cephal-

1. variant of cephalo- before a vowel:

   cephalate.

Example Sentences

The promptitude of the membranes about the scalp to sympathize with those of other parts of the system is so great, that this cephal�a without fever, or quickness of pulse, is more frequently a secondary than a primary disease, and then belongs to Class IV.

From Project Gutenberg

Words That Use cephal-

What does cephal- mean?

Cephal- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “head.” It is often used in medical and scientific terms.

Cephal- comes from the Greek kephalḗ, meaning “head.”

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

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

Corresponding forms of cephalo- combined to the end of words are -cephaly, -cephalic, and -cephalous, which you can learn more about in our Words That Use articles for each form.

Also deriving from kephalḗ are the combining forms encephalo- and encephal-, meaning “brain.” Discover how these forms are used in our Words That Use encephalo- and encephal- articles.

Examples of cephal-

One medical term that features cephal- is cephalalgia, meaning “headache.”

We know that cephal- means “head.” What about –algia? It doesn’t have to do with algae—it actually means “pain.” Cephalalgia literally translates “head pain.”

Knowing a little Greek helps make big words like cephalalgia less of a pain in the … head.

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

• cephalic (using the equivalent form of cephal- in Greek)
• cephalate
• cephaledema

Break it down!

The combining form -itis is frequently used to denote inflammation and illness. With this and the meaning of cephal- in mind, what does the medical condition cephalitis entail?