Roots, Prefixes and Suffixes
COMMON WORDS AND WORD ORIGINS
Roots
|
Meaning
|
Word
|
alter | other | alternate, alter ego |
ami, amic- | love | amiable, amicable |
amphi | both ends or all sides | amphibian |
ann, enni | year | anniversary, annual, biennial, perennial |
anthrop | human, man | anthropology, anthropomorphic, misanthrope |
aqua, aque | water | aquatic, aquarium, aqueduct |
arch | chief, leader, ruler | archangel, monarch, archaic, archenemy |
arthro | joint | arthritis |
aud | sound | auditorium, audible, audiologist, audiotape |
bell | war | belligerent, bellicose |
biblio | book | bibliography, bibliophile |
bio- | life | biography, autobiography, biology, antibiotic |
brev | short | brief, abbreviate |
cap | take, seize | capture, captivate, capacity |
carn | meat | carnivorous, chili con carne |
ced | yield, go | recede, secede, proceed, intercede, concession |
chrom- | color | chromatic, monochrome, polychrome |
chron- | time | chronicle, chronology, chronometer, synchronize |
cogn | know | recognize, cognitive, incognito |
cord/chord | cord | harpsichord |
corp | body | corpus, corpse, corporal |
crac, crat | rule, ruler | autocrat, democracy, bureaucrat, democracy |
cred | believe | credible, credulous, credibility, credit, credo |
cruc | cross | crucifix, crucial |
crusta | shell | crustacean |
crypt | hidden | cryptogram, cryptology, cryptic |
culp | guilt | culpable, culprit |
dei | god | deity, deify |
demo- | people | demography, democracy, epidemic |
dent | tooth | dentist, dentifrice, dentin |
derm- | skin | dermatology, epidermis, hypodermic |
dic | speak, say | dictate, predict, diction, indict |
dox | belief, opinion | orthodoxy, paradox, heterodoxy |
duc, duct | lead | induce, deduce, seduction, conduct, abduct |
duo | two | duo |
dynam- | power | dynamo, hydrodynamics |
ego | self | egotist, egomania |
equ | equal | equal, equity, equanimity, equate, equidistant |
fac | make, do | manufacture, factory, benefactor |
fil | threadlike | filament |
frater | brother | fraternal, fraternize |
gam- | marriage | monogamy, polygamy, bigamy |
geo- | earth | geopolitical, geology, geography, geothermal |
glyph | vertical groove | Hieroglyphics—Egyptian “sky writing” |
grad, gress | step | gradual, progression, transgression |
graph- | writing, printing | graphology, biography, telegraph, geography |
gym | naked | gymnasium |
gyn- | woman | gynecologist, androgynous |
hemo, hema, hem | blood | hemophilia, hematology, hemoglobin |
holo | whole, entire | holograph |
hydro, hydr | water | dehydrate, hydraulics, hydroelectric, hydroplane |
iso | equal, identical | isolate |
ject | throw | inject, reject, subject, projection |
jud | judge | judicial, judge, adjudicate |
leg, lect | read, choose | legible, lectern, lecturer, election |
liter | letter | literature, illiterate, literal |
loc | place | local, location |
log | word | monologue, epilogue |
luc | light | lucid, elucidate |
magn | large | magnify, magnate, magnificent |
man | hand | manufacture, manual, manuscript |
mar | sea | marine, mariner |
mater | mother | maternal, maternity, matriarchy, matricide |
mere | part, segment | mere |
meta, met | behind, between | metacognition—behind the thinking |
metri, meter- | measure | geometric, thermometer, odometer |
min | small | minority, minuscule, minute |
mit, miss | send | permit, submission, mission, emit, |
mob, mot, mov | move | mobile, automobile, motion, promote, movie |
mon | warn | premonition, admonition |
mor, mort | death | mortal, mortician, immortality |
morph | form, structure | metamorphosis, amorphous, morphology |
mut | change | mutant, mutability, mutate |
neuro | nerve | neurology, neurosis, neurobiology |
nomen /nomin | name | nominal, nominate, nomenclature |
nov | new | novel, renovate, innovation, novella |
nym, onym | word, name | synonym, acronym, anonymous, pseudonym |
odonto | tooth | orthodontist—one who straightens teeth |
ortho- | straight, correct | orthodox, orthodontist, orthopedic |
pac | peace | pacify, Pacific Ocean, pacifist |
pater | father | paternal, paternity, patricide, patrilineal, patriotic |
path | feeling, suffering | sympathy, apathy, empathy, telepathy, pathology |
ped, pod | foot | pedal, pedometer, centipede, gastropod |
pel, puls | push | pulsate, repulsive, impulse, compel, propel |
pend | hang, weigh | pendulum, pendant, suspend, pending |
phon-, phono- | sound, voice | telephone, euphony, cacophony, phonograph |
plan | flat | planar, plantation, plane |
pneum | lung | pneumatic |
pod | feet | podiatrist |
port | carry | portable, transport, portage, report, |
pot | power | potent, omnipotent, potentate |
psych- | soul, spirit, mind | psychology, psychic, psychobiography |
pugna | fight | pugnacious, pugilist |
quer, quis | ask | query, inquisition, |
scent, scend | climb | ascend, ascent |
schizo, schiz | division, split | schizophrenic |
sci | know | scientific |
sciss | cut | scissors |
scrib, script | write | manuscript, scribe, proscribe, scripture |
sec, sect | cut | dissect, section |
sed, sess | sit | sedentary, session |
sens, sent | feel, be aware | sensible, sentient |
sequ, secu | follow | sequence, sequel, consecutive |
serv | serve, protect | service |
simil | same | similar, assimilate, simile, facsimile (fax) |
siphon | tube | siphon |
sol | sun | solar |
son | sound | sonar, resonate, unison |
soph | wisdom, knowledge | philosophy, sophisticated, sophomore (wise fool) |
spec, spic | look, see | spectacles, spectator, inauspicious, prospect |
spir | coil | spiral |
spir | breathe | inspire, respiration, conspire, perspiration |
spond, spons | promise, answer for | respond, responsible |
spont | by one's own force | spontaneous |
stat | stay, position | station |
tang, tact | touch | tactile, tangible |
temp | time | temporary, temporize |
ten, tent | hold | tentative, tenable, tenuous |
terr | earth | subterranean, terrain, terrestrial, disinter |
theo | god, deity | theology, polytheism, atheist, monotheism |
therm- | heat | thermal, thermos, thermometer |
trophy | nutrition, food | atrophy—without nutrition |
uro | urine | urologist |
vac | empty | vacation, vacuum, vacuous, vacant |
ven, vent | come, go | intervene, convene, contravene |
ver | truth | veracity, verify, verity |
vert | turn | introvert, irreversible, vertigo |
vit | life | vital, revitalize, vitamin |
voc | call | revoke, invocation, vocal, evocative, convocation |
zoo | animal | zoo, zoology, zoolatry |
PREFIXES
Prefix
|
Meaning
|
Examples
|
a-, an- | not, without | amoral, anesthetic, apolitical, asocial |
ab- | away from | abduction, abstain, abnormal |
ad- | to, toward | adjoin, adjacent (lying near to) |
ambi- | both | ambidextrous, ambivalent |