Word Roots related to Adjectives
reg-: straight
Basic Meaning: Straight, upright; to straighten, (extended to) govern, regulate, rule
Basic Form: reg-/rect-
Origin: Latin verb "regere" and its past participle "rectus"
1. region: reg-ion = realm of rule: n. area, range, district
2. regiment: reg-i-ment = rule: n. a military unit, large quantity
3. regime: reg-i-me (noun) = rule: n. government, political system, management system
4. correct: cor(=com, intensifier)-rect: adj. right, correct; v. to correct, rectify, admonish
5. direct: di(=dis)-rect = to make straight: v. to direct, manage, guide; adj. direct, straightforward
6. direction: di-rect-ion (noun): n. guidance, direction
7. erect: e (up, outward)-rect = to stand up: v. to erect, raise; adj. upright
8. erection: e-rect-ion (noun): n. erection, uprightness, construction
9. rectangle: rect-angle: n. rectangle
10. rectify: rect-i-fy = to make correct: v. to correct, rectify
Variant Form: rig-
Change Reason: Latin vowel alternation where the vowel e changes to i before single consonant g
11. right: rig-ht: adj. correct; direct; right side; n. rightness, right side, justice
Related Root: regul-/reign-
Origin: Latin noun "regula" (rule, ruler) and "regnum" (rule), both derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "reg-" (to straighten)
12. regular: regul-ar: adj. regular, periodic, normal
13. regularity: regular-ity: n. regularity, orderliness, regular
14. regulate: regul-ate: v. to control, regulate, prescribe, calibrate
15. regulation: regul-ation: n. management, rule, calibration; adj. stipulated, ordinary
16. reign: n. to rule, dominate, prevail; adj. sovereign, having supreme power
17. sovereign: sove(=super)-reign: n. sovereign state, supreme ruler
simil-: same
Basic Meaning: Same, to make similar
Basic Form: simil-/simul-
Origin: Latin adjective "similis" and derived verb "simulare"
1. similar: simil-ar: adj. similar; n. similar object
2. simulate: simul-ate = to become similar: v. to imitate, fake; adj. imitative, fake
3. simultaneous: simul-tane-ous: adj. simultaneous; n. simultaneous interpreter
4. assimilate: as(=ad, to)-simil-ate = to make similar: v. to absorb, assimilate, make similar
Variant Form: sembl-
Change Reason: Spelling change as it entered English through French
5. resemble: re (intensifier)-sembl-e = same: v. to resemble, to look like
6. resemblance: re-sembl-ance: n. similarity, likeness, resemblance, portrait
7. assemble: as(=ad, to)-sembl-e = to come together: v. to gather, assemble, assemble
Related Root: sam-/sim-/sin-
Origin: All derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "sem-"
8. same: sam-e = same: adj. same, identical; adv. likewise; pron. the same person or thing
9. simple: sim-pl-e = having one aspect: adj. simple, plain, innocent
10. single: sin-gl-e: adj. single, unmarried, one-way
11. singular: sin-gul-ar: adj. singular, unique, extraordinary; n. singular
12. sincere: sin-cere = single, pure: adj. sincere, genuine
val-: strong
Basic Meaning: Strong, prevailing, valid, valuable
Basic Form: val-
Origin: Latin verb "valere" (to be strong)
1. value: val-ue: n. value, price, importance, value system; v. to value, appraise, estimate
2. valid: val-id (adjective) = valid: adj. valid, well-founded, legitimate
3. valor: val-or: n. valor, bravery
4. valiant: val-i-ant (adjective): adj. valiant, brave; n. brave person
5. equivalent: equi-val-ent (adjective): adj. equivalent, equal; n. equivalent, equal
Variant Form: vai1-
Change Reason: Spelling change as it entered English through French, where single vowel a changed to diphthong ai
6. prevail: pre-vail = to be stronger in front: v. to prevail, to dominate, to be widespread
grat-: pleasing
Basic Meaning: Pleasing, grateful, satisfying
Basic Form: grat-
Origin: Latin adjective "gratus" (pleasing, grateful, satisfying)
1. congratulate: con-grat-ul-ate = to be pleased together: v. to congratulate, celebrate
2. grateful: grat-e-ful: adj. grateful, pleasing, agreeable
3. gratitude: grat-itude: n. gratitude, gratefulness
4. gratify: grat-i-fy: v. to satisfy, to please, to gratify
Variant Form: grac-/gree-
Change Reason: Spelling change as it entered English through French
5. grace: grac-e = pleasing, kind: n. grace, favor, kindness
6. gracious: grac-ious: adj. kind, noble, elegant
7. agree: a(=ad, to)-gree = to please: v. to agree, to consent, to admit
8. agreeable: agree-able: adj. agreeable, suitable, friendly
sacr-: sacred
Basic Meaning: Sacred
Basic Form: sacr-
Origin: Latin adjective "sacri"
1. sacrifice: sacr-i-fic-e = something offered to a god: n. v. sacrifice, offering
2. sacred: sacr-ed (past participle form) = consecrated: adj. holy, sacred, solemn, religious
3. sacrament: sacr-a-ment: n. sacrament, holy rite, mysterious thing
Variant Form One: secr-
Change Reason: Latin vowel alternation where the vowel a changes to e before the double consonant cr
4. consecrate: con-secr-ate: v. to consecrate, to sanctify, to dedicate to a god
Variant Form Two: sanct-
Change Reason: Result of nasalization of the root sacr-
5. sanctify: sanct-i-fy: v. to sanctify, to purify, to consecrate
6. sanctuary: sanct-u-ary = holy place: n. sanctuary, refuge, the Holy of Holies, Jerusalem temple
