ped
Origin of ped
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Origin of -ped
Other definitions for ped (7 of 7)
WORDS THAT USE PED-
What does ped- mean?
Ped– is a combining form used like a prefix that has three distinct senses.
The first of these senses is “child,” and this form of ped– is occasionally used in a variety of scientific and technical terms. The form ped– in this sense comes from Greek paîs, meaning “child.”
The second of these senses is “foot,” and this form of ped– is occasionally used in a variety of scientific and technical terms. The form ped– in this sense comes from Latin pēs, meaning “foot.”
The third of these senses is “soil,” and this form of ped– is very rarely used in a variety of scientific terms. The form ped– in this sense comes from Greek pédon, meaning “ground” or “earth.”
What are variants of ped– with the sense “child”?
When combined with words or word elements that begin with a consonant, ped– becomes pedo–, as in pedogenesis. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article about pedo-.
In British English, ped– in this sense is chiefly spelled paed–, as in paediatrics.
What are variants of ped– with the sense “foot”?
When combined with words or word elements that begin with a consonant, ped– becomes pedi–, as in pedicab. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article about pedi-.
When combined as a final element of a word, the related form –ped means “having a foot.” To learn more, read our Words That Use feature on –ped below.
What are variants of ped– with the sense “soil”?
When combined with words or word elements that begin with a consonant, ped– becomes pedo–, as in pedology. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article about pedo-.
Examples of ped- with the sense “child”
A word you may have come across that features the form ped– is pediatrics, “the branch of medicine concerned with the development, care, and diseases of babies and children.”
The ped– part of the word means “child,” as we have seen, but what about the –iatrics part of the word? It means “healing, medical practice” and is used to name medical treatments or branches of medicine, from Greek iātrikós. Pediatrics literally means “child healing.”
What are some words that use the combining form ped-?
- pedagogue (using the equivalent form of ped- in Greek)
- pedant (using the equivalent form of ped- in Italian)
- pedantic
- pederast (using the equivalent form of ped- in Greek)
What are some other forms that ped– may be commonly confused with?
Break it down!
The combining form –agogue has a variety of meanings, including “leader (of).” With this in mind, what does pedagogue literally mean?
Examples of ped- with the sense “foot”
A word you have likely encountered that uses the form ped– is pedal, “a foot-operated lever.” Pedal comes from Latin pedālis, which uses the equivalent of ped– in that language.
The ped– part of this word here means “foot,” but what about the suffix –al? The suffix –al here means “having the form or character of.” Pedal literally means “having the form of a foot.”
What are some words that use the combining form ped-?
- pedal boat
- pedal keyboard
- pedal pushers
- pedate (using the equivalent form of ped- in Latin)
- pedestal (using the equivalent form of ped- in Italian)
- pedestrian (using the equivalent form of ped- in Latin)
- peduncle (using the equivalent form of ped- in Latin)
What are some other forms that ped– may be commonly confused with?
Break it down!
The –destal portion of the word pedestal comes from an Italian element meaning “of stall.” With this in mind, what does pedestal literally mean?
Examples of ped- with the sense “soil”
A scientific term that features the form ped– is pedalfer, “a soil rich in alumina and iron, with few or no carbonates.”
The ped– portion of the word means “soil.” The –al– portion of the word is short for alum, a chemical compound. The –fer portion of the word here is short for Latin ferrum, meaning “iron” (not to be confused with the combining form –fer meaning “that which carries”). Pedalfer literally means “soil with alum and iron.”
What are some words that use the combining form ped-?
- pedion (using the equivalent form of ped– in Greek)
- pedon (using the equivalent form of ped– in Greek)
What are some other forms that ped– may be commonly confused with?