Iso- | Meaning Of Prefix Iso- By Etymonline

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Origin and history of iso-

iso-

before vowels often is-, word-forming element meaning "equal, similar, identical; isometric," from Greek isos "equal to, the same as; equally divided; fair, impartial (of persons); even, level (of ground)," as in isometor "like one's mother." In English used properly only with words of Greek origin; the Latin equivalent is equi- (see equi-).

Entries linking to iso-

isobar(n.)

1864, coined from Greek isos "equal" (see iso-) + baros "weight" (from PIE root *gwere- (1) "heavy"). Line connecting places with the same barometric pressure at the same time. Related: Isobaric.

isocephalic(adj.)

"having the heads of the principal figures at about the same level," 1893, from Greek isokephalos "like-headed," from isos "equal" (see iso-) + kephalē "head" (see cephalo-). The rule or principle of ancient Greek art that makes figures standing and on horseback have heads carved on nearly the same level.

• isochromatic
• isochronous
• isocracy
• isodynamic
• isogenous
• isogloss
• isokinetic
• isomeric
• isometric
• isomorphic
• isomorphism
• isonomia
• isopod
• isopolity
• isosceles
• isostasy
• isotherm
• isotonic
• See All Related Words (24)

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isomeric"pertaining to or characterized by isomerism," 1831, from German isomerisch (Berzelius, 1831, in a paper on the "Composition of the Tartaric and Paratartaric Racemic Acids"), from Greek isomeres "sharing equality, having equal parts or shares," from iso- "equal" (see iso-) + meroisomorphism"similarity of form," 1822, in John George Children's translation from French of Berzelius's "The Use of the Blow-pipe in Chemical Analysis," from French l'isomorphisme, from German Isomorphismus (1819), coined by German chemist Eilhard Mitscherlich (1794-1863) from Greek isos "eisonomia"equality before the law," c. 1600, from Italian or Latin, ultimately from Greek isonomia "equality of rights, the equality of a Greek democracy," from isos "equal, identical" (see iso-) + nomos "law" (see -nomy). Related: Isonomic (1851), which appears to be a separate formationsufficient"adequate for a purpose, enough," early 14c., from Old French soficient "satisfactory," or directly from Latin sufficientem (nominative sufficiens) "adequate," present participle of sufficere "to supply as a substitute," from sub "up to" (see sub-) + combining form of facere "to tuberculosis1860, "disease characterized by tubercules," a medical Latin hybrid, from Latin tuberculum "small swelling, pimple," diminutive of tuber "lump" (from PIE root *teue- "to swell") + -osis, a suffix of Greek origin. So called in reference to the tubercules which form in the lungs. OheathenOld English hæðen "not Christian or Jewish," also as a noun, "heathen man, one of a race or nation which does not acknowledge the God of the Bible" (especially of the Danes), merged with Old Norse heiðinn (adj.) "heathen, pagan," from Proto-Germanic *haithana- (source also of Oldflirt1550s, "to turn up one's nose, sneer at;" later "to rap or flick, as with the fingers" (1560s); "throw with a sudden movement," also "move in short, quick flights" (1580s). Perhaps imitative (compare flip (v.), also East Frisian flirt "a flick or light blow," flirtje "a giddy girvirtuallate 14c., "influencing by physical virtues or capabilities, effective with respect to inherent natural qualities," from Medieval Latin virtualis, from Latin virtus "excellence, potency, efficacy," literally "manliness, manhood" (see virtue). The meaning "being something in essendeservemid-13c., "to merit, be worthy of for qualities or actions," from Old French deservir (Modern French desservir) "deserve, be worthy of, earn, merit" and directly from Latin deservire "serve well, serve zealously," from de- "completely" (see de-) + servire "to serve" (see serve (vhamartia"tragic flaw," Greek, literally "fault, failure, guilt, sin" from hamartanein "to fail of one's purpose; to err, sin," originally "to miss the mark," from PIE *hemert- "to miss, fail." "The aspiration must be analogical. The word has no known cognates, but the reconstructed root

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‘cite’Page URL:https://www.etymonline.com/word/iso-CopyHTML Link:<a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/iso-">Etymology of iso- by etymonline</a>CopyAPA Style:Harper, D. (n.d.). Etymology of iso-. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved December 29, 2025, from https://www.etymonline.com/word/iso-CopyChicago Style:Harper Douglas, "Etymology of iso-," Online Etymology Dictionary, accessed December 29, 2025, https://www.etymonline.com/word/iso-.CopyMLA Style:Harper, Douglas. "Etymology of iso-." Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/iso-. Accessed 29 December, 2025.CopyIEEE Style:D. Harper. "Etymology of iso-." Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/word/iso- (accessed December 29, 2025).CopyRemove AdsAdvertisement

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TrendingDictionary entries near iso-

• islet
• -ism
• ism
• Ismailite
• isness
• iso-
• isobar
• isocephalic
• isochromatic
• isochronous
• isocracy

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