basic dyes and con- -gram something written or drawn; a record
denses to form chromosomes during cell division. The record produced by a chronograph.
Chromatography Chronometry
Greek Greek
42 Chrysalis
Eratosthenes’ Shadows
“Let none enter here who are ignorant of geome-
try.” This quote was inscribed above the entrance of
Plato’s school, illustrating the importance of math-
ematics to the early philosopher-scientists of
Greece and Egypt. Without knowledge of geome-
try, we’d be left with many elegant theories, per-
haps, but no reasoned explanations. Plato, though
not a mathematician, understood this.
This brings us to Eratosthenes (276–194 BC ),
born in what is now Libya. A man of considerable
influence, Eratosthenes was a mathematician,
astronomer, geographer, poet, historian, and phi-
losopher. He studied and worked, probably as a
director, in the Great Library of Alexandria. It is
here he read that at noon every June 21, the sun
cast no shadow in the Egyptian village of Syene.
And on that same day at the same hour, the full
face of the sun was reflected in the waters of the
village’s deep well. To even the uninformed
observer, it was obvious that the sun was directly
overhead.
Perhaps out of curiosity or an attempt to vali-
date the account of Syene, Eratosthenes, using
khronos- time
-metria (metron) the process of measuring
The scientific measurement of time.
Chrysalis
Greek
khrusallid gold-colored pupa of a butterfly
The protective stage of development in moths and
butterflies in which the pupa is contained in a
tough case or cocoon.
Chyle
Greek
chylos juice
A milky fluid containing emulsified fat and other
products of digestion formed from the chyme in
the small intestine and conveyed by the lacteals
and the thoracic duct to the veins.
Cilia
Latin
cili- a small hair
-ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing
plurals
Small hairlike projections that help ciliates move,
sense their environment, and collect food.
Ciliate
Latin
cili- a small hair
-ate characterized by having
only a stick placed in the sand at Alexandria (a
considerable distance north of Syene), made the
observation that at noon of June 21, a rather
lengthy shadow was cast. Undoubtedly, Era-
tosthenes asked himself what possibly could
account for such a phenomenon. If the earth were
flat, like the maps, then the shadows should be the
same length—provided, of course, that the sun was
a considerable distance from the earth. Or could
the earth be a sphere, and not flat at all? Knowing
that the distance from Alexandria to Syene was
about 800 kilometers, and observing and calculat-
ing the difference between the shadow lengths at
the two locations, Eratosthenes calculated that the
degree of the angle where the sticks would inter-
sect deep within the earth was probably close to 7
degrees. Having that bit of information, he was
able to determine the circumference of the earth. If
the opposite side of a 7-degree angle is 800 kilo-
meters, and there are 360 degrees in a circle, the
resulting circumference is around 40,000 kilome-
ters. He was pretty accurate for someone using
only his intellect and no technology.
Any of a group of animal-like protists that are
characterized by having cilia.
Circadian
Latin
circum- around
-diurnus- day
-an one that is of, relating to, or belonging to
Designating physiological activity that occurs
approximately every twenty-four hours, or the
rhythm of such activity.
Circuit
Greek
kirkos circle
A set of electronic components that perform a
particular function in an electronic system.
Circular
Latin
circulus- to make circular
-ar relating to or resembling
Referring to a path that follows the shape of a
circle.
Circulation
Latin
circulus- to make circular
-ion state, process, or quality of
Movement or flow through a circle or circuit.
 Clinic 43

Circumcision A branching diagram showing the pattern of shar-

Latin ing evolutionarily derived characters among spe-
circum- in a circle; around, about, surrounding cies or higher taxa.
-caedere- to cut
Clastic
-ion state, process, or quality of
Greek
The act of cutting around; the cutting and removal
klastos- broken
of all of the prepuce in males or the prepuce, cli-
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
toris, or labia in females.
Sedimentary rock formed by fragments of previ-
Circumference ously existing rock.
Greek
Clavicle
circum- in a circle; around, about, surrounding
Latin
-ferre to carry
clavis- key (from its shape)
The boundary line of a circle, or the length of
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
such a boundary.
One of two slender, key-shaped bones located
Circumlunar be-tween the scapula and the manubrium of the
Latin sternum.
circum- in a circle; around, about, surrounding
Cleavage
-lunar moon, light, shine
Middle English
Revolving around or surrounding the moon.
cleave- to split or separate
Cirque -age (aticum) (Latin) condition or state
French (from Latin) Splitting or separation along a natural Zline of
circus circle division.
A steep, hollow, bowl-shaped basin occurring at
Clepsydra
the upper end of a mountain valley.
Greek
Cirrhosis kleps- to steal
Greek -hudor water
kirrhos- tawny yellow An ancient device used for measuring time by the
-sis action, process, state, condition dripping of water from a graduated vessel.
A chronic disease of the liver characterized by the
Climate
replacement of normal tissue with fibrous tissue,
Greek
the loss of functional liver cells, and an abnormal
klime- slope
yellowish appearance.
-ate characterized by having
Cirrus General conditions of temperature and precipita-
Latin tion for an area over a period of time.
cirro hair; wispy
Clinarthrosis
High clouds with a base of 6,000 meters.
Greek
Cistron klinein- to lean; sloping
Latin -arthr- pertaining to the joints
cist- to cut -osis process, condition, or state of
-on a particle Abnormal deviation in the alignment of the bones
Segment of DNA that is required in order to syn- at a joint.
thesize a complete polypeptide chain.
Cline
Cladistics Greek
Greek klinein to lean; sloping
klados- branch or sprout A continuous series of differences in structure or
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of function exhibited by the members of a species
A system of arranging taxa to reflect phylogenetic along a line extending from one part of their
relationships. range to another.
Cladogram Clinic
Greek Greek
klados- branch or sprout klinikos- pertaining to a bed or couch
-gramma letter -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
44 Clinician

A clinical lecture; examination of patients before

a class of students; instruction at the bedside. How Do You Discover the Invisible?
Clinician It has been said that Empedocles of
Greek Agrigentum (ca. 490–430 BC), a mystic,
klinikos- pertaining to a bed or couch poet, and physician, was so self-absorbed
-an one that is of, relating to, or belonging to that he considered himself a god and was
An experienced practitioner such as a nurse, phy- perhaps considered divine by others.
sician, or psychologist as opposed to someone Empedocles postulated that all matter is
involved in research. made up of four “roots”: water, earth, fire,
Clinicopathologic and air. He declared that love (phila) was
Greek the force that held these roots together and
klinikos- pertaining to a bed or couch that discord (neikos) was the force at work
-pathos- feeling, sensation, perception; suffering, to keep them apart.
disease We know air to be an invisible medium,
-logic talk, speak; speech; word but to the ancient Greeks, the wind was the
Pertaining both to the symptoms of a disease and breath of the gods. It had no substance and
to its pathology. no tangible qualities. How, then, could
Empedocles prove the existence of air?
Clinocephaly One of the rare Greek scientists who actu-
Greek ally did experiments, Empedocles used a
klinikos- pertaining to a bed or couch clepsydra, a common household ladle or
-cephaly (kephalikos) head “water clock,” for his test. A clepsydra was
Congenital flatness or concavity of the vertex of a vessel with markings and one or more
the head. small holes at its base to allow water to drip
Clinodactyly out. The top of the vessel had a strawlike
Greek tube attached. When Empedocles filled the
klinein- to lean; sloping clepsydra with water, it dripped out the bot-
-dactylos finger, toe tom. But when he put his finger over the
Permanent lateral or medial deviation or deflec- opening of the tube at the top of the vessel,
tion of one or more fingers. the water stopped dripping. When he tried
filling the vessel with his thumb over the
Clinography opening of the tube, as he submerged the
Greek clepsydra, no water could enter the vessel
klinikos- pertaining to a bed or couch through the other end. What could be caus-
-graphia (graphein) to write, record, draw, describe ing this? Empedocles argued that some-
A system of graphical representations of the tem- thing invisible but with substance (matter)
perature, symptoms, and pathological manifesta- filled the void in the vessel. If it could not
tions exhibited by a patient. be moved out, then nothing could take its
Clinoid place. Hence air, though invisible, exists
Greek and has substance.
klinikos- pertaining to a bed or couch
-oid (oeides) resembling, having the appearance o klisis- inclination
Bed-shaped, as the clinoid processes of the sphe- -meter (metron) instrument or means of measuring;
noid bone. to measure
Clinostatism An instrument for measuring the angle that the
Greek pelvic axis makes with the spinal column.
klinikos- pertaining to a bed or couch Clitellum
-statos- standing, stay, make firm, fixed, balanced Latin
-ism state, condition, or quality clitellae- packsaddle
The condition of lying down or being in the hori- -um (singular) structure
zontal position. -a (plural) structure
Cliseometer A thickened glandular section of the body wall of
Greek some annelids that secretes a viscid sac in which
the eggs are deposited.
 Coadunation 45

Clitoris -ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing

Greek plurals
kleitoris clitoris Phylum consisting of organisms with special
An organ of very sensitive tissue located just stinging cells.
anterior to the urinary meatus.
Cnidoblast
Cloaca Greek
Latin kin’ dh- to sting; nettle
cloa'cae drain -blastos bud, germ cell
A common passage for fecal, urinary, and repro- The epidermal cells of coelenterates that contain the
ductive discharge in monotremes, birds, and nematocysts, especially numerous on the tentacles.
lower vertebrates.
Cnidocil
Clone Greek
Greek kin’ dh- to sting; nettle
klon young shoot or twig -cilium hair
A cell, group of cells, or organism that is Triggerlike spine on a nematocyst.
descended from and genetically identical to a sin-
Cnidocilium
gle common ancestor, such as a bacterial colony
Greek
whose members arose from a single original cell.
kin’ dh- to sting; nettle
Clonogenic -cili- a small hair
Greek -um (singular) structure
klon- young shoot or twig -a (plural) structure
-gen- to give birth, kind, produce A bristle-like process at one end of a cnidoblast,
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of which, when stimulated, triggers the discharge of
An organism arising from or consisting of a clone the nematocyst.
of cells.
Cnidocytes
Clupeine Latin
Latin kin’ dh- to sting; nettle
clupea- herring, small fish -cyte (kutos) sac or bladder that contains fluid
-ine in a chemical substance Stinging cell used by cnidarians to stun their prey.
A protamine obtainable from the spermatozoa of
Coacervate
the herring.
Greek
Cnemitis co- together, with
Greek -acervare- to heap
kneme- leg -ate of or having to do with
-itis inflammation, burning sensation The viscous phase separating from a colloid-
Inflammation of the tibia. containing system in the phenomenon of coacervation.
Cnemoscoliosis Coacervation
Greek Greek
kneme- leg co- together, with
-scoli- curvature; curved, twisted, crooked -acervare- to heap
-sis action, process, state, condition -ion state, process, or quality of
A lateral bending of the lower limb. The separation of a mixture of two liquids, one or
both of which are colloids, into two phases; one
Cnicus
(the coacervate) contains the colloidal particles,
Greek
and the other is an aqueous solution (e.g., as when
knekos- safflower
gum arabic is added to gelatin).
-us thing
A genus of European herbs of the family Coadunation
Compositae. Latin
co- together, with
Cnidaria
-unus- one
Greek
-ion state, process, or quality of
kin’ dh- to sting; nettle
Union of dissimilar substances in one mass.
46 Coagulate

Coagulate -ent causing an action; being in a specific state;

Latin within
co- together, with Number that serves as a measure of some prop-
-agulum- to condense; to drive erty or characteristic; numerical factor by which
-ate of or having to do with the value of another is multiplied.
To cause the transformation of a liquid into a soft,
Coelenterata
semisolid, or solid mass.
Greek
Coalescence koilos- hollow cavity
Latin -enteron intestine
co- together, with Former name for a phylum of marine inverte-
-alescere- to come together or grow brates including sea anemones, hydras, jellyfish,
The act of growing together; the act of uniting. and corals, which are now assigned to the phylum
Cnidaria.
Coccidium
Greek Coelenteron
co- together, with Greek
-kokkos- berry, grain, seed koilos- hollow cavity
-ium quality or relationship -enteron intestine
In former systems of classification, a genus of Internal cavity of a cnidarian; gastrovascular cav-
coccidians, the organisms of which have been ity; archenteron.
assigned to other genera.
Coelom
Cochlea Greek
Greek koilos hollow cavity
kokhlias snail The epithelium-lined space between the body
A spiral-shaped cavity of the inner ear that con- wall and the digestive tract of metazoans above
tains nerve endings essential for hearing. lower worms.
Codominance Coelomoduct
Latin Greek
co- together, with koilos- hollow cavity
-domo- house, home -ductus leading
-ance state, quality A duct that carries gametes or excretory products
In genetics, the tendency of certain (dominant) (or both) from the coelom to the exterior.
alleles to mask the expression of their corre-
Coenocytic
sponding (recessive) alleles.
Greek
Codominant coeno- shared
Latin -kutos- (cyto) sac or bladder that contains fluid
co- together -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
-dominae to rule Multinucleate, with nuclei not separated by cross
Referring to an equal degree of dominance of two walls.
alleles or traits fully expressed in a phenotype.
Cohesion
Codon Latin
Latin co- together, with
cod- a code of laws; a writing tablet; an account book -haerere- to stick together
-on subatomic particle -ion state, process, or quality of
A group of three nucleotides that specifies the The binding together of like molecules.
addition of one of the twenty amino acids during
Cohesive
translation of an mRNA into a polypeptide. Strings
Latin
of codons form genes, and strings of genes form
co- together, with
chromosomes.
-haerere- to stick together
Coefficient -ive performing an action
Latin Holding the particles of a homogeneous body
co- together, with together.
-efficiens- efficient
 Comet 47

Coitus Tissues that provide mechanical support in many

Latin young, growing plant structures (stems, petioles,
co- together, with leaves) but are uncommon in roots.
- i re to go, come
Collencyte
The sexual union of a male and female.
Greek
Colchicine kolla- glue
Latin -cyte (kutos) sac or bladder that contains fluid
kolkhikon- meadow saffron A type of cell in sponges that secretes fibrillar
-ine of or relating to collagen.
Poisonous, pale-yellow alkaloid that inhibits
Colligative
mitosis.
Latin
Cold com- together, with; joint; jointly
Middle English -ligare- to tie, bind
caeld cold -ive performing an action
In weather, having a low atmospheric tempera- Depending on the quantity of molecules but not
ture. In life science, a common name for infec- on their chemical nature.
tions of the upper respiratory system.
Colloblast
Coleoptera Greek
Greek kolla- glue
koleos- sheath -blastos bud, germ cell
-pteron wing A glue-secreting cell on the tentacles of ctenophores.
Insect order having an anterior pair of hard and
Colloid
horny wings covering a softer pair of posterior
Greek
wings, and two pairs of jaws adapted for feeding;
kolla- glue
beetles, weevils.
-oid (oeides) resembling, having the appearance of
Coleoptile A suspension of final divided particles in a con-
Greek tinuous medium.
koleos- sheath
Collophore
-ptilon plume
Greek
A protective sheath enclosing the shoot tip and
kolla- glue
embryonic leaves of grasses.
-phore bearer, carrier
Collagen A suckerlike organ at the base of the abdomen of
Greek insects belonging to Collembola (springtails).
kolla- glue
Colon
-gen to give birth, kind, produce
Greek
A tough, fibrous protein occurring in vertebrates
kolon large intestine
as the chief constituent of collagenous tissue, and
The section of the large intestine extending from
also occurring in invertebrates—for example, in
the cecum to the rectum.
the cuticle of nematodes.
Combustion
Collembola
Latin
Greek
com- (con) together, with, jointly
kolla- glue
-bustus- to burn
-mbolon wedge, peg
-ion state, process, or quality of
Springtail; minute insect that lacks wings and has
A chemical process accompanied by the evolu-
a ventral tube, or collophore, on the first abdomi-
tion of light and heat.
nal segment and an abdominal forked furcula, or
spring used to propel the organism forward. Comet
Greek
Collenchyma
kometes long-haired
Greek
A celestial body in an elliptical orbit around the
col- with, together
sun; a brightly illuminated mass composed of ice
-khumos juice
and rock and displaying a long, glowing tail when
its orbit takes it near the sun.
48 Commensalism

Commensalism An increase in the density of something as a result

Latin of compacting.
com- (con) together, with, jointly
Concave
-mensa- table
Latin
-ism state, condition, or quality
com- (con) together, with, jointly
A relationship between organisms where one ben-
-cavare to make hollow
efits while the other is unaffected; sharing a meal.
Curved like the interior of an arched circle.
Commissure
Concentric
Latin
Latin
com- (con) together, with, jointly
com- (con) together, with, jointly
-mittere to put
-centrum center
A point or line of union or junction, especially
Describing circles within circles, with the system
between two anatomical parts, such as the tract of
having a common center.
nerve fibers passing from one side to the other of
the spine or brain. Conchoidal
Greek
Community
conch- shell
Latin
-id- state, condition; having, being, pertaining to
communis- commons
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
-ity state or quality of
or character of
All of the populations of all species existing
Of, relating to, or being a surface characterized by
together within an ecological system.
smooth, shell-like convexities and concavities, as
Competition on fractured obsidian.
Latin
Concurrent
com- (con) together, with, jointly
Latin
-peter- to strive
com- (con) together, with, jointly
-ion state, process, or quality of
-currere to coincide
The struggle for existence among organisms.
Happening at the same time or operating in con-
Complex junction with one another.
Latin
Condensation
com- (con) together, with, jointly
Latin
-plexus an embrace
com- (con) together, with, jointly
A group of items, such as chemical molecules,
-dens- to press close together
that are related in structure or function.
-ion state, process, or quality of
Component The process by which a gas changes to a liquid.
Latin
Conduction
com- (con) together, with, jointly
Latin
-ponere- to put together
com- (con) together, with, jointly
-ent causing an action; being in a specific state; within
-ducere- to bring together
Unit resulting from the subdivision of a vector
-ion state, process, or quality of
into axial parts.
The flow of electron through a material to pro-
Compound duce electric current.
Latin
Conductive
com- (con) together, with, jointly
Latin
-ponere to put
com- (con) together, with, jointly
A pure substance that is composed of two or more
-ducere- to bring together
elements in fixed proportions and that can be
-ive performing an action
chemically decomposed into these elements.
Exhibiting the power or ability to conduct or
Compression transmit heat, electricity, or sound.
Latin
com- (con) together, with, jointly
-premere- to press
-ion state, process, or quality of
 Constipation 49

Conductor The joining of unicellular organisms to exchange

Latin hereditary material.
com- (con) together, with, jointly
Conjunctiva
-ducere- to bring together
Latin
-or person or thing that does something
com- (con) together, with, jointly; compress,
A substance or medium that conducts heat, light,
converge
sound, or especially an electrical charge.
-jungere- to join
Congenital -iva of the quality of; tending to, inclined to
Latin The mucous membrane that lines the inner surface
com- (con) together, with, jointly of the eyelid and the exposed surface of the eyeball.
-genitus- born; to bear
Conodont
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
Greek
or character of
konos- cone
Of or relating to a condition that is present at birth.
-odontos tooth
Conidiophore Toothlike element from a Paleozoic animal now
Greek believed to have been an early marine vertebrate.
konis- dust
Conscious
-phore bearer, carrier
com- (con) together, with, jointly; compress,
A specialized fungal form that asexually pro-
converge
duces conidial spores.
-scire- to know
Conidium -ous full of, having the quality of, relating to
Greek Being aware and having perception of one’s own
konis dust existence, sensations, and thoughts and of the sur-
An asexually produced fungal spore, formed on a rounding environment.
conidiophore.
Conservation
Conifer Latin
Greek com- (con) together, with, jointly; compress,
konos- cone converge
-ferre to bear -servare- to preserve
Any of an order of mostly evergreen trees and -ion state, process, or quality of
shrubs with true cones and others (such as yews) The process of protecting, preserving, and using
with an arillate fruit. wisely the natural resources.
Coniferous Constant
Latin Latin
konos- cone com- (con) together, with, jointly; compress,
-ferre- to bear converge
-ous full of, having the quality of, relating to -stare to stand firm
Relating to the groups of plants that bear cones A numerical value that does not change.
(pines and cypress).
Constellation
Coniine Latin
Greek com- (con) together, with, jointly; compress,
koneion- poison hemlock converge
-ine a chemical substance; of or relating to -stella- star
A poisonous, colorless liquid alkaloid found in -ion state, process, or quality of
poison hemlock. A group of stars that form a pattern.
Conjugation Constipation
Latin Latin
com- (con) together, with, jointly; compress, com- (con) together, with, jointly; compress,
converge converge
-jugare- to join together -stipare- to press together
-ion state, process, or quality of -ion state, process, or quality of
Infrequent and difficult movement of bowels.
50 Constrictor

Constrictor com- (con) together, with, jointly; compress,

Latin converge
com- (con) together, with, jointly; compress, -vehere- to carry
converge -ion state, process, or quality of
-stingere- to pull Transfer of energy by the flow of a heated substance.
-or condition or property of things or persons;
Conversion
person who does something
Latin
A muscle that contracts a cavity or orifice or com-
com- (con) together, with, jointly; compress,
presses an organ.
converge
Consumer -vertere- to turn around
Latin -ion state, process, or quality of
com- (con) together, with, jointly; compress, The process in which something is changed from
converge one use, function, or purpose to another.
-sumere- to take
Convex
-er one that performs an action
Latin
Any organism that is incapable of producing its
com- (con) together, with, jointly; compress,
own food by photosynthesis or chemosynthesis;
converge
it derives its nutrients through the consumption of
-vextus to be vaulted
producers or other consumers.
Having a surface that curves outward.
Contagious
Copepod
Latin
Greek
com- (con) together, with, jointly; compress,
kope- oar
converge
-pod foot
-teg- touch, reach, handle
Any of numerous minute marine and freshwater
-ous full of, having the quality of, relating to
crustaceans of the subclass Copepoda, having an
Transmissible by direct or indirect contact; capa-
elongated body and a forked tail.
ble of transmitting disease; spreading or tending
to spread from one to another; infectious. Coprophagy
Greek
Continent
kopros- dung
Latin
-phagei- to eat
com- (con) together, with, jointly; compress,
-y place for an activity; condition, state
converge
Feeding on dung or excrement as a normal behav-
-tenere- to hold together
ior among animals; reingestion of feces.
-ent causing an action; being in a specific state; within
One of the principal land masses of the earth. Cornea
Latin
Contour
corneus horny
Latin
The outer transparent, convex part of the front of the
com- (con) together, with, jointly; compress,
eyeball; it covers the iris and the pupil of the eye.
converge
-tornare to round off Corniculate
Feathers that make up general outline of a bird. Latin
corniculum horn, hornlike structure
Contusion
-ate of or having to do with
Latin
Bearing or furnished with one or more small horns.
com- (con) together, with, jointly; compress,
converge Corolla
-tundere- to beat Latin
-ion state, process, or quality of corolla small garland
An injury in which the skin is not broken, often Whorl of a flower that consists of the petals.
characterized by ruptured blood vessels and dis- Corona
coloration; a bruise. Latin
Convection corona crown
Latin The luminous, irregular envelope of highly ionized
gas outside the chromosphere of the sun.
 Couple 51

Coronary Costocervical
Latin Latin
corona- crown costo- rib
-ary of, relating to, or connected with -cervic- stem of cervix
Of, relating to, or being the coronary arteries or -al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
coronary veins; of or relating to the heart. or character of
Concerning the ribs and the neck.
Corrugator (supercilii)
Latin Costoinferior
com- (con) together, with, jointly; compress, Latin
converge costo- rib
-rigare- to wrinkle -inferus below, low
-or a condition or property of things or persons Relating to the lower rib.
A muscle of the eyelid, located under the eye-
Costophrenic
brow, functioning to draw the eyebrow downward
Latin
and inward, wrinkling the adjacent skin.
costo- rib
Cortex -phren- diaphragm, midriff, heart
Latin -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
cortic bark, rind, that which is stripped off Referring to the ribs and diaphragm.
The outer layer of an internal organ or body struc-
Costopneumopexy
ture, as of the kidney or adrenal gland; the outer
Latin
layer of gray matter that covers the surface of the
costo- rib
cerebral hemisphere.
-pneumon- wind, breath
Cosmic -pexy attaching; surgical fixation of an organ
Greek The surgical anchoring of a lung to a rib.
kosmos universe
Costosuperior
Of or relating to the universe, especially as dis-
Latin
tinct from earth.
costo- rib
Cosmochemistry -superus higher, upper
Greek Relating to the upper rib.
kosmos- universe, order
Costotome
-khemeia- chemical; alchemy
Latin
-y place for an activity, condition, or state
costo- rib
The science of the chemical composition of the
-tomos (temnein) to cut, incise, section
universe.
An instrument designed to cut through ribs.
Cosmogony
Cotyledon
Greek
Greek
kosmos- universe, order
kotuledon a kind of plant; a seed leaf; a hollow or
-gonos offspring
cup-shaped object
The astrophysical study of the origin and evolu-
The one or two seed leaves of an angiosperm
tion of the universe.
embryo.
Cosmology
Coumarin
Greek
Portuguese
kosmos- universe, order
cumaru- tonka bean tree
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or
-in neutral chemical; protein derivative
bodies of knowledge
A fragrant crystalline compound extracted from
The study of the physical universe considered as a
several plants and widely used in perfumes.
totality of phenomena in time and space.
Couple
Costalgia
Latin
Latin
copula bond or pair
costo- rib
A pair of forces of equal magnitude acting in par-
-algia pain, sense of pain; painful, hurting
allel but opposite directions.
Plueritic pain in the chest.
52 Covalence

Covalence Crepuscular
Latin Latin
co- to the same extent or degree; together, jointly creper- dark
-valere to be strong -ar relating to or resembling
The number of electron pairs an atom can share In biology, relating to organisms that become
with other atoms. active after twilight (e.g., bats).
Covariant Cretaceous
Latin Latin
co- to the same extent or degree; together, jointly creta- chalk
-variare to vary -eous full of, having the quality or nature of, relating to
Expressing or relating to the principle that physi- The final period of the Mesozoic era, spanning
cal laws have the same form regardless of the the time between 145 and 65 million years ago.
coordinate system in which they are expressed.
Crevasse
Coxopodite French
Latin crevace crevice
coxa- hip A deep fissure; a chasm.
-podos- foot
Crocodile
-ite component of a part of the body
Greek
The proximal joint of an insect or arachnid leg; in
kroke- pebble
crustaceans, the proximal joint of the protopod.
-drilos circumcised man; worm
Cracking The name given to various large aquatic reptiles
Middle English found in the tropics and subtropics with thick,
cracian- to break apart bumpy skin and long, tapered jaws.
-ing the act of
Crop
Thermal decomposition of a complex substance.
Old English
Craniomalacia cropp craw
Greek A pouched enlargement of the gullet that serves
kranion- skull as a receptacle for food and for its preliminary
-malacia softening of tissue maceration.
Softening of the bones of the skull.
Crust
Cranium Latin
Greek crusta shell, hard surface of a body
kranion skull The outermost layer of the earth’s surface, extend-
The part of the skull that encloses the brain. ing downward about 20 miles on the land masses
and 3 to 10 miles down beneath the ocean floor.
Crater
Greek Crustacean
krater bowl for mixing wine and water Latin
Funnel-shaped pit or depression at the top of a crusta- shell, hard surface of a body
volcanic cone. -acean belonging to a taxonomical group
One of the classes of the phylum Arthropoda pos-
Creatinine
sessing shells.
Greek
kreat- flesh Cryptobiotic
-ine a chemical substance Greek
A waste product of protein usage in cells; nitrog- kryptos- hidden
enous wastes excreted in urine. -bios- life, living organisms or tissue
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Cremaster
Living in concealment; refers to insects and other
Latin
animals that live in secluded situations, such as
crem- to hang; hung, hung up
underground or in wood, and also to tardigrades
-ster one that is associated with, participates in,
and some nematodes, rotifers, and others that sur-
makes, or does
vive harsh environmental conditions by assuming
The hooklike process on the end of a chrysalis that
for a time a state of very low metabolism.
attaches the pupa to the stem or twig, for example.
 Cycloalkane 53

Crystal cutten- to separate into parts with or as if with a

Latin sharp-edged instrument
krustallos- ice, crystal; freeze; icelike -of no longer taking place; canceled
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form A new channel cut by a river across the neck of an
or character of oxbow.
Very clear glass; a homogeneous solid formed by
Cyanobacteria
a repeating three-dimensional pattern.
Greek
Crystalline cyano- (kyanos) blue, dark blue
Greek -baktron- staff, rod
krustallos- ice, crystal; freeze; icelike -ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing
-ine of or relating to plurals
Resembling crystal, as in transparency or dis- Microscopic, photosynthetic prokaryotes that
tinctness of structure or outline. formed stromatilites and changed the earth’s
atmosphere by producing oxygen.
Crystallization
Greek Cyanoderma
krustallos- ice, crystal; freeze; icelike Greek
-ion state, process, or quality of cyano- (kyanos) blue, dark blue
The process of forming solid crystals in solution due -derma skin
to the solute solubility exceeding that of the solvent. Bluish discoloration of the skin.
Culture Cyanosis
Latin New Latin
cult- to care for; to dwell, to inhabit cyano- (kyanos) blue, dark blue
-ura act, process, condition -sis action, process, state, condition
The growing of microorganisms, tissue cells, or Bluish discoloration of the skin due to deficient
other living matter in a specially prepared nutrient oxygenation of the blood.
medium.
Cycads
Cumulonimbus Greek
Latin cyc- (koïx) a kind of palm tree, perhaps of Egyptian
cumul- pile or heap origin
-nimbus cloud -ad member of a botanical group
An extremely dense, vertically developed cumu- Any of an order (Cycadales) of dioecious cycado-
lus with a glaciated top extending to great heights. phytes that are represented by a single surviving
family (Cycadaceae) of palmlike tropical plants
Cumulus
that reproduce by means of spermatozoids.
Latin
cumul- pile or heap Cyclase
-us thing Greek
Heap, Pile, or mass. kyklos- circle, wheel, cycle; rotate
-ase indicating an enzyme
Cuspid
Enzyme that forms a cyclic compound.
Latin
cuspis- sharp point, cusp Cycle
-id state or condition; having, being, pertaining Greek
to, tending to, inclined to kyklos circle, wheel, cycle, rotate
Pointed or conical teeth, usually referring to the An interval of time during which a sequence of a
canine teeth. recurring events or phenomena is completed.
Cuticle Cycloalkane
Latin Greek
cutis skin kyklos- circle, wheel, cycle; rotate
A waxy layer that coats the surface of stems, -alkyl- alcohol; a monovalent radical, such as
leaves, and other plant parts exposed to air. ethyl or propyl
-ane a saturated hydrocarbon
Cutoff
An alicyclic hydrocarbon with a saturated ring;
Old English
also called cycloparaffin.
54 Cyclonic

Cyclonic kustis- (cyst) sac or bladder that contains fluid

Greek -kele hernia, tumor
kyklos- circle, wheel, cycle; rotate A herniation of the urinary bladder through the
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of wall of the vagina.
An atmospheric system characterized by the rapid
Cystoscopy
inward circulation of air masses about a low-
Greek
pressure center, usually accompanied by stormy,
kustis- (cyst) sac or bladder that contains fluid
often destructive weather. Cyclones circulate
-skopion for viewing with the eye
counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere
The process of examining the urinary bladder by
and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.
looking into it with a scope instrument.
Cyclotron
Cytoglucopenia
Greek
Greek
kyklos- circle, wheel, cycle; rotate
kutos- (cyto) sac or bladder that contains fluid
-tron device for manipulating subatomic particles
-gluc- glucose
A circular particle accelerator in which charged
-penia reduction, poverty, lack, deficiency
subatomic particles are accelerated outward in a
An intercellular deficiency of glucose.
plane perpendicular to a fixed magnetic field by
an alternating electric field. Cytokine
Greek
Cygnus
kutos- (cyto) sac or bladder that contains fluid
Latin
-kinein to move
cygnus swan
Any of several regulatory proteins, such as the
A constellation in the Northern Hemisphere near
interleukins and lymphokines, that are released by
Lacerta and Lyra, containing the star Deneb; also
cells of the immune system and act as intercellular
called the Northern Cross or the Swan.
mediators in the generation of an immune response.
Cystic
Cytokinesis
Greek
Greek
kustis- (cyst) sac or bladder that contains fluid
kutos- (cyto) sac or bladder that contains fluid
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
-kine- movement, motion
Of or related to a fluid-filled sac; a cyst or cystlike
-sis action, process, state, condition
object. In anatomy, relating to the gallbladder or
The division of the cytoplasm of a cell following
urinary bladder.
the division of the nucleus.
Cysticercus
Cytokinin
Greek
Greek
kustis- (cyst) sac or bladder that contains fluid
kutos- (cyto) sac or bladder that contains fluid
-kerkos tail
-kinein to move
A type of juvenile tapeworm in which an invagi-
Any of a class of plant hormones that promote
nated and introverted scolex is contained in a
cell division and growth and delay the senescence
fluid-filled bladder.
of leaves.
Cystidolaparotomy
Cytolysis
Greek
Greek
kustis- (cyst) sac or bladder that contains fluid
kutos- (cyto) sac or bladder that contains fluid
-lapar- soft part of the body between the ribs, hip,
-ly- (luein) to loosen, dissolve; dissolution, break
and flank; the loin
-sis action, process, state, condition
-tomos (temnein) to cut, incise, section
The dissolution or destruction of a cell.
Incision of the bladder through the abdominal wall.
Cytopharynx
Cystitis
Greek
Latin
kutos- (cyto) sac or bladder that contains fluid
kustis- (cyst) sac or bladder that contains fluid
-pharynx throat
-itis inflammation
Short tubular gullet in ciliate protozoa.
Inflammation of the urinary bladder.
Cystocele
Greek
 Cytotoxicity 55

Cytoplasm A network of interconnected filaments and

Greek tubules that extends from the nucleus to the
kutos- (cyto) sac or bladder that contains fluid plasma membrane in eukaryotic cells.
-plasm (plassein) to mold or form cells or tissues
Cytosol
Substance of the body of a cell excluding the
Greek/Latin
nucleus.
kutos- (cyto) sac or bladder that contains fluid
Cytoproct -solvere to loosen
Greek The fluid component of cytoplasm, excluding
kutos- (cyto) sac or bladder that contains fluid organelles and the insoluble, usually suspended
-proktos anus cytoplasmic components.
Site on a protozoan where indigestible matter is
Cytostome
expelled.
Greek
Cytopyge kutos- (cyto) sac or bladder that contains fluid
Greek -stoma mouth
kutos- (cyto) sac or bladder that contains fluid The mouth of a unicellular organism, sometimes con-
-pyge rump, buttocks sisting of a hollow tube and a groovelike opening.
In some protozoa, localized site for expulsion of
Cytotoxicity
waste.
Greek
Cytoskeleton kutos- (cyto) sac or bladder that contains fluid
Greek -toxikos- poison
kutos- (cyto) sac or bladder that contains fluid -ity state or quality of
-skeletos dried body The state or quality of being toxic to cells.
Dactylozooid Deciduous
Greek Latin
dactylo- finger, toe decidu- to fall off
-zoon- animal, animal-like -ous full of, having the quality of, relating to
-oid (oeides) resembling, having the appearance of Falling off at a specific season or stage of growth.
A hydroid modified for catching prey; it is long,
Decipher
with tentacles or short knobs, and with or without
Latin/Arabic
a mouth.
de- do or make the opposite of, reverse the action
Data of, undo; from, apart, away
Latin -safira- to be empty
datum something given -er one that performs an action
Factual information, especially information organized To read, interpret, or convert complex, sometimes
for analysis or used to reason or make decisions. ambiguous data into a simplified form.
Decantation Declination
Latin Greek
de- do or make the opposite of, reverse the action de- do or make the opposite of, reverse the action
of, undo; from, apart, away of, undo; from, apart, away
-canthus- rim of a wheel or vessel -klinein- to lean; sloping
-ion state, process, or quality of -ation action, process, state, or condition
The process of separating a mixture of two or more A measure of how far north or south an object is
layers by pouring layers into separate containers. from the celestial equator.
Decapoda Decomposer
Greek Latin
deca- ten de- do or make the opposite of, reverse the action
-pod foot of, undo; from, apart, away
The order of crustaceans, which includes the -compose- to form, create
shrimps, lobsters, crabs, etc. -er one that performs an action
Organism that feeds on and breaks down dead matter.
Decay
Latin Defect
de- do or make the opposite of, reverse the action Latin
of, undo; from, apart, away de- do or make the opposite of, reverse the action
-cadere to fall of, undo; from, apart, away
To break down into component parts. -fecere make, do, cause, produce, build
 Dental 57

An imperfection that causes inadequacy or fail- a nerve cell that detects nerve impulses transmit-
ure; a shortcoming. ted from the axons of other neurons.
Deglutination Dendrochore
Latin Greek
de- do or make the opposite of, reverse the action dendro- tree, resembling a tree
of, undo; from, apart, away -chore a central and often foundational part, usu-
-glutinare- to glue ally distinct from the enveloping part by a differ-
-ion state, process, or quality of ence in nature
The act of ungluing; the process of removing the That part of the earth’s surface covered by trees.
gluten from flour.
Dendrochronology
Deglutition Greek
Latin dendro- tree, resembling a tree
de- do or make the opposite of, reverse the action -khronos- time
of, undo; from, apart, away -logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or
-gluti re- to gulp bodies of knowledge
-ion state, process, or quality of A method of dating using annual tree rings; tree
The act or process of swallowing. ring chronology.
Degradation Dendroclastic
Latin Greek
de- do or make the opposite of, reverse the action dendro- tree, resembling a tree
of, undo; from, apart, away -klastos break, break in pieces
-gradus- walk, step, take steps, move around; Breaking or destroying trees; a destroyer of trees.
walking or stepping
Dendroclimatology
-ion state, process, or quality of
Greek
To reduce the complexity of. In geology, the pro-
dendro- tree, resembling a tree
cess of wearing away at the earth’s surface through
-klinein- to lean; sloping
erosion.
-ate- characterized by having
Dehiscent -logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or
Latin bodies of knowledge
de- do or make the opposite of, reverse the action The determination of past climatic conditions
of, undo; from, apart, away from the study of the annual growth rings of trees.
-hiare- to gape
Dendrohydrology
-ent causing an action, being in a specific state;
Greek
within
dendro- tree, resembling a tree
The opening of a fruit to liberate the seeds.
-hydr- water
Deletion -logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or
Latin bodies of knowledge
deletus- to erase, destroy The study of tree ring configuration to determine
-ion state, process, or quality of hydrologic occurrences.
The loss of a piece of chromosome that has bro-
Density
ken away from the genetic material.
Latin
Deliquescent densi- thick, thickly set, crowded, compact
Latin -ity state of, quality of
deliquiscere melt by absorption of moisture The state or quality of being dense; compactness;
-ent causing an action, being in a specific state; within closely set or crowded condition. Density is a
A substance that absorbs enough water from the air measure of mass per unit of volume.
that it dissolves completely to a liquid solution.
Dental
Dendrite Latin
Greek denti- teeth or tooth
dendro- tree, resembling a tree -al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
-ite a part of or product of or character of
A branching, treelike extension from the body of Of or relating to the teeth or to dentistry.
58 Dentalgia

Dentalgia Dermatozoon
Greek/Latin Greek
denti- teeth or tooth dermat- skin
-algia pain, sense of pain; painful, hurting -zoon animal
An aching pain in or near a tooth; toothache. Reference to animal skin or a branch of medicine
dealing with animals.
Dentifrice
Latin Desiccator
denti- teeth or tooth Latin
-frice to rub; a rubbing desiccare make quite dry
A powder or other preparation for cleansing or A device used for drying substances; a closed
rubbing the teeth; a tooth powder or paste. glass vessel containing a deliquescent substance.
Dentition Desmoplastic
Latin Greek
denti- teeth or tooth desmo- bond, adhesion
-ion state, process, or quality of -plastos- (plassein) something molded; to mold
The number, type, and arrangement of an ani- -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
mal’s teeth. Pertaining to the production or formation of
adhesions or fibrosis in the vascular connective
Deposit
tissue framework of an organ.
Latin
de- do or make the opposite of, reverse the action Detergent
of, undo; from, apart, away Latin
-ponere to put de- out, off, apart, away
To lay down or leave behind by a natural process; -terrere- to frighten
to settle down in layers, as in mineral deposits. -agere to do
A cleansing substance that acts similarly to soap
Depressor
but is made from chemical compounds rather
Latin
than fats and lye.
de- do or make the opposite of, reverse the action
of, undo; from, apart, away Detritivore
-premere- to press Latin
-or a condition or property of things or persons; deterere- to wear away, rub, grind; worn down
person who does something -vore eat, consume, ingest, devour
A muscle that draws down a part of the body; a An organism that lives on dead and discarded
substance that slows a physiological activity. organic matter; includes large scavengers, smaller
animals such as earthworms and some insects, as
Dermal
well as decomposers (fungi and bacteria).
Greek
derm- skin Detritus
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form Latin
or character of deterere to lessen, wear away
Of or relating to the skin or dermis. Loose material (stone fragments, silt, etc.) that is
worn away from rocks.
Dermatologist
Greek Deuterium
dermat- skin Greek
-logist one who deals with a specific topic deuteros- second, two in number
A physician who specializes in the diagnosis and -ium chemical element
treatment of skin disorders. An isotope of hydrogen with one proton and one
neutron in the nucleus.
Dermatophyte
Greek Deuterostome
dermat- skin Greek
-phyte plant deuteros- second, two in number
Any one of a number of fungi that infect the skin -stoma mouth
and nails. An animal whose mouth forms from an opening
other than the blastopore.
 Dichroism 59

Dextrorotatory -apsis arch

Latin Amniotes in which the skull bears two pairs of
dextra- right or clockwise temporal openings; includes reptiles (except tur-
-rota- wheel tles) and birds.
-ory of or pertaining to
Diarrhea
Rotating to the right in a plane of polarized light.
Greek
Diagnose dia- through, across, apart
Greek -rhein to flow or run
dia- through, across, apart Frequent and possibly excessive elimination of
-gnose to know or learn watery feces.
To arrive at a conclusion or determine the cause of a
Diastereomer
disorder or disease, usually by deductive reasoning.
Greek
Diagnosis di- two
Greek -a- without, not
dia- through, across, apart stereos- being of three dimensions
-gno- to come to know -mer one that has
-sis action, process, state, condition Two compounds that are optical isomers that are
The act or process of identifying or determining not mirror images of each other, with different
the nature and cause of a disease. physical properties and reactivity.
Diaheliotropism Diastole
Greek Greek
dia- through, across, apart diast- dilation, spreading
-helio- sun -ole little
-trope- bend, curve, turn, a turning; response to a Relaxation period of a heart during the cardiac cycle.
stimulus
Diatom
-ism state or condition, quality
Greek
A tendency of leaves to have their dorsal surface
dia- through, across, apart
toward the rays of the sun.
-tomos (temnein) to cut, incise, section
Dialysis Any of a class of minute planktonic unicellular or
Greek colonial algae with silicified skeletons that form
dia- through, across, apart diatomite.
-ly- (luein) to loosen, dissolve; dissolution, break
Diatomic
-sis action, process, state, condition
Latin
The separation of smaller molecules from larger
di- two, twice, double
molecules or of dissolved substances from colloi-
-a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not
dal particles in a solution by selective diffusion
-tomos- (temnein) to cut, incise, section
through a semipermeable membrane.
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Diamagnetic Consisting of or relating to a molecule that is
Greek composed of two atoms.
dia- through, across, apart
Dichotomy
-magnes- stone from Magnesia (city in Asia Minor)
Greek
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
dicho- akin to
A substance that is weakly repelled by a magnet.
-tomos (temnein) to cut, incise, section
Diaphragm A dividing or branching into two equal parts.
Greek
Dichroism
dia- through, across, apart
Greek
-phragma fence
di- two, twice, double
Muscular partition between the chest and abdom-
-khroma- color
inal cavities.
-ism state or condition, quality
Diapsids The property of showing two different colors at
Greek different concentrations or when viewed at differ-
di- two ent angles.
60 Dicotyledon

Dicotyledon -ion state, process, or quality of

Greek The ability to change into absorbable form.
di- two, twice, double
Digitigrade
-kotuledon a kind of plant; a seed leaf; a hollow
Latin
or cup-shaped object
digitus- finger or toe
Flowering plant group whose members have two
-gradus step or degree
embryonic leaves.
Walking on the digits with the posterior part of
Dictyostele the foot raised.
Greek
Dihybrid
dictyo- net, netlike
Greek
-stele pillar
di- two, twice, double
In some ferns, a stele that is interrupted by leaf
-hybrida- mongrel offspring
gaps so as to resemble a network of strands.
-id state, condition; having, being, pertaining to,
Diencephalon tending to, inclined to
Greek The offspring of parents differing in two specific
dia- through gene pairs.
-enkephalos in the head
Dilation
The posterior portion of the forebrain; includes
Latin
areas of the midbrain such as the thalamus and
di- apart, away, from
hypothalamus.
-latus wide
Differentiation The process of becoming wider or larger, as of a
Latin blood vessel.
differre- to differ; delay
Dilute
-atus- in
Latin
-ion state, process, or quality of
di- apart, away, from
The process by which cells or tissues undergo a
-luere wash, clean
change toward a more specialized form or func-
To make thinner or less concentrated by adding a
tion, especially during embryonic development.
liquid such as water.
Diffraction
Dimension
Latin
Latin
dis- undo; apart, in all directions
dis- undo; apart, in all directions
-frangere- to break
-metiri- to measure out
-ion state, process, or quality of
-ion state, process, or quality of
Change in the directions and intensities of a
A measurement of spatial extent; specifically, one of
group of waves after passing by an obstacle or
three coordinates determining a position in space.
through an aperture whose size is approximately
the same as the wavelength of the waves. Dimorphism
Greek
Diffusion
di- two, twice, double
Latin
-morph- shape, form, figure, or appearance
diffundere- to spread out
-ism state or condition
-ion state, process, or quality of
The existence within a species of two distinct
The process in which particles in a fluid move
forms according to color, sex, organ structure, or
from an area of higher concentration to an area of
other characteristic.
lower concentration.
Dinoflagellate
Digest
Greek
Latin
dinos- whirling
digerere to break down
-flagrum- whip
To break into smaller parts and simpler compounds.
-ate characterized by having
Digestion A marine protozoan of the order Dinoflagellata,
Latin having two flagella and a cellulose covering and
di- apart, away, from forming one of the chief constituents of plankton.
-gerere- to bear
 Displacement 61

They include bioluminescent forms and forms Condition in which two images of a single object
that produce red tide. are seen due to unequal action of the eye muscles;
also called double vision.
Dinosaur
Greek Dipole
deinos- terrible, monstrous Middle English from Old French (from Latin)
-sauros lizard di- two, twice, double
A variety of extinct reptiles that existed during -pole either of two oppositely charged terminals
the Mesozoic era. A pair of equal and opposite electrical charges or
magnetic poles, separated by a small distance.
Dioecious
Greek Disaccharide
di- two, twice, double Greek
-oec- environment, habitat di- two, twice, double
-ious full of, having the quality of, relating to -saccharon- sugar
Having the male and female reproductive organs -ide group of related chemical compounds
in separate individuals. Any class of sugars, including lactose and
sucrose, that are composed of two monosaccha-
Diphycercal
rides; a double sugar.
Greek
diphues- twofold Disease
-kerkos- tail Middle French
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form dis- apart, away from; utterly, completely, in all
or character of directions
Having a tail that tapers to a point, as in lung- -aise ease, freedom from pain
fishes; the vertebral column extends to tip with- A condition of the living animal or plant body or
out upturning. of one of its parts that impairs normal functioning.
Diphyodont Dispersion
Greek Latin
di- two, twice, double dis- apart, away from; utterly, completely, in all
-phuein- to grow directions
-odont having teeth -spargere- to scatter or strew; sprinkle
Having deciduous and permanent sets of teeth -ion state, process, or quality of
successively. The passing out or spreading about of something.
Diploblastic Dispersoid
Greek Latin
diploos- double dis- apart, away from; utterly, completely, in all
-blastos bud, germ cell directions
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of -spargere- to scatter or strew; sprinkle
Referring to an organism with two germ layers, -oid (oeides) resembling, having the appearance
endoderm and ectoderm. of
A substance consisting of finely divided particles
Diploid
dispersed in a medium.
Greek
diploos- double Displacement
-oid (oeides) resembling, having the appearance of Greek
Having the somatic (double, or 2n) number of dis- apart, away fro;, utterly, completely, in all
chromosomes, or twice the number characteristic directions
of a gamete of a given species. -place- to put in or as if in a particular place or
position
Diplopia
-ment state or condition resulting from a (speci-
New Latin
fied) action
diploos- double
A vector or the magnitude of a vector from an ini-
-optic- eye, optic
tial position to a subsequent position assumed by
-ia names of diseases, place names, or
a body.
Latinizing plurals
62 Dissection
Dissection
Latin
dis- apart, away from; utterly, completely, in all
directions
-sectus- to cut
-ion state, process, or quality of
The separation of a whole into its parts for study.
The Black Death
The black plague struck continental Europe in the
year 1347. Without a doubt, it was one of the most
devastating natural disasters ever to befall human-
kind. In many ways it altered the course of human
history. The epidemiology of plague was a mystery
to all. Even while it was happening, no one really
knew its cause, let alone its cure. Thousands of peo-
ple died, and others fled. Those who treated the
very ill died. Those who buried the dead died.
Today, historians and scientists believe that the
Black Death stemmed from a microorganism called
Yersinia pestis, a bacterium that was carried and
spread by fleas living on black rats. During that era,
the black rat population vastly exceeded that of the
larger and fiercer Norwegian gray rat. Interestingly,
the Norwegian gray rat was a poor vector for the
fleas carrying the bacteria.
In the late 1370s and early 1380s, Marchione di
Coppo Stefani wrote the descriptive narrative The
Florentine Chronicle on Medieval Plague. Excerpts
from that essay describe the horror of the plague:
In the year of the Lord 1348 there was a very
great pestilence in the city and district of Flo-
rence. It was of such a fury and so tempestuous
that in houses in which it took hold previously
healthy servants who took care of the ill died of
the same illness. Almost none of the ill sur-
vived past the fourth day. Neither physicians
nor medicines were effective. Whether because
these illnesses were previously unknown or
because physicians had not previously studied
them, there seemed to be no cure. There was
such a fear that no one seemed to know what to
do. When it took hold in a house it often hap-
pened that no one remained who had not died.
And it was not just that men and women died,
but even sentient animals died. Dogs, cats,
chickens, oxen, donkeys, sheep showed the
same symptoms and died of the same disease.
And almost none, or very few, who showed
these symptoms, were cured. The symptoms
were the following: a bubo in the groin, where
the thigh meets the trunk; or a small swelling
under the armpit; sudden fever; spitting blood
Disseminate
Latin
dis- apart, away from; utterly, completely, in all
directions
-seminare- to plant or propagate (from semen,
seminis, meaning “seed”)
-ate characterized by having
To scatter for growth and propagation; to spread,
to diffuse.
and saliva (and no one who spit blood survived
it). It was such a frightful thing that when it got
into a house, as was said, no one remained.
Frightened people abandoned the house and
fled to another. Those in town fled to villages.
Physicians could not be found because they had
died like the others. And those who could be
found wanted vast sums in hand before they
entered the house. And when they did enter,
they checked the pulse with face turned away.
They inspected the urine from a distance and
with something odoriferous under their nose.
Child abandoned the father, husband the wife,
wife the husband, one brother the other, one
sister the other. In all the city there was nothing
to do but to carry the dead to a burial. And those
who died had neither confessor nor other sacra-
ments. And many died with no one looking
after them. And many died of hunger because
when someone took to bed sick, another in the
house, terrified, said to him:
“I’m going for the doctor.” Calmly walking
out the door, the other left and did not return
again. Abandoned by people, without food, but
accompanied by fever, they weakened. There
were many who pleaded with their relatives not
to abandon them when night fell. But [the rela-
tives] said to the sick person, “So that during
the night you did not have to awaken those who
serve you and who work hard day and night,
take some sweetmeats, wine or water. They are
here on the bedstead by your head; here are
some blankets.” And when the sick person had
fallen asleep, they left and did not return. If it
happened that he was strengthened by the food
during the night he might be alive and strong
enough to get to the window. If the street was
not a major one, he might stand there a half
hour before anyone came by. And if someone
did pass by, and if he was strong enough that he
could be heard when he called out to them,
sometimes there might be a response and
sometimes not, but there was no help. No one,
or few, wished to enter a house where anyone
(Continued)

was sick, nor did they even want to deal with
those healthy people who came out of a sick
person’s house. And they said to them: “He is
stupefied, do not speak to him!” saying fur-
ther: “He has it because there is a bubo in his
house.” They call the swelling a bubo. Many
died unseen. So they remained in their beds
until they stank. And the neighbors, if there
were any, having smelled the stench, placed
them in a shroud and sent them for burial. The
house remained open and yet there was no one
daring enough to touch anything because it
seemed that things remained poisoned and that
whoever used them picked up the illness. At
every church, or at most of them, they dug
deep trenches, down to the waterline, wide
and deep, depending on how large the parish
was. And those who were responsible for the
dead carried them on their backs in the night
in which they died and threw them into the
ditch, or else they paid a high price to those
who would do it for them. The next morning,
if there were many [bodies] in the trench, they
covered them over with dirt. And then more
bodies were put on top of them, with a little
more dirt over those; they put layer on layer
just like one puts layers of cheese in a lasagna.
The beccamorti [literally, vultures] who
provided their service, were paid such a high
price that many were enriched by it. Many
died from [carrying away the dead], some
rich, some after earning just a little, but high
prices continued. Servants, or those who took
care of the ill, charged from one to three flor-
ins per day and the cost of things grew. The
things that the sick ate, sweetmeats and sugar,
seemed priceless. Sugar cost from three to
eight florins per pound. And other confections
cost similarly. Capons and other poultry were
very expensive and eggs cost between twelve
and twenty-four pence each; and he was
blessed who could find three per day even if
he searched the entire city. Finding wax was
miraculous. A pound of wax would have gone
up more than a florin if there had not been a
stop put [by the communal government] to the
vain ostentation that the Florentines always
make [over funerals]. Thus it was ordered that
no more than two large candles could be car-
ried [in any funeral]. Churches had no more
than a single bier which usually was not suffi-
cient. Spice dealers and beccamorti sold biers,
burial palls, and cushions at very high prices.
Dressing in expensive woolen cloth as is cus-
tomary in [mourning] the dead, that is in a
Disseminate 63
long cloak, with mantle and veil that used to
cost women three florins climbed in price to
thirty florins and would have climbed to 100
florins had the custom of dressing in expensive
cloth not been changed. The rich dressed in
modest woolens, those not rich sewed
[clothes] in linen. Benches on which the dead
were placed cost like the heavens and still the
benches were only a hundredth of those
needed. Priests were not able to ring bells as
they would have liked. Concerning that [the
government] issued ordinances discouraging
the sounding of bells, sale of burial benches,
and limiting expenses. They could not sound
bells, sell benches, nor cry out announcements
because the sick hated to hear of this and it dis-
couraged the healthy as well. Priests and friars
went [to serve] the rich in great multitudes and
they were paid such high prices that they all
got rich. And therefore [the authorities]
ordered that one could not have more than a
prescribed number [of clerics] of the local par-
ish church. And the prescribed number of fri-
ars was six. All fruits with a nut at the center,
like unripe plums and unhusked almonds,
fresh broadbeans, figs and every useless and
unhealthy fruit, were forbidden entrance into
the city. Many processions, including those
with relics and the painted tablet of Santa
Maria Inpruneta, went through the city crying
our “Mercy” and praying and then they came
to a stop in the piazza of the Priors. There they
made peace concerning important controver-
sies, injuries and deaths. This [pestilence] was
a matter of such great discouragement and fear
that men gathered together in order to take
some comfort in dining together. And each
evening one of them provided dinner to ten
companions and the next evening they planned
to eat with one of the others. And sometimes if
they planned to eat with a certain one he had no
meal prepared because he was sick. Or if the
host had made dinner for the ten, two or three
were missing. Some fled to villas, others to
villages in order to get a change of air. Where
there had been no [pestilence], there they car-
ried it; if it was already there, they caused it to
increase. None of the guilds in Florence was
working. All the shops were shut, taverns
closed; only the apothecaries and the churches
remained open. If you went outside, you found
almost no one. And many good and rich men
were carried from home to church on a pall by
four beccamorti and one tonsured clerk who
carried the cross. Each of them wanted a florin.
(Continued)
64 Dissociation
This mortality enriched apothecaries, doc-
tors, poultry vendors, beccamorti, and
greengrocers who sold of poultices of mal-
low, nettles, mercury and other herbs neces-
sary to draw off the infirmity. And it was
those who made these poultices who made a
lot of money. Woolworkers and vendors of
remnants of cloth who found themselves in
possession of cloths [after the death of the
entrepreneur for whom they were working]
sold it to whoever asked for it. When the
mortality ended, those who found them-
selves with cloth of any kind or with raw
materials for making cloth was enriched.
But many [who actually owned cloths being
Dissociation
Latin
dis- apart, away from; utterly, completely, in all
directions
-sociar- to join
-ion state, process, or quality of
The process by which a chemical combination
breaks up into simpler constituents.
Distillation
Latin
dis- apart, away from; utterly, completely, in all
directions
-stillare- to drip or trickle
-ion state, process, or quality of
A process used to separate a liquid mixture based
on the boiling points of the substances within the
solution.
Distribution
Latin
dis- apart, away from; utterly, completely, in all
directions
-tribuere- to give
-ion state, process, or quality of
In mathematics, sample values presented in order
from the lowest to the highest.
Diurnal
Latin
diurnus- day
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
or character of
Related to or occurring within a twenty-four-hour
period; occurring in the daytime hours rather than
the nighttime hours.
Diverge
Latin
di- two, twice, double
-verge to tend to move in a particular direction
processed by workers] found it to be moth-
eaten, ruined or lost by the weavers. Large
quantities of raw and processed wool were
lost throughout the city and countryside.
This pestilence began in March, as was
said, and ended in September 1348. And peo-
ple began to return to look after their houses
and possessions. And there were so many
houses full of goods without a master that it
was stupefying. Then those who would inherit
these goods began to appear. And such it was
that those who had nothing found themselves
rich with what did not seem to be theirs and
they were unseemly because of it. Women and
men began to dress ostentatiously.
To go or extend in different directions from a
common point.
Diverticulum
Latin
de- reverse the action of, undo; from, apart, away
-vertere- to turn
-um (singular) structure
-a (plural) structure
A pouchlike structure extending out or away from
an organ such as the intestines.
DNA ligase
Latin
ligo- bind, tie
-ase enzyme
Enzyme that links DNA fragments; used during
the production of recombinant DNA to join for-
eign DNA to the vector DNA.
Dodecahedron
Greek
dodeca- twelve
-hedron face
A Platonic solid with twelve faces; the fifth
essence.
Doldrums
Middle English
dold to dull
-um (singular) structure
-a (plural) structure
A region of the ocean near the equator, character-
ized by calms, light winds, and squalls.
Domain
Latin
dominus lord
Any of numerous contiguous regions in a ferro-
magnetic material in which the direction of spon-
taneous magnetization is uniform and different
from that in neighboring regions.
 Ductile 65

Dominant (traits)
Latin Pythagoras of Samos
dominan dominant
During the reign of the tyrant Polycrates
The hereditary traits that exhibit a stronger influence
(535–515 BC), the Greek island of Samos
on the phenotype than their more recessive alleles.
in the eastern Aegean Sea was home to
Doping Pythagoras. He was one of the most influ-
Dutch ential mathematicians and philosophers
doopen- to dip of his time. All those who truly appreciate
-ing the act of or action mathematics hold a special place in their
The act of introducing impurities into a crystal hearts for the Pythagoreans, who believed
structure in order to acquire useful properties. that numbers constitute the true nature
Dormant and harmony of the world—indeed, the
Latin universe. That is, the synchronization of
dormire- to sleep the universe relies on mathematical har-
-ant a person who, the thing which mony. The Pythagoreans did not believe
Describes an inactive state of a seed. in experimentation. They relied on the
faculties of thought, reason, and deduc-
Dorsal tion. Pythagoras’ followers (who called
Latin themselves the mathematikoi) reasoned
dorsalis- back that the relationships among all things
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form were mathematical. Even the workings of
or character of the mind (logic and reason) were, to the
Of, toward, on, in, or near the back or upper sur- Pythagoreans, the result of mathematical
face of an organ, part, or organism. expressions.
Downburst Pythagoras is given credit for develop-
Swedish ing a mathematical correlation between
dun- down whole numbers and musical scales. He
-bresta to break asunder and his followers are recognized for
Violent downdrafts that are concentrated in a developing the Pythagorean theorem,
local area. which is well known among all who study
geometry. Beauty was to be found in the
Drag shapes of solids. The four regular solids,
Old Norse the tetrahedron, hexahedron (cube), octa-
draga to draw, drag hedron, and icosahedron, represented the
The retarding force exerted on a moving body by four elements (earth, fire, air, and water),
a fluid medium such as air or water. the “roots” of the earth. There was a
Drosophila mystical, almost fearful forbiddance
Greek directed toward the fifth of the regular sol-
drosos– dew ids, the dodecahedron. The Pythagoreans
-philos beloved believed that the twelve pentagons that
Any of various small fruit flies of the genus form the sides of this solid were somehow
Drosophila. celestial and not of this earth. This fifth
element, which could only come from the
Drought heavens, signified by the dodecahedron
Anglo-Saxon gave rise to the term quintessence: the
dygre dry purest, most highly concentrated essence,
Dryness; lack of rain or water. the “fifth essence.
Drumlin
Scottish Gaelic Ductile
drum- ridge, back; long, narrow hill Latin
-lin small or little ductus- to be hammered out into a tube or pipe;
An elongated hill or ridge of glacial drift; elon- leading or drawing
gated landform that results when a glacier moves -ile changing; ability; suitable; tending to
over an older moraine. Property of a metal that enables it to be easily
drawn into a wire.
66 Dunite

Dunite -fungi- performance, execution

English -ion state, process, or quality of
dun- referring to Mount Dun in New Zealand Abnormal, inadequate, or impaired function of an
-ite minerals and fossils organ or body part.
A dense igneous rock that consists mainly of oli-
Dyslexia
vine and is a source of magnesium.
Greek
Duodenostomy dys- painful, difficult, disordered, impaired,
Latin/Greek defective, ill
duodecum- twelve -legein- word, speech
-stoma- opening -al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
-y place for an activity; condition, state or character of
The surgical establishment of an opening into the A disorder affecting the comprehension and use
duodenum. of words.
Duodenum Dyspepsia
Latin Greek
duodeni- twelve each dys- painful, difficult, disordered, impaired,
-um (singular) structure defective, ill
-a (plural) structure -peps- digestion
The beginning portion of the small intestine, -ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing
approximately 12 inches in length, starting at the plurals
lower end of the stomach and extending to the Commonly referred to as indigestion, a painful
jejunum. disorder of the stomach.
Duramen Dysphagia
Latin/Middle English Greek
durare- to harden; hard growth dys- painful, difficult, disordered, impaired,
-enen to cause or become defective, ill
The older, nonliving central wood of a tree or -phage- to eat
woody plant, usually darker and harder than the -ia names of diseases, place names, or
younger sapwood. Latinizing plurals
Difficulty in swallowing, but not to be con-
Dynamic
fused with painful swallowing. Dysphagia is a
Greek
symptom of numerous paralytic diseases, includ-
dunamikos- powerful
ing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
disease).
Marked by usually continuous and productive
activity or change; of or relating to energy or to Dyspnea
objects in motion. Greek
dys- painful, difficult, disordered, impaired,
Dysentery (amoebic)
defective, ill
Greek
-pnoia breathing or breath
dys- painful, difficult, disordered, impaired,
Sensation of difficult or labored breathing.
defective, ill
-enteron- intestines Dystrophy
-y place for an activity, condition, state Greek
Extreme diarrhea with blood in the feces, caused dys- painful, difficult, disordered, impaired,
by either the ingestion of certain bacteria (shi- defective, ill
gella) or protozoa (Entamoeba hystolitica). -trophos- (trophein) to nourish; food, nutrition;
development
Dysfunction
-y place for an activity; condition, state
Greek/Latin
Any of several disorders involving atrophy of
dys- painful, difficult, disordered, impaired,
muscular tissue.
defective, ill
Eccentric Ecdysone
Greek Greek
ek- out of ekdusis- to shed or molt
-kentron- center -one a chemical compound containing oxygen in
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of a carbonyl group
Deviating from a circular form or path, as an A steroid hormone, produced by the prothoracic
elliptical orbit. gland of insects, that promotes growth and con-
trols molting.
Eccentricity
Greek Echinoderma
ek- out of Greek
-kentron- center echino- spiny, hedgehog
-itas variant -derma skin
The measure of the degree of elongation of an Radially symmetrical marine invertebrates,
ellipse. For example, a circle has an eccentricity including starfish and sea urchins.
of 0, and a parabola (an open figure) has an eccen-
Echocardiograph
tricity of 1.
Greek
Eccrine ekho- repeat of sound
Greek -kard- heart, pertaining to the heart
ek- out of -graphia (graphein) to write, record, draw, describe
-krinein to separate A technological instrument designed to noninva-
Applies to a type of mammalian sweat gland that sively transmit ultrasonic impulses into the chest
produces a watery secretion. that are reflected back so that the heart can be
imaged and studied.
Ecdysiotropin
Greek Echolocation
ekdysis- to strip off; escape Greek
-trope- bend, curve, turn, a turning; response to a ekho- repeat of sound
stimulus -locare to place
-in protein or derived from a protein A sensory adaptation used by certain animals
Hormone secreted in the brain of insects that such as dolphins and bats. Pulses of sound waves
stimulates the prothoracic gland to secrete molt- are emitted by the animal and reflected back from
ing hormone. an object; the organism can then determine the
distance of the object by the elapsed time.
68 Eclipse

Eclipse
Greek The Eclipse That Stopped a War
ektos- outer, external, out of, out, outside; away from
Thales of Miletus (ca. 635–543 BC ) is
-leipein to leave
regarded by many as the father of sci-
The partial or complete obscuring, relative to a des-
ence. He was a philosopher and an
ignated observer, of one celestial body by another.
astronomer living in a time before
Ecliptic Socrates. Unlike most philosophers of
Greek this time, he put his intellect to use in
ektos- outer, external, out of, out, outside; away from matters other than pure philosophy.
-lipo- abandon, to leave [behind] Although his motive probably was not
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of to become wealthy, he proved that by
The apparent path of the sun traced along the sky applying what he had learned about the
in the course of the year. natural world, he could succeed in
Ecocentrism business and politics. And he did. He
Greek was numbered among the Seven Sages
oikos- home, house of Greece, those statesmen who were
-centr- center known for their practical wisdom.
-ism state or condition Thales studied the natural world and
The view or belief that environmental concerns its events. He believed that the world
should take precedence over the needs and rights was not created by supernatural forces,
of human beings. but rather by naturally occurring
events. It was recorded by the historian
Ecocide Herodotus of Halicarnassus (ca. 484–
Greek 425 BC ) that Thales predicted the
oikos- home, house occurrence of a total solar eclipse on
-cide (caedere) to cut, kill, hack at, or strike May 28, 585 BC . As it happened, that
Destruction or damage to the environment, espe- eclipse ended a long and bloody war.
cially intentionally (e.g., by herbicides in war). The warring factions, the Lydians and
Ecogenetics the Medes, were in the sixth year of a
Greek/Latin struggle with no end in sight. Right in
oikos- home, house the middle of the battle of Halys, “the
-gen- to give birth, kind, produce day was turned into night,” and the bat-
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of tle was stopped and the war ended.
The study of the relationship between genetic fac-
tors and the nature of response to an environmental An ecological community together with its envi-
agent. ronment, functioning as a unit.
Ecohazard Ecotaxis
Greek/Arabic Greek
oikos- home, house oikos- home, house
-az zahr the gaming die, dice game -taxi arrangement, order; to put in order
Any activity or substance that may constitute a The “homing” of recirculating lymphocytes to
threat to a habitat or environment. specific compartments of peripheral lymphoid
Ecology tissues, with B cells going to B-dependent areas
Greek and T cells to T-dependent areas.
oikos- house Ecotone
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or Latin
bodies of knowledge oikos- home, house
The science of the relationships between organ- -tonos tension, pressure
isms and their environments A transition region where adjacent biomes blend,
Ecosystem containing some organisms from each of the adja-
Greek/Latin cent biomes plus some that are characteristic of,
oikos- home, house and perhaps restricted to, the ecotone; this region
-systema the universe. tends to have more species and to be more
densely populated than either adjacent biome.

Ecotoxicologist
Greek
oikos- home, house
-toxikos- poison
-ologist one who deals with a specific topic
A specialist in the harmful effects of chemicals on
the natural environment.
Ectobiology
Greek
ektos- outside, external, beyond
-bios- life, living organisms or tissue
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or
bodies of knowledge
The study of the properties and biochemical con-
stitution of the cell surface and the specific
enzymes at the surface.
Ectocardia
Greek
ektos- outside, external, beyond
-kard- heart, pertaining to the heart
-ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing
plurals
The congenital displacement of the heart, either
inside or outside the thorax.
Ectoderm
Greek
ektos- outside, external, beyond
-derm skin
Embryonic tissue layer that leads to the differen-
tiation of epidermal, nervous, and sensory organs
and tissues.
Ectognatous
Greek
ektos- outside, external, beyond
-gnathos jaw
Derived characteristic of most insects, in which
mandibles and maxillae are not in pouches.
Ectohormone
Greek
ektos- outside, external, beyond
-hormo- to rouse or to set in motion
-one chemical compound containing oxygen in a
carbonyl group
A parahormonal chemical mediator of ecological
significance that is secreted, largely by an organism
(usually an invertebrate) into its immediate envi-
ronment (air or water); it can alter the behavior or
functional activity of a second organism, often of
the same species as that secreting the ectohormone.
Ectolecithal
Greek
ektos- outside, external, beyond
-lekithos egg yolk
Effector 69
Yolk for nutrition of the embryo contributed by
cells that are separate from the egg cell and are
combined with the zygote by envelopment within
the eggshell.
Ectomorphic
Greek
ektos- outside, external, beyond
-morph- shape, form, figure, or appearance
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Referring to an individual characterized by having a
lean, slightly muscular build in which tissues
derived from the embryonic ectoderm predominate.
Ectoplasm
Greek
ektos- outside, external, beyond
-plasm (plassein) to mold or form cells or tissues
The cortex of a cell or that part of cytoplasm just
under the cell surface.
Ectoscopy
Greek
ektos- outside, external, beyond
-skopein- see, view, sight, look at, examine
-y place for an activity; condition, state
A diagnostic method based on observation of
chest and abdominal movements and said to be
capable of determining the outlines of the lungs
and of localized internal conditions.
Ectothermic
Greek
ektos- outside, external, beyond
-thermos- combining form of “hot” (heat)
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Having a body temperature derived by heat
acquired from the environment.
Edema
Greek
oidema a swelling
The accumulation of excessive amounts of serous
fluids in the tissues or cavities within the body.
Effect
Latin
ex- outside, outward, out of, out; away from
-facere- to do; carry, bear, bring
The result or consequence of an action.
Effector
Latin
ex- outside, outward, out of, out; away from
-facere- to do; carry, bear, bring
-or a condition or property of things or persons,
person who does something
An organ or structure that responds as a result of
nervous stimulation.
70 Efferent

Efferent -kard- heart, pertaining to the heart

Latin -graphia (graphein) to write, record, draw, describe
ex- outside, outward, out of, out; away from An instrument for recording the potential of the
-facere- to do; carry, bear, bring electrical currents that traverse the heart and ini-
-ent causing an action; being in a specific state; tiate its contraction.
within
Electrodialysis
Leading or conveying away from some organ—
Greek
for example, nerve impulses conducted away
elektron- charge, electricity; dealing with positive
from the brain, or blood conveyed away from an
and negative charges
organ; contrasts with afferent.
-dia- through, across, point to point
Efficiency -ly- loosening, dissolving, dissolution, breaking
Latin -sis action, process, state, condition
efficere- to effect A form of dialysis in which the application of cur-
-cy state, condition, quality rent to electrodes is used to separate substances or
The ratio of useful work accomplished by a compounds. Salt is removed from seawater in
machine compared to the total work put into it; large quantities in this manner.
usually expressed as a percentage.
Electrolysis
Effloresce Greek
Latin elektron- charge, electricity; dealing with positive
ex- outside, outward, out of, out; away from and negative charges
-florere flower; to blossom -ly- (luein) to loosen, dissolve; dissolution, break
To become covered by a crusty deposit when -sis action, process, state, condition
water evaporates. A process in which electrolytes are created by
splitting compounds using electric current.
Ejecta
Latin Electrolyte
eicere- to throw out Latin/Greek
Ejected matter, such as that from an erupting elektron- charge, electricity; dealing with positive
volcano. and negative charges
-lyte substance capable of undergoing decomposition
Ejection
A substance that when dissolved in a suitable sol-
Latin
vent becomes an ionic conductor.
eicere- to throw out
-ion state, process, or quality of Electromagnetic
The act of ejecting or the condition of being ejected. Greek
Elastic
elektron- charge, electricity; dealing with positive
and negative charges
Greek
-magnes- something that attracts (figurative sense)
elaunein- to beat out
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Variation in electric and magnetic fields taking
Returning to or capable of returning to an initial
place in regular, repeating fashion.
form or state after deformation.
Electron
Electricity
Greek
Greek
elektron- charge, electricity; dealing with positive
elektron- charge, electricity; dealing with positive
and negative charges
and negative charges
-on a particle
-ity state or quality
An elementary particle consisting of a charge of
The flow of electrons in a circuit. The speed of
negative electricity equal to about 1.602 × 10–19
electricity is the speed of light (approximately
coulomb and having a mass when at rest of about
186,000 miles per second). In a wire, it is slowed
9.109534 × 10–28 gram, or about 1/1836 that of a
due to the resistance in the material.
proton.
Electrocardiograph
Electronegativity
Greek
Greek
elektron- charge, electricity; dealing with positive
and negative charges
elektron- charge, electricity; dealing with positive
and negative charges
 Emphysema 71

-negare- say no, deny Elongation

-ity state or quality Latin
Property of an element that indicates how strongly elongate- to make or grow longer
its atom attracts electrons in a chemical bond. -ion state, process, or quality of
The act of making something longer or the condi-
Electrophile
tion of being made longer.
English
elektron- charge, electricity; dealing with positive Elytra
and negative charges Greek
-phile one who loves or has a strong affinity or elutron sheath
preference for The thickened or leathery forewings of insects
A chemical compound or group attracted to elec- such as beetles.
trons and tending to accept them.
Embolism
Electrophoresis Greek
Greek em- in
elektron- charge, electricity; dealing with positive -bol- (ballein) to put or throw
and negative charges -ism state or condition
-phoros- being carried, bearing Obstruction or occlusion of a blood vessel block-
-sis action, process, state, condition ing the flow of blood.
The movement of suspended particles in a fluid
Embryo
under the influence of an electric field.
Greek
Electroweak em- in
Greek/Middle English -bruein to be full, bursting
elektron- charge, electricity; dealing with posi- An organism in its early stage of development,
tive and negative charges especially before it has reached a distinctively
-weike pliant recognizable form.
Of or relating to the combination of the electromag-
Embryogenesis
netic and weak nuclear forces in a unified theory.
Greek
Element em- in
Latin -bruein- to be full, bursting
elementum rudiment, first principle -gen- to give birth, kind, produce
A substance that cannot be separated into simpler -sis action, process, state, condition
substances by chemical means. The origin and development of the embryo;
embryogeny.
Elimination
Latin Emigration
eliminat- to banish Latin
-ion state, process, or quality of e- out
A process by which wastes are removed from the -migrare- to move
body. -ion state, process, or quality of
The act or process of leaving an area or country to
Ellipse
live in another country.
Latin/Greek
en- in, at, onto Emission
-leipein to leave Latin
A plane curve, especially a conic section whose emittere- to send out
plane is not parallel to the axis, base, or generatrix -ion state, process or quality of
of the intersected cone. A substance discharged into the air, especially by
an internal combustion engine.
Elliptical
Greek Emphysema
elleiptikos- of a leaf shape; in the form of an ellipse Greek
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form em- in, into, inward; within
or character of -phusan to blow
Of, relating to, or having the shape of an ellipse; A pathological condition of the lungs marked by
containing or characterized by ellipsis. an abnormal increase in the size of the air spaces,
72 Empirical

resulting in labored breathing and an increased -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
susceptibility to infection. A condition, such as a disease, that is prevalent in
a specific area.
Empirical
Greek Endergonic
empeirikos- doctor relying on experience alone Greek
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form endo- inside, within
or character of -ergon- work
Referring to a formula that gives the simplest whole -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
number ratio of atoms of elements in a compound. A chemical reaction requiring energy to obtain
the end products.
Emulsification
Greek Endoabdominal
-mulgere- to milk out Greek
-ation action, process, state, or condition endo- inside, within
Process of mixing two liquids that do not dissolve -abdomen- belly, venter, abdomen
in each other. -al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
or character of
Emulsify
Relating to tissues and other materials found
Latin
within the abdominal walls.
-mulgere- to milk out
-fy cause; to become, make Endobenthos
To make into an emulsion. Greek
endo- inside, within
Emulsion
-benthos deep; the fauna and flora of the bottom
Latin
of the sea
ex- outside, outward, out of, out; away from
Organisms living within the sediment on the sea-
-mulgere- to milk out
bed or lake floor.
-ion state, process, or quality of
A suspension of small globules of one liquid in a Endocrine
second liquid with which the first will not mix. Greek
endo- within
Enantiomer
-krinein to separate
Greek
Glands that secrete hormones into the blood.
en- to cause to be
-anti- opposite Endocytosis
-mere considered apart from anything else; pure Greek
Either of a pair of crystals, molecules, or com- endo- inside, within
pounds that are mirror images but not identical. -kutos- (cyto) sac or bladder that contains fluid
-sis action, process, state, condition
Encephalitis
The process of moving things to the inside of a cell.
Greek
en- in, into, inward; within Endoderm
-cephalo- (kephalikos) head Latin
-itis inflammation, burning sensation endo- inside, within
Inflammation of the brain, usually caused by a -derma skin
viral infection. In animals, the inner layer of embryonic tissue
from which the digestive organs develop.
Encephalomalacia
Greek Endoergic
en- in, into, inward; within Greek
-cephalo- (kephalikos) head endo- inside, within
-malacia softening of tissue -ergon- work
Softening of brain tissue, usually caused by vas- -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
cular insufficiency or degenerative changes. Occurring with absorption of energy. In biology,
the process by which heat is generated to main-
Endemic
tain a constant body temperature.
Greek
en- in, into, inward; within
-demo- population
 Enterocoel 73

Endognathous A supporting framework within the living tissues

Greek of an organism.
endo- inside, within
Endosperm
-gnathos jaw
Greek
Ancestral character of insects, found in the orders
endo- inside, within
Diplura, Collembola, and Protura, in which the
-sperma seed
mandibles and maxillae are located in pouches.
In flowering plants, storage tissue.
Endolecithal
Endospore
Greek
Greek
endo- inside, within
endo- inside, within
-ekithos yolk
-spora seed
Yolk for nutrition of the embryo incorporated into
A small asexual spore that develops inside the
the egg cell itself.
cell of some bacteria and algae.
Endometrium
Endostyle
Greek
Greek
endo- inside, within
endo- inside, within
-metra- womb
-sylos a pillar
-y place for an activity; condition, state
Ciliated groove(s) in the floor of the pharynx of
Mucous membrane lining the interior surface of
tunicates, cephalochordates, and larval cyclos-
the uterus.
tomes, used for accumulating and moving food
Endomorphic particles to the stomach.
Greek
Endothermal
endo- inside, within
Latin/Greek
-morph- shape, form, figure, or appearance
endo- inside, within
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
-thermos- combining form of “hot” (heat)
An individual characterized by a significant
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
amount of soft tissue around the area of the abdo-
or character of
men; this fatty tissue develops from the embry-
Pertaining to chemical reactions in warm-
onic endodermal layer.
blooded animals that generate heat for the main-
Endoplasm tenance of a constant internal environment.
Greek
Endothermic
endo- inside, within
Greek
-plasm (plassein) to mold or form cells or tissues
endo- inside, within
A central, less viscous portion of the cytoplasm
-thermos- combining form of “hot” (heat)
that is distinguishable in certain cells, especially
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
motile cells.
Characterized by or causing the absorption of
Endopod heat.
Greek
Energy
endo- inside, within
Greek
-podos foot
en- in, at, onto
Medial branch of a biramous crustacean appendage.
-ergon work
Endorphin The capacity to do work; source of usable power;
Greek vigorous exertion of effort.
endo- inside, within
Enneagynous
-morpheus- god of dreams
Greek
-in protein or derived from a protein.
ennea- nine
A morphine-like substance secreted in the pitu-
-gynous in relation to the female organ of a plant
itary gland to control pain and pleasure.
In botany, having nine pistils or styles in a flower.
Endoskeleton
Enterocoel
Greek
Greek
endo- inside, within
enteron- gut
-skeletos hard
-koiloma cavity
74 Enterocoelomate

A type of coelom formed by the outpouching of a aion indefinitely long period of time
mesodermal sac from the endoderm of the primi- Longest period of geologic time.
tive gut.
Eosinophil
Enterocoelomate Greek
Greek eos- dawn (color of), rose, red
enteron- gut -in- protein or derived from a protein
-koiloma- cavity -phile one who loves or has a strong affinity or
-ate of or having to do with preference for
An animal having an enterocoel, such as an echi- A granular bilobed leukocyte with coarse cyto-
noderm or a vertebrate. plasmic granules that attract the red acid dye eosin,
a biological stain for studying cell structures.
Enthalpy
Greek Ephemeroptera
en- in, at, onto Greek
-thalpien- to heat ephemeros- for a day
-y place for an activity; condition, state -pteron wing
The sum of the internal energy of a body and the Mayflies; fragile winged insects that develop
product of its volume multiplied by its pressure. from aquatic nymphs and live as adults for only a
few days.
Entomology
Greek Epibenthos
entomos- cut from two, segmented Greek
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or epi- above, over, on, upon
bodies of knowledge -benthos deep; the fauna and flora of the bottom
The scientific study of insects. of the sea
The community of organisms living at the surface
Entropy
of the seabed or lake floor.
Greek
en- in, at, onto Epiblast
-trope transformation Greek
The tendency for all matter and energy in the uni- epi- above, over, on, upon
verse to evolve toward a state of inert uniformity. -blastos bud, germ cell
The outer layer of the blastula giving rise to the
Environmentalist
ectoderm.
French
environ- round about; encircle Epicardium
-ment- state or condition resulting from a (speci- Greek
fied) action epi- above, over, on, upon
-al- of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form -kard- heart, pertaining to the heart
or character of -ium quality of the relationship
-ist agent, specialist The inner layer of the pericardium, a conical sac
A person who seeks to protect the natural environment. of fibrous tissue that surrounds the heart.
Enzyme Epicenter
Greek Greek
en- in, at, onto epi- above, over, on, upon
-zume ferment, leaven -kentron center, sharp point
Produced by living cells that catalyze chemical The point of the earth’s surface directly above the
reactions in organic matter. focus of an earthquake.
Eocene Epicycle
Greek Greek
eos- dawn epi- above, over, on, upon
-kainos recent -kyklos circle, wheel, cycle
An epoch of the lower Tertiary period, spanning A circle whose circumference rolls along the cir-
the time between 55.5 and 33.7 million years ago. cumference of a fixed circle.
Eon
Greek
 Epistome 75

Epidemic Epiphyseal (line)

Greek Greek
epi- upon, above epi- above, over, on, upon
-demos- people -phyein- to grow
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of -al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
A disease found among many people in an area; a or character of
situation where an infectious disease develops Pertaining to or resembling the epiphysis; in long
and spreads quickly through a population. bone development; the line that results when the
ossification process of the shaft meets with the
Epidendrous
bony development at the end of a bone.
Greek
epi- above, over, on, upon Epiphyte
-dendr- tree, treelike structure Greek
-ous full of, having the quality of, relating to epi- above, over, on, upon
Relating to organisms that grow or exist on trees. -phuton plant having a (specified) characteristic
or habitat
Epidermis
A plant, such as a tropical orchid or a staghorn
Greek
fern, that grows on another plant upon which it
epi- above, over, on, upon
depends for mechanical support but not for nutri-
-dermis skin
ents; also called aerophyte, air plant.
The outer epithelial layer of the external integu-
ment of the animal body that is derived from Epipod
embryonic epiblast. Greek
epi- above, over, on, upon
Epididymis
-pous podos, foot
Greek
A lateral process on the protopod of a crustacean
epi- above, over, on, upon
appendage often modified as a gill.
-didumos twins, testicles
Long, narrow, convoluted tube on the top, poste- Episode
rior aspect of either of the two testes; it is part of Greek
the sperm duct system. epi- above, over, on, upon
-eisodios coming in besides, entering
Epigastrium
An incident or event that stands out from the con-
Greek
tinuity of everyday life.
epi- above, over, on, upon
-gastr- stomach, belly Episome
-ium quality of the relationship Greek
The part of the abdominal wall lying on or over epi- above, over, on, upon
the stomach. -soma (somatiko) body
A genetic unit or gene that has the capacity to
Epiglottis
exist outside of or independently of its host cell.
Greek
epi- above, over, on, upon Epistasis
-glotta tongue Greek
The thin elastic cartilaginous structure located at epi- above, over, on, upon
the root of the tongue that folds over the glottis to -histanai- to place; to stop
prevent food and liquid from entering the trachea -sis action, process, state, condition
during the act of swallowing. The suppression of a bodily discharge such as
urine. In genetics, the suppression of the expres-
Epinephrine
sion of a gene by another gene.
Greek
epi- above, over, on, upon Epistome
-nephros- kidneys Greek
-ine a chemical substance epi- above, over, on, upon
An endogenous adrenal hormone that increases -stoma mouth
cardiac activity, dilates bronchial tubes, and stim- Flap over the mouth in some lophophorates that
ulates the production of glucose from glycogen. bears the protocoel.
76 Epithethia

Epithethia Equilibrium
Greek Latin
epi- above, over, on, upon aequi- equal, same, similar, even
-thele- nipple -libr- balanced, level; make even; weight
-ia names of diseases, place names, or -ium quality or relationship
Latinizing plurals A state of balance between opposing forces or
Papillary projections of the epithelium that pene- actions.
trate the underlying stroma of connecting tissue.
Equine
Epitope Latin
Greek equus- horse
epi- above, over, on, upon -ine of or relating to
-topos place, spot Of or belonging to the family Equidae, which
A portion of a protein molecule that is the specific includes the horses, asses, and zebras.
target of an immune response.
Equinox
Epizootic Latin
Greek aequi- equal, same, similar, even
epi- above, over, on, upon -noct night
-zoon- animal, animal-like Either of the two times during a year when the sun
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of crosses the celestial equator and when the day
Affecting a large number of animals at the same and night are approximately equal in length.
time within a particular region or geographic
Equipollent
area; used in reference to a disease.
Latin
Epoch aequi- equal, same, similar, even
Greek -pollere- to be powerful
ep- time -ent causing an action; being in a specific state
-och fixed Equal in force, power, effectiveness, or significance.
Subdivision of a period on the geologic time scale.
Equipotential
Equation Latin
Latin aequi- equal, same, similar, even
aequi- equal, same, similar, even -potent- power; to be able
-ion state, quality, or process of -ial (variation of -ia) relating to or characterized by
A representation of a chemical reaction, usually The work required to move a unit of positive charge,
written as a linear array in which the symbols and a magnetic pole, or an amount of mass from a refer-
quantities of the reactants are separated from ence point to a designated point in a static electric,
those of the products by an equal sign, an arrow, magnetic, or gravitational field; potential energy.
or a set of opposing arrows.
Era
Equator Latin
Latin aera counters
aequi- equal, same, similar, even The longest of the geological time periods, usually
-or from marked by some catastrophic geological event.
The imaginary great circle around the earth’s sur-
Eremic
face, equidistant from the poles and perpendicu-
Greek
lar to the earth’s axis of rotation; it divides the
erem- lonely, solitary; hermit; desert
earth into the Northern Hemisphere and the
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Southern Hemisphere.
Pertaining to deserts or sandy regions.
Equilibrate
Eremobiology
Latin
Greek
aequi- equal, same, similar, even
erem- lonely, solitary; hermit; desert
-libr- balanced, level; make even; weight
-bios- life, living organisms or tissue
-ate characterized by having
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or
Having to maintain in or bring into equilibrium.
bodies of knowledge
The science of biology in arid ecological systems.
 Esophagus 77

Eremophile Erythroblast
Greek Greek
erem- lonely, solitary; hermit; desert eruthros- red
-phile one who loves or has a strong affinity or -blastos bud, germ cell
preference for Immature red blood cells found within the red bone
Organisms that survive and thrive in desert or marrow of mammals; they are typically nucleated.
desertlike conditions.
Erythroblastosis
Eremophyte Greek
Greek eruthros- red
erem- lonely, solitary; hermit; desert -blastos bud, germ cell
-phuton plant having a (specified) characteristic -osis increase, formation
or habitat An abnormal presence of immature red blood
A plant species that has developed the adapta- cells in the bloodstream.
tions to live in arid, desertlike conditions.
Erythrocyte
Erg Greek
Greek eruthros- red
ergon work -cyte (kutos) sac or bladder that contains fluid
A small unit of work equal to the force of one Red blood cell that contains hemoglobin and car-
dyne acting over a distance of one centimeter. ries oxygen from the lungs or gills to the tissues in
vertebrates.
Ergonomics
Greek Erythropoiesis
ergon- work Greek
-nom- (nemein) to dictate the laws of; knowledge; eruthros- red
usage; order -poiein- production, formation; to make
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of -sis action, process, state, condition
The applied science of equipment design, as for The process of the production of red blood cells
the workplace, intended to maximize productiv- in the red bone marrow.
ity by reducing operator fatigue and discomfort.
Erythropoietin
Erogenous Greek
Latin eruthros- red
eros- sexual love or sexual passion -poiein- production, formation; to make
-gen- to give birth, kind, produce -in protein or derived from protein
-ous full of, having the quality of, relating to A chemical secreted by the kidney to regulate the
Producing erotic feelings; often a reference to parts production of red blood cells.
of the body that are sensitive to sexual arousal.
Esophagoduodenostomy
Erosion Greek/Latin
Latin ois- (pherein) to carry
erosio- an eating away -phagos- (phagein) to eat, eating
-ion state, process, or quality of -duodeni- twelve each
The group of natural processes, including weath- -stoma- opening
ering, dissolution, abrasion, corrosion, and trans- -y place for an activity; condition, state
portation, by which material is worn away from Surgical removal of the stomach, followed by
the earth’s surface. connection of the esophagus to the duodenum.
Eruciform Esophagus
Latin Greek
eruci- caterpillar ois- (future tense of pherein) to carry
-forma having the form of -phagos- (phagein) to eat; eating
Applied to insect larvae, caterpillar-like; more or -us thing
less cylindrical with a well-developed head and A muscular, membranous tube extending from
stumpy legs at the rear, in addition to the true tho- the pharynx to the stomach.
racic legs. The caterpillars of butterflies and
moths are typical examples.
78 Ester

Ester The scientific study of the causes and origins of

German (from Latin) diseases.
essig vinegar
Etymology
Any of a class of organic compounds correspond-
Greek/Latin
ing to the inorganic salts and formed from an
etymon- true sense; earlier form of a word
organic acid and an alcohol.
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or
Esterification bodies of knowledge
Greek The study of the sources and development of words.
äther- etherlike acid
Eubacteria
-fication action, process, or quality of
Greek
A reaction involving a group of organic compounds
eu- good, well; true
that causes the reagents (usually a carboxylic acid
-bacter- microscopic organism
and alcohol) to become an ester.
-baktron- staff, rod
Estivation -ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing
Latin plurals
estiv- dormancy in the summer Large group of bacteria having rigid cell walls.
-ion state, process, or quality of
Euglena
The process of spending the summer in a resting state.
Greek
Estrogen eu- good, well; true
Greek -glene eyeball
oistros- frenzy; gadfly Any organism of the genus Euglena, found in
-gen to give birth, kind, produce freshwater and characterized by chlorophyll, a
Female sex hormones secreted by both the ova- single flagellum, and a reddish “eyespot.”
ries and the adrenal cortex.
Euhaline
Estuary Greek
Latin eu- good, well; true
aestus- tide, surge -hal- salt
-ary of, relating to, or connected with -ine in a chemical substance
An arm of the sea that extends to meet the mouth Term used with reference to normal sea water,
of a river. containing 30 to 40 parts per thousand salt;
applies to organisms thriving in this environment.
Ethane
Greek Eukaryote
eth- organic functional group with two carbons Greek
-ane organic compound containing no multiple bonds eu- good, well; true
An odorless alkane gas, C2H6. -kairon nut; cell nucleus
An organism whose cells contain a distinct,
Ether
membrane-bound “true” nucleus.
Greek
aither upper air Eumetazoans
Any of a class of organic compounds in which two Latin
hydrocarbon groups are linked by an oxygen atom. eu- good, well; true
-meta- later in time
Ethnobotany
-zoan animal
Greek
Animals with both tissues and symmetry.
ethnos- people or races
-botane- fodder, plants Euphotic (zone)
-onuma name Greek
The study of the relationship between humans eu- good, well; true
and plants. -photos- light, radiant energy
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Etiology
Of, relating to, or being the uppermost layer of a
Greek
body of water that receives sufficient light for
aitia- cause
photosynthesis and the growth of green plants.
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or
bodies of knowledge
 Evapotranspiration 79

Eupnea eury- wide

New Latin -topos place
eu- normal -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
-pnion breathing or breath Refers to an organism or species capable of living
Normal, rhythmic, unlabored breathing rates. within a wide environmental range.
Eurybaric Eutrophic
Greek Greek
eury- wide, broad eu- good, well, true
-bar- weight, pressure -trophos- (trophein) to nourish; food, nutrition;
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of development
Applicable to animals adaptable to great differ- -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
ences in altitude. Having waters rich in mineral and organic nutri-
ents, causing plant life to proliferate, thereby
Euryhalic
reducing the dissolved oxygen content and often
Greek
killing off other organisms.
eury- wide, broad
-hal- salt Eutrophication
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of Greek
Able to tolerate a wide range of salinity; said of eu- good, well; true
organisms capable of withstanding widely vary- -trophos- (trophein) to nourish; food, nutrition;
ing concentrations of salt in the environment. development
-ation action, process , or quality of
Euryhaline
The process by which a body of water becomes
Greek
enriched in dissolved nutrients (such as phos-
eury- wide
phates) that stimulate the growth of aquatic plant
-hal- salt
life, usually resulting in the depletion of dis-
-ine in a chemical substance
solved oxygen.
Able to tolerate wide ranges of saltwater
concentrations. Evacuate
Latin
Euryphagous
-vacare- empty
Greek
-ate of or having to do with
eury- wide
To empty or send away; to eliminate or excrete
-phagos- (phagein) to eat, eating
wastes from a living body.
-ous full of, having the quality of, relating to
An ecological term referring to an organism that Evagination
eats a large variety of foods. Latin
-vagina- sheath
Euryphotic
-ion state, process, or quality of
Greek
An outpocketing from a hollow structure; to turn
eury- wide, broad
a body part inside out.
-phot- light
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of Evaporation
Tolerant of a wide range of light intensity, typi- Latin
cally measured between a forest and a field. vaporatus- steam, vapor
-ion state, process, or quality of
Eurypterid
Vaporization of a liquid below its boiling point.
Greek
eury- wide Evapotranspiration
-pteron- wing Latin
-id state, condition; having, being, pertaining to, ex- outside, outward, out of, out; away from
tending to, inclined to -vaporatus- steam, vapor
Large, extinct scorpion-like arthropod considered -trans- across or through
to be related to horseshoe crabs. -spirare-to breath
-ion state, process, or quality of
Eurytopic
The sum total of water loss due to evaporation
Greek
and plant transpiration.
80 Evolution

Evolution ex- outside, outward, out of, out; away from

Latin -podos foot
evolut- unrolling Lateral branch of a biramous crustacean appendage.
-ion state, process, or quality of
Exoskeleton
The theory that the various types of animals and
Greek
plants have their origin in other, preexisting types
ex- outside, outward, out of, out; away from
and that the distinguishable differences are due to
-skeletos dried up (body)
modifications in successive generations.
A hard outer structure, such as the shell of an
Excision insect or crustacean, that provides protection or
Greek support for an organism.
ex- outside, outward, out of, out; away from
Exosphere
-cis- to cut
Greek
-ion state, process of
ex- outside, outward, out of, out; away from
The process of cutting off something small by
-sphaira a globe shape, ball, sphere
surgery.
The outer layer of the thermosphere, extending
Excited into space.
Latin
Exothermal
ex- outside, outward, out of, out; away from
Greek
-ciere to set in motion
ex- outside, outward, out of, out; away from
Being at an energy level higher than the ground state.
-thermos- combining form of “hot” (heat)
Excretion -al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
Latin or character of
ex- outside, outward, out of, out; away from Characterized by or formed with the evolution of
-cernere- to separate heat.
-ion state, process of
Exothermic
To separate and eliminate or discharge (waste) from
Greek
the blood or tissues or from active protoplasm.
ex- outside, outward, out of, out; away from
Exfoliate -thermos- combining form of “hot” (heat)
Latin -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
ex- outside, outward, out of, out; away from Referring to a chemical reaction where heat is
-folium- leaf released from the source.
-ate of or having to deal with
Exotic
To come off or separate into flakes, scales, or lay-
Greek
ers; mechanical weathering process in which
ex- outside, outward, out of, out; away from
outer rock layers are stripped away, often result-
-otic state or condition of; condition of being
ing in dome-shaped formations.
Strikingly, excitingly, or mysteriously different or
Exobiology unusual; from another part of the world.
Greek
Expedition
ex- outside, outward, out of, out; away from
Greek
-bios- life, living organisms or tissue
ex- outside, outward, out of, out; away from
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or
-pedi- foot
bodies of knowledge
-ion state, process, or quality of
Study of life forms that possibly exist elsewhere
A journey or excursion undertaken for a specific
in the universe.
purpose.
Exocytosis
Experiment
Greek
Latin
ex- outside, outward, out of, out; away from
experiri- to try
-cyte- (kutos) sac or bladder that contains fluid
-ent causing an action or being in a specific state
-sis action, process, state, condition
A test under controlled conditions that is made to
The process of moving things to the outside of a cell.
demonstrate a known truth, examine the validity
Exopod of a hypothesis, or determine the efficacy of
Greek something previously untried.

Holland in the Seventeenth Century
Able to form a republic in the seventeenth century by
declaring its independence from Spain, Holland was
left to its own resources to either flourish or decline.
Thus, the economy of Holland was dependent on the
free-thinking, creative society of its day. Beginning
in that century, but associated more with the eigh-
teenth century, was the Age of Enlightenment, a
period characterized by reason rather than the tradi-
tions of the Dark Ages. This movement led to an
unparalleled optimism and to bold expressions of
philosophy, law, art, science, and government. The
Dutch embraced the Age of Enlightenment, which
eventually spread throughout Europe.
The formation of the Dutch East India Company
required the recruitment of skilled craftsmen to
build a fleet of ships capable of traveling great dis-
tances. The Dutch sailor-merchants sailed all over
the world and brought back the rarest of goods for
sale. Exploration became a part of the social fiber
of the Dutch people. Science, mathematics, and
philosophy flourished in Holland, where all free
thinkers were welcome to explore their passions.
There was little to fear from the Church, which still
held a grip over much of Europe. Men feared for
their lives when scientific reason clashed with the
accepted Church dogma. Thus seventeenth-century
Exsiccated
Latin
ex- outside, outward, out of, out; away from
-sicca- drying
-ate characterized by having
Dried, especially in reference to soils that have lost
their moisture.
Extensor
Greek
ex- outside, outward, out of, out; away from
-ten- to move in a certain direction; to stretch,
hold out
-or a condition or property of things or persons;
person who does something
Any of various muscles that extend or straighten
some part of the body, especially a flexed arm or leg.
External
Latin
externus- outward
-al pertaining to, having the form or character of
Relating to, existing on, or connected with the
outside or an outer part; exterior.
Eye 81
Holland became home to many migrating scientists
and others who sought freedom to express their
ideas. In Amsterdam Anton Van Leeuwenhoek,
known as the father of microbiology, invented the
microscope during this period. It is said that his
microscopes, equipped with lenses that he himself
ground, were able to magnify well over 500 times
normal vision. Only a handful of the hundreds of
microscopes he crafted still exist today.
Christian Huygens crafted lenses for telescopes
and created a telescope that was over 5 meters long.
He speculated that the atmosphere of Venus caused
the planet to be covered by clouds. He observed the
patterns of rotation of planets, and he estimated
quite accurately the length of a Martian day. Huy-
gens was the first to recognize the rings of Saturn,
and he also discovered Titan, the planet’s largest
moon. These are only a few of the incredible dis-
coveries and inventions this scientist is responsible
for.
Countless people have been inspired over the
ages by this colony’s many explorers, adventurers,
craftsmen, statesmen, artists, mathematicians, and
philosophers. Even Albert Einstein was influenced
by a Portuguese-Jewish philosopher who lived in
Holland, Benedict (Baruch) Spinoza.
Extinction
Latin
ex- outside, outward, out of, out; away from
-stinguere- to quench
-ion state, process, or quality of
Ceasing of existence of a species.
Extraction
Greek
ex- outside, outward, out of, out; away from
-trahere- to draw
-ion state, process, or quality of
To obtain from a substance by chemical or mechani-
cal action, as by pressure, distillation, or evaporation.
Extrusive
Latin
ex- outside, outward, out of, out; away from
-trudere thrust
Igneous rock that forms when molten rock solidi-
fies above the surface.
Eye
Modern English
eghe resembling an eye shape
The development of a calm center of a storm.
Famine Any of various alloys of iron and one or more
Latin other elements.
fames- hunger
Ferrotherapy
-ine of or relating to
Latin
A drastic, wide-reaching food shortage threaten-
ferrum- iron; pertaining to, or containing iron
ing the lives of an entire population.
-therapeuein to heal, cure; treatment
Fault The treatment of disease with iron.
Latin Fertilization
fallere to deceive, fail Latin
To shift so as to produce a fault. fertilis- to bear
Fecundity -ion state, process, or quality of
Latin The act or process of initiating the reproductive
fecund- fruitful, fertile process in sexual creatures by the union of an egg
-ity state of, quality of and a sperm cell.
Refers to female animals: the faculty of reproduc- Fibrin
tion; the capacity for bringing forth young; pro- Latin
ductiveness. In botany, the faculty or power of fibro-, fibr-, fibra- fiber; an elongated threadlike
germinating. structure
Fermentation -in protein or derived from protein
Latin Large insoluble strands of protein that aid in the
fermentum- splits complex organic compounds clotting of blood.
into simpler ones Fibrinogen
-ion state, process or quality of Latin/Greek
A type of anaerobic pathway of ATP formation: it fibro-, fibr-, fibra- fiber; an elongated threadlike
starts with glycolysis, ends when electrons are structure
transferred back to one of the breakdown prod- -gen to give birth, kind, produce
ucts or intermediates, and regenerates the NAD+ A blood plasma protein that turns into fibrin when
required for the reaction. Its net yield is two ATP converted by thrombin during the blood-clotting
per glucose molecule degraded. process.
Ferroalloy Fibronectin
Latin Latin/ Greek
ferrum- iron; pertaining to, or containing iron fibro-, fibr-, fibra- fiber; an elongated threadlike
-alligare to bind structure
 Flood 83

-nhkto- (Greek) swimming In chemistry, refers to having a stated amount of

-in protein or derived from protein gold or silver in it. A gold or silver alloy that is
A fibrous linking protein that functions as a retic- 925/1000 fine is 92.5% gold or silver.
uloendothelial mediated host defense mechanism Fission
and is impaired by surgery, burns, infection, neo- Latin
plasia, and disorders of the immune system. fissus- splitting
Fibrosis -ion state, process, or quality of
Latin Act or process of splitting or breaking up into parts.
fibro-, fibr-, fibra- fiber; an elongated threadlike Fistula
structure Latin
-sis action, process, state, condition fistula pipe
The formation of excess fibrous tissue, usually as An abnormal duct or canal resulting from injury,
an attempt to repair damaged tissue or as a reac- disease, or congenital disorder that extends from
tion to a trauma. the hollow of a body organ to the surface or to
Field another organ.
Old English Fixation
feld field Latin
A region of space characterized by a physical fixus- to fasten
property, such as gravitational or electromagnetic -ation action, process, or quality of
force or fluid pressure, having a determinable The process of conversion into a more reactive,
value at every point in the region. usable form.
Filial Fjord
Latin Old Norse
fili- son, daughter, offspring fjordhr inlet
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form A long, narrow, deep inlet of the sea between
or character of steep slopes.
Of or relating to a generation or the sequence of
generations following the parental generation. Flagellum
Latin
Filipodium flagrum whip
Latin A long, threadlike appendage; a whiplike extension.
filum- thread
-podos- foot Flammable
-ium quality or relationship Greek
A type of pseudopodium that is very slender and philogiston flammable
may branch, but does not rejoin to form a mesh. Describes a substance that is easily ignited and
capable of burning.
Filtration
Latin Flexor
filtrum- to put or go through a filter Latin
-ion state, process, or quality of flectere- to bend
A process in which mixtures are separated based -or a condition or property of things or persons;
upon the size of particles that can fit through a filter. person who does something
Any muscle that bends a limb.
Fimbriae
Latin Flocculate
fimbriae thread, fringe Latin
A thread or fringelike anatomical part of an flocculus- tuft
organ, such as the aperture to the Fallopian tubes. -ate of or having to do with
To form into woolly, soft, or cloudlike masses; to
Fine form compound masses, as a cloud or a chemical
Latin precipitate.
finis utmost limit, end
Flood
Middle English
flud flowing water
84 Fluctuate

The overflowing of water on land that is usually Foliaceous

dry; a deluge. Latin
folium- leaf
Fluctuate
-aceous of or relating to a plant family
Latin
Belonging to, or having the texture or nature of
fluere- to flow, wave
foliage or leaves; leaflike in form or made of
-ate of or having to do with
growth; composed of thin laminated layers, as
To vary irregularly; to rise and fall in waves.
certain rocks.
Fluid
Foraminiferan
Latin/Greek
Latin
fluere- to flow, wave
forare- to bore; hole, an opening,
-id state, condition; having, being, pertaining to,
-ferre to bear
tending to, inclined to
A member of the class Granuloreticulosea bear-
A continuous, amorphous substance whose mole-
ing a shell with many openings.
cules move freely past one another and that has
the tendency to assume the shape of its container; Forbicolous
a liquid or gas. Greek
pherbein- to graze
Fluke
-cola tiller, inhabitant
Greek
Living on broad-leaved plants; herbicolous.
plax flat surface
A flattened, digenetic trematode worm. Forbivorous
Greek/Latin
Fluorescence
pherbein- to graze
Latin
-vorare- swallow, devour
fluere- to flow, wave
-ous full of, having the quality of, relating to
-escentia state or process of
Feeding on broad-leaved plants.
The process in which an atom releases energy in
the form of electromagnetic radiation. Force
Latin
Fluoroscope
fortis strong
Latin/Greek
A vector quantity that tends to produce an acceler-
fluere- to flow, wave
ation of a body in the direction of its application.
-skopion for viewing with the eye
An imaging device using x-rays to project a fluo- Forensic
rescent image on a screen. Latin
forensis- public
Fluvial
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Latin
Relating to or dealing with the application of sci-
fluvi- river, stream
entific knowledge to legal problems.
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
or character of Forest
Pertaining to rivers and river activities; found or Latin
living in a river; produced by a river or stream. foris outside
A dense growth of trees, plants, and underbrush
Fluvioterrestrial
covering a large area.
Latin
fluvi- river, stream Formation
-terra- of or relating to the earth or its inhabitants Latin
-ial of or relating to format- shape, figure, appearance
Refers to inhabiting streams and the surrounding land. -ion state, process, or quality of
The act or process of arranging something or of
Flux
taking form.
Latin
fluxus (past participle of fluere) to flow Formicary
The rate of flow of fluid, particles, or energy Latin
through a given surface. formic- ant
-ary of, relating to, or connected with
A nest of ants or anthill.
 Fundamental 85

Fossil Fruit
Latin Latin
fossilis dug up fructus fruit
Having the characteristics of a fossil: preserved in The ripened ovary or ovaries, together with acces-
a mineralized or petrified form from a past geo- sory parts, containing the seeds of a seed-bearing
logic age. plant and occurring in a wide variety of forms.
Fractal Fucivorous
Latin Greek/Latin
frangere- to break phukos- rock lichen, seaweed
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form -vorare- to swallow, devour
or character of -ous full of, having the quality of, relating to
A geometric pattern that is repeated at ever smaller Feeding or subsisting on seaweed and related sea
scales to produce irregular shapes and surfaces that and ocean foods.
cannot be represented by classical geometry.
Fulcrum
Fractionate Latin
Latin fulcire to support
frangere- to break The point or support on which a level pivots.
-ate of or having to do with
Fumaroles
To separate a mixture by distillation, crystalliza-
Latin
tion, or other method into its ingredients or into
fumus- smoke, vapor
portions that have different properties.
-ole little
Fractoluminescence A crack or fissure that releases gases from a volcano.
Latin
Fumatorium
frangere- to break
Latin
-lumen- light
fumus- smoke, vapor
-ence the condition of
-ate- to do, to make, to cause
The emission of light from the fracture of a crystal.
-orium a place or a thing used for something
Frequency An airtight compartment in which vapor may be
Latin generated to destroy germs or insects.
frequens- a crowd, throng
Fume
-cy state, condition, quality
Latin
The number of wave peaks occurring in a unit of time.
fumus smoke, vapor
Friction Vapor, gas, or smoke, especially if harmful,
Latin strong, or odorous.
fricare- to rub
Function
-ion state, process, or quality of
Latin
The force generated opposite to the motion of an
fungi- to do, perform, execute, discharge
object resulting from an interaction of surfaces.
-ion state, process, or quality of
Frigid The special, normal, or proper physiological activ-
Latin ity performed by an organ or part.
frigus- cold, frost
Fundamental
-id state, condition; having, being, pertaining to,
Latin
tending to, inclined to
fundus- bottom
Refers to extreme cold, with a very cold temperature.
-ment- state or condition resulting from a (speci-
Fructose fied) action
Latin -al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
fructus- fruit or character of
-ose sugar, carbohydrate Of or relating to the foundation or base.
A very sweet sugar occurring in many fruits and
honey and used as a preservative for foodstuffs
and as a intravenous nutrient.
86 Fungal

Fungal Fungus
Latin Greek
spongos- spongelike spongos- spongelike
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form -us singular
or character of Eukaryotic organisms lacking chlorophyll and
Caused by a fungus, or relating to or having the vascular tissue. They range from unicellular to
characteristics of a fungus. multicellular. Many produce fruiting bodies.
Fungicide Fusion
Greek/Latin Latin
spongos- spongelike fundere- to melt
-cide (caedere) to cut, kill, hack at, or strike -ion state, process, or quality of
The destruction of fungi or something used to kill The joining into a single entity.
fungi (spores).
Galactose gamet- husband or wife; to marry
Greek -angeion- vessel
galakt- milk -ium quality or relationship
-ose sugar, carbohydrate The reproductive organ of bryophytes, consisting
C6H12O6; one of the hextose sugars, it is found in of the male antheridium and the female archego-
pectins and gums. nium; a multichambered jacket of sterile cells in
which gametes are formed.
Galaxy
Greek Gamete
galakt- milk Greek
-ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing gamein to marry
plurals Either a male or female reproductive cell possess-
Any of numerous large-scale aggregates of stars, ing the haploid number of chromosomes.
gas, and dust that constitute the universe, contain-
Gametocyte
ing an average of 100 billion (1011) solar masses
Greek
and ranging in diameter from 1,500 to 300,000
gamet- husband or wife; to marry
light-years. Also called nebula.
-cyte (kutos) sac or bladder that contains fluid
Gallbladder The mother cell of a gamete; that is, an immature
Old English gamete.
galla- nutgall
Gametogenesis
-blaedre bladder
Greek
A small, hollow, saclike, muscular organ located
gamet- husband or wife; to marry
below the liver. It contains bile that is produced
-gen- to give birth, kind, produce
by the liver and secretes the bile into the small
-sis action, process, state, condition
intestine to aid in the digestion of fats.
The process in which production of gametes,
Gallimimus eggs or sperm, occurs.
Latin
Gametophyte
gallus- rooster
Greek
-mimus mimic
gamet- husband or wife; to marry
A dinosaur whose fossil remains resemble a very
-phyte a plant
large rooster and that existed during the Late Cre-
A stage in a plant’s life cycle during which eggs
taceous period in Mongolia.
and sperm are produced.
Gametangium
Greek/Latin
88 Ganglia

Ganglia Gastroplexy
Greek Greek
gangl- nerve bundle gastr- stomach, belly
-ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing -plexy fixation
plurals Fixation of the stomach.
Masses of nerve tissue containing nerve cells
Gastropod
external to the brain or spinal cord.
Greek
Gangue gastr- stomach, belly
French (from German) -podos foot
gang lode Any of a group of mollusks that have a broad disk-
Worthless rock or other material in which valu- like organ of locomotion on the ventral surface of
able minerals are found. the body.
Gas Gastroptosis
Greek Greek/Latin
chaos empty, space gastr- stomach, belly
Matter that has no fixed volume or shape; it con- -ptosis downward, displacement, drooping, saggy
forms to the volume and shape of its container. Downward displacement of the stomach.
Gastrectomy Gastrovascular
Greek Greek/Latin
gastr- stomach, belly gastr- stomach, belly
-ekt- outside, external, beyond -vas- vessel, duct
-tomos (temnein) to cut, incise, section -cul- small, tiny
Cutting out or removing the stomach. -ar relating to or resembling
Describes the primary organ of coelenterates that
Gastric
functions both in digestion and in the transporta-
Greek
tion of nutrients to all parts of an animal’s body.
gastr- stomach
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of Gastrula
Pertaining to or having some characteristic of the Greek
stomach. gastr- stomach, belly
-ula diminutive
Gastrodermis
An embryo at the stage following the blastula,
Greek
consisting of a hollow, two-layered sac of ecto-
gastr- stomach, belly
derm and endoderm surrounding an archenteron
-derma skin
that communicates with the exterior through the
Lining of the digestive cavity of cnidarians.
blastopore.
Gastroenteritis
Gemmules
Greek
Latin
gastr- stomach, belly
gemma- bud
-enteron- small intestine
-ule little, small
-itis inflammation, burning sensation
Asexual, cystlike reproductive unit in freshwater
Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the
sponges; formed in summer or autumn and capa-
stomach and intestines.
ble of overwintering.
Gastromalacia
Genetic
Greek
Greek
gastr- stomach, belly
gen- origin, birth
-malacia softening of tissue
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Softening of the walls of the stomach, usually
The branch of biology that deals with heredity,
occurring after death.
especially the mechanisms of hereditary transmis-
Gastromegaly sions and the variation of inherited characteristics
Greek among similar or related organisms; the genetic
gastr- stomach, belly makeup of an individual, a group, or a class.
-megaly large
Enlargement of the abdomen or the stomach.
 Gestation 89

Genome Of or relating to the study of the earth, including soils,

Greek mineralogy, and the dynamics of the earth’s crust.
gen- origin, birth
Geonyctitropism
-ome group
Greek
Total number of genes in an individual.
ge- earth, world
Genotype -nycto- night; a relationship to darkness, dark
Greek -trope- bend, curve, turn, a turning; response to
gen- origin, birth stimulus
-typos mark -ium quality or relationship
The complete genetic constitution of an organism Orientation movements in plants during darkness
or group as determined by the specific combina- in response to gravity.
tion and location of the genes on the chromosome.
Geophysiology
Genus Greek
Latin ge- earth, world
genus race -phusio- form, origin, nature
A group of related species with taxonomic rank -logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or
between family and species. bodies of knowledge
The study of the interaction among all organisms
Geobios
living on the earth.
Greek
ge- earth, world Geosynchronous
-bios life, living organisms, or tissue Greek
The total life of the land; that part of the earth’s sur- ge- earth, world
face occupied by terrestrial organisms; terrestrial life. -synchron- at the same time
-ous full of, having the quality of, relating to
Geocentric
Refers to a geocentric orbit that has the same orbital
Greek
period as the sidereal rotation period of the earth.
ge- earth, world
-kentron- a point or place that is equally distant Geothermal
from the sides or outer boundaries of something; Greek
the middle ge- earth, world
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of -therm- heat, hot, warm
Refers to early accepted position by scientists/ -al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
philosophers that the earth was the center of the or character of
solar system and that all objects in the sky Of, relating to, or using the heat of the earth’s inte-
revolved around the earth. rior; also, to be produced or permeated by such heat.
Geodesic Germination
Greek Latin
ge- earth, world germinare- to sprout
-daiesthai to divide -ion state, process, or quality of
Describes the path an object will follow through To begin or cause to sprout or grow.
space and time in the absence of external forces.
Germovitellarium
Geography Latin
Greek germen- a bud, offshoot
ge- earth, world -vitellus- yolk
-graphia (graphein) to write, record, draw, describe -ium quality or relationship
The study of the earth and its features and of the Closely associated ovary and yolk-producing
distribution of life on the earth, including human structures in rotifers.
life and the effects of human activity.
Gestation
Geology Latin
Greek gestare- to bear
ge- earth, world -ion state, process, or quality of
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or Time during which a placental mammal develops
bodies of knowledge in a uterus.
90 Getter

Getter Globular
Middle English Latin
geta- to obtain globus- globular mass
-er one that performs an action -ar relating to or resembling
A chemically active substance such as magne- In biology, globe-shaped, having the form of a
sium that is ignited in vacuum tubes to remove ball or sphere (e.g., globular proteins)
traces of gas, or any substance that is added to
Globular cluster
another to remove traces of impurities.
Latin/Old English
Geyser globus- globular mass
Icelandic -ar relating to or resembling
geysa to gush clyster bunches
A natural hot spring that intermittently ejects a In astronomy, a system of stars, generally smaller
column of water and steam into the air. in size than a galaxy, that is more or less globular
in conformation.
Gibbous
Latin Glochidium
gibbus bulging, hunch-backed, humped Greek
Pertaining to swelling by a regular curve or sur- glokhis- point, barb of an arrow
face; protuberant; convex, as “the moon is gib- -idion quality of relationship
bous between the half moon and the full moon.” Bivalved larval stage of freshwater mussels.
Gizzard Glomerulus
Latin Latin
gigeria giblet, cooked entrails of poultry glomer- ball
The thickened part of the alimentary canal in -ulus of, relating to, or resembling
some animals (such as an insect or earthworm) Capillary network within glomerular capsule.
that is similar to the crop of a bird.
Glossus
Glabrate Greek
Latin glw^ssa the tongue
glab- smooth or hairless The muscular organ found in the mouths of verte-
-ate of or having to do with brates. It is involved with the manipulation of
Becoming smooth or glabrous from age. food during chewing, tasting, and swallowing,
and with speech.
Glacial
Latin Glottis
glacialis ice Greek
Having an icelike form in its pure state at or just glotta/glossa tongue
below room temperature. The opening between the vocal cords in the larynx.
Gland Glucagon
Latin Greek
glans acorn glukus- sweet, sweetness
A term applied to a group of organs that secrete -agein lead, drive
chemicals used in other parts of the body. A peptide hormone secreted by pancreatic endo-
crine cells that raises blood glucose levels; an
Glaucoma
antagonistic hormone to insulin.
Greek
glaukos- gray Glucolytic
-oma swelling Greek
A disease of the eye caused by increased pres- glukus- sweet, sweetness
sure, which can damage the optic nerve and result -ly- (luein) to loosen, dissolve, dissolution, break
in blindness. -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Pertaining to the metabolic breaking down of glu-
Glitch
cose for the production of ATP occurring in the
Yiddish/German
cytoplasm of cells.
glitschn lapse, slip
A sudden change in the period of rotation of a
neutron star.
 Gravitropism 91

Gluon A small reproductive organ found in some

Latin sponges.
gluton- glue
Gonopore
-on subatomic particle
Greek
A hypothetical, massless, neutral elementary par-
gonos- seed, procreation
ticle believed to mediate the strong interaction
-poros an opening
that binds quarks together.
A genital pore found in many invertebrates.
Glycogen
Gradation
Greek
Latin
glukus- sweet, sweetness
gradus- walk, step, take steps, move around
-gen to give birth, kind, produce
-ion state, process, or quality of
A polysaccharide that is the main form of carbo-
The leveling of a planet’s surface through weath-
hydrate storage in animals and occurs primarily
ering, erosion, transpiration, and deposition of
in the liver and muscle tissue. It is readily con-
rock debris by water, wind, and gravity.
verted to glucose as needed by the body to satisfy
its energy needs. Also called animal starch. Gradient
French (from Latin)
Glycolysis
grade- a position in a scale of size, quality, or
Greek
intensity
glykys- sweet
-ient performing, promoting, or causing a spe-
-ly- (luein) to loosen, dissolve, dissolution, break
cific action
-sis action, process, state, condition
The rate at which a physical quantity changes
Initial reactions of both aerobic and anaerobic
with respect to a given variable.
pathways by which glucose is partially broken
down to pyruvate, with a net yield of two ATP. Gradualism
Glycolysis proceeds in the cytoplasm of all cells, Latin
and oxygen has no role in it. gradus- walk, step, take steps, move around
-ism state or condition, quality
Gnathostomes
The evolution of new species by the slow, steady
Greek
accumulation of small genetic changes occurring
gnathos- jaw
over long periods of time.
-stoma mouth
The group of vertebrates with distinct jaws. Granuloma
Latin
Gonad
granum- grain, seed
Greek
-oma community
gonos procreation, genitals
A mass of inflamed granulation tissue, usually
A reproductive organ that produces sperm or eggs.
associated with ulcerated infections.
Gonadotropin
Granum
gonos- procreation, genitals
Latin
-trope- bend, curve, turn, a turning; response to
granum grain, seed
stimulus
A stacked, membranous structure within a chloro-
-in protein or derived from a protein
plast that contains the chlorophyll and is the site of
Any one of three hormones released by either the
the light reactions involved in photosynthesis.
pituitary gland or the placenta. These hormones stim-
ulate the gonads and control reproductive activity. Gravitropism
Latin
Gonangium
gravis- heavy, weighty
Latin
-trope- bend, curve, turn, a turning; response to
gonos- seed, procreation
stimulus
-angeion diminutive of vessel
-ism state or condition, quality
Reproductive zooid of hydroid colony (Cnidaria).
A turning or growth movement by a plant in
Gonophore response to gravity.
Latin
gonos- seed, procreation
-pherein to carry
92 Gravity

Gravity Gymnosperm
Latin Greek
gravis- heavy, weighty gumnos- naked
-ity state of, quality of -sperma seed
An acceleration value related to the force attract- A plant whose seeds are not enclosed within an
ing two bodies. ovary.
Guanine Gynecophoric
Spanish Greek
huanu- the dung of sea birds or bats gyne- woman, female
-ine of or relating to -pherein to carry
A purine base, C5H5ON5, that is an essential con- Pertains to the groove in male schistosomes (cer-
stituent of both RNA and DNA. tain trematodes) that carries the female.
Gully Gynenosia
French Greek
goulet the throat gyne- woman, female
Erosional features; deep channels found in sedi- -nosia disease
mentary layers, acted on by weathering. A disease occurring most often in females.
Gustation Gynoecium
Latin Greek
gustare- to taste gyne- woman, female
-ion state, process, or quality of -oikos- house
The sense of taste; the ability or the act of tasting. -ium quality or relationship
Part of a flower that houses the female gameto-
Guttation
phytes, the pistils.
Latin
gutta- to drop Gyroscope
-ion state, process, or quality of Greek
The exudation of water from leaves resulting gyros- ring, compass
from root pressure. -skopion for viewing with the eye
Rotating mechanism in the form of a universally
mounted spinning wheel that offers resistance to
turns in any direction.
Habitat Halite
Latin Greek
habitare to dwell hal- salt
Area or environment where an organism or eco- -ite minerals and fossils
logical community normally lives. A colorless, crystalline rock salt found in salt
marshes, dried desert floors, and mines.
Hadean
Greek Halobiotic
haides mythological subterranean world of the Greek
departed spirits hal- salt
Relates to the beginning of the earth’s formation, -bios- life, living organisms, or tissue
when the surface was molten and forming, 4.5– -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
3.8 billion years ago (bya). Refers to life in the sea, to organisms capable of
living in a marine environment.
Hadron
English (from Greek) Halogen
hadros- thick Greek
-on a particle halos- disk of sun
Any of a class of subatomic particles that are -gen to give birth, kind, produce
composed of quarks and take part in the strong Reactive, nonmetallic element in group 7A of the
interaction. periodic table.
Halic Halolimnetic
Greek Greek
hal- salt hal- salt
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of -limn- lake
Pertaining to saline or saltlike conditions. -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Pertaining to salt lakes; marine organism designed
Halimetry
to live in freshwater.
Greek
hal- salt Halopexia
-metria (metron) the process of measuring Greek
The measurement of the amount of saline matter hal- salt
in solution. -pexia attaching to or fixation
The physiological retention of salt by the body.
94 Halophile

Halophile
Greek Isaac Newton
hal- salt Beginning in 1665 and continuing into
-phile one who loves or has a strong affinity or 1666, the Great Plague of London dev-
preference for astated the English population. This
A microorganism requiring a high concentration catastrophic disease, most likely
of salt for optimal growth. bubonic plague, killed over 75,000 in
Halophobe that country. Because of these condi-
Greek tions, a relatively young undergraduate
hal- salt student at Cambridge University in
-phobos fear London was sent home. At Woolthorpe,
Any creature that is intolerant of saline life. the town where he was born, Isaac New-
ton would live as a recluse during that
Harmonics year, far from the death and dying in
Greek London.
harmonikos- harmony With the exception of Einstein’s
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of miracle year of 1905, few other single
Tones whose frequencies are whole-number mul- years in history have had such a dra-
tiples of the fundamental; also referred to as fun- matic impact on science, discovery, and
damental frequencies. the progression of thought. In the 18
Haustoria months during his time off from school,
Latin Isaac Newton laid some of the ground-
haurire- to drink work for the study of optics and the
-ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing nature of light, he invented calculus,
plurals and he put forth some of the essential
The hyphae that invade the cells of a host to elements for his theory of universal
absorb nutrients. gravitation.
Isaac Newton was another major fig-
Heat ure of the scientific revolution. Like
Old English most other great thinkers of his day, he
hete hot was, for a time, fascinated by mysti-
A form of energy associated with the motion of cism, astrology, and mathematics. He
atoms or molecules. sought harmony in the universe through
Helictite mathematics.
Greek Among Newton’s theories was the
helix- spiral idea that gravity is universal. He postu-
-ite a part of or product of lated that if the earth’s gravitational
Thin crystal strains that resemble flowers and are attraction held the moon in its orbit,
found in clusters on cave ceilings. then this same force was responsible for
keeping other planets in their orbits as
Heliocentric
well. The orbital paths of planets were
Greek
affected, in part, by the gravitational
helio- sun
attraction of the sun. Newton, unlike
-kentron- a point or place that is equally distant from
Kepler, was able to mathematically
the sides or outer boundaries of something; the middle
prove Kepler’s laws of planetary
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
motion.
Describes the nature of the solar system, with the
Isaac Newton is known for his three
sun located in the center and the planets orbiting
laws of motion.
around it.
• Newton’s first law, the law of
Hematemesis
inertia, states that an object at rest
New Latin
tends to stay at rest and that an
haimat- blood
object in motion tends to stay in
-emesis vomit
The presence of blood or blood cells in vomit. motion unless acted upon by a net
external force.

• Newton’s second law states that
force = mass × acceleration. That
is, the acceleration produced by a
net force on an object is directly
proportional to the magnitude of
the net force and is inversely pro-
portional to the mass.
• Newton’s third law states that for
every action there is an equal and
opposite reaction.
On July 5, 1687, Isaac Newton pub-
lished his seminal three-volume work,
Philosophiae Naturalis Principia
Mathematica, which is Latin for Mathe-
matical Principles of Natural Philoso-
phy. His text is sometimes referred to as
Principia or Principia Mathematica. It
contains his groundbreaking principles
for the mechanics of the universe, his
three laws of motion, and his law of uni-
versal gravitation.
Sir Isaac Newton died on March 20,
1727, in London.
Hematocrit
Greek
haimat- blood
-krites judge
The instrument used to determine the ratio of the
volume occupied by blood cells to the total vol-
ume of blood.
Hematolysis (hemolysis)
Greek
haimat- blood
-ly- (luein) to loosen, dissolve; dissolution, break
-sis action, process, state, condition
The lysing or breakdown of erythrocytes (red blood
cells) with the subsequent release of hemoglobin.
Hematuria
New Latin
haimat- blood
-uria urine
The presence of blood or blood cells in urine
Hemimetabolous
Greek
hemi- half
-metabole- change
-ous full of, having the quality of, relating to
Refers to gradual metamorphosis during the
development of insects, without a pupal stage.
Hemiptera
Greek
Hemophilia 95
hemi- half
-pteron wing
Insect order for true bugs; wingless or four-
winged bugs that include such insects as bedbugs
and chinch bugs.
Hemisphere
Greek
hemi- half
-sphaira a globe shape, ball, sphere
A half of a sphere.
Hemocoel
Greek
haima- blood
-koilos cavity
A cavity or series of spaces between the organs of
most arthropods and mollusks through which
blood circulates.
Hemodialysis
Greek
haimo- relating to blood or blood vessels
-dia- through, across, apart
-ly- (luein) to loosen, dissolve; dissolution, break
-sis action, process, state, condition
A medical procedure for removing metabolic
waste products from the blood.
Hemoglobin
Latin/Greek
haimo- relating to blood or blood vessels
-globulus- globule
-in protein or derived from protein
An iron-containing respiratory pigment occur-
ring in vertebrate red blood cells and in blood
plasma of many invertebrates; a compound of an
iron porphyrin heme and a protein globin.
Hemolymph
Latin/Greek
haimo- relating to blood or blood vessels
-numphe clear fluid; water nymph, young bride
Fluid in the coelom or hemocoel of some invertebrates
that represents the blood and lymph of vertebrates.
Hemolysis (hematolysis)
Greek
haimo- relating to blood or blood vessels
-ly- (luein) to loosen, dissolve; dissolution, break
-sis action, process, state, condition
The destruction of red blood cells, leading to the
release of hemoglobin from the cells into the
blood plasma.
Hemophilia
Greek
haimo- relating to blood or blood vessels
-phile- one who loves or has a strong affinity or
preference for
96 Hemorrhage

-ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing herba- grass, green crops
plurals -cide (caedere) to cut, kill, hack at, or strike
A group of hereditary bleeding disorders charac- Any chemical agent that is toxic to some or all
terized by a deficiency of one of the factors neces- plants and is used to destroy unwanted vegetation.
sary for coagulation of the blood.
Herbivore
Hemorrhage Latin
Greek herba- grass, green crops
haimo- relating to blood or blood vessels -vorare to devour
-rhegnynai to break, burst Any organism subsisting on plants.
Excessive discharge of blood from the blood ves-
Heredity
sels; profuse bleeding from a ruptured blood vessel.
Latin
Hemorrhoid hered- heir
Greek -ity state of, quality of
haimo- relating to blood or blood vessels The transmission of qualities from ancestor to
-rhein- to flow descendant through the genes.
-oid (oeides) resembling, having the appearance of
Hermaphrodite
A mass of dilated blood vessels located in the
Greek
anus; the dilated vessels cause pain and itching.
hermes- Hermes, Greek god of boundaries
Hepatitis -aphrodite Aphrodite, Greek goddess of love and
Latin beauty
hepat- liver An animal or plant species that normally exhibits
-itis inflammation, burning sensation both male and female sex organs.
A disease or condition marked by inflammation
Hernia
of the liver.
Latin
Hepatomalacia herni- protruded viscus; rupture
Greek -ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing
hepat- liver plurals
-malacia softening of tissue The protrusion of a bodily organ through a nor-
A disease or condition of the liver marked by dis- mally intact supporting wall-like structure.
tinct softening of the fleshy tissue of the liver.
Heterocercal
Hepatonecrosis Greek
Greek heteros- different
hepta- liver -kerkos- tail
-necr- death -al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
-sis action, process, state, condition or character of
Death of liver cells, usually caused by either a In some fish, having or referring to a tail with the
pathogenic organism or a toxic substance. upper lobe larger than the lower, and the end of
the vertebral column somewhat upturned in the
Hepatorrhexis
upper lobe, as in sharks.
Greek
hepta- liver Heterochrony
-orrhexis, -rrhexis rupture of an organ or vessel; Greek
a breaking forth, bursting heteros- different
The rupturing of the liver occurring as a result of -khronos- time
injury or disease. -y place for an activity; condition, state
Evolutionary change in the relative time of
Heptad
appearance or rate of development of characteris-
Greek
tics from ancestor to descendant.
heptados group of seven
An element, atom, or radical that has a valence of 7. Heterocyst
Greek
Herbicide
heteros- different
Latin
-cyst (kustis) sac or bladder containing fluid
 Holeuryhaline 97

A large, thick-walled, transparent cell that occurs hexa- six

at intervals along the filaments of certain cyano- -meros part
bacteria. Having six parts; specifically, symmetry based on
six or multiples thereof.
Heterodont
Greek Hibernation
heteros- different Latin
-odous tooth hibern- winter
Having teeth differentiated into incisors, canines, -ation state, process, or quality of
and molars for different purposes. The process of spending the winter in a resting state.
Heterotroph Hilum
Greek Latin
heteros- different hilum trifle
-trophos (trophein) to nourish, food; nutrition; A notch on the medial surface of the kidney
development where blood vessels enter and leave the kidney.
An organism that obtains both organic and inor-
Hippocampus
ganic raw material from its environment in order
Latin
to survive.
hippos- riverine
Heterozygote -kampos sea monster
Greek Composed of gray matter, this ridge on the floor
heteros- different of the lateral ventricles of the brain is responsible
-zygoun to yoke for memory.
An organism that has different alleles at a partic-
Hippopotamus
ular gene locus on homologous chromosomes.
Greek
Hexabasic hippos- riverine
Latin -potamios horse
hexa- six Chiefly aquatic mammal with an extremely large
-bas- low head and mouth, bare and very thick grayish skin,
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of and short legs.
Relates to having six hydrogen atoms that can be
Histochemistry
replaced by basic atoms or radicals.
Greek
Hexactinellida histos- web, tissue
Greek -chemo- (khemeia) chemical; alchemy
hexa- six -metria (metron) the process of measuring
-aktin- ray The science dealing with the chemical composi-
-ella little tion of the tissues of the body.
A siliceous sponge characterized by glassy spicules.
Histology
Hexagonal Greek
Greek histos- web, tissue
hexa- six -logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or
-agon- a violent, intense struggle bodies of knowledge
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form The study of the microscopic structures of tissues.
or character of
Histone
Having three equal axes intersecting at angles of
Greek
60 degrees in one plane, and one axis of variable
histos- web, tissue
length that is perpendicular to the others.
-one chemical compound containing oxygen in a
Hexahedron carbonyl group
Greek Any of a group of strongly basic low-molecular-
hexa- six weight proteins that combine with nucleic acid to
-hedron face form nucleoproteins.
A Platonic six-sided solid; a cube.
Holeuryhaline
Hexamerous Greek
Greek holos- complete, whole, entire, all, full
98 Holistic

-eury- wide Homeopathy

-hal- salt Greek
-ine in a chemical substance homeo- same, like, resembling, sharing, similar,
Refers to organisms that freely inhabit freshwa- equal
ter, sea water, and brackish water. -pathos- feeling, sensation, perception
-y place for an activity, condition, state
Holistic
A method of disease treatment that involves the
Greek
administration of small doses of chemicals that, if
holos- complete, whole, entire, all, full
given in large amounts, would produce symptoms
-ist- one who performs an action
in healthy people that are similar to those found in
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
people with the disease.
Describes an approach to medical care that
emphasizes the study of all aspects of a person’s Homeostasis
health, including physical, psychological, social, Greek
economic, and cultural factors. homeo- same, like, resembling, sharing, similar,
equal
Holocene
-statos- standing, stay, make firm, fixed, balanced
Greek
-sis action, process, state, condition
holos- complete, whole, entire, all, full
Tendency of an organism to maintain internal
-kainos recent
equilibrium of temperature and fluid content, for
An epoch of the Quaternary period, spanning the
example, by regulation of its bodily processes.
time from the end of the Pleistocene to the present.
Homeothermic
Holoenzyme
Greek
Latin
homeo- same, like, resembling, sharing, similar,
holos- complete, whole, entire, all, full
equal
-en- in, at, onto
-thermos- combining form of “hot” (heat)
-zume ferment, leaven
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
A fully active, complex enzyme, composed of a
Having a nearly uniform body temperature.
protein and a coenzyme.
Hominid
Holometabolous
Latin
Greek
homo/homonis- man
holos- complete, whole, entire, all, full
-id state, condition; having, being, pertaining to,
-meta- between, after, beyond, later
tending to, inclined to
-bol- (ballein) to put or throw
A member of the family Hominidae; human
-ous full of, having the quality of, relating to
beings are the only surviving species.
Pertains to complete metamorphosis during
development. Homocercal
Greek
Holophytic
(h)omos- (combining form) one and the same,
Greek
common
holos- complete, whole, entire, all, full
-kerkos tail
-phyt- plant
Having or referring to a tail with the upper and
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
lower lobes symmetrical and the vertebral col-
Relates to the process that occurs in green plants
umn ending near the middle of the base, as in
and certain protozoa involving synthesis of carbo-
most teleost fish.
hydrates from carbon dioxide and water in the pres-
ence of light, chlorophyll, and certain enzymes. Homogeneous
Greek
Holozoic
(h)omos- (combining form) one and the same,
Greek
common
holos- complete, whole, entire, all, full
-genus offspring, kind
-zoikos- of animals
Of the same or similar nature or kind.
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Describes a type of nutrition involving ingestion
of liquid or solid organic food particles.
 Hydra 99

Homologous Common name given to species of the genus Equus.

Greek These mammals are characterized by having long
(h)omos- (combining form) one and the same, legs, short-haired coats, long tails, and hooved feet.
common
Humerus
-logos word, proportion
Latin
Having the same or similar proportions or character-
humer- shoulder, upper arm
istics. In genetics, having the same gene sequence
-us thing
on two different chromosomes.
The long bone of the arm or forelimb, extending
Homoplasy from the shoulder to the elbow.
Greek
Humidity
(h)omos- (combining form) one and the same,
Latin
common
humidus- moist, wet
-plasy growth or development of
-ity state of, quality of
Independent evolution of similar or identical
The amount of water vapor or moisture in the air.
characteristics through convergence or parallel
evolution. Humoral
Middle English
Homozygote
humor- fluid
Greek
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
(h)omos- (combining form) one and the same,
or character of
common
Of or pertaining to the fluid of a body.
-zugoun to yoke
Organism having the two genes at corresponding Humus
loci on homologous chromosomes identical for Latin
one or more loci. humus soil
Partially decomposed organic matter consisting of
Horizontal
both plant and animal remains, rich in nutrients and
Greek
capable of holding significant amounts of water.
horos- (horizein) to limit; boundary
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form Hyaline
or character of Greek
Refers to the axis parallel to the horizon (side by hualos- glass
side); of or near the horizon; relating to the horizon. -in protein or derived from a protein
A clear, homogeneous, glassy substance nor-
Hormone
mally found in cartilage, vitreous humor, mucin,
Greek
and glycogen, and pathologically found in the
horman that which sets in motion; to urge on
degeneration of tissues and cells.
Substances produced by a gland or tissue, then
transported by the blood to effect physiological Hybrid
activity and regulate development. Latin
hybrida mongrel
Horology
An offspring of two animals or plants of different
Greek
races, breeds, varieties, species, or genera.
horo- hour, period of time, season, time
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or Hybridization
bodies of knowledge Latin
The science of measuring time. hybrida- mongrel
-ation action, process, state, or condition
Horoscope
The act of cross-breeding various species or sub-
Greek
species of organisms.
horo- hour, period of time, season, time
-skopos observer Hydra
An astrological prediction based on observations Greek
of the positions of celestial objects. hydra of or having to do with water
In astronomy, the largest constellation, winding
Horse
across more than a quarter of the sky.
Old English
hors horse
100 Hydranth

Hydranth Hydrozoa that secrete calcium carbonate and

Greek
hydr- of or having to do with water
-anthos flower
Nutritive zooid of hydroid colony.
Hydrate
Greek
hydr- of or having to do with water
-ate of or having to do with
A compound that contains a specific ratio of water
to ionic compound.
Hydration
Greek
hydr- of or having to do with water
-ion state, process, or quality of
In chemistry, the combination of water and another
substance to obtain a single product. In earth sci-
ence, a form of chemical weathering caused by the
expansion of certain minerals as they absorb water.
Hydraulic
Greek
hydr- of or having to do with water
-aulos characterized by having a hollow way;
tube, pipe
Of or relating to water or other liquid in motion.
Hydrocarbon
Greek
hydr- of or having to do with water
-carbon coal, charcoal
Organic compounds containing hydrogen and
carbon only.
Hydrocephalus
Greek
hydr- of or having to do with water
-cephalo- (kephalikos) head
-us thing
A usually congenital condition in which an
abnormal accumulation of fluid in the cerebral
ventricles causes enlargement of the skull and
compression of the brain.
Hydrocoel
Greek
hydr- of or having to do with water
-koilos hollow
Second or middle coelomic compartment in echi-
noderms; the left hydrocoel gives rise to the
water-vascular system.
Hydrocoral
Greek
hydr- of or having to do with water
-korallion coral
Any of certain members of the cnidarian class
resemble true corals.
Hydroformylation
Greek/Middle English
hydr- of or having to do with water
-formyl- the negative univalent radical HCO
-ion state, process, or quality of
The process by which an –H and a –CHO are
added across a carbon-carbon double bond. An
aldehyde synthesis process.
Hydrogenation
Greek
hydr- of or having to do with water
-gen- to give birth, kind, produce
-ation state, process, or quality of
The process of combining a substance with hydrogen.
Hydrogeology
Greek
hydr- of or having to do with water
-ge- earth
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or
bodies of knowledge
The branch of geology that deals with the occur-
rence, distribution, and effects of groundwater.
Hydrology
Greek
hydr- of or having to do with water
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or
bodies of knowledge
The study of the properties, distribution, and
effects of water on the surface of the earth, the
atmosphere, and the earth’s substrate.
Hydrolysis
Greek
hydr- of or having to do with water
-ly- (luein) to loosen, dissolve; dissolution, break
-sis action, process, state, condition
Decomposition of a chemical compound by reaction
with water, such as the dissociation of a dissolved
salt or the catalytic conversion of starch to glucose.
Hydrometer
Greek
hydr- of or having to do with water
-meter (metron) instrument or means of measuring;
to measure
An instrument used to determine specific gravity.
Hydropenia
Greek
hydr- of or having to do with water
-penia reduction, poverty, lack, deficiency
A condition or disorder that results in a reduction
of water.
 Hypertension 101

Hydrophobic Any of a group of freshwater coelenterates

Greek/Latin including hydras, hydroids, hydrocorals, and
hydr- of or having to do with water siphonophores.
-phob- fear, lacking an affinity for
Hygrometer
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Greek
Describes something that is repelled by water or
hygr- wet or moist
tends not to combine with or dissolve in water.
-meter (metron) instrument or means of measuring;
Hydrophyte to measure
Greek An instrument that measures humidity.
hydr- of or having to do with water
Hygroscopic
-phyte plant
Greek
A plant adapted to grow in water; a water lily.
hygr- wet, moist
Hydroplane -scopion- to look at, examine
Greek -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
hydr- of or having to do with water Refers to a substance that easily absorbs water
-plane surface from the air to become a hydrate.
To skim along the surface of water.
Hymen
Hydroponic Greek
Greek humen thin skin, membrane
hydr- of or having to do with water A membranous tissue fold that either partially or
-pono- work completely covers the vaginal orafice.
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Hymenoptera
Pertains to growing plants without soil in nutrient-
Greek
enriched water.
humen- thin skin, membrane
Hydropower -pteron wing
Greek/Latin Order of insects characterized by thin, membra-
hydr- of or having to do with water nous wings. Most have two pairs of wings, with
-potis able, powerful the first being considerably larger than the sec-
Electrical energy produced by falling or flowing ond. Includes wasps, bees, and ants.
water.
Hyoid
Hydrosphere Greek
Greek hu- upsilon, Greek letter U
hydr- of or having to do with water -oid (oeides) resembling, having the appearance of
-sphaira a globe shape, ball, sphere Relating to the hyoid bone.
The water on the earth’s surface.
Hyperglycemia
Hydrostatic Greek
Greek hyper- above, high
hydr- of or having to do with water -glyco- sugar
-statos- standing, stay, make firm, fixed, balanced -emia the condition of having (a specific thing) in
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of the blood
Relating to fluids at rest or to the pressures they Abnormally high blood sugar.
exert or transmit.
Hyperpnea
Hydrothermal Greek
Greek hyper- over, beyond
hydr- of or having to do with water -pnein breathing or breath
-thermos- combining form of “hot” (heat) Abnormally deep or rapid breathing.
Relating to hot water; magmatic releases are rich
Hypertension
in water.
Greek
Hydrozoan hyper- over, beyond
Greek -tens- stretching; physiological imbalance
hydr- of or having to do with water -ion state, process, or quality of
-zoon animal, animal-like Abnormally high blood pressure.
102 Hyperthermic

Hyperthermic Hypoglossal
Greek Greek
hyper- over, beyond hypo- under, below, beneath, less than, too little,
-thermos- combining form of “hot” (heat) deficient
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of -gloss- tongue
Having the characteristics of or relating to a con- -al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
dition of unusually high body temperature. or character of
Of or relating to the area under the tongue.
Hypertonic
Greek Hypognathous
hyper- over, beyond Greek
-ton- tension hypo- under, below, beneath, less than, too little,
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of deficient
Having the higher osmotic pressure of two solutions. -gnathos jaw
Pertains to having the head directed vertically and
Hyperventilation
the mouthparts directed ventrally.
Greek
hyper- over, beyond Hypokalemia
-ventilare- to fan Greek
-ion state, process, or quality of hypo- under, below, beneath, less than, too little,
A pulmonary ventilation rate that is higher than what deficient
is necessary for normal pulmonary gas exchange. -kali- potassium
-emia the condition of having (a specific thing) in
Hyphae
the blood
Greek
A deficiency of potassium in the blood.
huphe web
Threadlike filaments found in the mycelium of a Hypostome
fungus. Greek
hypo- under, below, beneath, less than, too little,
Hypocalcemia
deficient
Greek/Latin
-stoma mouth
hypo- under, below, beneath, less than, too little,
Name applied to the structure in various inverte-
deficient
brates, such as mites and ticks, that is located at
-calc- calcium
the posterior or ventral area of the mouth; eleva-
-emia the condition of having a (specific thing) in
tion supporting the mouth of a hydrozoan.
the blood
A deficiency of calcium in the blood. Hypotenuse
Greek
Hypochondria
hypo- under, below, beneath, less than, too little,
Greek
deficient
hypo- under, below, beneath, less than, too little,
-teinein to stretch
deficient
The line segment stretched under the right angle;
-khondr- grain, any small rounded mass; carti-
the line opposite the right angle in a right triangle.
lage, gristle, granule, or a relationship to cartilage
-ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing Hypothalamus
plurals Greek
A disorder characterized by a misinterpretation of hypo- under, below, beneath, less than, too little,
physical signs that leads to the belief that one has a deficient
serious disease even though repeated evaluations -thalamos inner chamber, bedroom
show no indications of any physical disorder. The region of the brain situated below the thala-
mus and above the pituitary gland, which acts as a
Hypodermis
control center for the autonomic nervous system
Greek/Latin
and for hormonal activity.
hypo- under, below, beneath, less than, too little,
deficient Hypothermia
-derma skin Greek
The cellular layer lying beneath and secreting the hypo- under, below, beneath, less than, too little,
cuticle of annelids, arthropods, and certain other deficient
invertebrates. -thermos- combining form of “hot” (heat)
 Hystolytic 103

-ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing Hypoxia

plurals Greek
A condition in homeothermal organisms marked hypo- under, below, beneath, less than, too little,
by a drop to a temperature below normal. deficient
-ox- acid, acidic
Hypothesis
-ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing
Greek
plurals
hypo- under, below, beneath, less than, too little,
A disorder that causes a reduction in the oxygen
deficient
supply to tissues.
-tithenai- to put or place
-sis action, process, state, condition Hysterectomy
An assertion made as a possible explanation for a Greek
problem. hustera- uterus, womb
-ekt- outside, external, beyond
Hypothetical
-tomos (temnein) to cut, incise, section
Greek
Partial or complete surgical removal of the uterus.
hypo- under, below, beneath, less than, too little,
deficient Hysteroptosis
-tithenai- to put or place Greek
-alis of, related to hyster- the womb or uterus; hysteria
Refers to a situation or setting based on or relat- -pto- fall, a falling down of an organ; drooping,
ing to a hypothesis. sagging; corpse
-sis action, process, state, condition
Hypotonic
The sagging or prolapsing of the female uterus.
Latin/Greek
hypo- under, below, beneath, less than, too little, Hystolytic
deficient Greek
-ton- tension histos- web, tissue
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of -ly- (luein) to loosen, dissolve; dissolution, break
In chemistry, refers to a situation where one solu- -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
tion’s osmotic pressure is lower than that of Pertaining to the degeneration of tissues.
another solution.
Ichthyologist The terminal end of the small intestine; it extends
Greek from the jejunum to the ileocecal sphincter.
ichthus- fish
Iliocostal
-ologist one who deals with a specific topic
Latin
A scientist who studies the biology of fish.
ilia- groin, flank
Ichthyology -costo- rib
Greek -al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
ichthus- fish or character of
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or Relating to the ilium and ribs.
bodies of knowledge
Image
Branch of zoology that deals with the study of fish.
Latin
Icosahedron imago image
Greek In optics, the likeness of an object produced by
icosa- twenty the use of a lens or group of lenses.
-hedron face
Imbibition
A Platonic solid with twenty faces.
Latin
Ideal in- in, into, toward, against, on, upon
Latin -bib- drink
idea- a plan, scheme, notion, or method -ion state, process, or quality of
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form Adsorption of water to internal surfaces of an
or character of organism, leading to swelling.
Conforming to an ultimate form or standard of
Immigrate
perfection or excellence.
Latin
Igneous in- in, into, toward, against, on, upon
Latin -migrare- to go into, to depart
ignis- fire -ion state, process, or quality of
-ous full of, having the quality of, relating to To enter and settle in a country or region to which
Refers to molten rock that cools and solidifies. one is not native.
Ileum Immiscible
Latin Latin
ileum groin, flank
 Inertia 105

in- in, into, toward, against, on, upon Incline

-miscere- to mix Latin
-ible capable in- in, into, toward, against, on, upon
Refers to that which cannot undergo mixing or -klinein to lean, sloping
blending. A slant; deviation from the horizontal or vertical.
Immunotherapy Incubation
Latin/Greek Latin
immunis- not affected by a given influence; unre- in- in, into, toward, against, on , upon
sponsive -cubare- to lie down on
-therapeuein to treat medically -ion state, process, or quality of
Treatment of disease by inducing, enhancing, or Maintenance of optimal conditions for growth
suppressing an immune response. and development.
Impedance Indigenous
Latin Latin
impedire to hinder motion on foot in- in, into, toward, against, on, upon
A measure of the total opposition to current flow -genus- birth, origin, kind
in an alternating current circuit, made up of two -ous full of, having the quality of, relating to
components: ohmic resistance and reactance. Pertaining to a group of organisms native and
original to a region.
Impenetrability
Latin Induction
im- not Latin
-penitus- deeply, permeate in- in, into, toward, against, on, upon
-ity state of, quality of -ducere- to lead
A property of matter where no two objects can -tion action, process or quality of
occupy the same space at the same time. The production of magnetism or electromotive
force, or the separation of charge from a body by
Impulse
a neighboring body not in contact with it.
Latin
impellere to impel Inductor
The product obtained by multiplying the average Latin
value of a force by the time during which it acts. in- in, into, toward, against, on, upon
The impulse equals the change in momentum -ducere- to lead
produced by the force during this time interval. -or a condition or property of things or persons
A coil of wire that generates a magnetic field
Inactive
when a current is passed through it.
Latin
in- in, into, toward, against, on, upon Inelastic
-agere to drive or do Greek
Not active; in biology, refers to a condition during in- in, into, toward, against, on, upon
which metabolism is marked by a reduction of -elaunein- to beat out
activity, possibly because of an infection. -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Refers to a type of collision in which two objects
Incandesce
remain attached after the collision.
Latin
in- in, into, toward, against, on, upon Inert
-candescere become white hot Latin
To glow or cause to glow with heat. in- in, into, toward, against, on, upon
-aras skill
Incisor
Unable to move or act; not readily reactive with
Latin
other elements.
in- in, into, toward, against, on, upon
-caedere- to cut Inertia
-or a condition or property of things or persons; Latin
person who does something iners- idleness
A tooth for cutting or gnawing, located at the -ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing
front of the mouth in both jaws. plurals
106 Infectious

The tendency of a body to resist acceleration; the -ure act, process, condition
tendency of a body at rest to remain at rest, or of a The organelles just below the cilia in ciliate
body in straight-line motion to stay in motion in a protozoa.
straight line unless acted on by an outside force.
Infracostal
Infectious Latin
Latin infra- inferior to, below, or beneath
in- in, into, toward, against, on, upon -costo- rib
-facere- to make, do, build, cause, produce; form- -al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
ing, shaping or character of
-ous full of, having the quality of, relating to Pertaining to or referring to a region below the
Pertaining to a contagious disease capable of ribs.
spreading rapidly to others.
Infrasonic
Inference Latin
Latin infra- inferior to, below, or beneath
in- in, into, toward, against, on, upon -sonus- sound
-ferre- to bear -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
-ence the condition of Generating or using waves or vibrations in fre-
The act of passing from one proposition, statement, quencies below that of audible sound.
or judgment considered true to another, whose truth
Inherit
is believed to follow from that of the former.
Latin
Inferno in- in, into, toward, against, on, upon
Latin -hereditare to inherit
infernus hell, lower, underground To acquire or express traits or conditions through
In astrophysics, a unit for describing the tempera- transmission of genetic material from parents to
ture inside a star. One inferno is approximately offspring.
one billion degrees celsius.
Initiator
Inflammation Latin
Latin initium- beginning
in- in, into, toward, against, on, upon -or a condition or property of things or persons
-flamma- flame A substance or chemical that begins a reaction
-ation action, process, or quality of but is consumed or chemically changed in the
A localized defensive reaction of body tissue to irri- reaction.
tation, damage, or infection; characterized by pain,
Inorganic
redness, swelling, and sometimes loss of function.
Latin
Inflation in- in, into, toward, against, on, upon
Latin -organon- instrument
in- in, into, toward, against, on, upon -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
-flare- to blow Composed of nonliving matter.
-ion state, process, or quality of
Insect
In astronomy, an extremely brief phase of ultra-
Greek
rapid expansion of the very early universe.
in- in, into, toward, against, on, upon
Influenza -secare- to cut up
Latin Any member of the class Insecta. All organisms
in- in, into, toward, against, on, upon in this class are segmented into three body parts,
-fluere- to flow, wave have an exoskeleton, and have three pairs of
-za quality or state legs.
A human respiratory infection of undetermined
Insecticide
cause.
Greek
Infraciliature in- in, into, toward, against, on , upon
Latin -secare- to cut up
infra- inferior to, below, or beneath -cide (caedere) to cut, kill, hack at, or strike
-cilia- eyelashes
 Intermolecular 107

Type of pesticide that controls or eliminates insects Low-density regions of the interstellar medium
that adversely affect plants, animals, or people. that fill the space between interstellar clouds.
Insectivore Intercostal
Greek/Latin Latin
in- in, into, toward, against, on, upon inter- between, among
-secare- to cut up -costo- rib
-vorare to eat, devour -al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
Animal or plant that feeds on insects. or character of
Situated between the ribs.
Instinct
Latin Intercrystalline
instinctus impulse Latin/Greek
A complex pattern of innate behavior. inter- between, among
-krystallinos- rock crystal
Insulator
-ine of or relating to
Latin
Between the crystals of a solid substance.
insula- island
-or a conition or property of things or persons Interdependent
A material that insulates or retards the transfer of Latin
energy, especially a nonconductor of sound, heat, inter- between, among
or electricity. -depend- relying on
-ent causing an action, being in a specific state,
Insulin
within
Latin
Mutually dependent; having a direct relationship
insula- island
with one another.
-in protein or derived from protein
A hormone secreted by the islets of Langerhans in Interferometer
the pancreas. Insulin is essential for the proper Latin
uptake and metabolism of sugar. inter- between, among
-ferir- to strike
Integument
-meter (metron) instrument or means of measur-
Latin
ing, to measure
in- in, into, toward, against, on, upon
An instrument for measuring very small lengths,
-tegere to cover
distances, and changes in the dimensions, den-
A natural outer covering or coat, such as the skin
sity, and other properties of a substance by means
of an animal or the membrane enclosing an organ.
of the interferences of two rays of light.
Interaction
Interlunar
Latin
Latin
inter- between, among
inter- among, mutually, together, between
-agere- to do
-luna- the moon
-ion state, process, or quality of
-ar relating to or resembling
Any of four fundamental ways in which elemen-
Pertaining to the period between the old and new
tary particles and bodies can influence each other,
moon, during which the moon is not visible from
classified as strong, weak, electromagnetic, and
the earth.
gravitational.
Intermolecular
Intercellular
Latin
Latin
inter- among, mutually, together, between
inter- between, among
-moles- mass
-cella- chamber
-ule- small, tiny
-ar relating to or resembling
-ar relating to or resembling
Located between cells.
Describes forces that are exerted by molecules on
Intercloud gas each other and that, in general, affect the macro-
Greek/Middle English scopic properties of the material of which the
inter- between, among molecules are a part.
-clud rock, hill
khaos (Greek) gas, empty space
108 Internal

Internal Interval
Latin Latin
internus- within inter- among, mutually, together, between
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form -vallum ramparts
or character of Space between objects.
Of, relating to, or located within the limits or sur-
Intestine
face; inner.
Latin
Internode intestinus within, internal
Greek The tubular portion of the alimentary canal extend-
inter- among, mutually, together, between ing from the stomach to the anus; in humans and
-node the point on a plant where a leaf stalk or other mammals, the intestine consists of two seg-
petiole attaches to the stem ments, the small intestine and the large intestine.
Distance along the stem of a plant between two
Intracellular
successive nodes.
Latin
Internuclear intra- within, inside
Latin -cellula- chamber
inter- among, mutually, together, between -ar relating to or resembling
-nucula- kernel, little nut Occurring within a body cell or cells.
-ar relating to or resembling
Intramolecular
Located between nuclei.
Latin
Interphase intra- within, inside
Greek -moles- mass
inter- among, mutually, together, between -ule- small, tiny
-phasis appearance -ar relating to or resembling
The stage of cell division during which the chro- Pertains to the characteristics and properties of
mosomes are uncondensed and are copied. any given molecule.
Interspecific Intraspecific
Greek Latin
inter- among, mutually, together, between intra- within, inside
-specif- appearance/kind -specif- appearance/kind
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Refers to a relationship occurring between species. Referring to a relationship occurring within a
species.
Interstellar
Latin Intrinsic
inter- among, mutually, together, between Latin
-stella star intrinsicus- inward
Between or among the stars (“interstellar gases”). -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Relating to the central or core nature of a thing.
Interstitial
Latin Intron
inter- among, mutually, together, between Latin
-sistere to stand intron occurring within a gene
Situated in the interstices or spaces between A segment of gene situated between exons that is
structures such as cells, organs, or grains of sand. removed before the translation of messenger RNA.
Intertidal zone Introvert
Latin/Old English/Greek Latin
inter- (Latin) among, mutually, together, between intr- inwardly, within
-tid- (Old English) division of time -vertere to turn
-alis (Latin) of, relating to, characterized by The anterior narrow portion that can be withdrawn
zone (Greek) girdle, celestial zone (introverted) into the trunk of a sipunculid worm.
The marine zone located in the area of shoreline
Intrusive
between high and low tides.
Latin
 Isopod 109

in- into, on, among To supply dry land with water by means of
-trudere thrust ditches, pipes, or streams; to water artificially.
Referring to igneous rocks that form at depths
Isobar
below the earth’s surface
Greek
Invertebrate isos- equal, uniform, same, similar, alike
Latin -baros weight, heavy; atmospheric pressure
in- without Any of the lines on a map joining places that have
-vertebratus backbone the same air pressure.
Having no vertebrae (backbone).
Isobaric
Inverted Greek
Latin isos- equal, uniform, same, similar, alike
in- to cause to be -baros- weight, heavy; atmospheric pressure
-vertere to turn -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Reversed in terms of the position, order, or condi- Of a thermodynamic process in which a sub-
tion of. stance experiences no change in pressure.
Ionic Isochoric
Greek Greek
ion- (ienai) to go, something that goes isos- equal, uniform, same, similar, alike
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of -choros- of or having to do with volume
Containing an atom or group of items that have -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
acquired a net electric charge. Refers to a thermodynamic process in which a
substance experiences no change in volume.
Ionization
Greek Isoelectric
ion- (ienai) to go, something that goes Greek
-zation action, process, or quality of isos- equal, uniform, same, similar, alike
Energy required to remove most loosely held -elektron- charge, electricity, dealing with posi-
electrons from an atom. tive and negative charges
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Ionosphere
Having an equal number of electrons outside the
Greek
nucleus.
ion- (ienai) to go, something that goes
-sphaira a globe shape, ball, sphere Isomer
The lower part of the thermosphere, where elec- Greek
trically charged particles called ions are found. isos- equal, uniform, same, similar, alike
-meros part, share
Ipsilateral
Any of two or more nuclei with the same mass
Latin
number and atomic number that have different
ipse- self, same
radioactive properties and can exist in any of sev-
-latus- side
eral energy states for a measurable period of time.
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
or character of Isometric
Located on or affecting the same side of the body. Greek
isos- equal, uniform, same, similar, alike
Iris
-metr- measurement
Latin
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
irid rainbow
Equal in dimension or measurement; in biology,
In biology, the colored part of the eye that regulates
relating to the contraction of muscles against an
the amount of light allowed into the interior of the
immovable resistant force, where the length of
eyeball; in botany, the name given to a group of
the muscle fibers remains the same.
tropical flowering plants; in physics, a diaphragm.
Isopod
Irrigate
Greek
Latin
isos- equal, uniform, same, similar, alike
in- to cause to be
-pod foot
-rigare to water
110 Isotactic
Any of numerous crustaceans of the order Iso-
poda, characterized by a flattened body bearing
seven pairs of legs, and including the sow bugs
and gribbles.
Isotactic
Greek
isos- equal, uniform, same, similar, alike
-taktos ordered
Describes the orientation of the methyl groups on
a polypropylene chain in plastics, which in this
case is all on the same side.
Isotherm
Greek
isos- equal, uniform, same, similar, alike
-thermos- combining form of “hot” (heat)
In meteorology, a line drawn on a weather map
indicating points of equal temperature.
Isotonic
Greek
isos- equal, uniform, same, similar, alike
-ton- tension
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Of equal tension; having the same concentration
of solute on both sides of a membrane.
Isotope
Greek
isos- equal, uniform, same, similar, alike
-topos place
One of two or more atoms having the same
atomic number but different mass numbers.
Isthmus
Greek
isthmos narrow neck
In biology, a narrow strip of tissue connecting two
parts or lobes of a gland or organ; in earth science,
a narrow strip of land connecting two larger sec-
tions of land.
Jaundice Jurassic
Latin French
galbinus yellowish jurassique/jura- mountains
Yellow discoloration of the eyes, mucous mem- -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
branes, and skin caused by deposits of bile, usu- Of or belonging to the geologic time, rock series,
ally as a result of a disease, such as hepatitis. or sedimentary deposits of the second period of
the Mesozoic era, in which dinosaurs continued
Jejunum
to be the dominant land fauna and the earliest
Latin
birds appeared.
ieiunus fasting (referring to its always being
found empty when dissected) Juvenile
The very large section of small intestine begin- Latin
ning at the end of the duodenum and ending at the iuvenis- young
beginning of the ileum. -ile changing
Not fully grown or developed; young.
Joule
Old English
Joule English physicist (James Prescott Joule)
who developed the first law of thermodynamics
A unit of electrical energy equal to 10 million
ergs or one newton-meter.
Kalemia kary- nut, walnut, kernel, nucleus
Latin -gam- husband or wife; to marry
kalium- potassium -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
-haima- blood Describes a process pertaining to or characterized
-ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing by the union of two nuclei.
plurals
Karyogamy
The presence of excessive amounts of potassium
Greek
in the blood.
kary- nut, walnut, kernel, nucleus
Kame -gam- husband or wife; to marry
Middle English -y place for an activity, condition, state
camb comb The fusion of two cell nuclei following plasmog-
A short ridge or mound of sand and gravel depos- amy during fertilization.
ited during the melting of glacial ice.
Karyogenesis
Karyapsis Greek
Greek kary- nut, walnut, kernel, nucleus
kary- nut, walnut, kernel, nucleus -gen- to give birth, kind, produce
-haptien to fasten, join -sis action, process, state, condition
The process of the fussion or union of nuclei in The growth and development of the nucleus of a
conjugating cells. cell.
Karyochrome Karyokinesis
Greek Greek
kary- nut, walnut, kernel, nucleus kary- nut, walnut, kernel, nucleus
-chrome pigment -kinetikos- to move; set in motion
A nerve cell whose nucleus is deeply stainable -sis action, process, state, condition
although its body is not. A phenomenon involved in the division of the
nucleus, usually an early stage in the process of
Karyocyte
cell division, or mitosis.
Greek
kary- nut, walnut, kernel, nucleus Karyoklasis
-cyte (kutos) sac or bladder that contains fluid Greek
The term for any cell possessing a nucleus. kary- nut, walnut, kernel, nucleus
-klastos- break, break in pieces
Karyogamic
-sis action, process, state, condition
Greek

The breaking down of the cell nucleus or nuclear
membrane.
Karyolymph
Greek
kary- nut, walnut, kernel, nucleus
-lympha clear water, water nymph
The liquid part of a cell nucleus, as contrasted
with the chromatin and linin.
Karyolysis
Greek
kary- nut, walnut, kernel, nucleus
-ly- (luein) to loosen, dissolve, dissolution, break
-sis action, process, state, condition
Form of necrobiosis in which the nucleus of a cell
swells and gradually loses its chromatin.
Karyomegaly
Greek
kary- nut, walnut, kernel, nucleus
-megas- large, great, big, powerful
-ly like, likeness, resemblance
Abnormal enlargement of the nucleus of a cell,
not caused by polyploidy.
Karyometry
Greek
kary- nut, walnut, kernel, nucleus
-metria (metron) the process of measuring
The measurement of a cell nucleus.
Karyomorphism
Greek
kary- nut, walnut, kernel, nucleus
-morph- shape, form, figure, or appearance
-ism state or condition, quality
The shape of a cell nucleus.
Karyophage
Greek
kary- nut, walnut, kernel, nucleus
-phagos (phagein) to eat, eating
A protozoan that is capable of phagocytic action
on the nucleus of the cell it infects.
Karyoplasm
Greek
kary- nut, walnut, kernel, nucleus
-plasm (plassein) to mold or form cells or tissues
The nucleoplasm or protoplasm of the nucleus of
a cell.
Karyoreticulum
Greek
kary- nut, walnut, kernel, nucleus
-reticul- net or networklike
-um (singular) structure
-a (plural) structure
Ketone 113
The fibrillar part of the karyoplasm as distin-
guished from the fluid part of karyolymph.
Karyorrhexis
Greek
kary- nut, walnut, kernel, nucleus
-rhxis action or process of bursting
Rupture of the cell nucleus in which the chroma-
tin disintegrates into formless granules that are
extruded from the cell.
Karyotype
Greek
kary- nut, walnut, kernel, nucleus
-typos impression, figure
Representation of individual chromosomes cut
out from a photograph and grouped together.
Karyozoic
Greek
kary- nut, walnut, kernel, nucleus
-zoon- animal, animal like
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Existing in or inhabiting the nuclei of cells, as
certain protozoa.
Katolysis
Greek
kato- below
-ly- (luein) to loosen, dissolve; dissolution, break
-sis action, process, state, condition
The incomplete or intermediate conversion of
complex chemical bodies into simpler com-
pounds; applied especially to digestive processes.
Keel
Old Norse
kjolr ship
Anything with a shape or purpose similar to that
of a ship’s keel in supporting the whole frame, as
in the breastbone of birds.
Keratin
Greek
keras- horn
-in protein or derived from protein
A scleroprotein found in epidermal tissues and
modified into hard structures such as horns, hair,
and nails.
Ketone
German (from Latin)
keton short for aketon or acetone (acetone is
derived from Latin acetum [vinegar])
Any of a class or organic compounds having a
carbonyl group linked to a carbon atom in each of
two hydrocarbon radicals.
114 Kilogram

Kilogram Kinetic
Greek Greek
khilioi- thousand kinetikos- to move; set in motion
-gramma small weight -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
A metric unit for the measurement of mass. The kind of energy relating to or produced by
motion.
Kiloliter
Greek Kinetochore
khilioi- thousand Greek
-litra unit of weight or capacity kinetos- moving
A metric unit for the measurement of weight or -khoros place
capacity; usually associated with liquids. Structure that forms on the centromere during
mitosis for binding microtubules.
Kilometer
Greek Kinetosome
khilioi- thousand Greek
-meter (metron) instrument or means of measur- kinetikos- to move; set in motion
ing; to measure -soma (somatiko) body
A metric unit for the measurement of distance. The self-duplicating granule at the base of the fla-
gellum or cilium; similar to the centriole; also
Kindling
called basal body or blepharoplast.
Old Norse
kynda- cause or to give birth to Kingdom
-ing the act of or action Old English
Substances such as wook chips, dried sticks, or cyning- principal, chief
charcoal that are relatively easy to ignite. -dom property, jurisdiction
In biology, the highest level in the hierarchy of the
Kinematics
taxonomical classification of living organisms.
Greek
kinemat- mechanics of movement Kyphosis
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of Latin
The branch of mechanics that studies the motion kuphos- humpbacked, bent over
of a body, or a system of bodies, with no consid- -sis action, process, state, condition
eration given to the body’s mass or the forces act- Exaggerated thoracic curvature.
ing on it.
Label A mass of igneous rock intruded between layers
Middle English of sedimentary rock, resulting in uplift.
lap- to wrap, to fold
Lactescence
-elle diminutive
Latin
To infuse or treat a substance with a radioactive
lac- milk or lactic acid
isotope or a fluorescent dye so that its course of
-escence giving off light of the kind or type specified
activity can be traced through a series of reac-
A milky appearance; milkiness
tions; usually done in a living organism.
Lactic
Labrum
Latin
Latin
lac- milk or lactic acid
labr- lip
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
-um (singular) structure
Of or pertaining to milk; procured from sour milk
-a (plural) structure
or whey, as in lactic acid; lactic fermentation.
A structure forming the roof of the mouth in insects.
Lactose
Labyrinthodont
Latin/Greek
Greek
lac- milk or lactic acid
labyrinthos- labyrinth, inner ear, double-headed
-ose sugar, carbohydrate
axe, of Lydian origin
A disaccharide found in the milk of all mammals;
-odontos tooth
a sugar found in milk that breaks down into glu-
A group of Paleozoic amphibians containing the
cose and galactose, and creates lactic acid
temnospondyls and the anthracosaurs.
through fermentation.
Labyrinthus
Lacuna
Greek
Latin
labyrinthos- labyrinth, inner ear, double-headed
lacuna lagoon
axe, of Lydian origin
A space or cavity in bone that is occupied by a
-us thing
bone cell or a cartilage cell.
The portion of the inner ear characterized by the
semicircular canals and involved with hearing Lagomorph
and balance. Greek
lagos- hare
Laccolith
-morph shape, form, figure, or appearance
Greek
Gnawing, herbivorous mammals, including rab-
lakkos- cistern
bits, hares, and pikas.
-lith rock, stone
116 Lake

Lake Inflammation of the larynx, often with a tempo-

Latin rary loss of voice.
lacus lake
Lateral
A large inland body of freshwater or salt water.
Latin
Lamella lateralis side
Latin Of, relating to, or being situated at or on the side.
lamin- thin plate or layer, neurophysis of a vertebra
Latitude
-ella dimunitive
Latin
A thin layer of bony matrix material.
latus- wide
Laminectomy -tudo condition, state, quality
Latin/Greek The angular distance north or south of the earth’s
lamin- thin plate or layer, neurophysis of a vertebra equator, measured in degrees along a meridian, as
-ekt- outside, external, beyond on a map or globe.
-tomos (temnein) to cut, incise, section
Lattice
Surgical removal of the posterior arch of a vertebra.
Germanic
Laparonephrectomy latte lathe
Greek A regular, periodic configuration of points, parti-
lapar- the soft part of the body between the ribs, cles, or objects throughout an area or a space,
hip, and flank; the loin especially the arrangement of ions or molecules
-nephr- kidney in a crystalline solid.
-ekt- outside, external, beyond
Lava
-tomos (temnein) to cut, incise, section
Latin
Removal of the kidney by an incision in the loin.
labi to fall
Laparosalpingo-oophorectomy Molten rock that reaches the surface of the earth
Greek through a fissure of a volcano.
lapar- the soft part of the body between the ribs,
Leach
hip, and flank; the loin
Late Middle English
-salping- tube, trumpet
leche to wet or to infuse
-oophor- ovary
To dissolve out soluble parts from, by running
-ekt- outside, external, beyond
water or other liquid through slowly.
-tomos (temnein) to cut, incise, section
Removal of the Fallopian tube and ovary through Leaf
an abdominal incision. Old English
leaf leaf
Laparotomy
Typically green, flattened structure of a plant that
Greek
is attached to a stem. It serves as the primary struc-
lapar- the soft part of the body between the ribs,
ture for energy production via photosynthesis.
hip, and flank; the loin
-tomos (temnein) to cut, incise, section League
The act of cutting through the abdominal wall Latin
into the cavity of the abdomen. leuga a measure of distance
A unit of distance equal to 3.0 statute miles (4.8
Larvae
kilometers).
Latin
larva mask, specter Lepidoptera
The intermediary stage of development in insects Greek
and many other animals between the egg and lepidos- scale, flake
adult stages. Referred to as a larva because the -ptera feather, wing
adult stage is hidden or masked. The order of insects that includes butterflies and
moths.
Laryngitis
Greek Lepidosaurs
larunx- part of the respiratory system in the neck, Latin
cartilage, muscular tube lepidos- scale, flake
-itis inflammation, burning sensation -sauros lizard

A lineage of diapsid reptiles that appeared in the
Permian period and includes the modern snakes,
lizards, amphisbaenids, and tuataras, as well as
the extinct ichthyosaurs.
Leprosy
Latin
lepra- flake, scale, scaly, scabby
-y place for an activity, condition, state
A slowly progressive, chronic infectious disease
characterized by granulomatous or neurotrophic
lesions in the skin, mucous membranes, nerves,
bones, and viscera, with a broad spectrum of clin-
ical symptoms.
Leptocephalus
Greek
leptos- thin
-kephale- head
-us thing
Transparent, ribbonlike migratory larva of the
European or American eel.
Lepton
Greek
leptos- small or fine
-on a particle
Any of a family of elementary particles that par-
ticipate in a weak interaction, including the elec-
tron, the muon, and their associated neutrinos.
Lethal
Latin
letum death
Relating to or capable of causing death.
Leuco
Greek
leukos white, clear, or colorless
Of or designating a reduced, colorless form of a
dye that is fixed on a fiber and then reconstituted
into the dye by means of oxidizing agents.
Leucoplast
Greek
leukos- white, clear, or colorless
-plastos (plassein) something molded; to mold
A colorless plastid in the cytoplasm of plant cells
around which starch collects.
Leukemia
Greek
leukos- white, clear, or colorless
-haima- blood
-ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing
plurals
A form of cancer characterized by uncontrolled
production of abnormal white blood cells.
Lever 117
Leukoblast
Greek
leukos- white, clear, or colorless
-blastos bud, germ cell
An immature white blood cell; also called a pro-
leukocyte.
Leukocyte
Greek
leukos- white, clear, or colorless
-kutos (cyto) sac or bladder that contains fluid
White blood cell, of which there are several types,
each having a specific function in protecting the
body from invasion by foreign substances and
organisms.
Leukocytopenia
Greek
leukos- white, clear, or colorless
-kutos- (cyto) sac or bladder that contains fluid
-penia reduction, poverty, lack, deficiency
A condition in which there is a decrease in or an insuf-
ficiency of white blood cells circulating in the body.
Leukocytosis
Greek
leukos- white, clear, or colorless
-kutos- (cyto) sac or bladder that contains fluid
-osis action, process, state, condition
An increase in the number of white blood cells in
the circulating blood.
Leukopenia
Greek
leukos- white, clear, or colorless
-penia reduction, poverty, lack, deficiency
A condition in which the number of white blood
cells circulating in the blood is abnormally low.
Leukosarcoma
Greek
leukos- white, clear, or colorless
-sarko- flesh, meat
-oma tumor, neoplasm
A type of lymphoma characterized by large numbers
of abnormal lymphocyte precursors in the blood.
Levator
Latin
levare- to lift, raise
-or a condition or property of things or persons;
person who does something
Any muscle that elevates a part of the body.
Lever
Latin
levis light
A simple machine consisting of a rigid bar pivot-
ing on a fixed point and used to transmit force, as
118 Levorotatory

in raising or moving a weight at one end of a Limivorous

beam by pushing down on the other end. Latin
limus- mud, slime
Levorotatory
-vorare eat, swallow
Latin
Feeding on mud for the organic matter it contains;
laevus- left or counterclockwise
characteristic of certain amnelids,
-rota- wheel
-ory of or pertaining to Limnetic
Rotating to the left in a plane of polarized light. Greek
limne- lake
Libration
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Latin
Relating to of having the characteristic of living
libra- balance
in the deep waters of a lake or pond.
-ion state, process, or quality of
A very slow oscillation, real or apparent, of a sat- Lingual
ellite as viewed from the larger celestial body Latin
around which it rotates. lingua- tongue, language
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
Lichen
or character of
Greek
Of or pertaining to the tongue or tonguelike organ.
leikhein to lick
A plantlike organism consisting of a symbiotic Lipid
relationship between algae and fungi; usually Greek/French
found on rocks and other regions with minimal lipos- fat
sources of food or water. -ide group of related chemical compounds
Any group of organic compounds, including fats,
Life
oils, waxes, sterols, and glycerides, that are insol-
Old English
uble in water but soluble in organic solvents.
lif life
The term designating any physiologically active Liposome
organism; the capacity to carry on all life processes. Greek
lipos- fat
Ligament
-soma (somatiko) body
Latin
Droplet of phospholipid molecules formed in a
ligare- to bind, tie
liquid environment.
-ment causing an action, or being in a specific state
A strong, elastic connective tissue that crosses a Liquefy
joint and prevents excessive movement that could Latin
dislocate the joint. liquere- flow, fluid, wave; to be liquid
-fy (ficare) make, do, build, produce
Ligant
To cause to become liquid, especially to melt (a
Latin
solid) by heating or to condense (a gas) by cooling.
ligare to bind, tie
A charged or uncharged molecule that can bind to a Liquid
metal molecule or ion and form a large, complex ion. Latin
liquere- flow, fluid, wave; to be liquid
Ligroin
-id state, condition; having, being, pertaining to,
German
tending to, inclined to
ligroin ligroin
Matter that has a distinct volume but no specific shape.
Petroleum ether; a volatile, flammable liquid
mixture of hydrocarbons obtained by the frac- Lithium
tional distillation of petroleum; used as a solvent. Greek
lithos- stone, rock
Limicole
-ium quality or relationship
Latin
A silvery-colored soft metal with the atomic
limus- mud, slime
number 3. It is used as a therapeutic for bipolar,
-cole inhabit
depressive disorders. It is also used as a heat
Living in mud; a group of shore bird such as the
transfer medium and is found in various alloys,
sandpipers or plovers.
ceramics, and glass.
 Lordosis 119

Lithosphere The ability of an organism to move from one place

Greek to another place.
lithos- stone or rock
Lodestone
-sphaira a globe shape, ball, sphere
Old English
The solid outer layer of the earth, consisting of
lad- way
the crust and upper mantle.
-stan stone, rock
Lithotomy Magnetite, a common ore that is a natural mag-
Greek net. At one time it was used by sailors to navigate.
lithos- stone or rock
Loess
-tomos (temnein) to cut, incise, section
German
The surgical removal of a stone from the urinary
losch loose
tract.
A buff to gray windblown deposit of fine-grained
Lithotripsy calcareous silt or clay.
Greek
Longitude
lithos- stone or rock
Latin
-tripsy (tribein) to crush; massage, rub, rubbing,
longus- long
friction, grind
-tude state or quality
Surgical crushing of stones, as in the bladder or
Angular distance on the earth’s surface, measured
ureters.
east or west from the prime meridian at Green-
Litmus wich, England, to the meridian passing through a
Middle Dutch particular position; expressed in degrees (or
leken- to drip hours), minutes, and seconds.
-mosi moss
Lophophile
A blue coloring matter obtained from lichens,
Greek
used as an acid/base indicator. It turns red in an
lophos- crest
acidic pH of 4.5 and turns blue in bases at pH 8.3.
-phile one who loves or has a strong affinity or
Littoral preference for
Latin Thriving on hilltops; hilltop plants, plant commu-
litoralis pertaining to the seashore nities existing on hilltops.
On the shore, coastal; a zone between high and
Lophophore
low tides.
Greek
Lobopodium lophos- crest
Greek -phoros bearing
lobos- rounded projection, especially a rounded Tentacle-bearing ridge or arm within which is an
projecting anatomical part extension of the coelomic cavity in lophophorate
-podos- foot animals (ectoprocts, brachiopods, and phoronids).
-ium quality or relationship
Lophophyte
Blunt, lobelike pseudopodium.
Greek
Lobotomy lophos- crest
French/Greek -phyte plant
lobos- rounded projection, especially a rounded Plants that thrive on hilltop or crest environments.
projecting anatomical part
Lophotrichous
-tomos (temnein) to cut, incise, section
Greek
Surgical incision into the frontal lobe of the brain
lopho- ridge, crest
to sever one or more nerve tracts. This technique
-tricho- hair
was formerly used to treat certain mental disor-
-ous full of, having the quality of, relating to
ders but now is rarely performed.
Refers to having two or more flagella at one end
Locomotion of a cell.
Latin
Lordosis
locus- a place or location
Latin
movere- to move
lordos- to bend backward
-ion state, process, or quality of
-sis action, process, state, condition
120 Lumbar

An abnormal, exaggerated curvature of the verte- Lymph

bral column in the lumbar region. Latin
lympha clear water, water nymph
Lumbar
Fluid, derived from tissue fluid, that is carried in
Latin
lymphatic vessels.
lumbus loin
Relating to the lower back or small of the back. Lymphatic
Greek
Lumen
lympha- clear water, water nymph
Latin
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
lumen an opening, light
Of or relating to lymph, a lymph vessel, or a
In biology, the space or cavity within an organ or
lymph node.
organ system, such as within blood vessels or the
alimentary canal. In physics, the amount of light Lymphocyte
given out through a solid angle by a source of one Greek/Latin
candela intensity, radiating equally in all directions. lympha- clear water, water nymph
-cyte (kutos) sac or bladder that contains fluid
Luminous
Specialized white blood cell that occurs in two
Latin
forms: T lymphocyte and B lymphocyte.
lumen- an opening, light
-ous full of, having the quality of, relating to Lymphoma
Describes an object or living thing that has the Greek
capacity to emit light, or glow. lympha- clear water, water nymph
-oma tumor
Lunar
Any of various usually malignant tumors that arise
Latin
in the lymph nodes or in other lymphoid tissue.
luna- the moon
-ar relating to or resembling Lysogenic
Of, involving, caused by, or affecting the moon. Greek
ly- (luein) to loosen, dissolve, dissolution, break
Lunarscape
-gen- to give birth, kind, produce
Latin
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
luna- the moon
Capable of causing or undergoing lysis.
-scapus scene, view
Landscape of rock similar to the surface of the Lysosome
moon. Greek
ly- (luein) to loosen, dissolve, dissolution, break
Lunation
-soma (somatiko) body
Latin
A cytoplasmic, membrane-bound particle con-
luna- the moon
taining hydrolytic enzymes that function in intra-
-ation act or process
cellular digestive processes.
The period between new moons: 29 days, 12
hours, and 44 minutes. Lysozyme
Greek
Luster
ly- (luein) to loosen, dissolve, dissolution, break
Latin
-zume fermenting, leaven
lustrare light, illuminate
An enzyme occurring naturally in egg white,
Shining or being reflected by light.
human tears, saliva, and other body fluids and
capable of destroying the cell walls of certain
bacteria and thereby acting as a mild antiseptic.
Macradenous Macroglobulin
Greek Greek
makros- long, large, great makros- long, large, great
-aden- lymph gland(s) -globu- globe
-ous full of, having the quality of, relating to -in of or derived from a protein
Having large glands. An immunoglobulin of very high molecular
weight, usually above 900,000.
Macrencephaly
Greek Macronucleus
makros- long, large, great Greek
-enkephalos- in the head makros- long, large, great
-ly like, likeness, resemblance -nucula- kernel, little nut
Overgrowth of the brain. -us thing
Large nucleus that controls the functions of the cell.
Macrocardius
Greek Macrophage
makros- long, large, great Greek
-kard- heart, pertaining to the heart makros- long, large, great
-us thing -phagos (phagein) to eat, eating
A fetus with an extremely large heart. A large white blood cell that can engulf hundreds
of bacteria.
Macroevolution
Latin Macrovolt
makros- long, large, great Greek
-evolvere to unfold makros- long, large, great
Evolutionary change on a grand scale, encom- -volt electric potential
passing the origin of novel designs, evolutionary Large electric potential (one million volts).
trends, adaptive radiation, and mass extinction.
Madreporite
Macrogamete Latin
Greek madre- mother
makros- long, large, great -pora- passageway
-gamos marriage -ite component of a part of a body
The larger of the two gamete types in a heteroga- A perforated. platelike structure in most echino-
metic organism, considered the female gamete. derms that forms the intake for their water-
vascular systems.
122 Mafic

Mafic Order of fishes where the fins are soft and closely
Latin jointed; carp is an example.
ma- the element magnesium
Malacosarcosis
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Greek
Containing or relating to a group of dark-colored
malacia- softening of tissue
minerals that are composed chiefly of magnesium
-sarko- flesh, meat
and iron in igneous rock.
-sis action, process, state, condition
Magma Softness of muscular tissue.
Greek
Malacostracan
mag- to knead
Greek
-ma form or character of
malako- soft
The name given to molten rock under the surface
-ostracon shell
of the earth. Magma becomes lava if it escapes
Any member of the crustacean subclass Malacos-
from a volcano to the earth’s surface.
traca, which includes both aquatic and terrestrial
Magnet forms of crabs, lobsters, shrimps, pillbugs, sand
Greek fleas, and others.
magnes stone from Magnesia (city in Asia
Malaria
Minor)
Italian
An object that is surrounded by a magnetic field
mala- bad
and that has the property, either natural or
-aria air
induced, of attracting iron or steel.
Air infected with a noxious substance capable of
Magnetosphere causing disease.
Greek
Malignant
magnes- stone from Magnesia (city in Asia
Latin
Minor)
malignus bad, attach, malign
-sphaira a globe shape, ball, sphere
Relates to a disease that is threatening to life; vir-
Region around an object where the influence of
ulent; cancerous.
the object’s magnetic field can be felt.
Malleable
Magnification
Latin
Latin/Greek
malleus- hammer
magn- great
-able capable, be inclined to, tending to, given to
-fic- to make
A property of metal enabling it to be pounded or
-ion state, process, or quality of
rolled into thin sheets.
The process of making things look larger.
Mallophaga
Magnitude
Greek
Latin
mallos- wool
magnu- large
-phagos (phagein) to eat, eating
-tude state, quality, condition of
Chewing lice; extensive group of small insects
The overall size of a quantity.
that are parasitic in nature on birds and mammals
Malacoderm and feed on feathers and hair.
Greek
Malnutrition
malacia- softening of tissue
Latin
-derm skin
mala- bad
Having soft skin or soft flexible bodies, as is char-
-nutrire- to suckle, nourish
acteristic of fireflies.
-ent causing an action, being in a specific state, within
Malacopterygia Poor nutrition related to or caused by an insuffi-
Greek cient or poorly balanced diet, faulty digestion, or
malacia- softening of tissue faulty use of foods.
-pterug- wing
Maltase
-ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing
Greek
plurals
malt- seed or grain
-ase indicating an enzyme
 Meatus 123

Enzyme in plants and animals that breaks down amount of material the body contains and that
disaccharide maltose into glucose. causes it to have weight in a gravitational field.
Maltose Mastication
Greek Greek
malt- seed or grain mastikhan- to grind the teeth
-ose sugar, carbohydrate -ion state, process, or quality of
Disaccharide sugar in which both monosaccha- The process of using one’s teeth to chew and
ride parts are glucose. grind food.
Mammal Mastoid (process)
Latin Greek
mamma- breast mastos- breast
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form -oid (oeides) resembling; having the appearance of
or character of A small process resembling a nipple that is found
An animal with hair that feeds its young with on the temporal bone.
milk from mammary glands.
Matter
Mammary Latin
Greek materia substance from which something is
mamma- breast made
-ary of, relating to, or connected with Something that occupies space and can be per-
Of or relating to the breasts (e.g., mammary ceived by the senses; a physical substance or the
glands). physical universe as a whole.
Mandible Maxilla
Latin Latin
mandere to chew maxilla jawbone
The lower jaw of vertebrates. The fusion of two bones in mammals forming the
upper jaw.
Mantle
Latin Maxilliped
mantellum layer Latin
In geology, the layer of earth between the central maxilla- jawbone
molten core and the surface crust. -ped foot
One of the pairs of head appendages located just
Manubrium
posterior to the maxilla in crustaceans; a thoracic
Latin
appendage that has become incorporated into the
manus- hand
feeding mouthparts.
-ium quality or relationship
A bony segment of the sternum shaped like a Maxima
handle. Latin
maximus greatest
Marine
The greatest values assumed by a function over a
Latin
given interval.
mare sea
Of or relating to the sea. Mean
Old English
Marsupial
maenan to tell of
Greek
The average of a group of sample numbers as cal-
marsuppos- pouch or purse
culated by dividing the sum of the numbers by the
-ial (variation of -ia) relating to or characterized by
number of samples.
Mammal that bears its immature young in a mar-
supium, or pouch. Meatus
Latin
Mass
meare to pass
Greek
An opening or a canal—for example, the external
maza mass, large, amount
auditory meatus.
The property of a body that is a measure of its
inertia; commonly taken as a measure of the
124 Mechanical

Mechanical chromosomes passes to each daughter cell, and a

Greek mitotic division.
mekhane- machine, device
Melanin
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
Greek
or character of
melas- the color black, dark
Relating to a machine or the functionality of a
-in protein or derived from protein
machine. Mechanical advantage refers to the
Dark brown pigment of many animals, giving
measurement of the output force of the machine
brown and yellow coloration to skin and/or hair.
(lever) versus the input force.
Melanocyte
Meconium
Greek
Greek
melas- the color black, dark
mekonion poppy juice
-cyte (kutos) sac or bladder that contains fluid
The first feces of the newborn; the coloration is
An epidermal cell capable of synthesizing melanin.
usually greenish black to light brown.
Melanoderma
Median
Greek
Latin
melas- the color black, dark
medius middle
-derma skin
The average that gives the midpoint of a range or
Black or dark skin coloring (pigmentation); liter-
distribution.
ally, black skin.
Medium
Melanoma
Latin
Greek
medius middle
melas- the color black, dark
An intervening substance through which some-
-oma community
thing else is transmitted or carried.
A dark-pigmented, usually malignant tumor aris-
Medulla ing from a melanocyte and occurring most com-
Latin monly in the skin.
merulla middle
Membrane
The inner core of certain structures or organs.
Latin
Medusa membrana thin skin
Latin Thin layer of tissue composed of epithelial cells
medein to protect and connective tissue that covers a surface.
Tentacled, bell-shaped, free-swimming body
Meningitis
plan of cnidarians.
Greek
Megalocephaly mening- meninx
Greek -itis inflammation, burning sensation
megal- large, great Inflammation of the meninges of the brain and
-kephalikos head the spinal cord, most often caused by a bacterial
A birth defect that causes an abnormally large head. or viral infection.
Megaspore Meniscus
Greek Greek
megas- large, great, big, powerful mensikos moon, month
-spora seed The concave or convex upper surface of a nontur-
In plants, a haploid (n) spore that develops into a bulent liquid in a container.
female gametophyte.
Meridian
Meiosis Latin
Greek medius- middle
meion- smaller, less -die day
-sis action, process, state, condition In astronomy, a great circle passing through the
The cellular process that results in the number of two poles of the celestial sphere and the zenith of
chromosomes in gamete-producing cells being a given observer.
reduced to one-half, and that involves a reduction
division, in which one of each pair of homologous
 Metalloid 125

Meristem A plant that has adapted to grow in areas having

Greek moderate moisture conditions.
meristos- divided
Mesosphere
-en to make or cause
Greek
The undifferentiated plant tissue from which new
mesos- middle
cells are formed, as that at the tip of a stem or root.
-sphaira a globe shape, ball, sphere
Mesentery The zone of the earth’s interior that extends from
Greek the lithosphere to the core.
mesos- middle
Mesozoic
-enteron gut
Greek
A membrane that suspends many of the organs of
mesos- middle
vertebrates inside fluid-filled body cavities.
-zoikos- of animals
Mesoderm -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Greek An era of geologic time between the Paleozoic
mesos- middle and the Cenozoic, occurring between 248 and 65
-derma skin million years ago.
The germ layer formed between the ectoderm and
Metabolism
the endoderm of an embryo.
Greek
Mesoglea meta- between, after, beyond, later
Greek -bol- (ballein) to put or throw
mesos- middle -ism state or condition, quality
-gloia glue The complex of physical and chemical processes
The clear, inert, jellylike substance that makes up involved in the maintenance of life.
the majority of the bodies of jellyfish, comb jel-
Metacarpus
lies, and certain other primitive sea creatures.
Greek
Mesomorphic meta- between, after, beyond, later
Greek -karpos- wrist
mesos- middle -us thing
-morph- shape, form, figure, or appearance The part of the human hand that includes the five
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of bones between the fingers and the wrist.
Existing in a state of matter intermediate between
Metagalaxy
liquid and crystal; describes any individual having
Greek
the characteristics of a stout, healthy physique
meta- between, after, beyond, later
developed from the embyronic mesomorphic layer.
-galakt milk
Meson The assemblage of all the galaxies.
Greek
Metal
mesos- middle
Greek
-on a particle
metallon- mine, ore, quarry, any of a category of
The class of elementary particles with masses
electropositive elements from metallum
between baryons and leptons.
Any member of the class of substances repre-
Mesophyll sented by gold, silver, copper, iron, and tin.
Greek
Metallic
mesos- middle
Latin/Greek
-phullon leaf
metallon- mine, ore, quarry, any of a category of
The ground tissue of a leaf, sandwiched between
electropositive elements from metallum
the upper and lower epidermis and specialized for
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
photosynthesis.
Having characteristics of metals.
Mesophyte
Metalloid
Greek
Latin/Greek
mesos- middle
metallon- mine, ore, quarry, any of a category of
-phyte plant
electropositive elements from metallum
-oid (oeides) resembling; having the appearance of
126 Metallurgy

A nonmetallic element, such as arsenic, that has Metatheria

some of the chemical properties of a metal. Greek
meta- between, after, beyond, later
Metallurgy
-ther- wild animal
Latin/Greek
-ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing
metallon- mine, ore, quarry, any of a category of
plurals
electropositive elements from metallum
Infraclass of marsupial mammals.
-ourgos worker
The science and technology involving the study Metathesis
of metals. Greek
meta- between, after, beyond, later
Metamere
-tithenai to transpose, to place
Greek
A chemical reaction in which a double decompo-
meta- between, after, beyond, later
sition occurs, causing parts of two reacting struc-
-meros part
tures to swap places.
Condition of being made up of serially repeated
parts; serial segmentation. Meteor
Greek
Metamorphic
meteoron things in air
Latin/Greek
The luminous phenomenon observed when a
meta- between, after, beyond, later
meteor enters the atmosphere.
-morph- shape, form, figure, or appearance
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of Meteorite
Refers to a change of physical form, structure, or Greek
substance, especially rock that has changed from meteoron- things in air
its original form through the application of heat -ite minerals and fossils
and pressure. A metallic or mineral mass that has fallen to earth
from space.
Metamorphosis
Greek Meteorologist
meta- between, after, beyond, later Latin/Greek
-morph- shape, form, figure, or appearance meteoron- things in air
-osis action, process, state, condition -ologist one who deals with a specific topic
A change in the form of an animal during normal A person who is a specialist in the study of the
development after the embryonic stage. weather, the atmosphere, and forecasting.
Metaphase Meteorology
Greek Latin/Greek
meta- between, after, beyond, later meteoron- things in air
-phaseis appearance -logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or
The stage of mitosis and meiosis where chromo- bodies of knowledge
somes align along the metaphase plate. The study of earth’s atmosphere, weather, and
climate.
Metapopulation
Greek/Latin Meter
meta- between, after, beyond, later Greek
-populus- the people meter (metron) instrument or means of measur-
-ion state, process, or quality of ing; to measure
A population subdivided into several small and iso- A metric unit used in the measurement of length
lated populations as a result of habitat fragmentation. equivalent to 39.37 inches.
Metatarsus Methanogens
Greek Greek
meta- between, after, beyond, later methano- methane
-tarsos- instep -gen to give birth, kind, produce
-us thing Organisms that require anaerobic conditions and
The middle part of the human foot that forms the that produce methane gas.
instep and includes the five bones between the
toes and the ankle.
 Microtubules 127

Methionine Micrometer
Greek Greek
meth- containing a methyl group micro- denotes one-millionth of a part
-thio- compound containing sulfur -meter (metron) instrument or means of measuring;
-ine in a chemical substance to measure
A sulfur-containing amino acid. One-millionth of a meter, symbol µm; used in
many types of microscopic science, such as cellu-
Micaceous
lar biology.
Latin
mica- grain Microneme
-ous full of, having the quality of, relating to Greek
Pertaining to or containing mica; a laminar rock mikros- small
structure much like mica. -nema thread
One of the types of structures composing the apical
Micelle
complex in the phylum Apicomplexa; these struc-
Latin
ture are slender and elongate, leading to the ante-
mica- grain, crumb
rior, and thought to function in host cell penetration.
-elle diminutive
A unit in colloids composed of complex mole- Microorganism
cules that can alter size without chemical change. Greek
mikros- small
Microbiologist
-organ- complex structure; tool
Greek
-ism state or condition, quality
mikros- small
A very small living thing.
-bios- life, living organisms, or tissue
-ologist one who deals with a specific topic Microprocessor
One who specializes in the science of microbiology. Greek/Latin
mikros- small
Microbiophagy
-processus- setting out, series of steps
Greek
-or a condition or property of things or persons
mikros- small
An integrated circuit that contains the entire cen-
-bios- life, living organisms, or tissue
tral processing unit of a computer on a single chip.
-phagia eat, eating; consume, ingest
Destruction or lysis of microorganisms by a phage. Micropyle
Greek
Microcephalic
mikros- small
Greek
-pyle gate
mikros- small
Small opening at one end of an embryo sac.
-cephalo- (kephalikos) head
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of Microscope
Having a small head or a small cranial cavity. Greek
mikros- small
Microfilaments
-skopein to view, examine
Greek/Latin
An optical instrument that uses a lens or a combina-
mikros- small
tion of lenses to produce magnified images of small
-filum- thread
objects.
-ent causing an action, being in a specific state, within
Any of the minute fibers throughout the cyto- Microspheres
plasm of a cell that function primarily in main- Greek
taining its structural integrity. mikros- small
-sphaera ball
Microfilaria
Structures composed only of protein that have
Greek
many properties of a cell.
mikros- small
-filum- thread Microtubules
-ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing Greek/Latin
plurals mikros- small
The minute larval form of the slender, threadlike -tubus- pipe
filarial worm. -ule little, small
128 Microvilli

Small hollow cylinders about 25 nm in diameter

and 0.2–25 m in length.
Mimicry in Nature
Microvilli
The process of natural selection has cre-
Latin/Greek
ated some incredible relationships in
mikros- small
nature. Members of all species seek the
-villus shaggy hair
survival of their kind. Both prey and pred-
Tiny hairlike folds in the plasma membrane that
ator are subjected to environmental
extend from the surface of many absorptive or
stresses on their numbers that can limit
secretory cells.
their growth and ultimately threaten their
Microvolt survival. This is a constant. Their abilities
Greek to adapt to changes, to modify their
mikros- small behaviors, and to compete with others for
-volt electric potential common resources such as food and water
Small electric potential (one millionth of a volt). are continuously challenged in nature.
Microwave But the amazing story is the process and
randomness of natural selection. This
Greek/English
selective process is not a willful or prede-
mikros- small
-waven undulating, wavy termined direction of genetic change, but
Electromagnetic radiation of frequency 1010– rather the result of chance mutations over
extended periods of time. It is the forces
1012 Hz.
of nature that choose certain sets of phe-
Micturation notypes and eliminate others.
Latin Consider the use of mimicry as a
mictum- to make water selective process. There are several vari-
-ion state, process, or quality of eties of mimicry, and all of them capital-
The act or process of urinating. ize on characteristics that have sustained
Migration a population’s growth in a given area.
Latin Batesian mimicry is the best known. This
migrans- to roam, wander, change places strategy is defined by a model species
-ion state, process, or quality of that possesses some sort of protective
The process of moving from one place to feature, such as a stinger, spines, or a
another. toxin, and a species mimicking the model
that does not. Batesian mimicry is exem-
Mimicry plified by the American coral snake and
Greek the common milk or king snake. The
mimikos- imitator or mimic coral snake is a venomous species with a
-y place for an activity; condition, state very powerful poison, whereas the milk
A method of camouflage used in nature by an snake or king snake is not at all venom-
organism that involves the blending and conceal- ous. Yet the physical resemblance—the
ment of one’s identity by the effective use of color phenotype—is so striking that predators,
or shading. including most humans, avoid the harm-
Mineral less snake. These snakes are marked with
French alternating yellow, red, and black bands.
miniere- mine It is the arrangement of the bands that is
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form the giveaway. The saying “Red against
or character of yellow: kill a fellow. Red against black:
A naturally occurring, homogeneous inorganic friend to Jack” is well known among Boy
solid substance having a definite chemical com- Scouts and outdoorsmen. There is little
position and characteristic crystalline structure, doubt that Batesian mimicry has allowed
color, and hardness. king snakes to flourish in the United
States.
 Monoamine 129

Miocene A simplified version of a physical system that

Greek would be too complicated to analyze in full detail.
meion- less
Molarity
-kainos recent
German
An epoch of the Upper Tertiary period, spanning
mole- the amount of a substance containing
the time between 23.8 and 5.3 million years ago.
Avogadro’s number of units
Miscible -ar- relating to or resembling
Latin -ity state of, quality of
miscere- to mix The molar concentration of a solution.
-ible capable
Mole
Capable of undergoing mixing or blending.
German
Miticide molekulargewient molecular weight
Latin Quantity of a substance that has a mass in grams
miti- mite numerically equal to its formula mass.
-cide (caedere) to cut, kill, hack at, or strike
Molecule
A type of pesticide that kills mites that live on
Latin
plants, livestock, and people.
moles- mass
Mitochondrion -ule little, small
Greek The smallest particle of a substance that retains
mitos- warp thread all the properties of the substance and is com-
-khondro- granule, cartilage posed of one or more atoms.
-ion state, process, or quality of
Molluscicide
Membranous organelle in which aerobic respira-
Latin
tion continues and produces ATP molecules.
mollusca- soft-bodied and prominent shell
Mitogen -cide (caedere) to cut, kill, hack at, or strike
Greek A type of pesticide that kills snails and slugs.
mit(os)- a thread
Mollusk
-gen- to give birth, kind, produce
Latin
Any substance or agent that stimulates mitotic
mollis- soft
cell division.
molluscus thin-shelled
Mitosis Phylum of animals having a soft, unsegmented
Greek/Latin body.
mitos- warp thread
Moment
-osis action, process, state, condition
Latin
The process in cell division by which the nucleus
movere to move
divides.
The product of a quantity and its perpendicular
Mixture distance from a reference point.
Latin
Momentum
miscere- to mix
Latin
-ure act, process, condition
movimentum to move
The act of combining; any combination of materials
A measure of the motion of a body equal to the
that can be separated by ordinary physical means.
product of its mass and velocity.
Mode
Monoacid
Latin
Latin
modus manner
mono- one, single, alone
In statistics, the average representing the sample
-acere to be sour
value that occurs the most times; that which
An acid having one replaceable hydrogen atom.
occurs most frequently in a series of observations.
Monoamine
Model
Middle English
Latin
mono- one, single, alone
modulus small measure
-amine any of a group of organic compounds
130 Monobasic

derived from ammonia by the replacement of one Monolayer

or more hydrogen atoms by a hydrocarbon radical Middle English
An amine compound containing one amino group. mono- one, single, alone
-lay- to place in or bring to a particular state or
Monobasic
position
Latin
-er one that performs an action
mono- one, single, alone
A film or layer of a compound one molecule thick.
-base- basis
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of Monomer
Having only one hydrogen ion to donate to a base Greek
in an acid-base reaction. mono- one, single, alone
-meros a part, division
Monocotyledon
Small, individual molecule that forms a polymer.
Greek
mono- one, alone, single Mononucleosis
-kotuledon a kind of plant, a seed leaf, a hollow or Latin
cup-shaped object mono- one, single, alone
Any of a class or subclass (Liliopsida or Mono- -nucula- little nut, nucleus
cotyledoneae) of chiefly herbaceous seed plants -osis abnormal condition
having an embryo with a single cotyledon, usu- A disease marked by extreme fatigue, high fever,
ally parallel-veined leaves, and floral organs and swollen lymph nodes, caused by an abnor-
arranged in cycles of three. mally large number of white blood cells with sin-
gle nuclei in the bloodstream.
Monocular
Greek/Latin Monothermia
mono- one, single, alone Greek
-oculus eye mono- one, single, alone
Of or pertaining to a single eye. -thermos- combining form of “hot” (heat)
-ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing
Monoecious
plurals
Greek
A condition in which the temperature of the body
mono- one, single, alone
remains the same throughout the day.
-oikos house
Having male and female sex organs on the same Monothetic
organism. Greek
mono- one, single, alone
Monogamy
-thetikos- fit for placing
Greek
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
mono- one, single, alone
Denotes a taxonomic group classified on the basis
-gamos marriage
of a single character, as opposed to polythetic.
The condition of having a single mate at any one
time. Monotocous
Greek
Monohybrid
mono- one, single, alone
Greek
-toco- childbirth, delivery, labor
mono- one, single, alone
-ous full of, having the quality of, relating to
-hybrida mixed offspring
Giving birth to but one offspring at a time.
Pertaining to or describing an individual, organ-
ism, or strain that is heterozygous for the single Monotreme
trait or gene locus under consideration. Greek
mono- one, single, alone
Monohydrate
-trema hole, perforation
Middle English
The order of egg-laying (oviparous) mammals,
mono- one, single, alone
including the duck-billed platypus and spiny
-hydr- water
anteater.
-ate characterized by having
A crystalline compound that contains one mole-
cule of water.

The Great Library of Alexandria
It can be said the Great Library of Alexandria
(Egypt) was the best-known and one of the fore-
most libraries of the ancient world. Build by King
Ptolemy II (309–246 BC) near where the temple of
Muses (i.e., museum, from the word musaeum)
once stood, this structure is now little more than a
ruinous sublevel. But imagine an edifice so large
that it contained an ornate main hall and ten great
halls, each with armaria (i.e., wooden chests) con-
taining thousands of handwritten papyrus scrolls
from all points of the known world. Every one of
the great halls was dedicated to a specific academic
discipline. Scholars met, taught, and studied in an
enlightened environment where knowledge and
learning flourished.
Following the conquest of Egypt by Alexander
the Great, the Greeks along with the Egyptians built
this library as a seat where quite possibly all knowl-
edge from the beginning of the world to the current
time was archived and used by many of the most
influential scientists, mathematicians, philoso-
phers and artists. This massive repository housed
Monotrichous
Greek
mono- one, single, alone
-trich- hair
-ous full of, having the quality of, relating to
Having a single polar flagellum; said of a bacte-
rial cell.
Monotropic 131
the compositions of philosophers Aristotle and
Plato; the ancient Greek playwrights Sophocles and
Euripides; the father of medicine, Hippocrates; the
father of geometry, Euclid; and many other brilliant
men, such as the legendary astronomer Aristarchus
of Samos, who, in a missing manuscript, hypothe-
sized a heliocentric solar system—that is, with the
sun at the center and the planets, including earth,
revolving around it. The manuscripts of one of the
greatest mathematicians in history, Archimedes—
“On the Equilibrium of Planes,” explaining the
laws of levers, and “On Floating Bodies,” explain-
ing the law of equilibrium of fluids—were also
stored in the great library.
Men were sent to distant shores to copy manu-
scripts for the library. Ships were stopped at the
port of Alexandria and searched for written works
that could be borrowed and copied. The originals
were kept in the library and copies were returned
to the owners. We can only guess at how much sci-
entific and mathematical knowledge had to be
rediscovered because of the destruction of the
library.
Historians dispute the who and when of the
destruction of the Library of Alexandria. Julius
Caesar had the port of Alexandria burned ca. 48 BC
when he occupied the city. Scholars contend that
that was a significant, but not a fatal, blow to the
library. It is estimated that over 70,000 scrolls were
destroyed by Caesar that day. However, many thou-
sands of scrolls had been moved in anticipation of
Caesar’s conquest.
Some argue that Christian zealots in the fourth
century destroyed the manuscripts, but not the
library, because of the pagan teaching and learning
that took place within its walls. Others say that the
complete destruction of the library occurred at the
hands of Muslims under the command of the Caliph
Omar ca. AD 683, but this theory is discounted by
most.
An inscription dedicated to Tiberius Claudius
Babillus of Rome (d. AD 56) found at the Library of
Alexandria supports the existence of the library
after the time of Julius Caesar.
Monotropic
Greek
mono- one, single, alone
-trope- bend, curve, turn, a turning; response to
stimulus
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
132 Monsoon

Affecting only one particular kind of bacterium, An act, process, or instance of changing position.
virus, or tissue; a narrowing of attention where an
Mucus
individual focuses on one entity.
Latin
Monsoon mucus mucus
Dutch (from Portugese)/Arabic A protective lubricant consisting of mucin, water,
mawsim season salts, and cells. This viscous fluid is secreted to pro-
A wind system that influences large climatic tect cells, membranes, and various internal linings.
regions and reverses direction seasonally.
Multicellular
Morainic Latin
French multus- much, many
morena- mound of earth -cella- chamber
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of -ar relating to or resembling
Of or relating to an accumulation of boulders, stones, Consisting of many cells.
or other debris carried and deposited by a glacier.
Muscle
Morphine Latin
Latin mus mouse
morph- shape, form, figure, or appearance Contractile tissue used to propel, move, and pro-
-ine a chemical substance tect the body.
An opiate extract used in medicine to alleviate
Museum
severe pain.
Greek
Morphogen mouseion shrine of muses
Greek An edifice or institution where cultural, scientific,
morph- shape, form, figure, or appearance historical, and contemporary artifacts, documents,
-gen to give birth, kind, produce and exhibits are retained for study and enjoyment.
A class of substances that is said to be present in
Mutation
the embryo and that controls growth patterns.
Latin
Morphogenesis mut- change, changeable
Greek -ion state, process, or quality of
morph- shape, form, figure, or appearance A relatively permanent change in hereditary
-gen- to give birth, kind, produce material, involving either a physical change in
-sis action, process, state, condition chromosome relations or a biochemical change in
Formation of the structure of an organism or part; the codons that make up genes.
differentiation and growth of tissues and organs
Mutualism
during development.
Latin
Morphology mutuus- borrowed or exchanged
Greek -ism state or condition, quality
morph- shape, form, figure, or appearance Association between organisms of two different
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or species in which each member benefits.
bodies of knowledge
Myalgia
The study of the physical structures of organisms,
Greek
in particular the soft tissues.
myo- muscle
Mosaic -algia pain, sense of pain; painful; hurting
Greek Muscle pain.
mouseion- shrine of the muses
Mycelium
An organism or part that is composed of two or
Latin/Greek
more genetically distinct tissues, owing to exper-
myco- fungus
imental manipulation or to a faulty distribution of
-helos- wart, nail, stud, corn
genetic material during mitosis.
-ium quality or relationship
Motion A mass of interwoven filamentous “threads” that
Latin make up the vegetative part of a fungus.
movere- to move
-ion state, process, or quality of
 Myotome 133

Mycology Myoglobin
Greek Greek
myco- fungus myo- muscle
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or -globus- globular mass
bodies of knowledge -in protein or derived from a protein
The branch of botany that deals with fungi. Globular protein closely related to hemoglobin
and located in the vertebrate muscle.
Mycorrhiza
Greek Myomere
myco- (mukes) fungi Greek
-rhiza root myo- muscle
Mutualistic relationship between fungi and plants. -meros part
A muscle segment of successive segmental trunk
Myelin
musculature.
Greek
myel- (muelos) bone marrow Myometrium
-in protein or derived from a protein Greek
A white fatty (lipid and lipoprotein) substance myo- muscle
that is found in the medulla of long bones and also -metra- uterus
forms the insular layer of axons. -ium quality or relationship
The smooth muscular layer lining the female uterus.
Myelodysplasia
Greek Myonecrosis
myel- (muelos) bone marrow Greek
-dys- painful, difficult, disordered, impaired, myo- muscle
defective, ill -necro- death
-plasia (plassein) something molded; to mold -sis action, process, state, condition
Abnormal or defective (poor or bad) formation of Death of muscle tissue.
the spinal cord.
Myopia
Myocardium Greek
Greek muein- close to the eyes
myo- muscle -ops eye, optic
-kard- heart, pertaining to the heart The condition of nearsightedness, where distant
-ium quality or relationship objects appear blurred.
Specialized muscular tissue of the heart.
Myosin
Myocyte Greek
Greek myo- muscle
myo- muscle -in protein or derived from a protein
-cyte (kutos) sac or bladder that contains fluid Protein made up of a chain of polypeptides that
Contractile cell (pinacocyte) in sponges. forms filaments in smooth muscle fibrils.
Myofibril Myotome
Greek Greek
myo- muscle myo- muscle
-fibrilla small fiber -tomos (temnein) to cut, incise, section
Small part of a muscle fiber. A voluntary muscle segment in cephalochordates
and vertebrates; that part of a somite destined to
form muscles; the muscle group innervated by a
single spinal nerve.
Nadir Natural
Arabic Latin
nazara to watch or see natura- nature
The point of the celestial sphere directly under -al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
the observer; the opposite of zenith. or character of
Of or pertaining to nature; that which occurs by
Naphtha
chance or within the framework of natural design.
Greek
naphtha a flammable liquid issuing from the Nausea
earth Greek
A class of several volatile and flammable liquid nausie seasickness
mixtures of hydrocarbons that are distilled from A feeling of sickness in the stomach character-
petroleum, coal tar, and/or natural gases. ized by an urge to vomit.
Nasal Navel
Latin Old English
nas- nose nafela central point
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form The notch on the surface of the abdomen where
or character of the umbilical cord is attached during gestation.
Of, in, or relating to the nose.
Nebula
Nascent Latin
Latin nebula cloud or mist
nasc- born A diffuse mass of interstellar dust or gas or both,
-escent becoming visible as luminous patches or areas of darkness
In the act of being formed, coming into existence, depending on the way the mass absorbs or
forming. reflects incident radiation.
Nasopharynx Necrobiosis
Latin Greek
nasus- nose necro- death
-pharunx throat -bios- life, living organisms, or tissue
The part of the pharynx above the soft palate that -sis action, process, state, condition
is continuous with the nasal passages. The degeneration and death of the body’s cells
from natural processes.
 Nephric 135

Necrocoenosis A rare element that is a colorless, odorless, inert

Greek gas and that forms a very small part of the air.
necro- death
Neoplasia
-koinos- shared
Greek
-sis action, process, state, condition
neos- new, recent
An assemblage of dead organisms
-plas- something made, molded, or formed
Necrophagia -ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing
Greek plurals
necro- death The transformation of a cell into a cancer cell.
-phagos (phagein) to eat, eating
Neoplasm
Feeding on the flesh of dead animals.
Greek
Nectobenthos neos- new, recent
Greek -plastos (plassein) something molded; to mold
necto- swim An abnormal growth of new tissue in plants or
-benthos deep; the fauna and flora of the bottom animals; a tumor.
of the sea
Neopterygian
Swimming off the seabed.
Greek
Nektonic neos- new, recent
Greek -pteryx- fin
nekto- swimming -ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of plurals
Describes numerous groups of marine and freshwa- Any of a large group of bony fishes that includes
ter organisms capable of swimming against strong most modern species.
currents; these groups range from plankton to whales.
Neoteny
Nematic Greek
Greek neos- new, recent
nemat- thread, that which is spun -teinein to extend
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of An evolutionary process by which an organism
Refers to liquid crystals that have molecules produces a descendant that reaches sexual matu-
arranged in loosely parallel lines. rity while retaining a morphology characteristic
of the pre-adult or larval stage of an ancestor.
Nematicide
Greek Neotropical
nemat- thread, that which is spun Greek
-cide (caedere) to cut, kill, hack at, or strike neos- new, recent
A type of pesticide that kills nematodes (micro- -tropikos the tropics
scopic wormlike organisms that live in soil and Of, pertaining to, or designating a zoogeographi-
cause damage to food crops). cal realm that includes Central and South Amer-
ica and the adjacent islands.
Nematocyst
Greek Nephelometer
nemat- thread, that which is spun Greek
-cyst (kustis) sac or bladder that contains fluid nephele- cloud
Barbed harpoon within a cnidocyte of a cnidarian -meter (metron) instrument or means of measuring;
that is used to spear prey. to measure
An instrument that determines the concentration
Nematoda
of suspended matter in a liquid dispersion by
Greek
measuring the amount of light that is scattered by
nemat- thread, that which is spun
the dispersion.
-oeid shape, form, resembling
An order of worms having long, round, and gen- Nephric
erally smooth bodies. Greek
nephros- kidney
Neon
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Greek
Relating to or connected with a kidney.
neon new
136 Nephridium

Nephridium Neurilemma
Greek Greek
nephros- kidney neur- nerve, cord
-id state, condition; having, being, pertaining to nervus- sinew, tendon
-ium quality or relationship -eilema veil, sheath
A tubular, glandular excretory organ characteris- A very delicate sheathlike covering of a nerve fiber.
tic of various coelomate invertebrates.
Neurilemmitis
Nephritis Greek
Greek neur- nerve, cord
nephros- kidney nervus- sinew, tendon
-itis inflammation, burning sensation -eilema- veil, sheath
A variety of diseases causing chronic or acute -itis inflammation, burning sensation
inflammation of the kidneys. Inflammation of the neurilemma.
Nephrolithotomy Neurilemmoma
Greek Greek
nephros- kidney neur- nerve, cord
-lithso- stone, rock nervus- sinew, tendon
-tomos (temnein) to cut, incise, section -eilema- veil, sheath
Incision made into the kidney for removal of stones. -oma tumor
Tumor of the peripheral nerve.
Nephrology
Greek Neurilemmosarcoma
nephros- kidney Greek
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or neur- nerve, cord
bodies of knowledge nervus- sinew, tendon
The science that deals with the kidneys, espe- -eilema- veil, sheath
cially their functions or diseases. -sarko- flesh, meat
-oma tumor
Nephropexy
A malignant neurilemma.
Greek
nephros- kidney Neuroglia
-pexy fixing of a specified part; attaching to, a Greek
fastening neur- nerve, cord
Surgical fixation of a floating or mobile kidney. nervus- sinew, tendon
-glia glue
Nephrosis
Tissue supporting and filling the spaces between
Greek
the nerve cells of the central nervous system.
nephros- kidney
-sis action, process, state, condition Neurology
A noninflammatory disease of the kidneys that Greek
chiefly affects the function of the nephrons. neur- nerve, cord
nervus- sinew, tendon
Nephrostome
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or
Greek
bodies of knowledge
nephros- kidney
Branch of science that deals with the study of the
-stoma mouth
nervous system.
Ciliated, funnel-shaped opening of a nephridium.
Neuromast
Neuralgia
Greek
Greek
neur- nerve, cord
neur- nerve, cord
nervus- sinew, tendon
nervus- sinew, tendon
-mastos knoll, breast
-algia pain, sense of pain; painful, hurting
Cluster of sense cells on or near the surface of a
Acute pain radiating along the course of one or
fish or amphibian that is sensitive to vibratory
more nerves.
stimuli and to water current.
 Nodule 137

Neuron Relating to the nutrition and metabolism of tis-

Greek/Latin sues under the influence of nerves.
neur- nerve, cord
Neutral
nervus- sinew, tendon
Greek
-on a particle
neutr- neither one nor the other
A cell in the nervous system that is specialized to
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
conduct nerve impulses, allowing different parts
or character of
of the body to communicate.
In chemistry, a solution that is neither acidic nor
Neuropeptide basic, having a pH of 7.0.
Greek
Neutralization
neur- nerve, cord
Greek
nervus- sinew, tendon
neutr- neither one nor the other
-peptos- digestion, able to digest
-ation state, process, or quality of
-ide group of related chemical compounds
In chemistry, the process of combining an acid
Any of various short-chain peptides found in
and a base, thus canceling the properties of both
brain tissue, such as endorphins.
and producing a salt and water.
Neuropodium
Neutron
Greek
Greek
neur- nerve, cord
neutr- neither one nor the other
nervus- sinew, tendon
-on a particle
-podos foot
An uncharged elementary particle that has a mass
Lobe of the parapodium nearer the ventral side in
nearly equal to that of the proton and is present in all
polychaete annelids.
known atomic nuclei except for the hydrogen nucleus.
Neuroptera
Neutrophil
Greek
Greek
neur- nerve, cord
neutr- neither one nor the other
nervus- sinew, tendon
-phile one who loves or has a strong affinity or
-ptera feather, wing
preference for
Insect order for dobsonflies, ant lions, and lace-
An abundant type of granular white blood cell
wings, having four net-veined wings.
that is highly destructive of microorganisms; it
Neurotoxin can be stained readily by neutral dyes.
Greek
Niche
neur- nerve, cord
Middle French
nervus- sinew, tendon
nicher to nest
-tox- poison
The ecological role of an organism in a commu-
-in protein or derived from a protein
nity, especially in regard to food consumption.
A toxin that can damage nerve tissue.
Nimbus
Neurotransmitter
Latin
Greek/Latin
nimbus cloud
neur- nerve, cord
Low, gray rain clouds.
nervus- sinew, tendon
-trans- across Nocturnal
-mittere to send Latin
Chemical substance released from the end of a neu- nocturnes- night
ron during the propagation of a nerve impulse, in -al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
order to transmit or pass a signal to another nerve cell. or character of
Relating to, pertaining to, or occurring at night.
Neurotrophic
Greek Nodule
neur- nerve, cord Latin
nervus- sinew, tendon nodus knot
-trophos- (trophein) to nourish, food, nutrition; -ulus small one
development A small, knoblike outgrowth, such as those found
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of on the roots of many leguminous plants.
138 Nomenclature

Nomenclature or character of
Latin -ine a chemical substance
nom- (nemein) to dictate the laws of; knowledge; A hormone that acts directly on specific receptors
usage; order to stimulate the sympathetic nervous system.
-calator servant, crier
Norepinephrine
A system of names used in an art or science; the
Greek
procedure of assigning names to kinds and groups
nor- anti or not
of organisms in a taxonomic classification.
epi- above, over, on, upon
Nondisjunction -nephros- kidneys
Latin -ine a chemical substance
non- not, lack of An endogenous adrenal hormone and synthetic
-jungere to join adrenergic vasoconstrictor; this hormone con-
The failure of paired chromosomes to separate stricts blood vessels and raises blood pressure.
during cell mitosis.
Normal
Nonideal Latin
Greek norma- carpenter’s square
non- not, lack of -al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
idea- a plan, scheme, notion, or method or character of
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form A perpendicular, especially a perpendicular to a
or character of line tangent, to a plane curve, to a plane tangent,
Pertains to a gas described by an equation of state or to a space curve.
of the form pV ⫽ znRT, where z is the gas devia-
Notochord
tion factor, which depends on pressure, tempera-
Greek
ture, and gas composition.
noton- back
Nonpolar -khorde gut, string of a musical instrument
Greek A flexible rodlike structure that forms the main
non- not, lack of support of the body in the lowest chordates, such
-polos- either of two oppositely charged termi- as the lancelet; a primitive backbone.
nals, axis, sky
Notopodium
-ar relating to or resembling
Greek
Refers to a substance that does not ionize when
noton- back
combined with water.
-podos- foot
Nonvascular -ium quality or relationship
Latin Lobe of a parapodium nearest the dorsal side in
non- not, lack of polychaete annelids.
-vasculum- vessel
Nucleic (acids)
-ar relating to or resembling
Latin
Lacking a vascular system for the transport of
nucula- kernel, little nut
nutrients throughout a plant.
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Nonvolatile A group of very large organic compounds impor-
Latin tant to the synthesis of protein molecules within
non- not, lack of cells. DNA and RNA are the two most widely
-volare- to fly known nucleic acids.
-ile changing, ability, suitable, tending to
Nucleolus
Pertains to that which does not readily evaporate
Latin
at room temperature and pressure.
nucula- kernel, little nut
Noradrenaline -lus thing
Latin A small, typically round granular body composed
nor- anti or not of protein and RNA, and found in the nucleus of a
ad- to, a direction toward, addition to, near cell. It is usually associated with a specific chro-
-ren- the kidneys mosomal site and involved in ribosomal RNA
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form synthesis and in the formation of ribosomes.

The Einstein-Szilard Letter
Months after the discovery of uranium fission in
1939, a Hungarian-born Jewish American physicist
named Leo Szilard grew very concerned about the
skepticism of American scientists that atomic
energy from fission could be used for much of any-
thing, let alone an atomic bomb. His fear was com-
pounded by the fact that he and others believed
Nazi Germany was working on a program to
develop atomic weaponry. His suspicions were
aroused by the discontinuation of uranium ore sales
from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia.
If he was to persuade the Americans to begin a
program of their own before it was too late, he had
to convince President Roosevelt himself. Szilard
sought the help of perhaps the best-known scien-
tist in the world, Albert Einstein. Szilard, like Ein-
stein, had fled Nazi Germany and come to
America.
Szilard drafted a letter and took it to Einstein,
who signed it and agreed to have it delivered to the
president. Einstein was a pacifist, but he knew that
if the Nazis had sole possession of such a weapon,
it would mean defeat for the Allies in the coming
war.
In the Einstein-Szilard letter, the scientists con-
tended
This new phenomenon would also lead to
the construction of bombs, and it is conceiv-
able—though much less certain—that extremely
powerful bombs of a new type may thus be
constructed. A single bomb of this type, car-
ried by boat and exploded in a port, might very
well destroy the whole port together with
some of the surrounding territory. However,
Nucleonics
Latin
nucula- kernel, little nut
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
The science that deals with the study of the
nucleus of atoms.
Nucleophile
Latin
nucula- kernel, little nut
-phile one who loves or has a strong affinity or
preference for
A chemical compound or group that tends to
donate or share electrons.
Nucleoplasm
Latin/Greek
nucula- kernel, little nut
-plasm (plassein) to mold or form cells or tissues
Nucleotide 139
such bombs might very well prove to be too
heavy for transportation by air.
In the letter reprinted below, President
Roosevelt gives his response.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
October 19, 1939
My dear Professor:
I want to thank you for your recent letter and the most interesting and important enclosure.
I found this data of such import that I have convened a Board consisting of the head of the
Bureau of Standards and a chosen representative of the Army and Navy to thoroughly
investigate the possibilities of your suggestion regarding the element of uranium.
I am glad to say that Dr. Sachs will cooperate and work with this Committee and I feel this is
the most practical and effective method of dealing with the subject.
Please accept my sincere thanks.
Dr. Albert Einstein,
Old Grove Road,
Nassau Point,
Poconic, Long Island,
New York
This newly appointed “Uranium Board” had a
limited scope of action and an extremely limited
budget. Little to no action was taken toward the
development of the atomic bomb until December 6,
1941, the day before the attack on Pearl Harbor by
the Japanese. It was then that a large-scale research
effort called the Manhattan Project began the pro-
cess ultimately leading to the development of the
atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, in
August 1945.
Protoplasm of a nucleus, as distinguished from
cytoplasm.
Nucleosome
Latin/Greek
nucula- kernel, little nut
-soma (somatiko) body
Any one of the repeating nucleoprotein units
consisting of histones forming a complex with
DNA.
Nucleotide
Latin
nucula- kernel, little nut
-ide nonmetal radical
Chemical compounds consisting of a heterocy-
clic base combined with a sugar and one or more
phosphate groups to form the basic structural
units of DNA and RNA.
140 Nucleus

Nucleus Nyctalopia
Latin Greek
nucula- kernel, little nut nukt- night
-us thing -alaos- blind
In biology, a large, membrane-bound structure -opia sight, eye
within a living cell, containing the cell’s hereditary Night blindness.
material and controlling its metabolism, growth,
Nyctanthous
and reproduction. In chemistry, the positively
Greek
charged central portion of an atom that comprises
nukt- night
nearly all of the atomic mass and that consists of
-anthous flower
protons and neutrons—except in hydrogen, which
Describes plants that bloom or flower in the
consists of one proton only. In astronomy, the com-
evening, such as jasmine.
pact central core of a galaxy, often containing pow-
erful radio, x-ray, and infrared sources.
Nutrient
Latin
nutrire- to suckle, nourish
-ent causing an action, being in a specific state, within
A source of nourishment or food.
Observation Octahedron
Latin Greek
ob- toward, against, before octa- eight
-serv- to serve -hedron face
-ation action, process, state, or condition A Platonic solid with eight faces.
Any use of the senses to gather information.
Octet
Obstetrics Italian
Latin/Greek oct- eight
ob- toward, against, before -(du)et group
-statos- standing, stay; make firm, fixed, balanced A set of eight valence electrons forming a stable
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of configuration.
The branch of medicine that deals with the care of
Octomerous
women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the
Greek
recuperative period following delivery.
oct- eight
Occipital -meros part
Latin Having eight parts; specifically, eightfold symmetry.
ob- toward, against, before
Oculomotor
-caput- head
Latin
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
oculus- eye, sight
or character of
-movere move
Of or pertaining to the back part of the skull; the
Moving or tending to move the eyeball.
occipital bone.
Odometer
Occlude
Greek
Latin
hodos- journey, way
occludere up close
-meter (metron) instrument or means of measuring;
To absorb and retain gases or other substances.
to measure
Occult A mechanical or digital device used to record dis-
Latin tance traveled.
occulere to cover over
In medicine, a substance detectable only by micro-
scopic examination.
142 Odonata

Odonata Oligoclase
Greek Greek
odontas toothed oligos- little, few
An order of medium-to-large insects with elon- -klastos- break, break in pieces
gated, slender abdomens; dragonflies and damsel- -sis action, process, state, condition
flies. Dragonflies hold wings horizontally when at Any of a class of common rocks forming series of
rest, have thick bodies, and are active fliers. Dam- triclinic feldspars.
selflies hold wings vertically when at rest, have
Oligomer
slender bodies, and are less agile in flight.
Greek
Odontoid oligos- little, few
Greek -mer segment
odontas- toothed A polymer that consists of two, three, or four
-oid (oeides) resembling, having the appearance of monomers.
Resembling a tooth; the odontoid process of the
Oligosaccharide
axis bone.
Greek
Oestrus oligos- little or few
Greek -sakkhar- sugar
oistros having strong desire; anything that drives -ide nonmetal radical
one mad; frenzy A carbohydrate that consists of a relatively small
The period during which the sexual desire and number of monosaccharides.
attractions of the female may be heightened, lead-
Olivine
ing to copulation.
Latin (from Greek)
Olefin oliva- (Latin) color olive green
French elaia- (Greek) olive green
oleum- oil -ine made of, resembling
-fier form, cause to become A mineral silicate of iron and magnesium found
Any of a class of unsaturated open-chain hydro- in igneous and metamorphic rocks.
carbons having the general formula CnH2n.
Ommatidium
Olein Greek
Latin omma- eye
oleum- oil -idium small
-in natural chemical compound One of the optical units of the compound eye of
An oily, yellow liquid occurring in animal and arthropods and mollusks.
vegetable oil.
Omnivore
Olfaction Latin
Latin omnis- all
olfacere- smell -vorare to devour
-ion state, process, or quality of An organism that consumes a variety of plant and
The process of smelling. animal material.
Oligocene Oncogene
Greek Greek
oligos- little, few onco- mass, bulk, swelling
-kainos recent -gen to give birth, kind, produce
An epoch of the Early Tertiary period, spanning A gene in which mutation induces neoplasia
the time between 33.7 and 23.8 million years ago. (cancer).
Oligochaeta Oncosphere
Greek Greek
oligos- little, few onkinos- a hook
-chaite long hair -sphaira ball
Any of a class of hermaphrodite terrestrial or Rounded larva that is common to all cestodes and
aquatic annelids (such as earthworms) that lack a that bears hooks.
specialized head.
 Opisthaptor 143

Ontogeny wose muddy ground

Greek Soft mud or slime.
onto- a being, individual; being, existence
Opacity
-geny birth, descent, origin, creation, inception,
Latin
beginning; race, sort, kind, class
opacus- shady
The course of development of an individual
-ity state of, quality of
organism. The history or science of the develop-
The quality or state of being opaque.
ment of the individual being; embryology.
Opaque
Oocyst
Latin
Greek
opacus shady
oion- egg
Impenetrable by light; neither transparent or
-cyst (kustis) sac or bladder that contains fluid
translucent.
Cyst that forms around a zyogote of malaria and
related organisms. Operator
Latin
Oocyte
operare- to work
Greek
-or a condition or property of things or persons
oion- egg
A genetic unit that regulates the transcription of
-cyte (kutos) sac or bladder that contains fluid
structural genes in its operon.
Stage in the formation of an ovum, just preceding the
first meiotic division (primary oocyte) or just follow- Operculum
ing the first meiotic division (secondary oocyte). Latin
operire to cover
Oogenesis
A lid or flap covering an aperture, such as the gill
Greek
covers in some fish.
oion- egg
-gen- to give birth, kind, produce Operon
-sis action, process, state, condition Latin
The formation, development, and maturation of an oper- operator
ovum. -on heredity unit
A unit of genetic material that functions in a coor-
Ookinete
dinated manner by means of an operator, a pro-
Greek
moter, and one or more structural genes that are
oion- egg
transcribed together.
-kinein to move
The motile zygote of malaria organisms. Ophthalmology
Greek
Oolemma
ophthalmos- eye; sight
Greek
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or
oion- egg
bodies of knowledge
-eilema veil, sheath
The branch of medicine that deals with the anat-
The plasma membrane of the oocyte.
omy, functions, pathology, and treatment of the eye.
Oology
Ophthalmopathy
Greek
Greek
oion- egg
ophthalmos- eye; sight
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or
-patheia disease; feeling, sensation, perception
bodies of knowledge
The study of the diseases of the eye and associ-
The branch of biology that deals with the study of
ated tissue.
eggs.
Opisthaptor
Oophoritis
Greek
Greek
opistho- backward, behind, at the back, after,
oophor- ovary, egg
posterior
-itis inflammation, burning sensation
-haptein- to fasten
Inflammation of an ovary.
-or a condition or property of things or persons
Ooze The posterior attachment organ of a monogenetic
Middle English trematode.
144 Opisthognathous

Opisthognathous
Greek Johannes Kepler
opistho- backward, behind, at the back, after, It had been well over 1500 years since
posterior the first and perhaps only major para-
-gnathos jaw digm in science had swept the Western
With the head deflexed such that the mouthparts world. Now the paradigm was about to
are directed posteriorly, as in the insect order shift. A bold new group of thinkers had
Hemiptera. emerged in Europe to challenge the
Opsonin accepted theories and to lay the founda-
Greek tion for a more progressive approach to
opson- a relish science (a newly coined word) and
-in protein or derived from a protein experimentation. The scientific revolu-
Type of antibody in blood serum that weakens tion was about to begin.
bacteria and other foreign cells so that the phago- Johannes Kepler, born in Germany on
cytes can destroy them more easily. December 27, 1571, was one of the first
to question contemporary thinking. He
Optic wrote, “Geometry existed before the
Greek Creation. It is co-eternal with the mind of
optikos- visable God. . . . Geometry is God himself.”
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of Even as a child, Kepler was gifted and
Referring to vision or the science of optics or lenses. outspoken. He studied religion, mathe-
Orbital matics, and philosophy at a Protestant
Latin seminary school. In his relatively seques-
orbita- orbit tered life, he pondered the relationship
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form between God and the natural world. He
or character of looked for mathematical evidence of har-
Refers to the wave function of an electron in an mony between the eternal and the natu-
atom or molecule. ral. One might even describe him as a
patron of Pythagoras. For a time he
Organ believed in the Platonic solids as a frame-
Greek work for the orbits of the planets.
organon- organized structure; pertaining to a par- The number of known planets in
ticular body part with a specific function(s); tool, Kepler’s time was six. To Kepler, the
implement nagging question was, why only six?
The aggregation of various tissues into a specific Why not more? He struggled with the
structure designed to carry out some biological explanation of the distances between the
function within a multicellular organism. planets according to Copernicus. He
Organelle spent years trying to formulate a reason-
Greek/Latin able explanation of the data on planetary
organon- organized structure; pertaining to a par- positions that he had obtained from
ticular body part with a specific function(s); tool, Tycho Brahe. He wanted to develop an
implement experimental approach to studying plan-
-elle diminutive etary design, but he needed baseline data.
Specialized part of a cell; literally, a small organ He brilliantly determined that by using
that performs functions analogous to those of the sun and the orbital period of Mars, he
organs of multicellular animals. could produce data establishing that the
orbital path of Mars was not circular. To
Organic
Kepler, such disharmony was very unset-
Greek
tling, but he clearly demonstrated that
organon- organized structure; pertaining to a par-
the order and perfection of the heavens,
ticular body part with a specific function(s); tool,
as described by the Greeks, was more
implement
myth than fact.
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Of or pertaining to compounds containing carbon.
 Orthoptera 145

Organism Orogeny
Greek Greek/French
organon- organized structure; pertaining to a par- oros- mountain
ticular body part with a specific function(s); tool, -gen- to give birth, kind, produce
implement -y place for an activity; condition, state
-ism state or condition, quality The formation of mountains through plate tectonics.
An individual living animal or plant able to carry
Oropharynx
on life functions through mutually dependent
Greek
systems and organs.
or- mouth
Organogenesis -pharynx cavity leading from the mouth and
Greek/Latin nasal passages to the larynx
organon- organized structure; pertaining to a par- The part of the pharynx that extends from the
ticular body part with a specific function(s); tool, mouth to the larynx.
implement
Orpiment
-gen- to give birth, kind, produce
Latin
-sis action, process, state, condition
aurum- gold or yellow
The formation and development of the organs of
-pigmentum pigment
living things.
A bright yellow mineral, arsenic trisulfide, that is
Organosol used as a pigment.
Greek
Orthoclase
organon- organized structure; pertaining to a par-
Greek
ticular body part with a specific function(s); tool,
ortho- straight, true, correct, right
implement
-klasis to break
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
A variety of feldspar, essentially potassium alu-
-ol chemical additive
minum silicate, or KAlSi3O8, characterized by a
A colloidal dispersion in which an organic disper-
monoclinic crystalline structure and found in
sion medium is used.
igneous or granitic rock.
Orientation
Orthogenesis
Latin
Greek
orient- to adjust
ortho- straight, true, correct, right
-ion state, process, or quality of
-gen- to give birth, kind, produce
Change of position by organs, organelles, or
-sis action, process, state, condition
organisms in response to external stimulus.
The idea that the evolutionary path of a lineage
Orifice can acquire a trend that carries it in a continuous
Latin direction; directional selection.
or- mouth
Orthopedics
-ficium a making, doing
Greek
An opening to a cavity or to a body; mouth.
ortho- straight, true, correct, right
Ornithodelphia -paideia- child rearing
Greek -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
ornis- bird The branch of medicine that deals with the pre-
-delphys- womb vention or correction of injuries or disorders of
-ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing the skeletal system and associated muscles,
plurals joints, and ligaments.
Infraclass of monotreme mammals.
Orthoptera
Ornithology Greek
Greek ortho- straight, true, correct, right
ornis- bird -ptera feather, wing
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or An order of mandibulate insects including grass-
bodies of knowledge hoppers, locusts, and cockroaches; insects with
The branch of zoology dealing with the scientific greatly enlarged hind legs with forewings modi-
study of birds and their structure, classification, fied into a tegmen.
habits, songs, and flight.
146 Oscillate

Oscillate -ion state, process, or quality of

Latin The natural process of forming bone from soft tis-
os- mouth sue, including cartilage and membranous tissue.
-cillum to swing
Osteichthyes
To vary between alternate extremes, usually
Greek
within a definable period of time.
osteon- bone
Osculum -ichthus fish
Latin A class of fish having a skeleton composed of
os- mouth bone in addition to cartilage.
-culum diminutive, little
Osteoarthropathy
Excurrent opening in a sponge.
Greek
Osmiridium osteon- bone
English -arthr- joint
osme- from the smell of osmium tetroxide -patheia disease, feeling, sensation, perception
-irid- rainbow A disorder affecting bones and joints.
-ium quality or relationship
Osteoblast
A mineral that is a natural alloy of osmium and
Greek
iridium, with small inclusions of platinum, rhod-
osteon- bone
ium, and other metals.
-blastos bud, germ cell
Osmium Cells that help create bone by facilitating the
Greek deposit of minerals.
osme- smell from the smell of osmium tetroxide
Osteoclast
-ium quality or relationship
Greek
A hard metallic element found in small amounts
osteon- bone
in osmiridium and platinum ores.
-klastos break, break in pieces
Osmosis A large, multinucleate cell found in growing bone
Greek that reabsorbs bony tissue, as in the formation of
osmos- thrust, push canals and cavities.
-osis action, process, state, condition
Osteocyte
Diffusion of fluid through a semipermeable
Greek
membrane from a solution with a low solute con-
osteon- bone
centration to a solution with a higher solute con-
-cyte (kutos) sac or bladder that contains fluid
centration, until there is an equal concentration of
A cell embedded in a bone.
fluid on both sides of the membrane.
Osteology
Osmotic
Greek
Greek
osteon- bone
osmos- thrust, push
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
bodies of knowledge
Relating to the diffusion of a fluid through a
Part of anatomy dealing with the study of the
semipermeable member until there is equal con-
structure, development, and function of bones.
centration on both sides of the membrane.
Osteopathy
Osmotroph
Greek
Greek
osteon- bone
osmos- thrust, push
-patheia disease, feeling, sensation, perception
-trophos (trophein) to nourish, food, nutrition;
Disease involving the bones.
development
A heterotrophic organism that absorbs dissolved Osteoporosis
nutrients. Greek
osteon- bone
Ossification
-poros- a passage
Latin
-sis action, process, state, condition
oss- bone
A disease in which the bones become porous.
-ify- (ficus) make, or cause to become

Antoine Lavoisier
Antoine Lavoisier is considered by many to be the
father of modern chemistry. That title, however,
was not enough to save him from the guillotine in
1794. He was born in Paris, France, on August 26,
1743, to a family of wealth and privilege. Lavoisier
never endeared himself to the public. He worked
for a time as a tax collector in Paris. Clearly, he was
in the wrong profession at the wrong time. Nothing
he did scientifically could make up for the aristo-
cratic persona Lavoisier projected in the earlier
years of his life. Thus, when he made his final
appeal to the judge in the French court, the judge’s
response was simply “the Revolution has no need
of scientists.” He was taken out and executed along
with many others, including his father-in-law, who
was executed right before him.
Antoine Lavoisier was a remarkable chemist. He
was one of the first to quantify chemistry, that is, to
assign numbers to chemicals and to chemical reac-
tions. The law of conservation of matter was a direct
result of Lavoisier’s experiments. By carefully
weighing both reactants and products, he demon-
strated that the mass of the end products of a chem-
ical reaction is equal to the mass of the reactants.
Prior to the work of Lavoisier, there had only
been discussion of the possibility of the existence of
compounds. By his clever quantification of chemical
reactions, Lavoisier was able to prove that elements
Ostium
Latin
os- mouth
-ium quality or relationship
Name given to any small opening in an organism;
mouthlike opening in organisms; one of the small
porelike openings in sponges.
Otodynia
Greek
ot- ear; relationship to the ear
-dynia pain
Pain in the ear; earache.
Otolith
Greek
ot- ear; relationship to the ear
-lithos stone, rock
Calcerous concretions in the membranous laby-
rinth of the inner ear of lower vertebrates or in the
auditory organ of certain vertebrates.
Outcrop
Old English
Oviger 147
do, in fact, combine to form compounds. Lavoisier
was the first to prove that water was a compound
composed of the elements hydrogen and oxygen. He
also demonstrated that the ratio of hydrogen to oxy-
gen is 2 to 1. Lavoisier’s Elementary Treatise of
Chemistry, published in 1789, was considered by
many to be the first chemistry textbook. It encapsu-
lated in an integrated perspective a modern approach
to chemistry and chemical analysis. In addition to
creating a chemical nomenclature and discounting
previously accepted chemical theories, such as the
phlogiston theory of matter, he introduced in his
writings a significant group of chemicals that could
not be broken down further. Those chemicals are
many of the elements we are familiar with today.
All this and more could not save him. His country
was in turmoil, and the French Revolution turned
even more violent in its latter stages. When Lavoisier
was arrested and brought to court, no one stood in his
defense. His peers and closest friends, who knew he
was innocent of the serious charges brought against
him, did nothing and said nothing. Everyone feared
for their own lives. The terror that was the French
Revolution struck such fear in the hearts of men that
they allowed the innocent to go down with the guilty.
A very short year and a half later, the French
government exonerated Lavoisier of all guilt. Too
little and far too late.
ut- away from the center or middle
-crop to appear on the surface
A portion of bedrock or other stratum protruding
through the soil level.
Ovary
Latin
ovum- egg
-ary of, relating to, or connected with
The ovule-bearing lower part of a pistil that rip-
ens into a fruit.
Ovicide
Latin
ovum-egg
-cide (caedere) to cut, kill, hack at, or strike
A type of pesticide that controls insect eggs
through the application of low-sulfur petroleum
oils to plants and animals.
Oviger
Greek
ovum- egg
-gerere to bear
Leg that carries eggs in pycnogonids.
148 Ovine

Ovine A minute structure in seed plants that develops

Latin into a seed after fertilization.
ov- sheep
Ovum
-ine of or relating to
Latin
Refers to sheep.
ov- egg
Ovipositor -um (singular) structure
Latin -a (plural) structure
ovum- egg Plural ova; female gamete before fertilization.
-pos- to place
Oxalate
-or a condition or property of things or persons,
French/Latin
person who does something
oxal- a derivative of oxalic acid, found in plants
Organ of female insects through which eggs are laid.
-ate meaning the salt or ester of the root acid
Ovoviviparity C2O4, the ion of oxalic acid Na2C2O4, salt of
Latin oxalic acid.
ovum- egg
Oxidation
-vivi- life, alive
French
-parity to bring forth, to bear, producing viable
oxide- a binary compound of an element or a rad-
offspring, giving birth to
ical with oxygen
Retention of the developing fertilized egg within
-ion state, process, or quality of
the mother; a form of viviparity in which there is
A reaction in which the atoms in an element lose elec-
no nutrition of hatched young.
trons and the valence of the element is correspond-
Ovulation ingly increased (originally, this was considered to
Latin be the combination of a substance with oxygen).
ovum- egg
Oxygen
-ation action, process, state, or condition
Latin/Greek
The process of releasing the ovum from the ovary.
oxus- acid, sharp
Ovule -gen to give birth, kind, produce
Latin A nonmetallic element constituting 21% of the atmo-
ovum- egg sphere by volume that occurs as a diatomic gas, O2,
-ule little, small and in many compounds such as water and iron ore.
Palate Paleozoic
Greek/Latin Greek
pal- flat palaois- ancient, old
-ate characterized by having -zoikos- of animals
In mammals, the roof of the mouth. The bony -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
front part is the hard palate, and the muscular rear The second oldest division of geologic time; an
part is the soft palate. era of geologic time from the end of the Precam-
brian to the beginning of the Mesozoic.
Paleoanthropology
Greek Palpitate
palaois- ancient, old Latin
-anthropo- human palpare- to feel
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or -ate characterized by having
bodies of knowledge To beat rapidly, as the heart.
The study of fossils belonging to the genus Homo
Pandemic
(e.g., Homo erectus).
Greek
Paleocene pan- all
Greek/Latin -demos- the people
palaois- ancient, old -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
-recens recent An epidemic over a large region.
The earliest epoch of the Tertiary period, spanning
Paracentesis
the time between 65 and 55.5 million years ago.
Greek
Paleontology para- beyond
Greek -cente- puncture
palaois- ancient, old -sis action, process, state, condition
-ontos- having existed The process of aspirating a cavity.
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or
Paradox
bodies of knowledge
Greek
The study of the forms of life existing in prehis-
para- beyond
toric or geologic times, as represented by the fos-
-doxa explanation
sils of plants, animals, and other organisms.
A seemingly contradictory statement that may
nonetheless be true.
150 Paraffin

Paraffin para- beside; near; alongside

Latin -sitos- grain, food
parum- little, not very -ism state or condition, quality
-affinis associated with The condition of an organism living in or on another
A member of the alkane series. organism at whose expense the parasite is maintained.
Parallax Parasitology
Greek Greek
para- beside; near; alongside para- beside; near; alongside
-allos other -sitos- grain, food
The apparent change in the position of an object -logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or
resulting from the change in the direction or posi- bodies of knowledge
tion from which it is viewed. A branch of science that deals with parasites and
parasitism.
Parallel
Greek Parathyroid
para- beside; near; alongside Greek
-allos one another para- beside; near; alongside
Extending in the same direction; everywhere equi- -thureos- oblong shield; door
distant and not meeting. -oid (oeides) resembling, having the appearance of
Four small kidney-shaped glands located later-
Paralysis
ally and posteriorly to the thyroid glands in the
Greek
neck; they secrete the parathyroid hormone.
para- beside; near; alongside
-luein- to release Parenchyma
-sis action, process, state, condition Greek
The loss of either sensation or movement or both para- beside; near; alongside
on a part of the body, usually as a result of injury. -enchyma infusion
Least specialized of all plant cell or tissue types.
Paramagnetic
Greek Parietal
para- beside; near; alongside Latin
-magnes- stone from Magnesia (city in Asia Minor) pariet- wall
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of -al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
Relating to or being a substance in which an or character of
induced magnetic field is parallel and propor- In biology, refers to either the parietal bone of the
tional to the magnetizing field, but is much skull or the forming of a wall of a body part or
weaker than in ferromagnetic materials. organ.
Paramecium Parity
Greek Latin
para- beside; near; alongside par- equal
-mekos- length -ity state of, quality of
-ium quality or relationship An intrinsic symmetry property of subatomic par-
Freshwater species of the genus Paramecium that ticles that is characterized by the behavior of the
is typically long and narrow, with an oral groove wave function of such particles under reflection
on the side. through the origin of spatial coordinates.
Parasite Parotid
Greek Greek
para- beside; near; alongside par- by the side of, beside; associated, near
-sitos- grain, food -id state, condition; having, being, pertaining to,
-ite resident tending to, inclined to
An organism that grows, feeds, and is sheltered Pertaining to the salivary glands located on the
on or in a different organism while contributing side of the head near the ears.
nothing to the survival of its host.
Parotitis
Parasitism Greek
Greek
 Penicillin 151

par- by the side of, beside; associated, near Pedipalp

-itis inflammation Latin
Inflammation of the parotid glands, as in mumps. ped- foot
-palp, -palpi, -palpo to touch, stroke
Parsec (Parallax- second)
One of the second pair of appendages near the mouth
Greek
of a spider or other arachnid that are modified for var-
para- beside; near; alongside
ious reproductive, predatory, or sensory functions.
-allos- other
-sec (secundus) second Peduncle
A distance at which an object will have a parallax Latin
of one second of arc; 3.258 light years or 1.918 Þ ped- foot
1023 miles. -uncle little
A primary flower stalk, supporting either a clus-
Parthenogenesis
ter or a solitary flower.
Greek
parthenos- virgin Pelagic
-gen- to give birth, kind, produce Greek
-sis action, process, state, condition pelagikos- (pelagos) sea
A form of reproduction in which an unfertilized egg -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
develops into a new individual, occurring com- Of, relating to, or living in open oceans or seas rather
monly among insects and certain other arthropods. than in waters adjacent to land or in inland waters.
Particle Pellicle
Latin Latin
particula part pellicula husk
Any of the basic units of matter and energy. Thin, protective membrane in some protozoa.
Pathogenic Pelvis
Greek Latin
pathos- suffering, disease pelvis basin
-gen- to give birth, kind, produce A basin-shaped cavity at the base of the axial
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of skeleton formed by the fusion of six bones, the
Refers to an agent, typically a microbe that causes ileum, pubis, and the ischium.
disease or suffering.
Penetrometer
Pathology Latin
Greek penetr- inner or inside
pathos- suffering, disease -meter (metron) instrument or means of measur-
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or ing; to measure
bodies of knowledge An instrument designed to measure the density,
The science of disease formation, processes, compactness, and penetrability of a substance.
causes, and effects.
Penguin
Pediatrics Old Welsh
Greek pen- white
paideia- child rearing -gwyn head
-iasthai to heal Any of various erect, short-legged, flightless
The branch of medicine that deals with the care aquatic birds (family Spheniscidae) of the South-
of infants and children and the treatment of their ern Hemisphere.
diseases.
Penicillin
Pedigree Latin
French penicillus- brush
ped- foot -in protein or derived from protein
-de grue of crane (resembling a crane’s foot) Any of a group of broad-spectrum antibiotic drugs
A diagram that traces a trait through several fam- obtained from penicillium molds or produced syn-
ily generations. thetically; most active against gram-positive bac-
teria and used in the treatment of various
infections and diseases.
152 Pentahedron

Pentahedron Thin, membranous, fluid-secreting sac in the area

Greek around the heart.
penta- five
Pericarditis
-hedron face
Greek
A three-dimensional solid having five (plane) faces.
peri- around, about, enclosing
Pentamer -kard- heart, pertaining to the heart
Greek -itis inflammation, burning sensation
penta- five Inflammation of the tissue surrounding the heart.
-meros a part
Pericycle
A polymer consisting of five molecules.
Greek
Penumbra peri- around, about, enclosing
Latin -kyklos circle, wheel, cycle
paene- almost Thin tissue layer found in vascular plants; can
-umbra shadow produce lateral roots.
The outer, almost darkened part of a shadow cast
Peridotite
during an eclipse that lies between the completely
French
darkened area and the fully lit area.
peridot- a yellowish green variety of olivine used
Peptide as a gem
English -ite minerals and fossils
pept(one)- digested Any of a group of igneous rocks composed
-ide group of related chemical compounds mainly of olivine and various pyroxenes and hav-
Any of various natural compounds containing ing a granitelike texture.
two or more amino acids linked by the carboxyl
Perigee
group of one amino acid and the amino group of
French (from Greek)
another.
peri- around, about, enclosing
Peptize -ge earth, world
Greek The point nearest the earth’s center in the orbit of
pept(one)- digested a moon or satellite.
-ize to make, to treat, to do something with
Perihelion
To change a gel into a colloid solution form.
Greek
Percolate peri- around, about, enclosing
Latin -helios- sun
per- through, across -ion state, process, or quality of
-co- together, with The point along an orbit of a planet at which the
-late bear, carry planet is closest to the sun.
To cause a liquid to pass through spaces of a
Perimorph
porous material.
Greek
Perennial peri- around, about, enclosing
Latin -morph shape, form, figure, or appearance
per- through, across A mineral that encloses a different mineral.
-annus- year
Perineum
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
Greek
or character of
peri- around, about, enclosing
Refers to that which lasts year after year; a peren-
-inan to excrete
nial plant.
In females, the area between the anus and the vagina.
Pericardia
Period
Greek
Greek
peri- around, about, enclosing
peri- around, about, enclosing
-kard- heart, pertaining to the heart
-hodos journey, way
-ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing
The geological length of time.
plurals
 Phagocytosis 153

Periodic -oxy(s)- sharp, acid

Greek -soma (somatiko) body
peri- around, about, enclosing A cell organelle containing enzymes such as cat-
-hodos- journey, way alase and oxidase that catalyze the production
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of and breakdown of hydrogen peroxide.
Having or marked by repeated cycles.
Pesticide
Perissodactyla Latin
Greek pesti- plague, contagion
perissos- odd -cide (caedere) to cut, kill, hack at, or strike
-dactylos toe A chemical agent used to destroy pests.
Order of odd-toed mammals (horses, zebras).
Petal
Peristalsis Greek
Greek petalon leaf
peri- around, about, enclosing One of the often brightly colored parts of a flower
-stellein- to place immediately surrounding the reproductive organs.
-sis action, process, state, condition
Petrochemical
Muscular contractions of esophagus.
Greek
Peritoneum petros- a rock, fossil, or stone
Greek -chemeia- alchemy
peri- around, about, enclosing -al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
-teinein to stretch or character of
The membrane that lines the walls of the abdom- A chemical derived from fossil fuels.
inal cavity.
Petroleum
Peritrichous Latin
Greek petros- a rock, fossil, or stone
peri- around, about, enclosing -oleum oil
-tricho- made of hair Oily, flammable liquid that occurs naturally in
-ous full of, having the quality of, relating to deposits, usually beneath the surface of the earth.
Pertains to having flagella all over a cell.
Petrology
Permafrost Greek
Latin/Middle English petros- a rock, fossil, or stone
permanere- to endure -logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or
-frost freeze; frozen bodies of knowledge
Permanently frozen subsoil continuous through- Branch of geology that deals with the study of
out the polar region. rocks, their mineral compositions, their textures,
and their origins.
Permeable
Latin Phagocyte
per- through Greek
-meare- to glide phagos- (phagein) to eat, eating
-able capable, be inclined to, tending to, given to -cyte (kutos) sac or bladder that contains fluid
Capable of being penetrated by liquids or gases. White blood cells that destroy pathogens by sur-
rounding and engulfing them.
Peroxide
Latin Phagocytosis
per- large or largest portion of an element Greek
-oxy(s)- sharp, acid phagos- (phagein) to eat, eating
-ide group of related chemical compounds -cyte- (kutos) sac or bladder that contains fluid
An oxide of an element or a radical that contains -sis action, process, state, condition
the greatest possible amount of oxygen, especially The process by which a cell absorbs or eats waste
when there are oxygen atoms joined to each other. materials.
Peroxisome
Latin/Greek
per- large or largest portion of an element
154 Phanerozoic

Phanerozoic Phenotype
Greek Greek
phainein- visible phainein- to show, appear, display; making evident;
-zoion living being literally, “to come”
The most recent past geologic eon that includes -typos mark
the Cenozoic, Mesozoic, and Paleozoic eras. The complete observable characteristics of an
organism or group including anatomic, physio-
Pharmacology
logic, biochemical, and behavioral traits as deter-
Greek
mined by the interaction of genetic makeup and
pharmac- drug, medicine, or poison
environmental factors.
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or
bodies of knowledge Pheromone
The study of the properties of drugs and their Greek
effects on the body. pherein- to carry, bear, support; go
-(hor)mone to rouse, or set in motion
Pharyngotomy
A chemical secreted by an animal, especially an
Greek
insect, that influences the behavior or develop-
pharyng- throat
ment of others of the same species and often func-
-tomos (temnein) to cut, incise, section
tions as an attractant of the opposite sex.
An operation in which an incision is made into
the pharynx to remove a tumor. Philodendrist
Greek
Pharynx
philos- love, fondness for, loving
Greek
-dendron- tree
pharyng- throat
-ist one who is engaged in
Passage between the esophagus and the cavities
One who has a special fondness for trees.
of the nose and mouth.
Phlebitis
Phenocryst
Greek
Greek
phleb- blood vessel, vein
phaino- showing, displaying
-itis inflammation, burning sensation
-krustallos ice, crystal, freeze, icelike
The inflammation of a vein.
A conspicuous, usually large, crystal that is
embedded in porphyritic igneous rock. Phlebosclerosis
Greek
Phenol
phleb- blood vessel, vein
Greek
-skleros- hard
phen- related to or derived from benzene
-sis action, process, state, condition
-ol chemical derivative
Thickening or hardening of the walls of the veins.
A caustic, poisonous, white crystalline com-
pound derived from benzene and used in resins, Phloem
plastics, and pharmaceuticals, as well as in dilute Greek
form as a disinfectant and antiseptic. phloios bark
The food-conducting tissue of vascular plants.
Phenology
Greek Phosphorus
phainein- to show, appear, display; making evi- Greek
dent; literally, “to come” phos- light
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or -pherein to carry, bear, support; go
bodies of knowledge A highly reactive, poisonous, nonmetallic ele-
The seasonal life history of an insect population. ment found in safety matches and pyrotechnics.
Phenomenon Photochemical
Greek Latin
phainomenon to appear photos- light, radiant energy
An observable event. -alchymia- action of chemicals
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
or character of
 Physical 155

Refers to chemicals and other pollutants reacting Photosynthesis

in the presence of sunlight. Greek
photos- light, radiant energy
Photoelectric
-synthe- formation by combination
Greek
-sis action, process, state, condition
photos- light, radiant energy
The process by which carbon dioxide is con-
-elector- beaming sun
verted into organic matter in the presence of the
-ic relating to or having some characteristic of
chlorophyll in plants and under the influence of
Pertains to the ejection of an electron from a sur-
light.
face exposed to light.
Phototropism
Photometry
Greek
Greek
photos- light, radiant energy
photos- light, radiant energy
-trope- bend, curve, turn, a turning; response to
-metria (metron) the process of measuring; to
stimulus
measure
-ism state or condition, quality
The branch of science that deals with the mea-
Adjustment in the direction and rate of plant
surement of light output.
growth in response to light.
Photon
Phycoerythrin
Greek
Greek
photos- light, radiant energy
phukos- seaweed
-on a particle
-erythros red
The smallest physical particle; it has no mass and
A red phycobilin occurring especially in the cells
no charge, and is electromagnetic energy.
of red algae.
Photopsin
Phyllotaxy
Greek
Greek
photos- light, radiant energy
phullon- leaf
-opsis- sight, appearance
-taxi arrangement, order
-in neutral chemical. protein derivative
The manner in which leaves are arranged with
The photoreceptor pigments found in the cone
regard to the axis.
cells of the retina that are the basis of color
vision. Phylogeny
Greek
Photoreceptor
phulon- race, class, tribe
Greek
-genes to give birth, kind, produce
photos- light, radiant energy
Development and history of a species or higher
-recept- receiver
taxonomic grouping of organisms.
-or a condition or property of things or persons,
person who does something Phylum
A group of nerve cells that are sensitive to light Greek
energy. phulon- race, class, tribe
The chief category of taxonomic classifications,
Photosensitive
between kingdom and class, into which organ-
Greek
isms of common descent that share a fundamental
photos- light, radiant energy
pattern of organization are grouped.
-sensus- senses
-ive performing an action Physical
Refers to something that is easily irritated by Greek
light. physica- physics
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
Photosphere
or character of
Greek
In physics, a term used to refer to or identify
photos- light, radiant energy
material things. In biology, a term used to refer to
-sphaira a globe shape, ball, sphere
or denote the body as opposed to the mind or
The intensely bright gaseous outer layer of a star,
spirit.
especially of the sun.
156 Physics
Ernest Rutherford
Ernest Rutherford is considered by many to be the
father of nuclear physics. He was born Earnest
Rutherford, the first Baron Rutherford of Nelson,
in New Zealand on August 30, 1871. He died on
August 19, 1937.
Rutherford became known for developing an
experimental design demonstrating the scattering
of nuclear (alpha) particles using gold foil. For a
time, he studied at the University of Cambridge in
England, where, during his investigations of wireless
wave energy and radioactivity, he coined the terms
alpha, beta, and gamma rays.
Rutherford moved to Canada and took a profes-
sorship in and chaired the Department of Physics at
McGill University. There he developed an explana-
tion for the constant rate of disintegration of radioac-
tive atoms, ultimately leading to the term half-life.
He went on to associate this process of atomic
decay with a precise, clocklike action. By examin-
ing the half-life of radium and knowing that radium
ultimately came from the degradation of uranium,
Rutherford was able to speculate about the age of
the earth. He placed the age at hundreds of millions
of years—not exactly accurate or narrow in its
Physics
Greek
phusis- nature
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
The science of matter and energy and of the inter-
actions between the two, grouped into traditional
fields such as acoustics, optics, mechanics, ther-
modynamics, and electromagnetism, as well as
modern extensions including atomic and nuclear
physics, cryogenics, solid-state physics, particle
physics, and plasma physics.
Physiology
Greek
physio- form, origin
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or
bodies of knowledge
The branch of biology dealing with the structure
and functions of living organisms and their parts.
Phytobenthos
Greek
phuton- plant
-benthos deep; the fauna and flora of the bottom
of the sea
The aquatic flora of the region at or near the bot-
tom of the sea.
scope, but it was a starting point that was picked up
by scientists later on. For this work, he was
awarded a Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1908.
Rutherford began to feel left out of mainstream
science at McGill, so he moved to Great Britain and
was given the chair of the Department of Physics at
the University of Manchester. Here he ultimately
discovered the nature of the nuclei of atoms. He
theorized about “neutrons” in the nuclei as being
particles capable of countering the effects of posi-
tively charged protons and thus preventing the
nucleus from breaking apart.
His pioneering work in nuclear physics was instru-
mental in the establishment of the Manhattan Project.
During his work in nuclear science, Rutherford was
quoted as saying, “The energy produced by breaking
down the atom is a very poor kind of thing. Anyone
who expects a source of power from the transforma-
tions of these atoms is talking moonshine.”
He desperately wanted to avoid the development
of nuclear energy for use in weaponry until all the
nations of the world were at peace. Rutherford died
in 1937, well before the destructive power of
atomic energy was unleashed in 1945.
Phytochrome
Greek
phuton- plant
-chrome pigment
A substance that produces a color in plant tissue.
Phytoplankton
Greek
phuton- plant
-planktos wandering
Minute, free-floating aquatic plants.
Pigment
Latin
pingere to paint
A coloring matter in animals and plants, espe-
cially in a cell or tissue.
Pineal
French
pomme de pin pinecone
An endocrine gland found in the middle of the
brain; it secretes melatonin and is named for its
pinecone shape.
Pinniped
Latin
pinnas- feather, wing
-ped foot
 Pleistocene 157

Any of a suborder (Pinnipedia) of aquatic carniv- lar elements of the blood and maintaining acid-
orous mammals (such as a seal or walrus) with all base balance.
four limbs modified into flippers.
Plasmalemma
Pinocytosis Greek
Greek plastos- (plassein) something molded (to mold)
pinein- to drink -eilema veil, sheath
-kutos- (cyto) sac or bladder that contains fluid The thin membrane immediately surrounding the
-sis action, process, state, condition cytoplasm of a cell that restricts the passage of
Introduction of fluids into a cell. molecules into the cell.
Pistil Plasmodesmata
Latin Greek
pestle club-shaped plastos- (plassein) something molded; to mold
The female reproductive organ of a flowering -desma bond, adhesion
plant; it contains the stigma, style, and ovary. A strand of cytoplasm that passes through an
opening in the cell walls and connects the proto-
Pitch
plasts of adjacent living plant cells.
Anglo Norman
piche pitch Plasmolysis
The auditory effect of sound frequency; the sap Greek
that gathers from evergreen trees; any of the resin- plastos- (plassein) something molded (to mold)
ous materials from the bitumens, such as asphalt. -ly- (luein) to loosen, dissolve, dissolution, break
-sis action, process, state, condition
Pituitary
Contraction of a cell caused by loss of water.
Greek
pituitarius- of phlegm Platyhelminthes
ptuo- to spit Greek
-ary of, relating to, or connected with platus- flat
A small oval endocrine gland attached to the base -helminth worm
of the vertebrate brain, the secretions of which Any of various parasitic and nonparasitic worms
control the other endocrine glands and influence of the phylum Platyhelminthes, such as a tape-
growth, metabolism, and maturation. worm or a planarian, characteristically having a
soft, flat, bilaterally symmetrical body and no
Placenta
body cavity.
Greek
plakoenta flat land, surface Platypus
A flat, membranous, highly vascular organ that Latin
develops in the female mammal during preg- platus- flat
nancy; it supplies nutrients and removes wastes -pous foot
from the developing fetus. A flat-tailed, semiaquatic mammal, resembling a
duck and having webbed feet and a snout; egg
Planet
laying.
Greek
planasthai to wonder Pleiades
A heavenly body seeming to have a motion of its Greek
own among the fixed stars. peleiades flock of doves
The cluster of seven stars also known as the Seven
Plankton
Sisters, located in the constellation Taurus the
Greek
Bull.
planktos wandering
The passively floating or weakly swimming, usu- Pleistocene
ally minute animal and plant life in a body of water. Greek
pleistos- most
Plasma
-kainos recent, new
Greek
An epoch of the Quaternary period, between 1.8
plastos (plassein) something molded (to mold)
million years ago and the beginning of the
Straw-colored fluid part of the lymph and blood
Holocene epoch.
composed of water, electrolytes, proteins, glu-
cose, fats, and gases. Essential for carrying cellu-
158 Pleomorphic

Pleomorphic Polar
Greek Greek
ple- many, more polos either of two oppositely charged terminals;
-morph- shape, form, figure, or appearance axis, sky
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of Relating to or characterized by a dipole.
Refers to the occurrence of two or more structural
Polarity
forms during a lifespan.
Greek
Pleura polos- either of two oppositely charged terminals;
Greek axis, sky
pleura rib, side -ity state of, quality of
Thin membrane that covers a lung and lines the Intrinsic polar orientation; having two opposite
chest cavity in mammals. attributes.
Plexus Polarization
Greek Greek
plectere to plait, braid polos- either of two oppositely charged terminals,
In biology, a network-like structure formed by axis, sky
nerves, blood vessels, or lymphatic vessels. -ar- relating to or resembling
-ize- to cause
Pliocene
-ation act or process
Greek
The partial or complete polar separation of posi-
pleion- more
tive and negative charges in a nuclear, atomic, or
-kainos recent, new
chemical system.
Final epoch of the Tertiary period, spanning the
time between 5.3 and 1.8 million years ago. Pollen
Latin
Plutonic
pollen fine flour
Greek
Tiny, grainlike structures containing the sperm
pluto- the god of the lower world in classical
cells of an angiosperm; they are produced by the
mythology
anthers of flowers.
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Refers to intrusive rocks that form under the Pollination
earth’s surface. Latin
pollen- fine flour
Pneumonia
-ation act or process
Greek
The transfer of pollen to the female cone in coni-
pneumon- lung, breath
fers or to the stigma in angiosperms.
-ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing
plurals Polyatomic
An acute or chronic disease marked by inflamma- Latin
tion of the lungs; caused by viruses, bacteria, or poly- many or much
other microorganisms and sometimes by physical -atomos- indivisible
and chemical irritants. -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Consisting of many atoms.
Pneumonocentesis
Greek Polycythemia
pneumon- lung, breath Latin/Greek
-kentesis- pricking poly- many or much
-sis action, process, state, condition -cyte- (kutos) sac or bladder that contains fluid
Surgical perforation or puncture of a lung to -haima blood
remove fluid, pus, or blood. A condition marked by an abnormally large num-
ber of red blood cells in the circulatory system.
Poikilotherm
Greek Polygenic
poik- varied Greek
-thermos combining form of “hot” (heat) poly- many or much
An animal that can fluctuate its temperature. -gen- to give birth, kind, produce
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
 Polythetic 159

Of or relating to more than one gene. A hydra or coral, having a cylindrical body with a
single opening; a nonmalignant tumor or growth
Polyhalophilic
extending from the mucosa into the lumen of an
Greek
organ, such as in the large intestine.
poly- many or much
-hal- salt Polypathia
-phile- one who loves or has a strong affinity or Greek
preference for poly- many or much
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of -pathos- suffering from
Describes marine organisms that thrive in a wide -ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing
range of salinities. plurals
The presence of several diseases at once.
Polyhedron
Greek Polyploidy
poly- many or much Greek
-hedron head poly- many or much
A three-dimensional, symmetrical shape made up -ploid- having a number of chromosomes that has
of many faces. a specified relationship to the basic number of
chromosomes
Polyhybrid
-y place for an activity; condition, state
Greek
Having one or more extra sets of chromosomes.
poly- many or much
-hybrida offspring of mixed parents Polyprotic
In genetics, the offspring of parents differing in Greek
more than three specific gene pairs. poly- many or much
-pro-, prot- before, forward; for, in favor of; in front of
Polymer
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Greek
Of or relating to an acid that can donate more than
poly- many or much
one proton to a base, or relating to a base that can
-meros a part
accept more than one proton.
A large molecule assembled from small, individ-
ual molecules. Polysyndactyl
Greek
Polymerase
poly- many or much
Greek
-daktulos toe, finger, digit
poly- many or much
Having two or more instances in the same indi-
-meros- parts
vidual of side-to-side fusion of digits.
-ase enzyme
An enzyme used to convert two or more mole- Polytene
cules into a polymer. Greek
poly- many or much
Polymorphism
-tainia ribbon, tapeworm
Greek
Relating to or having large multistranded chro-
poly- many or much
mosomes whose corresponding chromomeres are
-morph- shape, form, figure, or appearance
in contact.
-ism state or condition, quality
The ability to appear in more than one form. Polythetic
Greek
Polymyalgia
poly- many or much
Greek
-thetos- placed
poly- many or much
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
-myo- muscle
Pertains to a category or class that is defined in
-algia pain, sense of pain; painful, hurting
terms of a broad set of criteria that are neither nec-
Pain affecting several muscles.
essary nor sufficient. Each member of the category
Polyp must possess a certain minimal number of defining
Greek characteristics, but none of the features must nec-
poly- many or much essarily be found in each member of the category.
-pous foot
160 Polyuria

Polyuria Pound
Greek Latin
poly- many or much pondo by weight
-urea urine A unit of weight equal to 16 ounces.
Excessive excretion of urine because of a disease
Power
such as diabetes.
Latin
Pons potis able, powerful
Latin The amount of energy consumed per unit of time.
pons bridge
Precession
A bundle of nervous tissue located on the ventral
Latin
surface of the spinal cord at the base of the brain;
prae- earlier, before, prior to
it connects the medulla oblongata to higher
-cedere- to go
regions in the brain.
-ion state, process, or quality of
Population The term used to denote a globe spinning on its axis
Latin and describing the wobble as the globe slows down.
populus- the people
Precipitate
-ion state, process, or quality of
Latin
A group of organisms of the same species living
prae- earlier, before, prior to
in the same area at the same time.
-capit- to throw headlong, the head
Porcine -ate of or having to do with
Latin To cause a solid substance to be separated from a
porc- pig or hog solution.
-ine of or relating to
Precipitation
Of or consisting of swine; related to or resem-
Latin
bling swine (pigs and hogs).
prae- earlier, before, prior to
Porifera -capit- to throw headlong, the head
Latin -ion state, process, or quality of
porus- pore Water droplets or ice particles condensed from
-ferre to bear atmospheric water vapor.
A pore-bearing organism.
Precocial
Positron Latin
Greek prae- earlier, before, prior to
posi- positive charge -coquere- to cook, ripen
-tron a particle -al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
The particle having the same mass and spin as an or character of
electron but having a +1 charge caused by the Refers to a chick that leaves the nest immediately
interaction of cosmic rays with matter. after hatching.
Posterior Predator
Latin Latin
post- after, behind praedari- to prey upon
-or a condition or property of things or persons, -or condition or activity
person who does something A predatory person, animal, or thing thing that
Located behind a part or toward the rear of a preys upon, devours, or destroys another.
structure.
Prehensile
Potential Latin
Latin prehensus to clasp or seize
poten- power, strength, ability Refers to appendages that are adapted for clasp-
-ial relating to or characterized by ing or grasping.
Describes the energy that an object possesses but
Prenatal
has not yet used because of its position or condition.
Latin
prae- earlier, before, prior to
-nasci be born
 Prokaryotic 161

-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form Proboscidea
or character of Greek
Existing or occurring before birth. pro- before; forward; for, in front of; in place of
-boskein to feed
Pressure
Mammalian order that includes elephants.
Latin
premere- to exert steady weight or force against; Prodromal
bear down on Greek
-ura act; process; condition pro- before; forward; for, in front of; in place of
Force applied uniformly over a surface, measured -dromos- race course, running
as force per unit of area. -al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
or character of
Prey
Refers to the time following incubation period
Latin
when the first signs of illness appear.
praeda booty, prey
An animal taken by a predator as food. Producer
Latin
Primary
pro- before; forward; for, in front of; in place of
Medieval Latin
-duct- lead, take, bring
primus- leader
-er one that performs an action
-ary of, relating to, or connected with
An organism that has the capacity to make its own
In geology, the term used to describe the charac-
food either by photosynthesis or by chemosynthesis.
teristics of any rock at the time of its formation.
In chemistry, relating to the replacement of one Product
or more atoms by other atoms in a chemical Latin
reaction. pro- before; forward; for, in front of; in place of
-duct lead, take, bring
Primate
That which results from the operation of a cause;
Medieval Latin
a consequence, effect.
primus- leader
-ate characterized by having Prognathous
A member of the order of mammals that includes Greek
monkeys, apes, and humans. pro- before; forward; for, in front of; in place of
-gnathos jaw
Prism
Having the head horizontal and the mouthparts
Greek
directed anteriorly.
prizein to saw off
A piece of glass that is usually cut into a triangu- Prognosis
lar shape so that light can travel through, and so Greek
that the colors of the visible light are separated. pro- before; forward; for, in front of; in place of
-gnos- know, learn, discern
Probability
-sis action, process, state, condition
Latin
A prediction of the probable course and outcome
pro- before; forward; for, in front of; in place of
of a disease.
-abilis- to do something, specific action
-ity state of, quality of Program
The chance that a given event will occur; a logi- Greek
cal relation between statements such that evi- pro- before; forward; for, in front of; in place of
dence confirming one confirms the other to some -gramma something written or drawn; a record
degree. Data instructions fed into a computer to control
the actions of the computer.
Probiotics
Latin/Greek Prokaryotic
pro- before; forward; for, in front of; in place of Greek
-bios- life, living organisms or tissue pro- before; forward; for, in front of; in place of
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of -karyon- kernel, nucleus
Beneficial bacteria used to ease digestive ailments. -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Lacking a membrane-bound nucleus and mem-
branous organelles, as in bacteria and archaea.
162 Prominence

Prominence pro- before; forward; for, in front of; in place of

Greek/Latin -histanai to set, place
pro- before; forward; for, in front of; in place of A gland that wraps around the urethra in males. It
-minere- to jut or threaten is responsible for releasing urine from the urinary
-ence the condition of bladder to the exterior, and it produces seminal
The incredibly huge masses of gases that burst fluid, a principal component of semen.
forth from the chromosphere of the sun.
Protactinium
Pronotum English
Greek pro-, prot- before, forward; for, in favor of; in front of
pro- before; forward; for, in front of; in place of -actinium element actinium
-noton- the back A rare, extremely toxic radioactive element, which
-um (singular) structure decays into actinium.
-a (plural) structure
Protandrous
The upper, often shieldlike, hardened body-wall
Greek
plate located just behind the head of an insect.
pro-, prot- before, forward; for, in favor of; in front of
Propagation -andr- man, male, men, masculine
Latin -us thing
pro- before; forward; for, in front of; in place of Of or relating to a flower in which the anthers
-pangere- to fasten release their pollen before the stigma of the same
-ate- of or having to do with flower is receptive.
-ion state, process, or quality of
Protection
The multiplication or natural increase in a popu-
Latin
lation; the dissemination of something to a larger
pro-, prot- before, forward; for, in favor of; in front of
area or greater number.
-tegere- to cover, ward off, guard, defend
Propellent -ion state, process, or quality of
Latin The act of safeguarding, preserving, or shielding.
pro- before; forward; for, in front of; in place of
Protective
-pellere- to drive
Latin
-ant a person who, the thing which
pro-, prot- before, forward; for, in favor of; in front of
The fuel and oxidizer of a rocket that provides the
-tegere- to cover, ward off, guard, defend
thrust needed for the rocket to escape earth’s gravity.
-ive performing an action
Prophase Describes the act of guarding another person from
Greek danger or injury and providing a safe environment.
pro- before; forward; for, in front of; in place of
Protein
-phainein to show
French
The stage of cell division in which the chromo-
proteine of the first quality
somes condense and become visible.
Any group of complex organic macromolecules
Prosencephalon containing carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen,
Greek and usually sulfur. Proteins are composed of one
pro- before; forward; for, in front of; in place of or more chains of amino acids and include many
-enkephalos in the head substances, such as enzymes, hormones, and anti-
The anterior portion of the forebrain, including bodies, that are necessary for the proper function-
the frontal lobe and the olfactory bulbs. ing of an organism.
Prosimians Proteolysis
Latin Greek
pro- before; forward; for, in front of; in place of prote- protein
-simia- ape, monkey -ly- (luein) to loosen, dissolve; dissolution, break
-an one that is of or relating to or belonging to -sis action, process, state, condition
Of or belonging to Prosimii, a suborder of primates A reaction sequence of the noncyclic pathway of
that includes the lemurs, lorises, and tarsiers. photosynthesis, triggered by photon energy, in which
water is split into oxygen, hydrogen, and electrons.
Prostate
Greek
 Pseudopodia 163

Proterozoic Protoplast
Greek Greek
proteros- earlier protos- first formed, original, earliest
-zoikos- of animals -plastos (plassein) something molded (to mold)
-ic (ikos) relating to or having ome characteristic of Plant cell from which the cell wall has been
Relating to the geologic era characterized by the removed.
first signs of single-celled organisms, plant algae.
Protostome
Protist Greek
Latin protos- first formed, original, earliest
protos- first formed, original, earliest -stoma mouth
-ist performs an action An animal whose mouth develops from or near
Unicellular organism belonging to kingdom Protista. the blastopore; an opening in the early embryo.
Protium Prototheria
Greek Greek
protos- first formed, original, earliest protos- first formed, original, earliest
-ium chemical element -theria wild animal, monotremes
The most abundant isotope of hydrogen, with Subclass of Cretaceous and early Cenozoic mam-
atomic mass of 1. mals; extinct except for egg-laying monotremes.
Protocell Prototype
Greek/Latin Greek
protos- first formed, original, earliest protos- first formed, original, earliest
-cella chamber -tupos impression
A structure that has a lipid protein membrane and An original type, form, or instance serving as a
carries on energy metabolism it existed before the basis or standard for later stages.
first true cell.
Protozoa
Protogynous Greek
Greek protos- first formed, original, earliest
protos- first formed, original, earliest -zoan animal, living being; life
-gune woman, women, female Single-celled microorganisms of the sub-kingdom
Referring to animals that are sequential hermaph- Protozoa; lowest form of animal life.
rodites, where that animal is first biologically
Proximity
female, having only female sexual organs, and
Latin
then changes to become biologically male.
proximus- nearest, next
Protolithic -ity state of, quality of
Greek The state, quality, sense, or fact of being near or
protos- first formed, original, earliest next to; closeness.
-lith- rock, stone
Pseudocoelom
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Greek
Of, relating to, or characteristic of the very begin-
pseudes- false
ning of the Stone Age; Eolithic.
-koiloma cavity
Proton Body cavity lying between the digestive tract and
Greek body wall.
protos- first formed, original, earliest
Pseudopodia
-on a particle
Greek
An elementary particle that is identical to the
pseudes- false
nucleus of the hydrogen atom, that along with
-podion base, foot
neutrons is a constituent of all other atomic
A fingerlike projection on the body of an amoeba
nuclei, that carries a positive charge numerically
used for movement.
equal to the charge of an electron, and that has a
mass of 1.673 Þ 10–27 kg.
164 Psychokinesis

Psychokinesis purus- clean

Greek -ine of or relating to
psych- mind, consciousness, mental process The nitrogenous bases, adenine and guanine,
-kinetikos- to move; set in motion found in DNA.
-sis action, process, state, condition
Putrefaction
The production or control of motion by a subject
Latin
without any intermediate physical energy.
putrefacere- to make rotten
Psychosomatic -ion state, process, or quality of
Greek The process of creating a strong, foul odor by
psych- mind, consciousness, mental process emitting gases from the decomposition of organic
-soma- (somatiko) body material.
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Pylorus
Of or relating to a disorder having physical symptoms
Latin
but originating from mental or emotional causes.
pule- gate
Psychrometer -ouros guard
Greek The lower section of the stomach that includes the
psychros- cold passageway into the duodenum of the small intestine.
-meter (metron) instrument or means of measuring;
Pyrimidine
to measure
Latin
Instrument that measures humidity.
pur- fire
Pterodactyl -ide- group of related chemicals
Greek -ine of or relating to
pteron- feather, wing The nitrogenous bases, cytosine and thymine,
-daktulos toe, finger, digit found in DNA.
Small, typically tail-less winged reptile existing
Pyroclastic
in the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.
Greek
Pterygoid pur- fire
Greek -klastos broken
pterug- wing Composed chiefly of rock fragments of volcanic
-oid (oeides) resembling, having the appearance of origin.
Relating to the region of the sphenoid bone of the
Pyroxenes
skull; winglike muscle.
Greek
Pulmonary pur- fire
Latin -xenos stranger
pulmo- lung Any of a group of crystalline silicate minerals
-ary of, relating to, or connected with common in igneous and metamorphic rocks and
Relating to or involving the lung. containing two metallic oxides.
Pulsar Pyrrole
Latin Greek
pullere- to beat pyre- red
-ar relating to or resembling -ole a heterocyclic chemical with a five-mem-
A relatively small star composed of neutrons that bered ring
emit radiant energy in regular pulses. A five-membered heterocyclic ring compound,
C4H5N, that has an odor similar to chloroform
Pupil
and is the parent compound of hemoglobin.
Latin
pupilla little doll; pupil of the eye (named for the Pyuria
tiny reflections on the eye) Greek
The hole in the center of the iris that light travels puo- pus
through in order to be focused on the retina. -uria urine
Pus found in the urine; usually an indication of an
Purine
infection.
Latin
Quadriceps quasi- having a likeness to something
Latin -(stell)ar star
quadi- four A starlike object that has a large red shift and
-caput head emits powerful blue light and often radio waves.
A very large muscle on the anterior surface of the
Quaternary
thigh; it contains four heads (cusps).
Latin
Quadruped quartern- four
Latin -ary of, relating to, or connected with
quadi- four The second period of the Cenozoic era, spanning the
-ped foot time between 1.8 million years ago and the present.
A four-footed animal that uses all four feet for
Quiescence
walking and running.
Latin
Quantum quies- still, quiet
Latin -ence the condition of
quantus how great A state in which a seed or other plant will not ger-
The smallest amount of a physical quantity that minate or grow until the requisite environmental
can exist independently, especially a discrete conditions occur.
quantity of electromagnetic radiation.
Quintessence
Quartz Latin
German quinta- fifth
quarz mineral quartz -essentia essence
A very hard mineral composed of silica. The fifth or last and highest essence in ancient
and medieval philosophy, above fire, air, water,
Quasar
and earth, that permeates all nature and is the sub-
English
stance composing the heavenly bodies.
Rabies A radioisotope; a nuclide that exhibits a certain
Latin amount of radioactivity.
rabere to rave
Radiosonde
A fatal disease caused by a virus that is transmit-
English/French
ted by a mammal; the symptoms include hydro-
radi- radiant or radiation energy; wireless transmitter
phobia, convulsions, heightened excitability, and
-sonde a sounding lead/line
muscular spasms in the throat.
A measurement device that is carried aloft by a
Radial balloon to relay temperature, pressure, and
Latin humidity data from the upper atmosphere.
ray- spoke of a wheel
Radius
-ial relating to or characterized by
Latin
Of or characterized as being arranged in a raylike
ray- spoke of a wheel
fashion.
-ius singular
Radiant A line segment that connects the center of a circle
Latin or sphere to any point on its outer edge.
radiare to radiate
Radula
Of or referring to energy traveling by means of
Latin
electromagnetic waves.
radere to scrape
Radioactivity Flexible, tonguelike organ in certain mollusks,
English having rows of horny teeth on the surface.
radi- radiant or radiation energy; wireless trans-
Range
mitter
German
-agere- drive, do
reng to put in a row, line
-ity state of, quality of
The difference between the smallest and largest
The emission of radiation, either spontaneously
values in a distribution.
from unstable atomic nuclei or as a consequence
of a nuclear reaction. Raptor
Latin
Radionuclide
rapere to seize
English/Latin
A bird of prey; carnivorous bird that hunts its
radi- radiant or radiation energy; wireless transmitter
prey.
-nucula- kernel, little nut
-ide nonmetal radical

Joseph Meister Had Rabies
On a sunny day in the summer of 1885 at Meissen-
gott, in Alsace, a boy named Joseph Meister was
attacked by a neighborhood dog. The 9-year-old
Joseph was thrown to the ground, and as he tried to
protect his face he was savagely bitten about the
arms. The dog was finally driven off the boy, but the
damage was done. His skin had been pierced by a
rabid dog.
The local physician did all he could. He cauter-
ized and cleaned the wounds, but he knew what
would soon happen to the child. He advised the
mother to take him to Louis Pasteur, a scientist who
was experimenting on rabies in Paris. Though Pas-
teur was not a physician, he was the boy’s best and
only hope.
Once bitten by a rabid animal, the human victim
experiences a brief period of fever and restlessness
before becoming wildly excitable. The infected
individual salivates excessively and a white, frothy
foam appears around the mouth. The muscles of the
throat become highly irritated, with uncontrollable
spasms causing great pain. All the while the victim
experiences an uncontrollable thirst for water but is
unable to drink. This torture continues relentlessly
for up to five days before the victim falls dead as a
result of exhaustion, asphyxia, and paralysis.
What could cause such horrible symptoms?
Rabies was a disease known to the ancients.
Although it was never the blight that the plagues
that ravaged Europe and Asia were, it brought fear
to those who witnessed the agonizing death of its
victims. The Greeks attributed rabies to the wrath
of the gods. Sirius, the Dog Star, in the constella-
tion Canis Major, was believed to be the cause of
the disease. The days during summer in the North-
ern Hemisphere when Sirius rises immediately
before or sets immediately after the sun, referred to
as the “dog days,” were believed to be a time when
normally docile animals would run wild and
become viciously aggressive. Shortly thereafter,
they would convulse, become paralyzed, and die.
In the fifth century BC, the Greek physician
Democritus described the symptoms of rabies, as
did Aristotle two hundred years later. The Romans
in the first century AD cauterized or placed the
ashes of seahorses on the wounds to treat the condi-
tion, but, of course, these treatments were futile.
Pliny the Elder, a Roman naturalist who lived in
the first century AD, wrote on the treatment of
rabies:
It is universally agreed, too, that when a
person has been bitten by a dog and manifests
Raptor 167
a dread of water and of all kinds of drink, it
will be sufficient to put under his cup a strip of
cloth that has been dipped in menstrual fluid;
the result being that the hydrophobia will
immediately disappear. This arises, no doubt,
from that powerful sympathy which has been
so much spoken of by the Greeks, and the
existence of which is proved by the fact,
already mentioned, that dogs become mad
upon tasting this fluid.
When Joseph Meister and his mother arrived in
Paris on July 6, Joseph was in very bad shape. His
pain was such that he could barely walk. Pasteur
knew what he had to do, but he needed to consult
with colleagues. According to Pasteur, the numer-
ous trials of his rabies vaccine on animals had
proven to be a resounding success. Later we would
find out otherwise, but nonetheless, this was
Joseph’s last and best chance at survival. A team of
government scientists gave Pasteur their approval
to begin the procedure.
Over the next 11 days, Joseph was injected with
small amounts of the vaccine, which Pasteur had
prepared using the spinal cords of infected rabbits.
Pasteur wrote in his journal:
The death of this child appearing to be
inevitable, I decided, not without lively and
sore anxiety, as may well be believed, to try
upon Joseph Meister, the method which I had
found constantly successful with dogs. Con-
sequently, sixty hours after the bites, and in
the presence of Drs Vulpian and Grancher,
young Meister was inoculated under a fold of
skin with half a syringeful of the spinal cord
of a rabbit, which had died of rabies. It had
been preserved (for) fifteen days in a flask of
dry air. In the following days, fresh inocula-
tions were made. I thus made thirteen inocula-
tions. On the last days, I inoculated Joseph
Meister with the most virulent virus of rabies.
There were side effects—Joseph experienced
bouts of anxiety and depression—but there were no
longer signs of the dreaded disease. And so, after
ten more days of observation, Joseph was sent
home. He had escaped death.
Years later, Joseph Meister would return to Paris
and work as doorman for the Pasteur Institute. He
worked at the institute until the age of 64 in 1940,
when the Nazis invaded Paris. The Germans
ordered Meister to open Pasteur’s crypt. Rather
than obey that order, Joseph Meister put a gun to his
head and ended his own life.
168 Rarefaction
Marie Curie
Eve Curie wrote of her mother, “She was a woman;
she belonged to an oppressed nation; she was poor;
she was beautiful. A powerful vocation summoned
her from her motherland, Poland, to study in Paris,
where she lived through years of poverty and soli-
tude. There she met a man. . . . By the most desper-
ate and avid effort they discovered a magic element,
radium. This discovery not only gave birth to a new
science and new philosophy; it provided mankind
with the means of treating a dreadful disease.”
Marie Curie was born Marie Sklodovska in Poland on
November 7, 1867. She had a rather distress-filled
youth. Her sister died of typhus and her mother
passed away four years later. After her high school
years Marie sunk into a depressive state.
Marie showed signs of brilliance at a young age.
She possessed an amazing memory and an intellec-
tual curiosity, but attending a university in Poland
was out of the question. She knew that to thrive, she
would have to leave Poland. Years later, in Paris,
after studying physics and chemistry at the Univer-
sity of Paris (Sorbonne), she became the first
woman to teach at that highly prestigious institu-
Rarefaction
Latin
rarus- rare
-facere- to make
-ion state, process, or quality of
That part of the sound wave where the particles of
the sound medium are farthest apart.
Rate
Latin
rata according to a fixed proportion
A quantity, amount, or degree of something mea-
sured per unit of time.
Ratiocination
Latin
ratio- reason
-cinari- reckon
-ion state, process, or quality of
To reason using formal logic; to use deductive
reasoning.
Rawinsonde
English/French
radi- radiant or radiation energy; wireless transmitter
-wind- moving air
-sonde a sounding lead/line
A radiosonde used to observe the velocity and
direction of upper-air winds and tracked by a
radio direction-finding instrument.
tion. There she met Pierre Curie, whose title was
Chief of the Laboratory of the School of Physics
and Chemistry of the City of Paris. They married
and together studied radiation and subsequently
discovered the elements radium and polonium.
Her work led to the use of x-rays in World War I.
This remarkable application of radiation allowed
surgeons to more easily find the bullets lodged in
soldiers, giving them a greater chance of survival
through surgery. Her studies with radiation led to
additional research on the role of radiant energy in
the reduction of cancerous growths. Her accom-
plishments led her to become the first person to
receive Nobel Prizes in two different fields of
study, physics and chemistry. This feat has been
matched only by Linus Pauling, who won Nobel
Prizes for Chemistry and Peace.
Ironically, her isolation of the radioactive mate-
rials from the ore pitchblende for the advancement
of science and medicine ultimately led to her own
death from leukemia in 1934. Albert Einstein said
of Madam Curie, “Marie Curie is, of all celebrated
beings, the only one whom fame has not corrupted.”
Reactance
Latin
re- to do something again; go against
-agere to drive, do
Opposition to the flow of alternating current
caused by the inductance and capacitance in a cir-
cuit rather than by resistance.
Reaction
Latin
re- to do something again; go against
-agec- to act
-ion state, process, or quality of
A response in opposition to a substance, treat-
ment, or other stimulus.
Reactive
English/Latin
re- to do something again; go against
-agec- to act
-ive performing an action
Tending to participate readily in reactions.
Reagent
English/Latin
re- to do something again; go against
-agere a force or substance that causes a change
A substance used in a chemical reaction to detect,
analyze, or produce other substances.
 Reniform 169

Receptor Reflux
Latin Latin
reciepere to receive re- to do something again; go against
A group of sensory nerve endings that respond to -fluere to flow, wave
threshold energy from a source point. A flowing back, ebb; the process by which a con-
tainer with boiling liquid is attached to an appara-
Recessive
tus that continuously returns the vapor for
Latin
reboiling.
recedere- to recede
-ive performing an action Reform
In genetics, refers to an allele that does not dis- English/Latin
play its phenotype when paired with a dominant re- to do something again; go against
gene. -forma shape, figure, appearance
To improve by alteration, correction of error, or re-
Reclamation
moval of defects; put into a better form or condition.
English/Latin
re- to do something again; go against Refraction
-clamare- to call or cry out English/Latin
-ion state, process, or quality of re- to do something again; go against
The act or process of reclaiming; restoration for -fract- to break
the purpose of productivity. -ion state, quality, or process of
The turning or bending of any wave, such as a
Rectifier
light or sound wave, when it passes from one
Latin
medium into another of different optical density.
rectus- straight, direct
-er one that performs an action Regolith
A device, such as a diode, that converts alternat- Greek
ing current to direct current. rhegos- blanket
-lith rock, stone
Rectoclysis
The layer of loose rock resting on bedrock, con-
Latin
stituting the surface of most land.
rectus- straight, direct
-clys, -clysis to wash, washing Relay
Washing or irrigation of the rectum. English/French
re- to do something again; go against
Recycle
-laier to leave
English/Greek
An electrical device used to control a switch or to
re- to do something again; go against
allow a weak current to control a stronger electri-
-kyklos circle, wheel, cycle, rotate
cal current.
To make ready for reuse; to pass again through a
series of changes or treatments. Relief
French
Reduction
relever to relieve
English/Latin
The difference in height from the lowest to the
re- to do something again; go against
highest point.
-ducere- to lead
-ion state, process, or quality of Renal
To decrease the valence of an atom by adding Latin
electrons. reno- kidney
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
Reflectivity
or character of
English/Latin
Of or relating to the region of the kidneys.
re- to do something again; go against
-flectere- to throw or bend back Reniform
-ity state of, quality of Latin
The ratio of the energy of a wave reflected from a renes- kidney
surface to the energy possessed by the wave strik- -forma having the form of
ing the surface. Being in the shape of a kidney, such as a leaf.
170 Replicase

Replicase The process of distinguishing the individual parts

English/Latin of an object.
re- to do something again; go against
Resonance
-plicare- to fold
Latin
-ase enzyme
re- to do something again; go against
An enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of a com-
-sonare- to sound
plementary RNA molecule from an RNA template.
-ant performing, promoting, or causing a specified
Replicate action
English/Latin The condition that causes a medium to vibrate in
re- to do something again; go against its natural frequency as a result of receiving sound
-plicare- to fold waves of the same frequency.
-ate characterized by having
Respiration
To reproduce or make an exact copy or copies of
English/Latin
genetic material.
re- to do something again; go against
Repressor -spire- to breathe
Latin -ion state, process, or quality of
re- to do something again; go against The molecular exchange of oxygen and carbon
-premere- to press back dioxide within the body’s tissues, from the lungs
-or a condition or property of things or persons; to the cellular oxidation processes; the act of
person who does something inhaling and exhaling.
A protein produced by the regulator gene; it
Response
blocks the transcription of the gene.
Latin
Reproduction re- to do something again; go against
English/Latin -spondere to promise
re- to do something again; go against The reaction by a living organism to a stimulus.
-pro- before; forward; for, in front of; in place of
Restitution
-ducere- to lead
English/Latin
-ion state, process, or quality of
re- to do something again; go against
The act of (re)producing something of the same kind.
-statuere- to set up
Reside -ion state, process, or quality of
Latin The return to or restoration of a previous state or
residere to sit back, abide, remain position after a collision.
To dwell permanently or continuously.
Resultant
Resistance English/Latin
English/Latin re- to do something again; go against
re- to do something again; go against -saltare to leap
-sistere- to place A vector generated through the sum of other vectors.
-ance brilliance, appearance
Retardant
A force that tends to oppose or retard motion.
Latin
Resistor re- to do something again; go against
English/Latin -tardare- delay, impede
re- to do something again; go against -ant performing, promoting, or causing a speci-
-sistere- to place fied action
-or a condition or property of things or persons; Acting or intending to delay or impede. This term is
person who does something often used with another term, as in “flame retardant.”
A component that resists the flow of current in an
Reticulum
electronic circuit.
Greek/Latin
Resolution reticul- net or networklike
Latin -um (singular) structure
resolvere- relax, untie -a (plural) structure
-ion state, process, or quality of System of membranous saccules and channels in
the cytoplasm, often with attached ribosomes.
 Ribosome 171

Retina rhin- nose

Latin -keras horn
retis net Any of a family (Rhinocerotidae) of large, heavy-set,
Innermost layer of the eyeball. herbivorous perissodactyl mammals of Africa and
Asia that have one or two upright keratinous horns on
Retrovirus
the snout and thick gray to brown skin with little hair.
Latin
retro- backward, behind Rhinomycosis
-virus poison Greek
A group of viruses each of which contains one strand rhin- nose
of RNA. The group includes many viruses that may -myco- (mukes) fungi
cause some cancers, as well as the HIV virus. -sis action, process, state, condition
Fungal infection of the nasal mucous membranes.
Revolution
Latin Rhinorrhea
re- to do something again; go against New Latin
-volvere- to turn or spin rhin- nose
-ion state, process, or quality of -rhea flow or discharge
The movement of one body (planet) around Secretions or discharge from the nose.
another body (sun) or a fixed point.
Rhizobium
Rex Greek
Latin rhiza- root
rex king -bios- life, living organisms or tissue
The king; refers to or denotes size or dominance -um (singular) structure
of a given species (e.g., Tyrannosaurus rex). -a (plural) structure
Any of various nitrogen-fixing bacteria of the
Rheumatic
genus Rhizobium that form nodules on the roots
Greek
of leguminous plants, such as clover and beans.
rheum- flow, watery discharge from the body
once thought to cause aches and pains in joints Rhizoid
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of Greek
Of, relating to, or having the characteristics of rhiza- root
rheumatism. -oid (oeides) resembling, having the appearance of
Rootlike hair that anchors a plant and absorbs
Rheumatism
minerals and water from the soil.
Greek
rheumat- flow, watery discharge from the body Rhodophyte
once thought to cause aches and pains in joints Greek
-ism state or condition, quality rhodon- rose
Any of a number of pathological conditions lead- -phyte plant
ing to mild to severe aches and pains in the joints. Marine algae with a reddish color or hue.
Rhinencephalon Ribonucleic acid
Greek German/Latin
rhin- nose ribo(se)- a kind of sugar
-cephalo- (kephalikos) head -nucula- kernel, little nut
-on a particle -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
That portion of the cerebrum concerned with A long, single-stranded polymer found in all liv-
reception and integration of olfactory (smelling) ing organisms and involved in genetic transcrip-
impulses. tion and protein synthesis.
Rhinitis Ribosome
New Latin Greek
rhin- nose ribose- sugar
-itis inflammation, burning sensation -soma (somatiko) body
Inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose. A minute, round particle composed of RNA and
protein, found in the cytoplasm of living cells and
Rhinoceros
active in the synthesis of proteins.
Latin
172 Rigid

Rigid Any member of the order Rodentia, a group of

Latin animals in the class Mammalia characterized by
rigere to be stiff having fur, four legs, warm blood, and large inci-
Refers to a system of particles whose positions sors for gnawing.
remain fixed relative to each other.
Rodenticide
Riparian Latin
Latin rodere- to gnaw
ripa- river bank, stream -cide (caedere) to cut, kill, hack at, or strike
-an one that is of, or relating to, or belonging to A type of pesticide that controls mice, rats, and
Relating to or living on or near the banks of a other rodents.
stream or river.
Rostrum
Robot Latin
Czech rostrum beak
robot worker A beaklike or snoutlike projection.
A machine in the form of a human being that per-
Rotation
forms the mechanical functions of a human being
Latin
but lacks emotions and sensitivity.
rota- wheel
Rodent -ion state, process, or quality of
Latin The act or process of turning about a center or an
rodere to gnaw axis.
Saccharide Salt
Sanskrit Old English
sarkara- sugar sealt salt
-ide group of related chemical compounds A compound created by the neutralization of an
Another name for a sugar. acid with a base or by a chemical reaction
between a metal and a nonmetal.
Saccharolytic
Sanskrit/Greek Saponification
sarkara- sugar Latin
-ly- (luein) to loosen, dissolve, dissolution, break saponi- soap
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of -fication to make
Capable of hydrolyzing or otherwise breaking The process of saponifying; the decomposition of
down a sugar molecule. a fat by the addition of an alkali that combines
with its fatty acids to form a soap, with the remain-
Sacrum
ing constituent, glycerin, consequently liberated.
Latin
sacr- sacred or holy Saprophagous
-um (singular) structure Greek
-a (plural) structure sapro- rotten, putrid; decay
Compound triangular bone at the base of the -phagos (phagein) to eat, eating
human spine. Feeding on decaying matter; carrion beetles who
feed off of the rotting matter of dead organisms.
Sagittal
Latin Saprophyte
sagitta- arrow Greek
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form sapro- rotten, putrid; decay
or character of -phyton plant
Relates to the plane that is parallel to the sagittal A plant living on dead or decaying organic matter.
suture of the skull.
Saprotroph
Salamander Greek
Latin sapro- rotten, putrid, decay
salamandra slithering -trophos (trophein) to nourish, food, nutrition;
Any member of the order Caudata, having development
porous, smooth skin, weak legs, and a tail. Organism that secretes digestive enzymes and
absorbs the resulting nutrients back across the
plasma membrane.
174 Sarcolemma

Sarcolemma Schizocoelus
Greek Greek
sarko- flesh, meat skhizein- to cut, split
-eilema veil, sheath -koilos hollow
The plasma membrane of a muscle cell. The type of development found in protosomes;
initially solid masses of mesoderm split to form
Sarcoma
coelomic cavities.
Greek
sarko- flesh, meat Science
-oma tumor Latin
Cancerous tumor derived from connective tissue. scire to know, knowledge
The observation, identification, description,
Sarcomere
experimentation, investigation, and theoretical
Greek
explanation of phenomena.
sarko- flesh, meat
-mere part, segment Scientific
A segment of a striated muscle cell fibril bounded Latin
by Z-disks. scire- to know, knowledge
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Satellite
Relating to or employing the methodology of science.
French/Latin
satelles- to hang on Scintillation
-ite component of a part of a body Latin
A celestial body (moon) revolving around scintilla- spark
another celestial body (planet). -ion state, process, or quality of
A flash of light produced in a phosphor by
Saturated
absorption of an ionizing particle or photon.
Latin
satur- full Scion
-ate characterized by having Old French
Incapable of holding any more of a substance or cion descendant
material. A grafted twig or bud.
Saurischia Sclera
Greek Greek
sauros- lizard skleros hard
-iskhion hip joint Outer, white, fibrous layer of the eye that sur-
A dinosaur of the order Surischia characterized by rounds the eye except for the transparent cornea.
having the pelvic girdle of a modern-day reptile.
Sclerenchyma
Scapula Greek
Latin sklero- hard
scapulae shoulder blade -en- in
A triangular bone forming the dorsal part of the -khein to pour
shoulder. A supportive plant tissue that consists of thick-
Schistosome walled, usually lignified cells.
Greek Scoliosis
skhizein- to cut, split Greek
-soma (somatiko) body skolios- crookedness
Any of several chiefly tropical trematodes (worms -osis disease or abnormal condition
of the genus Schistosoma), many of which are par- Abnormal lateral curvature of the vertebral column.
asitic in the blood of humans and other mammals.
Scorpio
Schizocarp Greek
Greek skorpios scorpion
skhizein- to cut, split The constellation (also called the Scorpion) that lies
-karpos fruit near Libra and contains the bright red star Antares.
Fruit that splits into several closed, one-seeded
portions upon maturation.
 Septum 175

Seamount Semipermeable
Middle English/Latin Latin
see- sea semi- half
-mons mountain -per- through
A submarine mountain rising more than 500 fath- -meare- to glide
oms (3,000 feet) above the ocean floor. -able capable, be inclined to, tending to, given to
Partially permeable; refers specifically to a mem-
Secretion
brane that allows smaller objects to pass through
Latin
while prohibiting larger ones.
secernere- to set aside
-ion state, process, or quality of Senescence
The state or process of secreting a fluid. Typically Latin
these substances are not waste products; they sen- old age
include hormones, mucus, and enzymes. -esce- beginning, becoming
-ence the condition of
Sedative
The sum of processes involving aging, decline,
Latin
and eventual death.
sedates- to calm
-ive performing an action Sensitivity
A drug that reduces excitability and calms a person. Latin/Greek
sensus- sense
Sediment
-ive- performing an action
Latin
-ity state of, quality of
sed- sit
The capacity of an organism to be aware of a
-ment state or condition resulting from a (speci-
stimulus.
fied) action
To sit, sink down; the matter that settles to the Sepsis
bottom of a liquid. Greek
sepein- to make rotten, putrefactive
Sedimentation
-sis action, process, state, condition
Latin
A poisoned condition resulting from pathological
sed- sit
organisms or their toxins in the circulatory system.
-ment- state or condition resulting from a (speci-
fied) action Septic
-ation act or process Greek
The act or process of depositing sediment or sepein- to make rotten, putrefactive
gravel as a result of some outside force. -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Relates to the process of living tissue becoming
Seismograph
poisoned or rotten as a result of a pathological
Greek
organism.
seismos- to shake
-graphia (graphein) to write, record, draw, describe Septicemia
Instrument used to detect and record seismic Greek
waves produced by earthquakes. sepein- to make rotten, putrefactive
-haimo- relating to blood or blood vessels
Seismologist
-ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing
Greek
plurals
seismos- to shake
A systemic disease caused by pathogenic organ-
-logist a person who studies
isms or their toxins in the bloodstream; also
A person who studies earthquakes.
called blood poisoning.
Selenium
Septum
Greek
Latin
selene- moon
saepire- to enclose
-ium quality or relationship
-um (singular) structure
A nonmetallic element resembling sulfur and
-a (plural) structure
obtained primarily as a by-product of copper
A partition or membrane that separates one cavity
refining; used in photocells.
or hollow from another.
176 Sessile

Sessile Silver
Latin Middle English/Assyrian
sessus- to sit siolfor to smelt, refine
-ile changing, ability, suitable, tending to sarapu refined silver
Without petiole or pedicel—attached directly to The metallic element with atomic number 47,
the base; fixed, nonmotile animal. highly valued for its luster.
Setae Simultaneous
Latin Latin
seta bristle simul- at the same time
Slender, usually rigid or bristly, and springy -eous having the quality of, relating to
organ or part of animal or plant. Happening, existing, or done at the same time.
Sextant Sinoatrial node
Latin Latin
sextus sixth sinus- hollow
An instrument so named because it is a sixth of a -atri- open area, central court, hall, entrance, or
circle. It is used to determine latitude and longi- main room of an ancient Roman house
tude by measuring the altitude of a star or the sun -ium quality or relationship
above the horizon. A small mass of cardiac tissue located in the pos-
terior wall of the right atrium, sometimes referred
Shadow zone
to as the pacemaker.
Old English
sceadu shade, shadow Sinus
The region on the earth’s surface ranging from Latin
about 7,000 to 10,000 miles from an earthquake sinus hollow
in which a seismograph detects no S waves and A cavity or depression formed by a series of
few, weak P waves. curved surfaces within a living organism, as in the
human skull.
Sidereal
Latin Siphonaptera
sidereus- constellation, star Latin/Greek
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form siphon- siphon
or character of -apteros wingless
Of, relating to, or concerned with the stars or con- Small, wingless, bloodsucking insects with
stellations; stellar. mouthparts adapted for siphoning body fluids
from their victims; fleas.
Sideropenia
Greek Sirenia
sideros- iron Greek
-penia reduction, poverty, lack, deficiency siren- group of female, partly human creatures in
An abnormally low concentration of serum iron Greek mythology that lured mariners to destruc-
in the blood. tion by their singing
-ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing
Silicate
plurals
Latin
Herbivorous marine mammals, including the
silex- hard stone flint
manatee and the dugong.
-ate characterized by having
Any of a large group of minerals, forming over Skeleton
90% of the earth’s crust, that consist of SiO2 or Greek
SiO4 groupings combined with one or more met- skeletos dried up
als and sometimes hydrogen. The bony framework of the body that provides
structure, protection, storage of minerals, and an
Silurian
environment for hematopoeisis.
Celtic
silures- a tribe of Wales Society
-an one that is of, or relating to, or belonging to Latin
Geologic period in the Paleozoic era that marked socius companion, fellowship
the first appearance of air-breathing animals.
 Speciation 177

An organized population or colony, sometimes Solution

having a division of labor. Latin
solvere- to loosen
Sociobiology
-ion state, process, or quality of
Latin
The process of forming a homogeneous mixture
socius- companion or partner
of any combination of solids, liquids, and gases.
-bios- life, living organisms, or tissue
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or Somatic
bodies of knowledge Greek
The study of the biological basis of all social soma- (somatiko) body
behavior. -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Having to do with the body or body cavities or
Soil
cells other than reproductive cells.
Latin
solium seat, soil Somatotropin
The top layer of the earth’s surface, consisting of Greek
rock and mineral particles mixed with organic soma- (somatiko) body
matter. -trope- bend, curve, turn, a turning; response to
stimulus
Sol
-in protein or derived from a protein
Latin
Hormone released by the anterior pituitary that
sol one, alone, or only
stimulates growth in humans.
Colloid of very small, solid particles dispersed in a
liquid that retains the physical properties of a liquid. Somnambulism
Latin
Solar
somnia- sleep; dream
Latin
-ambulate- walk, take steps, move around
sol- the sun
-ism state or condition, quality
-ar relating to or resembling
Sleepwalking or the ability to perform activities
Of, relating to, or proceeding from the sun.
normally associated with being awake while
Solenoid actually sleeping.
Greek
Sonoluminescence
solen- pipe
Latin
-oid (oeides) resembling, having the appearance of
sonus- sound
A coil of wire that acts like a magnet when a cur-
-lumen- light
rent passes through it.
-ence the condition of
Solid The production of light as a result of the passing
Latin of sound waves through a liquid medium. Light is
solidus firm, unyielding, whole, entire formed when bubbles in the liquid burst and
Matter that has both a definite shape and a defi- release energy.
nite volume.
Sorus
Solstice Greek
Latin soros a heap
sol- the sun A cluster of sporangia borne on the underside of a
-status to come to a stop, to stand fern frond.
The two points along the earth’s elliptical orbit
Spathe
where the sun’s distance from the equator is greatest.
Latin
Soluble spatha a flat blade
Latin A large, leaflike part enclosing a flower cluster.
solvere- to loosen
Speciation
-able/-ible capable, be inclined to, tending to,
Latin
given to/capable
species- particular kind
Describes the ability to be homogeneously mixed
-ation state, process, or quality of
in another substance.
Emergence of a new species during evolutionary
history.
178 Species

Species The sphenoid bone or relating to the sphenoid

Latin bone; wedge shaped.
species particular kind
Sphincter
A taxonomic unit ranking below a genus and des-
Greek
ignated by a binomen consisting of its genus
sphingein to bind tight
name and the species name.
A ringlike muscle whose action resembles that of
Specimen the drawstring of a bag. It normally serves to con-
Latin strict an opening (mouth, anus, or arteriole) or,
specere to look at, appearance when relaxed, to enable access to the passage.
A small sample of something intended to show
Spiracle
the nature of the whole.
Latin
Spectrochemical spir- breath of life, breath, breathing; mind, spirit,
Latin/Greek courage
specere- to look at, appearance -cle small
-khemeia a substance with a distinct molecular The external openings of the insect breathing (tra-
composition cheal) system, found along the abdomen.
Pertains to a series listing ligands based on their
Spirochete
energy strengths; these differences cause differ-
Greek/Latin
ent colors to be emitted.
speira- coil
Spectrophotometry -chaeta bristle hair
Greek Any of the various slender, spiral-shaped, motile
specere- to look at, appearance bacteria.
-photos- light, radiant energy
Spirogyra
-metria (metron) the process of measuring
Greek
The process of using an instrument to measure the
speira- coil
intensity of various wavelengths of radiant energy.
-guros ring
Spectroscopy Any of various filamentous freshwater green
Greek algae of the genus Spirogyra, having chloroplasts
specere- to look at, appearance in spirally twisted bands.
-scopium to look at, examine
Spongocoel
Methods of studying substances exposed to some
Greek
sort of exciting energy.
spongos- sponge
Spectrum -koilos hollow
Latin Central cavity in sponges that opens to the exte-
specere to look at, appearance rior by an osculum.
The distribution of energy emitted by a radiant
Sporangium
source, as by an incandescent body, arranged in
Greek
order of wavelength.
sporos- seed
Speed -angeion- vessel
Old English -ium quality or relationship
sped swiftness Spore-containing structure; a sac or case in which
The scalar quantity used to measure displacement spores are produced.
per unit time.
Sporophyte
Speleothem Greek
Greek spora- seed
spelaion cave -phuto plant
General name for any cave formation. A stage in a plant’s life cycle during which spores
are produced.
Sphenoid
Greek Sporozoan
sphen- wedge, wedge shaped Greek
-oid (oeides) resembling; having the appearance of spora- seed
-zoan animal, animal-like
 Stenocrotaphia 179

Member of the class Sporozoa, consisting of non- Steatohepatitis

motile, single-celled parasitic organisms. Greek
steat- fat, tallow
Stability
-hepat- liver
Latin
-itis inflammation, burning sensation
stabilis- to stand
Disease condition that is characterized by fatty
-ity state of, quality of
deposits in the liver, that may or may not be
Resistance to chemical change or to physical
caused by excessive alcohol use, and that has few
disintegration.
symptoms that can be readily diagnosed.
Stalactite
Stegnosis
Greek
Greek
stalaktos- dropping or trickling
stegn- constriction, obstruction
-ite minerals and fossils
-osis action, process, state, condition
An icicle-shaped, secondary mineral deposit that
A condition causing the stoppage of secretions;
hangs from the roof of a cave.
constriction, constipation.
Stamen
Stegosaur
Latin
Greek
stamen thread
stegos- roof
Reproductive, pollen-producing organ of a vascu-
-sauros lizard
lar plant, composed of a filament and an anther.
Herbivorous dinosaur existing in the Jurassic to
Staphylococcus the Cretaceous periods and characterized by a
Greek double row of boney plates along the dorsal side,
staphylo- cluster long rear legs, and a small head and neck.
-coccus of spherical or spheroidal shape
Stele
Spherical parasitic bacterium, usually occurring
Greek
in grapelike clusters.
stele pillar
Static The central core of tissue in the stem or root of a
Greek vascular plant.
statos- standing, stay, make firm, fixed
Stenobenthic
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Greek
Of or relating to bodies at rest or forces that bal-
stenos- narrow
ance each other.
-benth- deep; the fauna and flora of the bottom of
Stationary the sea
Greek -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
statos- standing, stay, make firm, fixed Living within a narrow range at or near the bot-
-ary of or relating to or connected with tom of the sea.
Incapable of being moved, fixed; nonmotile
Stenocoriasis
organisms.
Greek
Statocyst stenos- narrow
Greek -core- (corium) skin
statos- standing, stay, make firm, fixed -iasis a process or a pathological condition
-cyst (kustis) sac or bladder that contains fluid The abnormal contraction of the pupil of the eye;
A very small, fluid-filled organ found in many a symptom of a pathological condition.
invertebrates that orients the body in relation to
Stenocrotaphia
gravity.
Greek
Stearoptene stenos- narrow
Greek -crotaphion- pulse, beat
steat- fat, tallow -ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing
-ptenos volatile, winged plurals
The more solid component of a volatile oil; it sep- Narrowness of the temporal region.
arates out as a whitish, crystalline solid as it cools
to room temperature.
180 Stenohaline

Stenohaline Stereoscopic
Greek Greek
stenos- narrow stereos- three-dimensional, solid, firm, hard
-halo- salt -skopein- to view, examine
-ine a chemical substance -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Refers to organisms that are capable of tolerating Pertaining to two images of the same scene, dif-
only slight variations in salinity. fering slightly in point of view, that are each seen
by one eye, giving the effect of solidity.
Stenothermal
Greek Sternum
stenos- narrow Greek
-thermos- combining form of “hot” (heat) sternon- chest, breast, sternum, the breast bone
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form -um (singular) structure
or character of -a (plural) structure
Describes an organism tolerant of only a narrow A long, flat bone articulating with the cartilages
range of temperatures. of the first seven ribs and with the clavicle, form-
ing the middle part of the anterior wall of the tho-
Stenothorax
rax, and consisting of the corpus, manubrium,
Greek
and xiphoid process.
stenos- narrow
-thoraces chest Stethoscope
Abnormal narrowness of the chest. French/Greek
stethos- chest
Stephanion
-skopein to view, examine
Greek
Any of a group of instruments designed to
stephanos- crown
amplify the sounds of the chest, such as heartbeat
-ion state, process, or quality of
or respiration.
The point on the side of the cranium at which the
coronal suture meets the superior temporal line. Stigma
Greek
Steradian
stizein tattoo mark; to prick
Greek
A small pore, mark, or spot, such as the respira-
ster- solid
tory spiracle of an insect.
-radi- ray, spoke of a wheel
-an one that is of, relating to, or belonging to Stipule
Measurement of solid angles, equivalent to the New Latin
angle subtended at the center of a sphere by an stipula trunk
area on its surface equal to the square of its radius. Either of a pair of appendages borne at the base of
A full sphere subtends 4␲ steradians. the leafstalk in many plants.
Stereocilium Stoichiometry
Greek Greek /English
stereos- three-dimensional, solid, firm, hard stoicheious- element
-cili- a small hair -metria (metron) the process of measuring; to
-um (singular) structure measure
-a (plural) structure A branch of science that deals with the applica-
A nonmotile protoplasmic filament on the free tion of the laws of definite proportions and of the
surface of a cell; found on hair cells of the inner conservation of matter and energy to chemical
ear and on pseudostratified epithelial cells of the activity.
male epididymis.
Stolon
Stereopsis Latin
Greek stolo shoot
stereos- three-dimensional, solid, firm, hard A shoot that bends to the ground or that grows
-opisi vision horizontally above the ground, and that produces
Stereoscopic vision allowing for depth percep- roots and shoots at the nodes.
tion and visual acuity.
 Sublimation 181

Stomach Striation
Greek Latin
stomakhos gullet stria- thin narrow groove or channels, bands
The enlarged portion of the alimentary canal lying -ion state, process, or quality of
between the esophagus and the small intestine. In biology, a group of protein bands found in skel-
etal muscle that are involved in muscular contrac-
Stomata
tions. In earth science, one of a number of parallel
Greek
lines or scratches on the surface of a rock that
stoma mouth
were inscribed by rock fragments imbedded in
One of the minute pores in the epidermis of a leaf
the base of a glacier as it moved across the rock.
or stem through which gases and water vapor pass.
Stromatolite
Stratigraphy
Greek
Latin
stroma- living on a bed; spread out
stratum- horizontal layer; stretched, spread out;
-lite combining form used in naming of minerals
layer, cloud layer
Large mats and mounds composed of billions of
-graphia (graphein) to write, record, draw, describe
photosynthesizing cyanobacteria that dominated
The study of the arrangement, distribution, and
the Proterozoic’s shallow oceans.
deposition of rocks in layers.
Structure
Stratosphere
Latin
Latin
structura part
stratum- horizontal layer; stretched, spread out;
A part of the body, such as the heart, a bone, a
layer, cloud layer
gland, a cell, or a limb.
-sphaire to surround
The second lowest layer of earth’s atmosphere; the Subcutaneous
ozone layer is located in the upper stratosphere. Latin
sub- under or below
Stratovolcano
-cutis- skin
Latin
-ous full of, having the quality of, relating to
stratum- horizontal layer; stretched, spread out;
Refers to tissue or other object located just below
layer, cloud layer
the dermis or skin.
-vol’nus fire, flames (named after the Roman god
of fire) Subduction
A volcano built up from alternating layers of rock Latin
and lava. sub- under or below
-ducere- to lead
Stratus
-ion state, process, or quality of
Latin
Pertains to a long narrow zone associated with
stratum- horizontal layer; stretched, spread out;
oceanic trenches, where one plate descends
layer, cloud layer
beneath another.
Featureless sheets of clouds; horizontal, spread-
out layers of grayish-colored clouds. Sublimate
Latin
Strepsirhini
sublimus- up to, elevate, uplifted
Greek
-ate characterized by having
streptos- twisted chain, turn
To purify or refine by subliming; to change matter
-rhino nose, nasal
from the solid state to the gaseous state or from
Suborder containing seven families of arboreal
the gaseous state to the solid state without an
primates, formerly called prosimians, concen-
intervening liquid state.
trated on Madagascar and having comma-shaped
nostrils, a long nonprehensile tail, and a second Sublimation
toe provided with a claw. Latin
sublimus- up to, elevate, uplifted
Streptococcus
-ion state, process, or quality of
Greek
The process of changing a solid substance
streptos- twisted chain, turn
directly into a vapor without it first passing
-kokkos of spherical or spheroidal shape, grain, seed
through the liquid state.
Spherical bacteria that occur in pairs or chains.
182 Sublime

Sublime Supercooling
Latin Latin
sublimus up to, elevate, uplifted super- superior in size, quality, number, or
To go directly from a solid to a gas without going degree; exceeding the norm
through the liquid phase. -cole- becoming less warm
-inde the act of
Subscript
Cooling a liquid to a temperature below that at
Greek
which crystallization would normally occur but
sub- under or below
without the separation of a solid.
-scribere writing
A symbol written below another symbol or letter. Supernova
Latin
Substance
super- superior in size, quality, number, or
Latin
degree; exceeding the norm
sub- under or below
-nova new
-stantia- essence, material
A rare celestial phenomenon involving the explo-
-ance state, quality
sion of most of the material in a star, resulting in
A material produced by or used in a chemical process.
an extremely bright, short-lived object that emits
Subterranean vast amounts of energy.
Latin
Surfactant
sub- under or below
Old French
-terra- earth
sur- above
-an one that is of, relating to, or belonging to
-face- outward appearance
Refers to that which is found beneath the earth’s
-agere to do
surface.
A surface-active substance designed to make a sur-
Succession face “wetter”; the fluid layer of the alveolar sacs of
Latin the lungs that makes the exchange of gases possible.
succedere- to follow after
Susceptible
-ion state, process, or quality of
Latin
The act of following in order; following consecutively.
sus- (sub) below, under, beneath
Sugar -capere- catch, seize, take hold of, contain
Middle English -able/-ible capable, be inclined to, tending to,
sugre sugar given to/capable of
Any of various water-soluble compounds that Likely to be affected; permitting an action to be
vary widely in sweetness and include the performed.
oligosaccharides.
Suspension
Supercell Latin
Latin suspendere- to cause to hang
super- superior in size, quality, number, or -ion state, process, or quality of
degree; exceeding the norm A system consisting of a solid dispersed in a
-cella small room, compact, chamber solid, liquid, or gas, usually in particles of larger
Self-sustaining, extremely powerful storm char- than colloidal size.
acterized by intense rotating updrafts.
Sustainable
Superconductivity Latin
Latin sus- (sub) below, under, beneath
super- superior in size, quality, number, or -tenere- to hold, grasp, have
degree; exceeding the norm -able capable, be inclined to, tending to, given to
-conducere- to bring together Of, relating to, or being a method of harvesting or
-ity state of, quality of using a resource so that the resource is not
The flow of electric current without resistance in depleted or permanently damaged.
certain metals, alloys, and ceramics at tempera-
tures near absolute zero, and in some cases at tem-
peratures hundreds of degrees above absolute zero.
 Systole 183

Symbiosis Syndiotactic
Greek Greek
sym- with, together syndio- two together
-bios- life, living organisms, or tissue -taktos ordered
-sis action, process, state, condition Refers to the type of orientation of the methyl
The living together of two different species in an groups on a polypropylene chain in plastics—in
intimate relationship. The symbiont always bene- this case alternating orientation.
fits; the host may benefit, may be unaffected, or
Syndrome
may be harmed (mutualism, commensalism, and
Greek
parasitism, respectively).
syn- together, united
Symmetrical -dramein (dromos) to run
Greek A group of signs and symptoms that occur
sym- with, together together and characterize a particular abnormality.
-meter- (metron) instrument or means of measur-
Synecology
ing; to measure
Greek
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
syn- together, united
or character of
-oikos- house
Regular as to the number of its parts; correspond-
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or
ing units of similar structure that exist on either
bodies of knowledge
side of a central axis.
Ecology of communities as opposed to individual
Synapse species.
Greek
Synovial joint
syn- together, united
Greek
-haptein- to fasten
syn- together, united
-sis action, process, state, condition
-ovo- egg
Junction between two nerve cells, allowing the
-ial (variation of -ia) relating to or characterized by
transfer of nerve impulses from the axon terminal
Freely moving joint in which two bones are sepa-
of one neuron to another neuron or cell.
rated by a cavity.
Synchronous
Synthesis
Greek
Greek
syn- together, united
syn- together, united
-khronos- time
-tithen- to put
-ous full of, having the quality of, relating to
-sis action, process, state, condition
Occurring or existing at the same time; moving or
The combining of separate elements or sub-
operating at the same time.
stances to form a coherent whole.
Syncline
Systematics
Greek
Greek
syn- together, united
syn- together, united
-klinein to lean
-histanai- set up
A fold in rocks in which the rock layers dip
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
inward from both sides toward the axis.
The systematic classification of organisms and the
Syncytial evolutionary relationships among them; taxonomy.
Latin
Systole
syn- together, united
Greek
-kutos- (cyto) sac or bladder that contains fluid
sustellein to contract
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
The rhythmic contractions of the ventricles of the
or character of
heart that cause blood to be pumped from the
Pertaining to a cytoplasmic mass that is multinu-
heart into the aorta and the pulmonary arteries.
cleated and lacks intercellular boundaries.
Tachycardia Taxonomy
New Latin Greek
takhus- fast, swift taxis- order, arrangement
-kard- heart, pertaining to the heart -nom (nemein) to dictate the laws of, knowledge,
-ia names of diseases, place names, or Latinizing usage, order
plurals The classification of organisms in an ordered sys-
Faster than normal heart rate, usually calculated tem that indicates natural relationships.
over 100 beats per minute in the resting state for
Technology
adults.
Greek
Tachyon tekhne- skill, craft
English -logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or
takhus- fast, swift bodies of knowledge
-on a particle The application of science to situations usually,
A hypothetical subatomic particle that travels but not exclusively, associated with commerce
faster than the speed of light. and industry.
Tachypnea Tectonic
Greek Greek
takhus- fast, swift tekton- builder
-pnein breath -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic
Breathing very rapidly. of
In geology, relating to, causing, or resulting from
Tarsal
structural deformation of the earth’s crust. Study
Greek
of the earth’s structural features.
tarsus- ankle
-al of the kind of, pertaining Telencephalon
to, having the form or character of Greek
A bone of the ankle; of or relating to the ankle. tele- far off, distant
-enkephalos in the head
Taxon (taxa)
The anterior portion of the prosencephalon, con-
Greek
stituting the cerebral hemispheres and composing
taxis order, arrangement
with the diencephalon the prosencephalon.
Any taxonomic group or entity: kingdom, phy-
lum, class, order, family, genus, or species.

Thomas Edison, the Great American Inventor
Few inventors in history were as prolific as Thomas
Edison. When he was born, in 1847, the world was
illuminated by candle and fire. When he died, in
1931, the world glowed in incandescent light.
Though not his invention, he perfected the idea and
came upon the necessary elements that would give
light without burning out too soon.
Edison conducted most of his research at Menlo
Park in New Jersey. There he would devote his life
to producing some of the most widely used technol-
ogy in history. Edison did not work alone. He had
brilliant assistants with a single overriding objec-
tive: invent and produce. William Hammer, one of
Edison’s assistants, was the person in charge of per-
fecting the light bulb, and he did a remarkable job.
In the year after the development of Edison’s bulb,
the Edison Lamp Works produced over 50,000
lamps.
Edison held 1,093 patents. With a steady flow of
inventions, from his first patent (“Electrographic
Vote-Recorder” in June 1869) to his last (“A Holder
for Articles to Be Electroplated,” submitted in May
Telescope
Greek
tele- far off, distant
-skopos watcher
An optical instrument used for viewing distant
objects by means of the refraction of light rays
through a lens.
Telophase
Greek
telos- end
-phasis appearance
The final of the four stages of nuclear division in
mitosis and each of the two divisions in meiosis.
Telson
Greek
telson limit
The rearmost segment of the body of certain
arthropods; an extension of this segment, such as
the middle lobe of the tail fan of a lobster or the
stinger of a scorpion.
Tendon
Greek
tenon- tendon, sinew, to stretch
A band of tough, inelastic fibrous tissue that con-
nects a muscle with its bony attachment.
Tephra 185
1933), Edison and his assistants invented and pat-
ented such gadgets as the printing telegraph, the
electric switch, electromagnetic telegraphic instru-
ments, the typing wheel for telegraphs, the galvanic
battery, the speaking machine, the phonograph, the
vacuum pump, the electric generator, the typewriter,
the electric meter, the electric indicator, the electric
railway, the electrical transmission of power, pho-
nogram blanks, the motion picture camera, railway
signaling, the voltaic battery, the electric locomo-
tive, the magnetic separator, the gas purifier, the
cement kiln, an electronic system for automobiles, a
process for constructing concrete buildings,
improvements to the telephone, and on and on.
Thomas Edison died in 1931. He, along with a
few other men in his lab, changed American society
forever. Through his inventions and his strong busi-
ness sense, he managed to get his inventions manu-
factured at a cost that was affordable to many. In a
tribute to his passing, the lights were dimmed for
one minute on October 21, 1931, a few days after
his death.
Tenodesis
Greek
tenon- tendon, sinew, to stretch
-desis binding, fixation
The surgical fixation of a tendon to a bone.
Tenoplasty
Latin/Greek
tenon- tendon, sinew
-plastos (plassein) something molded (to mold)
Reparative or plastic surgery of the tendons.
Tension
Latin
tension- an extension or length
-ion state, process, or quality of
A force supplied by a rope or chain whose direc-
tion is away from the load.
Tentacles
Latin
tentare to feel, try
A flexible extension, such as one of those sur-
rounding the mouth or oral cavity of the squid,
used for feeling, grasping, or locomotion.
Tephra
Greek
tephra ash
The solid substance ejected from a volcanic eruption.
186 Teratological

Teratological Thermocline
Greek Greek
terat- marvel, omen, monster thermos- combining form of “hot” (heat)
-logo- talk, speak -klinein to lean, sloping
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form The transitional layer between warm surface waters
or character of and the cold bottom water of oceans or lakes.
Monstrous, relating to monstrosity; the biological
Thermodynamic
study of birth defects.
Greek
Terrain thermos- combing form of “hot” (heat)
Latin -dynamique- powerful
terrenus of the earth -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
A series of related rock formations. Characteristic of or resulting from the conversion
of heat into other forms of energy.
Tertiary
Latin Thermograph
tertius- third Greek
-ary of, relating to, or connected with thermos- combining form of “hot” (heat)
First period of the Cenozoic era, extending from -graphia (graphein) to write, record, draw, describe
the beginning of the Paleocene epoch over 58 A thermometer that records temperatures inde-
million years ago to the end of the Pliocene epoch pendently of humans by graphing the data on
2 million years ago. paper or recording the data electronically.
Tetrad Thermometer
Greek Greek
tetras four thermos- combining form of “hot” (heat)
A group or set of four homologous chromosomes. -meter (metron) instrument or means of measur-
ing; to measure
Tetrahedron
A device usually consisting of a graduated glass
Greek
tube filled with either alcohol or mercury that is
tetra- four faced
used to measure temperature.
-hedron head
A polyhedron with four faces; a Platonic solid P5. Thermophile
Greek
Thallophytes
thermos- combining form of “hot” (heat)
Greek
-phile one who loves or has a strong affinity or
thallos- young green shoot
preference for
-phyte a plant
Any group of organisms that have adapted to and
A major group of organisms formerly belonging
thrive in environments of extreme heat, usually
to the plant kingdom. They lack true roots, stems,
over 45 degrees Celsius.
and leaves. Representative samples include algae,
fungi, and mosses. Thermosphere
Greek
Thallus
thermos- combining form of “hot” (heat)
Greek
-sphaira a globe shape, ball, sphere
thallos- young green shoot
The outermost layer of the earth’s atmosphere.
-us thing
A plant that possesses an undifferentiated stem Thermostat
and lacks true vascular tissue. Greek
thermos- combining form of “hot” (heat)
Thermoacidophile
-statos standing, stay, make firm, fixed, balanced
Greek
An automatic device for regulating temperature.
thermos- combining form of “hot” (heat)
-acido- of or related to an acid Thigmotropism
-phile one who loves or has a strong affinity or Greek
preference for thigma- to touch
An organism that thrives in a strongly acidic envi- -trope- bend, curve, turn, a turning; response to
ronment at high temperatures. stimulus
-ism state or condition, quality
 Titrate 187

The turning or bending response of an organism Thymine

upon direct contact with a solid surface or object. Greek
thym(ic) acid- acid from the thymus
Thoracic
-ine of or relating to
Greek
An essential nitrogenous base found in DNA.
thorakikos- thorax, chest
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of Thymus
Of, pertaining to, or situated in or near the chest. Greek
thumos wartlike outgrowth
Thoracocentesis
A tiny lymphatic gland located behind the ster-
Latin
num. It is active in young people and is mostly
thorakikos- thorax, chest
involved with T cell differentiation. It diminishes
-cente- puncture
in size and becomes vestigial in adults.
-sis action, process, state, condition
Aspiration of the pleural cavity. A surgical proce- Thyroid
dure where the chest wall is punctured to allow Latin
for the drainage of fluids from the chest. thureos- oblong shield, door
-oid (oeides) resembling; having the appearance of
Thorax
An endocrine gland located laterally to the tra-
Greek
chea in mammals; it produces various hormones,
thorakikos thorax, chest
including triiodothyronine and calcitonin.
The cage of bone and cartilage where the primary
organs of the respiratory system reside. Formed Thysanoptera
ventrally by the sternum and costal cartilages and Greek
dorsally by the twelve thoracic vertebrae con- thysanos- fringe
nected to the dorsal parts of the twelve ribs. -pteron feather, wing
An insect order classified as being minute to
Thrombocyte
small, with long, narrow bodies and broadly
Greek
fringed wings (also know as thrips).
thrombo- clot, blood clot
-cyte (kutos) sac or bladder that contains fluid Thysanura
A cell, specifically platelets responsible for initi- Greek
ating the clotting of blood. thysanos- fringe
-ura tail
Thrombocytopenia
Silverfish; wingless, quick-moving, flattened
Greek
insects that lack metamorphosis and are consid-
thrombo- clot, blood clot
ered by humans to be a pest species.
-kutos- (cyto) sac or bladder that contains fluid
-penia reduction, poverty, lack, deficiency Tide
A reduced number of platelets in the blood. Old English
tima division of time
Thrombosis
The periodic variation in the surface level of the
New Latin
oceans caused by the gravitational attraction of
thrombo- clot, blood clot
the moon and the sun.
-sis action, process, state, condition
Formation of a clot in a blood vessel. Time
Anglo Saxon
Thrust
tima time, hour, or season
Old Norse
The period between two events.
thrysta to tire
The force provided to drive an object through a Tinnitus
medium, such as an airplane through air. Latin
tinnire to ring
Thylakoids
A ringing sound in the ears, the cause of which is
Greek
unknown.
thylakos- sack
-oid (oeides) resembling, having the appearance of Titrate
Fattened sac within a granum whose membrane French
contains chlorophyll and where the light-depen- titre- concentration of a substance
dent reactions of photosynthesis occur. -ate characterized by having
188 Titration

To determine the concentration of a substance by Trachea

titration. Greek/Latin
trakheia rough
Titration
Main trunk of the system of tubes by which air
Latin
passes to and from the lungs.
titre- concentration of a substance
-ion state, process, or quality of Trait
The process of determining the concentration of a Latin
substance in solution by adding to it a standard tractus drag, drawing out, line
reagent of known concentration in carefully mea- A distinguishing quality; an inherited characteristic.
sured amounts until a reaction of definite propor-
Trajectory
tion is completed.
Latin
Tongue traicere- to cause to cross.
Latin -ory of or pertaining to
tunge tongue The path followed by a projectile.
A muscular organ that is usually attached to the
Transcription
floor of the mouth.
Latin
Tonsil trans- across or through
Latin -scribere to write down
toles tonsil A process in which DNA serves as a template for
Mass of lymphoid tissue in the back of the mouth RNA formation.
and the throat and on the rear of the tongue.
Transduction
Topography Latin
Greek transducere- transfer
topos- place -ion state, process, or quality of
-graphia (graphein) to write, record, draw, describe The transfer of genetic material from one micro-
The configuration of a surface, including its relief and organism to another by a viral agent.
the position of its natural and man-made features.
Transfer
Torque Latin
Latin trans- across or through
torquere to twist -ferre to carry
The moment of a force or the measurement of a To convey or cause to pass from one place, per-
force’s tendency to produce torsion or rotation son, or thing to another.
around an axis.
Transformation
Toxic Latin
Greek trans- across or through
toxikos- poison -forma- shape
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of -ion state, process, or quality of
Having to do with poison or something harmful to The alteration of a bacterial cell caused by the
the body. transfer of DNA from another bacterial cell.
Toxicity Transfusion
Greek Latin
toxikos- poison trans- across or through
-ity state of, quality of -fundere- to pour
Of, relating to, or caused by a poison or toxin. -ion state, process, or quality of
The act of instilling, moving, or transferring a
Toxicomania
substance from one vessel to another.
Greek/English
toxikos- poison Transgenesis
-mania obsessive preoccupation with something; Latin
madness, frenzy; obsession, or abnormal desire for trans- across or through
An intense craving for poisons; an urge to poison -gen- to give birth, kind, produce
oneself. -sis action, process, state, condition
 Triceps 189

Integration into a living organism of a foreign -spir- to breathe

gene that confers upon the organism a new prop- -ion state, process, or quality of
erty that it will transmit to its descendants. The evaporative loss of water from a plant.
Transgenic Transplant
Latin Latin
trans- across or through trans- across or through
-gen- to give birth, kind, produce -plantare to plant
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of To uproot a plant from one area to another, or to
Refers to an organism that contains genes from remove an organ or tissue from an animal and
another species, where the genes contain foreign place it in another.
DNA.
Transport
Translation Latin
Latin trans- across or through
trans- across or through -portare carry
-latus- brought The movement or transference of biochemical
-ion state, process, or quality of substances from one site to another.
The process by which mRNA directs the amino
Transverse
acid sequence of a growing polypeptide during
Latin
protein synthesis.
trans- across or through
Translocation -vertere to turn
Latin Situated or lying across; crosswise.
trans- across or through
Trematode
-locus- place
Greek
-ion state, process, or quality of
tremat- perforation
The rearrangement of genetic material within the
-hodos wave
same chromosome, or the transfer of a segment of
A class of parasitic flatworms that attach them-
one chromosome to another, nonhomologous one.
selves to hosts by hooks or suckers.
Translucent
Triassic
Latin
Latin
trans- across or through
trias- three
-lucere- to shine
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
-ent causing an action, being in a specific state, within
Of or belonging to the geologic time, system of
Transmitting light but causing sufficient diffusion
rocks, or sedimentary deposits of the first period
to prevent the perception of distinct images.
of the Mesozoic era, characterized by the diversi-
Translunar fication of land life, the rise of dinosaurs, and the
Latin appearance of the earliest mammals.
trans- across or through
Triboluminescence
-luna- moon
Greek/Latin
-ar relating to or resembling
tribein- to rub
Extending beyond the moon or its orbit around
-lumen- light
the earth.
-ence the condition of
Transmission The production of light taking the appearance of
Latin tiny sparks that are observed in the dark in some
trans- across or through minerals when a hard point is dragged across the
-miss- to let go or to send surface of the mineral.
-ion state, process, or quality of
Triceps
The process of causing to pass through, be con-
Latin
veyed, or be sent out.
tri- three
Transpiration -caput head
Latin A muscle with three points of origin.
trans- across or through
190 Triceratops

Triceratops Trigeminal
Greek Greek
tri- three tri- three
-keras- horn -gemin- twin, double
-ops eye, face -al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
A herbivorous dinosaur of the genus Triceratops, or character of
of the Cretaceous period, having a bony plate The main sensory nerve of the face and motor
covering the neck, a large horn above either eye, nerve for the muscles of mastication.
and a small horn on the nose.
Trisomy
Trichinella Greek
Greek tri- three
trichinos- made of hair -soma- (somatiko) body
-ella little -y place for an activity, condition, state
One of the group of parasitic nematodes that are slen- Abnormal condition of having three copies of a
der and hairlike; roundworms that cause trichinosis. chromosome rather than the normal two in a
somatic cell.
Trichocyst
Greek Trophozoite
trichinos- made of hair Greek
-cyst (kustis) sac or bladder that contains fluid trophos- (trophein) to nourish, food, nutrition;
A threadlike stinging or grasping structure pos- development
sessed by some ciliates and other protists that is -zoion animal, living being
used for capturing prey. The adult, active feeding stage of unicellular
organisms in the class Sporozoa.
Trichoptera
Greek Tropism
trichino- made of hair Greek
-pteron feather, wing trope- bend, curve, turn, a turning; response to
The four-winged insect order whose species are stimulus
found near lakes and streams; caddisflies. -ism state or condition, quality
The turning or bending movement of an organism
Trichroism
toward or away from an external stimulus.
Greek
tri- three Tropopause
-khros- color Greek
-ism state or condition, quality trope- bend, curve, turn, a turning; response to
The property possessed by certain minerals in stimulus
which three different colors are displayed when -pausis stop
the mineral is viewed from three different direc- Atmospheric region between the troposphere and
tions under white lights. the stratosphere.
Triclinic Troposphere
Greek Greek
tri- three trope- bend, curve, turn, a turning; response to
-klinein to lean, sloping stimulus
Having three unequal axes intersecting at oblique -sphaira a globe shape, ball, sphere
angles. The lowest region of the atmosphere between the
earth’s surface and the tropopause, characterized by
Tricuspid
decreasing temperature with increasing altitude.
Greek
tri- three Trough
-cuspis- sharp point, cusp Middle English
-id state, condition; having, being, pertaining to, trog wooden vessel
tending to, inclined to The minimum point in a wave or alternating signal.
Structure having three cusps; the molars (teeth)
Tsunami
and the tricuspid valve of the human heart.
Japanese
 Tyrannosaur 191

tsu- port Tympanic

-nami wave Greek
A large ocean wave caused by an underwater tumpanon- drum
earthquake or volcanic eruption. -ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
Relating to the membrane, a diaphragm-like
Tubule
structure that is external on some insects and
Latin
internal in mammals.
tubus- pipe
-ule little, small Tyrannosaur
A very small tube or tubelike structure. Greek
turannos- tyrant
Tufa
-sauros lizard
Latin
A large dinosaur with small forelimbs, a large
tufos tuff
head, and a strong tail that existed during the
Calcareous lime deposits usually formed as pre-
Upper Cretaceous period in North America.
cipitates from springs with high concentrations of
calcium; unusual formations of lime deposits.
Tumor
Latin
tumere to swell
An abnormal growth of tissue characterized by a
proliferation of cells serving no useful purpose.
Ulcer Unicellular
Latin Latin
ulcus open sore uni- same, one
Lesion of the skin or mucous membrane in which -cellul- cell, small room
bleeding usually occurs and necrosis of the sur- -ar relating to or resembling
rounding tissue often occurs. Plant and animal-like organisms that have or con-
sist of one cell; to be one-celled.
Ultraviolet
Latin Uniform
ultra- beyond, to an extreme degree Latin
-violet shortest ray on the visible spectrum uni- same, one
Lying just beyond the violet end of the visible -forma shape
spectrum. Being always the same, as in character or degree;
unvarying.
Umbra
Latin Uniparous
umbra shadow Latin
The completely dark portion of the shadow cast by uni- same, one
the earth, moon, or other body during an eclipse. -para- to bring forth, to bear
-ous full of, having the quality of, relating to
Undifferentiated
Refers to animals that produce one offspring at a
Latin
time or to plants that form a single axis at each
un- not
branching.
-differens different
Refers to cells during embryonic growth that Unit
have not yet developed into organs and tissues Latin
with specialized functions. unus one
A determinate quantity adopted as a standard of
Ungulate
measurement.
Latin
unguis- hoofed, clawed, nail Unsaturated
-ate characterized by having Latin
Of or belonging to the former order Ungulata; un- not
hooved mammals such as horses, cattle, deer, and -satur- full
swine. -ate characterized by having
Containing less of a solute required for equilibrium.
 Uvula 193

Uracil Uropod
Latin Greek
urina- (ur)ea urine uro- tail
-acetum- (ac)ectic acetic acid, vinegar -pod foot
-il substance relating to One of the abdominal appendages of a crusta-
An essential chemical of RNA. cean, which are used chiefly in locomotion.
Urease Uterine
Latin Latin
urea- urine uterus- womb
-ase enzyme -ine of or relating to
An enzyme that promotes the hydrolysis of urea. Of, pertaining to, or in the region of the uterus.
Ureter Uterus
Greek Latin
ouron- water, rain, wet; urine uterus womb
-ter denoting the instrument A hollow muscular organ of the female mammal for
A thick-walled tube that conveys urine from the the gestation of fetuses, located in the pelvic region.
kidney to the urinary bladder.
Utilization
Urethra Latin
Greek utilize- to use
ourethra urinate -ion state, process, or quality of
A canal extending from the bladder to the exterior The act or process of putting something to use for
of the body; it carries urine in both sexes and a productive purpose.
semen in males of the species.
Uvula
Urinary Latin
Greek uva- grape (swollen)
ouron- water, rain, wet; urine -ula little, small
-ary of, relating to, or connected with A small, pendant/grape-shaped, fleshy mass of
Of or relating to the organs involved in the forma- tissue suspended from the center of the posterior
tion and excretion of urine. border of the soft palate.
Vaccine Vaporization
Latin Latin
vacc- cow vapor- diffuse matter in air
-ine a chemical substance -ize to make, to treat, to do something with
A substance prepared from pathogens that is -ion state, process, or quality of
injected into the body in order to build antibodies The process of converting a liquid into a gas.
and create immunity from diseases caused by
Vaporize
those pathogens.
Latin
Vacuole vapor- diffuse matter in air
Latin/French -ize to make, to treat, to do something with
vacuus- empty To convert or be converted into vapor.
-ole little
Variation
A membrane-enclosed cavity that contains water,
Latin
food, or wastes from cellular activity.
variare- different, diversity, change
Vagina -ion state, process, or quality of
Latin Divergence in the characteristics of an organism
vagina sheath from the species or population norm or average.
A tube or canal that extends from the uterus to the
Varicose
exterior of the body.
Latin
Valence varic- swollen vein
Latin -ose full of, containing, having the qualities of,
valere to be strong like
Any number given to an element or ion as an indi- Describes the abnormal condition of swollen or
cator of combining sites; also used to determine twisted superficial veins.
whether electrons will be gained or lost as a result
Variegation
of a chemical reaction.
Latin
Vapor varius- various
Latin -agere- to do, drive
vapor diffuse matter in air -ion state, process, or quality of
Suspended liquid, particulate matter, or smoke Irregular variation in the color of plant organs,
within a gas, such as steam or fog. such as leaves or flowers.
 Venule 195

Vas deferens Vegetation

Latin Latin
vas- vessel, duct vegetat- to enliven
-de- reverse the action of, undo, from, apart, away -ion state, process, or quality of
-ferre to carry The act or process of vegetating; plants growing
The duct or tubule by which semen is carried in a given area.
from the epididymis to the ejaculatory duct.
Vein
Vascular Latin
Latin vena vessel, tube
vas- vessel, duct Large blood vessel that conducts blood toward
-cul- small, tiny the heart.
-ar relating to or resembling
Velocity
Characterized by containing vessels that carry or
Latin
circulate fluids through plants and animals.
velox- quick
Vasodilation -ity state of, quality of
Latin The vector quantity used to measure speed.
vas- vessel, duct
Vena cava
-di- apart, away, from
Latin
-latus- wide
vena- vein
-ion state, process or quality of
-cava empty, hollow
The act or process of increasing the diameter of a
Very large veins, both superior and inferior, that
small blood vessel.
empty blood into the right atrium of the heart.
Vasopressin
Vent
Latin
Latin
vas- vessel, duct
ventus wind
-premere- to press, curtail, prohibit
The opening of a volcano in the earth’s crust.
-in protein or derived from a protein
Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) secreted by the Ventifact
anterior lobe of the pituitary gland. This hormone Latin
simultaneously constricts small blood vessels, ventus- wind
raises blood pressure, and reduces urinary output. -(arti)fact product or result
A stone that has been shaped by wind-driven sand.
Vasospasm
Latin/Greek Ventral
vas- vessel, duct Latin
-spasmos involuntary contraction, pull venter- belly
Constriction of a blood vessel. -al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
or character of
Vastus
Of or close to the abdomen, on the front of the
Latin
human body or on the lower side of an animal or
vastus broad, large
fish.
Term suggesting “large” or “broad,” in reference
to muscle size. Ventricle
Latin
Vector
ventricul- belly
Latin
-us thing
vehere to carry
One of the small chambers or cavities usually
In physics, a quantity with both magnitude and
associated with the heart or brain.
direction. In biology, an organism that carries
pathological organisms and delivers them from Venule
one host to another. In genetics, a plasmid or Latin
other agent that carries genetic material from one vena- vessel, tube
cell to another. -ule little, small
Smaller blood vessel that conducts blood toward a
larger vein that ultimately returns blood to the heart.
196 Vermiculite

Vermiculite Refers to an indication, either by structural feature

Latin or some other minute piece of evidence, of the
vermis- worm existence of a body part that no longer is present in
-lithos- stone, rock the modern species (i.e., the forelimbs of ostriches).
-ite minerals and fossils
Vibration
Any of a group of micaceous hydrated silicate
Latin
minerals related to the chlorites and used in heat-
vibrare- to move back and forth
expanded form as insulation and as a planting
-ion state, process, or quality of
medium.
The act or process of rapidly moving back and forth.
Vermiform
Vibrissae
Latin
Latin
verm- worm
vibro- to quiver, to oscillate
-forma having the form of
-ae plural
A legless, wormlike larva without a well-developed
Stiff hairs or feathers, usually projecting from the
head.
face (i.e., whiskers).
Vertebrate
Villus
Latin
Latin
vertebratus- jointed
vill- tuft of hair or fleece
-ate characterized by having
-us thing
Having a backbone or spinal column; an animal
Small, fingerlike projections extending into the
in the phylum Chordata, subdivision Vertebrata.
interior of the small intestine and increasing the
Vertex absorptive area of the intestinal wall.
Latin
Viper
vertere to turn
Latin
The point at which the sides of an angle intersect;
vipera snake
the highest peak of a mountain.
Any of several venomous Old World snakes of
Vertical the family Viperidae, having a single pair of long,
Latin hollow fangs and a thick, heavy body.
vertic- highest point
Viremia
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
Latin
or character of
virus- poison
The axis perpendicular to the horizon (up and
-emia the condition of having (a specific thing) in
down); positioned at the highest point.
the blood
Vertigo Viruses found moving within the bloodstream;
Latin they may be pathogenic.
vertere to turn
Virus
The sensation of a whirling or spinning motion
Latin
associated with oneself or with external objects;
virus poison
confused or disoriented.
Any of various simple submicroscopic parasites
Vesicle of plants, animals, and bacteria that often cause
Latin disease.
vesic- little bladder
Visceral
-ula little, small
Latin
Within the cytoplasm of cells, one of a variety of
viscidus- sticky
small, membrane-bound sacs that function in the
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form
transport, storage, or digestion of substances or in
or character of
some other activity.
Of the internal organs of the body, such as the
Vestigial heart, lungs, and intestines.
Latin
Viscosity
vestigium- no sign of any return
Latin
-ial relating to or characterized by
viscosus- sticky
-ity state or quality
 Vulva 197

Numerical measure of the degree to which a fluid Volcanic

resists flow under an applied force. Latin
vol’nus- fire, flames (named after the Roman god
Vision
of fire)
Latin
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
videre- to see
Pertains to extrusive rocks that cool above the
-ion state, process, or quality of
surface.
Eyesight; the ability to see.
Volcano
Vitamin
Latin
Latin
vol’nus fire, flames (named after the Roman god
vita- live
of fire)
-ammonia- a colorless pungent gas, NH3
A mountain formed of lava, ash, and larger frag-
-ine a chemical substance
ments ejected during numerous eruptions.
Various water- or oil-soluble organic substances
that are ingested in small amounts and are essen- Volume
tial for growth and development. Latin
volumen to roll
Vitreous
The amount of space occupied by a three-dimen-
Latin
sional object or region of space, expressed in
vitrium- glass
cubic units.
-ous full of, having the quality of, relating to
Of or resembling glass; clear substance. Volvox
Latin
Viviparity
volvere to roll
Latin
Hollow, spherical, multicellular green algae of
viva- life, alive
the genus Volox that are found in freshwater.
-para- to bring forth, to bear
-ity state of, quality of Vulva
Reproduction in animals whose embryos develop Latin
within the female parent and derive nourishment vulva womb, covering
from her tissues (i.e., the placenta). The external genitalia of the female, including the
labia, hymen, perineum, and clitoris.
Volatile
Latin
volare- to fly
-ile changing, ability, suitable, tending to
Refers to that which readily evaporates at room
temperature and pressure.
Water
Old English
wæter water
Odorless, colorless, tasteless fluid vital to all
plants and animals.
Wattle
Old English
watel hurdle
A fleshy, wrinkled, often brightly colored process
hanging from the neck or throat, common in cer-
tain birds, such as chickens.
Wax
Old English
weax wax
Oils and greases composed of hydrocarbons and
esters that are quite sensitive to heat and insoluble
in water.
Henry Cavendish
Perhaps Henry Cavendish lost his chance at fame
and glory because of his odd, quirky personality.
Henry was painfully shy toward strangers and
women. He was, however, respected and admired
by his colleagues. According to accounts from his
contemporaries, Henry would refrain from making
eye contact with anyone but those closest to him.
Henry Cavendish was born in Nice, France, on
October 10, 1731, and he died 78 years later, on
February 24, 1810. During his sequestered life,
Henry discovered some of the most important prin-
Weather
Old English
weder weather
The regional condition of the atmosphere with
respect to temperature, humidity, precipitation,
and wind.
Weight
Old English
wegan to weigh
The force on an object as a result of gravitation.
Work
Greek
ergon activity
The amount of energy required to exert a force
over a given distance.
ciples of chemistry but historically has been given
little credit for those discoveries. After his death,
many of Cavendish’s discoveries were later made
by others. It wasn’t until James Clerk Maxwell, a
Scottish mathematician, went through Cavendish’s
writings in the latter part of the nineteenth century
that the outside world realized what Henry had
accomplished in his life. Ohm’s law, Dalton’s law
of partial pressure, and Charles’ law of gases,
though not so named, were among the principles of
chemistry included in Cavendish’s narratives.

By experimentation, Cavendish was able to
accurately calculate the density of the earth relative
to water. The results of his experiments led to the
calculation of the actual mass of the earth. He was
accurate to within 1 percent of the earth’s actual
mass, which is estimated at 5.9725 billion trillion
tons.
We associate Henry Cavendish with the
discovery of the composition of water. Cavendish is
given credit for the discovery of hydrogen,
although, again, he didn’t name it as such. That did
not happen until Antoine Lavoisier researched
Cavendish’s experiments in 1777 and carried on
with them.
Work 199
Henry Cavendish’s experiments with gases were
meticulously conducted. He repeated his trials with
gases over and over as he attempted to successfully
differentiate them by their specific gravity.
Cavendish accurately established the
composition of earth’s atmosphere as being 79.167
percent “phlogisticated” (inflammable) air and
20.8333 percent “dephlogisticated” air. Today we
know that most of the phlogisticated air is nitrogen
and the dephlogisticated air is oxygen.
dephlogisticated air + inflammable air →water
[Now: 2 H2 (g) + O2 (g) →H2O (l)]
Xanthic Xenotransplantation
Greek Greek/Latin
xanthos- yellow xenos- stranger, different
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of -trans- across or through
In botany, pertains to any plant or fruit that has a -plantare- to plant
tendency to be yellowish in color. -ion state, process, or quality of
The surgical removal of an organ or tissue from
Xanthophyll
one species and the transplantation of it into a
Greek
member of a different species.
xenos- stranger, different
-phyll leaf Xerophyte
Yellow pigment that is found in the leaves of Greek
green plants and is masked by the green pigment xeros- dry, arid
chlorophyll. -phyte plant
A plant that lives in dry ecosystems, such as deserts.
Xenobiotic
Greek Xiphoid
xeno- guest Greek
-bios- life, living organisms, or tissue xiphos- sword
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of -oid (oeides) resembling; having the appearance of
Pertains to a drug or other foreign substance Refers to the pointed, cartilaginous tip attached to
capable of harming another living thing. the lower end of the breastbone or sternum; the
smallest and lowest division of the sternum.
Xenocrystal
Greek Xylem
xenos- stranger, different Greek
-krustallos ice xulon wood
A crystal foreign to the igneous rock in which it The supporting and water-conducting tissue of
occurs. vascular plants, consisting primarily of woody
tissue.
Xenogenic
Greek Xylophage
xenos- stranger, different Greek
-gen- to give birth, kind, produce xulon- wood
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of -phage eat, eating, consume, ingest
Refers to a trait originating from a genetically dif- An organism that eats wood, typically an insect.
ferent species and introduced into an organism. Certain mollusks and fungi also bore into wood.
Yeast In biology, the amount of food gathered from a
Old English given crop. In chemistry, the amount of product
gist yeast obtained from a given chemical reaction.
Single-celled fungi belonging to the families
Yolk
Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes.
Old English
Yew geolu yellow
Old English The yellow substance of an egg, composed of
iw yew water, protein, and lipids, that is surrounded by a
A type of evergreen tree found mostly in temper- clear, proteinatous layer of albumen.
ate climates and thriving in acid soils.
Youze
Yield East India
Old English youze cheetah
gelda to pay The cheetah.
Zeatin A metal that is whitish in color and malleable at
Greek warm temperatures; one of a group of metals used
zeia- wheat, barley, corn in the making of alloys.
-in protein or derived from a protein
Zircon
A plant hormone found in the endosperm of maize
Persian
fruits.
zargun- (Persian form azargun) gold colored
Zein ac- (as in açiyadiya) fire worship month
Greek -gun color
zeia wheat, barley, corn Stable mineral found in granite and that provides
A protein found in corn that is used in plastics, evidence for the earth’s crust being at least 4.2
coatings, and adhesives billion years old; a brown to colorless mineral,
ZrSiO4, which is heated, cut, and polished to
Zenith
form a brilliant, blue white gem.
Latin/Arabic
semita path over the head Zoanthropy
The point on the celestial sphere that is directly Greek
above the observer. zoon- animal, animal-like
-anthropo- man; human being, mankind
Zeolite
-y place for an activity, condition, state
Greek
A mental disorder categorized as a monomania,
zein- to boil
where an individual believes he has transformed
-lithos rock, stone
himself into another animal.
Aluminum silicate mineral whose molecules
enclose cations of sodium, potassium, calcium, Zone
strontium, or barium; used chiefly as molecular Greek
filters and ion-exchange agents. zone girdle, celestial zone
A distinctive region or area that is characterized
Zero
by a common set of features and relatively dis-
Arabic
tinct boundaries.
sifr nothing, cipher
Empty, nothing; the absence of any integer. Zoobenthos
Greek
Zinc
zoon- animal, animal-like
Old German
-benthos deep; the fauna and flora of the bottom
zinko spiked (because it became spiked or jagged
of the sea
in the oven)
Those fauna living in or on the seabed or lake floor.
 Zygodactylous 203

Zoodomatia Small animals that float or swim near the surface

Greek of water.
zoon- animal, animal-like
Zooplasty
-domatia commune, home
Greek
Plant structures that act as shelters for animals.
zoon- animal, animal-like
Zooflagellates -plastos- (plassein) something molded; to mold
zoon- animal, animal-like -y place for an activity, condition, state
-flagell- a whip The surgical procedure whereby animal tissue is
-ate characterized by having grafted and implanted in humans.
A group of animal-like protists that are character-
Zoosmosis
ized by having flagella.
Greek
Zoology zoon- animal, animal-like
Greek -osmos- for thrust, push
zoon- animal, animal-like -sis action, process, state, condition
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or The osmotic process occurring in living systems,
bodies of knowledge specifically in animals.
The branch of biology that deals with the study of
Zoosporangium
the structure, physiology, development, and clas-
Greek
sification of animals.
zoon- animal, animal-like
Zoonosis -spora- seed
Greek -y place for an activity, condition, state
zoon- animal, animal-like A vesicle in plants that holds zoospores.
-noso- disease
Zoospore
-sis action, process, state, condition
Greek
Any infection of a human by a pathogen whose
zoon- animal, animal-like
source is a reservoir of a nonhuman animal
-spora seed
pathogen.
Spores possessing flagella that are capable of
Zooparasite locomotion.
Greek
Zootoxin
zoon- animal, animal-like
Greek
-para- beside; near; alongside
zoon- animal, animal-like
-sitos- grain, food
-toxicum poison
-ite resident
A poison produced by an animal.
An animal that feeds off a host organism.
Zooxanthella
Zoophagous
Greek
Greek
zoon- animal, animal-like
zoon- animal, animal-like
-xanthos- yellow
-phagos- (phagein) to eat, eating
-ella dimunitive
-ous full of, having the quality of, relating to
Microscopic yellow-green algae that live symbi-
A broad term applied to animals that feed off
otically within the cells of coral.
other animals.
Zwitterion
Zoophyte
German
Greek
zwitterion hybrid ion
zoon- animal, animal-like
A molecule that has positive and negative charges
-phyte a plant
on opposite sides; a dipolar molecule.
Any animal that resembles a plant more than an
animal in morphology or mode of life. Zygodactylous
Greek
Zooplankton
zugon- to yoke, pair
Greek
-daktulos- toe, finger, digit
zoon- animal, animal-like
-ous full of, having the quality of, relating to
-planktos- passively drifting, wandering, roaming
A term applied to yoke-toed birds such as wood-
-on a particle
peckers, parrots, and cuckoos; the toes of these
204 Zygoma

birds are in sets of two, with one set lying anterior Zygospore
to the leg and the other posterior. Greek
zugon- to yoke, pair
Zygoma
-spora seed, a sowing
Greek
A thick-walled spore of some algae and fungi
zugoun to join, bolt
formed by the union of two similar sexual cells;
The slender bony arch that joins the cheek to the
usually serves as a resting spore and produces the
temporal bone.
sporophytic phase of the plant.
Zygomatic
Zygote
Greek
Greek
zugoun- to join, bolt
zugon to yoke, pair
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
A cell formed by the union of two gametes.
Of or relating to the area of the zygoma.
Zymurgy
Zygomorphic
Greek
Greek
zym- leaven
zugon- to yoke, pair
-ourgos work
-morph- shape, form, figure, or appearance
The branch of chemistry that deals with the pro-
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
cess of fermentation.
Refers to an organism having a paired or bilateral
symmetry.
 Common Prefixes

a- no, absence of, without, lack of, not auto- self, same, spontaneous; directed from within
ab- off, away from avis- bird
acere- to be sour baktron- a staff; rod
ad- to, a direction toward, addition to, near baro- weight, heavy; combining form meaning
aden- lymph gland(s) “pressure”
aequi- equal, same, similar, even bathy- deep, depth
aer- air, atmosphere, mist, wind bi- two, twice, double, twofold
algeis- pain blastos- germ, bud
alkali- (Latin) basic, pH more than 7 brakhi on- upper arm
allos- other, different bronkhos- windpipe
alqili- (Arabic) ashes (originally from Arabic centi- one hundredth
word al-qali, which means “ashes,” and recalls the cephalo- (kephalikos) head
elements Na [sodium] and K [potassium] left in chaeto- spine, bristle; long, flowing hair
the ashes of burning wood or plants) cheil- claw, lip, edge, or brim
amnion- embryo, bowl, lamb chemo-, khemeia- chemical/alchemy
amphi- on both or all sides, around chlor- the color green, yellow-green, or light green
an- no, absence of, without, lack of, not circum- in a circle; around, about, surrounding
ana- anew, up co- to the same extent, degree; together, jointly
andros- male com- (con) together, with, jointly; compress, converge
anemos- wind cyano- (kyanos) blue, dark blue
angeion- vessel, usually a blood vessel dactylo- finger, toe
ante- before or prior to de- do or make the opposite of, reverse the action
anth- flower; that which buds or sprouts of, undo; from, apart, away
anthropo- man; human being, mankind deinos- terrible, monstrous
anti- opposing, opposite, against dendro- tree, resembling a tree
apo- away from, off, separate dermat- skin
aqua- water di- apart, away, from, two
archae- original, beginning, origin, ancient dia- through, across, apart
art eri a- windpipe, artery diploos- double
arthr- joint dis- apart, away from, utterly, completely, in all
astros- star directions
athera- tumors full of pus, like a gruel dys- painful, difficult, disordered, impaired, defective, ill
atmos- vapor e- out
atri- open area, central court, hall, entrance, or main ektos- outer; external, out of, out, outside; away from
room of an ancient Roman house
206 Common Prefixes

elektron- charge, electricity, dealing with positive medius- middle

and negative charges megas- large, great, big, powerful
en- in, into, inward; within melas- (melas) the color black, dark
endo- inside, within mesos- middle
environ- round about; encircle meta- between, after, beyond, later
epi- above, over, on, upon micro- denotes one-millionth of a part
eu- good, well; true mono- one, single, alone
ex- outside/outward, out of, out; away from morph- shape, form, figure or appearance
ferrum- iron; pertaining to or containing iron myco- fungus
fibro-, fibr-, fibra- fiber; an elongated threadlike myel- (muelos) bone marrow
structure myo- muscle
frangere- to break necro- death
gamet- husband or wife; to marry nephros- kidney
gastr- stomach, belly neur- nerve, cord
ge- earth, world nervus- sinew, tendon
gen- origin, birth nom- (nemein) to dictate the laws of, knowledge,
germen- a bud, offshoot usage, order
gravis- heavy, weighty non- not, lack of
haima- blood nucula- kernel, little nut
h elio- sun oikos- home, house
hemi- half oion- egg
hepta- liver or- mouth
herba- grass, green crops ortho- straight, true, correct, right
heteros- different os- mouth
holos- complete, whole, entire, all, full osteon- bone
homeo- same, like, resembling, sharing, similar, equal ovum- egg
hydr- of or having to do with water pan- all
hyper- above, high para- beside, near, alongside
hypo- under, below, beneath, less than, too little, pathos- suffering, disease
deficient ped- foot
infra- inferior to, below, or beneath per- through, across
inter- among, mutually, together, between, among peri- around, about, enclosing
intra- within, inside petros- a rock, fossil, or stone
isos- equal, uniform, same, similar, alike phagos- (phagein) to eat, eating
kard- heart, pertaining to the heart phainein- to show, appear, display; making evident;
kary- nut, walnut, kernel, nucleus literally, “to come”
kata- down, downward; under, lower; against; pherbein- to graze
entirely, completely pherein- to carry, bear, support; go
kentron- center, sharp point philos- love, fondness for, loving
khondros- granule, cartilage photos- light, radiant energy
khromat- color phukos- rock lichen, seaweed
kinetikos- to move; set in motion phullon- leaf
klinein- to lean, sloping phuton- plant
koilos- hollow cavity pinein- to drink
kosmos- universe, order plastos- (plassein) something molded; to mold
kustis- (cyst) sac or bladder that contains fluid platus- flat
kyklos- circle, wheel, cycle, rotate pneumon- lung, breath
leukos- white, clear, or colorless poly- many or much
lipos- fat pro-, prot- before, forward; for, in favor of; in front of
lithos- stone or rock proteros- earlier
ly- (luein) to loosen, dissolve, dissolution, break pseudes- false
lympha- clear water, water nymph psych- mind, consciousness, mental process
magn- great pteron- feather, wing
makros- long, large, great quadi- four
mala- bad radi- radiant or radiation energy, wireless transmitter
 Common Prefixes 207

re- to do something again or go against syn- joined together, together with

rodere- to gnaw tele- far off, distant
sapro- rotten, putrid, decay telos- end
sed- sit thallos- young green shoot
semi- half thermos- combining form of “hot” (heat)
s epein- to make rotten, putrefactive thrombo- clot, blood clot
sinus- hollow topos- place
sklero- hard trans- across or through
soma- (somatiko) body tri- three
specere- to look at, appearance trope- bend, curve, turn, a turning; response to
spora- seed stimulus
staphylo- cluster trophos- (trophein) to nourish, food, nutrition;
statos- standing, stay, make firm, fixed development
stereos- three dimensional, solid, firm, hard ultra- beyond, to an extreme degree
stratum- horizontal layer; stretched, spread out; un- not
layer, cloud layer uni- same, one
sub- under or below vas- vessel, duct
super- superior in size, quality, number, or vena- vein
degree; exceeding the norm viva- life, alive
sus- (sub) below, under, beneath xenos- stranger, different
sym- with, together zoon- animal, animal-like
 Common Roots

abdomen belly, venter alleion mutually

aberrare deviation from the proper or expected course alligare to bind
abradere to scrape off allium onion, garlic bulb
accipiter hawk alqili (Arabic) ashes (originally from Arabic word
accuratus done with care al-qali, which means “ashes,” and recalls the ele-
acere to be sour ments Na [sodium] and K [potassium] left in the
acerv are to heap ashes of burning wood or plants)
activus to drive, do alter other
actus to set in motion altus high, highest, tall, lofty
acus (acuere) to sharpen; needle, point alveus hollow, belly
aden lymph gland(s) am (ampere) named for Andre Marie Ampere
adip of or pertaining to fat amalgama mixture
aera counters ameibein to change
aerobe organism requiring oxygen to live amino relating to an amine or other compound con-
aesthe feeling, sensation, perception taining an NH2 group
aestus tide, surge ammonia a colorless pungent gas, NH3
agogos a leading, a guide amnion embryo, bowl, lamb
agon conflict, contest ampho (amphoteros) both, each of two
agulum to condense, to drive amplus large, full
aion indefinitely long period of time amygdale almond
aisthesis feeling analogos proportionate
aither upper air ancon elbow
aitia cause ane organic compound containing no multiple bonds
akanthos thorn plant angeion vessel, usually a blood vessel
aktin ray (as of light), radiance, radiating angulus angle
albumo the color white ankhon e a strangling
albus the color white annellus little ring
aleiphein to anoint with oil antara interior
alere to nourish anth flower, that which buds or sprouts
alescere to come together or grow anthrankitis name of a fiery gem
alga seaweed anthropo man; human being, mankind
algesi pain, sense of pain; painful, hurting aort lower extremity of the windpipe; by exten-
alimentum nourishment, supplying food sion, extremity of the heart, the great artery
alkali (Latin) basic, pH more than 7 apat e deceit
alkyl alcohol; a monovalent radical, such as ethyl or aponeurousthai to become tendinous
propyl aptare fit, fitted, suited
210 Common Roots

aqua water bresta to break asunder

arakhn spider brevis brief
arassein to strike bronkhos windpipe
arbor tree bruein to be full, bursting
arc bow, arch, or bend bruon moss
archae original, beginning, origin, ancient bul place for
argillos clay bulla bubble
arithmos number buoy to float
aroma smell (due to sweet smell of benzene and bussos bottom
related organic groups) bustus to burn
arteria windpipe, artery cadere to fall, die
arthr joint caecus blind
articulus small joint caelum sky, heaven
artificialis not natural, manmade caldaria cooking pot
askarizein to jump, throb calor heat
askos bag calve calf
astros star cambiare to exchange
äther etherlike acid camoufler to disguise
atri open area, central court, hall, entrance, or main can alis conduit
room of an ancient Roman house cancer crab
audit hearing, listening, perception of sounds candela candle
augere to increase cani dog
auricula ear canthus rim of a wheel or vessel
aurora dawn cap catch, seize, take hold of, contain, take, hold
aurum gold capacitas spacious
austr south, south wind capill hairy
auxein to grow cappa cap or cape
avis bird carbo coal, charcoal
awariyah damaged merchandise carbonate to charge with carbon dioxide gas
axios worthy carota carrot
axis central carpus wrist; that which turns
ax on axis cartilago cartilage
baktron a staff; rod caud tail
bar weight, pressure caudex book
basid foundation or base caulis stem
basis fundamental ingredient, foundation cauter heat
benthos deep; the fauna and flora of the bottom of cavare to make hollow
the sea c edere to go
beta second letter of the Greek alphabet cella chamber
bio life, living organisms, or tissue cellula little cell
bios life, living organisms, or tissue centrum center
bit umen a mineral pitch from the Near East cephalo (kephalikos) head
blaedre bladder cer wax
blastos bud, germ cell cerebr of or relating to the brain or cerebrum
blepharon eyelid cernre to separate
bl od to thrive or bloom c erussa a white lead pigment, sometimes used in
bol (ballein) to put or throw cosmetics
bombos booming sound cervic stem of cervix
boreios coming from the north cetu whale
botah (body) the material frame of humans and animals chemo, khemeia chemical; alchemy
botan e fodder, plants chimaira she-goat
botulus sausage chir hand; pertaining to the hand or hands
bov cow chore a central and often foundational part, usually
brakhi on upper arm distinct from the enveloping part by a difference in
bredan to breed nature
 Common Roots 211

chylos juice dendr tree, resembling a tree

ciere to set in motion dens to press close together
circulus to make circular densi thick, thickly set, crowded, compact
circum in a circle; around, about, surrounding denti teeth or tooth
cirro hair or wispy dentis tooth
cist to cut derm skin
cl avis key (from its shape) desiccare make quite dry
cleave to split or separate deterere to lessen, wear away
clitellae packsaddle deuteros second, two in number
cloa’cae drain diast dilation, spreading
clupea herring, small fish dicho akin to
co agulum coagulator didumos twins, testicles
cod a code of laws, a writing tablet; an account book diffundere to spread out
coelom, (koilomat) cavity digerere to break down
colere to till diploos double
commodus to adjust, suitable diurnus day
communis commons diverse differing from another
compose to form, create dold to dull
conch shell dominae to rule
copula bond or pair domo house, home
corneus horny doopen to dip
corniculum horn, hornlike structure dormire to sleep
corolla small garland dorsalis back
corona crown draga to draw, drag
cortic bark, rind, that which is stripped off dramein/dromos to run
costo rib drum ridge, back; long, narrow hill
cracian to break apart ducere to lead, bring, take; to draw or lead
cremo, crem to hang; hung, hung up ductus to be hammered out into a tube or pipe;
creper dark leading or drawing
creta chalk dunamikos powerful
crevace crevice duodecum twelve
cropp craw durare to harden; hard growth
crum planted with trees dygre dry
crusta shell, hard surface of a body eco environment, habitat
cult to care for, to dwell, to inhabit efficere to effect
cumaru tonka bean tree eghe resembling an eye shape
cumul pile or heap eicere to throw out
cumul are to pile up eisodios coming in besides, entering
currere to coincide ekdusis to shed or molt
cuspis sharp point, cusp ekithos yolk
cutis skin elaunein to beat out
cutten to separate into parts with or as if with a elektron charge, electricity, dealing with positive
sharp-edged instrument and negative charges
cyano (kyanos) blue, dark blue elementum rudiment, first principle
cygnus swan eliminat to banish
cyte (kutos) sac or bladder that contains fluid elleiptikos of a leaf shape; in the form of an ellipse
daktulos toe, finger, digit elongate to make or grow longer
datum something given elutron sheath
decidu to fall off emittere to send out
degrade to impair physical structure empeirikos doctor relying on experience alone
dei god, deity, divine nature enchyma tissue
deletes to erase, destroy enkephalos in the head
deliquiscere melt by absorption of moisture enteron intestine
delo visible, clear, clearly seen; obvious entomos cut from two, segmented
demos population, people equus horse
212 Common Roots

erbe herb hormo to rouse or to set in motion

erem lonely, solitary; hermit; desert hudor water
ergon work hybrida mongrel offspring
erosio an eating away hydr water
estiv dormancy in the summer jugare to join together
etymon true sense; earlier form of a word kainos recent
eurus a widening; broad, wide kairon nut; cell nucleus
evolut unrolling kalendae account book
experiri to try kalyx cup
externus outward kapnos smoke, carbon dioxide (CO2 )
facere to do, carry, bear, bring kard heart, pertaining to the heart
fecere make, do, cause, produce, build karkinos crab, cancer
ferre to carry karoun to put to sleep, plunge into sleep or stupor,
fibre an elongated, threadlike structure stupefy
flagrum whip karpos fruit
fl eoge fly kata down, downward; under, lower; against;
florere flower; to blossom entirely, completely
focus (fuel) hearth, fireplace kele hernia, tumor
folium leaf kentein to prick, puncture
foris outside kentron center, sharp point
formyl: form(ic) found in ants or relating to ants + keras horn
-yl suffix for organic acid kerkos tail
frangere to break khartes map, chart, paper
fugere to flee kheilos lip
fungi performance, execution khole bile
furca a fork khorde gut, string of a musical instrument
gaia earth khorion afterbirth
gastr stomach, belly khr oma color
ge earth, world khronos time
gen to give birth, kind, produce khr usallid gold-colored pupa of a butterfly
genitus born, to bear khumos juice
gerere to bear kin’ dh to sting, nettle
glene eyeball kine movement, motion
glotta tongue kinein to move
glutinare to glue kirkos circle
gl uti re to gulp kirrhos tawny yellow
gnatha jaw klados branch or spout
gn o to come to known klastos break, break in pieces
gnose to know or learn kleitoris clitoris
gonos offspring kleps to steal
gradus step or degree klime slope
gradus walk, step, take steps, move around; walk- klinein to lean, sloping
ing or stepping klinikos pertaining to a bed or couch
gramma letter klisis inclination
graphia (graphein) to write, record, draw, describe kl on young shoot or twig
gynous in relation to a female organ of a plant kn ekos safflower
haerere to stick together, cling to koiloma cavity
haima blood kokhlias snail
hal salt kokkos berry, grain, seed
havour to have kolkhikon meadow saffron
hedron face kolla glue
helios sun kolon large intestine
heteros different kometes long-haired
histanai to place, to stop koneion poison hemlock
homolus even konis dust
 Common Roots 213

kope oar mulg ere to milk out

kosmos universe, order myo muscle
kotuledon a kind of plant, a seed leaf, a hollow or nasus nose
cup-shaped object nautes sailor
kranion skull necro death
krater bowl for mixing wine and water negare say no, to deny
kreat flesh nekros death, corpse
krinein to separate nephros kidneys
kroke pebble neur nerve
krustallos ice, crystal, freeze, icelike nervus sinew, tendon
kuhl essences obtained by distillation nimbus cloud
kustis (cyst) sac or bladder that contains fluid noct night
kyklos circle, wheel, cycle, rotate nom (nemein) to dictate the laws of, knowledge,
lapar the soft part of the body between the ribs, hip, usage, order
and flank; the loin nosia disease
l atus wide och fixed
legein word, speech ocul of or relating to the eye
leipein to leave odontos tooth
lekithos egg yolk oid ema a swelling
libr balanced, level; make even; weight oikos home, house
lig are to tie, bind optic eye, optic
ligo bind, tie orexis appetite
lipo abandon, to leave (behind) otic state or condition of; condition of being
lite (lith) stone or rock oxo oxygen
locare to place oxus sharp
luere to wash, clean oxy pungent, sharp
lunar moon, light, shine parare to make ready
ly (luein) to loosen, dissolve, dissolution, break particula a very small piece or part; a tiny portion
magnes figurative sense of something that attracts or speck
malacia softening of tissue pathos feeling, sensation, perception; suffering,
malgama soft mass disease
m ater mother pectin comb
maza mass, large, amount ped foot
mbolon wedge, peg pendere to hang
megas large, big, great peps digestion
melas black pestis (Latin) plague, pestilance
mensa table petere to strive
meros part phage to eat
meta later in time phagei to eat
metallon mine, ore, quarry; any of a category of phagos (phagein) to eat, eating
electropositive elements from metallum phana speech
meter (metron) instrument or means of measuring; pharynx throat
to measure phase a stage
(meth)ane an odorless, colorless gas, CH4 phatos speech, spoken
metiri to measure out phile one who loves or has a strong affinity or pref-
metra womb erence for
metria (metron) the process of measuring phonos voice
migrare to move phore bearer, carrier
miktos mixed or blended phoreus bearer
minie mimic, mime; imitate, act; simulation phoros being carried, bearing
mittere to put photos light, radiant energy
mixis mingling, intercourse phragma fence
morph shape, form, figure, or appearance phren diaphragm, midriff, heart
morpheus god of dreams phuein to grow
muk es fungus phullon leaf
214 Common Roots

phusan to blow sklero (skl eroun) to harden

phusis nature skopein see, view, sight, look at, examine
phuton plant having a (specified) characteristic or sociar to join
habitat solvere to loosen
phyein to grow soma (somatiko) body
phyte plant sorbere to suck
pithecus ape, apelike creatures spargere to scatter or strew; sprinkle
plasm (plassein) to mold or form cells or tissues sperma seed
plassein to form sphaira a globe shape, ball, sphere
plastos (plassein) something molded (to mold) sphyzein to throb; pulse, heartbeat
plexus an embrace spir breath of life, breath, breathing
pnea breathing or breath spora seed
pneumon wind, breath stare to stand firm
pnion breathing or breath statos standing, stay, make firm, fixed, balanced
pod foot stele pillar
poiein production, formation; to make stella star
pole either of two oppositely charged terminals stereos solid, being of three dimensions
pollere to be powerful sthenos strength
ponere to put together stigma a point, mark, spot, puncture
potent power; to be able stillare to drip or trickle
praktikos practical stingere to pull
premere to press stinguere to quench
proktos anus stipare to press together
pteron feather, wing stoma mouth
ptilon plume sumere to take
p ur fire summetros of like measure
pyge rump or buttocks sumptotos intersecting
pyle gate sustellein to contract
qalib shoemaker’s last sylos a pillar
ramus branch systema the universe
reciepere to receive taktos ordered
ren the kidneys taxi arrangement, order; put in order
rhein to flow or run teg touch, reach, handle
riche rich tekhne skill, systematic treatment
rigare to wrinkle temnein to cut
rocca rock, stone ten to move in a certain direction; to stretch, hold
rota wheel out
rube red tenere to hold together
saccharon sugar tenuis thin
safira to be empty terr ere to frighten
sauros lizard thalpien to heat
scire to know thele nipple
scoli curvature, curved, twisted, crooked therapeuein heal, cure; treatment
sectus to cut thermos combining form of “hot” (heat)
seminare to plant or propagate (from semen, semi- thorax breastplate, chest
nis meaning “seed”) tomos (temnein) to cut, incise, section
senti re to feel tonos tone, stretching, firm
sepein to decay, cause to rot topos place, spot
sepsis putrefaction or decay torn are to round off
ser the watery part of fluid toxikos poison
servare to preserve trahere to draw
sexus sex tribuere to give
sicca drying tripsis a rubbing (so named by its first being
simulare to make similar or alike obtained by rubbing a pancreas with glycerin)
skeletos dried body
 Common Roots 215

trope bend, curve, turn, a turning; response to vascul small vessel

stimulus vehere to carry
trophos (trophein) to nourish, food, nutrition; vent come
development ventricul belly
trudere thrust verge to tend to move in a particular direction
tundere to beat vertere to turn, turn around
tupos type, model, stamp vextus to be vaulted
unus one vorare to devour
vacare empty vore eat, consume, ingest, devour
vagina sheath weike pliant
valere to be strong zein to boil
valve leaf of a door zoe life
vaporatus steam, vapor zoon animal, animal-like
variare to vary zuma leaven, yeast
 Common Suffixes

-a (plural) structure -ekt outside, external, beyond

-able capable, be inclined to, tending to, given to
-able/-ible capable of
-ac pertaining to
-ad member of a botanical group
-ae plural
-age ( aticum) (Latin) condition or state
-al of the kind of, pertaining to, having the form or
character of
-algia pain, sense of pain; painful, hurting
-an one that is of or relating to or belonging to
-ance brilliance, appearance, state, quality
-ancy condition of or state of
-androus man, men, male, masculine
-angeion diminutive of “vessel”
-ant having the quality of
-ar relating to or resembling
-ary of, relating to, or connected with
-ase enzyme
-ate of or having to do with
-ate an organism having these characteristics; charac-
terized by having; a derivative of a specific chemi-
cal compound or element
-baros weight, heavy, atmospheric pressure
-benthos deep; the fauna and flora of the bottom of
the sea
-blastos bud, germ cell
-cephaly (kephalikos) head
-chrome pigment
-cide (caedere) to cut, kill, hack at, or strike
-cy state, condition, quality
-cyst (kustis) sac or bladder that contains fluid
-dactylos finger, toe
-derm skin
-dynia pain
-ectasis expansion, dilation
-eilema veil, sheath
-ella little, dimunitive
-emesis vomit
-emia the condition of having (a specific thing) in the
blood
-en to make or cause
-ence the condition of
-ent causing an action, being in a specific state, within
-er one that performs an action
-ferre to carry
-ferrous bear, carry; produce
-forma having the form of
-fy (ficare) cause, to become; make, do, build, produce
-gen to give birth, kind, produce
-genus offspring, kind
-geny birth, descent, origin, creation, inception,
beginning, race, sort, kind, class
-gram something written or drawn; a record
-graphia (graphein) to write, record, draw, describe
-haima blood
-haptien to fasten, join
-ia names of diseases, place names, Latinizing plurals
-ial (variation of -ia) relating to or characterized by
-ic (ikos) relating to or having some characteristic of
-id state, condition; having, being, pertaining to,
tending to, inclined to
-ide binary compound; group of related chemical
compounds; nonmetal radical
-ify (ficus) make, or cause to become
-il substance relating to
-ile changing, ability, suitable, tending to
-in protein or derived from a protein; neutral chemical
-ine of or relating to; a chemical substance
-inferus below, low
-ing the act of or action
-ion state, process, or quality of
-ion (ienai) to go, something that goes
218 Common Suffixes
-ious full of, having the quality of, relating to
-ism state or condition, quality
-ist one who is engaged in
-ite minerals and fossils; component of a part of a
body; a part of or product of
-itis inflammation, burning sensation
-ity state of, quality of
-ium quality or relationship; chemical element
-ive performing or tending toward a specific action
-ization action, process, or result of doing or making
-ize to make, to treat, to do something with
-klastos break, break in pieces
-klinein to lean, sloping
-lin small or little
-lite combining form used in naming of minerals
-lithos stone or rock
-logic talk, speak; speech, word
-logist one who speaks in a certain manner; one who
deals with a certain topic
-logos word, proportion
-logy (logos) used in the names of sciences or bodies
of knowledge
-lus thing
-ly like, likeness, resemblance
-lympha clear water, water nymph
-lyte substance capable of undergoing decomposition
-mania obsessive preoccupation with something;
madness, frenzy; obsession or abnormal desire for
-megaly large
-ment state or condition resulting from a (specified)
action
-meter (metron) instrument or means of measuring;
to measure
-metria (metron) the process of measuring
-morph shape, form, figure, or appearance
-nom (nemein) to dictate the laws of, knowledge,
usage, order
-nosis disease
-odont having teeth
-oid (oeid es) resembling; having the appearance of
-ol alcohol, chemical derivative
-ole little one
-ologist one who deals with a specific topic
-oma tumor, neoplasm, community
-on a particle
-opsy examination
-or a condition or property of things or persons, per-
son that does something
-ory tending to, serving for
-osis disease or abnormal condition
-ous full of, having the quality of, relating to
-patheia disease, feeling, sensation, perception
-penia reduction, poverty, lack, deficiency
-phagos (phagein) to eat, eating
-pherein to carry
-phile one who loves or has a strong affinity or pref-
erence for
-phobos fear
-phyte plant
-plasia (plassein) something molded (to mold)
-plasm (plassein) to mold or form cells or tissues
-plastos (plassein) something molded (to mold)
-plasy growth or development of
-ploid having a number of chromosomes that has
specified relationship to the basic number of
chromosomes
-pod, -poda, - podos, - pous foot
-ptera feather, wing
-pterux wing
-sis action, process, state, condition
-skopion for viewing with the eye
-soma (somatiko) body
-sphaira a globe shape, ball, sphere
-spora seed, a sowing
-statos standing, stay, make firm, fixed, balanced
-status to come to a stop, to stand
-stoma mouth, opening
-superus higher, upper
-tomos (temnein) to cut, incise, section
-tonia, -tone tension, pressure
-trope bend, curve, turn, a turning; response to stimulus
-trophos (trophein) to nourish, food, nutrition;
development
-ula diminutive, little, small
-um (singular) structure
-us singular, thing
-y place for an activity, condition, state
-zoan animal

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 About the Author
JOSEPH S. ELIAS is an Associate Professor of
Science Education at the Kutztown University of
Pennsylvania. He holds a BS in biology (Kutz-
town University, 1971), an MS in science educa-
tion (Temple University, 1976), and a doctorate in
science education (Temple University, 1989). He
has been teaching pre-service secondary educa-
tion science majors for over 14 years. He also is a
university supervisor of secondary education clin-
ical students and teacher interns. Dr. Elias teaches
in the graduate school at Kutztown University as
well. His graduate courses include methods of
research in biology and methods of teaching sci-
ence to middle and high school students. Prior to
teaching at Kutztown University, Dr. Elias taught
as an adjunct faculty member in the biology
departments of Cedar Crest College and Lehigh
Carbon Community College.