Prefixes, Suffixes, Word Roots, & Combining Vowels - A

a-, an-

Without; away from; not.

ab-, abs-.

From; away from; absent.

abdomin-, abdomino-.

Abdomen.

abort-, aborto-.

To miscarry.

acanth-, acantho-.

Thorn; spine.

acous-, acoust-, acousto-.

Hearing.

acro-.

Extremity; top; extreme point.

actin-, actino-.

Ray; some form of radiation.

ad-.

Adherence; increase; toward.

-ad.

Toward; in the direction of.

aden-, adeno-.

Gland.

adip-, adipo-.

Fat.

adren-, adreno-.

Adrenal glands.

adrenal-, adrenalo-.

Adrenal glands.

-aemia.

Blood.

aer-, aero-.

Air or gas.

-aesthesia, aesthesio-.

SEE: -esthesia.

af-.

Toward.

-agogue.

An agent that promotes the expulsion of a specific substance.

-agra.

Sudden severe pain.

-al.

1. Relating to, e.g., abdominal, intestinal. 2. In chemistry, an aldehyde.

albumin-, albumino-.

Albumin.

-algesia, -algia.

Suffering; pain.

algi-.

Pain.

all-.

SEE: allo-.

allo-, all-.

Other.

amb-, ambi-.

Both; on both sides; around; about.

amph-, amphi-, ampho-.

Both; on both sides; on all sides; double; around; about.

an-.

SEE: a-.

ana-, an-.

Up; against; back.

andro-.

Man; male; masculine.

angi-, angio-.

Blood or lymph vessels.

aniso-.

Unequal; asymmetrical; dissimilar.

ankyl-, ankylo-.

Crooked; bent; fusion or growing together of parts.

ante-.

Before.

antero-.

Anterior; front; before.

anthropo-.

Human beings; human life.

ant-, anti-.

Against.

antr-, antro-.

Antrum.

apo-.

From; derived from; separated from; opposed.

arch-, arche-, archi-.

First; principal; beginning; original.

arteri-, arterio-.

Artery.

arthr-, arthro-.

Joint.

-ase.

Enzyme.

-asis, -esis, -iasis, -isis, -sis.

Condition; pathological state.

astro-.

Star; star-shaped.

atelo-.

Imperfect; incomplete.

ather-, athero-.

Fatty plaque.

atmo-.

Steam; vapor

atreto-.

Absence of an opening.

aut-, auto-.

Self.

axio-.

Axis; the long axis of a tooth.

axo-.

Axis; axon.

azot-, azoto-.

Nitrogenous compounds.