It's Greek To Me!

Greek and Latin Prefixes, Roots and Suffixes used in English
This page © 1999 by Nicholas E. Miller


Basic term

Meaning

Greek
Latin
Prefix
Suffix

glosso

tongue, language

Originally
Also
Yes
Yes

Examples

Definition

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glossa (5)

(noun) - from the Greek word = a part of the tongue, especially in an insect.

glossary (2)

(noun) From the word = a list of specialized words with their definition, a list of words to study. The plural is glossaries and glossarial is the adjective form.

glossator (5)

(noun) - language + one that acts in such a way = someone who makes a glossary.

gloss (4)

(verb) - from the Greek word = to explain or interpret, often by means of a false or misleading explanation.

glossitis (4)

(noun) - tongue + inflammation or disease = inflammation of the tongue.

glossographer (5)

(noun) - language + write + er = someone who makes a glossary.

glossolalia (4)

(noun) - tongue + chatter, to chat = the religious occurrence, often called speaking in tongues, which is an excited babbling during a religious event. A glossolalist is a person who suffers from this (noun).

glossopharyngeal nerve (5)

(noun) - tongue + pharynx + nerve = one of the cranial nerves that supply the pharynx, posterior tongue, and parotid gland.

hypoglossal (5)

(adj.) - beneath + tongue = relating to the hypoglossal nerve.

hypoglossal nerve (5)

(noun) - beneath + tongue + nerve = one of the cranial nerves which are motor nerves which supply the muscles of the tongue in higher animals.

isogloss (5)

(noun) - equal + tongue = a line between regions which differ in linguistic features, or such a line on a map. Isoglossal and isoglossic are adjectives.

odontoglossum (5)

(noun) - tooth + tongue = One of the widely cultivated tropical American orchids of the genus Odontoglossum.

salpiglossis (5)

(noun) - trumpet + tongue = Chilean herbs of the nightshade family with large funnel-shaped multicolored flowers of the genus Salpiglossis.