LATIN ROOTS AND DERIVATIVES
APPROACH
The finest words in the world are only vain sounds if you cannot comprehend them.
- ANATOLE FRANCH
Be prepared to find Latin derivatives somewhat more difficult than the Greek because
meanings may be less apparent and less sharply defined. In general, Greek roots provide
keys and Latin roots clues to meaning. You have now had experience in recognizing word
elements, however, an advantage you did not have in your approach to Greek roots a few
weeks ago. Keep in mind that the derivatives of a single Latin root may have taken many
directions and that some of them may have gone a long way, but that each is traceable to and
influenced by the original root. The range of forms and meanings, confusing at first, can add
immeasurably to our ability to communicate effectively.
Prefixes: Memorize the meanings of the Latin prefixes below before beginning the study of
roots. Make no attempt to list as yet words in which these prefixes appear. Instead, make it your
practice to combine some of them each day with the roots of the lesson.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
1
Prepositional and
Adverbial Prefixes
a-, ab-, absad- [ac-, af-, ag-, al-, an-,
am-, ap-, ar-, as-] 1
ambi-, ambante- (rarely anti-)
circumcon- [co-, col-, com-, cor-]
contra-, controdedis- [dif-, di-]
e-, ex- [ef-]
extrain- [il-, im-, ir-, en-, em-]
Meaning
Example
from; away
to; toward; near; very
avert; absent
admit; annex
both; around; on both sides
before
around; about
together; with; very
against
down; from; away; very
apart; in different directions;
not; very
out of; from; very
outside of
in; within; into; on; not
ambidextrous; ambient
antecedent; anticipate
circumference
convene; collect
contradict
descend; detract
disperse; diffuse; digress
exit; exclude
extraordinary
enclose; immeasurable
The following prefixes sometimes serve merely as intensives: ad• (adept); con- (commotion); de- (declaim); dis- (disannul); ex(efficient); ob- (obdurate); per- (perfect); pre- (pre-eminent).
The development of this force from the original meanings can be traced. For example:
•
con -- together; altogether; completely; extremely
•
per -- through; through and through; extremely
•
dis -- apart; in different directions; in all directions; in every way; completely
•
ex -- out; out and out; absolutely (Compare our outnumber; outdo.)
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
1
Prepositional and
Adverbial Prefixes
infrainter- [intel-]
intra-, introjuxtaob- [o-, oc-, of-, op-]
per- [pel-]
postprepreterpro- [prod-, por-]
re-, redretrosesub- [suc-, suf-, sug-,
sum-, sup-, sur-, sus-] 1
subtersupersupratrans-, traultra-
Meaning
Example
beneath; below
between; among
within
near; next
against; toward; to; very
through; badly; very
after; behind; later
before; very
past; beyond
before; instead of; on behalf of
back; again; anew
backward
apart; aside
under; below; up from below
infrared
interscholastic
intramural
juxtaposition
object; oppose
perennial; perfidy
postscript
premeditate
preternatural
project; pronoun; protect
revise
retroactive
secede
submarine
secretly; beneath
above; over; more than
above, upon; more than
across; beyond; through
beyond; excessively
subterfuge
superabundant
supragovernmental
transcontinental
ultramodern
In words derived from Latin through French, the prefix sur is from super, No. 28 above.
LESSON I
Root
voc, vok
dic, dict
dica, dicat
duc, duct
loqu, locut
loc, locat
garrul
equ 1
Meaning
voice; call
say; speak; assert
proclaim; set apart
lead
speak
place
chatter; talk
equal; fair
Prefix
ben-, bonmalsoli-, sol- 2
magn- 3
Meaning
good; well
bad; ill
alone; only
great; large
EXERCISE
1. vocal
2. predict
3. dedicate
4. introduce
5. loquacious
6. location
7. garrulous
8. equality
9. benediction
10. benign 4
11. malediction
12. soliloquy
13. magniloquence
14. equity
15. iniquity5
Do not list here derivatives of another equ, meaning horse.
Another sol, in a later lesson, means sun.
3
Magnet and magnesium are not from Prefix magn-.
4
The gn in such words as malign or benignant is a shortening of gen, meaning kind, nature.
5
After a prefix an e or an a in a root frequently becomes an i (equity; iniquity).
1
2
16. maladroit
17. revoke
18. benevolence
19. dictatorial
20. malaise
LESSON II
Root
son
verb
lingu
langu 1
ver
vor
vir 2
virtu
Meaning
sound
word
language; tongue
faint; weary
truth
eat
man
strength; virtue
Prefix
omnimultipaucilongbrev- [brief] 3
Meaning
all
many
few
long
short
EXERCISE
1. supersonic
2. verbal
3. lingual
4. languid
5. veracity
6. voracity
7. virile
8. virtuoso 4
9. omnivorous
10. multilingual
11. paucity
12. elongate
13. brevity
14. verity
15. verbose
16. languish
17. pauper
18. abbreviate
19. longevity
20. omnipotent
Exception: The word language comes from lingu, not langu.
Do not confuse derivatives with those of viru, meaning poison, or with those of virid, meaning green.
3
Some derivatives of Latin roots come into English directly, others indirectly, through the French, with spellings
altered. French forms of roots will appear in brackets.
4
Let a wide range of meanings among derivatives of one root challenge your ingenuity. Reason out the stages by
which meanings developed. A diagram is helpful. The meaning of virtuoso seems to have little in common with that
of the root vir. To establish the relationship:
vir – man: triumvirate (three), decemvirate (ten)
manliness: virility ; virile
courage, strength, effect: virtual
any admirable quality, excellence: virtue
skill, artistry: virtuosity ; virtuoso
1
2
LESSON III
Root
corpor
carn
sanguine, sangui
cord
capit, cipit
cap, cip, capt, cept
[ceive, ceipt]
ped
manu
mand, mend
digit
dent 1
Meaning
body
flesh
blood
heart
head
take
foot
hand
put in hands of;
entrust; order
finger; toe
tooth
EXERCISE
1. corporation
2. carnivorous
3. consanguinity
4. cordial
5. capital†
6. reception
7. incipient
8. multiped
9. manual
10. mandate
11. digital
12. dentate
13. reincarnation
14. expedite‡
15. corporal†
16. sangria
17. pedestal
18. incarnate
19. capricious
20. recapitulate
Do not mistake for derivatives of dent those words in which the suffix -ent is added to a root ending in d, as in
accident, confident.
† In both Exercises and Review Lessons, this symbol indicates words having an unusual range of meanings.
‡
From here on in Exercises and Review Lessons, this symbol marks words whose meanings seem remote from that
of their roots.
1
LESSON V
Root
aur
ocul
vid, vis
divid, divis
aud, audit 1
gust
ger, gest
palp
tang, ting, tag, tig, tact
tac, tic
teg, tect
Prefix
aur- 2
argentferrplumb-
Meaning
ear
eye
see
separate
hear
taste
bear; carry
feel; touch
touch
silent
cover
Meaning
gold
silver
iron
lead
Suffix
-fer
-ferous
Meaning
bear, carry
produce
EXERCISE
1. aural
2. oculist
3. invisible
4. indivisible
5. expect 3
6. audible
7. disgust
8. ingest
9. impalpable
10. tangible
11. tacit
12. detective
13. aureate
14. argent
15. ferriferous
16. palpate
17. palpitate
18. taciturn
The words audacious and audacity are from another root, meaning dare.
Aura comes from a third aur, meaning air, breeze.
3
A root beginning with s drops the s after the prefix ex (Ex + spect becomes expect).
1
2
19. aura
20. plumb line
21. plumbery
LESSON VI
Root
sens, sent
cern, cert, cret
crim, crimin
sci
sap, sip
sag
fa, fat, fess 1
far
fatu
fac, fact, fect, -fic, -fy
fing, fig, fict
fig, fix, -fy
simil, simul, sembl 2
Meaning
feel; be aware
sift; separate; distinguish; decide
judgment; accusation; crime
know
taste; discern; be wise
shrewd; wise
speak
divine law
foolish
do; make; cause
form; shape; invent; imagine
fasten; pierce
together; likeness; pretense
Prefix
quasinon-, ne(rarely neg-)
Meaning
as if; seemingly
not
EXERCISE
1. sensitive
2. discern
3. discriminate
4. omniscient
5. insipid
6. sagacious
7. affable
8. nefarious
9. fatuous
10. factory
11. fiction
12. prefix
13. assemble
14. simulate
15. quasihistorical
16. incriminate
17. sage
18. ascertain
19. figment
20. infatuation
From a given root a derivative may take any direction and may develop a meaning apparently little related to that
of other derivatives. Yet each is clearly traceable to the common source and bears a reasonable interpretation of the
root idea. Among the derivatives of fa, for example, an infant can’t speak; an affable person is a speak-to-able
person; fame is what is spoken of one; ineffable beauty is un-speak-out-able or inexpressible beauty; the Fates were
the speakers whose utterances the Romans considered final and unalterable; the Romans called a shrine or temple
where they sought the utterances of the gods a fanum. From this came the word profane (before, or outside of, the
temple; therefore, unholy). The Latin word far meant right in the sight of the gods, and nefarious, therefore, means
unspeakably wicked.
2
When the meanings of roots vary considerably, it is helpful to list derivatives under the respective meanings.
1
LESSON VII
Root
anim
vit, viv
mort 1
mord, mors
morb
mor
dorm
somn
torp
para, par [pair]
par [pair, peer]
Meaning
life; spirit; mind; soul
live
death
bite
illness
custom
sleep
sleep; dream
stupor; numbness
prepare; ward off
equal
Suffix
-parous
Meaning
bearing; producing
EXERCISE
1. magnanimous
2. revivify
3. immortal
4. mordant
5. morbific
6. morality
7. dormant
8. insomnia
9. torpid
10. apparatus
11. parity
12. viviparous
13. animation
14. vitality
15. peer
Distinguish carefully between derivatives of mort, mord, mors, morb, and mor. The word moratorium comes from
still another root, meaning delay.
1
LESSON IX
Root
mir
quer, quest, quir, quis
queri, queru
roga
pet
ora 1
preca
preci
pecu
propr, proper
lucr
fisc
merc
Meaning
wonder
seek; ask
complain
ask
seek; attack
mouth; speech; prayer
pray
price; value
one’s own; private
property; money
one’s own; individual
gain; profit
purse
trade
EXERCISE
1. admire
2. inquisitive
3. querulous
4. interrogate
5. petulant
1
6. oral
7. inexorable
8. imprecation
9. depreciate
10. peculiar
11. appropriate†
12. lucrative
13. fiscal
14. commerce
15. precious
Caution: A Greek root oro, meaning mountain, appears in a few words, such as orogeny.
16. precarious
17. miraculous
18. query
19. mercenary
20. oratory
LESSON X
Root
put
Meaning
cut; prune away; clear up;
think; suppose
reason; relationship
test; prove
loosen; set free
consider; judge
right; justice; oath
judge; decide
believe; trust
deny
faith
league; alliance; bond
teach
doubt
waver
swing
bone
ratio, ration
prob
solv, solute
arbitr
jur, just
judic
cred, credit
nega, negat
fid
feder
doc, doct
dub, dubit
vacill
oscill
oss
Suffix
-ndum, 1 -nda (pl.)
Meaning
to be ___
EXERCISE
1. compute
2. ratiocination
3. probation
4. solution†
5. arbitrate
6. jurisdiction
7. judicial
8. credit
9. negative
10. fidelity
11. docile
12. dubious
13. vacillate
14. oscillate 2
15. osseous
16. rationale
17. incredible
18. doctrine
19. dispute
20. indubitably
Experiment with -ndum, adding it to roots with which it may reasonably be combined. It is a serviceable word
element. Practice with such phrases as “these memoranda are _____,” “this referendum is ____,” to ensure proper
usage of singulars and plurals. Caution: Most words in -nda are neuter plural and require plural verbs and modifiers
(e.g., “These addenda are to be proofread”). Propaganda, an exception, is singular because it was originally used
with a feminine singular noun (e.g., “This propaganda threatens the security of the country”).
2
Do not confuse oscillate with osculate.
1
21. incredulous
LESSON XI
Root
scrib, script
liter
litig
leg, lig, lect 1
leg, lect
leg 2
lig
string, strict [strain, straint]
stingu, stinct
stimul
pung, punct [point]
pugn, pug
Meaning
write
letter
dispute; quarrel; sue
choose; gather
read
law
bind
bind
prick; prick out; quench
goad; rouse
point; prick
fight; fist
EXERCISE
1. inscription
2. literature
3. litigation
4. eligible
5. legible
6. illegal
7. ligature
8. stringent
9. restrict
10. distinct
11. stimulate
12. pungent
13. puncture
14. pugnacious
15. pugilist
16. punctilious
17. inscribe
18. legato
19. literati
20. stimulus
Caution: Delectable
comes from an
unrelated root, lac, lic
meaning entice, as do
delicious, delicate,
and elicit.
2
Can you explain
how the meanings of
read and law
developed from
gather, the meaning
of the original root?
1
LESSON XIII
Root
ambul
grad, gred, gress
migr, migrat
ced, cess
err
vag
1
curr, curs, corr [cours]
cura, cur
fug, fugit
late
lat
later
Suffix
-late, -lation, lative
Meaning
walk
step
move; travel
move; withdraw
stray; wander
wander
run
care
flee
hide
wide
side
Meaning
carry; bear
EXERCISE
1. somnambulist
2. digress
3. migratory
4. recede
5. errant
6. extravagant
7. cursory
8. manicure
9. fugitive
10. latent
11. latitude
12. lateral
13. translate
14. elation
15. superlative
16. transgression
17. recession
18. erratic
19. vagrant
20. fugue
Curr regularly becomes cur at the end of a word as in recur and occur. The double r is retained in other forms like
recurred and occurrence.
1
LESSON XIV
Root
mov, mob, mot
ven, vent 1
sta, stat, stit, sist
sed, sid, sess
cumb, cub
clin, cliv
verg
jace
jaci, ject, jacu
mitt, miss, mise 2
misc, mixt
Meaning
move
come
put in place; cause to stand; stand
sit; settle
lie; recline
lean; incline; slope
tend toward; bend
lie
throw
send; let go
mix
EXERCISE
1. mobility
2. convene
3. resist
4. supersede 3
5. recumbent
6. incline
7. divergent
8. adjacent
9. projectile
10. emissary
11. missile
12. miscellaneous
13. statue
14. stature
15. statute
16. incumbent
17. motile
18. proclivity
19. verge
20. mission
Caution: List derivatives of ven and vent with care. Ven also appears in roots meaning poison (venom), vein
(venous), pardon (venial), and hunt (venison). The words vent and ventilate come from a root meaning wind. The
root meaning come has more derivatives than all these others combined, however.
2
Mitt regularly becomes mit at the end of a word, as in remit and admit. The double t is retained in other forms like
remitted and admittance.
3
Supersede is the only word in the English language ending in -sede. Only three (exceed, proceed, and succeed) end
in -ceed. All other similar words end in -cede (accede, concede, precede) except, of course, derivatives of seed, such
as hayseed.
1
LESSON XV
Root
pend, pens
pend, pens, pond
pend, pens
pand, pans, pass
pati, pass
pon, pos, posit 2
[pound, post]
tend, tens, tent
tenu
tempt, tent
ten, tin, tent [tain]
her, hes
Meaning
hang 1
weigh
pay
spread; extend
suffer; feel; endure; permit
put; place
stretch
thin
try out; test
hold
stick; cling
EXERCISE
1. depend
2. ponderous
3. expensive
4. expansive
5. impassive
6. opponent
7. transpose
8. extensive
9. tenous
10. tentative
11. retentive
12. contain
13. adhere
14. cohesive
15. incoherent
16. pensive
17. impasse
18. preponderate
19. recompense
20. pendant
Trace the probable steps by which pend/pens acquired the meanings of its offshoots.
A few words apparently from this root actually came from a root paus, meaning to bring to rest, to put. Derivatives
of the two roots are so similar in form and meaning that for purposes of vocabulary building they may be listed
together.
1
2