ana-

ana-

a prefix in loanwords from Greek, where it means “up,” “against,” “back,” “re-”: anabasis; used in the formation of compound words: anacardiaceous.
Also, especially before a vowel, an-.

Origin:
< Greek, combining form of aná; no necessary relation to on

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
ana- or (before a vowel) an-
 
—prefix
1.  up; upwards: anadromous
2.  again: anagram
3.  back; backwards: anatropous
 
[from Greek ana]
 
an- or (before a vowel) an-
 
—prefix
 
[from Greek ana]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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00:10
Ana- is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

ana-
prefix meaning 1. "upward," 2. "back, backward, against," 3. "again, anew," from Gk. ana- "up to, toward, exceedingly, back, against," from ana "up, on, upon, throughout, again," cognate with O.E. on, from PIE base *ano- "on, upon, above."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

ana- pref.

  1. Upward; up: anacrotic.

  2. Backward; back: anaplasia.

  3. Again; anew: anabiosis.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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