M - Magic, Metal, Meta..., Metabolism, Metaphor, Metastasis, Method.

Magic. From Ancient Greek μαγικός, magikos, magical, derived from μάγος, magos, magician. Allegedly supernatural charms, spells or other methods to dominate natural forces. Also used figuratively, something spectacular or wonderful.

Derived or related words: magician, magical, magically.

Metal. From Ancient Greek μέταλλον, métallon, from μεταλλεύειν, metalleuein, to mine. Any chemical element in the periodic table that form a metallic bond with other metal atoms; generally shiny and hard, often a conductor of heat and electricity.

Derived or related words: metallic, metalware.



Meta- is a Greek prefix (like para- tele- psycho-) meaning after, along with, beyond, among, and is used in many words, even medical, if you really think about it. Some of them:

Metabolism. From Ancient Greek μεταβολή, metavolē, change, from μετά-, meta-, with, across, after + βάλλω, vallō, to throw, to shoot. The chemical processes occurring within a living cell or organism that are necessary for the maintenance of life.

Derived or related words: metabolic, metabolize, metabolite.

Metaphor. From Ancient Greek μεταφορά, metaphora, from μεταφέρω, metapherō, I transfer. From μετά-, meta-, with, across, after + φέρω, pherō, I bear, carry. A figure of speech in which a word or phrase that ordinarily designates one thing is used to designate another, thus making an implicit comparison.

Derived or related words: metaphorical, metaphorically.

Metastasis. From Ancient Greek μετάστασις, metastasis, change, from μεθίστημι, methistemi, to remove, to change. From μετά-, meta-, with, across, after + ίσταμαι, histamai, to cause to stand, to place. Transmission of pathogenic micro-organisms or cancerous cells from an original site to one or more sites elsewhere in the body, usually by way of the blood vessels or lymphatics.

Derived or related words: metastatic, metastasize. 

Method. From Ancient Greek μέθοδος, methodos, pursuit of knowledge, investigation, from μετά-, meta-, with, across, after + ὁδός, hodos, way, motion, journey. A process by which a task is completed, a way of doing something. 

Derived or related words: methodical, methodology.   

Medical terms

You should know all medical terms come from Ancient Greek and Latin. But the scientific word for each and most of them, which is used among doctors, medical schools and universities, is Greek. Of course I'm not capable of writing down the entire medical vocabulary but I will give you a satisfying example. Bear with me.

Amnesia. From Ancient Greek α-, a-, not + μημνέσκειν, memneskein, to remember - ἀμνησία, amnēsia, forgetfulness.

 
Anesthesia. From Greek αν-, an-, without and αἴσθησις, aisthēsis, sensation. Loss of sensation induced by drugs. It's called general anesthesia when consciousness is lost and local anesthesia when only a specific area of the body is involved.
   

Arthritis. From Greek άρθρο, joint and -ίτις. Inflammation of a joint or joints causing pain and/or disability , swelling and stiffness, and due to various causes such as infection, trauma, degenerative changes or metabolic disorders.

Bradycardia. From Ancient Greek βραδύς, vrades, slow and καρδιά, kardia, heart. Slowness of the heart rate.

Cardiology. From Greek καρδίᾱ, kardiā, heart and -λογία, -logia, the study of something, so the study of the heart.

Cancer. From Ancient Greek καρκίνος, karkinos , crab; applied to cancerous tumors because the enlarged veins resembled the legs of a crab.

Glaucoma. From Greek γλαύκωμα, glaukōma, an opacity of the crystalline lens, derived from γλαυκός, glaukós, clear. A disease of the eye in which pressure within the eyeball damages the optic disc, impairing vision, sometimes progressing to blindness.

Gynecology. From Ancient Greek γυνή, gyne, modern Greek γυναίκα, gynaika, woman and -λογία, study. So gynecology is the medical study of women. 

Orthodontics. From Greek ορθός, orthos, straight or proper or perfect and οδούς, odous, tooth. The dental specialty and practice of preventing and correcting irregularities of the teeth, as by the use of braces.

Osteoporosis. From Greek οστούν, ostoun, bone and πόρος, poros, pore is a disease of bones that leads to an increased risk of fracture. 

Paraplegia. From Ancient Greek παρά, beside and πλήσσειν, plessein, to strike. A condition where the lower half of a patient's body is paralyzed and cannot move.

Rhinoplasty. From Ancient Greek ῥις rhis, nose and πλάσσειν, plassein, to shape. Known as a nose job.
 

Stethoscope. From Greek στήθος, stéthos, chest and σκοπή, skopé, examination. It's an acoustic medical device for listening to the internal sounds of a body.


 

Thorax. From Greek θώραξ, thorax, breastplate. It's a division of a body that lies between the head and the abdomen.