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Greek & Latin Roots

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Learning the Greek and Latin roots for words will help you to identify the meaning of words that you may not be familiar with.  Here are a variety of roots, their meaning, and examples of how they are used to form words. 

Root: Meaning (Examples)

acer, acid, acri: bitter, sour, sharp (acerbic, acidity, acrid, acrimony)

acu: sharp (acute, acupuncture, accurate)

ag, agi, ig, act: do, move, go (agent, agenda, agitate, navigate, ambiguous, action)

ali, allo, alter: other (alias, alibi, alien, alloy, alter, alter ego, altruism)

alt(us): high, deep (altimeter, altitude)

am, amor: love, liking (amiable, amorous, enamored)

Anni, annu, enni: year (anniversary, annually, centennial)

anthrop: man (anthropology, misanthrope, philanthropy)

anti(co): old (antique, antiquated, antiquity)

arch: chief, first, rule (archangel, architect, archaic, monarchy, matriarchy, patriarchy, Archeozoic era)

aster, astr: star (aster, asterisk, asteroid, astronomy, astronaut)

aud, aus: hear, listen (audiology, auditorium, audio, audition, ausculate)

aug, auc: increase (augur, augment, auction)

auto, aut: self (automobile, autograph, automatic)

belli: war (rebellion, belligerent, casus belli, bellicose)

bibl: book (Bible, bibliography, bibliomania)

bio: life (biology, biometrics, biome, biosphere)

brev: short (abbreviate, brief, brevity)

cad, cas: to fall (cadaver, cadence, cascade)

calor: heat (calorie, caloric, calorimeter)

cap, cip, cept: take (capable, intercept, forceps, capture, except, reciprocate)

capit, capt: head (decapitate, capital, captain, caption)

carn: flesh (carnivorous, incarnate, reincarnation, carnal)

caus, caut: burn, heat (caustic, cauldron, cauterize)

cause, cuse, cus: cause, motive (because, excuse, accusation)

ced, ceed, cede, cess: move, yield, go, surrender (procedure, proceed, cede, concede, recede, precede, accede, success)

cenetri: center (concentric, centrifugal, centripetal, eccentric)

chrom: color (chrome, chromosome, polychrome, chromatic)

chron: time (chronology, chronometer, synchronize)

cide, cise: cut down, kill (homicide, exorcise, germicide, incision, scissors)

cit: call, start (incite, citation, cite)

civ: citizen (civic, civil, civilian, civilization)

clam, claim: cry out (exclamation, clamor, proclamation, reclamation, acclaim)

clud, clus, claus: shut (include, conclude, recluse, claustrophobia, occlusion, occult)

cognoac, gnosi: know (recognize, prognosis, cognoscenti, incognito, agnostic)

cord, cor, cardi: heart (cordial, concord, discord, courage, encourage)

corp: body (corporation, corporal punishment, corpse, corpulent, corpus luteum)

cosm: universe, world (cosmos, microcosm, cosmopolitan, cosmonaut)

crat, cracy: rule (autocrat, aristocrat, theocracy, technocracy)

crea: create (creature, recreation, creation)

cred: believe (creed, credo, credence, credit, credulous, incredulous, incredible)

cresc, cret, crease, cru: rise, grow (crescendo, concrete, increase, decrease, accrue)

crit: separate, choose (critical, criterion, hypocrite)

cur, curs: run (current, concurrent, concur, incur, recur, occur, courier, precursor, cursive)

cura: care (curator, curative, manicure)

cycl, cyclo: wheel, circular (Cyclops, unicycle, bicycle, cyclone, cyclic)

deca: ten (decade, decalogue, decathlon, decahedron)

dem: people (democracy, demography, epidemic)

dent, dont: tooth (dental, denture, orthodontist, periodontal)

derm: skin (hypodermic, dermatology, epidermis, taxidermy)

dict: say, speak (dictation, dictionary, dictate, dictator, Dictaphone, edict, predict, verdict, contradict, benediction)

doc, dokein: teach (doctrine, indoctrinate, document, dogma, dogmatic)

domin: master (dominate, dominion, predominant, domain)

don: give (donate, condone)

dorm: sleep (dormant, dormitory)

dox: opinion, praise (orthodox, heterodox, paradox, doxology)

drome: run, step (syndrome (run together), hippodrome (place where horses run)

duc, duct: lead (induce, seduce (lead aside), produce, reduce)

dura: hard, lasting (durable, duration, endure)

dynam: power (dynamo, dynamic, dynamite, hydrodynamics)

endo: within (endorse, endocardial, endoskeletal, endoskeleton)

equi: equal (equinox, equilibrium, equipoise)

erg: work (energy, erg, allergy, ergometer, ergograph, ergophobia)

fac, fact, fic, fect: do, make (factory, fact, manufacture, amplification, confection)

fall, fals: deceive (fallacy, falsify, fallacious)

fer: bear, carry (ferry, coniferous, fertile, defer, infer, refer, transfer)

fid, fide, feder(is): faith, trust (confidante, fidelity, confident, infidelity, infidel, federal, confederacy, semper fi )

fila, fili: thread (filigree, filament, filter, filet, filibuster)

fin: end, ended, finished: final, finite, finish, confine, fine, refine, define, finale

fix: fix, attach (fix, fixation, fixture, affix, prefix, suffix)

flex, flect: bend (lex, reflex, flexible, flexor, inflexibility, reflect, deflect)

flu, fluc, fluv: flowing (influence, fluid, flue, flush, fluently, fluctuate)

form: form, shape (form, uniform, conform, formulary, perform, formal, formula)

fort, forc: strong (fort, fortress, fortify, forte, fortitude)

fract, frag: break (fracture, infraction, fragile, fraction, refract)

gam: marriage (bigamy, monogamy, polygamy)

gastr (o): stomach (gastric, gastronomic, gastritis, gastropod)

gen: birth, race, produce (genesis, genetics, eugenics, genealogy, generate, genetic, antigen, pathogen)

geo: earth (geometry, geography, geocentric, geology)

germ: vital part (germination, germ, germane)

gest: carry, bear (congest, gestation)

gloss, glot: tongue (glossary, polyglot, epiglottis)

glu, glo: lump, bond, glue (glue, agglutinate, conglomerate)

grad, gress: step, go (grade, gradual, graduate, progress, graduated, egress)

graph, gram: write, written (graph, graphic, autograph, photography, graphite, telegram)

grat: pleasing (congratulate, gratuity, grateful, ingrate)

grav: heavy, weighty (grave, gravity, aggravate, gravitate)

greg: herd (gregarious, congregation, segregate, gregarian)

hypn: sleep (hypnosis, hypnotherapy)

helio: sun (heliograph, heliotrope, heliocentric)

hema, hemo: blood (hemorrhage, hemoglobin, hemophilia, hemostat)

here, hes: stick (adhere, cohere, cohesion, inherent, hereditary)

hetero: different (heterogeneous, heterosexual, heterodox)

homo: same (homogeneous, homonym, homogenize)

hum, human: earth, ground, man (humus, exhume, humane)

hydr, hydra, hydro: water (dehydrate, hydrant, hydraulic, hydraulics, hydrogen, hydrophobia)

ignis: fire (ignite, igneous, ignition)

ject: throw (deject, inject, project, eject, interject )

join, junct: join (adjoining, enjoin, juncture, conjunction, injunction, conjunction)

juven: young (juvenile, rejuvenate)

lau, lav, lot, lut: wash (launder, lavatory, lotion, ablution, dilute)

leg: law (legal, legislate, legislature, legitimize)

levi: light (alleviate, levitate, levity)

liber, liver: free (liberty, liberal, liberalize, deliverance)

liter: letters (literary, literature, literal, alliteration, obliterate)

loc, loco: place (locality, allocate, locomotion)

log, logo, ology: word, study, speech (catalog, prologue, dialogue, logogram (symbol representing a word), zoology )

loqu, locut: talk, speak (eloquent, loquacious, colloquial, circumlocution)

luc, lum, lus, lun: light (translucent, luminary, luster, luna (moon goddess)

macr-, macer: lean (emaciated, meager)

magn: great (magnify, magnificent, magnanimous, magnate, magnitude, magnum)

man: hand (manual, manage, manufacture, manacle, manicure, manifest, maneuver, emancipate)

mand: command (mandatory, remand, mandate)

mania: madness (mania, maniac, kleptomania, pyromania)

mar, mari, mer: sea, pool (marine, marsh, maritime, mermaid)

matri: mother (matrimony, maternal, matriarchate, matron)

medi: half, middle, between, halfway (mediate, medieval, Mediterranean, mediocre, medium)

mega: great (megaphone, megalopolis, megacycle (a million cycles), megaton)

mem: remember (memo, commemoration, memento, memoir, memorable)

meter: measure (meter, voltammeter, barometer, thermometer)

micro: small (microscope, microfilm, microcard, microwave, micrometer)

migra: wander (migrate, emigrant, immigrate)

mit, miss: send (emit, remit, submit, admit, commit, permit, transmit, omit, intermittent, mission, missile)

mob, mot, mov: move (mobile, motionless, motor)

mon: warn, remind (monument, admonition, monitor, premonition)

mor, mort: mortal, death (mortal, immortal, mortality, mortician, mortuary )

morph: form (amorphous, dimorphic, metamorphosis, morphology)

multi: many, much (multifold, multilingual, multiped, multiply)

nat, nasc: to be from, to spring forth (innate, natal, native, renaissance)

neo: new (Neolithic, nuveau riche, neologism, neophyte, neonate)

neur: nerve (neuritis, neuropathic, neurologist, neural, neurotic)

nom: law, order (autonomy, astronomy, gastronomy, economy)

nomen, nomin: name (nomenclature, nominate, ignominious)

nov: new (novel, renovate, novice, nova, innovate)

nox, noc: night (nocturnal, equinox, noctilucent)

numer: number (numeral, numeration, enumerate, innumerable)

numisma: coin (numismatics)

oligo: few, little (Oligocene, oligosaccharide, oligotrophic, oligarchy)

omni: all, every (omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, omnivorous)

onym: name (anonymous, pseudonym, antonym, synonym)

oper: work (operate, cooperate, opus)

ortho: straight, correct (orthodox, orthodontist, orthopedic, unorthodox)

pac: peace (pacifist, pacify, pacific ocean)

paleo: old (Paleozoic, Paleolithic, paleomagnetism, paleopsychology)

pan: all (Pan-American, pan-African, panacea, pandemonium (place of all the demons),

pater, patr: father (paternity, patriarch, patriot, patron, patronize)

path, pathy: feeling, suffering (pathos, sympathy, antipathy, apathy, telepathy)

ped, pod: foot (pedal, impede (get feet in a trap), pedestrian, centipede, tripod, podiatry, antipode

pedo: child (orthopedic, pedagogue, pediatrics)

pel, puls: drive, urge (compel, dispel, expel, repel, propel, pulse, impulse, pulsate, compulsory, expulsion, repulsive)

pend, pens, pond: hang, weigh (pendant, pendulum, suspend, appendage, pensive)

phage: eat (macrophage, bacteriophage)

phil: love (philosophy, philanthropy, philharmonic, bibliophile)

phlegma: inflammation (phlegm, phlegmatic)

phobia, phobos: fear (phobia, claustrophobia, acrophobia, aquaphobia, ergophobia, homophobia)

phon: sound (phonograph, phonetic, symphony, homophone, euphonious)

photo: light (photograph, photoelectric, photogenic, photosynthesis)

plac, plais: please (placid, placebo, placate, complacent)

plu, plur, plus: more (plural, pluralist, plus)

pneuma, pneumon: breath (pneumatic, pneumonia)

pod (see ped)

poli: city (metropolis, police, politics, Indianapolis, megalopolis, acropolis)

poly: many (polysaccharide, polyandrous, polytheistic)

pon, pos, pound: place, put (postpone, component, opponent, proponent, expose, impose, deposit, posture, position, expound, impound)

pop: people (population, populous, popular)

port: carry (porter, portable, transport, report, export, import, support, transportation)

portion: part, share (portion, proportion)

pot: power (potential, potentate, impotent)

prehendere: seize, grasp (apprehend, comprehend, comprehensive, prehensile)

prim, prime: first (primacy, prima donna, primitive, primary, primal, primeval)

proto: first (prototype, protocol, protagonist, protozoan, Proterozoic, protoindustrial)

psych: mind, soul (psyche, psychiatry, psychology, psychosis)

punct: point, dot (punctual, punctuation, puncture, acupuncture, punctuation)

reg, recti: straighten (regiment, regular, rectify, correct, direct, rectangle)

ri, ridi, risi: laughter (deride, ridicule, ridiculous, derision, risible)

rog, roga: ask (prerogative, interrogation, derogatory)

rupt: break (rupture, interrupt, abrupt, disrupt, ruptible)

sacr, sanc, secr: sacred (sacred, sacrosanct, sanction, consecrate, desecrate)

salv, salu: safe, healthy (salvation, salvage, salutation)

sat, satis: enough (satient (giving pleasure, satisfying), saturate, satisfy)

sci, scientia: know (science, conscious, omniscient, cognocienti)

scope: see, watch (telescope, microscope, kaleidoscope, periscope, stethoscope)

scrib, script: write (scribe, scribble, inscribe, describe, subscribe, prescribe, manuscript)

sed, sess, sid: sit (sediment, session, obsession, possess, preside, president, reside, subside)

sen: old (senior, senator, senile)

senescere: to grow old (senescence, evanescent)

sent, sens: feel (sentiment, consent, resent, dissent, sentimental, sense, sensation, sensitive, sensory, dissension)

sequ, secu, sue: follow (sequence, consequence, sequel, subsequent, prosecute, consecutive, second, ensue, pursue)

serv: save, serve (servant, service, subservient, servitude, preserve, conserve, reservation, deserve, conservation, observe)

sign, signi: sign, mark, seal (signal, signature, design, insignia, significant)

simil, simul: like, resembling (similar, assimilate, simulate, simulacrum, simultaneous)

sist, sta, stit: stand (assist, persist, circumstance, stamina, status, state, static, stable, stationary, substitute)

solus: alone (solo, soliloquy, solitaire, solitude)

solv, solu: loosen (solvent, solve, absolve, resolve, soluble, solution, resolution, resolute, dissolute)

somnus: sleep (insomnia, somnambulist)

soph: wise (sophomore (wise fool), philosophy, sophisticated)

spec, spect, spic: look (specimen, specific, spectator, spectacle, aspect, speculate, inspect, respect, prospect, retrospective, introspective, expect, conspicuous)

sphere: ball, sphere (sphere, stratosphere, hemisphere, spheroid)

spir: breath (spirit, conspire, inspire, aspire, expire, perspire, respiration)

string, strict: draw tight (stringent, strict, restrict, constrict, boa constrictor)

stru, struct: build (construe (build in the mind, interpret), structure, construct, instruct, obstruct, destruction, destroy)

sume, sump: take, use, waste (consume, assume (to take, to use), sump pump presumption (to take or use before knowing all the facts)

tact, tang, tag, tig, ting: touch (tactile, contact, intact, intangible, tangible, contagious, contiguous)

tele: far (telephone, telegraph, telegram, telescope, television, telephoto, telecast, telepathy)

tempo: time (tempo, temporary, extemporaneously, contemporary, pro tem, temporal)

ten, tin, tain: hold (tenacious, tenant, tenure, untenable, detention, retentive, content, pertinent, continent, obstinate, contain, abstain, pertain, detain)

tend, tent, tens: stretch, strain (tendency, extend, intend, contend, pretend, superintend, tender, extent, tension, pretense)

terra: earth (terrain, terrarium, territory, terrestrial)

test: to bear witness (testament, detest, testimony, attest)

the, theo: God, a god (monotheism, polytheism, atheism, theology)

therm: heat (thermometer, theorem, thermal, thermos bottle, thermostat, hypothermia)

thesis, thet: place, put (antithesis, hypothesis, synthesis, epithet)

tom: cut (atom (not cuttable), appendectomy, tonsillectomy, dichotomy, anatomy)

tort, tors: twist (torture (twisting to inflict pain) retort, extort, distort, contort, torsion, tortuous, torturous)

tox: poison (toxic, intoxicate, antitoxin)

tract, tra: draw, pull (tractor, attract, subtract, tractable, abstract, subtrahend)

trib: pay, bestow (tribute, contribute, attribute, retribution, tributary)

turbo: disturb (turbulent, disturb, turbid, turmoil)

typ: print (type, prototype, typical, typography, typewriter, typology, typify)

ultima: last (ultimate, ultimatum)

umber, umbraticum: shadow (umbra, penumbra, (take) umbrage, adumbrate)

uni: one (unicorn, unify, university, unanimous, universal)

vac: empty (vacate, vacuum, evacuate, vacation, vacant, vacuous)

vale, vali, valu: strength, worth (equivalent, valiant, validity, evaluate, value, valor)

ven, vent: come (convene, intervene, venue, convenient, avenue, circumvent, invent, convent, venture, event, advent, prevent)

ver, veri: true (very, aver, verdict, verity, verify, verisimilitude)

vert, vers: turn (avert, divert, invert, introvert, convertible, reverse, controversy, versatile)

vic, vicis: change, substitute (vicarious, vicar, vicissitude)

vict, vinc: conquer (victor, evict, convict, convince, invincible)

vid, vis: see (video, evident, provide, providence, visible, revise, supervise, vista, visit, vision)

viv, vita, vivi: alive, life (revive, survive, vivid, vivacious, vitality, vivisection)

voc: call (vocation, avocation, convocation, invocation, evoke, provoke, revoke, advocate, provocative, vocal)

vol: will (malevolent, benevolent, volunteer, volition)

volcan: fire (volcano, vulcanize, Vulcan)

volvo: turn about, roll (revolve, voluble (easily turned about or around or talkative), voluminous, convolution)

vor: eat greedily (voracious, carnivorous, herbivorous, omnivorous, devour)

zo: animal (zoo (short for zoological garden), zoology, zoomorphism (attributing animal form to god), zodiac (circle of animal constellations), protozoan)

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