A Selection of Latin Roots and Greek Roots,
Combining Forms, Words, and Prefixes
an etymological means of acquiring an adequate vocabulary
Strathnaver Books
1994
Copyright©1994 by Tammy McQuoid
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise, without prior permission in writing from the author.
Introduction
Why I compiled this list: When in high school, I took a vocabulary class based on Greek and Latin
roots. Upon reaching college and being enrolled in a Freshman composition class, I started taking
the weekly vocabulary tests. I found, much to my amazement and delight, that I didn't have to study
for those tests that were based on Greek and Latin roots. For me, that showed the value of my high
school course. Now that our family is homeschooling, I feel that our children would benefit from
learning this information. What I wanted was a very thorough alphabetical list (not a workbook) of
combining forms, roots, and prefixes that differentiated between Greek and Latin all in one book. I
wanted to be able to decide which combining forms would be introduced and integrated into our
curriculum. I also wanted to be able to choose when their introduction would be most beneficial.
However, when I went to find a book containing the desired information in the desired form, I
couldn't find any. So I decided to compile a list of my own to use. Possibly you can put this list to
work for you also.
What will this list do for you: That's totally up to you and your students. I can make no claims
concerning the results you may get if you use this list, whether they be positive or negative. Author
and friend of C. S. Lewis, Dorothy Sayers, claims, "[Latin] is the key to the vocabulary and
structure of all the Romance languages ... as well as to the technical vocabulary of all the sciences
and to the literature of the entire Mediterranean civilisation...."1 She, however, feels that students
should learn the Latin language and its grammar, not just a few hundred combining forms. Sayers
goes on to inform us, "... even a rudimentary knowledge of Latin cuts down the labour and pains of
learning almost any other subject by at least fifty per cent."2 Douglas Wilson, founder of Logos
School and author of numerous educational books, states, "About 80 percent of our English
vocabulary comes to us from Latin and Greek."3 It seems that some form of knowledge of Latin and
Greek will be of great benefit to most English-speaking people, especially if vocabulary
enhancement is the objective. This list is not a Latin or Greek language course. It is a lengthy list of
combining forms to learn. Once learned, many English words of Latin or Greek derivation will be
understandable. It could almost be described as putting a jigsaw puzzle together. And after years of
working on it, all the pieces finally fit. Take a peek farther back in this book for examples.
How the list is organized: On the left margin is the prefix, combining form, word, or root. There is
not a lot of consistency here. Sometimes an infinitive is used, sometimes a root. This should not
cause any problems since we are not using this list to learn Latin or Greek or how to conjugate
foreign verbs. In the center column is the meaning or meanings of the combining form/prefix. On
the right is a list of examples that utilize the combining forms/prefixes. The number of examples
was kept small to keep the list from becoming too cumbersome. Also, part of acquiring a good
1
vocabulary is achieved by using the dictionary and the mind to discover words that utilize the
combining forms--not by having all the English words that utilize Latin and Greek combining forms
easily available to the student.
Ways you may choose to use this list: One way is a five-day plan. Arbitrarily choose ten
combining forms and/or prefixes. Give them to your student(s). The student(s) will then be required
to look up the meanings of the combining forms and/or prefixes and make a 3x5 card for each,
putting the definition on the back. On the next day the meanings can be reviewed. Two English
words that incorporate the combining forms/prefixes can then be found for each combining
form/prefix and used in a sentence. (Two English words for each combining form/prefix.) On the
third day, the instructor can review the assignment from the day before and choose 20 of the
English words found by the student(s) or add a few of her/his own to make up 20 words for a
vocabulary test. On the next day the student(s) can study the 20 English words. On the last day, the
test can be given. The word should be given verbally to the student(s). It should be spelled correctly
by the student(s). Then the definition should be written by the student and the word should also be
used properly in a sentence.
Day 1: Ten (10) combining forms/prefixes are given to the student. Example: colare, deus, fabula,
filia, hospes, manus, somnus, sanguis, terra, verus
Put these on 3x5 cards. Look up the definitions and write them on the back. These meanings should
be memorized.
Day 2: Review the meanings of the combining forms/prefixes. The student can find, using the
dictionary, 2 English words for each combining form/prefix. Then an original sentence can be
constructed. (NOTE: On occasion finding two examples will be very difficult.)
Example: (colare: portcullis, colander)
portcullis: an iron gate suspended and raised and lowered by a chain, castles often utilized them.
The knight quickly lowered the portcullis when he saw the raiders approaching.
colander: a container with holes in the bottom that is used to facilitate cleaning or draining of
vegetables or pasta. My mom's colander was used most often for draining spaghetti noodles.
The student will have 20 English words, 20 definitions, and 20 sentences when this assignment is
completed.
Day 3: The instructor can give a test to see if the meanings of the combining forms/prefixes are
sufficiently memorized. The instructor can choose 20 words from yesterday's assignment that will
be on the test on Day 5. If the instructor has more than one student, the selection of 20 words will
be easier since the instructor will have more to choose from. The instructor should choose words
that she/he feels will be most beneficial for the student to know. If only one student is involved, the
instructor may need to do some extra work and choose some English words of her own to
supplement or replace some of the student's list so that the most useful words will be learned. This
is a judgment call for the instructor. Possibly the student could be required to find 4 English words
rather than just 2.
Day 4: The student should study the 20 words received from the instructor on Day 3.
Day 5: Test--20 English words. The student(s) must supply the definitions and original sentences.
Some instructors may wish to include the combining forms/prefixes and their meanings to the test
2
(if this hasn't already occurred) since memorizing the combining forms/prefixes will help in the
future when the student(s) comes upon an unfamiliar word in his studies.
If the above schedule is followed, there are enough combining forms, roots, words, and prefixes to
last at least 45 weeks which is nine weeks longer than a usual 180-day school year. The list includes
over 450 combining forms, roots, words, and prefixes. To keep track of which combining forms you
have covered, you might write the date completed in the margin in a color that has been assigned to
that student.
Another possible way to use this list would be to give the student(s) two words from the far right
column. Then ask the student(s) to find the root, the meaning, and two more examples of the
combining form being used in English. Sentences could be written for each word. (NOTE: On
occasion it will be very difficult or impossible to find two more examples.)
A benefit of having a comprehensive list of Latin and Greek combining forms is its adaptability to
many learning styles. Those of you who are using the unit study method may choose words that go
along with the unit being studied. Some instructors may want to choose the most prevalent
combining forms and cover them all in one semester. My high school offered a class in Latin and
Greek roots; it fulfilled the English requirement for one semester. However, in my Freshman
composition class at college, Latin and Greek roots were covered in about a month. If your
child(ren) are younger and there is no hurry, this list could last many years. Of course, you may
only want to introduce one new combining form a week. There are probably as many ways to use
this list to help students learn as there are instructors who will use the book. Experiment, and then if
you have time, let me know what works for you.
The shortcomings (or what may be perceived as shortcomings): There are many. 1) Suffixes are
purposely not included because their meanings seem too abstract for memorization by students who
are below the secondary level. 2) There are errors in this list. This list was gone over quite
extensively to eradicate mistakes and typographical errors. Some mistakes crept in because at times
it seemed like deciphering etymologies was more of an art that an exact science. The convoluted
path that some words have taken to get into the English language is sometimes amazing. Perhaps
the errors will be caught if this list is revised. 3) This list is incomplete. There are many more
combining forms that could be listed; however, the line had to be drawn somewhere. Although this
list is incomplete, it includes more than enough entries to help a diligent student develop an entirely
adequate vocabulary of words derived from Latin and Greek combining forms. 4) Medical terms are
not included, but they can be found in any good medical dictionary such as Taber's Cyclopedic
Medical Dictionary. 5) There is no money-back guarantee if you don't like this list. 6) This is not a
workbook. The student has to find the vocabulary words with the use of a dictionary, without the
help of a list already plotted out for them. The instructor has to choose which words would be best
to learn. The student alone must write sentences out that use the vocabulary words; sentences are
not already written out with a place to fill in the vocabulary word. This is just a list, not a
workbook. 7) There are no grade-level guidelines included with this list. Instructors will have to
adapt this list to fit the learning level, interest level, and learning style of their student(s).
What else is needed: A good dictionary is needed. By "good dictionary," I mean one that gives the
etymological information about a word as far back as is known (usually Indo-European--IE). Just
because a dictionary has a recent copyright date does not mean that it will be helpful in learning the
origins of words. (I know this because I have a flashy 1991 dictionary that is less than helpful
etymologically.) If you don't have a good dictionary, you will think that many example words have
nothing to do with the combining form listed. Also, finding other words derived from the
combining form/prefix will be difficult. If the dictionary gives scanty etymologies, it will not be
easy to ascertain exactly what combining form the word is derived from. Please compare
3
dictionaries before you buy. The dictionary listed in the Bibliography is excellent.
.
.
Endnotes
l.
Sayers, Dorothy L., "The Lost Tools of Learning," in Rosamond Kent Sprague (ed.), A Matter of
Eternity, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, MI, 1973, pp. 121-122.
2.
3.
Ibid., p. 121.
Wilson, Douglas, Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning: An Approach to Distinctively Christian
Education, Crossway Books, Wheaton, IL, 1991, p. 87.
4
LATIN
LATIN PREFIX(ES)
DEFINITION(S)
ab, a
ad, ac, af, ag, al, an, ap,
ar, as, at, a
ambi
ante
bi
circum, circa
com, col, con, cor, co
from, down, away
to
contra, counter
de
contradict, contraband, counterfeit
deplete, demerit, depress, defrost, decline,
defunct
away, from, apart
different, disburse, digest
two
dubious, duet, duplication
from, out of, without
effervescent, exhale, escape, extradition, eclectic
beyond
extrapolate, extraordinary
in, into, on
infer, induct, incarnate, illuminate, irrigate,
imbibe
no, not, without, non
insignificant, illiterate, irresponsible,
impossible, imbecile, inappropriate,
among, between
interchange, intervention, intercept
within, inside of
intramural, intrastate, intramuscular
thousand
millennium, millimeter
much, many
multitudinous, multifaceted, multiply
not
nonresident, nonconformity
against, before, toward, for offer, omit, occur, obscene, oppress
all, everywhere
omniscient, omnivorous, omnificent
four times, four fold
quadriceps, quadrisect, quadrivium
through, completely
persecute, pilgrim, perfect, pellucid
after, behind
postdate, postdiluvian
before
precedent, precept, preposition
before, for
proceed, purport, pursue
back, again
recompense, refine
back, backward
retrograde, retrofit
apart, aside
seclude, select
half
semicircle, semiprivate
under, less than, inferior
suffer, submarine, succumb, suggest
di, dis, dif
duo, du
ex, e, ef, ec, es
extra
in, il, ir, im
in, il, ir, im
inter
intra, intro
milli, mille
multi, multus
non
ob, o, oc, of, op,
omni
quadri, quadr
per
post
pre
pro, pur
re
retro
se
semi
sub, suc, suf, sug, sum,
sup, sur, sus
super, supra
trans
tri
ultra
5
both
before
two
around, about
closely along, together,
next to, with
against
from, down, entirely
above, superior,
surpassing
across, through
three
beyond, on other side of
EXAMPLES OF PREFIX(ES)
abstract, aversion, abject
advent, accent, accelerate, affectation,
aggravate
ambidextrous, ambiance
antecedent, antebellum
biennium, bifurcate, bicarbonate
circumnavigate, circumference
collusion, coheir, consort, cooperate, compact
soprano, superabundance, superintendent
transcontinental, transit
triangle, triceps, Triassic
ultrasound, ultraconservative
LATIN SUFFIX
DEFINITION(S)
EXAMPLES OF SUFFIX
-itis
inflammation
neuritis, conjunctivitis
LATIN ROOT(S)
DEFINITION(S)
EXAMPLE(S) OF ROOT(S)
acerbus, acris, acuere
sharp, to sharpen,
needle, bitter
to make equal, even
age
field
to act, to do
other, else
other
high
to walk, to go
to love, love, friend
acerbate, acupuncture, acuity, acrimony
life, soul, breath,
mind
year
to come forth, be
visible
to fit, suitable
water
judge
tree
to burn
art
to hear
to increase
bird
blessed, happy
to wage war, war
well
good
short, brief
fall
to cut, kill
to sing
to take, hold, contain
animosity, inanimate, unanimous
aequare
aevum
ager, agri, agro
agere, actum, agitare
alius
alter
altus
ambulare
amare, amor, amatum,
amicus
anima
annus
apparere
aptare, aptus, apere
aqua
arbiter
arbor
ardere
artis
audire
augere
avis
beatus
bellare, bellum
bene
bonus, bon
brevis
cadere
caedere, cide
canere, cantare, cantus
capere, captum, cip, cept
caput, capitis
carnis
cavare, cavus
cedere, cessum
centrum
centum, centi
cernere, certus
6
head
flesh
to make hollow
to go, withdraw,
move
center
hundred, tenth, ten
to see as being
different, to sift,
distinguish
equivocate, adequate, equilibrium
coeval, medieval
agrestic, agronomy
agility, react, agitate
alias, alienate
altercation, adulterate
altimeter, exaltation, alto
preamble, ambulatory
amateur, amiable, enamored
biennial, centennial, annual
apparent, appearance, apparitor
aptitude, adaptable, ineptitude
aqueous, aquarelle
arbitration, arbitrary
arboretum, arboreal
arduous, ardor
artifice, artifact, artisan
audit, audible
augmentation, augur, august
avionics, aviation, aviary, avian
beatific, beatitude
rebellious, bellicose
benevolence, beneficent
bonanza, bonny, bon voyage
abbreviate, breviary
recidivism, cascade, cadaver, decadent
incision, pesticide
recant, chant, cantata
capacious, incipient, intercept participate, capable,
captive, conceive, precept
cape, chapter, biceps, capital
carnal, carnival, incarnate, carnivore
cavernous, cavity, excavate
concession, recede, access
eccentric, concentric, concentrate
percent, centimeter, centurion
discern, secret, certitude
civis, civilis
clamare, clamor
claudere, clausum
clemens
clinare
colare
colere, cultus
coquere, coctum
cor, cordis
corium
corona
corpus
credere, credens
crescere, cretum
crimen
cruciare, crux, crucis
culpare
cumulare
curare, cura, curatus
currere, cursus, cour
dens, dentis
deus, dei
dexter, dextro
dicere, dictare
dignus
dirigere, directus
docere, doctum
dominus
domus
donare, do
dormire, dorm
ducere, ductum
durare, durus
errare, erratum
fabula
facere, factum, fect, fic
fallere
ferre, latum
ferrum
fervere
fidere, fidelis, fides
filius, filia
finire, finis, fin
firmare
7
citizen, community
to shout, cry out
acclaim, clear, to
make clear
to shut, close
mild, merciful
to lean, slope
to strain, filter
to till, care, cultivate
to cook, to mature
heart
skin, hide
crown
body
to believe, trust
to grow
crime, offense
to torture, cross
to blame, fault
to heap up
to take care of,
concern
to run, go
tooth
god
right, right hand
to speak, say
worthy, fitting,
suitable
to direct
to teach
lord, master
a dwelling, home
to give, to forgive
to sleep
to lead, take, bring
to harden, hard
to wander, go astray
story
to make, to do
to deceive,
disappoint
to bear, to carry
iron
to boil, glow, rage
to trust, believe, faith
son, daughter
(respectively)
to end, to limit
to make firm,
civic, city, civility
reclamation clarare, clarus, clarify, clarity,
declaration, claret
recluse, cloister, enclosure, conclusion
clemency, inclement
clinometer, incline
portcullis, percolate, colander
cultivation, culture, cult
precocious, concoction, cook
courage, cordial, accord
excoriate
corona, coronation, coronary
corporation, corporeal
credentials, credit, incredible
crescendo, concretism, accretion, increase
criminology, incriminate
excruciating, crusade, cruzeiro
culpable, exculpate
cumulative, accumulate
curate, curious, manicure
occur, precursor, concur, course
denture, endodontia, dentifrice
deify, deity, deism
ambidextrous, dextrorotation
abdicate, indict
condign, dignitary
dirge, dirigible, address-- -- -- -- --see "regere" below
document, docent, doctrine
danger, domineer
domesticity, major-domo
condone, donation, donor
dormouse, dormitory
abduct, seduction, conducive, duke, education
obdurate, duress
aberration, err, erratic
confabulate, fable, fabulous
manufacture, sufficient, facsimile
fallacious, infallible, fail
relate, confer, referendum
ferrotype, ferric, ferrous
fervor, effervescent
perfidy, fiduciary, confidant
filial, affiliation
infinity, finite, confinement
affirm, confirmation, firmament
figare, fixus
flare, flatus
flectere, flexus
fluere, fluxum, fluctus
foedus, fed
fortis
frangere, fractum
frater
fugere, fugitum
fumus
fundere, fusum
generare, genus1
gerere, gestum
glomerare
gnoscere, cognoscere,
gnarus, cognitum
gradi, gressus, gradus
granum, grani
gratia, gratus
gravare, gravis
grex, gregis, gregar
habere, habitum
haerere
herba
hilarare, hilaris
homo
horrere
hospes
ire, itum, itineris
jacere, ject, jactum2
jicere2
judex, judicare
jungere, junctum
jus, juris, jurare
juvenis
laborare
lacto, lact
lapis
latus
laudare, laudatum
lavare
laxare
legere, lectum3
8
strengthen
to fasten, attach
blow
to bend
to flow
league
strong
to break
brother
to flee
smoke
to pour
birth, origin, race,
species, kind, to
beget, produce
to carry, to bear
to form into a ball
to know
to step, to walk, a
degree
seed, kernel
agreeable, favor,
thanks
to weigh down, heavy
flock, herd, to gather
into a flock
to have, hold
to stick
grass, herb
to gladden, merry
man
to shudder, terrible
guest, host
to go, journey, walk
to lie, cast oneself
down, to throw
to throw between
judge
to join
law, right, to swear
young
to work
milk
stone
side
to praise, glory
to wash
to loosen, widen
to read, choose,
fixative, crucifix, suffix
deflate, inflation
flexible, deflection, inflection
confluence, fluid, effluvium, influx, flume
confederacy, federation
fort, comfort, fortify, force
fraction, frangible, infringement
fraternal, fraternize
centrifugal, fugue
fumitory, fumarole
refund, diffuse, profound
generous, generic, gentle, genre, engender,
generation
belligerent, gesture, digest, gestation
conglomeration, glomerulus
incognito, cognition, ignorant, gnostic
progress, graduate, centigrade
granary, granule
congratulate, gratitude, grace
aggravate, gravamen, gravid, grief
segregate, congregation gregarious
habit, inhibit
coherence, adhere
herbivorous, herbaceous
hilarious, exhilarate
homicidal, hominize
horrendous, abhor
hospice, hostage, hostess
itinerant, transit, initiate
reject, adjacent, eject
interjection
judicious, prejudice, judge
conjugal, junction, joint
jurisprudence, abjure, perjury, juror, injury, justify
rejuvenate, juvenescent
collaborate, elaborate, laboratory
lacteal, lactose
lapis lazuli, lapidate
lateral, bilateral, collateral
laudable, allow
lavender, laver, lavish, lavabo
relax, laxity
elegant, elite, collect, dialect, legend, select, election,
lex, legis, legalis
3
liber
liber
ligare
lingua
littera
locare, locus
loqui, locutus
lucere, lux, lucis, lumen
ludere, lusum, ludus
luna
magnus, magna
malus, mal
mandare, mando
manus, mani, man
mare
mater
mecari
medius, medio
mens
migrare
militare
mille
minimus, minor
mirare, miror, mirari
mittere, missum
monere, monitus
morbus
mordere, morsun
moris
mors, mortis, mori
movere, motus
multus
mutare, mutatum
nascor, natus
negare, negatus
nihil
nocere
nominare, nomen,
nominis
norma
notare
novus
nox, noct
nullus
numerus
9
gather
law
book
free
to bind
tongue, language
letter
to place, place
speak, talk
to shine, light
to play, to mock
moon
great
bad, evil, wrong
to order, to command
hand
sea
mother
to trade, buy
middle
mind
to move from one
place to another
to serve as soldiers
thousand
least, small
to look at, to wonder
at
to send, let, go
to warn
disease
to bite
manners, customs
deather, to die
to move
much, many
to change
to bear, to born
to deny
nothing
to harm, injure
to name, name
rule
to mark, note
new
night
none
number
neglect
privelege, illegitimate, legislature, lex non scripta,
legal
libel, libretto
libertine, deliberate, liberal
allegiance, ally, oblige, ligature
linguistics, lingual, language
obliterate, literature, letter, literati
dislocate, allocate, local
soliloquy, loquacious, circumlocution
translucent, Lucifer, luminous
illusion, interlude, ludicrous
lunate, lunatic, lunation, lunula
magnanimous, Magna Carta
malevolent, malfeasance, grand mal
mandate, commandment, mandarin
emancipate, manifest, manumit
mariner, aquamarine, mare
alma mater, maternity
merchant, market
medieval, intermediary
mention, mentation
migratory, emigrant
demilitarize, militia
millennium, millivolt
minimal, minimize, minute
miracle, mirage, admiral
emissary, remit, admittance, commissary
monitor, admonition
morbid, morbilli
morsel, remorse, mordacious
morality, mores
post-mortem, mortgage, mortmain
locomotive, motion, motor
multiply, multimedia
molt, mutation
native, prenatal, nature, renaissance
negation, abnegate
annihilate, nil
innocent, innocuous, obnoxious
nominate, misnomer, nomenclature
normative, enormity
notation, notary, connotation
renovate, novice, nova
equinox, noctuid
annul, nullifidian
enumerate, supernumerary, numerology
nuntiare, nuntius
oculus
opus, operari
parare, par, pari
passus, pati
pater
pax, pacis
pedis, pes
pellere, pulsus
pendere, pensare,
pendulus
petere
placare, placidus, placere
plaudere, plauseum
plenus
plere, pletum
plicare, plicatum, plicit,
ply
plus, pluris
ponere, positum
populus
portare, port
portio
potens, potentis
prehendere, prehensum
pressus
pretiare, prec
primus, primatis
privare
probare, probatum
proximus
pugil, pugnare
purgare
putare
quaerere, quaesitus
radius
radix
rapere
ratus
regere, rectus4
regere, rex, regis4
ridere, risum
rogare, rogatum
rotare, rotatus, rota
rumpere, ruptus
sacer, sacrare5
sagax, sagacis, sapare
10
to report, tell,
messenger
eye
work, to work
to make equal, equal
suffer
father
peace
foot
to drive, driven
to weigh, hang,
weight
to rush at, seek
to soother, gentle, to
please
to clap, applaud
full
to fill
to fold
nuncio, renounce
more
to place
people
to carry
share, portion
powerful
to seize, take hold
pressed down
to value
first
separate, peculiar
to prove, test
nearest
boxer, to fight
to clean
to think, estimate
to ask, seek
ray
root
to seize
fixed by calculation
right, to make straight
to rule, king
pluriaxial, plurality, surplus
position, opposite, depot
popularity, populace
portage, export
apportion, proportion
potentate, potentiometer
apprentice, reprehensible
depress, oppress, impress
depreciation, precious, price
primordial, prima facie
privilege, deprive
probation, prove
approximate, proximity
repugnant, pugilist
purge, purgatory, expurgation
computer, reputation
exquisite, inquisition, conquer, quest
radiation, radian
radicle, radical, eradicate
rapture, surreptitious, usurp, ravish
reason, ration
erect, rectitude, rectus
regency, regal, corrigible, regimen, direct, rule,
regular
derision, ridicule
arrogance, rogation, interrogate
rotation, rotary, rotor
rupture, interrupt
consecrate, sacrifice, sacrarium
sage, sagacious, sapient
to laugh
to ask
to turn, wheel, turned
to break, broken
holy, to make holy
wise, to taste, know
monocle, binocular
magnum opus, opera, operative
disparate, parity, peer
patient, passive
paternoster, patronize
pacific, appease
expedition, pedicel
compel, expel, propellant, pulsate
impending, compendium, appendage, expenditure
impetuous, petulant, petition
placate, implacable, placebo, please
plaudit, implode
plenipotentiary, replenish, plenty
expletive, replete
reply, implicate, complicate, explicate, plait
sal
salire, saltum
salvare
sanctus5
sanguis
sanitas, sanatorius
satis, satiare
scandere
scire, sciens
scribere, script
secare, sect
sedere, sess
seminare, semen
sentire, sensum
sepsis
sequens, sequi
signare, signum
similare, simulare
socius, sociare
sol
solare, solus
solvere, solutum
somnus
sonus
sors, sortis
specere, spectum, spic
spirare
spondere, sponsus
stare, stet, stat
stellare, stella
stringere, strictum
struere, structus
surgere, surrection
tangere, tactus
tegere, tectus
temperare, tempus
tendere, tent
tenere, tain
tentare, tent
terminus
terra
torquere, tortum
tradere
trahere, tract
tribuere, tributus, tribus
trudere, trusus
toxicare, toxicum
11
salt
to leap, jump
to save
holy
blood
health, healthy
enough, to fill full
to climb
to know, knowing
to write, the thing
written
to cut
to sit
to sow, seed
to feel, perceive
putrefaction, poison
to follow, following
to mark out
to make like, to feign
companion, to join
sun
to make lonely, alone
to loose
sleep
sound
lot, a share
to look at, see
salimeter, saline
sally, saltatory, resile, result
save, salvation, salvage
sanctity, sanctuary, sacrosanct
sangria, sanguine, consanguinity
sanitation, sanitarium
sated, insatiable, satisfaction
ascend, descendant, ascension
omniscient, science
describe, subscription, scribe
intersection, secateurs
sediment, sedan, session, president
seminal, disseminate, seminary
consent, sensible, sentient
septic, septicemia, aseptic
prosecute, second, sequential, pursue, non sequitur
assignation, consignment
similar, facsimile, simulation, assimilate
social, society, association
solar, solstice
solo, solitary
solvent, dissolute, soluble
somnolent, somniloquy
dissonance, unison, sonorous
sort, consortium
perspicacity, specify, spectacle, retrospect, prospect,
perspective
to breathe
spirit, aspirator, expire, inspiration, respiration, aspire
to pledge, promise
spouse, correspondence
to stand
stable, establish, statue, superstition, distant
to shine, star
constellation, stelliferous
bind, draw tight
astringent, constriction, strict
build, arrange, pile up misconstrue, instruct, instrument
to rise, risen
insurgency, resurrection
to touch
tangent, tactual
to cover, covered
integument, detection, protect
time
tense, contemporize, temper
to stretch, strain, thin pretentious, tenuous, contend, tend, tense
to hold
pertain, abstinence, tenacious, tenant
to touch, try
tentacle, tentatively
limit, end, boundary
determine, terminator
earth
terra firma, terrace
to twist, twisted
contortionist, extort, torsion, torque
to deliver
extradite, tradition, treason
to draw, drawn
subtract, tractable, protract
to assign, allot, pay
tributary, attribute, distribute
to thrust, thrust
intrusion, protrusile
to smear with poison toxic, toxoplasmosis, toxicology
tumere
turbare, turba
unus, uni
urbs, urbanus
vacare, vacuus
vagari
valere, validum
velle, volens
verbum
venire, ventum
vertere, versum
verus
vestire
via
videre, visum
vincere
violare, violatus
vir
vita
vivere, vita
vocare, vocatum, vox
volvere, volutum
vorare
12
to swell
to disturb
one
city
to be empty, empty
to wander
to be strong, to have
worth
wish, willing
word
to come
to turn, change,
incline
true
to dress
way
see, look, provide
to overcome, conquer
to violate
man
life
to live, life
to call, voice
turn
to devour
tumescence, tumult, contumelious
perturb, turbid
union, unipetalous
exurb, urbanologist
vacuity, vacuous, evacuate
extravagant, vagaries
valor, valid, evaluate
volition, velleity
proverb, verbatim
revenue, convention, advent, contravene
vertigo, verse, introvert, versatile, anniversary
verily, verify, very
vestment, divest, investiture
pervious, viaticum
provident, visible, supervise
invincible, convince, victor
violation, inviolate
triumvirate, virago
vitality, vitamin
revive, viviparous, vonvivial
vociferous, convocation, irrevocable, revoke
involve, revolt, devolve
voracious, carnivore, omnivorous
GREEK
GREEK PREFIX(ES) DEFINITION(S) EXAMPLES OF PREFIX(ES)
a, an
amphi
ana
anti
cata
dia, di
epi
exo
eu
heteros
homos
hyper
hypo
meta
para
peri
poly
pro
syn, sym, syl, sys
not, without
about, around,
both
up, against
against, opposite
down
across, through
upon, over
outside, outer part
well
other
same
over, extremely
under, in smaller
measure
after, over,
between
beside
around, about
many, much
before
together, with, by
means of
amoral, anarthria
amphibian, amphibolite
anapest, anasarca
antivivisection, antipodes
catacomb, catapult
dialysis, dialect
episode, epistle
exoteric, exostosis
euphemism, euthanasia, eugenics
heterodox, heterogeneous
homonym, homoiothermal
hypergamy, hyperpnea
hypocrite, hypocaust
metaplasia, metathesis
parable, paradox
perimeter, periphery
polygamy, polyhedron, polyglot
procrastinate, projectile
syllable, synapsis, syncretism
GREEK SUFFIX
DEFINITION
EXAMPLES OF SUFFIX
osis
state, condition,
action
neurosis, psychosis
GREEK ROOT(S)
DEFINITION(S)
EXAMPLE(S) OF ROOT(S)
acro
tip, top, apex,
pointed
to lead, to direct, to
incite
struggle, contest
field, earth, soil
pain
other, departure
from normal
man, stamen
wind
ancient, old,
original
acropolis, acrophobia
agogos, agein
agon, agonia
agro, agros
algia
allo, allos
andros, aner, anthropos
anemo, anemos
archaeo, archaios
13
demagogue, pedagogic
antagonist, agony
agronomy, agrostology
neuralgia, diaphragmalgia
allopath, allogamy
anthropomorphic, androsphinx
anemometer, anemophilous
archaeology, archeozoic
arch, archos
aristo, aristos
astron, aster, astro
auto, autos
baro, baros
barys
biblos, biblion
bios
caco
chiro, cheir
chroma, chromato
chrono, chronos
cosmos
cracy, crat
crypto
cyclos
deca
demos
dendron
derma
deutero, deuter
didonai, dosis
dis, di
doxo
dynamis
esthesia
ethnos
gamos
gastro
ge, geo
gen, geno2
glot, glossa1
glyphe
gon
gonos
gramma, gram
grapho
gyn, gyneco
hemo, hema
hedron, hedral, hedra
helios
hemi
hepta
hexa
hiero
hydor, hydro
14
chief, first, rule
best
star
self
pressure, weight
heavy
book, of books
life, living things
bad, poor, evil
hand
color
time
world, order
type of government
hide
circular, wheel
ten
people
tree
skin
second
give
twice, doubly
opinion, praise
power
the ability to feel
sensation
race, nation
marriage
stomach
earth
race, kind, descent
tongue, language
carving
figure having
angles
to produce
something written
or drawn
write
woman, women
blood
side, base, seat
sun, bright
half
seven
six
sacred, holy
water
monarch, archipelago, archangel
aristocracy, aristocrat
aster, astral
autoharp, autoimmune, autochthon
barograph, barometer
barium, hyperbaric
bibliopole, bibliolatry
biocenosis, bionics, biopsy
cacophony, cacoethes
chiromancy, chiropter
chromomere, chromoprotein
chronograph, chronicle
cosmography, cosmic
theocracy, bureaucrat
cryptogam, cryptogenic
cyclothymia, cyclorama
Decapolis, decaliter
demographics, endemic, democrat
dendrochronology, dendroid
hypodermic, dermoid
Deuteronomy, deuterocanonical
dose, dosage
dichotomy, dipody
heterodox, doxology
dynamo, dyne
anesthesia, aesthetics
ethnomusicology, ethnocentrism
monogamy, polygamy
gastritis, gastrolith, gastric
geodesic, geometry
Genesis
glossary, monoglot, glossalalia
petroglyph, glyphography
pentagon, polygon
cosmogony, theogony
telegram, electrocardiogram
lithography, graphology
misogyny, gyniatrics, gynarchy
hemoglobin, hematoma
hexahedral, polyhedron
heliotropic, helium, heliograph
hemisphere, hemicranial
heptahedron, heptameter
hexameter, hexahedron
hieroglyphic, hierophant
hydroponics, hydrology
hypno
icono
ideo
isos
kilo, chilioi
klastes
latreia
lithos, lite
logos
lysis
macros, macro
mania
mega
megalo
metron
micros, micro
miso, misein
monos
morphe
mytho
naus, nautes3
necro
neos
neuron, neuro
nomos
octo
oligo
onoma, onym
opsis, optic, ophthalmo
ornitho
oro
orthos
osteon
pais, paidos
paleo
pan
pater, patri
pathos, path
ped, pedo
penta
petros
phago, phage
phainein
philos
15
sleep
image, likeness,
figure
idea
equal, alike,
identical
thousand
breaker, broken
service, worship
stone
word, study
to loosen
enlarged, elongated
madness
large, powerful
large, great,
enlarged
measure
small
to hate
one, alone
form
myth
ship, sailor
physical death,
corpse
new, young
nerve
law, science,
management
eight
few, scant, small
name
view, sight
bird, birds
mountain
right, correct
bone
child
ancient, early,
prehistoric
all, every
father
suffering, disease
small child
five
rock, stone
eating, destroying
to show, be visible
loving
autohypnosis, hypnotoxin
iconology, iconostasis
ideogram, ideophone
isocracy, isometric
chiliarch, kilocalorie, kilovolt
iconoclast, clastic
idolatry, demonolatry
chrysolite, lithotomy
logic, logomachy
analysis, electrolysis
macrocosm, macropterous
pyromania, kleptomania
megapod, megalith
megalocardia, megalomania
thermometer, metronome
microcosm, microphone
misogyny, misology, misoneism
monocle, monosyllable
metamorphic, morphallaxis
mythological, mythos
naumachia, astronaut, navigation
necrology, necrophagia
Neoplatonism, neoprene
neuritis, neuropteran
nomography, astronomer
octagonal, octogenarian
oligarchy, oliguria
allonym, homonym
optical, amblyopia
ornithopter, ornithosis
orogenic, orology
orthography, orthogenesis
osteoporosis, ossify
pediatric, pedobaptism
paleontology, paleolithic
pandemonium, Pandora
patronymic, patrician
empathy, pathogen
pediatrics, pedant, pedobaptism
Pentateuch, pentathlon
petrography, petrol
anthropophagite, phagocyte
emphasis, fantasy, fancy
philharmonic, philately
phobia, phobos
phone
phos, photo
physis, physio
plasma
pneuma
podos, pous
polis
polys
protos
pseudes, pseudo
psycho
ptero
pyr
rheo, rrhea
schizo
scopos, skopein
seismo
sophia
sphero
static
taphos
techno
tele
temno, tomos
tetra
thanato
theos
therapy
thermo
thesis, tithenai
topo
typos
zoon
16
fear, dread
sound, speak
light
nature
form
air, breath, spirit
foot
city
many
first
false, fake
soul, mind, breath
feather, wing
fire
flow, current
cleave, cut
spy, watcher, to see
earthquake
wisdom
sphere, ball, layer of
gas
causing to stand
tomb, bury
art
far, far off
cut, that which is
cut off, out
four
death
god
to cure, nurse
heat
position
place, local
type, figure, model
animal
photophobia, xenophobia
phonograph, phoneme
photobiotic, phosgene
physiologic, physiocrat
plasmodium, deutoplasm
pneumothorax, pneumococcus
octopus, chiropodist, podiatry
politician, Neopolitan, police
polynomial, polymer
proton, protozoa
pseudoscience, pseudosalt
psychometry, psychosis
pterosaur, pteropod
pyromaniac, pyrography, pyretic, pyrogen
logorrhea, rheophile
schizogenesis, schizogony
telescope, otoscope
seismology, seismic
sophomoric, sophist
ionosphere, atmosphere, spheroid
hydrostatics, electrostatic
epitaph
tectonic, technocrat
telemetry, telencephalon
appendectomy, lobotomy, tome
tetrarch, Tetragrammaton
thanatopis, thanatology, euthanasia
monotheism, theophany
therapeutics, heliotherapy
thermophile, thermotaxis
synthesis, thesis
toponym, topographic, topic
typography, typify
zoogenic, zoonosis