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Para

Pará is a state in northern Brazil, encompassing the eastern portion of the Amazon rainforest and traversed by the lower Amazon River as it flows toward the Atlantic Ocean. Its capital and largest city is Belém, founded in 1616 as a Portuguese outpost. Covering an area of 1,247,689 square kilometers, it ranks as the second-largest state in Brazil by territory. The 2022 population census recorded 8,121,025 residents, predominantly of mixed ancestry with a majority self-identifying as brown (pardo).^[1]^[2]^[3] The state's economy relies heavily on extractive industries, particularly mining, which positions Pará as Brazil's second-largest producer of minerals including iron ore, bauxite, gold, and manganese, with exports driving significant revenue. Agriculture, forestry products like Brazil nuts, and emerging bioeconomy initiatives also contribute, though traditional exports have shifted toward industrial minerals amid infrastructure developments such as ports and highways.^[4]^[5] Notable achievements include state-led efforts to curb deforestation and promote sustainable development, such as the 2022 Bioeconomy Plan aiming to reduce carbon emissions through native vegetation recovery and low-impact resource use, marking a pivot from historical forest loss patterns. However, Pará faces persistent controversies over environmental degradation, with over 7 million hectares of forest cover lost between 2000 and 2019 due to illegal logging, mining, and land clearing for soy and cattle, often exacerbated by territorial disputes and violence in rural areas. These issues highlight tensions between economic pressures and conservation, with official data showing high wildfire density linked to agricultural expansion near roads.^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8]

Etymology and Linguistic Origins

Prefix "Para-" in Greek and Latin Roots

The prefix para- primarily derives from Ancient Greek pará (παρά), a preposition signifying "beside," "alongside," "near," "from," "against," or "contrary to," which evolved into a productive combining form in compounds to denote proximity, parallelism, excess, deviation, or opposition.^[9] This Greek root appears in numerous classical terms, such as parádoxos (παράδοξος), literally "contrary to expectation or opinion," yielding English "paradox" via Latin intermediation around the 16th century. Similarly, parálusis (παράλυσις), meaning "loosening beside" or "impairment of motion," underlies "paralysis," first attested in English in the 1530s from Latin paralysis. The prefix's locative and contrastive nuances facilitated its adoption in scientific and philosophical vocabulary, as in parásitos (παράσιτος), "one who eats beside another," referring to a guest or table companion, later connoting dependency and entering English as "parasite" by the 1530s. In Latin, para- was not native as a prolific prefix with the Greek's spatial senses but was incorporated via Hellenized loanwords, such as paradoxum or paralysis, preserving the original connotations of adjacency or anomaly.^[9] Independently, Latin developed parare, a verb meaning "to prepare, furnish, or ward off," which influenced a secondary para- in later Romance derivatives emphasizing defense or precaution, distinct from the Greek root.^[10] This defensive variant appears in post-classical formations like Italian parapetto (16th century), "breast-high wall for protection," combining para- ("to guard") with petto ("chest" from Latin pectus), whence English "parapet" emerged in 1580s usage for fortification barriers. Modern English neologisms, such as "parachute" (coined circa 1784 in French from para- "protect against" + chute "fall"), reflect this Latin-derived protective sense rather than Greek proximity. Distinguishing these roots is essential, as conflation occurs in English etymologies: the predominant para- in biomedical terms (e.g., "parathyroid," from Greek pará + thyréis "door," meaning "beside the thyroid," identified anatomically in 1903) traces to Greek, while aviation or shielding compounds lean toward the Latin protective lineage. Both contributed to English's morphological inventory by the Renaissance, when scholars revived classical elements for technical precision, though Greek dominance persists in over 80% of prefixed instances per linguistic corpora analyses.^[11]

Evolution and Modern Usage in English

The prefix para- transitioned into English lexicon during the late medieval and Renaissance periods via Latin intermediaries of Greek compounds, preserving core significations of "beside," "near," or "against" as derived from Ancient Greek pará. Initial integrations appeared in ecclesiastical and scholarly texts, such as paradisus (adapted as "paradise" by the 12th century), but more explicit prefixed forms emerged in the 16th century with terms like paragraph (attested circa 1525–1535 from Latin paragraphus, denoting a marginal note or line drawn beside text) and parasite (1530s, from Latin parasitus, originally "one who eats beside another," implying dependency). These early borrowings, facilitated by the revival of classical learning, emphasized spatial or relational proximity rather than opposition.^[9] By the 17th and 18th centuries, para- expanded to convey "beyond" or "contrary," evident in paradox (1530s, from Greek parádoxos, "contrary to expectation") and medical descriptors like paralysis (1520s, from Latin paralysis, indicating impaired function "beside" normal). A parallel protective connotation arose through Romance influences, particularly French and Italian, as in parachute (English usage from 1804, borrowed from French para- "ward off" + chute "fall," originally denoting defense against descent). This dual trajectory—locative/relational from Greek roots and defensive from Latin derivations—reflected English's assimilation of continental scientific and military terminology during the Enlightenment. In modern English since the 19th century, para- has proliferated in neologisms denoting subsidiary, assistive, or quasi-professional roles, such as paramagnetic (1850, describing materials with magnetic properties "beside" ferromagnetic ones) and paratrooper (1940s, for troops deployed "beside" or via air descent). Post-World War II expansions include paramedic (1948, initially for battlefield medical assistants "beside" physicians, entering civilian lexicon by 1961) and paralegal (1961, signifying legal aides operating "alongside" but not fully as lawyers). Contemporary usages extend to abnormal or auxiliary states (paranormal, 1920) and protective gear (paracord, derived from 1930s military parachute cords), underscoring a semantic broadening toward functionality and approximation rather than strict classical opposition, driven by technological and professional specialization.

Geographical and Place Names

States, Districts, and Municipalities

Pará is a state in northern Brazil, encompassing an area of 1,245,870 square kilometers and ranking as the second-largest subnational entity in the country by land area.^[12] Positioned in the Amazon biome, it borders the states of Amapá, Maranhão, Tocantins, Mato Grosso, Amazonas, and Roraima, as well as Guyana and Suriname to the north and northwest, with the Atlantic Ocean along its eastern edge.^[12] The state's capital, Belém, established in 1616 by Portuguese captain Francisco Caldeira Castelo Branco as a fortified outpost, functions as a key economic hub for agriculture, mining, and trade, particularly in soy, timber, and minerals like bauxite.^[12] Pará contains 144 municipalities and supports initiatives for sustainable development, including a 2023 agreement under the LEAF Coalition to reduce deforestation through jurisdictional payments totaling $180 million.^[13] In Suriname, Para constitutes one of the country's ten districts, located in the northern coastal plain and spanning 5,393 square kilometers.^[14] Named for the Para River that traverses it, the district features savanna landscapes, lateritic plateaus, and proximity to the capital Paramaribo, with Onverwacht serving as its administrative center and other settlements including Paranam, Zanderij, and Sabana.^[14] ^[15] Divided into five sub-districts (ressorts)—Para North, Para East, Para South, Bigi Poika, and Carolina—it had an estimated population of 24,700 as of 2012 census data, supporting activities in agriculture, alumina processing, and aviation via Zanderij Airport.^[15] Smaller municipalities and administrative units bearing the name Para exist globally, including villages in India (such as in West Bengal), Peru (in regions like Tacna), and Pakistan (in former North-West Frontier areas), though these lack the scale or prominence of the Brazilian state or Surinamese district.^[16] These locales often derive from indigenous or local linguistic roots denoting rivers or settlements, but detailed demographic or economic data remains limited in public records.^[16]

Rivers and Natural Features

The Pará River is a major estuarine channel in northern Brazil, forming part of the Amazon River delta system and serving as the primary outlet for the Tocantins River waters into the Atlantic Ocean.^[17] It flows approximately 64 kilometers eastward, passing south and east of Marajó Island in the state of Pará, with its dynamics dominated by strong semidiurnal tidal currents rather than unidirectional fluvial discharge from independent headwaters.^[18] The river connects to the broader Amazon network via the Breves Channel, through which an estimated 5% of Amazon waters may flow into the estuary under certain conditions.^[19] Hydrologically, the Pará River exhibits complex mixing processes influenced by tidal oscillations, with water levels monitored at multiple stations revealing significant semidiurnal and quarter-diurnal components that propagate upstream.^[20] Sediment transport within the estuary is substantial, primarily sourced from the Amazon and Tocantins rivers, resulting in high suspended solid concentrations in the mixing zone and turbid, sediment-rich waters that contribute to coastal deposition.^[21] Additionally, the river inputs elevated concentrations of trace metals, such as dissolved neodymium and hafnium, into the adjacent Amazon plume, influencing regional ocean biogeochemistry south of the main Amazon mouth.^[22] Ecologically, the estuary supports dynamic coastal processes on the Amazon continental shelf, including interactions between tidal forcing and freshwater inflows that shape micro- and mesoscale features like salinity gradients and nutrient distribution.^[23] These characteristics underscore its role in the larger Amazon coastal system, though human activities, such as proposed dredging on connected waterways like the Tocantins, pose potential alterations to its natural flow regimes.^[24] Limited evidence exists for other prominent rivers or natural features globally bearing the name "Para," with the Brazilian estuary representing the most significant hydrological entity associated with the term.

Notable People

Individuals Named Para or Associated

Begum Para (1926–2008), born Zubeda Ul Haq on December 25, 1926, in Jhelum, Punjab (then British India), was an Indian actress prominent in Hindi cinema during the 1940s and 1950s.^[25] She debuted in 1944 and appeared in approximately 27 films, including Neel Kamal (1947), often portraying glamorous roles that earned her recognition as a pin-up figure of the era.^[26] Para married actor Nasir Khan, brother of Dilip Kumar, in 1956, after which she retired from acting; she returned briefly in 2007 with a role in Saawariya.^[27] She died on December 9, 2008. Jean-Baptiste de Laubier, known professionally as Para One, is a French electronic music producer and film composer born on April 2, 1979, in Orléans.^[28] Emerging in the early 2000s, he first gained prominence through collaborations with the rap collective TTC and as part of the Institubes label, blending hip-hop influences with electro.^[29] His solo debut album Passion was released in 2003, followed by Epiphanie in 2006, and he composed the soundtrack for the 2007 film Naissance des Pieuvres (Water Lilies), earning acclaim for its innovative sound design.^[30] Para One continues to produce, direct films, and remix for artists across genres.^[31]

Organizations, Businesses, and Professions

Companies and Entities

Para USA was a firearms manufacturer that specialized in 1911-style pistols, particularly known for pioneering double-stack, high-capacity variants such as the P14 model chambered in .45 ACP.^[32] Originally established as Para-Ordnance in Canada in 1985, the company relocated operations to Pineville, North Carolina, in 2009 and rebranded as Para USA.^[33] It was acquired by Remington Outdoor Company in 2012 but ceased independent production in 2015, with its designs integrated into Remington's lineup before the latter's own restructuring.^[34] Parà S.p.A., operating under the Tempotest brand, is an Italian family-owned textile manufacturer founded in 1921 in Sovico, near Milan.^[35] The company produces high-performance fabrics for applications including sun protection awnings, indoor and outdoor furnishings, and marine upholstery, emphasizing durability against weather, UV fading, stains, and mold through proprietary weaving, dyeing, and coating processes.^[36] All production remains "Made in Italy," with a focus on aesthetic and technical quality across natural fiber and synthetic materials.^[37] PARA Company LLC, based in the United States, supplies specialized equipment to manufacturers in the packaging and converting sectors, including core holders, trim removal systems, lifting devices, and roll carts.^[38] Operating for nearly 30 years, primarily serving Midwestern clients, the company sources components from premium suppliers to automate handling and waste management in industries like flexible packaging production.^[39] Other entities include Para, a platform launched to optimize gig economy opportunities for drivers by aggregating trips and minimizing downtime, and Para Group, which provides software development and IT consulting services for business transformation.^[40]^[41] These smaller firms illustrate niche applications of the "Para" name in technology and logistics, though they lack the historical prominence of the aforementioned manufacturers.

Professional Roles and Titles

The prefix "para-", derived from Greek meaning "beside" or "alongside," is commonly used in professional titles to indicate support or auxiliary roles that complement primary experts in fields such as law, medicine, and education.^[42]^[43] These titles emerged in the 20th century to formalize positions that perform substantive tasks under supervision, often requiring specialized training but not full licensure.^[44] Paralegals, also known as legal assistants, are professionals qualified through education, training, or work experience to conduct legal research, draft documents, and assist in case preparation under the direct supervision of attorneys.^[45] They handle tasks such as interviewing clients, investigating facts, and organizing evidence but are prohibited from providing legal advice or representing clients in court.^[46] In the United States, paralegals numbered approximately 352,000 in 2023, with employment projected to grow 12% by 2033 due to demand for cost-effective legal support. Certification bodies like the National Association of Legal Assistants emphasize adherence to ethical standards aligned with those of the legal profession.^[47] Paramedics are allied health professionals trained to deliver advanced emergency medical care, including assessing injuries, administering medications, performing procedures like intubation, and operating life-support equipment in pre-hospital environments.^[48] They respond to 911 calls, stabilize patients for transport, and may work in ambulances, air medical services, or tactical settings, requiring certification from bodies like the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians after completing programs averaging 1,200-1,800 hours of training.^[49] As of 2023, the U.S. employed about 261,300 paramedics and EMTs combined, with paramedics distinguished by their advanced skills over basic EMTs; the profession faces challenges like high burnout rates, prompting calls for expanded career ladders with higher education incentives.^[48]^[50] Paraprofessionals encompass a range of support roles across sectors, most prominently in education as instructional aides who assist certified teachers with classroom management, student supervision, and basic tutoring under general oversight.^[51] In U.S. public schools, paraprofessionals—often called paraeducators—support special needs students or implement individualized education plans, with federal requirements under Title I mandating qualifications like high school diplomas and skills assessments for certain funded positions.^[52] The term extends to other areas, such as healthcare aides or library assistants, but in education, they comprised over 1 million workers in 2022, aiding in diverse tasks from preparing materials to facilitating small-group instruction without assuming primary teaching authority.^[53] Some critiques highlight the prefix's implication of subordinate status, potentially undervaluing these roles despite their integral contributions to professional teams.^[54]

Military and Security Contexts

Special Forces and Paratrooper Units

The Parachute Regiment of the British Army, colloquially known as the Paras, serves as the airborne infantry component, specializing in rapid deployment via parachute assault and high-mobility operations. Formed on August 1, 1942, as part of the Army Air Corps to counter Axis airborne capabilities, the regiment has maintained continuous operational involvement since World War II, excluding a brief period in 1968.^[55]^[56] Its units, including the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions, contribute significantly to the Special Forces Support Group, providing manpower for missions requiring elite light infantry skills such as direct action raids and reconnaissance.^[57] The Paras emphasize rigorous selection, with recruits undergoing the grueling P Company tests, resulting in a force trained for both static-line and freefall parachuting, distinguishing it as the only NATO member army with integrated special forces parachuting proficiency.^[57] In the Indian Army, the Para (Special Forces battalions, or Para SF, represent specialized units within the Parachute Regiment, focused on counter-terrorism, unconventional warfare, and cross-border strikes. Established post-independence from British colonial airborne traditions dating to 1941, these forces expanded to 14 battalions by the 2020s, with roles encompassing surgical precision operations like the 2016 strikes across the Line of Control.^[58] Para SF operatives undergo selection processes yielding completion rates below 10%, equipping them for airborne insertions, sabotage, and intelligence gathering in hostile terrains.^[59] Their integration of airborne assault with special operations mirrors broader trends in modern militaries adapting paratrooper roles beyond World War II-era drops.^[60] Other militaries employ "Para" designations for paratrooper elites, such as Portugal's Tropas Paraquedistas, formed in 1956 for colonial counterinsurgency and now structured as rapid-reaction airborne infantry capable of independent brigade-level operations.^[61] Similarly, French airborne units, referred to as Paras, include the 11th Parachute Brigade, which fields light infantry regiments trained for expeditionary interventions, drawing from interwar parachute experimentation and post-1945 reconstructions.^[62] These units collectively underscore the evolution of "Para" forces from mass-drop shock troops to versatile special operations enablers, prioritizing mobility, surprise, and minimal logistical footprints in asymmetric conflicts.^[63]

Paramilitary Groups

The term "paramilitary" incorporates the Greek-derived prefix "para-", meaning "beside," "alongside," or "parallel to," to denote groups organized and equipped in a military fashion yet distinct from a state's official armed forces.^[64] This etymological structure highlights their role as adjuncts or alternatives to regular troops, often filling gaps in internal security, border protection, or asymmetric conflicts. The word's first documented use dates to 1934 in English-language sources.^[65] Paramilitary groups encompass a spectrum from government-sanctioned auxiliaries, such as gendarmeries or coast guards, to irregular militias and private military contractors that lack formal military oversight.^[66] U.S. intelligence defines them as armed entities separate from conventional militaries but mirroring them in structure, weaponry, doctrine, or objectives, enabling rapid deployment for specialized tasks like counterinsurgency or crowd control.^[66] In practice, these groups have proliferated in regions with weak state monopoly on violence, where they may initially form for self-defense but evolve into forces perpetrating extrajudicial killings or resource control, as seen in historical cases of ethnic cleansing during the Yugoslav wars.^[67] Notable instances include Russia's Wagner Group, which by 2022 fielded over 50,000 fighters with heavy armor and air support in Ukraine, operating under private contracts despite state ties and collapsing after its leader's death on June 23, 2023.^[68] In Colombia, right-wing paramilitaries consolidated under the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) in 1997, demobilizing by 2006 after alliances with politicians and businesses fueled expansion into drug-related violence.^[69] Such entities often evade accountability due to ambiguous legal status, raising concerns over their potential for abuse in both state-aligned and autonomous operations.^[67]

Science, Technology, and Medicine

Medical Prefixes and Conditions

In medicine, the prefix para- derives from Greek and Latin roots, denoting "beside," "near," "beyond," "apart from," or "abnormal."^[70] ^[71] This usage appears in anatomical, physiological, and pathological terms, such as parathyroid glands, which are four small endocrine glands situated adjacent to the thyroid gland in the neck and responsible for regulating calcium levels via parathyroid hormone secretion.^[71] Similarly, paranasal sinuses refer to air-filled cavities adjacent to the nasal cavity, including the frontal, maxillary, ethmoid, and sphenoid sinuses, which connect to the nasal passages and aid in humidifying inhaled air.^[72] In obstetrics, para (or parity) specifically denotes the number of times a woman has given birth to a fetus reaching at least 20 weeks' gestation, regardless of whether the infant survived, distinguishing it from gravida, which counts total pregnancies irrespective of outcome.^[73] ^[74] For instance, a patient denoted as gravida 3, para 2 has had three pregnancies but only two births meeting the viability threshold; multiple births from a single pregnancy count as one para.^[75] This system extends to the GTPAL format—Gravida, Term births (≥37 weeks), Preterm births (20–36 weeks), Abortions (<20 weeks or ectopic), and Living children—to provide a detailed obstetric history, aiding risk assessment for complications like preterm labor or preeclampsia in subsequent pregnancies.^[76] As of clinical guidelines updated in 2023, parity excludes pregnancies ending before 20 weeks to focus on those with potential fetal viability.^[77] Pathological conditions incorporating para- often imply deviation from normal function or location. Paraplegia describes paralysis affecting the lower limbs and trunk due to spinal cord injury or disease, typically from lesions at thoracic or lumbar levels, resulting in loss of motor and sensory function below the injury site while sparing the upper body.^[78] Paranoia, historically a term for a chronic psychotic disorder marked by systematized delusions of persecution or grandeur, now largely subsumed under schizophrenia spectrum diagnoses per DSM-5 criteria updated in 2013, though it persists in denoting irrational suspicion.^[78] Infectious examples include paratyphoid fever, caused by Salmonella serotypes Paratyphi A, B, or C, presenting with symptoms resembling typhoid fever—fever, headache, and abdominal pain—but with lower mortality rates of about 1–2% untreated, transmitted via contaminated food or water.^[78] Parainfluenza viruses, RNA viruses in the Paramyxoviridae family, cause respiratory infections like croup or bronchiolitis, accounting for 15–30% of pediatric hospitalizations for lower respiratory tract illness annually in the U.S., with peaks in fall and spring.^[79] These terms underscore para-'s role in highlighting proximity to or aberration from standard anatomy and physiology, facilitating precise diagnostic communication.^[80]

Technological and Scientific Applications

In organic chemistry, the prefix "para-" designates the 1,4-disubstitution pattern on benzene and related aromatic rings, where substituents occupy opposite positions, leading to distinct electronic and physical properties compared to ortho- (1,2-) and meta- (1,3-) isomers.^[81] This configuration often results in higher molecular symmetry, influencing attributes like melting points, solubility, and dipole moments; for instance, para-xylene (1,4-dimethylbenzene) has a higher melting point (13°C) than its ortho (–25°C) and meta (–47°C) counterparts due to packing efficiency in crystals.^[82] In technological synthesis, para-directing groups (e.g., alkyl or alkoxy substituents) guide electrophilic aromatic substitution preferentially to the para position via resonance stabilization of the intermediate carbocation, facilitating production of compounds used in dyes, liquid crystals, and conductive polymers.^[83] In physics and materials science, paramagnetism—denoted by the "para-" prefix indicating alignment alongside an applied magnetic field—arises from unpaired electrons in atoms or ions, producing weak, temperature-dependent magnetization.^[84] Paramagnetic materials, such as aluminum and platinum, enable technologies like oxygen analyzers, where dioxygen's paramagnetism causes deflection in a nonuniform field for precise concentration measurement in industrial gas streams, combustion monitoring, and semiconductor manufacturing, achieving accuracies below 1% with minimal interference from other gases.^[85] Further applications include magnetic susceptibility testing for material characterization and paramagnetic particle-based separation in resource recovery, enhancing efficiency in recycling non-ferrous metals.^[86] Para-hydrogen, the nuclear spin singlet isomer comprising over 99.9% of hydrogen at low temperatures (e.g., below 20 K), supports advanced spectroscopic techniques through parahydrogen-induced polarization (PHIP), amplifying NMR signals by factors exceeding 10,000 for real-time observation of chemical reactions.^[87] This enables detailed mechanistic studies in catalysis, such as hydrogenation pathways on metal surfaces, and aids development of enantioselective processes by distinguishing spin orders in products; production methods yield purities above 98.5% via catalytic conversion at cryogenic conditions.^[88] PHIP with para-hydrogen also facilitates matrix isolation spectroscopy for probing astrochemical reactions and low-temperature dynamics, providing insights into interstellar molecule formation.^[89]

Other Uses

Cultural and Linguistic Terms

The prefix para- derives from the ancient Greek preposition pará, signifying "beside," "alongside," or "beyond," which imparts meanings of proximity, derivation, abnormality, or opposition in numerous English loanwords such as parallel (extending beside) and parasite (feeding beside).^[9] This Greek root entered Latin and subsequently influenced Romance languages, where para- retains similar formative roles in scientific and technical terminology, including paralelo in Spanish for parallel lines.^[10] In paralanguage, para- denotes vocal and non-verbal elements supplementing spoken language, such as tone, pitch, and gestures, which convey emotional or contextual nuances without altering semantic content; this term emerged in mid-20th-century linguistics to describe phenomena like sighs or hesitations that operate alongside core linguistic structures.^[90] Paralinguistic features thus encompass prosodic and kinesic signals, empirically shown in phonetic studies to influence interpretation, as higher pitch can signal interrogation independently of lexical words.^[91] In Austronesian languages like Malay and Indonesian, para- functions as a definite plural prefix, marking groups or collectives, as in para murid ("the students"), distinguishing it from bare plurals and originating from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian classifiers for animate plurals. This usage contrasts with the Greek-derived prefix, highlighting independent linguistic evolution in Southeast Asian tongues where it denotes specificity in human referents. In Sanskrit and derived Indic traditions, para signifies "supreme," "other," or "transcendent," appearing in philosophical contexts like paramātman (supreme soul) to denote ultimate reality beyond the empirical; Pali variants extend this to "opposite shore," metaphorically representing enlightenment or liberation in Buddhist texts dated to circa 500 BCE.^[92] Among the Dondai people of Papua, Indonesia, para-para culturally designates the traditional stilt house, embodying communal values of elevation above floods and social hierarchy, with construction rituals reinforcing ancestral ties as documented in ethnographic studies from 2023.^[93] This term's significance lies in its role as a spatial and symbolic anchor, where the house's design—raised on poles with thatched roofs—reflects adaptive responses to local ecology and kinship structures.

Acronyms and Abbreviations

"Para" is a common abbreviation for "paragraph" in writing, editing, and legal documents, where it denotes a distinct section of text addressing a specific idea, typically shortened as "para." or "par." to reference citations efficiently.^[94] In military contexts, "para" informally abbreviates "paratrooper," describing airborne infantry trained for parachute insertion into combat zones, a usage originating from World War II elite units.^[95] Medically, "para" abbreviates "parity," quantifying the number of viable births (beyond 20 weeks gestation or 500 grams birth weight) a woman has experienced, as in obstetric notations like "G2 P1" for gravida 2, para 1.^[96] The prefix "para-" functions as an abbreviated combining form in scientific and technical terminology, deriving from Greek "pará" meaning "beside" or "beyond," applied in words like "paramedic" (beside a physician) or "paralysis" (abnormal loosening).^[71] Acronyms expanding to PARA include "Projects, Areas, Resources, Archives," a organizational system for digital information management proposed by productivity consultant Tiago Forte in 2015, though its adoption remains anecdotal without broad institutional endorsement. Other niche expansions, such as "Polyaryl Amide" in materials science or "People's Action for Rural Awakening" for an Indian NGO, lack widespread recognition outside specialized fields.^[97]

References

[1]
Belém - The Capital Of The Pará, Brazil - World Atlas
May 21, 2019 · With an area of 1,247,689 km2 and an estimated population of 7,792,561, Pará is Brazil's second most extensive state and its ninth most populous ...
[2]
Population Census: North: Para | Economic Indicators - CEIC
Population Census: North: Para data was reported at 8,121,025.000 Person in 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 7,581,051.000 Person for ...
[3]
2022 Census: self-reported brown population is the majority in Brazil ...
Dec 22, 2023 · Pará had the highest proportion of brown population (69.9%), followed by Amazonas (68.8%) and Maranhão (66.4%). The three states with the lowest ...
[4]
[PDF] Pará State - SEDEME
Jun 27, 2011 · Pará is the second largest mining state in Brazil. Its exports of minerals and metals, due to the excellent quality and quantity of its mines, ...
[5]
[PDF] STATE OF PARÁ BIOECONOMY PLAN - SEMAS
Nov 1, 2022 · As the world grapples with how to address climate change, Pará will transform from being the state with the highest carbon emissions in. Brazil ...
[6]
https://forestsnews.cifor.org/70481/how-one-brazilian-state-is-tackling-deforestation-within-its-borders
[7]
Amazon deforestation: Brazil politicians accused of environmental ...
Jul 27, 2022 · The city of São Felix do Xingu, in Brazil's Pará state, has been marked by extraordinary deforestation, violence and territorial disputes.Missing: achievements | Show results with:achievements
[8]
Brazilian federal, state governments to focus on 21 municipalities ...
Aug 23, 2024 · ... state of Pará. “This area harbors a greater density of people near roads, as well as farmers. In fact, one third of this wildfire is an area ...
[9]
Para- - Etymology & Meaning of the Prefix
Par- is a word-forming element of Greek origin meaning "alongside, beyond, contrary," from para "beside, against"; also Latin origin meaning "defense, ...
[10]
PARA Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
1. a : any of several monetary units of the Turkish Empire b : a coin representing one para 2. [Serbian & Croatian, from Turkish] see dinar at Money Table.
[11]
para- (Prefix) - Word Root - Membean
The word part "para-" is a prefix that means "beside, alongside".Missing: etymology | Show results with:etymology
[12]
Pará, State in the Rainforest full of Secrets | Aventura do Brasil
May 10, 2021 · Far away from the well-known metropolises, and covered by the seemingly endless Amazon Rainforest, lies the state of Pará in the north of ...
[13]
Pará signs $180m LEAF Coalition deal – first in Brazil - Emergent
Pará is set to become the first state in Brazil to secure finance from the LEAF Coalition to support its efforts to reduce deforestation.
[14]
Para - Suriname Travel
The Para district is named after the Para River that flows through the district and has Onverwacht as its main town. This district in the savannah borders ...
[15]
Xianning——Para, Suriname - Foreign Affairs Office of Hubei ...
Oct 28, 2019 · Para District is in the north of Suriname, with Onverwacht as its capital. Other towns include Paranam, Sabana and Zanderij.
[16]
How many places are named Para? - Geotargit
There are 34 places in the world named Para! Para can be found in 18 countries throughout the world. In some countries the place can be found more than once.
[17]
A discharge stationary model for the Pará-Amazon estuarine system
The Pará River is a continental body of water that has no source of its own or unidirectional headwaters, and is influenced by strong semidiurnal tidal currents ...
[18]
Sediment transport modelling in Pará River Estuary (Amazon-Brazil ...
The results show that the main sources of sediment of the Pará River Estuary are Amazon River and Tocantins River. The sediment from the Amazon River can ...
[19]
Modeling the Impacts of Sea Level Rise Scenarios on the Amazon ...
Jun 20, 2024 · The flow of the Pará River was inserted because it is connected to the Amazon River by the de Breves strait (Figure 1). It is estimated that 5% ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[20]
Simulation of Tidal Oscillations in the Pará River Estuary Using the ...
This study used tidal data from eight stations in the Pará River estuary (Figure 1), using one from the Brazilian Navy and seven from the Amazon Coastal ...
[21]
Estimates of suspended solid transport in the Pará River Estuary
The aim of the present study was to quantify the suspended solid concentrations (C SSL ) and suspended solid transport (T SSL ) in the mixing zone of the Pará ...
[22]
Rio Pará found to contribute high trace metal concentrations to the ...
Jul 31, 2023 · The input of the neighboring Pará River south of the Amazon mouth shows significantly elevated dissolved neodymium and hafnium concentrations.
[23]
Map of the study area showing the Pará River estuary and some ...
For example, the Pará River is a component of the Amazon hydrographic network in northern Brazil, and as for the Pará-Amazon estuarine system, there is an ...
[24]
Brazil set to blast 35 km river rock formation for new Amazon ...
Jun 2, 2025 · The Brazilian environmental agency, IBAMA, approved a license to blast a natural rock barrier on the Tocantins River in Pará state to enable boats to pass ...
[25]
Begum Para - IMDb
Begum Para was born on 25 December 1926 in Jhelum, Punjab, India. She was an actress and costume designer, known for Saawariya (2007), Neel Kamal (1947) and ...
[26]
Begum Para - Movies, Biography, News, Age & Photos - BookMyShow
Begum Para, born on 25th December 1926, in Punjab, British India, was an Indian film actress. She was active mostly in the 1940s and 1950s. She made a comeback ...
[27]
#GoldenFrames: Begum Para - Times of India
During the peak of her career, Begum Para married Dilip Kumar's brother Nasir Khan. · Begum Para acted in twenty-seven movies during a career span of fifteen ...
[28]
Para One Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More - AllMusic
French producer with several remix hits under his belt. Read Full Biography. Active. 2000s - 2020s. Born. April 2, 1979 in Orléans, France. Genre.
[29]
Para One · Artist Profile - Resident Advisor
Para One is an alias of French electro producer Jean-Baptiste de Laubier, whose musical style is deeply rooted in golden-age hip-hop.
[30]
Para One - Rough Trade
Para One is a French electronic producer who is best known for his work on the soundtrack of the feature film "Naissance Des Pieuvres" (2007)
[31]
Para One - Savoir Faire
Jean-Baptiste de Laubier, aka Para One, is a boundary-pushing artist whose work spans music production, film scoring, and directing.
[32]
Para USA: Coming to America | An Official Journal Of The NRA
Apr 13, 2010 · Para USA goes beyond innovation with both classic firearms and designs all its own.
[33]
PARA USA (PARA-ORDNANCE) All Models - Gun Values
Previously known as Para-Ordnance of Scarborough, Ontario, Canada. In 2009, company relocated to Pineville, North Carolina.
[34]
What's the deal with para ordnance 1911s? - Northwest Firearms
Oct 10, 2024 · The company, Para USA was acquired by Remington Outdoor Company in 2012. In 2015, the Para brand ceased production and was folded into Remington ...
[35]
About Us - Parà Tempotest
PARÀ has won a reputation in the market as a manufacturer of high quality textiles, strictly “Made in Italy”, with close monitoring of the entire production ...
[36]
Our Story - Tempotest USA
The Parà Industrial Group was founded in 1921. For over three generations, this family owned company has been producing premium high performance textiles.
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Tende da sole Tempotest Parà - Parà
Parà Industrial Group is a world leader in the manufacturing of natural fibre piece dyed, rotary VAT and reactive digitally printed furnishing fabrics.
[38]
Para Company – Business automation at its finest
PARA Company LLC has been serving manufacturers in the packaging and converting industry for nearly 30 years.Core Holders · Trim Removal · Lifting Equipment · Roll Carts
[39]
About - Para Company
PARA Company LLC has been serving manufacturers in the packaging and converting industry for over 20 years. Although we work heavily in the Midwestern ...
[40]
Para - Crunchbase Company Profile & Funding
Para is a delivery app that offers drivers a way to choose better trips, reduce downtime, and find the best opportunities more efficiently.
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Para Group - Crunchbase Company Profile & Funding
Para Group provides technology and consulting services focused on software development, business transformation, and IT operations. It offers solutions that ...<|separator|>
[42]
What is the prefix para mean in these two job titles? - Fluther
Jun 6, 2017 · Para- is a prefix that translates from the Greek as “beside or along side of”. Given that definition, I would say that in the two words you ...
[43]
Why are paramedics called paramedics? What does 'para ... - Quora
Aug 8, 2020 · In this context para means in parallel with. Paramedics work in parallel with the medical profession (doctors), paralegals work in parallel with ...
[44]
What is a paralegal? - Thomson Reuters Legal Solutions
Jul 10, 2023 · A paralegal is a legal professional who works under the supervision of a lawyer and performs tasks such as legal research, drafting legal documents, and ...
[45]
Current ABA Definition of Paralegal - American Bar Association
A paralegal is a person, qualified by education, training or work experience who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental ...
[46]
Paralegals - American Bar Association
A paralegal is a person, qualified by education, training or work experience who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental ...
[47]
Paralegal Info – NALA
careers, networking, courses, etc.
[48]
EMTs and Paramedics : Occupational Outlook Handbook
Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics assess injuries and illnesses, provide emergency medical care, and may transport patients to medical ...
[49]
Paramedic Certification with National Registry of EMTs
The Paramedic is an allied health professional whose primary focus is to provide advanced emergency medical care for critical and emergent patients.
[50]
A real EMS career ladder for the paramedic profession - EMS1
Sep 17, 2024 · Six different career ladders with compensation and rank based on experience, higher education and specialized training improves retention.
[51]
Paraprofessional Definition, Examples & Importance - Lesson
Para is a Greek prefix meaning ''alongside another.'' Paraprofessionals are there to teach alongside a licensed and credentialed teacher, for the purpose of ...
[52]
Paraprofessional - Professional Learning (CA Dept of Education)
A paraprofessional includes an instructional aide as defined in subdivision (a) of California Education Code (EC) Section 45343 and a teacher aide as described ...
[53]
The State of Paraprofessional Careers - ProCare Therapy
Aug 1, 2024 · Paraprofessional Duties · Assisting with classroom management · Providing individualized instruction to students · Preparing educational ...
[54]
Words matter: interpretations and implications of “para” in ... - NIH
Jan 1, 2021 · Of the 36 comments that specifically mentioned the “para” prefix, “paraprofessional,” and “paralibrarian,” 32 interpreted the term negatively.Missing: occupations | Show results with:occupations
[55]
The Parachute Regiment - The British Army
The Parachute Regiment were formed in the Second World War and, save 1968, have been in constant action since. Determined and courageous, they earned the ...
[56]
Formation and Early Airborne Forces - ParaData
The War Office grouped parachute battalions together on 1st August 1942 to form The Parachute Regiment, established as part of a newly created Army Air Corps.
[57]
ARMY AIRBORNE HISTORY - The Parachute Regimental Association
Oct 19, 2024 · The British Army is the only NATO member whose paratroopers and special forces are trained in static and freefall parachuting assault and ...
[58]
https://shop.ssbcrack.com/blogs/blog/all-para-sf-battalions-their-nicknames-and-roles
[59]
Para SF Commando – The Elite Warriors of the Indian Army
The Para SF Commando (Special Forces) are the most elite and fearless soldiers in the Indian Army. Known for their deadly precision, unmatched physical ...
[60]
What are Indian Para Special Forces (Para SF) and their ...
The Indian Para Special Forces, or Para SF, are responsible for several critical missions, including surgical attacks. Among the most famous operation are the ...<|separator|>
[61]
Portuguese Paratroopers | Military Wiki - Fandom
The Portuguese Paratroopers (Portuguese language: Tropas Páraquedistas ) are the airborne forces of Portugal. They were created in 1956 as part of the ...Missing: Para | Show results with:Para<|separator|>
[62]
French Airborne Forces - ParaData
In 1956 the French Army grouped all of its airborne units within two Parachute Divisions, the 10th and the 25th.
[63]
The Parachute Regiment | Paras - Elite UK Forces
The Parachute Regiment, or 'The Paras', was formed during World War 2. Designed as shock troops, Paras were dropped behind German front lines to capture key ...
[64]
Paramilitary - Etymology, Origin & Meaning
from Old French militaire (14c.) and directly from Latin militaris "of soldiers or war, of military service, warlike," from miles (genitive militis) "soldier," ...
[65]
paramilitary, adj. & n. meanings, etymology and more
OED's earliest evidence for paramilitary is from 1934, in the Yorkshire Post. paramilitary is formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: para- prefix1, ...
[66]
[PDF] Updated IC Gray Zone Lexicon: Key Terms and Definitions - DNI.gov
Paramilitary △ Armed force or group separate from the conventional military forces of a country but resembling them in organization, equipment, training ...
[67]
Paramilitaries on the March - Brookings Institution
Paramilitary forces are linked to some of the deadliest crimes of recent history. The ethnic cleansing in Bosnia and Kosovo was largely carried out by Serb ...Missing: para | Show results with:para
[68]
Para-Military Groups - GlobalSecurity.org
Para-Military Groups. Introduction · Terrorist · Jihad · Pirates · Mercenary · Islamic Paramilitary Groups · Communist Paramilitary Groups · Anarchist ...
[69]
United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) - InSight Crime
Jun 11, 2024 · ... paramilitary groups in a case known as “parapolítica” (para-politics). These alliances were key to the expansion of the paramilitary ...
[70]
para - Master Medical Terms
The medical prefix term para- means “near”, “apart from” or “abnormal”. For example, in parathyroid it means “beside” or “near”.
[71]
Medical Definition of Para- (prefix) - RxList
Para- (prefix): A prefix with many meanings, including: alongside of, beside, near, resembling, beyond, apart from, and abnormal. For example, the parathyroid ...
[72]
State the meaning of the following prefix: para. - Homework.Study.com
The meaning of the prefix "para-" is beside or near. For example, the medical term "paranasal" means near the nose and the term "pararenal" means near the ...
[73]
Medical Definition of Para - RxList
Any woman who has given birth once or more is termed a "para." Note that, for a pregnancy to count as a "birth," it must go to at least 20 weeks' gestation.
[74]
Gravida Para Scoring - EMTprep
Jan 14, 2022 · Gravidity (gravida) is the number of times a patient has been pregnant. · Parity (para) is the number of times a patient has given birth to a ...
[75]
GTPAL: Pregnancy Outcomes Acronym - Osmosis
For example, an individual described as 'gravida 2, para 2' (sometimes abbreviated to G2 P2) has had two pregnancies both resulting in two deliveries after 20 ...
[76]
GTPAL: Guide to Gravidity and Parity in Obstetrics - Nurseslabs
Apr 30, 2023 · GTPAL is an acronym used to evaluate a woman's complete obstetric history. The GTPAL system, which stands for Gravida (G), Term (T), Preterm (P), Abortions (A) ...What is GTPAL? · Gravida: The Number of... · Para: Number of Viable...
[77]
Gravidity and Parity: Definitions and Risks | Doctor - Patient.info
Gravidity is the number of times a woman has been pregnant. Parity is the number of times she gave birth to a foetus with a gestational age of 24 weeks or ...
[78]
MedTerms Medical Dictionary A-Z List - P on RxList
Para · Para- (prefix) · Paracentesis · Parainfectious · Paralysis · Paralysis, stomach · Paralytic ileus · Paraphilia · Parasite · Parasitic · Parasitic worm ...
[79]
Conditions starting with 'Pa' - Drugs.com
List of medical conditions and diseases starting with the letters "Pa". Pa ... Parainfluenza · Paralytic Disorder · Paralytic Ileus · Parangi · Paranoid ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[80]
-para | Taber's Medical Dictionary
-para [L. parere, to bring forth (offspring)] Suffix meaning to bear, give birth. Search PRIME PubMed Related Topics
[81]
The Definition of Ortho, Meta, and Para in Organic Chemistry
Oct 2, 2019 · The terms ortho, meta, and para are prefixes used in organic chemistry to indicate the position of non-hydrogen substituents on a hydrocarbon ring.
[82]
19.7: An Explanation of Substituent Effects - Chemistry LibreTexts
Jun 5, 2019 · Inductive effect of alkyl groups activates the direction of the ortho or para substitution, which is when s electrons gets pushed toward the ...
[83]
Ortho-, Para- and Meta- Directors in Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution
Jan 29, 2018 · Examples of ortho-, para– directors are hydroxyl groups, ethers, amines, alkyl groups, thiols, and halogens.
[84]
Paramagnetic Materials - GeeksforGeeks
Jul 23, 2025 · MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): Paramagnetic contrast agents are used to increase the visibility of certain tissues or structures in MRI.
[85]
Paramagnetic Oxygen Sensing Technology | PST
Paramagnetic oxygen sensing is a highly accurate and reliable method for precise oxygen concentration measurement across a range of critical applications.
[86]
What Elements Are Magnetic? An Overview | Okon Recycling
Jun 4, 2025 · Though their magnetic attraction is weak, paramagnetic properties can be leveraged in specialized recycling and waste sorting applications when ...
[87]
Recent advances in the application of parahydrogen in catalysis and ...
Apr 26, 2022 · Parahydrogen induced polarization (PHIP) is an efficient and cost-effective hyperpolarization method, which has widespread applications in Chemistry, Physics, ...
[88]
Clinical-Scale Production of Nearly Pure (>98.5%) Parahydrogen ...
Recently, parahydrogen-hyperpolarized compounds have attracted special interests for various applications in both catalysis (reaction progress monitoring) and ...
[89]
Unique Applications of para-Hydrogen Matrix Isolation to ...
Nov 6, 2024 · Using solid p-H2 matrix isolation to study low-temperature chemistry allows the potential energy landscapes and reaction mechanisms to be ...
[90]
PARALANGUAGE Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
paralanguage. noun. para·lan·guage ˈper-ə-ˌlaŋ-gwij. ˈpa-rə-. : optional vocal ... language · See All Rhymes for paralanguage. Browse Nearby Words.
[91]
Paralanguage - Etymology, Origin & Meaning
before vowels, par-, word-forming element of Greek origin, "alongside, beyond; altered; contrary; irregular, abnormal," from Greek para- from para (prep.) ...Missing: linguistic | Show results with:linguistic
[92]
Para, Parā, Pāra, Pārā, Párá, Paṟa: 45 definitions - Wisdom Library
Oct 18, 2025 · || pāra (nt.), the opposite shore; the other side. Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary. Pāra, (adj. -nt.) (fr. para) ...
[93]
The Cultural Meaning of Para-Para for the Dondai Villager, Papua
Oct 10, 2023 · The Results: 1) para-para is the name of the Dondai people for the traditional house at Dondai village; 2) para-para has cultural significance ...
[94]
What is the Abbreviation for Paragraph? - Writing Explained
There are two common abbreviations of paragraph, par. and para. If you want to make either one plural, simply add on an “s.” ...
[95]
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/para
[96]
ABBREVIATION LIST FOR MEDICAL RECORD DOCUMENTATION
ABBREVIATION LIST FOR. MEDICAL RECORD DOCUMENTATION ā before accel ... para number of births. PAT paroxysmal atrial tachycardia. Path pathology. PAWP.
[97]
PARA - Definition by AcronymFinder
PARA · Parabellum · PARA, People's Action for Rural Awakening (India). PARA, Polyaryl Amide. PARA, Programme of Agricultural Income Aid (EU).