Linguistics The study of the structure and form of words in language or a language, including
inflection, derivation, and the formation of compounds.
INDING YOUR WAY WITH
POETRY
Adjective
A word which describes a noun.
For example, “The yellow table.”
Alliteration
Several words beginning with the
same consonant. For example,
“The silent sea swells.”
Anthology
A collection of passages from
literature, usually poems, in
one book.
Figure of Speech
Language which is not literal but
used for effect.
Imagery
Language which produces pictures
in the mind of a reader
by appealing to the senses.
Literal
Keeping strictly to the original
meaning of a word.
Metaphor
A form of comparison which does
not use
‘like’ or ‘as’. For example, a
poet describes loneliness like this:
“In the night
I am a solitary bellbird, singing
on my own.”
Noun
The name of a person, place or thing.
For example, “The yellow table.”
Rhyme
The repetition of words or syllables
which sound the same:
fl at, bat, chat.
Rhythm
The ‘beat’ ‘like’ ‘as’. “Her hand
claw.”
‘verse’.
Structure
The particular organisation of words
and lines a poet has used in a poem.
Syntax
The way the words are organised in
a sentence in relation to each other.
Verb
An action or ‘doing’ word like smile,
wink, chatter.
Verse
How a poem is divided up.
I remember the last red rose
and that it darkened a little
every day, drawing into itself every = determiner
almost black at the end in its almost = adverb
bright green bottle
on the white sill by the kitchen window,
and the winter weather waning
the garden greening, beyond –
I remember it died, months ago.
The last hard clasp of hands
and the standing together
in the blue winter twilight
with infinite gentleness talking
inconsequentially through
someone’s silent weeping – that too
is over; we scattered long ago
to our afternoon hours
to work and to sleep.
But the night is querulous and full
of arrangements; composing
answers to letters, remembering
obligations, I am held as
at a dull meeting; dry-eyed,
tired-minded, I hear no voices
but the night wind
meddling at the silence
In a great sorrow we are helpless:
children, we trust the pitiless stars
to lead us by the hand; this small
darkness is a shut room.
It is not pain we fear, but triviality.
Lauris Edmond
Images in my head.
Infinite = adjective, without any limit or end.
Inconsequential = adjective, unimportant or insignificant.
Inconsequentially = adverb
Verse 1
Creates in our minds an image of death, an image of things
changing. Adjectives based on colour.
Verse 2
Winter is coming to an end. An image of sadness.
Verse 3
An image of lying in bed. Not relaxing, but thinking about
things over and over again. No peace to sleep
Verse 4
Acceptance – can’t do anything about it. We have to accept
fate – nature.
Legend of Symbols for the
Cognātarium
Symbol Meaning
●
The green bullet lists words that are derived from the same
morpheme, but have variant spelling.
●
The red bullet lists words that are not in fact related to the subject
morpheme, although the reader might assume that they are related.
●
The blue bullet lists “Same as” stems, “See also” stems, and other
commentary on the subject morpheme.
●
The aqua (cyan) bullet lists foreign words that are derived from the
same morpheme.
||
This symbol marks the start of the etymology of the morpheme.
This symbol in the etymology means “from” and indicates the source
of the morpheme. For example “ Gr” means from Greek.
This symbol in the etymology means “to” and indicates words that
arise from the term to the left. For example “L pati patiens” means
that Latin patiens is derived from pati.
This asterisk symbol in the etymology means hypothetical, or not
*
attested. It means that the root is hypothesized based on linguistic
evidence, but that no written record of the stem has been found. All
Indo-European roots are so marked, as we have no written evidence
of the Proto-Indo-European language.
This dagger symbol means the origin is unknown.
†
Glossary for the Cognātarium
Abbreviation
abbrv.
abl.
acc.
adj.
adv.
Afr
Afrik
alt.
Am
AmFr
AmInd
AmSp
Definition
abbreviation
ablative
accusative
adjective
adverb
African
Afrikaans
alternative
American
American French
American Indian
American Spanish
Abbreviation
Anglo-Fr
Anglo-Ind
Anglo-Ir
Anglo-L
Anglo-Norm
Ar
Aramaic
Arm
Assyr
aug.
Austral
Bab
back-form.
Beng
BrazPort
Bret
Brit
Bulg
caus.
Cdn
CdnFr
Celt
Ch.
Chin
Class
colloq.
comb.
comp.
compar.
conj.
Dan
dat.
deriv.
dial.
dim.
Du
dupl
E
e.g.
Definition
Anglo-French
Anglo-Indian
Anglo-Irish
Anglo-Latin
Anglo-Norma
Arabic
Aram
Armenian
Assyrian
augmentative
Australian
Babylonian
back-formation
Bengali
Brazilian Portuguese
Breton
British
Bulgarian
causative
Canadian
Canadian French
Celtic
church
Chinese
classical
colloquial
combination, combining
compound
comparative
conjunction
Danish
dative
derivative, derived
dialectical
diminutive
Dutch
duplicate
English
exempli gratia (for example)
Abbreviation
EFris
Egypt
Engl
equiv.
Esk
esp.
est.
et al.
etc.
Etr
etym.
fem.
fig.
Finn
Fl
fol.
Fr
Frank
freq.
Fris
fut.
Gael
Gaul
gen.
Ger
ger.
Gmc
Goth
Gr
Gr(Ec)
gram.
Haw
Heb
Heb-Aram
Hung
i.e.
Ice
IE
imper.
Definition
East Frisian
Egyptian
English
equivalent
Eskimo
especially
estimated
et alii (and others)
et cetera (and so forth)
Etruscan
etymology
feminine
figuratively
Finnish
Flemish
following entry
French
Frankish
frequentative
Frisian
future
Gaelic
Gaulish
genitive
German
gerund, gerundive
Germanic
Gothic
Classical Greek
Ecclesiastical Greek
grammar
Hawaiian
Classical Hebrew
Hebrew-Aramaic
Hungarian
id est (that is)
Icelandic
Indo-European
imperative
Abbreviation
imperf.
incl.
Ind
indic.
inf.
infl.
intens
interj.
Ir
Iran
irreg.
It
Jpn
Kor
L
L(Ec)
LGr
LGr(Ec)
linguist.
lit.
Lith
LL
LL(Ec)
LME
LowG
LWS
masc.
MDu
ME
Mex
MexSp
MFl
MFr
MGr
MHeb
MHG
MIr
ML
ML(Ec)
Definition
imperfect
including
Indian, Indic
indicative
infinitive
influenced
intenisve
interjection
Irish
Iranian
irregular
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Classical Latin
Ecclesiatical Latin
Late Greek
Ecclesiastical Late Greek
linguistic(s)
literally
Lithuanian
Late Latin
Ecclesiastical Late Latin
Late Middle English
Low German
Late West Saxon
masculine
Middle Dutch
Middle English
Mexican
Mexican Spanish
Middle Flemish
Middle French
Medieval Greek
Medieval Hebrew
Middle High German
Middle Irish
Medieval Latin
Ecclesiastical Medieval Latin
Abbreviation
MLowG
ModE
ModGr
ModHeb
ModL
MScot
N
NAmFr
Netherl
neut.
NGmc
nom.
Norm
NormFr
Norw
NZ
obj.
obs.
occas.
OCelt
ODan
ODu
OE
OFr
OFris
OHG
OIce
OInd
OIr
OIt
OL
OLowFranc
OLowG
ON
OPers
OProv
OPrus
orig.
OS
Definition
Middle Low German
Modern English
Modern Greek
Modern Hebrew
Modern Latin
Middle Scottish
northern
North American French
Netherlands, Netherlandic
neuter
North Germanic
nominative
Norman
Norman French
Norwegian
New Zealand
object, objective
obsolete
occasionally
Old Celtic
Old Danish
Old Dutch
Old English
Old French
Old Frisian
Old High German
Old Icelandic
Old Indic
Old Irish
Old Italian
Old Latin
Old Low Franconian
Old Low German
Old Norse
Old Persian
Old Provençal
Old Prussian
origin, originally
Old Saxon
Abbreviation
Osco-Umb
OSlav
OSp
OSw
OWelsh
PaGer
part.
pass.
perf.
Pers
pers.
PGmc
phr.
PidE
PIE
pl.
pl. n.
poet.
Pol
pop.
Port
poss.
pp.
prec.
prep.
pres.
pret.
priv.
prob.
pron.
Prov
prp.
Prus
pseud.
pt.
redupl.
ref.
refl.
Rom.
Definition
Osco-Umbrian
Old Church Slavonic
Old Spanish
Old Swedish
Old Welsh
Pennsylvania German
participle, participial
passive voice
perfect tense
Persian
person (grammar)
Proto-Germanic
phrase
pidgin English
Proto-Indo-European
plural
plural noun
poetic
Polish
popular
Portuguese
possessive
past participle
preceding entry
preposition
present tense
preterit
privative
probably
pronoun
Provençal
present participle
Prussian
pseudonym
past tense
reduplication, reduplicated
reference, refer
reflexive
Roman
Abbreviation
Russ
SAmSp
Sans
Scand
Scot
Sem
Serb
sing.
sing. n.
SinoJpn
Slav
Sp
sp.
specif.
subj.
subjunc.
superl.
Swed
TalmudHeb
transl.
Turk
ult.
uncert.
v. aux.
var.
vi.
VL
Vulg.
WAfr
WFris
WGmc
WInd
WS
Definition
Russian
South American Spanish
Sanskrit
Scandinavian
Scottish
Semitic
Serbian
singular
singular noun
Sino-Japanese
Slavic, Slavonic
Spanish
spelling, spelled
specifically
subject
subjunctive
superlative
Swedish
Talmudic Hebrew
translated, translation
Turkish
ultimately
uncertain
auxiliary verb
variant, variety
intransitive verb
Vulgar Latin
Vulgate
West African
West Frisian
West Germanic
West Indian
West Saxon
Legend of Symbols for the
Cognātarium
Symbol Meaning
●
The green bullet lists words that are derived from the same
morpheme, but have variant spelling.
●
The red bullet lists words that are not in fact related to the subject
morpheme, although the reader might assume that they are related.
●
The blue bullet lists “Same as” stems, “See also” stems, and other
commentary on the subject morpheme.
●
The aqua (cyan) bullet lists foreign words that are derived from the
same morpheme.
||
This symbol marks the start of the etymology of the morpheme.
Symbol Meaning
This symbol in the etymology means “from” and indicates the source
of the morpheme. For example “ Gr” means from Greek.
This symbol in the etymology means “to” and indicates words that
arise from the term to the left. For example “L pati patiens” means
that Latin patiens is derived from pati.
This asterisk symbol in the etymology means hypothetical, or not
*
attested. It means that the root is hypothesized based on linguistic
evidence, but that no written record of the stem has been found. All
Indo-European roots are so marked, as we have no written evidence
of the Proto-Indo-European language.
This dagger symbol means the origin is unknown.
†
http://www.cognatarium.com/cognatarium/
a– {not, without}: abiotic, abulia, acarpous, acatalectic, achromatic, adactylous,
adamant, adynamia, afebrile, agamete, agamogenesis, ageratum, agnosia,
agnostic, agrapha, ahistoric, amaranth, amaze, amethyst, ametropia, amianthus,
amitosis, amnesia, amoral, amorphous, amusia, amylum, amyotonia, amyotrophic,
aneroid, apathy, aphasia, aphonia, aphotic, aplastic, apnea, apraxia, apterous,
apteryx, apyretic, aseptic, asexual, asphyxiate, aspirin, astatine, asylum,
asymmetrical, asymptote, ataraxia, ataxia, atheist, atom, atonal, azote, azygous
●same as an– || Gr a–, an– : not, without IE *ne– : not
4
aard– {earth}: aardvark, aardwolf || Afrik. Du aarde : earth; akin to Ger erde,
erd– : earth IE *er– : earth, ground
ab– {father}: abba, abbacy, abbatial, abbess, abbey, abbot, Abigail, Abner,
Abraham, Absalom ●Fr. abbé || L Gr Aram abba : father
1
ab– , abs– {indicates removal: off, away from}: abdicate, abduct, aberration, abhor,
ab initio, abject, abjure, ablate, ablative, ablaut, ablution, abnegate, abnormal,
abolish, abomasum, abominate, aborigine, abort, abound, ab ovo, abrade,
abrogate, abrupt, abscess, abscissa, abscond, absent, absolute, absolve, absorb,
abstain, abstemious, abstract, abstruse, absurd, abundant, abuse ●for assimilated
forms see Appendix A ●compare ad– || L ab– : away, off, from off, down
2
2
abl– {to manage, to have skill}: able, ability, disability, memorabilia ●as a suffix,
often –ible or –ibility ●same as habil– || ME OFr hable, habile L habilis :
easily managed, handy habēre (pp. habitum) : to have, to hold freq. habito : to
inhabit, to dwell; habitus : condition, habit, bearing
abs– ●see ab–
2
ac– {point, needle, sharp}: acerate (needle-shaped), acerose, acicula, acid,
acidophilus, aciform, acme, acne ●more at acerb–, acet–, acr–, acu– ●see also
acanth–, acro–, gar– , oxy– || L acuere (pp. acūtum) : to sharpen to a point
acūmen : sharp point; acus : needle; ācer, ācris : sharp, cutting; acerbus : bitter,
harsh; acidus : sharp, sour; ācrimōnia : sharpness, keenness IE *ak– : sharp
3
acanth– {thorn}: acanthoid, acanthus, coelacanth, pyracantha, tragacanth ●see also
ac– || Gr akantha : thorn akē : a point IE *ak– : sharp
acar– {an order of arachnids that includes ticks and mites}: acariasis, acarid,
acaroid, acarology || Gr akari : mite akarēs : tiny, too small to cut a– : not +
keirein : to cut
acerb– {sharp, bitter}: acerb, acerbate, exacerbate ●part of ac– || L acerbus :
bitter, sour acerbare : to make bitter, to aggravate IE *ak– : sharp
acet– {vinegar}: acetabulum, acetaldehyde, acetate, acetic, acetify, acetone,
acetous, acetum, acetyl, acetylene, acetylsalicylic ●part of ac– || L acētum :
vinegar root ac– : sharp, point acus : needle IE *ak– : sharp
acr– {sharp}: acrid, acridine, acriflavine, acrimony, acrolein, acrylic ●part of ac–
|| L ācris, fem. of ācer : sharp, cutting IE *ak– : sharp
acro– {point, extremity, topmost, height}: acrobat, acrocarpous, acrocephaly,
acrogen, acrolein, acrolith, acromegaly, acromion, acronym, acropetal,
acrophobia, acropolis, acrospire, acrostic ●see also ac– || Gr akros : at the point,
end, or top IE *ak– : sharp
act– {to do}: act, action, activate, active, activist, activity, actor, actress, actual,
actuary, actuate, counteract, deactivate, enact, exact (to demand), exact (precise),
hyperactive, inaction, interact, react, reaction, reactionary, redact, retroactive,
surfactant, transaction ●same as ag–, ig– || L actus : a doing or moving agere
(pp. actum) : to do, to set in motion, to drive actio (gen. actiōnis) : action, doing;
actor : doer, driver
actin– {ray}: actinal, actinide, actiniform, actinism, actinium, actinoid, actinology,
actinometer, actinomorphic, actinomycin, actinomycosis, protactinium || Gr
aktis (gen. aktinos) : ray
acu– {needle, sharp}: acuate, acuity, aculeate, acumen, acuminate, acupuncture,
acute ●part of ac– || L acus : needle stem ac– : point, sharp acuēre (pp.
acūtum) : to sharpen to a point; acūmen : sharp point IE *ak– : sharp
ad– {a group consisting of the number given}: monad, duad, dyad, triad, tetrad,
pentad, hexad, hebdomad, heptad, octad, ennead, decade, chiliad, Olympiad ||
Gr & L genitive-forming suffix; as in LL monas : one (gen. monadis)
1
ad– {indicates motion towards or position near: to, towards, at, near}: adage, adapt,
ad astra per aspera, add (→dition–), addict, address, adept, adequate, adhere, ad
hoc, ad infinitum, adit, adjacent, adjective, adjourn, adjunct, adjust, adjutant, adlib, administer, admire, admit, admonish, ad nauseam, adolescent, adopt, adore,
adorn, adrenalin, adsorb, adult, adulterate, advance, advent, adventure, adverb,
adversary, advertise, advise, advocate ●see also Appendix A ●compare ab– ●in
words of Latin origin, ad– assimilates to ac– before c or q (accuse, acquit), af–
before f (affirm), ag– before g (aggregrate), al– before l (alleviate), an– before n
(annul), ap– before p (approve), ar– before r (arrest), as– before s (assimilate), at–
before t (attain), and a– before sc, sp, or st (ascend, aspire, astringent). || L ad–
: to, toward, near
2
2
add– {to give more, to add}: add, addend, addendum, additament, addition,
additional, additive ●comb. of ad– + dition– || L addere (pp. additum) : to give
to, to bring to, to add ad– : to + –dere (in comb.) dare : to give; additio : an
adding, a giving to
2
adel– {noble}: Adelaide, Adelbert, Adele, Adeline ●Adolf ●same as al– , ethel– ||
OHG adal : nobility
2
adelph– {brother}: diadelphous, monadelphous, Philadelphia, polyadelphous ||
Gr adelphos : brother a– (copulative) + delphys : womb
aden– {gland}: adenine, adenitis, adenocarcinoma, adenoid, adenoma, adenovirus
|| Gr adēn : gland
adip– {fat}: adipocere, adipose ||
L adeps (gen. adipis) : fat ult. Gr aleipha : fat
Adon– {lord}: Adonai, Adonia, Adonis ||
: lord
Heb Adonai : my lord Sem adōn, adun
adulter– {to pollute, to defile}: adulterate, adulterer, adulterine, adultery,
unadulterated ●comb. of ad– + altr– || L adulterare : to commit adultery, to
defile, to corrupt ad– : to, toward + alter : other, another
2
aeol– {the wind}: aeolian, Aeolus ||
changeable
Gr Aeolus : god of the winds aiolos quick,
aer– {air}: aerate, aerial, aerobatics, aerobe, aerobic, aerodynamic, aeronautics,
aeronomy, aeroplane, aerosol, aerospace, anaerobic ●unrelated: aerie ●same as
ari– || L āēr : air
aesth– ●see esth–
aft– {behind}: abaft, aft, after, afterward ||
ME afte OE æftan
ag– {to do, to drive}: agency, agenda, agent, agile, agitate, ambage, coagulate,
reagent, stratagem ●cogent, cogitate ●same as act–, ig– ●see also purg– || L
agere : to set in motion, to drive freq. agitare : to drive about, to put in constant
motion
agap– {love}: agapanthus, agape (love), agape (love feast) ||
agapan : to greet with affection, to love
LGr agapē
Gr
agog– {to lead}: anagoge, demagogue, emmenagogue, galactagogue, hypnagogic,
pedagogue, mystagogue, synagogue || Gr agōgos : leader agein : to lead
agon– {contest, struggle}: agon, agonize, agony, antagonist, antagonize,
deuteragonist, protagonist || Gr agōn : assembly, contest agein : to lead •–
agonist Gr agōnistēs : actor agōnizesthai : to contend for a prize agōn
agor– {assembly, place of assembly, to speak in assembly}: agora, agoraphobia,
phantasmagoria ●same as egor– || Gr agoreuein ēgor : to speak in public
agor : marketplace, assembly
agr– {field}: see agri–, agro–
agra– {seizure}: pellagra, podagra ||
Gr agra : seizure
agr(i)– {field, soil, land, property}: agrarian, agrestal, agrestic, agri–, agribusiness,
agriculture ●see also agro– || L ager (gen. agri) field, land agrārius : of land,
of the division of public land; agrestis : of the fields or country, rustic; agricola :
tiller of the fields, farmer; agrīcultura : tilling the fields, agriculture; IE *agro– :
field Gr agros : field
agr(o)– {field}: agriology, agro–, agrobiology, agrochemical, agronomics,
agrostology ●see also agri– || Gr agros : field IE *agro– : field L ager : field
ailur– {cat}: ailuromancy, ailurophile, ailurophobia ||
Gr ailouros : cat
al– ●see ali–, allelo–, allo–, altr– ●see also allax–
1
al– {noble}: Albert, Alice, Alicia, Alison, Alphonse, Alvin ●unrelated: Alfred,
Alan, Allen ●same as adel–, ethel– || OHG adal : nobility
2
al– {to nourish, to nurture, to grow}: coalesce, coalition, alible, altricial, alumnus
●see also alim–, alma–, prol– || L alere : to rear, to feed, to nourish altor (fem.
altrix) : one who nourishes
3
al– {wing}: ala, alar, alary, alate, aliform, aliped, alula ●aileron ||
4
L āla : wing
alb– {white}: alb, albedo, albescent, albinism, albino, album, albumen, albumin,
terra alba ●auburn ●compare negr– || L albus : white album : white color;
albere : to be white
ald–, old– {power, to rule}: Arnold, Donald, Gerald, Harold, herald, Reginald,
Reynold, Ronald ●same as wald– || Gmc root wealdan or waldan to be strong,
to have power, to rule
aleator– {game of dice, game of chance, chance, uncertainty}: aleatoric, aleatory
|| L āleātorius : of gambling āleātor : gambler ālea : chance, game of dice,
dice †
alex– {to defend}: Alexander, alexipharmic, Alexis, phytoalexin ●Alec ||
alexein : to defend
Gr
alg– {pain}: algolagnia, algophobia, analgesia, cardialgia, causalgia, neuralgia,
nostalgia, otalgia || Gr algos : pain
1
alg– {algae}: algae, algicide, algin, alginate, alginic, algology ||
†
2
L alga : seaweed
ali– {other}: alias, alibi, alien, alienate, aliquant, aliquot, aliunde, inter alia ●part of
al– || L alius : other, another, different aliēnus : that which belongs to another
aliēnātio : transference or alientation of property, separation between persons
1
alim– {to feed, to nurture}: aliment, alimentary, alimentation, alimony ●alumnus
●see also al– , alma– || L alere : to nourish, to support alimentum : food,
maintenance alimentārius : relating to food or the distribution of food; alimonia :
nourishment; alumnus (fem. alumna) : a nursling, a foster child
3
alk(al)– {alkali}: alkalescent, alkali, alkalimeter, alkaline, alkaloid, alkalosis,
alkene, alkyd, alkyl || ME alkaly Ar al-qily for al-qili : ashes qalai : to roast in
a pan
allanto– {sausage, sausage-shaped}: allantoic, allantoid, allantois ●see also alli– ||
ModL Gr allantoeidēs : sausage-shaped allas : sausage prob. dial. allē : garlic
Oscan allo : garlicky sausage L ālium or allium : garlic
allax– {to change, other}: morphallaxis, parallax ●see also allo– ||
exchange allassein : to change, to exchange allos : other
Gr allaxis : an
allel– {of one another}: allele, allelomorph, allelopathy, parallel ●see also allo– ||
Gr allēlos : one another allos : other
alli– {garlic}: alliaceous, allicin, allium ●allyl ●see also allanto– ||
: garlic
L allium, ālium
all(o)– {other}: allegory, allergy, allogamy, allograph, allomorph, allonym,
allopathy, allophone, allosaurus, allotropy, hypoallergenic ●part of al– ●see also
allax–, allel– ●compare homeo– || Gr allos : other
1
alma– {nurturing, cherishing, fostering}: Alma, alma mater ●see also al– , alim–
|| L almus (fem. alma) : nourishing, kind alere : to nourish, to support, to rear
3
alopia– {loss of vision, blindness}: hemeralopia, nyctalopia ●see also opia–, op–
|| Gr –alōps : blindness alaos : blind + ōps : eye
alp– {the Alps}: alpenglow, alpenhorn, alpenstock, alpestrine, alpine, Alps ||
Alpes : the Alps
alpha– {the Greek letter alpha: Α}: alpha, alphabet, alphanumeric ||
Sem (as in Heb alef)
2
L
Gr alpha
alt– {high}: altar, altimeter, altitude, alto, altocumulus, contralto, exalt ●see also
haut– ●compare bas– ●Sp. alta || L altus : high altitūdo : height
2
altr– {other}: alter, altercation, alter ego, alternate, alternative, alternator, altruism,
subaltern ●part of al– ●more at adulter– || L alter : other, one of two, the other
altercātio : a dispute; alternare : to one thing then another, to alternate
1
alum– {alum, aluminum}: alum, alumina, aluminiferous, aluminum ●unrelated:
alumnus || L alumen (gen. aluminis) : alum
am– {love, friendship}: Amabel (Mabel), Amanda, amateur, amative, amiable,
amicable, amicus curiae, amity, amoretto, amorous, amour-propre, Amy, enamor,
inamorata, paramour ●enemy, inimical ●Span. amor ●Fr. amour ●It. amore ||
L amare : to love amīcus : friendly, friend; amābilis : amiable, lovable; amor :
love, the object of love
1
am– {ammonia}: amatol, amide (→amid–), amine (→amin–), amitrol, ammine ||
L ammoniacum ammōniakon : gum resin temple of Ammon (Amen) in Libya
where the plants grew
2
am– {both, around}: amphora, amplexicaul, ampule, ampulla, amputate, amputee
●clipped form of ambi– or amph– ●same as an– || L amb, ambi : on both sides,
around & Gr amphi– : around
3
3
amb– ●see ambi–
ambi–, amb– {both, around}: ambage, ambiance, ambidextrous, ambient,
ambiguous, ambition, ambivalent, amboceptor ●more at ambl– ●see also amph–
|| L amb–, ambi– : on both sides, around
ambl– {to go around, to walk}: amble, ambulance, ambulate, ambulatory,
funambulist, perambulator, postamble, preamble, somnambulist ●part of ambi–
|| L ambulare : to go back and forth, to walk about, to go, to travel ambulātor :
one who walks about
ambly– {dull}: amblygonite, amblyopia, Amblypgi ||
ambro– {immortal}: ambrosia, ambrotype ||
brotos : mortal
Gr amblys : dull
Gr ambrotos : immortal a– : not +
ameb– ●see amoeb–
amid– {ammonia compound}: amide, amidogen, amidol, cyanamid(e) ●part of am–
|| (am)monia + ac(id)
2
amin– {ammonia}: amine, amino acid, amino, amphetamine, antihistamine,
dopamine, scopolamine, vitamin ●part of am– || ammonia
2
amnes– {to forget}: amnesia, anamnesis, amnesty, paramnesia ●see also mnem–
|| Gr amnēsia : forgetfulness a– : not + mimnēskein : to remember; akin to
mnasthai : to remember
amnio– {amnion: the membrane holding a fetus}: amniocentesis, amniomancy,
amnion, amniotic || Gr amnion, dim. of amnos : lamb
amoeb–, ameb– {amoeba}: ameba, amebiasis, amebic, amoeba, amoebaean,
amoebocyte || ModL Gr amoibē : change ameibein : to change, to alter
(amoeba “change” by fission) †
ampel– {vine}: ampelopsis ||
ModL Gr ampelos : vine †
amph– {both, around}: amphibian, amphibious, amphitheater ●see also ambi– ||
Gr amphi– : around
ampl– {large, big enough}: ample, amplidyne, amplify, amplitude, preamplifier ||
L amplus : large, spacious, ample amplitūdo : breadth, size; amplificare : to
enlarge
amplex– {to twine around, to wind around}: amplexicaul, amplexus ||
L
amplexus, pp. of amplectari : to twine around am– for ambi– : around, both +
plexus & –plexus (with prefixes) : braided, plaited IE *plek– : to plait, to fold
amygdal– {almond}: amygdala, amygdalaceous,
amygdaloid || L amygdala Gr amygdalē : almond
amygdale,
amygdalin,
amyl– {starch}: amyl, amylaceous, amylase, amylene, amylogen, amylolysis,
amylum || Gr amylon : starch amylon (aleuron) : (meal) not ground at the mill
a– : not + mylē : mill
an– {one}: an, another, any ●a (article) ●same as on– ||
1
1
OE an : one
an– {circle, ring}: anal, annelid, annular, annulet, annulus, anus ||
hence: ring dim. ānulus : finger ring, ring
2
L ānus : anus,
an– {both, around}: ancipital, andante, anfractuous ●clipped form of ambi– ●same
as am– || L ambi– : both, around
3
3
an– {not, without}: anaerobic, analgesia, anarchy, anecdote, anechoic,
anencephaly, anergy, anesthesia, anhedonia, anhydrous, anisometric, anodyne,
anomaly, anonymous, anorexia, anosmia, anoxemia, anoxia, anuran, anuria,
anurous ●same as a–, used before a vowel || Gr a–, an– : not, without IE *ne–
4
: not
ana– {up, upward, back, backward, again, throughout, according to}: Anabaptist,
Anabasis, anabolism, anachronism, anadem, anadromous, anagram, analects,
analemma, analeptic, analogy, analyze, anapest, Anastasia, anathema, anatomy
●compare cata– || Gr ana : up, on, again, apiece
andr– {man, male; and by extension: stamen, anther}: Alexander, Alexandra
(Sandra), Andrea, Andrew, androgen, androgynous, android, androsphinx,
androsterone, Cassandra, Leander, philander, polyandry ●compare gyn– || Gr
andros, gen. of anēr : man, male
anem– {wind}: anemochore, anemograph, Anemoi, anemology, anemometer,
anemone, anemophilous ●see also anim– || Gr anemos : wind Anemoi : the
gods of the four winds
ang–, anx– {tightness, distress, pain}: angina, anger, angry, anguish, anxiety,
anxious ●Ger. Angst || L angere : to squeeze, to press, to choke, to hurt, to
distress, to torment, to make anxious anxius : anxious, uneasy
angel– {messenger}: angel, Angela, angelica, Angelo, Angelus, archangel,
evangelical, Evangeline, evangelist ●Englebert || LL(Ec) angelus Gr(Ec)
angelos : messenger
angi(o)– {container, vessel}: angiogram, angiology, angioma, angiosperm,
sporangium ●compare gymn– || Gr angeion : case, capsule angos : vessel
angl– {the Angles, a Germanic people who came to England, hence: England}:
Angle, Anglican, Anglicize, Anglo, Anglophile, Anglo-Saxon ●England || L
Angli : Angles (a people living in Angle [Angul], Holstein) angle : hook (so
named because of its shape)
anim– {breath, life, soul}: animadversion, animal, animate, animism, animosity,
animus, equanimity, inanimate, longanimity, magnanimous, pusillanimous,
unanimous ●see also anem– || L anima : life principle, soul; something breathing
or blowing; breath of life, soul, spirit
anis– {anise}: anise, aniseed, anisette, anisole, hydroxyanisole ||
anison : anise
anis(o)– {unequal}: aniseikonia, anisogamete, anisomerous,
anisometropia, anisotropic ●comb. of an– (not) and iso– (equal)
L anisum Gr
anisometric,
4
ankyl– {crooked, hence: a joint}: ankylosaur, ankylosis, ankylostomiasis ||
ankylos : crooked
Gr
ann– {year}: annals, anniversary, anno Domini, annual, annuity, per annum,
superannuated ●Sp. año ●same as enn– || L annus : year annalis : lasting one
year; anniversārius : recurring every year; the turning of the year; annuus : lasting
for a year; returning ever year, annual
ant(e)– {before, preceding}: ante, antebellum, antecedent, antechamber, antedate,
antediluvian, ante meridiem, anterior, antler, antrorse ●same as anti– ●compare
post– ●see also Appendix B || L ante : before, in front of
1
2
anth– {flower}: agapanthus, Anthea, anther, anthesis, anthocarpous, anthology,
anthozoan, chrysanthemum, dianthus || Gr anthos : flower
anthrac–, anthrax– {coal, burning coal, ulcer, carbuncle, pustule}: anthracene,
anthracnose, Bacillus anthracis, anthracene, anthracite, anthracnose, anthrax ||
L anthrax Gr anthrax : virulent ulcer (burning) coal, hence: ulcer, carbuncle
anthrakitis : a kind of coal †
anthrax– ●see anthrac–
anthrop– {Man, human}: anthropocentric, anthropoid, anthropology,
anthropometric, anthropomorphic, anthropophagous, lycanthrope, misanthrope,
philanthropist, Pithecanthropus, theanthropism || Gr anthrōpos : man (human)
anti– {before, preceding}: antic, anticipate, antipasto, antiquate, antique, antiquity
●ancient ●same as ante– || L anti– (in comb.) : before ante– : before, in front
of
1
ant(i)– {opposition}: antacid, antagonize, Antarctica, Antares, anthem, antiaircraft,
antibiotic, antibody, antichrist, antidote, antifreeze, antihistamine, antimacassar,
antimatter, antinomy, antipathy, antiperspirant, antipodes, anti-Semitic, antiseptic,
antisocial, antithesis, antitoxin, antiwar, antonomasia, antonym ●compare pro–
|| Gr anti– : opposite, before anti– : against
2
anx– ●see ang–
aph– ●see apo–
api– {bee}: apian, apiary, apiculture, apitoxin, apivorous ||
: beekeeper
L apis : bee apiārius
ap(o)–, aph– {off, off from, away, away from}: aperitif, aperture, aphelion,
apheresis, aphorism, apocalypse, apocryphal, apogee, Apollyon, apology,
apoplexy, aposematic, apostasy, apostle, apostrophe, apothecary, apothegm,
apotheosis || Gr apo : off, from
aps– {arch, to fasten}: apse, apsis, synapse, synapsis ||
hapsis : a fastening haptein : to fasten
L apsis : an arch
apt– {to fit, to make fit}: adapt, apt, aptitude ●attitude, inept ●more at copul– ||
apere (pp. aptus) : to fit, to adapt Gr haptein : to fasten
Gr
L
aqu(a)– {water}: aqua, aquacade, Aqualung™, aquamarine, aquarium, Aquarius,
aquatic, aquatint, aqueduct, aqueous, aquifer ●see also eau– ●Span. agua || L
aqua : water
aquil– {eagle}: Aquila, aquilegia, aquiline ||
eagle
L aquila : eagle aquilīnus : of an
arachn– {spider, arachnid}: Arachne, arachnid, arachnoid, arachnophobia ●Sp.
araña ●Fr. araignée ●It. ragno || Gr arachnē : spider †
arbitr– {judge, to use one’s judgment, to decide}: arbiter, arbitrage, arbitrary,
arbitration || L arbiter : a witness, a hearer, a judge ad– : to + baetere : to go
(one who goes to a place, a witness, a judge); arbitrātus : choice, decision;
arbitrārius : arbitrary, uncertain
arbor– {tree}: arbor (spindle, axle), arboraceous, arboreal, arboretum, arboriculture,
arborvitae ●unrelated: arbor (shady bower) || L arbor : tree
arc– {curve, bow}: arc, arcade, arch (structural), archer, archery ||
arc L arcus : bow, arch, arched or curved thing
1
ME ark OFr
arc– {enclosed, secret, hidden; a closed box, chest}: arcane, arcanum ●ark || L
arca : chest, box arcēre : to enclose, to shut in; arcānus : shut, closed, hidden,
secret
2
arch– {beginning, earliest}: archaeology, archaic, archegonium, archetype, archive,
menarche ●same as arch– || ME arche– OE arce- L archi–, arch– Gr archos
: first, ruler
1
2
arch– {to be first, hence: to rule; ruler, chief}: anarchy, archangel, archbishop,
archdiocese, archduke, archenemy, archfiend, archipelago, architect, diarchy,
eparchy, gynarchy, hierarchy, matriarch, monarch, oligarchy, patriarch,
symposiarch, tetrarch, triarchy ●same as arch– || ME arche– OE arce– L
archi–, arch– Gr archos : first, ruler
2
1
arct– {a bear, northern}: Antarctica, arctic, Arcturus || L Arctūrus Gr Arktouros
: the star Arcturus, the brightest star in the constellation Boötes, in the northern
sky arktos : bear + ouros : a guard, a watcher. Arcturus appears to be watching
the constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor (Great Bear and Little Bear).
ard– {to burn}: aguardiente, ardent, ardor ●arson ●unrelated: arduous ||
(gen ardentis), prp. of ardēre : to burn ardor : flame, burning
1
L ardens
ard– {[in Germanic names] hard, hardy, strong}: Bernard, Gerard, Leonard,
Maynard, Reynard, Richard || OFr OHG hart : hard, strong
2
are– {open field}: area, areola || L ārea : a level or open space, esp. in a town
dim. āreola : a little open space
aren– {sand, sandy place}: arena, arenaceous, arenicolous, arenite || L arēna,
harēna : sand, sandy place, an arena in a Roman amphitheater covered with sand,
the scene of contention or struggle
argent– {silver}: argent, argentiferous, Argentina, argentine, argentite ||
argentum : silver
argill– {clay}: argillaceous, argillite ||
L
L argilla : clay Gr argos : white
ari– {air}: aria, ariose, arioso, malaria ●same as aer– ||
It aria L āēr : air
aristo– {best}: aristocracy, aristocrat, Aristophanes, Aristotle ||
arithm– {number}: arithmetic, logarithm ●algorithm ||
arithmos : number
Gr aristos : best
Gr arithmein : to count
arium– {a place for}: aquarium, caldarium, cinerarium, Cognātarium,
columbarium, herbarium, leprosarium, planetarium, sanitarium, solarium,
terrarium ●same as torium–, tory– || L –ārium, neut. sing. of –ārius : a place for,
or connected with
arm– {weapon}: alarm, arm, armada, armadillo, armament, armature, armed forces,
armistice, armoire, armor, armorer, armory, army, disarm, firearm, gendarme
●unrelated: arm (body part) || L arma : implements, weapons, arms armare :
to arm; armāmentārium : armory
art– {creative activity, art, skill, craft}: art, artifact, artifice, artificial, artisan, artist,
artistry, artless, artwork, objet d’art ●same as ert– || L artis, gen of ars :
profession, art, skill, knowledge, cunning
arthr– {joint}: anarthria, arthritis, arthroplasty, arthropod ●see also articl– ||
arthron : joint IE *ar(ə)– : to fit together
articl– {joint}: article, articulate, articulated ●see also arthr– ||
of artus : joint IE *ar(ə)– : to fit together
artio– {even (number)}: artiodactyl ●compare perisso– ||
Gr
L articulus, dim.
Gr artios : even
asc(o)– {bladder, bag}: aschelminth, ascites, asclepiadaceous, ascocarp,
ascogonium, ascomycete, ascospore, ascus || Gr †askos : wineskin, bladder
ase– {suffix for types of enzymes}: carbohydrase, lipase, nuclease, protease,
transcriptase ●there are many enzymes using this suffix || abstracted generic
form
aspar– {asparagus}: asparagus, Aspartame™, aspartic acid ||
asparagus
L Gr asparagos :
asper– {rough, to roughen}: ad astra per aspera, asper, asperity, exasperate ||
asper : rough asperitās : roughness
L
asthen– {weakness}: ●see a– (not) + sthen– (strength)
astr– {star}: ad astra per aspera, aster, asterisk, asteroid, astral, astrogation,
astrolabe, astrology, astronaut, astronomy, astrophysics, disaster ●Esther || Gr
astron : star L astrum : star, constellation
ather– {grain, grainy matter}: atheroma, atherosclerosis ||
athl– {contest}: athlete, athletic, decathlon, pentathlon ||
a prize athlos : a contest & athlon : a prize
Gr athēr : awn, chaff
Gr athlein : to contest for
atlant– ●see atlas–
atlas–, atlant– {Atlas}: Atlanta, Atlantean, atlantes, Atlantic, Atlantis, Atlas, atlas
|| Gr Atlas, a figure in Greek mythology who was compelled to bear the world
on his shoulders. Atlantic Ocean Atlas Mountains in NW Africa Atlas. Atlas
(book of maps) early atlases illustrated with a picture of Atlas bearing the earth.
atm– {air, vapor}: atmometer, atmosphere ||
Gr atmos : vapor
atom– {atom, extremely small, indivisible}: atom, atomic, atomicity, atomism,
atomize || L atomus : incapable of division, atom Gr atomos : uncut,
indivisible, atom a– : not + tomos : cut temnein : to cut
audi– {to hear}: audible, audience, audio, audit, audition, auditor, auditorium
●obedient, obey || L audire : to hear audientia : hearing, listening, attention;
audītio : a hearing, a listening; audītor : hearer, listener; audītōrium : a place of
audience, lecture room
aug– {to increase}: augend, augment, augur, augury, inaugurate ●auction ●same as
aux– ●see also august–, author– || LL augēre (pp. auctum, prp. auxi) : to make
grow, to increase, to enlarge, to enrich auctor : originator, author
august– {majestic, awe-inspiring}: august, August, Augusta, Augustine, Augustus
Cæsar ●see also aug– || L augustus : majestic, dignified augēre : to increase,
to enrich
aur– {ear}: aural, auricle, auricular, binaural, monaural ||
dim. auricula : the external ear, earlobe
1
L auris : ear, the hearing
aur– {gold}: aureate, Aurelia, Aurelius, aureola, aureole, Aureomycin™, auric,
auriferous, aurous, aurum ●same as or– || L aurum : gold Au, the chemical
symbol for gold
2
4
auspic– {a term used in augury: to see omens in birds’ flight}: auspice, auspicial,
auspicious ●auspex ●comb. of avi– + spic– || L auspicium : divination by means
of birds auspex : one who observes birds for divination avis : bird + speciere :
to observe, to look at
austr– {south}: aurora australis, Auster, austral, Australia, Australopithecus
●unrelated: Austria ●compare borea– || L auster : the south wind austrālis :
southern
author– {to originate}: author, authoritarian, authoritative, authority, authorize ●see
also aug– || ME autour OFr autor L auctor : one who gives increase, hence:
originator, causer, doer augēre : to increase, to make grow
aut(o)– {within, self}: authentic, autistic, autobiography, autocrat, autogiro,
autograph, automate, automatic, automation, automobile, automotive,
autonomous, autopsy, autotomy || Gr autos : self
aux– {to assist, to add to}: auxesis, auxiliary, auxin, auxochrome ●same as aug– ||
L augēre (prp. auxi) : to make grow, to increase, to enlarge, to enrich, to furnish
auxilium : help, assistance; auxiliārius : helping, auxiliary
av– {to desire}: avarice, avid, avidin || L avārus : desirous, covetous, greedy
avāritia : avarice, cupidity; avidus : vehemently desiring, longing for
avi– {bird, to fly}: avian, aviary, aviation, aviator, aviatrix, avifauna, avionics, rara
avis ●see also auspic– || L avis : bird aviārius : relating to birds; aviārium :
aviary
ax– {pivot, hub, axis}: abaxial, adaxial, axilla, axial, axis, axle, axonometric,
coaxial, preaxial || L axis : axle, axis
axi– {value, worth}: axiology, axiom, chronaxic ||
axios : worthy
Gr axioun : to think worthy
axil– {armpit}: axil, axilla, axillary ||
L axilla : armpit
* Unattested, hypothesized
† Unknown origin
165 entries found.
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