para-

See also: Appendix:Variations of "para"

English

Etymology 1

From Ancient Greek παρά (pará, “beside; next to, near, from; against, contrary to”).

Prefix

para-

1. above, beyond
2. beside, near, alongside
3. abnormal, incorrect
4. resembling
5. (organic chemistry) In isomeric benzene derivatives, having the two substituents in opposite positions (compare ortho- and meta-.)

Synonyms

(organic chemistry): p-

Derived terms

terms derived from παρά (beside, abnormal, resembling, chem.)

• P-
• parabola
• paradigm

• parallel
• parallelogram
• paramedic

• paramilitary
• paranormal
• parapsychology

• parasite
• paratext
• paravirtualization

Translations

above, beyond

• Greek: παρα- (el) (para-)
• Japanese: 超 (ja) (ちょう, chō)

• Korean: 超 (ko) (초, cho)
• Spanish: para- (es)

Etymology 2

From French para-, from Italian para-, from para, imperative of parare (“to defend, shield, shroud”), from Latin parō (“I prepare”).

Prefix

para-

1. (obsolete, not productive) to guard against, to avert, to shield from; to provide protection against, defence from

Derived terms

• para-bore (jest, nonce word), protection against bores
• paragrandine
• paravane

Related terms

terms related to para-, but not formed in English

• parachute
• parados

• parapet
• parasol
• paravent

Etymology 3

From parachute.

Prefix

para-

1. parachute.

Derived terms

terms derived from para- (parachute)

• parabrake
• paracord
• paradiver
• paradoctor
• paradrop
• parafoil

• parafrag bomb
• paraglider
• parajump
• parajute

• parakiting
• parapants
• paraplane
• parasheet

• paraski
• paraspotter
• paratrooper

Etymology 4

From Paralympic.

Prefix

para-

1. Forming words relating to disability sport

Derived terms

Paralympic sport

• para-archery
• paracanoe / para-canoe
• paracycling / para-cycling

• para-athlete / parathlete
• parasport / parasports / para-sport / para-sports
• paratriathlon

See also

► English words prefixed with para-

Anagrams

• AARP, ARPA, Rapa, apar

---

French

Etymology 1

From Ancient Greek παρά (pará, “beside”)

Prefix

para-

1. para- (all senses)

Etymology 2

Via Italian para-, imperative of parare, from Latin parō (“to shield”).

Prefix

para-

1. para-

Synonyms

• garde- (e.g. garde-boue, garde-bras)
• pare- (e.g. pare-chocs, pare-soleil)

---

Ido

Etymology

Borrowed from English para-, French para-, Italian para-, Spanish parar.

Prefix

para-

1. prefix denoting protection against, something to ward off

   para- + ‎pluvo (“rain”) → ‎parapluvo (“umbrella”)

   para- + ‎moskito (“mosquito”) → ‎paramoskito (“mosquito net”)

Derived terms

► Ido words prefixed with para-

---

Irish

Prefix

para-

1. para-

Derived terms

► Irish words prefixed with para-

---

Italian

Prefix

para-

1. para- (all senses)

---

Serbo-Croatian

Prefix

para- (Cyrillic spelling пара-)

1. Para-.

   nauka (“science”) → paranauka (“parascience”)

   normalno (“normally”) → paranormalno (“paranormal”)