pedo-, paedo-, ped-, paed-, paido-, paid- +

(Greek: child, boy; infant)

The British tend to use paed- while those in the United States tend to use ped-. Remember that the Greek ped- means "child" while the Latin ped- means "foot". Don't confuse this Greek element with another Greek pedo- which means "ground, soil, earth".


Ancestors or Greek origins of words in English (child, boy):

Any time a student refers to a teacher as a pedagogue he/she is not suggesting that the teacher has feet which are a foot-and-a-half (sesquipedalian) long.

The Greek ped used in English is a shortened form of the Greek pais (stem paid-), which means a child; usually a "boy", because in old Grecian times, boys were considered "more important" than girls.

Actually, pedagogue means "a child's guide" or "guiding a child". In ancient Athens, the pedagogue was a slave who led his master's children (boys) to school or provided private tutoring. In the U.S., the equivalent may be "home schooling". In time, the word became known as a "teacher".

This Greek ped is used primarily in technical terms; such as "pedagogics", which refers to the "science of teaching". Other English words which come from the same Greek element are located at this pedo-, paedo- unit of words.

Another derivative from the Greek ped is a word meaning "education" or the results of "education"; such as, "knowledge" or "learning". The Greek element pedia is found in other Greek words; such as, "cyclopedia" and "encyclopedia", circles of knowledge.

callipedia
The desire to bear a beautiful child.
cyclopedia, cyclopaedia
1. The circle of learning; the whole body of arts and sciences.
2. A book containing extensive information on all branches of knowledge, or on all the branches of some particular art, science, etc.; usually arranged alphabetically.
cyclopedic, cyclopaedic
Pertaining to or of the nature of a cyclopedia.
encyclopedia, encyclopaedia
1. The circle of learning; a general course of instruction.
2. A literary work containing extensive information on all branches of knowledge, usually arranged in alphabetical order.
3. An elaborate and exhaustive repertory of information on all the branches of some particular art or department of knowledge; especially, one arranged in alphabetical order.

The term is said to be an erroneous form (a false reading) occurring in manuscripts of Quintilian, Pliny, and Galen, for “encyclical education”, the circle of arts and sciences considered by the Greeks as essential to a liberal education.

encyclopedian
1. Embracing the whole circle of learning; comprising a wide range of subjects.
2. Of the nature of or resembling an encyclopedia.
encyclopedic, encyclopaedic
Of, pertaining to, or resembling an encyclopedia; that aims at embracing all branches of learning; universal in knowledge, very full of information, comprehensive.
encyclopedist
1. A compiler of or writer in an encyclopedia.
2. One who attempts to deal with every branch of knowledge, or whose studies have a very extensive range.
gymopedium, gymopaedium, gymnopedic
The distinctive epithet of the dances or other exercises performed by naked boys at public festivals in ancient Greece.
hypnopedia
Sleep-learning, Instruction in a subject; such as, a foreign language, during sleep, usually with the use of recordings and a pillow-speaker.
macropedia
The main section of the 15th edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica (published in 1974) in which information is presented in the form of extended articles.
micropedia
A section of the 15th edition of Encyclope>dia Britannica (published in 1974) in which information is presented in a condensed or shortened form.
misopedia
1. A morbid hatred of or aversion to children; sometimes including one's own.
2. In psychiatry, the hatred of children that may include the idea of incest with an unconscious viewing of the child as the consequence of incestuous relations.
misopedist
A hater of children which may include his/her own child or children.
orthopedic, orthopaedic (British)
Relating to or concerned with the cure of deformities in children, or of bodily deformities in general. orthopedic bed, a bed in an orthopedic ward; normally one individually designed to relieve specific skeletal symptoms; more generally, a bed with a very firm mattress or board; also orthopedic bedding, divan, etc.; orthopedic shoe, a shoe designed to ease or correct deformities of the feet; also, orthopedic boot, footwear.

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