anatomy
UK[əˈnæt.ə.mi]US[əˈnæt̬.ə.mi]
n
The scientific study of the structure of the bodies of people or animals.
n
The structure of an animal or plant, or of any of its parts.
Morpheme Breakdown
ana
tomy
ana
up, throughout
tomy
cutting
Etymology
The word 'anatomy' originates from the Greek 'anatomē,' which literally means "a cutting up" or "dissection," from 'ana-' (up, throughout) and 'tomē' (a cutting). This reflects the historical method of learning bodily structure through the meticulous process of cutting apart and separating tissues. The term was adopted into Late Latin as 'anatomia' before entering Middle English, retaining its core association with the detailed analysis of structure. Over time, its meaning expanded from the specific act of dissection to encompass the general science of bodily structure itself, whether studied by dissection or other means.
Analysis
Structure: ana (up, throughout) + tomy (cutting)
'ana' is a Greek prefix meaning "up, back, again, throughout." 'tomy' is derived from the Greek root 'tomia' or 'tomē,' meaning "a cutting."
Examples
She is studying human anatomy to become a surgeon.
The book provides a detailed anatomy of the frog's muscular system.
The anatomy of the argument was complex, with many interconnected points.