| Root |
Meaning |
Examples |
| alter |
other |
alternate, alter ego |
| ami, amic |
love |
amiable, amicable |
| amphi |
both ends or all sides |
amphibian, amphitheater |
| 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 |
| aud |
sound |
auditorium, audible, audiologist, audiotape |
| bell |
war |
belligerent, bellicose |
| biblio |
book |
bibliography, bibliophile |
| bio |
life |
biography, autobiography, biology, antibiotic |
| brev |
short |
brief, abbreviate, brevity |
| cap |
take, seize |
capture, captivate, capacity |
| carn |
meat |
carnivorous |
| 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 |
aristocracy, autocrat, democracy, bureaucrat |
| cred |
believe |
credible, credulous, credibility, credit, credo, incredible
|
| 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 |
| 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, abduction |
| duo |
two |
duo |
| dynam |
power |
dynamo, dynamics |
| 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 |
| grad, gress |
step |
gradual, progression, transgression |
| graph |
writing, printing |
graphology, biography, telegraph, geography |
| gyn- |
woman |
gynecologist, androgynous, misogyny |
| hemo, hema, hem |
blood |
hemophilia, hematology, hemoglobin |
| holo |
whole, entire |
holograph |
| hydro, hydr |
water |
dehydrate, hydraulics, hydroelectric, hydroplane |
| ject |
throw |
inject, reject, subject, projection |
| 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 |
| mat, mater |
mother |
maternal, maternity, matriarchy, matricide |
| meta |
behind, between, beyond |
metacognition, metaphysics |
| 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, neuron |
| nomen, nomin |
name |
nominal, nominate, nomenclature |
| nov |
new |
novel, renovate, innovation |
| nym, onym |
word, name |
synonym, acronym, anonymous, pseudonym |
| odonto |
tooth |
orthodontist |
| ortho- |
straight, correct |
orthodox, orthodontist, orthopedic |
| pac |
peace |
pacify, pacifist |
| pater |
father |
paternal, paternity, patricide, 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 |
append, depend, pendulum, pendant, suspend, pending |
| phon, phono |
sound, voice |
cacophony, euphony, phonograph, telephone |
| plan |
flat |
planar, plantation, plane |
| pneum |
lung |
pneumatic, pneumonia |
| pod |
feet |
podiatrist, tripod |
| port |
carry |
portable, transport, portage, report |
| pot |
power |
potent, omnipotent, potentate |
| psych- |
soul, spirit, mind |
psychology, psychic |
| pug, pugna |
fight |
pugnacious, pugilist |
| quer, quis |
ask |
query, inquisition |
| scent, scend |
climb |
ascend, ascent |
| schizo, schiz |
division, split |
schizophrenic, schism |
| sci |
know |
scientific |
| scrib, script |
write |
manuscript, scribe, 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, servile |
| simil |
same |
similar, assimilate, simile, facsimile |
| siphon |
tube |
siphon |
| sol |
sun |
solar |
| son |
sound |
sonar, resonate, unison |
| soph |
wisdom, knowledge |
philosophy, sophomoric |
| 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 |
stand, position |
station, status |
| tang, tact |
touch |
tangible, tactile |
| temp |
time |
temporary, temporize |
| ten |
hold |
tenable, tenant |
| ter, terr |
earth |
subterranean, terrain, terrestrial, disinter |
| theo |
god, deity |
theology, polytheism, atheist |
| therm- |
heat |
thermal, thermos, thermometer |
| trophy |
nutrition, food |
atrophy |
| uro |
urine |
urologist |
| vac |
empty |
vacuum, vacuous, vacant |
| ven, vent |
come, go |
intervene, convene, contravene |
| ver |
truth |
veracity, verify, verity |
| vert |
turn |
introvert, irreversible, vertigo |
| vit |
life |
vital, vitamin |
Written by Anne.
