Ile

Ile- is a combining form used like a prefix representing the word ileum, the third and lowest division of the small intestine. It is often used in medical terms, especially in anatomy and pathology.

Ile- ultimately comes from the Latin īlia, meaning “side of the body between hips and groin, guts.”

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

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

A medical term that features the combining form ile- is ileectomy, the “surgical removal of the ileum.”

The first part of the word, ile-, means “ileum.” The second part of the word, -ectomy, is a combining form that means “excision.” Ileectomy literally translates to “ileum removal.”

What are some words that use the combining form ile-?

• ileac
• ileal
• ileal artery
• ileal veins
• ileitis

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

• -ile
• idio-
• ilio-

Also note that the combining form ile-, meaning “ileum,” is not to be confused with the common suffix -ile. The suffix -ile—as in agile, fragile, volatile, and many other words—is different from the combining form ile-. It is used in adjectives expressing capability, susceptibility, liability, aptitude, and other such qualities.

The combining form ile- is also not to be confused with ile., an abbreviation for the amino acid isoleucine.

The combining form -itis is used to denote inflammation of an organ. What does the medical condition of ileitis involve?