epi-

epi-

a prefix occurring in loanwords from Greek, where it meant “upon,” “on,” “over,” “near,” “at,” “before,” “after” (epicedium; epidermis; epigene; epitome); on this model, used in the formation of new compound words (epicardium; epinephrine).
Also, ep-, eph-.

Origin:
< Greek, prefixal use of epí, preposition and adv.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To epi-
Collins
World English Dictionary
epi-, (before a vowel) eph- or (before a vowel) ep-
 
—prefix
1.  on; upon; above; over: epidermis; epicentre
2.  in addition to: epiphenomenon
3.  after: epigenesis; epilogue
4.  near; close to: epicalyx
 
[from Greek, from epi (prep)]
 
eph-, (before a vowel) eph- or (before a vowel) ep-
 
—prefix
 
[from Greek, from epi (prep)]
 
ep-, (before a vowel) eph- or (before a vowel) ep-
 
—prefix
 
[from Greek, from epi (prep)]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
00:10
Epi- is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

epi-
from Gk. epi "upon, at, close upon (in space or time), on the occasion of, in addition" (cognate with Skt. api "also, besides;" Avestan aipi "also, to, toward;" Arm. ev "also, and;" L. ob "toward, against, in the way of"). Before unaspirated vowels, reduced to ep-; before aspirated vowels, eph-. Used
in modern scientific compounds, cf. epicenter; epicycle (late 14c.).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

epi- or ep-
pref.

  1. On; upon: epineural.

  2. Over; above: epibasal.

  3. Around: epicystitis.

  4. Close to; near: epimer.

  5. Besides: epiphenomenon.

  6. After: epigenesis.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Partners:WordBloglinesCitysearchThe Daily BeastAsk AnswersAsk KidsLife123SendoriHome Advisor
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
About PRIVACY POLICY Terms API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Suggest a Word Help
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT