Biological and Medical Suffixes - A

-ac (1) pertaining to (iliac); (2) affected by (hypochondriac).

-able [from Latin -bilis capable of] Capable of being or doing the thing indicated by the stem or prefix (agglutinable).

-acanth [Greek akantha thorn] Thorn or spine (coelacanth).

-acea In taxonomic classification this ending indicates a category, usually an order, of animal forms (Gorgonacea).

-aceae In taxonomic classification this ending indicates a plant family (Begoniaceae = the begonia family).

-acean (1) = aceous; (2) one(s) having the characteristic indicated by the stem or prefix (crustacean).

-aceous or -aceus or -acious Full of, composed of, partaking of, of the nature of, characterized by, tending to be (ciliaceous).

-aceum One(s) having the characteristic indicated by the stem or prefix (Gossypium herbaceum); used in botanical names.

-acity Having the quality indicated by the stem or prefix (opacity).

-acousia or -acusia or -acusis [Greek akouein to hear] The state of hearing indicated by the stem or prefix (anacusis).

-acy The quality or state indicated by the stem or prefix (monochromacy).

-ad [Latin ad to, up to, towards; near, at; on] Toward, up to, near(er) (caudad).

-aemia See: -emia

-aesthesia See: -esthesia.

-aetus [from Greek aetos eagle] Eagle (Haliaetus).

-agog or -agogue [from Greek agogos leading] To drive, to make flow, to elicit (galactagogue, ptyalagogue).

-agra [from Greek agra seizure] Denotes a seizure, gout, gouty attack (pellagra).

-al [from Latin -alis] Of, belonging to, pertaining to, connected with, like (amniochorial).

-algesia or -algesic or -algetic or -algia or -algic or -algy [from Greek algesia sense of pain] Denotes suffering, pain, or sensitivity to pain (hyperalgesia, neuralgia, myalgia).

-an Relating to, native of, like (saurian).

-andra [from Greek andros man, since the stamen is the male organ of a flower] Denotes stamens or anthers of the type or number indicated by the stem or prefix (Pachysandra).

-andria [from Greek andros man, since the stamen is the male organ of a flower] One(s) stamens or anthers of the type or number indicated by the stem or prefix (Icosandria). Used by Linnaeus in naming botanical classes.

-androus [from Greek andros man, since the stamen is the male organ of a flower] Having stamens or anthers of the type or number indicated by the stem or prefix (dodecandrous).

-andry [from Greek andros man, since the stamen is the male organ of a flower] Condition of having stamens or anthers of the type or number indicated by the stem or prefix (monandry).

-angium or -ange [from Greek angos vessel] Vessel, receptacle (sporangium).

-anthous [from Greek anthos flower] Flowered in the way indicated by the stem or prefix (oliganthous).

-anthropus [from Greek anthropos human being] Type of human indicated by the stem or prefix (javanthropus).

-ar [from Latin -aris] Of, belonging to, connected with, like (nuclear).

-ary or -ary [from Latin -arius] Of, belonging to, connected with, like (termitary).

-arch [from Greek arche beginning] Having the beginning indicated by the stem or prefix (endarch).

-archy [from Greek archein to rule] Government or order of the type indicated by the stem or prefix (hierarchy).

-ase Denotes a colloid enzyme (amylase).

-asthenia [from Greek asthenes weak] Weakness (thrombasthenia).

-ata [Greek plural ending] Used to indicate the plural of numerous scientific names and words of Greek origin ending in -a (e.g., sing carcinoma, pl carcinomata; sing chromonema, pl chromonemata).

-ate (1) indicates the salt of a base (phosphate); (2) having the function specified, or being in the state indicated, by the stem or prefix (brevifoliate, centrifugate).

-ation Denotes a process of the kind indicated by the stem or prefix (fertilization).