Roots
English vocabulary includes short words like the
article a as well as longer words such as
inextricably and denunciation. Short words such
as speak and solve are called base words or
root words when they
are derived from another
language such as Greek
or Latin because they
CANNOT be broken down
into smaller parts.
Although base or root words cannot be
reduced to smaller parts, other word parts
can be added to base words to produce
longer words with various meanings.
pre + fix = prefix
There are two kinds
of word parts: base or
root words and affixes
(prefixes or suffixes).
prefix + root + suffix
affixes
Meanings of Roots
Sometimes readers can determine the meaning of
a word by defining its root. A root is a base word
or word part, often derived from Greek or Latin,
that contains the core meaning of the word. The
meaning of the word varies depending upon the
affix (prefix or suffix) that is used.
Roots have meaning. Study the following
roots, their meanings, and some examples
of words in which they appear.
Greek
Latin
Word Origins: Greek
Greek Root
Meaning
English Words
anthrop
human
anthropology,
anthropomorphic
bibl
book
bibliography,
Bible
chrom
color
monochrome,
chromatic
derm
skin
gnos
know
dermatology,
Epidermis
agnostic,
Diagnostic
Word Origins: Greek
Greek Root
Meaning
orth
straight
phil
like, love
photo
light
pyro
fire
therm
heat
English Words
orthodox,
orthodontist
philosophy,
philanthropy
photograph,
photogenic
pyromaniac,
pyrotechnics
thermometer,
thermal
Word Origins: Latin
Latin Root
Meaning
dict
say, speak
medi
half, middle
nov
new
satis
sufficient, enough
spir
breath
English Words
contradict,
predict, verdict
mediate,
medieval
novel, renovate,
novice
saturate,
satisfy
inspire,
respiration
Word Origins: Latin
Latin Root
Meaning
tort
twist
trib
pay, bestow
ven
come
vis
see
vor
swallow
English Words
torture,
contort
tribute,
attribute
Intervene,
venture
revise,
vista
devour,
carnivorous
Homework
• For each root word that we have studied
today, find another example word and its
meaning.