The prefix neo-, which comes from Greek, means “new or recent.” Thus our word neophyte, which means “a recent convert” or “a beginner,” comes from Greek neophutos, which meant literally “newly planted,” from neo- plus phutos, “planted.” Many words beginning with neo- do not come from Greek but have been formed in English over the last 150 years. Many of these words refer to a new or a modern form of a movement or doctrine, such as neoconservatism or neofascism. Many other relatively recent formations are science words, such as neodymium.
