PREFIX OR SUFFIX
OR ROOT
MEANING
EXAMPLE
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
a-, annot; without
abiotic
abaway
abductor
abyssdeep; bottomless
abyssal plain
achpain
ache
adto; toward
advance
adengland
adenoids
aer-, aeroair; atmosphere
aeronautics
amicfriendly; kind
amicable
amphiboth; about; around
amphibian
anaaway; onward
anaphase
anomalirregular
anomaly
antebefore
antechamber
antiagainst
antibiotic
aortblood vessel
aortic arch
aquawater
aquatic
arachspider
arachnophobia
arbor
tree
Arbor Day
archaeo-, archeoancient
archaeology
-archy
rule
oligarchy
arctic
northern
arctic wind
arithmnumber
arithmetic
-arium; -ary
place where something is kept
aquarium
ascendclimb
ascending
-ase
enzyme
ligase
astrstar
astronomy
atmsmoke; vapor
atmosphere
antiagainst; away; opposite
antibody
aquawater
aquatic
archaeancient; primitive
archaebacteria
arthrojointed
arthropoda
aster, astrstar
asteroid
autoself
autopilot
avibird; fly
aviation
avid
eager
an avid football fan
BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
bacterismall rod
bacteria
basifoundation
basic
benegood; well
beneficial
benign
good; kind; not cancerous
benign tumor
benthdepth of the sea
benthic zone
bibliobook; paper
bibliography
bitwo
binary
biolife
biology
botangrass; pasture
botany
bovcow
bovine
-brevshort
abbreviate
bronchwindpipe
bronchial asthma
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
calamitmisfortune
calamity
caldhot; warm
caldera
calorheat
calorie
canidog
canine
carcincancer
carcinoma
card-, cardi-, cardioheart
cardiac arrest
carn-, carnoflesh
carnivore
cataheart
cardiac
caus-, cautburn; burning
caustic
centione-hundredth (1/100)
centimeter
-centric, centrocenter
concentric
cephal-, cephalohead
cephalothorax
cereb-, cerebrobrain
cerebral hemorrhage
chemochemistry
chemosynthesis
chloropale green
chlorophyll
chromcolor
chromatophore
circumaround
circumference
-cide
kill
genocide
circa
about
circadian rythms
cilismall hair
cilia
clarclear
clarity
clausenclosed place
claustrophobia
-clinbend; slope
inclination
cocc-; cocci-, coccoberry; round shape
streptococcus bacteria
-coel- (“seal”)
hollow
acoelomate
comadeep sleep
comatose
conwith; together
continuity
conicone; evergreen
coniferous
contigadjoining
contiguous
contraagainst; opposite
contradict
corp-, corpor-, corpubody
corpse
corpusclittle body
corpuscle
cosmuniverse
cosmic
counteropposite; against
counterattack
-cracy
rule; strength
democracy
craniskull
cranium
-crypthidden
encryption
cyandark blue
cyanobacteria
cytohollow vessel
cytoplasm
DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
dactylfinger or toe
polydactyly
defrom; away
decomposition
deca-, dekaten
dekameter
decidfalling off
deciduous forest
decione tenth (1/10)
decimeter
demihalf
demigod
demopeople
demographics
-denttooth
dentures
-dermskin
epidermis
didouble; two
dichotomy
diaacross; through
diameter
dictsay; pronounce; tell
prediction
digit
finger or toe
ten digits
dilpodouble
diploblastic
disseparate; apart
disengage
diurndaily; in the daytime
diurnal
divert
turn aside
divert your attention
dormsleep
dormant
dupl.double
duplex
dynbe able; power; energy
dynamic
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
eout; without; from
emit
echinspiny
echinoderms
ecohouse; dwelling
ecology
ect-, ectoouter
ectoplasm
-ectomy
cut out
tonsillectomy
egoself; myself
egotistical
elect
choose
election
-emia
blood
sickle cell anemia
enin; into
enter
encephalbrain
encephalitis
endo-; ento-, enwithin; inner
endodermis
enterointestine; gut
enterology
entominsect
entomology
-ept-; heptseven
heptagon
epiupon; over; beside
epicenter
equequal
equilateral
equinhorse
equine
estuarthe sea
estuary
ethnnation
ethnicity
eutrue; good
eukaryote
evacuempty
evacuation
exout; off; from; beyond
explore
excretthrow out
excretory
exhibpresent
exhibition
exhilto cheer up, make glad
exhilaration
exoout; outside; without
exoskeleton
expirbreathe out
expire
explusdriven out
expulsion
extraoutside; more; beyond; besides
extraterrestrial
extrinsfrom the outside
extrinsic motivation
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
famhungry
famished
feminfemale
feminine
-fer, -ferous
bearing; carrying
coniferous forest
fermentyeast; leavening
fermentation
ferofierce; wild
ferocious
fertilfruitful
fertility
fidelfaithful
fidelity
-filison or daughter
filial generation
finend; limit
grand finale
flagellwhip
dinoflagellates
-flagrburn
conflagration
flammburn
flammable
flexbend
flexible
florflower
floral
flu-, fluen-, fluoflow
fluent
-form
shape
transform
fract-, fragbreak
fracture
frictrub
friction
-frigcold
refrigerator
-ful
full of
bountiful
fumsmoke
fumigate
functperform
function
fungfungus; mushroom
fungicide
fur-, furirage
fury
GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
-gaea
the earth
Pangaea
ganglia knot on a string; swelling
ganglia
gastrstomach; belly
gastric
gelatjelly-like; frozen
gelatin
gene-, genetbirth
genetics
geothe earth
geology
-genic, -genous
producing
carcinogenic
glaciice
glaciation
-globsphere
hemoglobin
-glotttongue
epiglottis
gluc-, glycsweet
glucose
-gram- ; -graphletter; writing
calligraphy
grandgreat; large
grand piano
gravheavy
gravity
-gregflock; herd; collect
gregarious
gynfemale
misogyny
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
hal-, halosalt
halite
haplosingle
haploid
hecto100
hectogram
helithe sun
heliocentric
helix
spiral; coil
DNA’s double helix
herb-, herbigrass
herbivore
hemblood
hemoglobin
hemihalf
hemisphere
hepathe liver
hepatitis
heterodifferent; other
heterogeneous
hilarcheerful
hilarious
histoweb; tissue
histology
historabout history
historical
hom-, homosame; alike; man
homogenous
-hort
garden
horticulture
horri-, horribterrible
horrifying
hospguest
hospitality
hostienemy
hostility
humidmoist; moisture
humidity
hydrwater
hydrosphere
hyperover
hyperventilation
hypounder; beneath
hypodermic
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
-ichthyfish
ichthyosaur
-icul-, -idi-, -ill, -illum, -ium
small
miniscule
ignfire
ignite
ilnot; without
illiterate
inciscut; cut into
incision
industridiligent
industrious
infrabelow; beneath
infrastructure
infractbroken
infraction
infusepour in
infusion
interbetween; among
interoffice
intro-, intrins-, intrawithin; inside
introspection
irriglead water to
irrigation
isoequal
isotonic
-ite
stone; fossil
stalagmites
-itis
disease
dermatitis
JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ
-jectthrow
projectile
-jugjoin together
conjugate
juxtanear to
juxtaposition
KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
-karyonucleus
eukaryotic cell
kerowax
kerosene
kilo
thousand
kilometer
kinemovement
kinetic
LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
languweak; faint
languish
laryngullet; larynx
laryngitis
later-, laterithe side
lateral
legalaw
legality
-lepsseizure
epilepsy
leuc-, leuco-, leuk-, leukowhite
leukemia
liberafree
liberation
librar-, libribooks
librarian
linguthe tongue
linguist
lip-, lipofat
lipid
lithstone
lithosphere
-lumen, -luminlight
illuminate
lun-, lunamoon
lunar eclipse
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
macrolarge; long
macronutrients
malbad; evil; wrong; imperfect; not
malignant
mar-, marithe sea
marine
matr-, matri-, matriomother
matriarch
megamillion (1,000,000)
megagram
mesomiddle
mesosphere
metabchange
metabolism
meteohigh in the air; weather
meteorology
micr-, microsmall
micron
midmiddle
midpoint
militsoldier
military
milli1/1000
millimeter
minilittle
miniature
monoone
monosomy
-morphform
amorphous solid
-mortdeath
mortuary
mota-, moti-, motomotion
motivate
mutachange
mutation
muticut off
mutilate
myomuscle
myofibril
mystsecret
mysterious
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
nasnose
nasal
necr-, necrodead
necrosis
neonew; recent
neonatal
-nimbcloud
nimbostratus
noctnight
nocturnal
nonnot
nonverbal
nonanine
nonagon
notoback
notochord
nucleokernel
nucleolus
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
octeight
octagon
oculeye
ocular lens
-odontooth
orthodontics
-oid
like; form
spheroid
-ology
study of
biology
-ose, -ous
full of
verbose
-osis
condition; disease
halitosis
oss-, ostbone
osteoporosis
ov-, oviegg
ovary
PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
paleoancient
paleolithic
parabeside
parapodium
-pathfeeling
empathy
pedchild
pediatric
pentafive
pentagon
periaround
pericardial
phagoeating
phagocytosis
pharmdrug
pharmacy
phobfear
claustrophobia
photlight
photic zone
ploymany
polydactyly
-port
carry
transportation
postafter
postmortem
prebefore
preview
primfirst
primary
probefore
prokaryotic cell
protofirst
protozoa
pseud-, pseudofalse
pseudonym
QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
quadrfour
quadrangle
quintfive
quintuplets
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
reback; again
redo
recept-, recipireceive
reception
respirbreathe
respiration
retr-, retroback; behind; backward
retrospect
rhiz-, rhizoa root
rhizome
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
sal-, salisalt
salinity
salivspit
salivate
saturfull; filled
saturation
semihalf
semipermeable membrane
scri-, script-, scriptowrite
prescription
-solu-, solut-, solvdissolve
dissolution
somabody
somatic
-spectlook at; see
inspection
spher-, sphereround; ball
atmosphere
-spirbreathe
respiration
stabilfirm
stability
staphyl-, staphylocluster; bunch
staphylococcus bacteria
stell-, stellastar
interstellar
stimulgoad; instigate
stimulate
stratlayer
stratus clouds
-strict
tight; drawn together
restrict
-struct
build
construction
subbelow; under
submarine
super-, supraabove; over
superhuman
-surgrise; raise
insurgence
sym-, symbio-, synwith
symbiosis
TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
tachquickly; speed; fast
tachycardia
tact-, tacti-, tang-, tangitouch
tactile
-tardslow
retardation
tax-, taxi-, taxoarrange; arrangement
taxonomy
tech-, techni-, technoskill; art
technology
ten-, tenacitough; holding fast
tenacious
-tens-, -tentstretched
hypertension
tepwarm
tepid
-term-, -termin-, terminaend; limit
terminate
terr-, terra-, terriland
terrestrial
tertithird
tertiary
tetr-, tetrafourth
tetrahedral
text-, textiweave
textiles
therap-, therapeutreatment
therapy
thermheat
thermometer
titan-, titanogiant
titanic
tot-, tota-, totiall
total
transacross; through
transcontinental
trithree
trisomy
trigontriangle
trigonal planar molecule
trimethree months
trimester
triplthree-fold
triple
-trophfood; nourishment
heterotroph
trop- tropochange
troposphere
tub-, tubipipe; tube
tubular
tuberlittle knob; swelling
tuberculosis
-turbcrowd; disturbance
disturbance
-tuss-, -tussicough
Robitussin cough medicine
tympan-, tympani-, tympanodrum
tympanic membrane
UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
-ule, -uncllittle
miniscule
ultrultimate
ultraviolet light
-umbrshade
umbrella
unnot
unrest
unione
unicycle
urb-, urban
city
urban sprawl
-ustscorched; burned
combustion
utiluseful
utility
VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
vac-, vaca-, vacu-, vaniempty
vacate
-validstrong
validate
-vaporsteam; vapor
evaporate
-vectcarry
convection currents
veloswift; fast
velocity
-venovein
intravenous
venompoison
venomous
vent- venti-, ventowind
ventilation
ver-, vera-, verac-, veritruth
verify
verb-, verbi-, verboword
verbal
verd-, verdan-, verdi-, verdurgreen
verdant fields
-vers-, versa-, -vertchange; turn
versatile
-vict-, -vince
conquer
victory
-vigoractivity; force
invigorate
virul-, virus
poison
virulent
visa-, visi-, visulook; see
visible
vita-, viva-, vivilife
vital organs
voca-, voci-, vox
voice
vocal
-volut-, -voluta-,-volute- -volvroll; turn
evolution
-voluntchoice; will
volunteer
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
--------------------------XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
xen-, xeni-, xenoa stranger
xenophobia
xer-, xerodry
xeriscape
YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
-yperabove
hypertension
-ypobelow
hypotension
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
zircongold-colored
cubic zirconium
zoa-, zodi-, zoi-, zooanimal
zoology
zygoyolk
zygote