par-

1.
variant of para-1. before a vowel:
parenchyma.
British Dictionary definitions for par-

par-

prefix
1.
a variant of para-1

para-1

prefix
1.
beside; near: parameter, parathyroid
2.
beyond: parapsychology
3.
resembling: paramnesia
4.
defective; abnormal: paraesthesia
5.
subsidiary to: paraphysis
6.
(usually in italics) denoting that an organic compound contains a benzene ring with substituents attached to atoms that are directly opposite across the ring (the 1,4- positions): paradinitrobenzene, para-cresol, p- Compare ortho- (sense 4), meta- (sense 4)
7.
denoting an isomer, polymer, or compound related to a specified compound: paraldehyde, paracasein
8.
denoting the form of a diatomic substance in which the spins of the two constituent atoms are antiparallel: parahydrogen Compare ortho- (sense 6)
Word Origin
from Greek para (prep) alongside, beyond