QltrNan: Career Step Suffixes
Terms
undefined, object
copy deck
- -able
-
capable of
Example: remarkable
NOTE: this suffix changes the part of speech it is attached to from a noun to an adjective.
NOTE: This suffix can also stand alone as an independent word. - -ible
-
capable of
Example: extractible
NOTE: this suffix changes the part of speech it is attached to from a noun to an adjective. - -ac
-
pertaining to
Example: hemophiliac
NOTE: this suffix changes the part of speech it is attached to from a noun to an adjective. - -al
-
pertaining to
Example: fundal, antidiarrheal
NOTE: this suffix changes the part of speech it is attached to from a noun to an adjective. - -an
-
pertaining to
Example: geriatrician
NOTE: this suffix changes the part of speech it is attached to from a noun to an adjective. - -ar
-
pertaining to
Example: auricular
NOTE: this suffix changes the part of speech it is attached to from a noun to an adjective. - -ary
-
pertaining to
Example: maxillary
NOTE: this suffix changes the part of speech it is attached to from a noun to an adjective. - -eal
-
pertaining to
Example: nasopharyngeal
NOTE: this suffix changes the part of speech it is attached to from a noun to an adjective. - -ic
-
pertaining to
Example: idiopathic
NOTE: this suffix changes the part of speech it is attached to from a noun to an adjective. - -ive
-
pertaining to
Example: degenerative, digestive
NOTE: this suffix changes the part of speech it is attached to from a noun to an adjective. - -tic
-
pertaining to
Example: pancreatic
NOTE: this suffix changes the part of speech it is attached to from a noun to an adjective. - -ase
-
enzyme
Example: amylase - -algia
-
pain
Example: myalgia - -cele
-
hernia (protrusion of an organ through its containing wall)
Example: cystocele - -centesis
-
procedure to aspirate fluid
Example: paracentesis or cephalocentesis (surgical puncture of the head) - -ectasia
-
dilatation or dilation
Example: telangiectasia
NOTE: This suffix can also stand alone as an independent word. - -ectasis
-
dilatation or dilation
Example: bronchiectasis
NOTE: This suffix can also stand alone as an independent word. - -ectomy
-
excision or removal
Example: appendectomy - -edema
-
swelling
Example: lymphedema
NOTE: This suffix can also stand alone as an independent word. - -emesis
-
vomiting
Example: hematemesis
NOTE: This suffix can also stand alone as an independent word. - -emia
-
blood
Ex: anemia - -genic
-
beginning or producing
Ex: osteogenic - -genesis
-
beginning or producing
Ex: angiogenesis
NOTE: This suffix can also stand alone as an independent word. - -gram
-
record
Ex: cholangiogram - -graph
-
instrument for recording
Ex: polygraph - -graphy
-
process of recording
Ex: echocardiography - -iasis
-
condition
Ex: psoriasis - -ism
-
condition
Ex: botulism - -ist
-
one who
Ex: psychologist - -itis
-
inflammation
Ex: pancreatitis - -ium
-
membrane
Ex: ischium - -kinesia
-
movement or motion
Ex: dyskinesia
NOTE: This suffix can also stand alone as an independent word. - -kinesis
-
movement or motion
Ex: hypokinesis
NOTE: This suffix can also stand alone as an independent word. - -logist
-
specialist
Ex: radiologist - -logy
-
study of
Ex: pathology - -lysis
-
loosening or freeing or breaking apart or destroying
Ex: adhesiolysis
NOTE: This suffix can also stand alone as an independent word. - -lytic
-
pertaining to destruction or freeing or loosening or breaking apart.
Ex: hemolytic
NOTE: Notice that this is an adjectival ending attached to this suffix. See page 19 of MWB for further explanation.
NOTE: This suffix can also stand alone as an independent word. - -malacia
-
softening
Ex: chondromalacia - -mania
-
preoccupation
Ex: pyromania
NOTE: This suffix can also stand alone as an independent word. - -megaly
-
enlargement
Ex: cardiomegaly - -meter
-
unit or instrument of measure
Ex: alucometer - -metry
-
process of measuring
Ex: geometry - -oid
-
resembling
Ex: adenoid - -oma
-
tumor
Ex: lymphoma - -opia
-
vision
Ex: diplopia - -ose
-
sugar
Ex: glucose - -osis
-
condition - which is usually abnormal (proliferation of or an increased number of)
Ex: ptosis
NOTE: This particular meaning of condition is usually abnormal. See page 24 of MWB for further explanation. - -ous
-
pertaining to or characterized by
Ex: mucous - -pathy
-
disease or abnormality
Ex: adenopathy - -penia
-
deficiency
Ex: osteopenia - -pexy
-
surgical fixation
Ex: cystopexy - -phagia
-
eating or swallowing
Ex: dysphagia - -phagic
-
eating or swallowing
Ex: dysphagic (adj) - -phagy
-
eating or swallowing
Ex: dysphagy (noun) - -phasia
-
speech
Ex: dysphasia - -phobia
-
abnormal fear
Ex: agoraphobia
NOTE: This suffix can also stand alone as an independent word. - -plasty
-
surgical repair
Ex: arthroplasty - -plegia
-
paralysis
Ex: paraplegia - -rrhage
-
excessive bleeding, flow or discharge
Ex: hemorrhage - -rrhagia
-
excessive bleeding, flow or discharge
Ex: gastrorrhagia - -rrhaphy
-
suture
Ex: herniorrhaphy - -rrhea
-
flow or discharge
Ex: diarrhea - -rrhexis
-
rupture
Ex: capsulorrhexis - -sclerosis
-
hardening
Ex: atherosclerosis - -scopy
-
examination with an instrument
Ex: colonoscopy - -spasm
-
twitching
Ex: bronchospasm
NOTE: This suffix can also stand alone as an independent word. - -stomy
-
forming of an opening
Ex: tracheostomy - -stasis
-
stopping
Ex: hemostasis
NOTE: This suffix can also stand alone as an independent word. - -tome
-
an instrument for cutting
Ex: osteotome - -tomy
-
incision (cutting into)
Ex: craniotomy, tracheotomy - -tripsy
-
surgical crushing
Ex: lithotripsy - -trophic
-
nutrition
Ex: hemotrophic
NOTE: When placed with a root, -trophic creates an adjective. - -trophy
-
nutrition
Ex: hypertrophy - -cyte
-
cell
Ex: lymphocyte -
-trophic
-
nutrition
hemotrophic