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

seleno, selen

moon

Yes, Originally
New Latin
Yes
combining form

Examples

Definition

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selenium (3)

(noun) - moon + ium = a nonmetallic element similar to sulfur and tellurium, obtained in the copper refining process, and is used as a semiconductor and in photocells.

selenium cell (3)

(noun) - moon + ium + cell = a photocell made of an insulated strip of selenium connected by electrodes.

selenide (5)

(noun) - moon + chemical compound = a chemical compound containing selenium.

seleniferous (5)

(adj.) - moon + containing = something which contains or yields selenium.

selenocentric (3)

(adj.) - moon + center = a system with the moon as the center; relating to the center of the moon.

selenology (3)

(noun) - moon + speak = the branch of astronomy which deals with the moon. Selenological is the adjective form and selenologist is the noun form for a person who studies this.