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

penta, pent

five

Yes
.
Yes
combining form

Examples

Definition

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modern pentathlon (2)

(noun) - modern + five + contest = a sporting event where contestants perform a 300-meter free-style swim, a 4000-meter cross-country run, a 5000-meter 30-jump equestrian steeplechase, fencing, and target shooting.

pentachlorophenol (5)

(noun) - five + green + show = C6Cl5OH, a crystalline compound used as a wood preservative, fungicide and disinfectant.

pentacle (5)

(noun) - etymology in doubt, probably from the word penta = see pentagram.

pentad (4)

(noun) - etymology in doubt, probably from the word penta (noun) - five = a group of five.

pentagon (2)

(noun) - five + angles = a polygon with five angles and five sides.

Pentagon (2)

(noun) = five + angles = the headquarters of the US war machine.

pentagonal (2)

(noun) - five + angles = having five sides and five angles; a solid with a pentagon as a cross section or base. Pentagonally is the adverb form.

pentagram (4)

(noun) - five + letter = a five pointed star with its points connected by a continuous line; the star often used as a magic or occult symbol.

pentahedron (3)

(noun) - five + faces = a solid form with five faces. Pentahedral is the adjective form.

pentamerous (5)

(adj.) - five + -merous = having five parts; each floral spiral has five or a multiple of five members.

pentameter (4)

(noun) - five + measure = a line of verse with five metrical feet.

pentamidine (4)

(noun) - five + -midine = C19H24N4O2, a drug used to treat protozoal infections and prevent AIDS-related pneumonia.

pentane (4)

(noun) - five + -ane = one of the three isomeric alkanes C5H12 which occurs in petroleum.

pentangle (5)

(noun) - five + angle = see pentagram.

pentapeptide (5)

(noun) - five + digest = a polypeptide with five amino acid components.

pentarchy (5)

(noun) - five + ruler, government = five countries or districts each with its own ruler or government.

Pentateuch (4)

(noun) - five + scroll case = the first five books of the Jewish holy books.

pentathlete (2)

(noun) - five + compete = an athlete participating in a pentathlon.

pentathlon (2)

(noun) - five + contest, compete = an sporting event where each contestant takes part in five different events; particularly the modern pentathlon.

pentatonic (5)

(adj.) - five + tone = consisting of five tones.

pentavalent (5)

(adj.) - five + be strong = with a valence of five.

pentazocine (5)

(noun) - penta- + az + octa- + ine = C19H27NO, an analgesic drug less addictive than morphine.

Pentecost (2)

(noun) - five (fifty) + day a Christian feast day celebrated the seventh Sunday after Easter to commemorate the decent of = the Holy Spirit on the disciples.

thiopental (3)

(noun) - thio + pentobarbital = C11H18N2O2S, a barbiturate used as an intravenous anesthetic usually in the form of a sodium salt.

Pentothal (3)

(trademark) - five + thiopental = see thiopental.

pentobarbital (3)

(noun) - five + barbital = C11H18N2O3, a barbiturate drug used as a sedative, hypnotic, and antispasmodic usually in the form of a sodium or calcium salt.

pentoxide (5)

(noun) - five + acid + make + -ide = an oxide with five atoms of oxygen in its molecule.