Got you
so is para-medic and para-military the "beside" type? I guess so.

Wiktionary was shite but dictionary.com came up with

1. Beside; near; alongside: parathyroid.
2. Beyond: paranormal.
3. Incorrect; abnormal: paresthesia.
4. Similar to; resembling: paratyphoid fever.
5. Subsidiary; assistant: paraprofessional.

Ah, that last one explains the military/medic and now I think about it paralegal one as well.

Ta. Learn something knew every day.
( Fenris temporary Lazarus, Wed 6 Jul 2005, 13:32, archived)