Greek and Latin Word Roots

ELA

Mr. Loeb

Roots: the easiest method to improve

reading and writing ability in students.

Introduction to Greek and Latin ROOTS

A root is the stem of the word. This means that after you take away any prefixes (at the beginning of word) and

suffixes (at the end of the word) you are left with the root. For the sake of this class and to make it simplistic, we are

not going to study in categories of prefix, root and suffix; instead, we will use the term root for all the word parts

(prefix, root and suffix).

Here are some things to know about roots before we begin our study.

1. Some roots are words by themselves, but this rarely happens.

Example- the root auto means self.

2. Most roots cannot stand by themselves. Instead these roots are combined with other roots to form a word.

Examples -roots such as: malice, vacuum and abnormal

3. A word can have more than one root. The root may be found at the beginning, middle or end of the word.

Example- autobiography broken down is: auto (self) bio (life) graph (write) y

4. The English language was created through Greek and Latin roots and there are thousands of them. We are

learning a very small percentage of them.

5. A root can have more than one definition (remember there are thousands of roots).

Example- the root de can mean: to remove, or undo; away from. The meaning depends on which word it is

being used in.

Here are some ways to use roots to find a word’s meaning.

1. When you come across a word that you do not know, check to see which roots you know and can define.

2. Even if you can’t define the complete word, knowing one or more of the root definitions will give you a

general idea of the definition of the word.

3. If you do know the definitions of all roots, do NOT assume you can piece the definitions together like a

puzzle to get the actual definition.

For example, the word “transfer” contains two roots, trans and fer. The root trans means across and fer

means carry, but I would not say the definition is simply: across carry. Instead you use those meanings to

figure out the word’s meaning. Instead I would say the definition is to carry across from one place to another.

Notice: I am using the root’s definitions in my definition, but adding more words to get a full meaning.

Roots: Weekly Assignments

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

Assignment Roots are

given Flashcards

Due Roots Handout

Due More

Practice Due Test

Monday: Each Monday you will be given a new set of 10 Roots to memorize for the week. On the list you will find the exercises that are due on Wednesday. On this day, we will say the roots aloud and I will explain how to complete the exercises. Tuesday: Each Tuesday you have a set of 10 flashcards plus one cover card (total of 11 cards each week) that are due. Follow the format you see below when completing your flash cards. NOTE: If anything is not like the format below you will be deducted points. DO NOT REUSE COVER CARDS; make a new cover card each week. Complete flashcards on 3 X 5 index cards or larger, use a paperclip/clasp, or something similar, to attach them together. DO NOT STAPLE the flashcards, and I prefer it if you do not use a rubber band.

.

FORMAT EXAMPLE

FRONT (1 pt.) BACK (1 pt.)

FRONT BACK

DEFINITION

ONE word that contains the root. Highlight the

root in the word.

Picture to help you remember the root.

ROOT

First Last Name

Teacher Name

Class Name

Day Month Year ROOTS LIST # ______

ROOTS LIST #____

John Jones

Mrs. Smith

English

25 Jan. 2019 ROOTS LIST #1

ROOTS LIST # 1

COVER CARD: This card is made in MLA format and you must follow it exactly or you will be deducted points

FLASHCARD FORMAT: Include ALL parts or you will be deducted points. 2 points each

1

CARD #

1 point each line

+___/5

½ point each: ROOT & Card

#

½ point ½ point

each:

WORD

&

Highlight

½ point

Wednesday: The handout that contains the roots and exercise is due on Wednesday. You are given credit for completing all of the assignment. You want to do your best on the handout, but you are given credit based on completion, not on correctness. We correct it as a class, so be sure to ask questions if there was anything you did not understand.

*If needed: Thursday: You will be given a list of “More Practice” exercises to complete throughout the year. There will be times that I assign a specific assignment and there will be times that you will be given the choice from the list. It is VERY important to work with roots EVERY DAY to be successful. You don’t want to just have the roots memorized you want to KNOW these roots by the end of the year. Friday: On each Friday you will be given a test. These tests vary as far as length and which types of questions are being asked. The first test contains 5 roots, but we work up to having 50 roots on a test. You will be given a word and you will need to give the root’s definition for the root portion of the test.

Example: Word = tricycle Your answer: three

Other questions will vary. You may have to define a single word or define a single word within a sentence. Knowing

the root’s definitions is vital to break down the word and to use context clues in the sentence to get the right

answer.

AWAY ABSENT

Going

GoingGone

AB 1

CARD #

Name: ___________________________________________ Date: ______________ Period: ________

SET #1-10 STUDENT MASTER ROOT DEF ROOT DEFINITION ROOT DEFINITION ROOT DEFINITION ROOT DEFINITION

LIST 1 LIST 2 LIST 3 LIST 4 LIST 5 AB ANTI CHRON EX IL

A ANTE CON FORE IM

ACRO AQUA COM GEO IN

ALT ORY CRACY HEMA IR

AMBI ASTR CRED HEMI NEG

AUDI DE HOMO INTER

AUTO DEC HOMI INTRA

BI DIA HYDRO JECT

CENT DICT HYPER LOGY

BIO DUCT HYPO MAN

LIST 6 LIST 7 LIST 8 LIST 9 LIST 10 MEDI PED QUAD VICE SYM

METER PENTA RE CIRCUM UN

MICRO PERI RUPT DIS ARCHY

MONO PHIL SEMI EXTRA ARD

MORT PHOBIA SON MAL CIDE

MULTI PHON SPIR MIS ICIAN

OCTA POLY TRANS NON ITIS

NYM PORT TRI SUB BELL

PAN POST UNI SUPER CAP

PATHY PRE VAC SYN CISE

Root Handouts

Lists 1-10

Name: ____________________________________ Date: _____________ Period: _____

Roots: List #1 Instructions: For each root, record TWO words that contain the root. Highlight the root in the words you’ve listed.

ROOT DEFINITION TEACHER EXAMPLE STUDENT EXAMPLES (2)

AB AWAY abstain 1. _________________________

2. _________________________

A NOT apathy 1. _________________________

2. _________________________

ACRO HIGH acrobat 1. _________________________

2. _________________________

ALT HIGH altitude 1. _________________________

2. _________________________

AMBI BOTH ambidextrous 1. _________________________

2. _________________________

✓ Define the teacher words and FIVE of the ten student words from the above list. ✓ DO NOT USE A DICTIONARY! ✓ You must mention the root definition in each word definition. ✓ Highlight the root definition mentioned. ✓ The 1st one has been done for you as an example to follow.

Teacher Word Student Definition Student Word Student Definition

abstain To hold back, move AWAY from doing something, especially unhealthy things

1

apathy

2

acrobat

3

altitude

4

ambidextrous

5

Name: ____________________________________ Period: _____ Date: _____________

Roots: List #2 Instructions: For each root, record another word that contains the root. Highlight the root in the words you’ve listed.

ROOT DEFINITION TEACHER EXAMPLE STUDENT EXAMPLES (1)

ANTI AGAINST antibiotic

ANTE BEFORE antecedent

AQUA WATER aquarium

ORY PLACE lavatory

ASTR STAR asteroid

AUDI HEAR auditorium

AUTO SELF autobiography

BI TWO bicycle

CENT ONE

HUNDRED century

BIO LIFE biology

✓ Choose FIVE of the ten teacher words and FIVE of the ten student words and define them below.

✓ DO NOT USE A DICTIONARY! ✓ You must mention the root definition in each word definition. ✓ Highlight the root definition mentioned. ✓ The 1st one has been done for you as an example to follow.

Teacher Word Student Definition Student Word Student Definition 1

ANTIBIOTIC

a substance that works against bacteria

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

5

5

Name: ____________________________________ Date: _____________ Period: _____

Roots: List #3 Instructions: Define the teacher words below and then record another word that contains the root (highlight the root). Finally, define all TEN of your words in the chart below and highlight each root definition mentioned. Do not use a dictionary!

ROOT DEFINITION TEACHER EXAMPLE STUDENT EXAMPLE (1)

CHRON TIME chronological: Define:

CON TOGETHER concur: Define:

COM TOGETHER communicate: Define:

CRACY GOVERNMENT democracy: Define:

CRED BELIEVE credible: Define:

DE DOWN descend: Define:

DEC TEN decade: Define:

DIA ACROSS diagonal: Define:

DICT SAY dictate: Define:

DUCT LEAD conduct: Define:

Student Word Student Definition Student Word Student Definition

1

6

2

7

3

8

4

9

5

10

Name: ____________________________________ Date: _____________ Period: _____

Roots: List #4 Instructions: Define the teacher words below and then record another word that contains the root (highlight it). Finally, define all TEN of your words in the chart below and highlight each root definition mentioned. Do not use a dictionary!

ROOT DEFINITION TEACHER EXAMPLE STUDENT EXAMPLE

EX OUT export: Define:

FORE BEFORE foreword: Define:

GEO EARTH geology: Define:

HEMA BLOOD hematite: Define:

HEMI HALF hemisphere: Define:

HOMO SAME homo sapien: Define:

HOMI MAN homicide: Define:

HYDRO WATER dehydrate: Define:

HYPER OVER hyperactive: Define:

HYPO UNDER hypothermia: Define:

Student Word Student Definition Student Word Student Definition 1 6

2 7

3 8

4 9

5 10

Name: ____________________________________ Period: _____ Date: _____________

Roots: List #5 Instructions: Define the teacher words below and then record another word that contains the root (highlight it). Finally, define ALL of your words in the chart below and highlight each root definition mentioned. You will lose credit if you do not mention root definitions in your word definitions. Do not use a dictionary!

ROOT DEFINITION TEACHER EXAMPLE STUDENT EXAMPLE

IL NOT illegal: Define:

1.

IM NOT immoral: Define:

2.

IN NOT incredible: Define:

3.

IR NOT irrational: Define:

4.

NEG NOT neglect: Define:

5.

INTER BETWEEN intersect: Define:

6.

INTRA WITHIN intramural: Define:

7.

JECT THROW reject: Define:

8.

LOGY SCIENCE archeology: Define:

9.

MAN HAND manicure: Define:

10.

Student Word Student Definition Student Word Student Definition

1

6

2

7

3

8

4

9

5

10

Name: ____________________________________ Date: _____________ Period: _____

Roots: List #6

Instructions: Write the definition of each teacher example word. Use the sentences and context clues to help you. Highlight each root definition mentioned. You will lose credit if you do not mention root definitions in your word definitions.

ROOT DEFINITION Use the sentence to help define each word.

SENTENCE

MEDI MIDDLE mediator Define:

The mediator helped with solving the argument between the two friends.

METER MEASURE barometer Define:

The pressure in the air was recorded on the barometer.

MICRO SMALL microscope Define:

In science class students use microscopes to view amoebas.

MONO ONE monogamous Define:

Being in a monogamous relationship shows a person’s faithfulness.

MORT DEATH mortuary Define:

Our family visits the mortuary often to pay respects to my grandmother.

MULTI MANY multitude Define:

There are a multitude of cell phone covers that represent different styles.

OCTA EIGHT octagon Define:

In geometry we studied octagons and hexagons.

NYM NAME antonym Define:

An antonym for the word cold is hot.

PAN ALL panoramic Define:

The Grand Canyon has a beautiful panoramic view.

PATHY FEELING sympathy Define:

I felt sympathy for my friend when he broke his leg playing football.

Instructions: Write FIVE new words using the roots in this list and highlight the root in the word. Then, write a sentence that contains context clues. Underline the context clues in each sentence you create. Use the above sentences as examples.

STUDENT WORD STUDENT CREATED SENTENCE

1 1

2 2

3 3

4 4

5 5

Name: ____________________________________ Date: _____________ Period: _____

Roots: List #7 Instructions: Write the definition of each teacher example word. Use the sentences and context clues to help you. Highlight each root definition mentioned. You will lose credit if you do not mention root definitions in your word definitions.

ROOT DEFINITION Use the sentence to help define each word. SENTENCE

PED FOOT pedestrian Define:

The pedestrian needed to wait for the green light to walk across the street.

PENTA FIVE pentagram Define:

The pentagram on his sleeve was usually just called a star, but it really was a pentagram.

PERI AROUND perimeter Define:

The landscaper had to measure the perimeter of the yard to know how much fencing to buy.

PHIL LOVE

philanthropist Define:

The philanthropist was very generous when she donated a million dollars to the community center.

PHOBIA FEAR claustrophobia Define:

Janice always took the stairs because she suffered from claustrophobia.

PHON SOUND homophone Define:

The English language contains many homophones like two and too.

POLY MANY polygamy Define:

Polygamy is illegal in most states, for monogamy is more common.

PORT CARRY porter Define:

The porter will carry your bags to the train.

POST AFTER postscript Define:

She added a postscript at the end of the letter.

PRE BEFORE premonition Define:

Before Romeo left, Juliet had a frightening premonition about Romeo’s fate.

Instructions: Write FIVE more words, different than mine, using the roots in this list and highlight the root in the word. Then, write a sentence that contains context clues. Underline the context clue in each sentence you create. Use the above sentences as examples.

STUDENT WORD STUDENT CREATED SENTENCE: UNDERLINE CONTEXT CLUE

1 1

2 2

3 3

4 4

5 5

Name: ____________________________________ Date: ___________ Period: _____

Roots: List #8 Instructions: Using the sentences below define the following words. Highlight each root definition mentioned. You will lose credit if you do not mention root definitions in your word definitions.

ROOT DEFINITION TEACHER EXAMPLE WORD DEFINITION

QUAD FOUR quadruplets

RE AGAIN revive

RUPT BREAK eruption

SEMI HALF semicircle

SON SOUND sonnet

SPIR BREATHE perspire

TRANS ACROSS translucent

TRI THREE triangle

UNI ONE unicycle

VAC EMPTY vacant

1. Janet had quadruplets so she needed to buy four car seats.

2. The EMT attempted to revive the gunshot victim.

3. The volcanic eruption of Vesuvius left a lot of damage to the nearby

village.

4. The circle was divided into two equal semicircles.

5. Shakespeare’s sonnet in Romeo and Juliet has a unique rhythm.

6. During workouts our bodies will perspire so the body can cool down.

7. The translucent material allowed us to see the events on the other

side.

8. In geometry we learn that a triangle has three sides and three angles.

9. A unicycle is hard to ride because you need a lot of balance.

10. The restroom door said “vacant” so I went ahead and opened the door.

The word to define is in bold face and the context clue is underlined twice.

**The word to define is in bold face and the context clue is underlined twice.

Name: ____________________________________ Date: _____________ Period: _____

Roots: List #9 Instructions: Write the definition of each teacher example word. Use the sentences and context clues to help you. Highlight each root definition mentioned. You will lose credit if you do not mention root

definitions in your word definitions. ROOT DEFINITION TEACHER EXAMPLE SENTENCE

VICE SUBSTITUTE vice president Define:

When the president of the organization was killed the vice president had to take his place.

CIRCUM AROUND circumspect Define:

The circumspect spy is difficult to catch because he always sees us coming.

DIS AWAY distract Define:

Please do not distract the other students because they need to concentrate.

EXTRA BEYOND extraordinary Define:

It was an extraordinary achievement when we landed on the moon.

MAL BAD malevolent Define:

He looked fearfully at the glowing, malevolent demon.

MIS BAD misfortune Define:

He had the misfortune to lose his wallet.

NON NOT nonprofit Define:

The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization.

SUB UNDER subordinate Define:

The lieutenant gave a sharp order to her subordinate to go run 5 miles.

SUPER OVER superfluous Define:

The talkative fool made several superfluous comments.

SYN TOGETHER synchronize Define:

Please synchronize your watches so that no one will be late.

Instructions: Write FIVE more words, different than mine, using the roots in this list and highlight the root. Then, write a sentence that contains context clues. Underline the context clue in each sentence you create. Use the above sentences as examples.

STUDENT WORD STUDENT CREATED SENTENCE: UNDERLINE CONTEXT CLUE 1 1

2 2

3 3

4 4

5 5

Name: ____________________________________ Date: _____________ Period: _____

Roots: List #10 Instructions: Write the definition of each teacher example word. Use the sentences and context clues to help you. Highlight each root definition mentioned. You will lose credit if you

do not mention root definitions in your word definitions. ROOT DEFINITION TEACHER EXAMPLE SENTENCE

SYM TOGETHER symbiotic Define:

The symbiotic species could not survive without each other.

UN NOT unearned Define:

Unearned income must be reported to the Internal Revenue Service.

ARCHY GOVERNMENT monarchy Define:

England is, or once was, ruled by a monarchy.

ARD ALWAYS dullard Define:

The dullard was always boring everyone to tears.

CIDE KILL patricide Define:

In killing his father, Oedipus was guilty of patricide.

ICIAN SPECIALIST electrician Define:

We had an electrician work on your lights during the black out.

ITIS INFLAMMATION dermatitis Define:

The dermatitis on his skin was painful and unpleasant.

BELL WAR belligerent Define:

Belligerent nations gain nothing from their many wars.

CAP TAKE captives Define:

The hostile island tribe captured captives.

CISE CUT incised Define:

The design was incised in to the tree and the home owner was angry.

Instructions: Write FIVE more words, different than mine, using the roots in this list and highlight the root. Then, write a sentence that contains context clues. Underline the context clue in each sentence you create. Use the above sentences as examples.

Student Word Student Created Sentence

1 1

2 2

3 3

4 4

5 5