English edit

Etymology 1 edit

From Ancient Greek παρά (pará, beside; next to, near, from; against, contrary to).

Prefix edit

para-

  1. beside, alongside
    parasite (feed beside), parallel (beside one another), paracapsular (alongside a capsule)
    1. parallel
      paraconformity (parallel conformity), paraxial (parallel to the axis)
  2. between
    paracellular (between cells), paraconule (A conule located between a paracone and a metacone), paradiploid (intermediate between diploid and polyploid)
  3. around, surrounding
    paracortex (surrounding the cortex), paradiapophysis (covering the diapophysis)
    1. covering
      paracolpitis ((outer) covering of inflamed vagina)
  4. adjacent, next to
    paracentral (adjacent to the center), paracaval (adjacent to the vena cava)
  5. near
    paranal (near the anus), parepididymis ((body part) near the epididymis), parethmoid (near the ethmoid bone)
  6. opposite of, on the far side of
    paracavernous (On the far side of the cavernous sinus)
  7. above, over
    paraductal (above the duct), paracoronoid (above the coronoid process), paracondylar (over the condyle)
  8. across, through, throughout
    paracotylar ((extending) across the cotyle), paraesophageal (across the esophagus), paracloacal (through the cloaca), paracostal (through the ribs), paracerebral (throughout the brain)
  9. beyond
    paradox (beyond expectation), paranormal (beyond normal) paraclival (beyond the clivus)
  10. abnormal
    paralgesia (abnormal sensitivity to pain)
  11. incorrect
  12. false
    paradiorthosis (false correction)
  13. resembling
    paramilitary (resembling a military), paramylum (resembling amylum (starch))
  14. unrecognized, unauthorized, or unsanctioned
    parastate (an unrecognized state), parabaptism (unauthorized baptism)
  15. avoiding or avoidant
    parenteral (avoiding the intestines), paraconsistent (avoiding consistency)
  16. (organic chemistry) In isomeric benzene derivatives, having the two substituents in opposite (1,4) positions (compare ortho- and meta-)
    Synonym: p-
  17. related or pertaining to
    paraclinical (relating to things not purely clinical), parabigeminal (related to a pair of organs), parabicanonical (pertaining to a linear system of divisors equivalent to a bicanonical divisor), paracomplex (pertaining to all metric spaces and all CW-complexes)
  18. affecting or concerning lower body
    paranesthesia (affecting both sides of the lower body), paraballism (ballism affecting both legs)
Synonyms edit
Derived terms edit
terms derived from παρά (above, beyond)
Translations edit

Etymology 2 edit

From French para-, from Italian para-, from para, imperative of parare (to defend, shield, shroud), from Latin parō (I prepare).

Prefix edit

para-

  1. (obsolete, not productive) to guard against, to avert, to shield from; to provide protection against, defence from
Derived terms edit
Related terms edit
terms related to para-, but not formed in English

Etymology 3 edit

From parachute.

Prefix edit

para-

  1. parachute.
Derived terms edit
terms derived from para- (parachute)

Etymology 4 edit

From Paralympic.

Prefix edit

para-

  1. disability sport
Derived terms edit
Paralympic sport

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ John A. Simpson and Edmund S. C. Weiner, editors (1989), “para-”, in The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd edition, Oxford: Clarendon Press, →ISBN.

Anagrams edit

Bikol Central edit

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /paɾa/, [pa.ɾa]
  • Hyphenation: pa‧ra

Prefix edit

para- (Basahan spelling ᜉᜍ)

  1. used in naming any professions

French edit

Pronunciation edit

Etymology 1 edit

From Ancient Greek παρά- (pará-, beside).

Prefix edit

para-

  1. para- (all senses)
Derived terms edit

Etymology 2 edit

Via Italian para-, from parare, from Latin parō (to shield).

Prefix edit

para-

  1. para- (guarding against)
Synonyms edit

Etymology 3 edit

From paralympique (Paralympic).

Prefix edit

para-

  1. para- (disability sport)
Derived terms edit

Ido edit

Etymology edit

Borrowed from English para-French para-Italian para-Spanish para-. Decision no. 105, Progreso III.

Pronunciation edit

Prefix edit

para-

  1. prefix denoting protection against, something to ward off
    para- + ‎pluvo (rain) → ‎parapluvo (umbrella)
    para- + ‎moskito (mosquito) → ‎paramoskito (mosquito net)

Derived terms edit

References edit

  • Progreso III (in Ido), 1910–1911, pages 169, 465

Irish edit

Alternative forms edit

  • parai- (before a slender consonant)

Etymology edit

From Ancient Greek παρα- (para-).

Prefix edit

para-

  1. para-

Derived terms edit

Mutation edit

Irish mutation
Radical Lenition Eclipsis
para- phara- bpara-
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

Further reading edit

Italian edit

Etymology edit

From Ancient Greek παρα- (para-).

Prefix edit

para-

  1. para- (all senses)

Anagrams edit

Polish edit

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ˈpa.ra/
  • (file)

Prefix edit

para-

  1. para- (resembling)

Derived terms edit

Further reading edit

  • para- in Polish dictionaries at PWN

Serbo-Croatian edit

Etymology edit

From Ancient Greek παρα- (para-).

Prefix edit

para- (Cyrillic spelling пара-)

  1. Para-.
    para- + ‎nàuka (science) → ‎paranauka (parascience)
    para- + ‎nȍrmālno (normally) → ‎paranormalno (paranormal)

References edit


Spanish edit

Etymology edit

Borrowed from Ancient Greek παρα- (para-).

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /paɾa/ [pa.ɾa]
  • Syllabification: pa‧ra-

Prefix edit

para-

  1. para-

Derived terms edit

Further reading edit

Welsh edit

Etymology edit

See English para-, from Ancient Greek παρά (pará).

Pronunciation edit

Prefix edit

para-

  1. para-
    para- + ‎meddyg (doctor) → ‎parafeddyg (paramedic)
    para- + ‎normal (normal) → ‎paranormal (paranormal)
    para- + ‎ymatebol (responsive, reactive) → ‎paraymatebol (parasympathetic)

Derived terms edit

Mutation edit

Welsh mutation
radical soft nasal aspirate
para- bara- mhara- phara-
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

References edit

R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “para-”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies