Relatively few English words are derived from en-: energy, enema, enthusiasm-originally, a feeling that one had a god (θεος) inside one’s body. A condition that is endemic (< δημος) is more ingrained than one that is epidemic-though the latter may be more alarming. The difference between en- and epi- is basically the difference between in and on (or upon). Mencken who used that notion to coin the impeccable Greek form ecdysiast, to describe a strip-tease dancer. ![]() What is an apotheosis? Something eccentric (ἐκ + κεντρον + -ικος) is “out of centre.” Can you work out the etymological meanings of eclectic, exodus, and ecdysis? The last is the action of the snake slipping out of its skin, or the larva shedding its cocoon. The meaning “away from” is clear in apostle or apostolic (verb base “send”), apogee (ἀπο-γη), and apostrophe (originally a rhetorical “turning away”). The Greek prefixes apo- and ec- ( ex-) correspond quite closely to their Latin cognates ab- and ex. ![]() ![]() Don’t be surprised or discouraged if you have trouble making the semantic connection between certain Greek prefixes and some of their English derivatives. More common are analysis and catalysis, where -lysis is a “loosening.” Anatomy makes sense as “cutting up.” The force of cata- is apparent in catastrophe (“turning down”), cataclysm (“flooding down”), cataract (“breaking down”), and catalepsy (“seizing down”), but it is less clear in catalogue. In some usages, ana- and cata- are also opposites, meaning “up” and “down.” An anabasis (“going up”) is the opposite of a catabasis (“going down”), but those words are rare and exotic. In contrast, hypo- yields hypodermic, hypothesis, hypochondria, and hypothermia. English has the hybrids hyperactive (“That kid is hyper!”) and hypertension, plus hyperbole, hyperbola, and hyperthermia (a hot-tub ailment). Though they look much alike, hyper- (“over”) and hypo- (“under”) are easy opposites. Like its Latin cognate, Greek pro- can mean “before” or “forward”: prophet (“before speaker”), prophecy, prophesy, proscenium, prostate, prophylactic, program, problem (see §137). The prefix dia– is also fairly straightforward: diameter (“measure across”), diagonal (“through the angle”), diatonic (“through the tones”), diaphragm (“fence across”), and diaphanous (“showing through”). For the one, think of amphitheatre and amphibious for the other, perimeter, periscope, periphery, peripatet ic, and periphrasis. In addition to the five we encountered in §131, you can deal easily with amphi- (“on both sides”) and peri- (“around”), which are quite uncomplicated. Tackle first those prefixes that are obvious. Let us look for some short-cuts and strategies for learning the list. Hypertoxicity: Relating to excessively high toxicityĢ0.Summaries of the type just presented are always a little overwhelming. Hyperthermia: A condition when a body temperature is beyond normalġ9. Hypertension: A disorder in which blood pressure is too highġ8. Hyperspace: A space that has more/over three dimensionsġ7. Hypersonic: Relating to sound frequencies, which are over a thousand million hertzġ6. Hyperreal: Too exaggerated rather than realġ5. Hyperpyrexia: The state when a body temperature is too highġ2. Hypermarket: A market that is too large that is usually located outside a townġ0. Hyperirritability: A state of being too irritableĩ. Hypergamy: Marrying someone whose class is beyond yoursĨ. Hyperextend: Extend a limp or joint beyond normal limitsħ. Hyperdontogency: Having beyond normal number of teethĦ. Hypercritical : Inclined to judge too severelyĥ. Hyperborean: Relating to inhabitants of the overly NorthĤ. Hyperbole: exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.ģ. Hyper-fit: Relating to someone who is fit beyond normalĢ. Hyperactive kids sometimes experience hyper-wakefulness that turns their parents’ life into a nightmare.ġ. It is important to remember – prefixes begin words. The prefix hyper- is a morpheme, thus, it cannot be divided. ![]() You say ‘hyperactive’ about someone, who is too active and cannot relax. ‘Hyperactive’ is a word that start with the prefix hyper. Hyper- means ‘too, over, excessive, beyond’.
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