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

pseudo, pseud

false, spurious

Yes, originally
.
Yes
Combining form

Examples

Definition

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pseudo (2)

(adj.) - from the word = a sham, something fake, bogus or counterfeit.

pseudoallele (5)

(noun) - false + allele = one of two or more closely linked genes which act like a single member of an allelic pair but occasionally cross-over and recombine.

pseudocholinesterase (5)

(noun) - false + cholinesterase = an enzyme that hydrolyzes choline esters and found in blood plasma.

pseudoclassic (4)

(adj.) - false + classic = acting as if or wrongly regarded as classic. Pseudoclassic is the noun form.

pseudoclassicism (4)

(noun) - false + classic + ism = imitative copying of classicism in literature, art, etc.

pseudocoel (5)

(noun) - false + hollow = a kind of body cavity which does not have a well-defined mesodermal membrane.

pseudocoelomate (5)

(noun) - false + hollow = an invertebrate with a pseudocoelal body cavity. Pseudocoelomate is the adjective form.

pseudocyesis (5)

(noun) - false + pregnancy = a psychosomatic state where a female is not pregnant, but displays some of the physical symptoms and changes in hormonal balance associated with pregnancy.

pseudomorph (5)

(noun) - false + shape = a deceiving or irregular form; a mineral with the outward form of another kind. Pseudomorphic and pseudomorphous are adjective forms and pseudomorphism is a noun.

pseudonym (3)

(noun) - false + name = a fictitious name; a pen name used by a writer.

pseudonymity (4)

(noun) - false + name + ity = the use of a pseudonym.

pseudonymous (4)

(adj.) - false + name + ous = using a fictitious name. Pseudonymously is the adverb form and pseudonymousness is the noun form.

pseudopod (4)

(noun) - false + foot = pseudopodium; a temporary, leg-like protrusion that acts to provide locomotion or food gathering capacity in some one cell organisms. Pseudopodal and pseudopodial are adjective forms.

pseudopregnancy (4)

(noun) - false + pregnancy = see pseudocyesis; a state resembling pregnancy in some mammals, usually after non-productive copulation. Pseudopregnant is the adjective form.

pseudorandom (4)

(adj.) - false + random = numbers or items selected by a fixed computational process but still satisfy standard tests for statistical randomness.

pseudoscience (3)

(noun) - false + knowledge = a set of theories or methods erroneously regarded as scientific. Pseudoscientific is the adjective form and pseudoscientist is the noun for a person who practices this.

pseudoscorpion (5)

(noun) - false + scorpion = one of the Pseudoscorpiones; tiny arachnids with no stinger which feed on tiny insects and mites.

pseudosophistication (3)

(noun) - false + clever = false or pretended sophistication. Pseudosophisticated is the adjective form.

pseudotuberculosis (4)

(noun) - false + small lump + osis = a disease characterized by granulomas resembling tubercular nodules but are not caused by the tubercle bacillus.