the following is a list of roots for english vocabulary ... · the list is displayed so that the...
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ROOTS
The following is a list of roots for English vocabulary. The list is displayed so that the root with its
definition is shown first, then the source of the root (Latin, Greek, etc.) with the source word's definition,
and then last is an example of the root as used in a word and the word's definition. The sample words are
linked to additional words with the same root.
DAY#/ROOT NOTES
1. act, ag: do, act, drive
a. Latin, agere: to drive, lead, act, do
b. active (adjective): moving about
2. am, ami: love, like
a. Latin, amare: to love
b. amorous (adjective): loving
3. anim: mind, life, spirit, anger
a. Latin, animus: spirit
b. animal (noun): a living creature
4. annu, enni: yearly
a. Latin, annuus: yearly
b. annual (adjective): yearly
5. auc, aug, aut: to originate, to increase
a. Latin, augere: to originate, increase
b. augment (verb): to increase, to add to
6. aud, audit, aur: hear
a. Latin, audire: to hear
b. audible (adjective): can be heard
7. bene, ben: good, well, gentle
a. Latin, bene: good
b. benign (adjective): harmless, mild,
gentle
8. bio, bi: life
a. Greek, bios: life
b. biography (noun): a book written
about a person's life
9. bibli, biblio: book
a. Greek, biblion: book
b. bibliophile (noun): a person who likes
or collects books
10. brev: short
a. Latin, brevis: short
b. abbreviate (verb): to shorten
11. cad, cap, cas, ceiv, cept, cid: to take, to
seize, to hold
a. Latin, capere: to seize
b. receive (verb): to take in, to acquire
12. ceas, cede, ceed, cess: go, yield
a. Latin, cedere: to go
b. exceed (verb): to go beyond a limit, to
be greater than
13. chron: time
a. Greek, khronos: time
b. chronological (adjective): arranged in
order of time or sequence
14. clam, claim: shout
a. Latin, clamare: to call out, shout
b. clamor (verb): to make noise
15. cogn, gnos: know to know
a. Latin, cognoscere: to know
b. recognize (verb): to know, to identify
16. corp: body
a. Latin, corpus: body
b. corporate (adjective): formed into a
body or association, united in one
group
17. cre, cresc, cret: grow
a. Latin, crescere: to grow
b. create (verb): to originate, to produce
through imagination
18. cred: trust, believe
a. Latin, credere: to believe
b. incredible (adjective): unbelievable
19. cour, cur, curr, curs: run, course
a. Latin, currere: run
b. occur (verb): to happen, to come to
mind
20. dic, dict, dit: say, speak
a. Latin, dicere: to say
b. indicate (verb): to show, to point out
21. doc, doct: teach, prove
a. Latin, docere: to teach
b. docile (adjective): obedient, easily
taught
22. dog, dox: thought, idea
a. Greek, dokein: seem, think
b. dogma (noun): an established opinion
23. dec, dign: suitable
a. Latin, decere: to be suitable
b. decent (adjective): conforming to
standards, suitable, good
24. duc, duct**: lead
a. Latin, ducere: to draw or lead
b. conduct (verb): to lead or guide
(noun) - a person's behavior
c. ** ducere is one of the most prolific
sources of English words
25. ev, et: time, age
a. Latin, aevum: lifetime
b. medieval (adjective): related to the
Middle Ages (500 - 1500 AD)
26. fac, fact, fec, fic, fas, fea: make do, do
a. Latin, facere - make, do
b. difficult (noun): hard to do,
troublesome
27. fer: bear, carry
a. Latin, ferre: bear, carry
b. infer (verb): to come to a conclusion
from looking at facts, to guess
28. fict, feign, fain: shape, make, fashion
a. Latin, fingere: shape, make
b. fiction (noun): something produced
from imagination, an invented story
29. fid: belief, faith
a. Latin, fidere: to trust
b. confide (verb): to trust, to trust
another person with a secret
30. fig: shape, form
a. Latin, figura: form, shape, figure
b. figurem (noun): shape, pattern,
drawing
(verb) - decide, plan, decipher
31. flu, fluct, flux: flow
a. Latin, fluere: to flow
b. fluid (adjective): capable of flowing,
a smooth easy style
(noun) - a liquid
32. form: shape
a. Latin, forma: beauty, shape, form
b. format (noun): the shape and size of
something
33. fract, frag, frai: break
a. Latin, frangere: to break
b. frail (adjective): easily broken, not
strong, weak
34. gen, gin: to give birth, kind
a. Greek, genus: birth
b. generate (verb): to produce, to create
35. geo: earth
a. Greek, ge: earth
b. geography (noun): a science that
describes the earth's surface
36. gor: to gather, to bring together
a. Greek, ageirin: to gather
b. category (noun): a class or set in
which a thing is placed
37. grad, gress, gree: step, go, move
a. Latin, gradus: step
b. degree (noun): a step or stage in a
process
38. graph, graf: write, draw
a. Greek, graphein: write, scratch,
carve
b. graphic (adjective): written, drawn,
vividly shown
39. her, hes: to stick
a. Latin, haerere: to stick
b. adhere (verb): to stick
40. jac, ject, jet: to throw
a. Latin, jacere: to throw, to lie
b. reject (verb): to throw out, unwilling
to accept
41. jug, junct, just: to join
a. Latin, jungere: to join
b. junction (noun): a place at which two
things join
42. lex, leag, leg: law
a. Latin, lex: law
b. legal (adjective): based on law
43. lect, leg, lig: choose, gather, select, read
a. Latin, legere: to choose
b. collect (verb): to gather, to bring
together
44. loc: place, area
a. Latin, locare: to place
b. location (noun): a place, a position
occupied
45. log: say, speech, word, reason, study
a. Greek, logos: speech, word, reason
b. logic (noun): the study of reason,
reasoning
46. luc, lum, lust: light
a. Latin, lucare: shine
b. Latin, lumen: light
c. Latin, lustrare: light-up
d. translucent (adjective): permitting
some light to come through
47. man: hand, make, do
a. Latin, manus: hand
b. manage (verb): to handle with skill, to
be able to do
48. mem: recall, remember
a. Latin, memor: mindful
b. memory (noun): the ability to recall or
to bring to mind
49. ment: mind
a. Latin, mens: mind
b. mental (adjective): related to the mind
50. min: little, small
a. Latin, minuere: to lessen
b. minor (adjective): less important,
lesser
51. mit, miss: send
a. Latin, mittere: put, send
b. admit (verb): to accept, to allow entry
52. mob, mov, mot: move
a. Latin, movere: move
b. motion (noun): act of moving, action
53. nasc, nat, gnant, nai: to be born
a. Latin, nasci to be born
b. nascent (adjective) - just born
54. nom, nym: name
a. Latin, nomen: name
b. nominate (verb): to name for office
55. nov: new
a. latin, novus: new
b. novice (noun): a beginner or
newcomer
56. oper: work
a. Latin, opus: work
b. operate (verb): to work, to perform
57. pat, pass: feel, suffer
a. Latin, pati: suffer
b. passion (noun): a strong feeling or
emotion
58. path: feel
a. Greek, pathos: feeling
b. sympathy (noun): sharing another
person's feelings
59. ped: foot
a. Latin, pes: foot
b. impede (verb): to hinder, to slow
down
60. pod: foot
a. Greek, pous: foot
b. podium (noun): a platform, an area
raised above the surrounding ground
61. pel, puls: drive, push
a. Latin, pellere: to drive, push, beat
b. repel (verb): to drive away or push
back
62. pend, pond: to hang, weigh
a. Latin, pendere: to hang, to weigh
b. append (verb): to add or correct
63. phan, phas, phen, fan, phant, fant: show,
make visible
a. Greek, phainein: show
b. phantom (noun): something seen but
having no physical existence, a
ghost
64. phil: love
a. Greek, philos: loving
b. philosopher (noun): a person who
seeks (loves) wisdom
65. phon: sound
a. Greek, phone: voice, sound
b. phonetic (adjective): related to speech
sounds
66. pict: paint, show, draw
a. Latin, pingere: to paint
b. picture (verb): to paint or draw
67. port: carry
a. Latin, portare: carry
b. import (verb): to bring in from a
foreign country
68. pli, ply: fold
a. Latin, plicare: fold
b. reply (verb): to respond, to answer
69. pon, pos: put, place
a. Latin, ponere: to lay down, put,
place
b. postpone (verb): to put off to a later
time
70. psych: mind
a. Greek, psukhe: soul, spirit
b. psychology (noun): study of how the
mind works
71. quir, quis, quest, quer: seek, ask
a. Latin, quaerere: seek, ask
b. query (verb): to ask questions
72. rupt: break
a. Latin, rumpere: break
b. rupture (verb): to break or burst
73. sci, scio: to know
a. Latin, scire: to know
b. conscious (adjective): aware, having
knowledge of oneself
74. scrib, scrip: write
a. Latin, scribere: to write
b. script (noun): handwriting, something
written
75. sent, sens: feel, think
a. Latin, sentire: feel
b. sentiment (noun): a thought prompted
by feeling
76. sequ, secut, sue: follow
a. Latin, sequi: to follow
b. sequence (noun): a continuous series
77. sist: to withstand, make up
a. Latin, sistere: to make a stand
b. insist (verb): to be firm about
something needed, to demand
78. soci: to join, companions
a. Latin, sociare, socius: to join, a
companion
b. sociable (adjective): inclined to seek
friendship, companionship
79. sol: alone
a. Latin, solus: alone, single
b. solitary (adjective): being alone
80. solv, solu, solut: loosen, explain
a. Latin, solvere: too loosen, release
b. solve (verb): to find an answer
81. spec, spi, spic, spect: look
a. Latin, specere: look, look at
b. spectator (noun): a person who
watches
82. spir: breath, soul
a. Latin, spirare: breathe
b. respiration (noun): breathing
83. stab, stat: stand
a. Latin, stare: to stand
b. stature (noun) - height of a standing
body, importance of position
84. strain, strict, string, stige: bind, pull
a. Latin, stringere: to bind or pull tight
b. constrict (verb) - to squeeze, to make
narrow
85. stru, struct, stroy: build
a. Latin, struere: to build
b. destroy (verb): to ruin, to pull down
86. tact, tang, tig, ting: touch
a. Latin, tangere: to touch
b. tactile (adjective): related to the sense
of touch
87. tele: far away
a. Greek, telos: end
b. telepathy (noun): communication
from one mind to another without
verbal or written communication
88. tend, tens: stretch
a. Latin, tendere: to stretch
b. contend (verb): to strive or reach for,
to argue
89. tain, ten, tent, tin: hold, keep, have
a. Latin, tenere: to hold
b. retain (verb): to keep, to hold in place
90. term: end, boundary, limit
a. Latin, terminusm: limit, boundary
b. exterminate (verb): to kill off, to get
rid of
91. terr: earth
a. Latin, terra: earth
b. territory (noun): area of land
92. test: see, witness
a. Latin, testis: witness
b. attest (verb): to provide proof, to say
something is true
93. therm: heat
a. Greek, therme: heat
b. thermometer (noun): a device for
measuring heat
94. tor, tors, tort: twist
a. Latin, torquere: twist
b. torsion (noun): twisting of the body
95. tract, trai, treat: pull, draw
a. Latin, trahere: pull
b. attract (verb): to draw toward, to
arouse interest
96. uni: one
a. Latin, unus: one
b. unite (verb): to make one, to join
together
97. vac: empty
a. Latin, vacare: to be empty
b. vacant (adjective): empty, not
occupied
98. ven, vent: come
a. Latin, venire: to come
b. convene (verb): to assemble, to come
together
99. ver: true
a. Latin, venus: true
b. verify (verb): to confirm that
something is true
100. verb, verv: word
a. Latin, verbum: word
b. verbalize (verb): to express in words,
to put into words
101. vers, vert: turn,change
a. Latin, versare: to turn
b. versatile (adjective): capable of
changing or adapting, useful
102. vid, vie, vis: see
a. Latin, videre: to see; Latin, videre:
to separate
b. visible (adjective): able to be seen
c. divide (verb): to separate
103. vit, viv: live
a. Latin, vivere: to live
b. vital (adjective) - necessary for life
104. voc, voke: call
a. Latin, vocare: call, voice
b. vocal (adjective): spoken or uttered
by the voice
105. volv, volt, vol: roll, turn
a. Latin, volvere: to roll, turn
b. revolve (verb): to turn around
PREFIXES
Prefixes and suffixes were originally words themselves but they are now groups of letters added to words or to roots to create new
words. Prefixes [pre (before) + fix (fasten) = fasten before] are groups of letters placed before words or roots. Prefixes modify or
extend the meanings of words and roots. Following is a list of commonly used prefixes and sample vocabulary.
DAY#/PREFIX NOTES
1. a-, ac-, ad-, af-, ag-, al-, an-, ap-, as-, at- to, toward, near,
in addition to
a. aside (adverb): to or toward the side
i. a + side
b. accompany (verb): to go with someone as a
companion
i. ac + com + pan + y
c. adjust (verb): to correct, to move closer to a
correct position
i. ad + just
d. affix (verb): to attach to something, to fasten
i. af + fix
e. aggression (noun): hostile behavior towards
someone or something
i. ag + gress + ion
f. allocate (verb): to distribute to specific people or
for specific purposes
i. al + loc + ate
g. annihilate (verb): to destroy
i. an + nihil + ate
h. associate (verb): to join with
i. as + soci + ate
i. attend (verb): to look after, to go to
i. at + tend
2. a-, an- not, without
a. apolitical (adjective): without interest in politics
i. a + polit + ic + al
b. anemia (noun): the condition (disease) of not
having enough red blood cells
i. an + em + ia
3. ab-, abs- away from, off
a. abrupt (adjective): unexpected change
i. ab + rupt
b. absolve (verb): to be set free from one's actions or
obligations
i. ab + solve
4. ante- before
a. anterior (adjective): before or near the front
i. ante + rior
5. anti- against
a. antipathy (noun): dislike, opposite feeling
i. anti + path + y
6. auto- self
a. automotive (adjective): related to self-propelled
machines
i. auto + mot + ive
7. bi- two
a. biped (noun): a two-footed animal
i. bi + ped
b. biennial (adjective): happening every two years bi
+ enni + al
8. cat-, cata-, cath- down, with
a. category (noun): a class or set to which a thing
belongs
i. cate + gor + y
b. catalogue (noun): a book or pamphlet that lists
and describes
i. cata + log + ue
c. catheter (noun): a medical device used to transfer
fluids cath +eter
9. circum- around
a. circumvent (verb): to manage to get around a
situation
i. circum + vent
10. co-, cog-, col-, com-, con-, cor together, with
a. cohesiveness (noun): the ability to stick together
i. co + hes + ive + ness
b. cognate (adjective): related, similar in nature
i. cog + nate
c. collaborate (verb): to work together
i. col + lab + or + ate
d. commitment (noun): to entrust, to put into a place
i. com + mit + ment
e. convenient (adjective): handy, nearby
i. con + veni + ent
f. correct (verb): to set right, to be right
i. cor + rect
11. contra- against, opposite
a. contradict (verb) to state the opposite
i. contra + dict
12. de- to do the opposite, to take away from
a. decrease (verb): to grow smaller, to become less
i. de + cre + ase
13. di-, dif-, dis- apart, separate, two, opposite, not
a. divide (verb): to separate into two or more parts
i. di + vide
b. differ (verb): to be unlike
i. dif + fer
14. dis- not, opposite of, exclude
a. distrust (verb): to have no confidence or trust
i. dis + trust
15. e-, ex- out, out of, from
a. emit (verb) to send out
i. e + mit
b. expel (verb): to force out ex + pel
16. en-, em- put into
a. enamor (verb): to cause to love, to "put" someone
"into" love
i. en + am + + or
b. empower (verb): to give power, to put into power
em + pow + er
17. epi-, upon, beside, over
a. epilogue (noun): the concluding section of a play
or literary work
i. epi + logue
18. extra- beyond
a. extraordinary (adjective): going beyond normal
i. extra + ordin + ary
19. I
20. il-, im-, in-, ir, not, in
a. illegible (adjective): cannot be read
i. il + leg + ible
b. imposter (noun): someone who poses as someone
else
i. im + post + er
c. inaction (noun): lack of motion, idle
i. in + act + ion
d. irresolute (adjective): uncertain about hot to act,
undecided, not having a solution
i. ir + re + solute
21. in-, im-, il- in, into
a. instead (adverb): in place of, an alternative
i. in + stead
b. import (verb): to bring into a country from another
country
i. im + port
22. inter- between, among
a. interject (verb): to throw something (usually a
comment) between other things
i. inter + ject
23. intro- into
a. introspection (noun): to look into one's own
thoughts and feelings
i. intro + spect + ion
24. mal- bad
a. malfunction (noun): when something does not
work properly
i. mal + funct + ion
25. mis- wrong
a. misconduct (noun): wrong doing, bad behavior
i. mis + con + duct
26. mono- one
a. monologue (noun): a dramatic performance or
speech given by one actor
i. mono + logue
27. multi- many
a. multiply (verb): to increase in number
i. multi + ply
28. non- not, no
a. nonsense (noun): something that has no meaning
or makes no sense
i. non + sense
29. ob-, oc-, of-, op- toward, against, in the way
a. obtain (verb): to gain or get, to get a hold of
i. ob + tain
b. occur (verb): to happen, to come to mind
i. oc + cur
c. offer (verb): to attempt to give, to propose, to try
to hand out
i. of + fer
d. oppose (verb): to be against, to stand in the way of
something
i. op + pose
30. over- excessive, above
a. overwork (verb): to have too much work
i. over + work
31. para- beside
a. paradox (noun): a statement that seems true and
contradictory at the same time
i. para + dox
32. per- through
a. persecute (verb): to go after, to pursue
i. per + secute
33. post- after
a. postpone (verb): to put off to a later time, to delay
i. post + pone
34. pre- before
a. precede (verb): to go before, to come in front of
i. pre + cede
35. pro- for, foward
a. propel (verb): to push forward
i. pro + pel
36. re- back, again
a. readmit (verb): to allow in again
i. re + ad + mit
37. retro- backward
a. retrospect (noun) to look back at past events
i. retro + spect
38. se- apart, move away from
a. secede (verb): to withdraw from an organization
i. se + cede
39. semi- half
a. semiannual (adjective): occurring twice a year
i. semi + annu + al
40. sub-, suc-, suf-, sup-, sur-, sus under, beneath, near, from
below, secretly, above, up
a. submarine (adjective): underwater
i. sub + mar + ine
b. succeed (verb): to do well, to come after
i. suc + ceed
c. suffice (verb): to be enough
i. suf + fice
d. support (verb): to hold up, too keep up
i. sup + port
e. survive (verb): to live, to live through something,
to exist
i. sur + vive
f. sustain (verb): to keep up, to hold up,
i. sus + tain
41. super- over, above
a. superimpose (verb): to place something on top of
something else
i. super + im + pose
42. syn-, sym- together, at the same time
a. synchronous (adjective): happening at the same
time
i. syn + chron + ous
b. sympathy (noun): sharing another person's
feelings, compassion
i. sym + path + y
43. trans- across, beyond, change
a. transform (verb): to change shape
i. trans + form
44. tri- three
a. tripod (noun): a three-legged stand
i. tri + pod
45. un- not, against, opposite
a. unceasing (adjective): never ending, continuous
i. un + ceas + ing
46. uni- one
a. uniform (adjective): having the same form or
consistency
b. uni + form
SUFFIXES
Suffixes are groups of letters attached to the ends of roots, words, and word groups. Suffixes serve a grammatical function. A
suffix can indicate what part of speech (noun, verb, adjective, adverb) the word belongs to. Suffixes can also change and extend the
meaning. The following suffixes are grouped beneath the grammatical function they perform.
NOUNS
Nouns perform the function of naming. Nouns name persons, places animals or things, as well as groups, ideas and qualities. In a
sentence, nouns can be subjects, objects, or appositives.
DAY#/SUFFIX NOTES
1. -acy, -cy
a. Noun: state or quality
i. privacy: the state of being alone
1. priv + acy
ii. infancy: the state of being a baby or young
child
1. in + fan + cy
2. -age
a. Noun: activity, or result of action
i. courage : having the spirit to overcome
fear
1. cour + age
3. -al ,el, ul
a. Noun: action, result of action
i. referral : the action of directing a person
to another place, person or thing
1. re + ferr + al
4. -an
a. Noun: person
i. artisan : a craftsperson
1. arti + san
5. -ance, -ence
a. Noun: action, state, quality or process
i. resistance : the action of opposing
something
1. re + sist + ance
ii. independence: the state of not being under
the control of others, free, self-governing
1. in + de + pend + ence
6. -ancy, -ency
a. Noun: state, quality or capacity
i. vacancy : an empty room or position
1. vac + ancy
ii. agency: the capacity to exert power or
influence, a position or person that
performs a function
1. ag + ency
7. -ant, -ent
a. Noun: an agent, something that performs the
action
i. disinfectant : an agent that destroys germs,
somthing that cleans
1. dis + in + fect + ant
ii. dependent: a thing supported by another, a
thing determined by another
1. de + pend + ent
8. -ate
a. Noun: state, office, fuction
i. candidate : a person nominated for an
office or position
1. candid + ate
9. -ation
a. Noun: action, resulting state
i. specialization : the result of being
distinguished by one quality or ability
1. spec + ial + iz + ation
10. -dom
a. Noun: place, state of being
i. wisdom : possessing knowledge
1. wis + dom
11. -er, -or
a. Noun: person or thing that does something
i. porter : a person who carries things
1. port + er
ii. collector: a person who collects or gathers
things
1. col + lect + or
12. -ful
a. Noun: an amount or quanity that fills
i. mouthful : an amount that fills the mouth
1. mouth + ful
13. -ian, an
a. Noun: related to, one that is
i. pedestrian : a person who walks
1. ped + estr + ian
ii. human: a person
1. hum + an
14. -ia
a. Noun: names, diseases
i. phobia : an illogical fear of something
1. phob + ia
15. -iatry
a. Noun: art of healing
i. psychiatry : branch of medicine that deals
with the mind and emotions
1. psych + iatry
16. -ic, ics
a. Noun: related to the arts and sciences
i. arithmetic : a branch of math that usually
deals with non-negative numbers
1. arithm + et + ic
ii. economics: the social science related to
studying business
1. eco + nom + ics
17. -ice
a. Noun: act
i. malice : the desire to do evil
1. mal + ice
18. -ing
a. Noun: material made for, activity, result of an
activity
i. flooring : a material made for floors
1. floor + ing
ii. swimming: the activity of swimming or
moving through water
1. swim(m) + ing
iii. building: the result of making a structure
1. build + ing
19. -ion
a. Noun: condition or action
i. abduction : the action of carrying someone
away by force
1. ab + duct + ion
20. -ism
a. Noun: doctrine, belief, action or conduct
i. formalism : a belief in sticking to
prescribed forms or artistic styles
1. form + al + ism
21. -ist
a. Noun: person or member
i. podiatrist : a foot doctor
1. pod + iatr + ist
22. -ite
a. Noun: product or part
i. graphite : a black material used in making
pencils
1. graph + ite
23. -ity, ty
a. Noun: state or quality
i. lucidity : clear thinking
1. luc + id + ity
ii. novelty: something new or unusual
1. nov + el + ty
24. -ive
a. Noun: condition
i. native : a person born in a specific place
1. nat + ive
25. -ment
a. Noun: condition or result
i. document : an official paper usually
showing proof or evidence of something
1. docu + ment
26. -ness
a. Noun: state, condition, quality
i. kindness : the quality of being kind or nice
1. kind + ness
27. -or
a. Noun: condition or activity
i. valor : bravery, courage
1. val + or
28. -ory
a. Noun: place for, serves for
i. territory : an area around a place
1. territ + ory
29. -ship
a. Noun: status, condition
i. relationship : the state of being related or
connected to something or someone
1. re + lat + ion + ship
30. -ure
a. Noun: act, condition, process, function
i. exposure : the condition of being exposed
or unprotected
1. pos + ure
31. -y
a. Noun: state, condition, result of an activity
i. society : companionship
1. soci + et + y
ii. victory: the result of winning something
1. vict + or + y