Combining Form

There are three types of combining forms:
#Forms borrowed from Greek or Latin that are derivatives of independent nouns, adjectives, or verbs in those languages. These combining forms, used in the formation of learned Coinages , are often Semantically parallel independent words in English ( Cf. , ''cardio-'' in relation to ''heart;'' ''-phile'' in relation to ''lover'') and usually appear only in combination with other combining forms of Greek or Latin origin (e.g., ''bibliophile,'' but not ''bookphile'').
#The compounding form of a free-standing English word. Such a combining form usually has only a single, restricted sense of the free word, and may differ from the word Phonetically . Compare ''-proof,'' ''-wide,'' ''-land,'' and ''-man''.
#A form extracted from an existing free word and used as a bound form, typically maintaining the meaning of the free word, or some facet of it. Compare ''hell-,'' (as in ''hell-raiser''), ''-aholic,'' ''-gate,'' and ''-orama''.

Note also that the term ''combining form'' does not imply placement before or after the element to which the form is attached.

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Combining Form