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Webster 1913 Edition

Para-

Par′a-

.
[Gr.
παρά
beside; prob. akin to E.
for-
in
forgive
. Cf.
For-
.]
1.
A prefix signifying
alongside of
,
beside
,
beyond
,
against
,
amiss
; as parable, literally, a placing beside; paradox, that which is contrary to opinion; parachronism.
2.
(Chem.)
A prefix denoting:
(a)
Likeness, similarity, or connection, or that the substance resembles, but is distinct from, that to the name of which it is prefixed; as paraldehyde, paraconine, etc.; also, an isomeric modification.
(b)
Specifically:
(Organ. Chem.)
That two groups or radicals substituted in the benzene nucleus are
opposite
, or in the respective positions 1 and 4; 2 and 5; or 3 and 6, as paraxylene; paroxybenzoic acid.
Cf.
Ortho-
, and
Meta-
. Also used adjectively.

Definition 2024

para-

para-

See also: Appendix:Variations of "para"

English

Prefix

para-

  1. above, beyond
  2. beside, near, alongside
  3. abnormal, incorrect
  4. resembling
  5. (organic chemistry) In isomeric benzene derivatives, having the two substituents in opposite positions (compare ortho- and meta-.)

Synonyms

(organic chemistry): p-

Derived terms
Translations

Etymology 2

From French para-, from Italian para-, from para, imperative of parare ‎(“to defend, shield, shroud”), from Latin parō ‎(“I prepare”).

Prefix

para-

  1. (obsolete, not productive) to guard against, to avert, to shield from; to provide protection against, defence from
Derived terms
Related terms

Etymology 3

From parachute

Prefix

para-

  1. Forming words relating to activities carried out with a parachute.
Derived terms

Etymology 4

From Paralympic

Prefix

para-

  1. Forming words relating to disability sport
Derived terms

See also

<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs14 CategoryTreeLabelCategory' href='/wiki/Category:English_words_prefixed_with_para-'>English words prefixed with para-</a>

French

Etymology 1

From Ancient Greek παρά ‎(pará, “beside”)

Prefix

para-

  1. para- (all senses)

Etymology 2

Via Italian para-, imperative of parare, from Latin parō ‎(“to shield”).

Prefix

para-

  1. para-
Synonyms

Ido

Etymology

Borrowing from English para-, French para-, Italian para-, Spanish parar.

Prefix

para-

  1. prefix denoting protection against, something to ward off
    para- + ‎pluvo ‎(“rain”) → ‎parapluvo ‎(“umbrella”)
    para- + ‎moskito ‎(“mosquito”) → ‎paramoskito ‎(“mosquito net”)

Derived terms

<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs14 CategoryTreeLabelCategory' href='/wiki/Category:Ido_words_prefixed_with_para-'>Ido words prefixed with para-</a>

Irish

Prefix

para-

  1. para-

Derived terms

<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs14 CategoryTreeLabelCategory' href='/wiki/Category:Irish_words_prefixed_with_para-'>Irish words prefixed with para-</a>

Italian

Prefix

para-

  1. para- (all senses)

Serbo-Croatian

Prefix

para- ‎(Cyrillic spelling пара-)

  1. Para-.
    nauka ‎(“science”) → paranauka ‎(“parascience”)
    normalno ‎(“normally”) → paranormalno ‎(“paranormal”)

References

  1. ↑ J[ohn] A. Simpson and E[dward] S. C. Weiner, editors (1989) The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd edition, Oxford: Clarendon Press, ISBN 978-0-19-861186-8.

Etymology

From Ancient Greek παρά ‎(pará, “beside; next to, near, from; against, contrary to”).

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