poly-

poly-

a combining form with the meanings “much, many” and, in chemistry, “polymeric,” used in the formation of compound words: polyandrous; polyculture; polyethylene.
Origin:
< Greek, combining form representing polýs; akin to Old English fela many. See plus

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
poly-
 
—combining form
1.  more than one; many or much: polyhedron
2.  having an excessive or abnormal number or amount: polycythaemia
 
[from Greek polus much, many; related to Old English fela many]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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00:10
Poly- is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

poly-
comb. form meaning "many, much," from Gk. poly-, combining form of polys "much" (plural polloi); cognate with L. plus, from PIE base *ple- (cf. Skt. purvi "much," prayah "mostly;" Avestan perena-, O.Pers. paru "much;" Gk. plethos "people, multitude, great number," pleres "full," polys "much, plenty,"
ploutos "wealth," plethein "be full;" Lith. pilus "full, abundant;" O.C.S. plunu; Goth. filu "much," O.N. fjöl-, O.E. fela, feola "much, many;" O.E. folgian; O.Ir. lan, Welsh llawn "full;" O.Ir. il, Welsh elu "much"), probably related to base *pele- "to spread."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

poly- pref.

  1. More than one; many; much: polyatomic.

  2. More than usual; excessive; abnormal: polydipsia.

  3. Polymer; polymeric: polyethylene.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
poly-  
A prefix meaning "many," as in polygon, a figure having many sides. In chemistry, it is used to form the names of polymers by being attached to the name of the base unit of which the polymer is made, as in polysaccharide, a polymer made of repeating simple sugars (monosaccharides).
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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