Apo

Part of speech: prefix

Definitions

1. A prefix derived from Greek denoting separation, away from, or off ; a title of respect for elders or holy men in certain cultures ; short for apolipoprotein, a class of proteins involved in lipid transport in biology
2. Used to indicate distancing or removal in a word through a Greek-derived prefix ; an honorific reserved for venerable individuals in some traditions ; an abbreviation for specific proteins essential in cholesterol and fat metabolism
3. Signifies detachment or movement away in compound terms via Greek prefixation ; a respectful form of address for senior or revered persons in some societies ; refers to a protein group important for transporting fats in the bloodstream

Etymology: Apo- comes from Ancient Greek "apó", meaning "from" or "away from", and it reached English as a combining form in the same way as many other Greek prefixes. The Greek preposition sits behind words like "apostle" (one sent away) and "apogee" (the far point from Earth), so the sense of distance or separation has stayed fairly steady across more than two thousand years. The prefix's modern life in English is largely due to biochemistry. "Apo-" was attached to "lipoprotein", a term for proteins that carry fats through the blood, to make "apolipoprotein" for the protein component of such particles without its lipid partner. Scientists then shortened it to "apo" on its own, so today you will mostly meet it in names like apoB or apoE, where it marks these protein fragments. The other sense, a respectful title for elders or holy men in certain cultures, comes from a separate usage and is not the source of the scientific prefix.

Synonyms: away, off, apex, apoprotein