before vowels scler-, word-forming element meaning "hard," from Latinized form of Greek sklero-, comb. form of skleros "hard," related to skellein "to dry up, parch," from PIE *skle-ro-, from root *skele- "to parch, wither."
sclero- or scler-
pref.
Hard: scleredema.
Hardness: sclerogenous.
Sclera: scleritis.