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A

aero- Air

arc- Arch

arch(ae/i)- Ancient

arct(i/o)- North , Bear

are- Space

areni- sandy

arg(en/lyr)- Silver

arthro- Joint

artic- jointed

artio- even-numbered

arundin- Reed -like

asc- Sac

asper- rough

aspid- Shield

ast(e)r- Star

astrag- Dice (originally a knuckle bone)

ater, atra- Black

atr(ium)- Vestibule

aur- Ear , Gold

austral- South ern

auto- self

aux- grow

avi- Bird

axi-

azyg- unpaired


B


baca- small Berry

baccatus- berried

baena- walking

balan- Acorn

barb- Beard

baro- Weight

basi- at the bottom

bat(is) skate, ray

bdella- sucker

bell- pretty

bi- two

biblio- Book

bi(ola)- Life

blast- Germ , embryo, bud. Also, cell with nucleus (e.g. sideroblast)

bore- North

botry- small bunch of Grapes

bov- Ox

brachi- Arm

brachy- short

brady- slow

branch- Gill

brevi- short

brizo- to nod

bromo- Oats , Broom , Shadow

bronch- Windpipe

bucca- Mouth cavity

bulbos- bulbous

bulla- Bubble , Flask

bullat- wrinkled

buno- Hill

bursa- pouch, purse


C


caduci- temporary

caec- Blind

caerul- Sky Blue

caespit- tufted

calam- Reed , aspen

calc- Stone

calli- Beautiful

callos- Callous

calor- Heat

calyx- Cup , Chalice

camp- field

campanula- Bell (instrument)

cand- white, pure

cani- Dog

cap(it)- Head

capill- Hair

capsella- small Box

card- Heart

carin- Keel

cam- Flesh

carotid- producing Stupor

carp- Seed , Wrist

cary- Nut

cata- down

cauda- Tail

cav- hollow

centi- Hundred

ceph(al)- Head

cera(s)(t)- Horn

cerc- Horn s, Lobe s, short Tail

cerebro- Brain

cerv- Neck

ch(e)ir- Hand

chaero- to please

chaet- Bristle

chamae- on Ground

chel- Turtle

cheno- Goose

chiasm- crossing

chil- Lip

chlamy- outer garment

chlor- Green

choan- Funnel
chondr- Cartilage

chord- Cord

chorion- Membrane

chrom- Color

chrys- Gold en

chyl- Fluid

chym- Juice

cili- Eyelash

ciner- ashen, Grey

cipit- Head

circum- around

cirr- Tentacle (originally curl)

cl(e)ist- closed

clad- Branch

clast- broken

clav- Key

cleid- Key

cleithr- bar, Key

clin- Bed , recline

cloaca- Sewer

coccus- Berry , Grain

cochl- Shell

coel- hollow

col(on)- Large Intestine

coll- Neck

collat- borne together

columella- little Column

com- with

commis- sent out

communis- Colonial

commutat- changed

compact- compact

compress- flattened

con- with

conch- Shell

condyl- Knuckle

cono- Cone

contra- opposite

convolvo- to entwine

copro- Dung

cora(xlg)- Raven

corb- Basket

cord- Heart

corium- Leather

corn- Horn

coron- Crown

corp- Body

cort- Bark

cost- Rib

cotyl- Cup

crani- Skull

crass- thick

crep- Shoe

cribi- Sieve

cric-

crispus- curled

crist- Crest

crosso- Fringe , Tassel

cru(rals)- Shank

cruci- Cross -like

crypt- hidden

cten- Comb

cune- Wedge

cusp- Lance , Point

cuti- Skin

cyan- Blue

cycl- Circular

cyno- Dog

cyst- Capsule

cyt- cell


D


dactyl- finger

dasy- shaggy

deci- ten

decid- falling off

decuss- cross banding

deka- ten

delph- womb

delphis- dolphin

demi- half

demoliri- to pull down; destroy

dendr- tree

dent/don/dont- tooth/teeth

derm- skin

dero- persisting

desmo- band

deut- second

dextro- right

di(a)- two

dia- through

didym- twin

digit- finger

dino- terrible

diplo- double

dipso- thirst

dissect- deeply cut

dodeca- twelve

dont- tooth

dors- back

drom- quick running

dubi- doubtful

dulci- sweet

duo- two

dur- hard


E


echino- spiny

echis- viper

eco- house

ecto- outside

effer- carrying away

effusus- loosely spreading

ejacul- throw out

elasmo- plate, flat

elat- tall

-ell- diminutive

ellucid- shining through

embio- living

embol- thrown in

endo- inside

engy- narrow

ensi- sword

entolenter- inside

eo- dawn, east

epi- upon

equi- horse, equal

erect- upright

erythr- red

esculent- edible

ethm- sieve

eu- well, very

eury- wide

ex- out of

exiguus- slender

exo- outside

extens- draw out

extra- beyond

extrins- coming from


F


fab- bean

falc- sickle-shaped

fallax- false

fasc(ic)- bundle

fatuus- foolish, useless

feli- cat

fer- carry

ficar- fig-like

fil- thread

fistul- hollow, tube

flacc- flabby

flav- yellow

flexu- wavy

flocculus- lock of wool

fluitans- floating

foen- hay

foetid- foul smelling

foli- leaf

fontan- fountain

foramen- opening

fornix- vault

fovea- shallow round depression

fruticans- shrubby

fund- to pour

furc(ul)- fork


G


gal- milk

gale- weasel

gall- of France

gangli- knot

gano- shining

gast(e)r- stomach, pouch

gemin- twins

gemm- bud

genu- knee, joint

geranium- crane

gerro- shield

gladi- sword

glen- socket

glia- glue

glom(er)- half of yam

glo(ss/tt)- tongue

glut- sticky

gl(uly)c- sweet

glypt- carved, engraved

gnaph- wool

gnath- jaw

goni- angle

gono- seed

gracil- slender

gram- of grass

gymn- naked

gyn- woman

gyr- turning haem- blood


H


hal- salty

hallu(x/ci)- big toe

hamat- hook

haplo- single, simple

hasta(t)- spear-tip shape

hect- hundred

heira- hawk

helios- sun

helminth- worm

helo- wart

hemi- half

hepa(r/t)- liver

hepta- seven

hetero- different

hex- six

hibem- winter

hippo- horse

hirsu[[t- hairy

hispid- bristly

histri- actor

holo- complete, whole

homo- man (Latin)

homo- same (Greek)

homal- flat

hormon- that which excites

hortens- of gardens

humus- ground

hyal- glassy

hydr- water

hyemal- winter

hyo- U-shaped

hyper- above

hypo- beneath ichthy- fish

-ida- like

-idae- ending of zoological family names

ileum- twisted

impar- unpaired

in- in, not

-in- diminutive

-inae- ending of zoological sub-family names

incarnat- flesh coloured

incis- cutting in

incus- anvil

inermis- unarmed

inflexis- rigid

infra- under

inter- between

intra- within

iod- violet

-iola- diminutive

iris- rainbow

iso- equal

iter- passage


J


jug- yoked together

jungoljunc- to bind


K


ket- ketone

kilo- thousand


L


labi- lips

labyrinth- tortuous passage

lacer- torn

lacrim- tears

lact- milk

lacuna- space

laevo- left

lagena- flask

lamella- leaf, layer

lan(at)- wool

lanceol(at)- lance-shaped

lati- broad

lecith- egg yolk

lemm- skin, husk

lens- lentil, bean

leo(n)- lion

lepid- scale

lepto- slender

leuc- white

levator- lifter

lign- wood

ligul- strap-shaped

lin- line

ling- tongue

lip- fat

lith- stone

log(y)- discourse

loph- crest

lumen- cavity

luna- moon

lupus- wolf

lute- yellow

lymph- clear water

lysis- loosen macr- large


M


macula- spot

magni- large

maj- greater

mala- cheek

malleus- hammer, mallet

mamma- breast

mandib- lower jaw

manu- hand

maritim- of the sea

marsupium- pouch

masseter- chewer

mast- nipple

mat(e)ri- mother

maxi- large

maxill- jaw

maxim- greatest

meatus- passage

medi- medium

medull- marrow

mega- large

mel(l)i- honey

melan- black

menin(x,g)- membrane

meno- moon

mer- part

meso- middle

meta- after, beyond

micro- small

milli- thousand

min- smaller

minim- smallest

mirabile- wonderful

miss- sent

mito- thread

mixi- mingle

moll- soft

monil- string of beads

mono- one

montan- of mountains

morph- form

motor- mover

multi- many

mural- walls

muri- mouse

myo- muscle, mouse

myri- countless

myx- mucous

myz- sucker


N


na(rls)- nose

necro- dead

necto- swimming

nema- hair

nemoral- in woods

neo- new

nephr- kidney

neur- nerve

nictitat- winking

nigr- black

non- not

nona- nine

noth- spurious

notho- southern

noto- back, south

nu(clx)- nut

nuch- back of neck

nucle- little nut

nud- naked

nulli- none

nutans- nodding


O


obtect- concealed

obturat- closed

obtusi- blunt

occiden- Western

occip- back of head

oct- eight

-ode- way or path

odont- tooth

odor- fragrant

oecious- house of

oed- swollen

oen- wine

oesoph- gullet

officinal- used in medicine

-oid- like

olecran- skull of elbow

oleo- oily

olfact- smelling

oligo- few

oliva- olive

omaso- paunch

oment- fat skin

omm- eye

omo- shoulder

omphalo- navel

onto- existing

oo- egg

op(t)- eye

operculum- little cover

ophi- snake

ophthalmo- eye

opistho- behind

opoter- either

or- mouth

orbi- circle

orch- testicle

oriental- Eastern

ornith- bird

ortho- straight

os(ti)- mouth

os(s/t)- bone

ostrac shell

ot- ear

ovi- sheep

ovo- egg

oxys, oxus- sharp, pointed


P


pachy- thick

palae- old

palli(um)- mantle

pallid- pale

palustri- in marshes

pan- ali

par(a)- near

parie- wall

parvi- little

patella- small dish

patens- spreading

pect(or)- chest

pectin- comb-like

ped- foot, child

pene- almost

penia- deficiency

pent- five

per(i)- through, beyond

peregrin- foreign

peri- around

persic- peach

petr- rock

phaeo- dark

phag- eat

phalan(g/x)- close formation of troops

phalar- shining

phanero- visible

pher- carry

phil- love

phloe- tree bark

phor- carry

pho(s/to)- light

phragm- fence

phren- diaphragm, mind

phyl- tribe

phyll- leaf

physa- bladder

physio- nature

phyto- plant

pil- hair

pinea- pine cone

pinnat- feather-shaped

pisum- pea

pisc- fish

plac- plate, tablet

plagio- oblique

plan- flat

platy- flat, broad

plec(o/t)- twist, pluck

plesio- near

pleth- full

pleur- side

plex- interwoven

plica- fold

plum- feather

pneu(mo/st)- air, lung

pod- foot

pogo- beard

polio- grey

polit- polished

poll(ex)- thumb

poly- many

pons- bridge

porc- pig

porphyr- purple

porta- gate

post- after

potam- river

potero- drinking cup

praeco- early

pratens- in meadows

pre- before

prim- first

pro- in front of

proct- anus

procumbens- lying flat

profund- deep

proliger- bear offspring

prom- first

proso- front

prostratus- lying flat

prot- first

prunus- plum

psamma- sand

pseud- false

psycho- mind

psychro- cold

pter- wing, fern

ptyal- sahva

pubescens- downy

pubi- sexually mature

pulmo- lung

pungens- pungent

pusill- very small

pygo- rump

pyl- gate

pyo- pus

pyro- heat, fire

pyrus- pear


Q


quadr- four

quart- four

quin(t/que)- five


R


rach- spine

radi- root

ram- branching

ran- frog

rapa- turnip

raph- seam

rect- straight

reflex- bent back

ren- kidney

repens- crawling

reptans- crawling

retic- network

retina- little net

retro- behind, backward

rhabd- rod

rhach- spine

rhage- tear, rent

rhin- nose, snout

rhiz- root

rhodo- red

rhynch- snout

-rrh- flow

rode- gnaw

rogos- wrinkled

rostr- beak, prow

rota- tum, wheel

rub(e)r- red

rumen- throat


S


sacchar- sugar

saccul- little sac

sacr- sacred

sagitta- arrow

sal- salt

sanguini- bloody

sapon- soap

sarc- flesh

sativus- cultivated

saur- lizard/reptile

scala- ladder

scalene- uneven

scaph- anything hollow, bowl, ship

schizo- split

scler- hard

scop- gaze, small owl, broom, shadow

scut- shield

scyph- cup

seba- tallow, wax

sect- cut

segetum- in cornfields

selen- moon

sella- saddle, seat

semi- half

sept- seven, wall

ser(olu)- any body fluid

serot- late

serrat- saw-toothed

set- hair

sex- six

simi- monkey

sinus- hollow, bay

sipho- tube

sol- sun

soma- body

somni- sleep

specios- showy

sperm- seed

sphen- wedge

sphinct- closing

spinos- spiny

spondyl- vertebra

squalid- squalid

squam- scale

squarros- spreading at tips

stae(rlt)- fat

sta(silt)- standing

steg- covering

stell- star

steno- narrow

stereo- solid

steril- sterile

stern- breastbone

stom- mouth

strat- layer

strept- twisted

strictus- upright, stiff

strigos- having stiff bristles

stroph- turning

stupor- wonder

styl- column

sub- below

sucr- sugar

sulc- furrow

super- beyond

supin- lying back

supra- above

sutur- seam

sym- with

syn- with

syrin(glx)- pipe

sys- with


T


tachy- fast

tact- touch

taenia- ribbon

talus- ankle

tapetum- carpet

tard- late

tarsus- ankle

tect- covered

tegmen- covering

tel (e/o)- far, end

teleo- complete

temno- cut

tenacul- holding

tentor- spread like a tent

tenuis- slender

ter(ti)- three

teres- round

tetr- four

textilis- of textiles

thalam- chamber, bed

thalass- sea

theca- case

thel- nipple, female

therm- heat

thero- breast, mammal

thyreo- large shield

tinctori- of dyes

torn- cut

tomentos- densely woolly

torpe- numb

toxo- arrow, dart

trab- beam

trachy- rough

trago- goat

trans- across

trapez- four sided, table

trema- hole

tremulans- trembling

tri- three

trich- hair

trivialis- trivial

troch- wheel

trop- turning

troph- feed

tussi- cough


U


uliginosus- in marshes

-ul- diminutive

ulo- wooly

ultra- above

umbilic- navel

un- one

unc- hook

ungui- nail, claw

ungul- hoof, claw

urens- bum

uro- tail

urs- of bears

utricul- little skin bag

uv(ela)- grapes

uxor- wife


V


vagus- wandering

vas- vessel

velum- veil

ven- vein

ventr- belly

verd- green

veris- true

verm- worm

vern- spring

versi- various

vesic- blister

vesper- evening, western

vill- shaggy hair, velvet

virens- green

visc- organs of body cavity

vita- life

vitell- yolk

vitr- glass

vora- devour

vulgaris- common

vulp- fox


X


xanth- yellow

xen- stranger

xer- dry

xiphi- sword

xyl- wood


Z


zo- animal

zon- girdle

zyg- yoke