pseudo-
- a combining form meaning “false,” “pretended,” “unreal,” used in the formation of compound words (pseudoclassic; pseudointellectual): in scientific use, denoting close or deceptive resemblance to the following element (pseudobulb; pseudocarp), and used sometimes in chemical names of isomers (pseudoephedrine).
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Also especially before a vowel, pseud-.
Origin of pseudo-
< Greek, combining form of pseudḗs false, pseûdos falsehood
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
apparentapparentlyfakemocknearnominalpartlypretendedseemingshamso-calledsupposedlysyntheticvirtualwould-beseeminglypseudo-semi-pseudo-
sometimes before a vowel pseud-
- false, pretending, or unauthenticpseudo-intellectual
- having a close resemblance topseudopodium
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Word Origin
from Greek pseudēs false, from pseudein to lie
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for pseudo-
often before vowels pseud-, word-forming element meaning "false; feigned; erroneous; in appearance only; resembling," from Greek pseudo-, comb. form of pseudes "false, lying; falsely; deceived," or pseudos "falsehood, untruth, a lie," both from pseudein "to deceive, cheat by lies."
Productive in compound formation in ancient Greek (e.g. pseudodidaskalos "false teacher," pseudokyon "a sham cynic," pseudologia "a false speech," pseudoparthenos "pretended virgin"), it began to be used with native words in Middle English.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
pseudo-
- False; deceptive; sham:pseudohematuria.
- Apparently similar:pseudomyxoma.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.