the prefix has two origins: greek and latin.
1 Greek para ("close to, near / nearly")
- carries the idea of "close to, nearly" : paramilitaire, paragouvernemental.
-carries the idea of abnormality (deviation from the norm)
(link for a list of examples in French)
2 Latin parare (thwart, parry)
- indicates some protection from; ("parapluie" protects from the rain; parachute, parasol, paratonnerre, paravent...)
- from the word parachute, indicates some relation with the fact of coming down the skies.
the greek prefix para means beyond
Para in French means "airborne infantryman" in English.
the prefix para- means beyond like paranormal means beyond normal
The prefix that means "alongside" is "para-".
allo which means different or other
Para is the prefix for near or beside.
The prefix meaning near is para-:)
para site para lyzed para transit
The prefix of "parallel" is "para-".
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para
In French, the "para" prefix means "protect against". For instance, "parasol" means "against the sun ("soleil"), "parachute" against falling, etc. But most words starting with "para" just borrowed it from the Greek meaning "by the side", "parallel", as in "paramédical". The noun "para" also exists as short for "parachutiste", meaning this special action force of the military.