1. Near, beside, alongside, around:
* Paralanguage: Nonverbal communication that accompanies language (e.g., tone of voice, facial expressions).
* Parallelogram: A quadrilateral with opposite sides parallel.
* Parasite: An organism that lives in or on another organism and benefits by deriving nutrients at the host's expense.
* Paraffin: A waxy substance derived from petroleum.
2. Similar to, resembling:
* Paranormal: Phenomena such as telepathy and clairvoyance that are beyond the scope of normal scientific understanding.
* Paraphrase: To restate something in different words, usually while keeping the original meaning.
* Paradox: A statement that seems contradictory but may be true.
3. Beyond, beside, abnormal:
* Paralysis: Loss of muscle function.
* Paranoia: A mental disorder characterized by delusions of persecution and suspicion.
* Parathyroid: A small gland in the neck that regulates calcium levels in the blood.
4. Specific to a particular part of a system:
* Paraplegia: Paralysis of the lower half of the body.
* Parasternal: Located near the sternum (breastbone).
It's important to note that the meaning of "-para" can also vary based on the specific word it's attached to. You can usually figure out the meaning by considering the word's overall context and root word.