a- vs para-

a-

prefix
  • In the direction of, or toward. 

  • Towards; Used to indicate direction, reduction to, increase to, change into, or motion. 

  • Forming verbs with the sense away, up, on, out. 

  • Forming verbs with the sense of intensified action. 

  • In, on, at; used to show a state, condition, or manner. Also passing into sense 2. 

  • Away from. 

  • Of, from. 

  • Used as a prefix to verbs in the sense of remaining in the same condition. Actively doing something. 

  • In, into. Also passing into sense 5. 

  • A syllable added by a speaker supposed to be Italian, or used to mimic or mock Italian accents; a pseudo-Italian syllable. 

  • Forming words with the sense of wholly, or utterly out. 

  • Not, without, opposite of. 

  • Used to form the past participle of a verb. 

para-

prefix
  • opposite of, on the far side of 

  • avoiding or avoidant 

  • beside, alongside 

  • near 

  • abnormal 

  • resembling 

  • false 

  • In isomeric benzene derivatives, having the two substituents in opposite (1,4) positions (compare ortho- and meta-) 

  • disability sport 

  • around, surrounding 

  • adjacent, next to 

  • unrecognized, unauthorized, or unsanctioned 

  • across, through, throughout 

  • parachute. 

  • incorrect 

  • above, over 

  • between 

  • beyond 

  • related or pertaining to 

  • affecting or concerning lower body 

How often have the words a- and para- occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )