Algia By Etymonline - Meaning Of Suffix

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Origin and history of -algia

-algia

word-forming element denoting "pain," from Greek algos "pain," algein "to feel pain," which is of unknown origin. Related to alegein "to care about," originally "to feel pain."

Entries linking to -algia

algolagnia(n.)

"sado-masochism, sexuality that fetishizes violence and pain," 1900, Modern Latin, coined in German in 1892 by German doctor and paranormalist Albert von Schrenck-Notzing (1862-1929) from Greek algos "pain" (see -algia) + lagneia "lust," from lagnein "to lust" (from PIE root *sleg- "be slack, be languid").

analgesia(n.)

"absence of pain, incapacity of feeling pain in a part, though tactile sense is preserved," 1706, medical Latin, from Greek analgesia "want of feeling, insensibility," from analgetos "without pain, insensible to pain" (also "unfeeling, ruthless"), from an- "not" (see an- (1)) + algein "to feel pain" (see -algia). An alternative form is analgia.

• antalgic
• arthralgia
• cephalalgia
• fibromyalgia
• glossalgia
• myalgia
• neuralgia
• nostalgia
• otalgia
• proctalgia
• synalgia
• See All Related Words (13)

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nostalgia1726, "morbid longing to return to one's home or native country, severe homesickness considered as a disease," Modern Latin, coined 1688 in a dissertation on the topic at the University of Basel by scholar Johannes Hofer (1669-1752) as a rendering of German heimweh "homesickness"hormone"organic compound produced in animal bodies to regulate activity and behavior," 1905, from Greek hormon "that which sets in motion," present participle of horman "impel, urge on," from horme "onset, impulse," from PIE *or-sma-, from root *er- (1) "to move, set in motion." Used byreligionc. 1200, religioun, "state of life bound by monastic vows," also "action or conduct indicating a belief in a divine power and reverence for and desire to please it," from Anglo-French religiun (11c.), Old French religion, relegion "piety, devotion; religious community," and direcmonth"one-twelfth part of a year; one of the twelve parts into which the calendar year is arbitrarily divided," Old English monað, from Proto-Germanic *menoth- (source also of Old Saxon manoth, Old Frisian monath, Middle Dutch manet, Dutch maand, Old High German manod, German Monat, Oconsumelate 14c., "to destroy by separating into parts which cannot be reunited, as by burning or eating," hence "destroy the substance of, annihilate," from Old French consumer "to consume" (12c.) and directly from Latin consumere "to use up, eat, waste," from assimilated form of com-,bat"a stick or staff used in beating, a war-club, staff used to strike the ball in certain games," c. 1200, from rare Old English batt "cudgel," a western England word at first, probably from Welsh or another Celtic source (compare Irish and Gaelic bat, bata "staff, cudgel"), later curiousmid-14c., "subtle, sophisticated;" late 14c., "eager to know, inquisitive, desirous of seeing" (often in a bad sense), also "wrought with or requiring care and art;" from Old French curios "solicitous, anxious, inquisitive; odd, strange" (Modern French curieux) and directly from stopMiddle English stoppen, "obstruct (a passage) with a physical barrier; close up by filling, stuffing, or plugging," from Old English -stoppian (in forstoppian "to stop up, stifle"), a general West Germanic word, cognate with Old Saxon stuppon, West Frisian stopje, Middle Low Germmomentlate 14c., "very brief portion of time, instant," in moment of time, from Old French moment (12c.) "moment, minute; importance, weight, value" and directly from Latin momentum "movement, motion; moving power; alteration, change;" also "short time, instant" (also source of Spanishcracker-jackalso crackerjack, "something excellent," 1893, U.S. colloquialism, apparently a fanciful construction; the earliest use is in reference to racing horses. Compare cracker (n.1). The caramel-coated popcorn-and-peanuts confection was said to have been introduced at the World's Colum

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‘cite’Page URL:https://www.etymonline.com/word/-algiaCopyHTML Link:<a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/-algia">Etymology of -algia by etymonline</a>CopyAPA Style:Harper, D. (n.d.). Etymology of -algia. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved January 2, 2026, from https://www.etymonline.com/word/-algiaCopyChicago Style:Harper Douglas, "Etymology of -algia," Online Etymology Dictionary, accessed January 2, 2026, https://www.etymonline.com/word/-algia.CopyMLA Style:Harper, Douglas. "Etymology of -algia." Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/-algia. Accessed 2 January, 2026.CopyIEEE Style:D. Harper. "Etymology of -algia." Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/word/-algia (accessed January 2, 2026).CopyRemove AdsAdvertisement

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TrendingDictionary entries near -algia

• algal
• algebra
• algebraic
• Algeria
• Algernon
• -algia
• Algol
• algolagnia
• algologist
• Algonquian
• Algonquin

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