Word origins

• aeciumA cuplike fruiting structure of some parasitic rust fungi that contains chains of aeciospores.
• aedeagusA copulatory organ of some male insects.
• agalactiaThe failure of a mother (human or otherwise) to produce sufficient milk following birth.
• agminateGrouped together.
• ailuridAny member of the family Ailuridae.
• ailurineAny member of the subfamily Ailurinae.
• albiflorousHaving white flowers.
• Alexandrine ratA certain color morph of the black rat, once regarded as a distinct subspecies.
• alexitericA preservative against infectious diseases.
• alexiteryAn antidote to poison.
• -algiapain, suffering
• aloedaryA compound purgative medicine of which aloes is a chief ingredient.
• aloe veraA plant of the species Aloe vera, grown as an ornamental, thought to have medicinal value; an extract, often a gel, made from the plant.
• alphabetaryalphabetic; rudimentary
• altricialHelpless at birth (of young animals); or having young which are helpless at birth.
• alveolar processA bony ridge or raised thickened border of the upper or lower jaw that contains the sockets of the teeth.
• amaurosisAny form of blindness that is accompanied by no obvious change to the eye; often the result of disease of the optic nerve.
• amblyopicof, relating to, or suffering from amblyopia
• amelogenesisThe formation of tooth enamel
• amphigastriumA small scale-like leaf on the underside of stems of certain liverworts.
• amplexicaulHaving lobes (usually auriculate) that completely surround the stem.
• amylo-starch
• anabaptizeTo baptize or christen again, or to a different denomination; to rename or rechristen
• anachronizeTo refer to, or put into, a wrong time period.
• anangeonA justification of an action by inevitability or necessity.
• anaptychusOne of a pair of shelly plates found in some cephalopods, such as the ammonites. They are now considered to have been parts of the jaw.
• anaptycticOf or pertaining to anaptyxis; of a vowel having been inserted into a word.
• anaptyxisThe epenthesis (insertion) of a vowel.
• anconeusA muscle of the elbow and forearm.
• angina pectorisIntermittent crushing chest pain caused by reversible myocardial ischemia.
• anglo-A combining form relating to England or, by extension, the United Kingdom.
• angustifoliousHaving narrow leaves.
• annulateHaving an annular form or shape.
• anophyteA moss or similar plant with cellular stems, having usually an upward growth and distinct leaves.
• ansa cervicalisA nerve loop from the upper cervical nerves that accompanies the hypoglossal nerve and innervates the infrahyoid muscles.
• antero-anterior; front; forward
• anthodiumcalathidium.
• anthraco-Coal.
• antilopineRelating to, or resembling, antelopes.
• apetalousHaving no petals.
• aphemiaA type of aphasia in which the ability to speak is lost or severely impaired.
• aphyllousHaving no leaves; leafless.
• apico-Having a shape that has a tip, point, or apex; apical, pointy.
• aponeuroticOf or pertaining to an aponeurosis.
• arboriferousProducing or having many trees.
• archipterygiumA primitive fin, like that of Ceratodus.
• arcuate fasciculusA bundle of axons that forms part of the superior longitudinal fasciculus.
• argumentum ad lapidemThe informal fallacy of dismissing an argument as untrue or absurd without explaining why.
• arillusAn aril.
• arytenoidRelating to or being an arytenoid cartilage.
• ascidiumA pitcher-shaped or flask-shaped organ or appendage of a plant.
• ascococcusA form of micrococcus, found in putrid meat infusions, occurring in peculiar masses, each of which is enclosed in a hyaline capsule and contains a large number of spherical micrococci.
• asphyxyasphyxiation, typically resulting in death; asphyxia
• astasiaInability to stand without assistance.
• atlanto-atlas
• atoniaLack of muscle tone.
• atonyLack of muscle tone; flaccidity or atonia
• auricularisAny of three muscles attaching the cartilage of the external ear to the skull.
• aurora australisThe aurora of the southern hemisphere
• aurora borealisThe aurora of the northern hemisphere.
• barytaAny of several compounds of barium, especially barium sulphate and barium hydroxide.
• batrachianAny frog (narrow sense) or toad.
• bellipotenceStrength in battle.
• bibliopegismBookbinding.
• bipinnateDoubly pinnate; pinnate and having leaflets that are themselves pinnate.
• borborygmusA rumbling sound made by the movement of gas in the intestines.
• brachycephalicHaving a head that is short from front to back (relative to its width from left to right); having a broad skull with a cephalic index over 80.
• branchiateFurnished with branchiae; gilled, having gills.
• branchiferousHaving gills; branchiate.
• bronchiumA bronchial tube; a subdivision of the bronchus.
• brotulidAny member of the Brotulidae.
• bugiaA liturgical candlestick held beside a Latin Catholic bishop or other prelate.
• bursiformShaped like a purse or bag.
• caeomaAn aecium of some rust fungi that has no peridium or outer membrane.
• caesaropapismThe combination of state (originally imperial) power with religious authority; state authority over ecclesiastical matters.
• calcifugousSynonym of calcifugal.
• calliferousBearing or producing calluses.
• calypterEither of two rounded lobes at the posterior base of the wing in many true flies.
• camera obscuraA darkened chamber in which the image of an outside object is projected and focused onto a surface.
• capitellateHaving a very small knob-like termination, or collected into minute capitula.
• carpaleA carpal, especially one of the series articulating with the metacarpals.
• carpellumSynonym of carpel.
• castellanusA cloud species which shows vertical formations giving a crenellated appearance, associated with cirrus, cirrocumulus, altocumulus, and stratocumulus genera.
• catameniaThe female menstrual discharge.
• causalgiaA disorder with intense burning pain, type 2 of two types of complex regional pain syndrome.
• caveolaA small (50–100 nanometer) invagination of the plasma membrane in many vertebrate cell types.
• cedmataChronic joint pain, especially of the hip-joint.
• cembraThe Swiss pine, Pinus cembra.
• cercariaThe parasitic larva of trematodes that infect the final host generally.
• -cercousPertaining to a tail-like structure.
• cercusA structure on the end of the abdomen of most insects, sometimes long, hairlike sensory organs and sometimes smaller and rigid.
• cestodeA parasitic flatworm of the class Cestoda; a tapeworm.
• chausSynonym of jungle cat (Felis chaus)
• cheiropterygiumThe typical pentadactyloid limb of the higher vertebrates.
• cheliceraEither of the prehensile claws found on the proboscis of chelicerates (horseshoe crabs, sea spiders and arachnids).
• chemo-Relating to or using chemicals or chemistry.
• chiasmaA crossing of two nerves, ligaments etc.
• chinnyHaving a prominent chin.
• chion-snow
• chionablepsiainflammation of the eyes caused by exposure to ultraviolet light