Classics 22: Etymology


Lesson 13

o(on
egg
oöphor-ec-tom-y (=ovariectomy), oöcyte, ooid
odus, odo(n)(t-
tooth
plac-odus, od-o-coileus hemi-onus, exodontist
(o)esophag(os
probably derives from ois- "about to carry" + phag- "eat"
oesophagus
(o)esophageal, esophagoplegia
om(os
shoulder
omophorion, omodyne
omphal(os
navel
omphalitis, omphalocoele
ophthalm(os
eye
exophthalmic, ophthalmoscope
ops, -ommat-
eye
Cyclops, ichthyopsid
oste(on
bone
osteomyelitis, periosteal
ot-
ear
otolith, periotic
phleps, phleb-
vein
stenophlepsia, phlebitis, phlebotomy
pleur(a
rib
pleurisy, pleurocarp
pneum(a, pneumat-
breath
pneumococcus, pneumatic
pneum(on
lung
pneumonia, pneumorrhagia
proct(os
anus
proctologist, aproctous
prosop-
face
prosopography
pyg-
rump
ur-o-pyg-ium, calli-pyg-ous
rachi(s
backbone
rachitis, rachialgia
rhis, rhin-
nose rhinitis, rhinoceros
rhynch(os
snout rhynch-o-cephal-ian, Oxy-rrhynch-us
scel(os
leg isosceles, triskelion
soma, somat-
body somatic, chromosome
splanchn(on
entrail splanchnic, splanchnoptosis
splen-
spleen splenectasis, splenic, splenius
spondyl(os
vertebra diplospondylous, spondyloschisis (aka rachischisis)
stear, steat-
tallow, fat
stearine, steatite
stern(on
breastbone
sternal, sternum (but not sternutation)
steth(os
chest
stethoscope, stethoparalysis
stom(a, stomat-
mouth
stomach, peristoma
thel(e
nipple
epithelium, thelitis
thorax, thorac-
trunk
thoracic, pneumothorax
thrix, trich- (in Lesson 9 too)
hair
ophiothrix, trichinosis
thromb(os)
clot
thrombosis, thrombogenic
trachea
windpipe
trachea, tracheal
traum(a, traumat-
wound
trauma, traumatic
ur(a
tail
ophiura, chaetura
ur(on
urine
urogenous, urology, diuretic, strangury

Exercises
  1. Analyze the following:
    leipoa
    avgolemono
    oozooid (remember that for Scrabble)
    ceratodus
    machairodus
    diphyodont
    pteranodon
    omphalopsychite omphaloskepsis
    stylommatophora
    hermeralopia
    myopic
    otacoustic
    otosteon
    fleam
    pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis
    prosopopoiia
    rachitic
    tichorrhine
    ornithorhynchus
    chondroskeleton
    somite
    splenetic amphistomatous
    polythelia
    thrombocytopoiesis
    rhinotracheitis
    traumatropism
    squirrel
    cynosure

  2. Why are the two dots over the second o in oöcyte called a "dihaeresis"? How do they differ from the two dots over the u in "gemütlichkeit," "flügelhorn," doppelgänger," or "jäger"? and why are those two dots called an "umlaut"?
  3. Analyze these, if you dare (you can do it etymologically even if you don't have much of a clue about the chemistry):
    nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate
    diastereoisomer erythrose
    acetylglucosamine
    Glycosaminoglycans
    O-(2-Acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranosylidene)amino N-phenyl carbamate
    Cyclohexanecarboxylic acid
    tetradecahydroanthracene
    cyclopentenophenanthrene
    propanal ethyl dithiohemiacetyl
    cyclohexanone isopropylidenehydrazone