Pylimitics

“Apo-” is a prefix originally from Greek. In Greek it originally meant “away” or “not part of,” and it’s used in English words from near to far. It’s used in nouns from “apogee” (the highest part of an arc) to “apostrophe” (the punctuation mark that indicates an additional letter is attached to a word but still “apart” from it). It’s also used to indicate a “rebound” or response to something, like an “apology” or “apodosis” (the “consequence” in a sentence that includes a condition, such as “I would come to the party if Sluggo was going”). Its use to indicate a “consequence” of a sort is also seen in words such as “apoplexy” (incapacity, such as becoming speechless, because of extreme anger) and “aposiopesis” (breaking off in speech, usually for effect, such as “If you ever say that again…”). 

“Apo-” is currently in use when new scientific terms are created for things that are unattached or separate. “Apocarpous” is a quality of a flower having “carpels” that are not joined together.

There are some pretty obscure “apo-” words as well. “Apocrustic” means something is a repellent. “Apocarteresis” is suicide by starvation. “Apocope” is what you’re doing if you cut off the last sounds of words. And “apodictic” is “necessarily true beyond contradiction.” 

If you search through a dictionary in the “apo…” section, you’ll also find a few that begin with those letters but not because they begin with the “apo-” prefix. For example, “apodal” means without feet — the “apo” sequence is more of a coincidence; the prefix here is simply “a,” meaning “not,” and “podal” means feet. 

As for “apolaustic,” which means being dedicated to the search for enjoyment, we’ll just assume that’s the reason you’re reading the this — and thanks to the wonders of modern technology, everyone receives their very own apograph (a copy)!