Chapter 2: Common Prefixes

A-, An-

Without; lacking.

Anemia

Andr/o-

Male.

Androgen.

Anti-

Against

Anticholinergic drugs

Auto-

Self

Autocrine

Bio-

Life

Biology.

Chem/o-

Chemistry.

Chemotherapy

Contra-

Against.

Contraception

Cyt/o-

Cell.

Cytokine

Dis-

Separation; taking apart.

Dissection

Days-

Difficult; abnormal.

Dyspnea

Eu-

Good; well

Eupnea

Fibr/o-

Fiber.

Fibrosis

Gluco-, Glyco-

Glucose; Sugar.

Glycogen

Gyn/o-, Gynec-

Female.

Gynecology

Hydr/o-

Water

Hydrocephalus

Idio-

Self; One’s own,

Idiopathic

Lyso-, Lys-

Break down; Destruction; Dissolving.

Lysosome

Mal-

Bad; Abnormal.

Malignant

Myc/o-

Fungus.

Mycetoma

Necr/o-

Death.

Necrosis

Neo-

New.

Neonate

Oxy-

Sharp; Acute; Oxygen.

Oxytocin

Pan-, Pant/o-

All or everywhere.

Pancytopenia

Pharmaco-

Drug; Medicine.

Pharmacist

Re-

Again; Backward.

Rejuvenation

Somat/o-, Somatico-

Body; Bodily.

Somatic cell