- A (AN): “not,” “without”
- Abiogenesis: spontaneous generation (development of life from lifeless matter)
- Acrophobia: fear of heights
- Agoraphobia: fear of open spaces
- Amoral: not moral; without sense of moral responsibility
- Amorphous: without definite form or shape
- Amphibious: able to live both on land and in water
- Anarchy: total absence of rule or government; confusion; disorder
- Anarchy: total absence of rule of government; confusion; disorder
- Anatomy: dissection of plants, animals, or anything else for the purpose of studying their structure
- Anemia: lack of normal number of red blood cells
- Anesthesia: loss of feeling or sensation resulting from ether, chloroform, Novocain, etc.
- Anglophobia: dislike of England or the English
- Anomalous: not normal; abnormal
- Anoxia: condition characterized by an absence of oxygen supply to an organ or a tissue
- Antipathy: aversion; dislike
- Antipodes: the direct opposite of something; parts of the globe (or their inhabitants) diametrically opposite (literally, “with the feet opposite”)
- Apathy: lack of feeling, emotion, interest, or excitement; indifference
- Apnea: temporary absence or cessation of breathing
- Appendectomy: surgical removal f the appendix
- ARCHY: “rule”
- Aseptic: free from disease-causing microorganisms
- Asymptomatic: showing no symptoms of disease
- Atheism: godlessness; denial in the existence of a Supreme Being
- Atrophy: a wasting or decrease in size of a body organ, tissue, or part owing to disease, injury, or lack of use
- Bibliophile: lover of books
- BIO: “life”
- Biochemistry: chemistry dealing with chemical compounds and processes in living plants and animals
- Biocidal: destructive to life or living things
- Biodegradable: capable of being readily decomposed into harmless substances by living microorganisms
- Biogenesis: development of life from preexisting life
- Biometry: statistical calculation of the probable duration of human life
- Biopsy: diagnostic examination of a piece of tissue from the living body
- Biota: the living plants (flora) and living animals (fauna) of a region
- Cardiology: science dealing with the actions and diseases of the heart
- Claustrophobia: fear of enclosed or narrow places
- Dermatology: science dealing with the skin and its diseases
- Dichotomy: a division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different
- DYS: “bad,” “ill,” “difficult”
- Dysentery: inflammation of the large intestine usually caused by harmful microorganism in food or water
- Dyslogistic: expressing disapproval or harsh criticism; uncomplimentary
- Dyspepsia: poor digestion; indigestion
- Dysphasia: speech difficulty resulting from brain injury
- Dysphoria: sense of great unhappiness or dissatisfaction
- Dystopia: imaginary place where living conditions are dreadful
- Dystrophy: faulty nutrition
- Ecology: science dealing with the relation of the living things to their environment and to each other
- Empathy: the complete understanding of another’s feelings, motives, etc.
- ENDO: “within”
- Endogamy: marriage within the tribe, caste, or social group
- Endogenous: produced from within; due to internal causes
- Endoskeleton: internal skeleton or supporting framework in an animal
- EU: “good,” “well,” “advantageous”
- Eugenics: science dealing with improving the hereditary qualities (genes) of the human race
- Eulogize: write or speak in praise of someone
- Euphemism: substitution of a “good” expression for an unpleasant one. Example: passed away for death, or custodial engineer for janitor.
- Euphonious: pleasing in sound
- Euphoria: sense of great happiness or well-being
- Euthanasia: The act or practice of ending the life of an individual suffering from a terminal illness or an incurable condition, as by lethal injection or the suspension of extraordinary medical treatment (literally “advantageous death”)
- EXO: “out of,” “outside”
- Exogamy: marriage outside the tribe, caste, or social group
- Exogenous: produced from without; due to external causes
- Exoskeleton: hard protective structure developed outside the body, as the shell of a lobster
- Exotic: Excitingly strange
- Gastrectomy: surgical removal of part or all of the stomach
- Genealogy: account of the descent of a person or family from an ancestor
- GEO: “earth,” “ground”
- Geocentric: having or representing the earth as the center, as in former astronomical system
- Geology: the science that deals with the earth's physical structure and substance, its history, and the processes that act on it.
- Geopolitics: study of government and its policies as affected by physical geography
- Geotropism: response to the earth’s gravity, as the growing of roots downward in the ground
- HETERO: “different”
- Heterochromatic: having different colors
- Heterogeneous: differing in kind; dissimilar; varied
- Heteromorphic: exhibiting diversity of form
- Hierarchy: a system or organization in which people or groups are ranked one above the other according to status or authority
- Homeopathy: the treatment of disease by minute doses of natural substances that in a healthy person would produce symptoms of disease
- Homocentric: having the same center; concentric
- Homogeneous: of the same kind; similar; uniform
- Homophonic: having the same sound
- Hydrophobia: morbid (abnormal) fear of water
- HYPER: “over,” “above,” “beyond the ordinary”
- Hyperbole: exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally
- Hypertension: abnormally high blood pressure
- Hypertrophy: enlargement of a body part or organ, as from excessive use
- HYPO: “under,” “beneath,” less than the ordinary”
- Hypodermic: injected on the skin
- Hypoglycemia: abnormally low level of sugar in the blood
- Hypothermia: subnormal body temperature
- Hypothetical: assumed without proof for the purpose of reasoning; an opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information
- Lobotomy: a surgical operation involving incision into the prefrontal lobe of the brain, formerly used to treat mental illness.
- LOGY: “science,” “study,” “account”
- MACRO: “large,” “long”
- Macrocosm: great world; universe
- Macron: horizontal mark indicating the vowel over which it is placed is long
- Mastectomy: surgical removal of a breast
- Matriarchy: a form of social organization in which the mother rules the family or tribe; descent being traced through the mother
- Meteorology: science dealing with the atmosphere and the weather
- MICRO: “small,” “minute”
- Microbe: very minute living organism; germ; microorganism
- Microbe: microorganism; microscopic living animal or plant
- Microbicide: agent or substance that destroys microbes
- Microdont: having small teeth
- MIS: hate
- Misanthrope: hater of humanity
- Misogamy: hatred of marriage
- Misogyny: hatred of women
- Misology: hatred of argument, reasoning, or discussion
- Misoneism: hatred of anything new
- Monarchy: ruled by a single person
- MONO (MON): “one,” “single,” “alone”
- Monogamy: marriage with one mate at a time
- Monogram: two or more letters interwoven to represent a name
- Monograph: a detailed written study of a single specialized subject or an aspect of it
- Monologue: long speech given by one person
- Monomania: exaggerated or obsessive enthusiasm for or preoccupation with one thing.
- Monophobia: fear of being alone
- Monosyllabic: having one syllable
- Monotheism: belief that there is one god
- Necrology: list of persons who have recently died
- Neurology: scientific study of the nervous system and its diseases
- Paleontology: The study of the forms of life existing in prehistoric or geologic times, as represented by the fossils of plants, animals, and other organisms.
- PATH (PATHO, PATHY): 1. “feeling,” “suffering”; (2) “disease”
- Pathogenic: causing disease
- Pathological: due to disease
- Pathology: science dealing with the nature and causes of diseases
- Pathos: quality of drama, speech, literature, music, or events that arouses a feeling of pity or sadness
- Patriarchy: a form of social organization in which the father rules the family or tribe; descent being traced through the father
- PHIL: “loving,” fond of”
- Philanthropy: love of humanity, as shown in donations to charities and social causes
- Philatelist: stamp collector
- Philately: collection or study of stamps
- Philosopher: lover of, or searcher for, wisdom or knowledge
- Phlebotomy: the surgical opening or puncture of a vein in order to withdraw blood or introduce a fluid, or (historically) as part of the procedure of letting blood.
- PHOBIA: fear, dislike, aversion
- Photophobia: morbid aversion to light
- POD: “foot”
- Podiatrist: one who treats ailments of the foot
- Podium: dais; raised platform
- POLY: “many”
- Polyarchy: ruled by many
- Polychromatic: showing a variety of colors
- Polygamy: marriage to several mates at the same time
- Polyglot: person who speaks several languages
- Polymorphic: having various forms
- Polysyllabic: have more than one syllable
- Polytheism: belief that there is more than one god
- Psychopath: a person suffering from chronic mental disorder with abnormal or violent social behavior
- Sociology: study of evolution, development, and functioning of human society
- Symbiosis: interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association, typically to the advantage of both
- Theology: study of religion and religious ideas
- Tome: one volume, or “cut” of a work of several volumes; scholarly book
- TOMY (TOM): “cutting,” “operation of incision”
- Tracheotomy: surgical operation of cutting into the windpipe (trachea) to create airway
- Tripod: utensil, stool, or caldron having three legs