Etymology
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pedo-

before vowels ped-, word-forming element meaning "boy, child," from Greek pedo-, combining form of pais "boy, child," especially a son, from PIE root *pau- (1) "few, little." The British form paed- is better because it avoids confusion with the ped- that means "foot" (from PIE root *ped-) and the ped- that means "soil, ground, earth." Compare, from the same root, Sanskrit putrah "son;" Avestan puthra- "son, child;" Latin puer "child, boy," Oscan puklu "child."

Entries linking to pedo-

encyclopedia (n.)

1530s, "general course of instruction," from Modern Latin encyclopaedia (c. 1500), thought to be a false reading by Latin authors of Greek enkyklios paideia taken as "general education," but literally "training in a circle," i.e. the "circle" of arts and sciences, the essentials of a liberal education; from enkyklios "circular," also "general" (from en "in;" see in + kyklos "circle;" from PIE root *kwel- (1) "revolve, move round") + paideia "education, child-rearing," from pais (genitive paidos) "child" (see pedo-).

Modern sense of "reference work arranged alphabetically" is from 1640s, often applied specifically to the French Encyclopédie ou Dictionnaire raisonné des Sciences, des Arts, et des Métiers (1751-65). Related: Encyclopedist.

hypnopedia (n.)

also hypnopaedia, "sleep-learning," 1932, in "Brave New World," from hypno- "sleep" + ending derived from Greek paideia "education," from pais (genitive paidos) "child" (see pedo-).

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updated on March 14, 2020

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Dictionary entries near pedo-

pediculosis

pediculous

pedicure

pedigree

pediment

pedo-

pedology

pedometer

pedophile

pedophilia

pedophiliac