hydro-, hydra-, hydr-, hyd-

(Greek: water)

hydronephrosis
The accumulation of urine in and distension of the renal pelvis and calyces due to obstructed out-flow.
hydronomy, hydronomous
A system of river-names.
hydronym, hydronyms
A name of a body of water or rivers, lakes, and oceanic elements.
hydronymy
Proper names of bodies of water.

Hydronymy is the study of hydronyms and of how bodies of water receive their names and how they are transmitted through history. It can apply to rivers, lakes, even oceanic elements.

hydropathist (s) (noun), hydropathists (pl)
One who specializes in the use of water to treat and cure diseases; a water-cure doctor: Martin's father was a hydropathist, an expert in the employment of water as a means of curing people's disorders and ailments.
hydropathology (s) (noun), hydropathologies (pl)
The system of using water to treat and cure diseases: Dr. Dawson thought that using the method of hydropathology would be a great addition to his clinic in that patients could also receive the benefits of water therapy.
hydropathy (s) (noun), hydropathies (pl)
The use of water to treat and cure ailments internally or externally; hydrotherapy: Dr. Hathaway suggested that Susan should take advantage of hydropathy in order to speed up her recovery.
hydropedesis
Excessive sweating as in hyperhidrosis.
hydropenia
1. A condition marked by an inadequate amount of water.
2. A situation in which there is water deficiency or a lack of water in body tissues.
hydropenic
A reduction or deprivation of water.
Hydrophid (s) (noun), Hydrophids (pl)
Any sea snake of the genus "Hydrophys": The Hydrophids are venomous or poisonous, live by eating fishes, and have a flattened tails for swimming.
hydrophilic (adjective), more hydrophilic, most hydrophilic
In chemistry, referring to a substance having an affinity for the absorption of water: A hydrophilic element can disosolve in water, can be wetted by water, or even mix with water.

Hydrophilic salts can become liquid when moisture is absorbed from the air.

hydrophilous (adjective), more hydrophilous, most hydrophilous
1. Pertaining to an organism that thrives in wet or aquatic habitats: Hydrophilous angiosperms are subaqueous or subaquatic species that live below the surface of the water.
2. In botany, descriptive of a plant that that is pollinated by waterborne pollen: Waterweeds and pondweeds are hydrophilous plants that are fertilized by pollen floating and driving on the surface of the water.
hydrophobe
A person who is afraid of water because of a perceived danger of drowning.
hydrophobia (s) (noun), hydrophobias (pl)
1. An peculiar condition which consists of an abnormal fear of water by those who have rabies: Sometimes hydrophobia involves the inability to drink or swallow liquids because of throat constrictions, not a revulsion of the drink itself, which gives the impression that the victims of lyssa are afraid of liquids.

This case of hydrophobia results in a symptom of intense excitement with terror and extreme thirst, but every effort to drink is immediately followed by choking and dyspnea (breathing difficulties) with an elevation of temperature and an increase of the pulse or heart beat.

2. A morbid aversion to water, especially since one could drown in it: Some people who have hydrophobia never go swimming in a pool or even bathe in a bathtub because of the abnormal fear that they will suffocate and die in the water.
An abnormal dread of water.
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A morbid fear of being in water.
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Cross references of word families that refer to "water": aqua-; hydat-; hygro-.