before verbs an-, prefix meaning 1. "upward," 2. "back, backward, against," 3. "again, anew," from Greek ana- "up to, toward, exceedingly, back, against," from ana "up, on, upon, throughout, again," cognate with Old English on, from PIE root *ano- "on, upon, above" (see on).
or ana, word-forming element denoting "collection of sayings, gossip, etc. connected with a person or place," early 18c., originally the neuter plural ending of Latin adjectives ending in -anus "pertaining to," from PIE adjectival suffix *-no-.
ana an·a (ān'ə)
adv.
Both in the same quantity; of each. Used to refer to ingredients in prescriptions.
ana- pref.
Upward; up: anacrotic.
Backward; back: anaplasia.
Again; anew: anabiosis.