Critical Reading—K. Crider
Greek and Latin Roots
Root
Definition
Examples
1.
Ac
Sharp
Acute, exacerbate, acid, acerbic
2.
Acr
Sharp
Acrimonious, acrid, acrimony
3.
Ag
Act, do
Agent, agitate, agenda
4.
Agr
Field
Agriculture, agronomy, agrarian
5.
Alb
White
Albino, albumen, album
6.
Alg
Pain
Neuralgia, nostalgia, analgesic
7.
Alter
Other
Alter ego, altercation, alternate, alternator
8.
Am
To love
Amiable, amicable, amorous, amateur
9.
Ambi
Around, both
Ambitious, ambiguous, ambidextrous,
ambivalent
10.
Amphi
Around, both
Amphitheater, amphibian
11.
Ana
Back, throughout,
similar to
Anagram, analysis, analogy
12.
Anim
Mind, soul, spirit,
passion
Animate, unanimity, animosity,
unanimous
13.
Ann
Year
Annual, annuity, anniversary, annals
14.
Anthrop Human
Anthropology, philanthropist,
misanthrope, anthropoid
15.
Aqua
Water
Aquatic, aquarium, aqueduct, aquamarine
16.
Arch
Chief, ruler Ancient,
first
Archbishop, archenemy, architect,
patriarch, anarchy Archive, archetype,
archaic, archaeology
17.
Aster
Star
Asterisk, aster, asteroid, disaster
18.
Astr
Star
Astronomy, astronaut, astrology,
astronomical
19.
Aud
To hear
Audible, audition, audience, auditorium,
audit
20.
Avi
Bird
Aviary, avian, aviator, aviation
21.
Bell
War
Rebellion, rebel, belligerent, bellicose
22.
Bene
Well, good
Benefit, beneficial, benediction,
benevolent, benefactor
1
23.
Bibl
Book
Bible, bibliography, bibliophile,
bibliomania
24.
Bio
Life
Biology, biography, biopsy, symbiotic
25.
Brev
Short
Brevity, abbreviation, brief, abridge
26.
Cad
Fall
Cadence, decadence
27.
Cal
Heat
Calorie
28.
Cand
White, glowing
Candle, incandescent, candid, candidate
29.
Cap
Take
Caption, captious, capacious, capable
30.
Capit
Head
Capital, decapitate, capitulate, per capita,
captain
31.
Card
Heart
Cardiac, cardiogram
32.
Carn
Flesh, meat
Carnivorous, incarnate, carnal, carnation
33.
Cas
Fall
Cascade, casualty, casuistry
34.
Cata
Down
Catastrophe, cataract, cataclysm, catapult
35.
Ced
Go, yield
Cede, precede, concede, accede,
antecedent
36.
Ceed
Go, yield
Proceed, exceed, succeed
37.
Ceive
Take
Receive, conceive
38.
Center
Center
Center, central, centrifugal, concentrate
39.
Cept
Take
Reception, concept, except, inception
40.
Cess
Go, yield
Ancestor, predecessor, recession, recess,
access
41.
Chrom
Color
Monochromatic, chromatic, panchromatic
42.
Chron
Time
Chronic, chronology, synchronize
43.
Cid
Fall Cut, Kill
Coincidental, occident, accident, incident
Suicide, decide, concise, genocide, incisor
44.
Cis
Cut, Kill
Incisive, precise, scissors
45.
Civ
Citizen
Civic, civil, civility, civilian
46.
Clam
Cry out
Clamor, proclamation, acclamation,
acclaim, claim
47.
Clar
Clear
Clarity, clarion, clarinet, clairvoyance
48.
Claus
Close, shut
Clause, claustrophobia
49.
Clos
Close, shut
Cloister, closet, close, disclose
50.
Clud
Close, shut
Seclude, exclude, conclude, include
2
51.
Clus
Close, shut
Seclusion, exclusion, conclusion, inclusion
52.
Cord
Heart
Cordial, concord, discord, accord
53.
Corp
Body
Corpse, corps, corporation, corporal,
corporate
54.
Cosm
Universe, order
Cosmic, cosmopolitan, cosmonaut,
cosmetic
55.
Cour
Heart
Courage, courtesy, discourage, encourage
56.
Crac
Rule
Democracy, aristocracy, bureaucracy,
plutocracy
57.
Crat
Rule
Democrat, aristocrat, bureaucrat, autocrat
58.
Crease
Grow
Increase, decrease
59.
Cred
Believe
Credit, credentials, credible
60.
Cres
Grow
Crescendo, crescent
61.
Cret
Grow
Concrete
62.
Cru
Cross
Crusade, crux, crucial
63.
Crypt
Hidden
Crypt, cryptic, crytography, decryption
64.
Culp
Blame
Culprit, culpable, exculpate
65.
Cur
Run Care
Excursion, current, curriculum, occur,
concur, cursive Curator, secure, manicure,
accurate, curate, cure
66.
Cycl
Circle
Cyclone, bicycle, cyclic, encyclopedia
67.
Dem
People
Democracy, epidemic, demagogue,
demography
68.
Dent
Tooth
Dentist, dentifrice, indent, denture
69.
Derm
Skin
Dermatology, dermatitis, taxidermy,
epidermis
70.
Dict
Speak
Dictionary, predict, contradict, dictate,
edict
71.
Dom
Rule, home
Dominate, domestic, domicile,
predominant
72.
Domin
Master
Dominate, domain, predominant,
domineer
73.
Duc
Lead
Conducive, deduce, educate, introduce
74.
Duct
Lead
Induct, conductor, abduct, aqueduct,
deductive
75.
Dur
Hard, lasting
Durable, duress, endure, duration
3
76.
Dyn
Power
Dynasty, dynamite
77.
Dynam
Power
Dynamite, dynamic, dynamo
78.
Enn
Year
Biennial, centennial, perennial, millennium
79.
Equ
Equal
Equalize, equator, adequate, inequitable
80.
Erg
Work
Erg, energetic, ergonomics, synergistic
81.
Err
Wander
Err, error, erratic, aberration, erroneous,
errant
82.
Fac
Make, do
Manufacture, facility, benefactor, factory,
faculty, facilitate
83.
Fect
Make, do
Defect, affect, effect, infect
84.
Fer
Carry, bear
Ferry, infer, conifer, circumference, prefer,
refer
85.
Fic
Make, do
Efficacy, artificial, proficient, benefit
86.
Fid
Faith
Confide, confident, fidelity, infidel,
affidavit
87.
Fin
End
Finite, fine, definite, infinite, finish, affinity
88.
Flect
Bend
Reflect, inflect, deflect, genuflect
89.
Flex
Bend
Flexible, flex, inflexible
90.
Flu
Flow
Fluent, confluence, fluctuate, flux,
influence
91.
Fort
Strong
Fortify, comfort, fortitude, forte, fort,
fortress
92.
Fract
Break
Fraction, infraction, refractory, fracture
93.
Frag
Break
Fragile, fragment
94.
Frater
Brother
Fraternal, fraternity, fraternize, friar
95.
Fus
Pour
Refuse, diffuse, profuse, transfusion
96.
Gam
Marriage
Bigamist, misogamist, gamete
97.
Gen
Race, birth, kind,
origin
Generation, genius, generate, gentleman,
generous, genesis, genetics, genre
98.
Geo
Earth
Geode, geology, geometry
99.
Gni
Know
Cognitive, recognize
100.
Gno
Know
Ignorant, ignore
101.
Gnos
Know
Diagnosis, prognosis, agnostic
102.
Grad
Step, walk
Graduate, gradual, degrade, upgrade,
grade
4
103.
Gram
Write
Diagram, telegram, program, epigram
104.
Graph
Write
Geography, autograph, graphic, biography
105.
Greg
Flock, herd
Congregation, segregate, gregarious,
aggregate
106.
Gress
Step, move
Progress, digress, aggressive,
transgression, regression
107.
Helio
Sun
Helium, heliocentric
108.
Hemo
Blood
Hemoglobin, hemophilia, hemorrhage,
hemorrhoid
109.
Hum
Ground
Humus, exhume, humble, humility
110.
Hydr
Water
Hydroplane, hydraulic, dehydrate,
hydrant
111.
Iso
Equal
Isometric, isotherm, isobar, isotype
112.
Jac
Throw
Ejaculate
113.
Ject
Throw
Reject, trajectory, eject, inject
114.
Junct
Join
Juncture, adjunct, conjugal, junction
115.
Jur
To take oath
Jury, jurisprudence, conjure, jurisdiction,
perjury
116.
Lat
Bear, carry
Translate, collate, relative, legislature
117.
Lect
Gather, choose, read
Collect, electorate, intellect, neglect
118.
Leg
Law
Legitimate, illegal, legislature, legacy
119.
Lith
Stone
Paleolithic, lithograph, megalith
120.
Loc
Speak
Circumlocution, elocution, interlocutor
121.
Log
Speech, word
Analogy, analogy, eulogy, dialog
122.
Loqu
Speak
Soliloquy, eloquent, colloquial, loquacious
123.
Luc
Light
Lucid, elucidate, lucidity, luster
124.
Lum
Light
Luminous, illuminate
125.
Magn
Great
Magnitude, magnate, magnify,
magnanimous, magnificent
126.
Mal
Bad
Dismal, malicious, malice, malady,
malignant
127.
Man
Hand
Manacle, manipulate, emancipate,
manage, manicure
128.
Manu
Hand
Manual, maneuver, manufacture,
manuscript
5
129.
Mar
Sea
Submarine, marina, mariner
130.
Mater
Mother
Matriarch, matrix, maternal, maternity
131.
Medi
Middle
Medieval, mediator, immediate, median
132.
Mega
Great, large
Megaton, megalomania, megabyte,
megalith
133.
Meta
Change, beyond
Metabolism, metaphor, metamorphosis
134.
Meter
Measure
Meter, speedometer, diameter,
thermometer
135.
Metr
Measure
Geometry, metric, telemetry, isometric
136.
mid
Middle
Midst, middle, midnight, amid
137.
Migr
Wander
Migrate, migrant, immigrant, migratory
138.
Min
Small
Miniature, minute, diminutive
139.
Mis
Send
Promise, premise, demise
140.
Miss
Send
Dismiss, mission, missile, emissary,
transmission
141.
Mit
Send
Transmit, omit, intermittent, commitment,
emit, submit
142.
Mob
Move
Mobile, immobilize
143.
Mon
Warn
Admonition, premonition, monitor
144.
Morph
Form, shape
Amorphous, morphine, anthropomorphic,
ectomorphic
145.
Mort
Death
Immortal, mortuary, mortify, mortgage
146.
Mot
Move
Motion, motive, promote, emotion
147.
Nais
Born
Renaissance
148.
Nas
Born
Nascent
149.
Nat
Born
Natural, innate, nation
150.
Nav
Ship, sail
Naval, navigate, nave, navy
151.
Neo
New
Neon, neophyte, neolithic
152.
Nihl
None
Nihilism, annihilate
153.
Nil
None
Nil
154.
Nom
Law, order
Astronomical, economy, metronome
155.
Noun
Name
Noun, announce
156.
Null
None
Null, nullify
157.
Nym
Name
Synonym, antonym
6
158.
Onoma
Name
Onomatopoeia
159.
Onym
Name
Synonym, antonym, homonym, acronym,
anonymous
160.
Oper
Work
Operate, inoperable, opulent, opera
161.
Ops
See
Cyclops
162.
Opt
See Choose
Optic Option, adopt, opt, optimist
163.
Ora
Mouth, talk
Oral, oration, orifice, adorable
164.
Os
Mouth, bone
Osculate, oscillate, ostracize, ossify
165.
Oys
Mouth
Oyster
166.
Pan
All
Pantomime, panacea, pantheism
167.
Pater
Father
Paternal, patrimony, patriarch
168.
Path
Feeling, suffering
Sympathy, empathy, apathy, antipathy,
psychopathic
169.
Ped
Foot Child Basket
Pedestrian, pedal, pedicure, centipede,
expedite Pediatrics, pedagogy Peddler
170.
Pel
Push
Repel, dispel, compel, expel, propel
171.
Pend
Hang, weigh
Pending, appendix, expend
172.
Pens
Hang, weigh
Pensive, dispense, compensate, pension
173.
Pet
Seek, try
Compete, petition, impetus, appetite
174.
Phil
Love
Philanthropy, philosophy, bibliophile,
philology
175.
Phob
Fear
Phobia, acrophobia, xenophobia
176.
Phon
Sound
Symphony, microphone, phonetics
177.
Phot
Light
Photography, telephoto, photosynthesis,
photogenic
178.
Physi
Nature, natural
Physics, physiology, physique, physical
179.
Plac
Please
Complacent, placate, placid
180.
Plex
Fold
Complex, perplex
181.
Plic
Fold
Complicate, duplicity, accomplice, replica
182.
Ply
Fold
Multiply, pliant, display
183.
Pod
Foot
Podiatrist, anthropod, tripod
184.
Poli
City
Politics, police, metropolis, policy
185.
Pon
Place, put
Exponent
186.
Port
Carry
Port, portable
7
187.
Pos
Place, put
Depose
188.
Prob
Prove, honest
Probation
189.
Psych
Mind
Psychic, psychology
190.
Puls
Push
Expulsion, compulsive, pulsate, repulsive
191.
Pyr
Fire
Pyromaniac
192.
Quer
Ask, seek
Query, conquer
193.
Ques
Ask, seek
Question, quest
194.
Quir
Ask, seek
Inquire, acquire, require
195.
Quis
Ask, seek
Inquisitive
196.
Rect
Rule, straight, right
Rectify, rectangle
197.
Reg
Rule, straight, right
Regent, regime
198.
Rupt
Break
Disrupt, rupture
199.
Sat
Enough
Satisfy, saturate
200.
Scal
Climb
Scale, escalate, escalator
201.
Scend
Climb
Ascend, descend, condescend
202.
Scop
Look
Scope, microscope
203.
Scrib
Write
Scribe, prescribe
204.
Script
Write
Scripture, script, conscription
205.
Secu
Follow
Consecutive, prosecute, execute
206.
Sed
Sit
Sediment
207.
Sens
Feel
Sense, consensus
208.
Sent
Feel
Sentiment, consent
209.
Sequ
Follow
Sequel
210.
Sess
Sit
Session
211.
Sid
Sit
President
212.
Sig
Sign
Significant, signal, signature, assign, resign
213.
Sist
Stand
Resist, insist, consist, resistance
214.
Soc
Society
Social, societal
215.
Socio
Society
Socialize, antisocial, sociopath
216.
Sol
Sun Alone
Solar Sole, solo, solitude
217.
Solv
Free, loose
Solve
8
218.
Soph
Wise
Sophisticated, sophomore
219.
Sopr
Above, over
Soprano
220.
Spec
Look
Aspect, speculate
221.
Spect
Look
Circumspect, inspect
222.
Spic
Look
Conspicuous
223.
Spir
Breathe
Inspire, aspire, conspire
224.
Spire
Breath, breathe
Inspire, expire, conspire, transpire
225.
Sta
Stand
Station, stagnant, status, statue
226.
Sti
Stand
constituent
227.
Stit
Stand
Constitute, destitute, destination, obstinate
228.
Stru
Build
Construe, instrument
229.
Struct
Build
Structure, obstruct, construct, instruction
230.
Su
Under
Suffer, surrender, success
231.
Syl
Together, with
Syllogism
232.
Sym
Together, with
Symphony, symbiotic
233.
Syn
Together, with
Synopsis, synergy
234.
Tact
Touch
Tact, contact, intact, tactile
235.
Tag
Touch
Contagious
236.
Tain
Hold
Detain, contain, container, sustain
237.
Tang
Touch
Tangible, tangent, contingent
238.
Techn
Art, skill
Technology, technician, technicality,
polytechnic
239.
Tele
Far
Telephone, television, telepathy, telemetry
240.
Tempor
Time
Tempo, extemporraneous, temporal,
contemporary
241.
Ten
Hold
Tenor, tenure, tenacious, tenacity
242.
Tend
Stretch
Extend, contend, pretend, tendency
243.
Tens
Stretch
Tension, ostensible, extension
244.
Tent
Stretch
Tent, pretentious, attention, tentacles
245.
Term
Boundary
Term, terminal, terminate, exterminate
246.
Terr
Earth
Territory, terrain, terrace, terrestrial
247.
Text
Weave
Textile, texture, textbook, context
9
248.
Thea
Look at
Theater
249.
Theo
God
Theology, atheist, pantheon, theocracy
250.
Therm
Heat
Thermometer, thermal, thermos, isotherm
251.
Thesis
Position, place
Thesis, antithesis, synthesis
252.
Tig
Touch
Contiguous
253.
Tin
Hold
Pertinent, pertinacious
254.
Tom
Cut
Anatomy, epitome, tonsillectomy
255.
Tort
Twist
Torture, retort, distort, contortion
256.
Tract
Drag, draw
Tractor, tractable, protactable, contract,
distract
257.
Trans
Across
Transfusion, transitory, transcribe,
translate
258.
Ultra
Beyond
Ultraviolet, ultrasonic, ultramodern
259.
Umbr
Shade
Umbrella, umbrage, adumbrate
260.
Uni
One
Unison, unanimous, unilateral, unicorn,
unify
261.
Urb
City
Urban, suburb, urbane, exurbia
262.
Urg
Work
Metallugy, urgent
263.
Vac
Empty
Vacuum, evacuate, vacancy, vacuity
264.
Val
Strong, worthy
Valiant, valor, value, evaluate
265.
Ven
Come
Advent, invent, adventure, convene, event
266.
Ver
True
Verdict, verify, very, veracity
267.
Verb
Word
Verbal, verbose, verbatim, proverb
268.
Vers
Turn
Universe, version, conversation, versatile,
diverse
269.
Vert
Turn
Divert, advertise, convert, vertebrae
270.
Via
Way
Via, viaduct, previous, trivia, deviate
271.
Vic
Substitute
Vice president, viceroy, vicarious
272.
Vice
Substitute
Vice president, vice admiral
273.
Vid
See
Video, evident, provident
274.
Vis
See
Visa, improvise, envision, invisible
275.
Viv
Live
Vivid, vivacious, vivify, revive
276.
Voc
Call, voice
Vocal, vocabulary, vocation, advocate
10
277.
Voke
Call, voice
Provoke, revoke, invoke, evoke
278.
Vol
Wish, will
Volunteer, volition, benevolent,
malevolent
279.
Volv
Roll
Revolve, devolve, volume, convuluted,
evolution
280.
Zo
Animal
Zoology, zodiac, protozoa
11