| 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). |
| epi- or ep- pref.
[Greek, from epi, upon; see epi in Indo-European roots.] |
epi- or ep-
pref.
On; upon: epineural.
Over; above: epibasal.
Around: epicystitis.
Close to; near: epimer.
Besides: epiphenomenon.
After: epigenesis.
