chron-

Chron- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “time.” It appears in a few technical terms.

Chron- comes from the Greek chrónos, meaning “time.” The adjective chronic, meaning “constant” or “habitual,” also derives from this root.

Chron- is a variant of chrono-, which loses its -o– when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels.

Want to know more? Read our Words That Use chrono- article.

The physiology term chronaxie, or chronaxy, is “the minimum time that an electric current of twice the threshold strength must flow in order to excite a tissue.”

The chron- parts of the word means  “time.” The second part of the word, -axie, ultimately comes from the Greek axía, meaning “worth, value.” Chronaxie, then, literally means “time value.” The word chronaxie comes from French, using an equivalent form of chron-.

What are some words related to the combining form chron-?

• chronicity
• chronic shock
• chronicle
• chronon

What are some other forms that chron- may be commonly confused with?

• chlor-
• chrom-

Given what you know about the meaning of chron-, what, generally speaking, does a chronicle give a written account of?