Word Parts From Greek and Latin. . .Roots
“Knowing the root of a word --- especially a difficult word --- can help you understand
and remember it much better. This can be very useful when learning new words in all
your classes. Because vocabulary is so important to success in all areas, knowing the
following roots will be very valuable.” --- Write Source 2000
Word Part
Meaning
acer, acid, acri bitter, sour, sharp
acu
sharp
ag, agi, ig
do, move, go
ali, alter
other
altus
high, deep
am, amor
love, liking
anni, annu, enni
year
anthrop
man
arch
chief, first, rule
aster, astr
star
aud
hear, listen
aug, auc
increase
auto, aut
self
belli
war
bibl
book
bio
life
breve
short
calor
heat
cap, cept
take
capit, capt
head
carn
flesh
caus, caut
burn, heat
cause, cuse, cus
cause, motivate
ced, ceed, cede
move, yield, surrender
centri
center
chron
time
cide
kill
cise
cut
cit
to call, start
civ
citizen
clam, claim
cry out
clud, clus, claus
shut
cognosc, gnosi
know
cord, cor, card heart
corp
body
cosm
universe, world
crat
rule, strength
cred
believe
cresc, cret, crease, cru rise, grow
cur, curs
run
cura
care
cycl, cyclo
wheel, circle
Examples
acerbic, acidity, acrid, acrimony
acupuncture
agent, agenda, navigate, ambiguous, agitate
alias, alternative, alibi, alien, alter
altimeter, altitude
amorous, enamored, amiable
anniversary, annual, centennial
anthropology, misanthrope, philanthropic
archangel, architect, archaic, archives, monarchy
asterisk, asteroid, astrology, astronomy, astronaut
audible, auditorium, audio, audition, audience
auction, augur, augment
automobile, autobiography, automatic, autograph
rebellion, belligerent
Bible, bibliography, bibliomania, bibliophile
biography, biology, biopsy, microbe
abbreviate, brief, brevity
calorie, calorify, caloric
capable, capacity, capture, accept, except, forceps
decapitate, capital, captain, caption
carnivorous, incarnate, reincarnation, carnal
cauterize, cauldron, caustic
because, excuse, accusation
proceed, cede, secede, concede, intercede, precede
concentric, centrifugal, eccentric, centripetal
chronological, chronometer, chronicle, synchronize
suicide, homicide, pesticide, germicide, insecticide
decide, precise, concise, incision, scissors
incite, citation, cite
civic, civil, civilian, civilization
exclamation, clamor, proclamation, acclaim
include, recluse, claustrophobia, conclude
prognosis, diagnosis, recognize, incognito
cordial, accord, concord, record, encourage, cardiac
corpse, corporation, corpulent
cosmos, cosmology, microcosm, cosmonaut
autocracy, democracy
creed, credit, credentials, incredible, credulous
crescendo, crescent, concrete, increase, accrue
current, concurrent, concur, curriculum, incur, occur
manicure, curator, pedicure
cyclone, unicycle, bicycle, Cyclops
deca
dem
dent, dont
derm
dic, dict
ten
people
tooth
skin
say, speak
decade, decalogue, decathlon
demography, democracy, epidemic
dental, orthodontist, denture, dentifrice
doc
domin
don
dorm
dox
duc, duct
dura
dynam
end, endo
equi
erg
fac, fact, fic
fall, fals
fer
teach
master
give
sleep
opinion, praise
lead
hard, lasting
power
within
same
work
do, make
deceive
bear, carry
indoctrinate, documentation, doctrine
domain, dominion, dominate, predominant
donate, condone
dormant, dormitory
orthodox, heterodox, paradox
fid, feder
fila, fili
fin
fix
flex, flect
flu, fluc, fluv
form
faith, trust
thread
end, finish
attach
bend
flowing
shape, structure
fidelity, confident, confidante, infidelity, infidel, federal
fort, forc
fract, frag
fum
gam
gastro
gen
strong
break
smoke
marriage
stomach
birth, race, produce
fort, fortress, fortify, forte, fortitude, force
geo
germ
gest
gloss, glot
glu, glo
grad, gress
graph
earth
vital, part
carry, bear
tongue
lump, bond, glue
step, go
write, written
geometry, geology, geography, geocentric
germination, germ, germane
gestation, congest, suggestion, congestive
epiglottis, polyglot, glossary
glue, conglomerate, agglutinate
grat
pleasing
grav
greg
hab, habit
helio
hema, hemo
here, hes
heavy, weighty
herd, group, crowd
have, live
sun
blood
stick
hypodermic, dermatology, epidermis, taxidermy
diction, dictionary, dictate, edict, predict, verdict,
benediction, dictaphone, contradict, dictatorial
duke, induce, seduce, aquaduct, conduct, produce
durable, duration, endurance
dynamo, dynamic, dynamite, hydrodynamics
endoral,endocardial, endoskeletal
equinox, equilibrium, equal
energy, erg, allergy, ergophobia, ergometer
factory, manufacture, faculty, amplification
fallacy, falsify, false
ferry, conferous, fertile, defer, infer, refer,
referee, referendum, circumference
filament, filter, filet
final, finite, finish, confine, fine, refine, define, finale
fixation, fixture, affix, prefix, suffix
flex, flexible, inflexibility, reflect, deflect
influence, fluctuate, fluviograph, fluid, flush, fluently
form, uniform, conform, deform, reform, perform,
formation, formative, formation, formal, formula
fragile, fracture, infraction, fraction, refract, fragment
fume, fumigate, perfume
monogamy, bigamy, polygamy
gastric, gastronomic, gastritis
genesis, genus, genetics, genealogy, generate,
congenital, indigenous, genetic
grade, gradual, graduate, aggressive, congress
graph, graphic, photography, biography, autograph,
phonograph, bibliography
congratulate, gratuitous, gratuity, grateful, gracious,
ingrate
grave, gravity, aggravate, gravitate
congregation, gregarian, segregate
habitat, inhabit, rehabilitate, habitual
heliograph, heliotrope
hemotoxic, hemorrhage, hemoglobin, hemophilia
adhere, cohere, cohesion
hetero
homo
hum, human
hydr, hydro, hydra
hypn
ignis
ject
join, junct
different
same
earth, ground, man
water
sleep
fire
throw
join
heterogeneous, heterograft
homogeneous, homonym, homogenize
humility, humane, exhume
jud, judi, judic
jur, jus
juven
later
leg
lic, licit
lit, liter
liver, liber
loc, loco
log, logo, ology
judge, lawyer
law
young
side, broad
law
permit
letters
free
place
study, word, speech
judge, judicial, judicious, prejudice
justice, conjure, jurisdiction, juror
juvenile, rejuvenate
lateral, latitude
loqu, locut
talk, speak
luc, lum
lude
magn
man
light
play
great
hand
lumen, luminary, translucent
ludicrous, prelude, interlude
mand
mania
mar, mari, mer
matri, mater
medi
mega
mem
meter
micro
migra
mit, miss
command
madness
sea, pool
mother
half, middle, between
great
remember
measure
small
wander
send
remand, mandatory, mandate, countermand
mania, kleptomania, pyromania, maniac
maritime, mermaid, marine, marsh
matrimony, maternity, maternal, matriarch
mediate, medieval, mediocre
mob, mot, mov
move
mobile, motionless, motor, emotional, motivate,
promotion
mon
mori, mort, mors
morph
mult, multus
nat
neur
nom
nomen, nomin
nounce, nunci
nov
nox, noc
warn, remind
mortal, death
form
many, much
be born, spring forth
nerve
law, order
name
warn, declare
new
night
admonish, monument, monitor, premonition
dehydrate, hydrant, hydraulic, hydrophobia, hydrogen
hypnosis, hypnotherapy
ignite, igneous, ignition
project, object, deject, inject, eject
junction, enjoin, juncture, conjunction, adjoining,
injunction
legislate, legislature, legislation, legal, legitimize
license, illicit, licit
literary, literature, alliteration, literal, obliterate
liberal, delivery, liberalize, deliverance
locomotion, locality, allocate, relocate
zoology, psychology, logic, prologue, epilogue,
dialogue
eloquent, loquacious, colloquial, circumlocution,
soliloquy
magnificient, magnify, magnanimous, magnitude
maneuver manufacture, manual, manicure, manage,
maneuver
megaphone, megalopolis, megacycle, megaton
commemorate, memo, memento, memoir, memorable
meter, voltmeter, barometer, thermometer
micron, microscope, microwave, micrometer, microbe
migrate, migrant, emigrant, immigrant
emit, remit, submit, omit, admit, commit,
permit, transmit, missile, mission
mortal, immortal, mortality, mortician, mortuary
amorphous, metamorphosis, morphology
multifold, multilinguist, multiply, multiplied
nature, innate, natal, native, nativity
neuropathic, neurologist, neural, neurosis, neurotic
autonomy, economy, astronomy
nominate, nomenclature
announcer, enunciate, pronounce, denounce
novel, renovate, novice, nova, innovate
nocturnal, equinox, noctilucent
numer
omni
onym
oper
ortho
pac
pan
pater, patr
path, pathy
ped, pod
number
all, every
name
work
straight, correct
peace
all
father
feeling, suffering
foot
numeration, numeral, enumerate, innumerable
pedo
pel, puls
child
drive, urge
orthopedic, pedagogue, pediatrics
pend, pens
hang, weigh
phil
love
phobia
phon
photo
plac, plais
plenus
pneuma, pneumon
poli
pon, pos
fear
sound
light
please
full
breath
city
place, put
claustrophobia, acrophobia, hydrophobia
pop
port
portion
potent
prehend
prim, prime
proto
psych
people
carry
part, share
power
seize
first
first
mind, soul
population, popular, populous
punct
put
que, qui
reg, recti
ri, ridi
rog, roga
rupt
sacr, secr
salv, salu
sangui
sat, satis
sci
scope
point, dot
think
ask, seek
straighten
laughter
ask
break
scared
safe, healthy
blood
enough
know
see, watch
punctual, punctuation, puncture, acupuncture
scrib, script
write
omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, omnivorous
pseudonym, anonymous, antonym, synonym
operate, cooperate
orthodontist, orthodox, orthopedic, unorthodox
pacifier, pacify, pacifist, Pacific Ocean
panacea, pandemonium, pantheon
patriarch, patron, paternity, patriot
pathos, sympathy, empathy, antipathy, telepathy
pedal, impede, pedestal, pedestrian, centipede,
tripod, podiatrist, podiatry, antipodes
compel, dispel, expel, repel, propel, pulse, impulse,
pulsate, compulsory, expulsion, repulsive, compulsive
pendant, pendulum, depend, impend, suspend,
perpendicular, pending, dispense, pensive
philosophy, philanthropy, philharmonic, bibliophile,
Philadelphia
phonograph, phonetic, symphony, telephone
photograph, photogenic, photosynthesis, photometer
placid, placebo, placate, complacent
replenish, plentiful, plenary, plenteous
pneumonia, pneumatic
Indianapolis, metropolis, police, politics
postpone, component, opponent, proponent, expose,
impose, deposit, posture, position
porter, portable, transport, export, import, support
portion, proportion
potent, omnipotent, impotent
apprehend, comprehend, comprehensive
primacy, primitive, primary, primal
prototype, protocol, protagonist, protozoan
psyche, psychic, psychiatry, psychosis,
psychotherapy
computer, dispute, repute
question, inquire, acquire, inquisitive
correct, direct, regular, rectify, regiment, rectangle
ridicule, deride, ridiculous
prerogative, interrogate, derogatory
rupture, interrupt, abrupt, disrupt, erupt, incorruptible
sacred, consecrate, desecrate, sacrosanct
salvation, salvage, salutary, salute
sanguine, sanguinity, sanguinaria
satisfy, satient, saturate
science, scientist, conscious, omniscient
telescope, microscope, kaleidoscope, periscope,
stethoscope
scrib subscribe, prescribe e, manuscript, scribble,
inscribe, describe, subscribe, prescribe
sed, sess, sid
sit
preside, president, reside, subside, sediment,
session, obsession, possess
sen
sent, sens
old
feel
senior, senator, senile
sequ, secu
follow
serv
save, serve
sign, signi
simil, simul
sist, sta, stit, stet
sign, mark, seal
like, resembling
stand
signal, signature, design, insignia
simulate, similar, assimilate, simile
solus
solv, solu
alone
loosen
solo, soliloquy, solitaire, solitude, solitary
somnus
soph
spec, spect
sleep
wise
look
insomnia, somnambulist
sophomore, philosophy, sophisticated
sphere
spir
ball, sphere
breath
sphere, stratosphere, hemisphere, spheroid
spond, spons
strict
stru, struct
pledge, answer
draw tight
build
sponsor, correspond, irresponsible, respond
strict, restrict, constrict, boa constrictor
sume, sump
tact, tang, tag
tele
take, use, waste
touch
far, across
consume, assume, presume, sump pump
tempo
time
ten, tin, tain
hold
tend, tens
stretch, strain
terra
test
therm
tom
earth
to bear witness
heat
cut
territory, terrestrial, terrain, terrarium
testament, detest, attest, testimony
tort, tors
tox
tract, tra
trib
tui, tut
turbo
typ
twist
poison
draw, pull
pay, bestow
guard, teach
disturb
print
torture, retort, extort, distort, contort, tortous
toxic, intoxicate, antitoxin
tractor, attract, subtract, abstract, traction
tribute, contribute, attribute, retribution
tutor, tuition, intuition
turbulent, turmoil, disturb, turbid
uni
vac
val
one
empty
strength, worth
unicorn, unify, university, unanimous, universal
sentiment, consent, resent, dissent, sentimental,
sense, sensation, sensitive, sensory, dissension
sequence, sequel, consequence, subsequent,
consecutive
servant, service, subservient, servitude, reservation,
preserve, conserve, deserve, observe, conservation
assist, circumstance, stamina, persist, substitute,
status, state, static, stable, stationary
solvent, solve, absolve, resolve, soluble, solution,
resolution, resolute
specimen, specific, spectator, spectacle, speculate,
aspect, expect, inspect, respect, prospect, retrospective, introspective
spirit, conspire, inspire, aspire, expire, perspire,
respiration
structure, construct, instruct, obstruct, construe,
destroy, destruction
contact, contagious, intact, intangible, tangible, tactile
telephone, telegraph, telegram, telescope, television,
telephoto, telecast, telepathy
tempo, temporary, pro tem, extemporaneously,
contemporary, temporal
contain, tenacious, tenant, detention, content, obtain,
pertinent, obstinate, abstain, pertain, detain, maintain
tension, tendency, extend, intend, contend, pretend,
tent, tender
thermometer, thermal, thermostat, hypothermia
atom, appendectomy, tonsillectomy, dichotomy,
anatomy
type, prototype, typical, typography, typology,
typewriter, typify
vacate, vacuum, evacuate, vacation, vacant
valor, validity, equivalent, evaluate, valiant, value
ven, vent
come
convene, intervene, circumvent, convention, venture,
venue, event, avenue, prevent
vert, vers
vict, vinc
turn
conquer
reverse, avert, divert, introvert, controversy
vid, vis
see
viv
voc
life, alive
call
revive, survive, vivid, vivisection, vivacious
vol
volcan, vulcan
vor
will
fire
eat greedily
malevolent, benevolent, volunteer, volition
volcano, volcanize
zo
animal
zoology, zodiac, protozoa, zoo
victor, victory, victorious, evict, convict, convince,
invincible
video, vision, evident, provide, visible, revise,
supervise, vista, visit
vocation, convocation, invocation, evoke, provoke,
revoke, advocate, provocative, vocal, vocabulary
voracious, carnivorous, herbivorous, omnivorous,
devour