The prefix meaning 'quiet, calm' is

• A. Alveol-
• B. Ptyal-
• C. Sedat-
• D. Oophor-

Answer: (C)

Understanding how prefixes convey meaning helps decode medical terms. A prefix meaning “quiet, calm” is sedat-, coming from Latin sedāre to calm. It appears in words like sedate, sedation, and sedative, all indicating a calming or quieting effect, which is exactly what the prompt describes. The other prefixes point to different parts or functions: alveol- relates to an alveolus (air sac in the lung), ptyal- to saliva, and oophor- to the ovary, so they don’t convey the idea of quiet or calm.