hypo-

hypo-
hyper-, hypo-
These prefixes are derived from Greek prepositions huper and hupo meaning ‘over, above’ and ‘under, below’ respectively. In English, hyperthermia means ‘abnormally high body temperature’ and hypothermia means ‘abnormally low body temperature’; hypertension means ‘abnormally high blood pressure’ and hypotension means ‘abnormally low blood pressure’. Both prefixes are usually pronounced in the same way (hiy-pǝ), and the meaning may have to be clarified by the context in which they are used. In other words the prefix does not correspond so closely to sense; for example, hypochondria means ‘excessive anxiety about one's health’ (suggesting hyper- rather than hypo-) and is derived from a Greek word meaning ‘the soft parts of the body below the ribs’, where such feelings were thought to arise. Hypercritical duly means ‘excessively critical’, but hypocritical and hypocrisy (pronounced hip-, not hiyp-) are derived from a Greek word hupokrisis meaning ‘acting a part, pretence’.

Modern English usage. 2014.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • hypo- — ♦ Élément, du gr. hupo « au dessous, en deçà », qui exprime la diminution, l insuffisance, la situation inférieure, et spécialt en chimie, l idée de petite quantité d oxygène : hypochloreux. ⊗ CONTR. Hyper . ● hypo Préfixe du grec hupo, sous,… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Hypo — may be short for: * Hypoglycaemia, low blood glucose * Sodium hyposulfite, used in photographic processing * Hypodermic needle, syringe, or injection * Hypothecation * Hypo Real Estate, a German banking groupHYPO may refer to: * Station HYPO, a… …   Wikipedia

  • Hypo — steht für: Hypo (ὑπό), altgriechische Präposition mit der Bedeutung „unter“ Hypo, von Diabetikern verwendetes Kurzwort für Hypoglykämie (Unterzuckerung) Die Kurzformen Hypo oder Hypobank stehen für: Hypothekenbank, ein Kreditinstitut zur… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • hypo- — Präfixoid darunter, unter erw. bildg. ( ) Beschreibung von Affixen. Das Element wird in griechischen Wörtern übernommen und geht auf gr. hýpo, hypó zurück. Verwandt ist auf. ✎ Cottez (1980), 192f. griechisch gr …   Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen sprache

  • hypo- — element meaning under, beneath (in chemistry, indicating a lesser oxidation), from hypo , comb. form of Gk. hypo (prep. and adverb) under, from PIE *upo under, up from under, over (see SUB (Cf. sub )) …   Etymology dictionary

  • hypo... — hypo..., Hypo..., (vor Vokalen meist:) hyp..., Hyp..., (vor h:) hyph..., Hyph...: Die Vorsilbe mit der Bedeutung »unter, darunter«, in der medizinischen und biologischen Fachsprache auch mit dem Begriff der »Unterfunktion«, ist entlehnt aus… …   Das Herkunftswörterbuch

  • Hypo... — hypo..., Hypo..., (vor Vokalen meist:) hyp..., Hyp..., (vor h:) hyph..., Hyph...: Die Vorsilbe mit der Bedeutung »unter, darunter«, in der medizinischen und biologischen Fachsprache auch mit dem Begriff der »Unterfunktion«, ist entlehnt aus… …   Das Herkunftswörterbuch

  • hypo- — [hī′pō, hī′pə; hip′ō, hip′ə] [Gr hypo < hypo, under, less than: see UP1] prefix 1. under, beneath, below [hypodermic] 2. less than, subordinated to [hypotaxis] 3. Chem. having a lower state of oxidation [hypophosphorous acid] …   English World dictionary

  • hypo- — [haıpəu, pə US pou, pə] prefix technical [: Late Latin; Origin: Greek, from hypo under ] less than usual, especially too little ▪ hypothermia (=condition in which your body temperature is too low) ▪ a hypodermic injection (=given under the skin) …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • hypo- — [haıpəu, pə US pou, pə] prefix technical [: Late Latin; Origin: Greek, from hypo under ] less than usual, especially too little ▪ hypothermia (=condition in which your body temperature is too low) ▪ a hypodermic injection (=given under the skin) …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Hypo- — Hy po [Gr. ? under, beneath; akin to L. sub. See {Sub }.] 1. A prefix signifying a less quantity, or a low state or degree, of that denoted by the word with which it is joined, or position under or beneath. [1913 Webster] 2. (Chem.) A prefix… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”