blephar-

1. a combining form meaning “eyelid,” used in the formation of compound words:

   blepharitis.

Word History and Origins

Origin of blephar-¹

< Greek blephar-, combining form of blépharon

Example Sentences

These notes can be blindingly scholarly, filled with odd symbols and diacritical marks, like the entry for the combining form blephar-:

From Slate

Words That Use Blephar-

What does blephar- mean?

Blephar- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “eyelid.” It is used in some medical terms, especially in pathology.

Blephar- comes from the Greek blépharon, meaning “eyelid.”

Blephar- is a variant of blepharo-, which loses its -o– when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels.

Want to know more? Read our Words That Use blepharo- article.

Examples of blephar-

One example of a medical term that features the combining form blephar- is blepharectomy, “excision of all or part of an eyelid.”

The blephar- portion of the word means “eyelid.” What about -ectomy? It means “excision, removal.” Blepharectomy literally translates to “eyelid removal.”

What are some words that use the combining form blephar-?

• blepharedema
• blepharism
• blepharitis

What are some other forms that blephar- may be commonly confused with?

• -blast
• blasto-
• cephalo-
• ferri-
• phlebo-

Break it down!

The suffix -itis means “inflammation.” With this in mind, what is the medical condition blepharitis?