# what does a Para prefix mean? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 29, 2004, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-para-prefix-mean/277067 "2004-11-29T01:06:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jtraut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f19dbf/32.png) [@jtraut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtraut)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-para-prefix-mean/277067/1 "2004-11-29T01:06:48Z")
I’ve tried to find out without much luck. Such as paramilitary is it the same para as paradign and parallel? ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-para-prefix-mean/277067/2 "2004-11-29T01:19:36Z")
_para_- is from the Greek para meaning alongside or beside paramilitary, parallel and paradigm [all use this](http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?l=p&p=3). Parachute, OTOH doesn’t, that para derives from the Latin _parare_ (to defend against) ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-para-prefix-mean/277067/3 "2004-11-29T01:37:38Z")
I never quite understood the difference between a paramedic and a medic, semantically speaking. ---
**Author:** ![jtraut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f19dbf/32.png) [@jtraut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtraut)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-para-prefix-mean/277067/4 "2004-11-29T02:01:11Z")
Me neither, I always thought it meant kinda the same as a sub- or “a little less than” type until I looked it up. But for instance a paramilitary unit or knife that means not actual military but works side by side with it? 😕 Paramedic is even more strange… I also knew in spanish the word para means “for” and since I thought “para” might be a latin prefix hence - para military or “for the military” seemed to make the most logical since to me. I guess I was wrong again… ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-para-prefix-mean/277067/5 "2004-11-29T02:16:27Z")
Compare and contrast the use of _para-_ with its cousins, _ortho-_ and _meta_. Ortho: Straight, true. Orthodoxy, orthopedics, orthodontics. Meta: Changed, altered, beyond. Metaphysics, metamorphosis. Para: Besides, against, contrary to. Paraphilia, paranormal. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-para-prefix-mean/277067/6 "2004-11-29T02:38:48Z")
From [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com) para or par- pref. 1. Beside; near; alongside: _parathyroid_. 2. Beyond: _paranormal_. 3. Incorrect; abnormal: _paresthesia_. 4. Similar to; resembling: _paratyphoid fever_. 5. Subsidiary; assistant: _paraprofessional_. 6. Isomeric; polymeric: _paraldehyde_. also: - \Par"a-\ [Gr. ? beside; prob. akin to E. for- in forgive. Cf. For-.] 1. A prefix signifying alongside of, beside, beyond, against, amiss; as parable, literally, a placing beside; paradox, that which is contrary to opinion; parachronism. As with many other prefixes, the English language scoops in meanings and applies them with the discrimination of a Pacers fan throwing cups. ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-para-prefix-mean/277067/7 "2004-11-29T03:21:06Z")
> [@jtraut](#): > > I’ve tried to find out without much luck. > Such as paramilitary > is it the same para as paradign and parallel? **ExapnoMapcase has it right, usually def. 4 applies.** ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-para-prefix-mean/277067/8 "2004-11-29T03:25:11Z")
One additional meaning that **Exapno** hasn’t listed: 1. Combining form of “parachute”: parasail. ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-a-para-prefix-mean/277067/9 "2004-11-29T12:09:08Z")
> [@Exapno Mapcase](#): > > and applies them with the discrimination of a Pacers fan throwing cups. _nitpick:_ **Pistons** fan. The Pacers were on the receiving end of the cup throwing (unless there’s been another incident I haven’t heard about.