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Ped-

{{Short description|Word root in various languages}}

The word root ped- (usually in the combining forms peda-, pedi-, and pedo-) in English and various other Western languages has multiple Latin and Ancient Greek roots, and multiple meanings. Ped- (sometimes spelled paed-, pæd-, or rarely paid-, depending on the word and the language or dialect) is a root in English and many other Western languages, often with divergent spellings, such as pet-, pie-, pei-, etc.

Meanings

Ped- conveys multiple meanings, from different Latin and Ancient Greek root words:

  1. 'Relating to feet', in words (e.g. pedestrian, pedicure) derived from Latin {{lang|la|pes}}, genitive {{lang|la|pedis}}, 'foot', from the Proto-Indo-European stem *ped- with the same meaning.Nostratica. *ped-. Accessed May 9, 2011, from http://indoeuro.bizland.com/project/phonetics/word10.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517143107/http://indoeuro.bizland.com/project/phonetics/word10.html |date=2011-05-17 }}EnglishWordInformation. ped- pedi-, -pedal, -ped, -pede, -pedia. Accessed May 9, 2011, from http://wordinfo.info/unit/2801/ip:3/il:P Romance languages' words from this Latin root often take pie- spellings, as in medieval French and Italian {{lang|frm|piedmont}} 'foothill' (modern French {{lang|fr|piémont}}, Occitan {{lang|oc|piemont}}, Italian {{lang|it|piemonte}} or {{lang|it|pedemontano}}), and Spanish {{lang|es|pie, pies}} 'foot, feet'. Many words in English and other Western languages relating to feet instead use the Greek-derived cognate pod- (e.g. podiatrist), and the Greek-derived -pus may also be used (as in octopus).
  2. 'Relating to children', from Greek {{lang|grc-Latn|pais}} ({{lang|grc|παῖς}}), meaning 'child',Search God's Words. (2011). The New Testament's Greek Lexicon. Accessed May 9, 2011, from http://www.searchgodsword.org/lex/grk/view.cgi?number=3816 which derived from the Proto-Indo-European stem *peu-, meaning 'small', 'young', or 'few'.Online Etymology Dictionary. (2010). Pedo- Accessed May 9, 2011, from http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=pedo- It is usually spelled ped- in North American English (as in pediatrics and pedophilia), and pronounced {{IPAc-en|p|ɛ|d}} or {{IPAc-en|p|iː|d}} depending on the word. In Commonwealth English it is more often paed- (e.g. paediatrics, paedophilia), sometimes with a ligature as pæd-, and almost always pronounced {{IPAc-en|p|iː|d}}. Rarely in English, words from this root may take an initial paid- (e.g. paidology), or take only a ped- not paed- spelling (pedagogy).
  3. 'Relating to soil', from the Ancient Greek word for 'soil, the ground', {{lang|grc-Latn|pédon}} or {{lang|grc-Latn|pēdón}} ({{lang|grc|πέδον}}, {{lang|grc|πηδόν}}), and 'a plain or field' {{lang|grc-Latn|pedíon}} ({{lang|grc|πεδίον}})My Etymology. (2008). Etymology of the Greek word pedon (πηδόν, πέδον). Accessed May 9, 2011, from http://www.myetymology.com/greek/pedon.htmlEnglishWordInformation. pedo-, ped-. Accessed May 9, 2011, from http://wordinfo.info/unit/1590
  4. 'Relating to flatulence', from Latin {{lang|la|pēdō}} (infinitive {{lang|la|pēdere}}, 'to fart'), the root for words relating to flatulation in several Indo-European languages;Adams, Douglas Q. (1997). Indo-European Culture. Taylor & Francis, {{ISBN|9781884964985}}

In meanings 2, 3, and 4, the spelling remains ped- in Commonwealth English words that begin with these letters. Not all derived words do; e.g., petard (a small bomb) is from meaning 4, and entered English from Middle French {{lang|frm|pétard}} for the same thing (originally literally meaning 'fart', it remains an uncommon Modern French word for 'firecracker').

Relating to children

Commonly in English, it is from the Greek {{lang|grc-Latn|pais}} ({{lang|grc|παῖς}}), originally meaning 'boy'.Marguerite Johnson,Terry Ryan: Sexuality in Greek and Roman Society and Literature: A Sourcebook, p.110 as well as 'child'."Liddell and Scott," 1968 p.585 Contemporarily, it is more associated with the word 'child'. Words derived from this particular root are spelled paed- most cases in Commonwealth English varieties (formerly with a ligature, pæd-).

  • Pederasty (paederasty), a relationship between an older man and an adolescent boy
  • Pediatrics (paediatrics), the branch of medicine devoted to the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents
  • Pedology (paedology, also rarely paidology), scientific study of children's behavior and development
  • Pedophilia (paedophilia), a paraphilia involving sexual attraction to pre-pubescent children
  • "Pedo" or "paedo", slang for "p[a]edophile"
  • Pedophile Group, a Danish organization active from 1985 to 2004
  • Pedobear, an Internet meme

Relating to feet

Meanings related to feet are from Latin {{lang|la|pes}} ({{lang|la|pedis}}, 'foot'):

A Greek-derived equivalent, pod-, is often employed instead, as in "podiatry". The Greek-based -pus conveys the same meaning, as in "octopus".

Relating to soil or plains

Ped- can also refer to soil. This root is from Greek {{lang|grc-Latn|pédon}} ({{lang|grc|πέδον}}, 'soil', 'the ground')

The derived Greek word and {{lang|grc-Latn|pedíon}} ({{lang|grc|πεδίον}}, 'field or plain')

Relating to flatulence

Another meaning, relating to flatulence, is from Latin {{lang|la|pēdō}} (infinitive {{lang|la|pēdere}}, 'to fart'). It does not appear in English except in loan words but is the root for words referring to flatulation in several Western languages, often in modified form such as pet-

  • Petard, an obsolete type of bomb used for breaching walls and gates
  • Spanish {{lang|es|pedo}} and many other words in Romance languages that more literally pertain to passing gas

Other uses

It may also be used at the end of a word, as with encyclopedia (encyclopaedia), and orthopedics (orthopaedics).

Some common English words with this derivation include:

  • Pedagogy, the study of teaching and approaches to it; the theory and practice of education.

References

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Category:Childhood

Category:Words