Tackling The Veterinary Terminology: Prefixes (anti-)

Remember the Spelling Bee? Big words are easier to tackle when you understand how they're put together. Veterinary terms are composed in the same way. Just like with other words, the main parts of a veterinary term are a prefix, a root, and a suffix. The difference is that they typically come more directly from Greek or Latin.

A prefix is placed at the beginning of a word to modify its meaning by providing additional information. It usually indicates number, location, time, or status.

anti- [an-ˌtī] - from Greek - against, hostile to, opposing

This is a very familiar prefix, one that you probably hear every day.

Antibacterial, a substance or drug that kills or inhibits bacterial growth. Antibiotic, a drug used to kill or slow down growth of bacteria.

Antibody, components of the immune system designed to fight disease.

Anticoagulant, a substance or drug that limits blood clotting. Used for medical purposes, but remember, they can also be found is some rodenticides and their ingestion can be deadly not only to the rodents, but also to your dog.

Anticonvulsant, a substance or drug to stop seizures. Antidote, a substance that counteracts effects of a poison. Antiemetic, a drug that alleviates vomiting and nausea.  

Antioxidant, a substance that inhibits oxidation,  protects from free radical damage.

You get the picture.

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Related articles:

Veterinary Suffixes (-itis)
Veterinary Suffixes (-oma) 
Veterinary Suffixes (-pathy)  
Veterinary Suffixes (-osis) 
Veterinary Suffixes (-iasis) 
Veterinary Suffixes (-tomy) 
Veterinary Suffixes (-ectomy)  
Veterinary Suffixes (-scopy) 
Veterinary Suffixes (-emia)
Veterinary Suffixes (-penia)
Veterinary Suffixes (-rrhea) 
Veterinary Suffixes (-cyte) 
Veterinary Suffixes (-blast) 
Veterinary Suffixes (-opsy)
Veterinary Suffixes (-ac/-al)

Veterinary Prefixes (hyper-) 
Veterinary Prefixes (hypo-)
Veterinary Prefixes (pyo-) 
Veterinary Prefixes (myo-) 
Veterinary Prefixes (myelo-)
Veterinary Prefixes (spondylo-)
Veterinary Prefixes (cardio-) 
Veterinary Prefixes (cervic-) 
Veterinary Prefixes (osteo-) 
Veterinary Prefixes (fibro-) 
Veterinary Prefixes (broncho-) 
Veterinary Prefixes (hemo-) 
Veterinary Prefixes (brady-) 
Veterinary Prefixes (tachy-)
Veterinary Prefixes (hepat-)
Veterinary Prefixes (gastr-) 
Veterinary Prefixes (laryng-)