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; throughout
3. abnormal, incorrect
4. resembling

   para-communist

5. (organic chemistry) In isomeric benzene derivatives, having the two substituents in opposite (1,4) positions (compare ortho- and meta-)

   Synonym: p-

Derived terms

Related terms →

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

• P-
• parabola
• paradigm
• parallel
• parallelogram
• paramedic
• paramilitary
• parapsychology
• parasite
• paratext
• paravirtualization

 

terms derived from παρά (above,beyond)

• paranormal

 

Translations

above, beyond

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

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

having substituents on benzene rings on opposite carbon atoms

• Czech: para-

• Danish: para-

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
• parasol
• 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. disability sport

Derived terms

Paralympic sport

• para-archery
• para-athlete / parathlete
• paracanoe / para-canoe
• paracycling / para-cycling
• parasport / parasports / para-sport / para-sports
• paratriathlon

 

See also

► English words prefixed with para-

Anagrams

• AARP, ARPA, Paar, Rapa, apar

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Bikol Central

Prefix

para-

1. used in naming any professions

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French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pa.ʁa/

Etymology 1

From Ancient Greek παρά- (pará-, “beside”).

Prefix

para-

1. para- (all senses)

Etymology 2

Via Italian para-, from 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)

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Ido

Etymology

Borrowed from English para-, French para-, Italian para-, Spanish para-. Decision no. 105, Progreso III.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈpara/

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-

References

• Progreso III (in Ido), 1910–1911, pages 169, 465

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Irish

Alternative forms

• parai- (before a slender consonant)

Etymology

From Ancient Greek παρα- (para-)

Prefix

para-

1. para-

Derived terms

► Irish words prefixed with para-

Mutation

Irish mutation
Radical	Lenition	Eclipsis
para-	phara-	bpara-
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

Further reading

• "para(i)-" in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, An Gúm, 1977, by Niall Ó Dónaill.

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Italian

Etymology

From Ancient Greek παρα- (para-)

Prefix

para-

1. para- (all senses)

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Polish

Prefix

para-

1. para- (resembling)

Derived terms

► Polish words prefixed with para-

Further reading

• para- in Polish dictionaries at PWN

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Serbo-Croatian

Etymology

From Ancient Greek παρα- (para-)

Prefix

para- (Cyrillic spelling пара-)

1. Para-.

   ‎para- + ‎nàuka (“science”) → ‎paranauka (“parascience”)

   ‎para- + ‎nȍrmālno (“normally”) → ‎paranormalno (“paranormal”)

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Spanish

Etymology

From Ancient Greek παρα- (para-)

Prefix

para-

1. para-

Derived terms

• ► Spanish words prefixed with para-