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

somato, somat

body

Yes, originally
New Latin
Yes
Yes, combining form

Examples

Definition

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metasomatism (5)

(noun) - after + body + process = a change involving the chemical composition as well as the texture of a rock. Metasomatic is the adjective form.

psychosomatic (3)

(adj.) - spirit + body = relating to, or involving both the mind and body or dealing with bodily symptoms caused by mental or emotional disturbances. Psychosomatically is the adverb form and psychosomatic is a term used to describe a person suffering from a mind-caused disease with physical manifestations.

psychosomatics (4)

(noun, but singular) - spirit + body = the branch of medicine dealing with the relationship between the mind and the body.

somatic (4)

(adj.) - body + relating to = relating to or affecting the body. Somatically is the adverb form.

somatic cell (5)

(noun) - body + relating to + cell = the cells of the body that make up tissue, organs, etc., but not the germ cells.

somatology (5)

(noun) - body + speak = the part of anthropology which studies comparative human evolution, its variation and classification through measurement and observation. Somatological is the adjective form and somatologist is the noun form for a person who studies this.

somatomedin (5)

(noun) - body + intermediary + enzyme = peptides produced in the body and especially the liver which affect growth hormone activity.

somatopleure (5)

(noun) - body + side = a tissue fold in the skull of the embryo of a vertebrate.

somatosensory (4)

(adj.) - body + senses = relating to sensory activity in other than the specialized sense organs (eyes, ears, etc.) and providing the body information about its environment.

somatostatin (5)

(noun) - body + cause to stand = a neurohormone found in the hypothalamus and inhibiting the secretion of other hormones, such as growth hormone, insulin, etc.

somatotropin, somatotrophin (4)

(noun) - body + turning + an enzyme = the growth hormone.

somatotropic hormone (4)

(noun) - body + turning + an enzyme + urge on = the growth hormone.

somatotype (4)

(noun) - body + impression = body type; physique. (i.e. thin, medium build, heavy set, etc.).