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Greek & Latin Roots
Greek & Latin Roots + Usage Examples
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| acer, acid, acri | bitter, sour, sharp - acerbic, acidity, acrid, acrimony |
| acu | sharp - acute, acupuncture, accurate |
| ag, agi, ig, act | do, move, go - agent, agenda, agitate, navigate, ambiguous, action |
| ali, allo, alter | other - alias, alibi, alien, alloy, alter, alter ego, altruism |
| alt(us) | high, deep - altimeter, altitude |
| am, amor | love, liking - amiable, amorous, enamoured |
| Anni, annu, enni | year - anniversary, annually, centennial |
| anthrop | man - anthropology, misanthrope, philanthropy |
| anti(co) | old - antique, antiquated, antiquity |
| arch | chief, first, rule - archangel, architect, archaic, monarchy, matriarchy, patriarchy, Archeozoic era |
| aster, astr | star - aster, asterisk, asteroid, astronomy, astronaut |
| aud, aus | hear, listen - audiology, auditorium, audio, audition, ausculate |
| aug, auc | increase - augur, augment, auction |
| auto, aut | self - automobile, autograph, automatic |
| belli | war - rebellion, belligerent, casus belli, bellicose |
| bibl | book - Bible, bibliography, bibliomania |
| bio | life - biology, biometrics, biome, biosphere |
| brev | short - abbreviate, brief |
| cad, cas | to fall - cadaver, cadence, cascade |
| calor | heat - calorie, caloric, calorimeter |
| cap, cip, cept | take - capable, intercept, forceps, capture, except, reciprocate |
| capit, capt | head - decapitate, capital, captain, caption |
| carn | flesh - carnivorous, incarnate, reincarnation, carnal |
| caus, caut | burn, heat - caustic, cauldron, cauterize |
| cause, cuse, cus | cause, motive - because, excuse, accusation |
| ced, ceed, cede, cess | move, yield, go, surrender - procedure, proceed, cede, concede, recede, precede, accede, success |
| cenetri | center - concentric, centrifugal, centripetal, eccentric |
| chrom | color - chrome, chromosome, polychrome, chromatic |
| chron | time - chronology, chronometer, synchronize |
| cide, cise | cut down, kill - homicide, exorcise, germicide, incision, scissors |
| cit | call, start - incite, citation, cite |
| civ | citizen - civic, civil, civilian, civilization |
| clam, claim | cry out - exclamation, clamor, proclamation, reclamation, acclaim |
| clud, clus, claus | shut - include, conclude, recluse, claustrophobia, occlusion, occult |
| cognoac, gnosi | know - recognize, prognosis, cognoscenti, incognito, agnostic |
| cord, cor, cardi | heart - cordial, concord, discord, courage, encourage |
| corp | body - corporation, corporal punishment, corpse, corpulent, corpus luteum |
| cosm | universe, world - cosmos, microcosm, cosmopolitan, cosmonaut |
| crat, cracy | rule - autocrat, aristocrat, theocracy, technocracy |
| crea | create - creature, recreation, creation |
| cred | believe - creed, credo, credence, credit, credulous, incredulous, incredible |
| cresc, cret, crease, cru | rise, grow - crescendo, concrete, increase, decrease, accrue |
| crit | separate, choose - critical, criterion, hypocrite |
| cur, curs | run - current, concurrent, concur, incur, recur, occur, courier, precursor, cursive |
| cura | care - curator, curative, manicure |
| cycl, cyclo | wheel, circular - Cyclops, unicycle, bicycle, cyclone, cyclic |
| deca | ten - decade, decalogue, decathlon, decahedron |
| dem | people - democracy, demography, epidemic |
| dent, dont | tooth - dental, denture, orthodontist, periodontal |
| derm | skin - hypodermic, dermatology, epidermis, taxidermy |
| dict | say, speak - dictation, dictionary, dictate, dictator, Dictaphone, edict, predict, verdict, contradict, benediction |
| doc, dokein | teach - doctrine, indoctrinate, document, dogma, dogmatic |
| domin | master - dominate, dominion, predominant, domain |
| don | give - donate, condone |
| dorm | sleep - dormant, dormitory |
| dox | opinion, praise - orthodox, heterodox, paradox, doxology |
| drome | run, step - syndrome (run together), hippodrome (place where horses run) |
| duc, duct | lead - induce, seduce (lead aside), produce, reduce |
| dura | hard, lasting - durable, duration, endure |
| dynam | power - dynamo, dynamic, dynamite, hydrodynamics |
| endo | within - endorse, endocardial, endoskeletal, endoskeleton, endosperm |
| equi | equal - equinox, equilibrium, equipoise |
| erg | work - energy, erg, allergy, ergometer, ergograph, ergophobia |
| fac, fact, fic, fect | do, make - factory, fact, manufacture, amplification, confection |
| fall, fals | deceive - fallacy, falsify, fallacious |
| fer | bear, carry - ferry, coniferous, fertile, defer, infer, refer, transfer |
| fid, fide, feder(is) | faith, trust - confidante, fidelity, confident, infidelity, infidel, federal, confederacy, semper fi |
| fila, fili | thread - filigree, filament, filter, filet, filibuster |
| fin | end, ended, finished - final, finite, finish, confine, fine, refine, define, finale |
| fix | fix - fix, fixation, fixture, affix, prefix, suffix |
| flex, flect | bend - flex, reflex, flexible, flexor, inflexibility, reflect, deflect |
| flu, fluc, fluv | flowing - influence, fluid, flue, flush, fluently, fluctuate |
| form | form, shape - form, uniform, conform, formulary, perform, formal, formula |
| fort, forc | strong - fort, fortress, fortify, forte, fortitude |
| fract, frag | break- fracture, infraction, fragile, fraction, refract |
| gam | marriage - bigamy, monogamy, polygamy |
| gastr(o) | stomach - gastric, gastronomic, gastritis, gastropod |
| gen | birth, race, produce - genesis, genetics, eugenics, genealogy, generate, genetic, antigen, pathogen |
| geo | earth - geometry, geography, geocentric, geology |
| germ | vital part - germination, germ, germane |
| gest | carry, bear - congest, gestation |
| gloss, glot | tongue - glossary, polyglot, epiglottis |
| glu, glo | lump, bond, glue - glue, agglutinate, conglomerate |
| grad, gress | step, go - grade, gradual, graduate, progress, graduated, egress |
| graph, gram | write, written - graph, graphic, autograph, photography, graphite, telegram |
| grat | pleasing - congratulate, gratuity, grateful, ingrate |
| grav | heavy, weighty - grave, gravity, aggravate, gravitate |
| greg | herd - gregarious, congregation, segregate, gregarian |
| hypn | sleep - hypnosis, hypnotherapy |
| helio | sun - heliograph, heliotrope, heliocentric |
| hema, hemo | blood - hemorrhage, hemoglobin, hemophilia, hemostat |
| here, hes | stick - adhere, cohere, cohesion, inherent, hereditary |
| hetero | different - heterogeneous, heterosexual, heterodox |
| homo | same - homogeneous, homonym, homogenize |
| hum, human | earth, ground, man - humus, exhume, humane |
| hydr, hydra, hydro | water - dehydrate, hydrant, hydraulic, hydraulics, hydrogen, hydrophobia |
| ignis | fire - ignite, igneous, ignition |
| ject | throw - deject, inject, project, eject, interject |
| join, junct | join - adjoining, enjoin, juncture, conjunction, injunction, conjunction |
| juven | young - juvenile, rejuvenate |
| lau, lav, lot, lut | wash - launder, lavatory, lotion, ablution, dilute |
| leg | law - legal, legislate, legislature, legitimize |
| levi | light - alleviate, levitate, levity |
| liber, liver | free - liberty, liberal, liberalize, deliverance |
| liter | letters - literary, literature, literal, alliteration, obliterate |
| loc, loco | place - locality, allocate, locomotion |
| log, logo, ology | word, study, speech - catalog, prologue, dialogue, logogram (symbol representing a word), zoology |
| loqu, locut | talk, speak - eloquent, loquacious, colloquial, circumlocution |
| luc, lum, lus, lun | light - translucent, luminary, luster, luna (moon goddess) |
| macr-, macer | lean - emaciated, meager |
| magn | great - magnify, magnificent, magnanimous, magnate, magnitude, magnum |
| man | hand - manual, manage, manufacture, manacle, manicure, manifest, maneuver, emancipate |
| mand | command - mandatory, remand, mandate |
| mania | madness - mania, maniac, kleptomania, pyromania |
| mar, mari, mer | sea, pool - marine, marsh, maritime, mermaid |
| matri | mother - matrimony, maternal, matriarchate, matron |
| medi | half, middle, between, halfway - mediate, medieval, Mediterranean, mediocre, medium |
| mega | great - megaphone, megalopolis, megacycle (a million cycles), megaton |
| mem | remember - memo, commemoration, memento, memoir, memorable |
| meter | measure - meter, voltammeter, barometer, thermometer |
| micro | small - microscope, microfilm, microcard, microwave, micrometer |
| migra | wander - migrate, emigrant, immigrate |
| mit, miss | send - emit, remit, submit, admit, commit, permit, transmit, omit, intermittent, mission, missile |
| mob, mot, mov | move - mobile, motionless, motor |
| mon | warn, remind - monument, admonition, monitor, premonition |
| mor, mort | mortal, death - mortal, immortal, mortality, mortician, mortuary |
| morph | form - amorphous, dimorphic, metamorphosis, morphology |
| multi | many, much - multifold, multilingual, multiped, multiply |
| nat, nasc | to be from, to spring forth - innate, natal, native, renaissance |
| neo | new - Neolithic, nuveau riche, neologism, neophyte, neonate |
| neur | nerve - neuritis, neuropathic, neurologist, neural, neurotic |
| nom | law, order - autonomy, astronomy, gastronomy, economy |
| nomen, nomin | name - nomenclature, nominate, ignominious |
| nov | new - novel, renovate, novice, nova, innovate |
| nox, noc | night - nocturnal, equinox, noctilucent |
| numer | number - numeral, numeration, enumerate, innumerable |
| numisma | coin - numismatics |
| oligo | few, little - Oligocene, oligosaccharide, oligotrophic, oligarchy |
| omni | all, every - omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, omnivorous |
| onym | name - anonymous, pseudonym, antonym, synonym |
| oper | work - operate, cooperate, opus |
| ortho | straight, correct - orthodox, orthodontist, orthopedic, unorthodox |
| pac | peace - pacifist, pacify, pacific ocean |
| paleo | old - Paleozoic, Paleolithic, paleomagnetism, paleopsychology |
| pan | all - Pan-American, pan-African, panacea, pandemonium (place of all the demons), |
| pater, patr | father - paternity, patriarch, patriot, patron, patronize |
| path, pathy | feeling, suffering - pathos, sympathy, antipathy, apathy, telepathy |
| ped, pod | foot - pedal, impede (get feet in a trap), pedestrian, centipede, tripod, podiatry, antipode |
| pedo | child - orthopedic, pedagogue, pediatrics |
| pel, puls | drive, urge - compel, dispel, expel, repel, propel, pulse, impulse, pulsate, compulsory, expulsion, repulsive |
| pend, pens, pond | hang, weigh - pendant, pendulum, suspend, appendage, pensive |
| phage | eat - macrophage, bacteriophage |
| phil | love - philosophy, philanthropy, philharmonic, bibliophile |
| phlegma | inflammation - phlegm, phlegmatic |
| phobia, phobos | fear - phobia, claustrophobia, acrophobia, aquaphobia, ergophobia, homophobia |
| phon | sound - phonograph, phonetic, symphony, homophone, euphonious |
| photo | light - photograph, photoelectric, photogenic, photosynthesis |
| plac, plais | please - placid, placebo, placate, complacent |
| plu, plur, plus | more - plural, pluralist, plus |
| pneuma, pneumon | breath - pneumatic, pneumonia, |
| pod | (see ped) |
| poli | city - metropolis, police, politics, Indianapolis, megalopolis, acropolis |
| poly | many - polysaccharide, polyandrous, polytheistic |
| pon, pos, pound | place, put - postpone, component, opponent, proponent, expose, impose, deposit, posture, position, expound, impound |
| pop | people - population, populous, popular |
| port | carry - porter, portable, transport, report, export, import, support, transportation |
| portion | part, share - portion, proportion |
| pot | power - potential, potentate, impotent |
| prehendere | seize, grasp - apprehend, comprehend, comprehensive, prehensile |
| prim, prime | first - primacy, prima donna, primitive, primary, primal, primeval |
| proto | first - prototype, protocol, protagonist, protozoan, Proterozoic, protoindustrial |
| psych | mind, soul - psyche, psychiatry, psychology, psychosis |
| punct | point, dot - punctual, punctuation, puncture, acupuncture, punctuation |
| reg, recti | straighten - regiment, regular, rectify, correct, direct, rectangle |
| ri, ridi, risi | laughter - deride, ridicule, ridiculous, derision, risible |
| rog, roga | ask - prerogative, interrogation, derogatory |
| rupt | break - rupture, interrupt, abrupt, disrupt, ruptible |
| sacr, sanc, secr | sacred - sacred, sacrosanct, sanction, consecrate, desecrate |
| salv, salu | safe, healthy - salvation, salvage, salutation |
| sat, satis | enough - satient (giving pleasure, satisfying), saturate, satisfy |
| sci, scientia | know - science, conscious, omniscient, cognocienti |
| scope | see, watch - telescope, microscope, kaleidoscope, periscope, stethoscope |
| scrib, script | write - scribe, scribble, inscribe, describe, subscribe, prescribe, manuscript |
| sed, sess, sid | sit - sediment, session, obsession, possess, preside, president, reside, subside |
| sen | old - senior, senator, senile |
| senescere | to grow old - senescence, evanescent |
| sent, sens | feel - sentiment, consent, resent, dissent, sentimental, sense, sensation, sensitive, sensory, dissension |
| sequ, secu, sue | follow - sequence, consequence, sequel, subsequent, prosecute, consecutive, second, ensue, pursue |
| serv | save, serve - servant, service, subservient, servitude, preserve, conserve, reservation, deserve, conservation, observe |
| sign, signi | sign, mark, seal - signal, signature, design, insignia, significant |
| simil, simul | like, resembling - similar, assimilate, simulate, simulacrum, simultaneous |
| sist, sta, stit | stand - assist, persist, circumstance, stamina, status, state, static, stable, stationary, substitute |
| solus | alone - solo, soliloquy, solitaire, solitude |
| solv, solu | loosen - solvent, solve, absolve, resolve, soluble, solution, resolution, resolute, dissolute |
| somnus | sleep - insomnia, somnambulist |
| soph | wise - sophomore (wise fool), philosophy, sophisticated |
| spec, spect, spic | look - specimen, specific, spectator, spectacle, aspect, speculate, inspect, respect, prospect, retrospective, introspective, expect, conspicuous |
| sphere | ball, sphere - sphere, stratosphere, hemisphere, spheroid |
| spir | breath - spirit, conspire, inspire, aspire, expire, perspire, respiration |
| string, strict | draw tight - stringent, strict, restrict, constrict, boa constrictor |
| stru, struct | build - construe (build in the mind, interpret), structure, construct, instruct, obstruct, destruction, destroy |
| sume, sump | take, use, waste - consume, assume (to take, to use), sump pump presumption (to take or use before knowing all the facts |
| tact, tang, tag, tig, ting | touch -tactile, contact, intact, intangible, tangible, contagious, contiguous |
| tele | far - telephone, telegraph, telegram, telescope, television, telephoto, telecast, telepathy |
| tempo | time - tempo, temporary, extemporaneously, contemporary, pro tem, temporal |
| ten, tin, tain | hold - tenacious, tenant, tenure, untenable, detention, retentive, content, pertinent, continent, obstinate, contain, abstain, pertain, detain |
| tend, tent, tens | stretch, strain - tendency, extend, intend, contend, pretend, superintend, tender, extent, tension, pretense |
| terra | earth -terrain, terrarium, territory, terrestrial |
| test | to bear witness - testament, detest, testimony, attest |
| the, theo | God, a god - monotheism, polytheism, atheism, theology |
| therm | heat - thermometer, theorem, thermal, thermos bottle, thermostat, hypothermia |
| thesis, thet | place, put - antithesis, hypothesis, synthesis, epithet |
| tom | cut - atom (not cuttable), appendectomy, tonsillectomy, dichotomy, anatomy |
| tort, tors | twist - torture (twisting to inflict pain) retort, extort, distort, contort, torsion, tortuous, torturous |
| tox | poison - toxic, intoxicate, antitoxin |
| tract, tra | draw, pull - tractor, attract, subtract, tractable, abstract, subtrahend |
| tom | cut - atom (not cutable, smallest particle of matter), appendectomy, tonsillectomy, dichotomy, anatomy |
| tort, tors | twist - torture (twisting to inflict pain), retort, extort (twist out), distort, contort, torsion |
| tox | poison - toxic, intoxicate, antitoxin |
| tract, tra | draw, pull - tractor, attract, traction, subtract, tractable, abstract (to draw away), subtrahend (the number to be drawn away from another). |
| trib | pay, bestow - tribute, contribute, attribute, retribution, tributary |
| turbo | disturb - turbulent, disturb, turbid, turmoil |
| typ | print - type, prototype, typical, typography, typewriter, typology, typify |
| ultima | last - ultimate, ultimatum |
| umber, umbraticum | shadow - umbra, penumbra, (take) umbrage, adumbrate |
| uni | one - unicorn, unify, university, unanimous, universal |
| vac | empty - vacate, vacuum, evacuate, vacation, vacant, vacuous |
| vale, vali, valu | strength, worth - equivalent, valiant, validity, evaluate, value, valor |
| ven, vent | come - convene, intervene, venue, convenient, avenue, circumvent, invent, convent, venture, event, advent, prevent |
| ver, veri | true - very, aver, verdict, verity, verify, verisimilitude |
| vert, vers | turn - avert, divert, invert, introvert, convertible, reverse, controversy, versatile |
| vic, vicis | change, substitute - vicarious, vicar, vicissitude |
| vict, vinc | conquer - victor, evict, convict, convince, invincible |
| vid, vis | see - video, evident, provide, providence, visible, revise, supervise, vista, visit, vision |
| viv, vita, vivi | alive, life - revive, survive, vivid, vivacious, vitality, vivisection |
| voc | call - vocation, avocation, convocation, invocation, evoke, provoke, revoke, advocate, provocative, vocal |
| vol | will - malevolent, benevolent, volunteer, volition |
| volcan | fire - volcano, vulcanize, Vulcan |
| volvo | turn about, roll - revolve, voluble (easily turned about or around or talkative), voluminous, convolution |
| vor | eat greedily - voracious, carnivorous, herbivorous, omnivorous, devour |
| zo | animal - zoo (short for zoological garden), zoology, zoomorphism (attributing animal form to god), zodiac (circle of animal constellations), protozoan |