apo-
a prefix occurring originally in loanwords from Greek, where it was joined to verbs, deverbal forms, and other parts of speech. Among its functions in Greek, apo- has the spatial sense “away, off, apart” (apogee; apocope; apostasy; apostrophe); it occurs with deverbals that denote a response or defense (apodosis; apology) and is found on verbs having perfective force relative to a corresponding simple verb (apoplexy; aposiopesis). In modern scientific coinages in English and other languages, apo- marks things that are detached, separate, or derivative (apocarpous; apoenzyme).
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Question 1 of 10
earnest
Also especially before a vowel, ap-.
Origin of apo-
Words nearby apo-
apneusis, apneustic, apneustic breathing, apnoea, apo, apo-, apoapsis, apoc., apocalypse, apocalyptic, apocalypticism
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
British Dictionary definitions for apo-
apo-
ap-
prefix
away from; offapogee
indicating separation ofapocarpous
indicating a lack or absence ofapogamy
indicating derivation from or relationship toapomorphine
Word Origin for apo-
from Greek apo away, off
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Medical definitions for apo-
apo-
pref.
Away from; off:aponeurosis.
Separate:apocrine.
Without; lacking; not:apoferritin.
Related to; derived from:apomorphine.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.