Word origins

• pitheco-ape.
• pithecologyThe scientific study of apes.
• pithiatismA form of hysteria that can be cured by persuasive suggestion.
• pittakionophobiaThe abnormal and irrational fear of stickers, sticky labels and (sometimes, also) adhesive materials such as glue.
• pityroidHaving the form of, or resembling, bran.
• placo-Provided with or relating to a flat plate or plates.
• placoidPlatelike; having irregular, platelike, bony scales, often bearing spines; pertaining to the placoid fish
• placulaA little plate or plaque.
• plagihedralHaving an oblique spiral arrangement of planes, as in levorotatory and dextrorotatory crystals.
• plagiorchiidAny trematode of the order Plagiorchiida
• Plain of EsdraelonThe region of the Jezreel Valley in Israel.
• plangonologistA person who collects dolls.
• planidiumThe first-instar larva of any species of parasitoidal insect in which the life cycle is an example of hypermetamorphosis; so called because the first instar wanders in search of the host, whereas the rest of the instars remain stationary while they feed until they pupate.
• plankto-Related to plankton.
• -plasmThe contents of a cell.
• plasmodesmaA microscopic channel traversing the cell walls of plant cells and some algal cells, enabling transport and communication between them.
• plasmoschisisFragmentation or division of the cytoplasm without nuclear division.
• -plastA small body, structure, particle, or granule, especially of living matter.
• plastinA set of actin-bundling proteins .
• -plastyRepair or restoration of a part or function.
• plateasmAn overly broad or full style of pronunciation.
• platetropeOne of a pair of a paired organ.
• platy-flat; especially, relatively flat but wide
• platypneaShortness of breath that occurs when the patient is upright, that is, sufficient breathing only when lying flat.
• plectenchymaThe tissue (prosenchyma or pseudoparenchyma) of a fungus.
• plecticsthe study of complexity and its underlying simplicity
• -plegiaparalysis
• plegometerA device for measuring the force of a blow or stroke.
• pleiotropyThe influence of a single gene on multiple phenotypic traits; pleiotropism.
• pleo-supernumerary; many; more.
• pleonasteA black variety of spinel.
• plerergatehoney-pot ant
• plerionA nebula powered by the pulsar wind of a pulsar.
• plesio-Close, near.
• plesiochronousAlmost, but not quite, synchronous.
• plethodontidAny of the Plethodontidae, a family of lungless salamanders.
• plethronA former Greek unit of length equal to 100 Greek feet (podes).
• pleurembolicCapable of being withdrawn by a backward movement of the parts from which it protrudes so that it becomes engulfed.
• pleurotheticOf or pertaining to pleurothetism.
• pleurothetismA pattern of orientation among most bivalves whereby they come to rest on their left or right sides.
• pleurotho-Sideways, to the side.
• pleurothotonusA rare neurological disorder characterized by dystonia and abnormal and sustained involuntary muscle contraction.
• pleustonThe organisms that live floating at the surface of water.
• pleximeterSomething used to absorb the energy generated by the strike from a percussion hammer, during medical percussion. Usually this is simply the doctor's hand.
• plexorA hammer (or other instrument) used to test a person's reflexes.
• plinthiteA form of clay that is rich in iron and poor in humus
• -ploidIndicating the number of homologous sets of chromosomes in a cell.
• plotopteridAny extinct flightless seabird in the family Plotopteridae.
• PloutosThe god of wealth in Ancient Greek religion and myth.
• pluto-wealth or money
• plutocratSomeone who rules by virtue of his or her wealth.
• plutologyThe science that deals with wealth.
• pneumatodeA group of cells with spiral secondary wall thickenings, present in a velamen; acts as an airway for gas exchange for respiration or photosynthesis
• pneumatologyThe study of spiritual beings and phenomena, especially the interactions between humans and God.
• pneumatolysisthe alteration of rocks and minerals by gases or magmatic fluid within volcanos etc
• pneumo-Relating to the lungs.
• pnictideAny binary compound of a pnictogen
• pnictogenAny element from group 15 of the periodic table, which includes nitrogen, phosphorus, arsenic, antimony and bismuth.
• podagraGout in the big toe.
• podalgiaPain in the foot.
• poditeA limb of a crustacean when ambulatory.
• podo-Relating to a foot or a footlike part.
• podogyniumA pedicel rising from the base of a flower with the ovary at the top.
• podophthalmiteThe eyestalk of a crustacean.
• podoscaphEach of a pair of ski-shaped canoe-like floats attached to the feet, used for walking on water.
• podospermThe funiculus (stalk of a seed or ovule).
• -podyA unit or line consisting of a specified number of metrical feet
• poematicPertaining to a poem, or to poetry; poetical.
• pogonaA bearded dragon, any lizard of the genus Pogona, native to Australia.
• pogonicOf or relating to a beard.
• pogonionThe furthest-forward part of the chin.
• poikiliticDescribing the texture of an igneous rock that has small crystals of one mineral scattered among larger crystals of another
• poikilo-Variable, subject to change.
• poimenicspastoral theology
• poioumenonA specific type of metafiction in which the story is about the process of creation (sometimes the creation of the story itself).
• polem-War, battle, fight.
• polemologyThe study of human conflict and war.
• polianiteA variety of pyrolusite, having tetragonal crystals
• policideThe intentional destruction of a nation.
• policlinicAn outpatient clinic, especially of a hospital.
• poltophagyThe chewing of food long enough to reduce it to the consistency of porridge.
• -polyPertaining to the number of sellers in a market.
• polyacronA polyhedron.
• polyadelphousHaving stamens combined in more than two groups.
• polyandrumA tomb
• polyarchA state of many rulers, many leaders.
• polycalicOf a termite or ant colony, spread over multiple mounds or nests.
• polycheteAny of many annelid worms, of the class Polychaeta, such as the lugworm; they have a segmented body with pairs of bristles on each segment.
• polychoronA four-dimensional polytope.
• polychrestA medicine that serves for many uses, or that cures many diseases.
• polycladousHaving many branches
• polycroticOf or pertaining to polycrotism; manifesting polycrotism
• polydomyThe situation where an ant colony is established across multiple nest sites.
• polyeidicPassing through several distinct larval forms; having several distinct kinds of young.
• polylecticOf or relating to an insect (especially a bee) which collects pollen from the flowers of a variety of unrelated plants.
• polymastiaThe fact or condition of having more than two mammae or nipples.
• polymathyThe knowledge of many arts and sciences; variety of learning.
• polymeliaA congenital defect characterized by extra limbs
• polymyodianDescribing a bird that has a syrinx with multiple distinct muscles
• PolynoeOne of the nereids.