-lysis

Also ‑lyse, ‑lyze, ‑lyte, ‑lytic, and ‑lyst.

Disintegration or decomposition.

Greek lusis, loosening.

Th ending ‑lysis forms nouns. They can either describe the agent by which the process takes place, as with hydrolysis, reaction with water, or photolysis, with light; alternatively they can suggest the thing acted upon, as in glycolysis, the breakdown of glucose by enzymes, or proteolysis, of proteins. Some can specify the nature of the process, as with autolysis, self-destruction of cells by their own enzymes. Analysis and its compounds stand at one remove, since the modern sense is figurative, based on Greek analusis, an unloosening, from ana‑, up. Lysis can be a noun in its own right for the disintegration of a cell by rupture of its cell wall or membrane. See the list below for more examples.

Related verbs are formed in ‑lyse: analyse, catalyse, hydrolyse, paralyse, psychoanalyse; breathalyse is a rare example where no corresponding noun in ‑lysis exists. These forms are all spelled ‑lyze in North America. The ending ‑lyte forms nouns identifying substances that can be decomposed by a specified process, as in electrolyte. Related adjectives are created using ‑lytic: catalytic, hydrolytic, psychoanalytic. A few nouns indicating the agent involved in the process are formed using ‑lyst: catalyst, psychoanalyst.

Examples of words in -lysis
Origins are from Greek unless otherwise stated.

analysis

detailed examination of the elements or structure of something, typically as a basis for discussion or interpretation

analusis, from ana‑, up

catalysis

the acceleration of a chemical reaction by a substance that does not itself undergo any permanent chemical change

katalusis, from kata‑, down

cryptanalysis

the art or process of deciphering coded messages without being told the key

kruptos, hidden

dialysis

the separation of particles in a liquid on the basis of differences in their ability to pass through a membrane, especially the clinical purification of blood by this technique, as a substitute for the normal function of the kidney

dialusis, from dia, apart

electrolysis

chemical decomposition produced by passing an electric current through a liquid or solution containing ions

English electric, plus ‑o‑

glycolysis

the breakdown of glucose by enzymes, releasing energy and pyruvic acid

glukus, sweet

hydrolysis

the chemical breakdown of a compound due to reaction with water

hudōr, water

paralysis

the loss of the ability to move

paralusis, from para, beside

photolysis

the decomposition or separation of molecules by the action of light

phōs, phōt‑, light

psychoanalysis

a system of psychological theory and therapy

psukhē, breath, soul, mind

pyrolysis

decomposition brought about by high temperatures

pur, fire

thermolysis

the breakdown of molecules by the action of heat

thermos, hot

thrombolysis

the dissolution of a blood clot, especially as induced artificially by infusion of an enzyme into the blood

thrombos, blood clot