Etymology: < post-classical Latin hystero- (in e.g. hysterologia hysterology n.¹) < ancient Greek ὑστερο- , combining form (in e.g. ὑστερογενής appearing after birth, later) of ὕστερος later, latter, inferior, cognate with Sanskrit uttara upper, higher, later < the same Indo-European base as Sanskrit ud- up, out (see out adv.) + an Indo-European comparative suffix also represented by Sanskrit -tara , ancient Greek -τερος , classical Latin -ter (see discussion at other adj.). Compare -o- connective.

Etymology: < post-classical Latin and scientific Latin hystero- (in e.g. hysterocele hysterocele n. at sense 1) < ancient Greek ὑστέρα womb (see note ) + post-classical Latin -o- -o- connective.First attested in loans from Latin, from the 17th cent. Formations within English are found from the mid 19th cent. Compare French hystéro- , formations in which are found from the 17th century. Ancient Greek ὑστέρα may represent a use as noun (perhaps short for ὑστέρα μήτρα : see metro- comb. form³) of feminine of ὕστερος later (see hystero- comb. form¹), perhaps with the sense ‘outer’, with reference to the protruding belly, or perhaps an independent formation from the Indo-European base of Sanskrit ud up-, out + the comparative suffix (see hystero- comb. form¹). Compare the following words for ‘belly’, with the same Indo-European base but a different suffix: Sanskrit udara , ancient Greek ὔδερος , classical Latin uterus (see uterus n.).