This section covers certain roots which, by their use as prefixes, suffixes and syllables, make up the majority of English language words. Remembering these words will help you in figuring out the meanings of words including new ones you come across every day.
Updated on October 10th 2008
| -scend|
Meaning: to climb, to scale.
Origin: scandere (Latin) "to climb"
Example Words:
tran·scend: trans- "beyond" + scandere
conde·scend: com + "together" + de "down" + scandere
as·cend: ad- "to" + scandere "to climb."
More Words with same origin: descend, scale, scan, scansion.
| -loq-, -log-, loc-, -lec-, -lex, -logy|
Meaning: related to word or speech.
Origin (Latin): logos "speech, word,"
legein "speak"
loqui "to talk or say"
logia "speaking," or "study of"
lexis "word,"
Example Words:
magni·loquence: magnus "great" + loqui
- lofty style of speech or writing
dys·lexia: dys- "bad, abnormal, difficult" + lexis
- learning disorder marked by difficulty in comprehending written words.
soli·loquy: solus "alone" + loqui
- a talking to oneself (specially used in theatre)
homo·logous: homos "same" + logos
- similar. Originally similar in thought or speech
log·arithm: logos + arithmos "number".
More Words with same origin:
From “legein”, “lexis”: analects, dialect, eclectic, prolegomenon, lexicon, lecture
From “logos”, “logia”: catalogue, dialogue, monologue, tautology, dialogue, anthology, prologue, epilogue, logos, logic, logo, trilogy, battology, neologism, analogy, monologue, homologous, doxology, chronology, tautology, syllogism, philology, apology
From “loqui”: grandiloquence, locution, circumlocution, obloquy, colloquial, ventriloquism, eloquence
“Study of” (how many of these do you know?): graphology, phenomenology, numerology, arithmology, etymology, genealogy, oncology, eschatology, etiology, mycology, anthropology, meteorology, toxicology, terminology, teleology, oncology, ornithology, herpetology, phenomenology, zoology, ecology, ontology, hagiology, pharmacology, geology, ophthalmology, psychology, biology, anthology, thanatology, neurology, pathology, physiology, technology, entomology, astrology, theology
| -loq-, -log-, loc-, -lec-, -lex, -logy|
Meaning: related to word or speech.
Origin (Latin): logos "speech, word,"
legein "speak"
loqui "to talk or say"
logia "speaking," or "study of"
lexis "word,"
Example Words:
dia·logue: dia- "across" + legein
- conversation between two or more people
tauto·logy: tauto "the same" + logos
- representing the same thing
ob·loquy: ob "against" + loqui
- saying something bad about someone
epi·logue: epi- "upon, in addition" + logos
- a concluding part added to a literary work or speech
ventri·loquy: ventris "belly" + loqui
- the art or porjecting one's voice with little or no lip movement
| Eques-|
Meaning: related to horse.
Origin: eques (Latin) "horseman, knight,"
equus (Latin) "horse"
Example Words:
equestrienne - a woman who rides horses
equine - like a horse
equerry - person charged with the care of the horses.
equestrianship - relationship between horse and its rider.
More Words: equestrianism
| prim-|
Meaning: related to first.
Origin: primus (Latin) "first"
Example Words:
prim·ordial: primus + ordiri ("to begin")
prim·eval: primus + ævum ("an age")
- Belonging to the first or earliest age or ages
primo·genitor: primus + gignere "to beget"
- a forefather or ancestor
More Words with same origin: prime, primitive, primal, primary, primate, primavera, primer, primogeniture, prima donna, prima facie, primrose, prince
| -ped-, -pod, -pus|
Meaning: related to feet, and also shackles.
Origin: pes, pous (Latin) "foot."
pedis (Latin) "foot". It also refers to "chains or shackles" used to restrict the feet
Example Words:
im·peach: from Latin impedicare (in- "in" + pedica "shackle,")
im·ped·iment: in- ("in") + pes
ex·ped·ition: ex- ("out") + pedis
- from literal meaning "something free from bondage"
centi·pede: centum ("hundred") + pedis ("foot")
pinni·ped: pinna ("fin") + pedis
- aquatic animals like seals and walrus which have fins as feet.
More Words with same origin: pawn, pedal, pedestrian, pedicure, pedometer, foot, petiole, expedite, impedimenta, millipede, , gastropod, octopus, antipodes, brachiopod, platypus, trapezium, podiatry, podium, tripod
| -man-, -main|
Meaning: related to hands.
Origin: manus, main (Latin) "hand"
Example Words:
e·man·cipate: ex "out, away" + mancipum "ownership" (from manus + capere "take")
leger·de·main: léger (from
manu·script: manus + scriptus "writing"
- a document or book written by hand
mani·cure: manus + cura "care"
- a cosmetic treatment of the hands and fingernails
manu·facture: manus + factura "a working"
- original meaning: made by hand
More Words with same origin: maintain, manacle, manage, manciple, mandate, maneuver, manifest, manipulation, manner, mansuetude, manual, manumission, manure, mature, amanuensis, mortmain, mound
| -cur-|
Meaning: to take care of.
Origin: cura (Latin) "care"
curare (Latin) "to care for," or “to take care of”
Example Words:
se·cure: se "free from" + cura
- safe
mani·cure: manus "hand" + cura
- professional care and treatment of the hands
pedi·cure: pedis "foot" + curare
- professional care and treatment of the feet
More Words with same origin: sinecure, cure, curious, accurate, scour
| -psych-|
Meaning: related to mind.
Origin: psykhe (Latin) meaning “mind, breath, spirit, soul”
Example Words:
psycho·somatic: psykhe- + soma ("body")
psyche·delic: psykhe + deloun ("make visible, reveal")
psycho·logy: psykhe + logia ("study of")
- study of the mind
psych·iatry: psykhe + iatreia ("healing, care")
- mental treatment
psycho·path: psykhe + pathos ("suffering")
- someone who is suffering from mental illness
More Words with same origin:
psychoanalyze, psychobiology, psychodiagnosis, psychogenic, psychograph, psychohistory, psychokinesis, psycholinguistics, psychometry, psychoneurosis, psychophysics, psychosis, psychosocial, psychosurgery, psychosynthesis, psychotechnics, psychotherapy, psychotic, psychotoxic.
| -salu-|
Meaning: related to health.
Origin: salus (Latin) "good health"
Example Words:
in·salu·brious: in (“not”) + salus
- unhealthy
salute: literal meaning "wishing good health"
- to pay respect to or honor
More Words with same origin: solid, safe
| -erg-, -urg-|
Meaning: related to work
Origin: ergon (Latin) means "work" or "activity"
Example Words:
all·ergy: allos ("other, different, strange") + ergon
- An abnormally high sensitivity to certain substances.
en·ergy: en- ("at") + ergon
- the capacity for vigorous activity; available power
metall·urgy: metallon ("metal") + ergon
- The science that deals with metals.
argon: a- ("without") + ergon
- gaseous element that is known for it's inertness
More Words:
erg, urge, liturgy, thaumaturgy
| -gress-, -grad-|
Meaning: related to work
Origin: gradus (Latin) means "step"
gradi (Latin) means "to step" as in "to walk" or "to go"
Example Words:
trans·gress: trans ("across") + gradi
de·grade: des ("down") + gradus
con·gress: com ("together") + gradi
- A formal meeting or assembly of representatives
retro·grade: retro ("backward") + gradi
- Moving or tending backward.
pro·gress: pro ("forward") + gradi
- Movement, as toward a goal; advance.
More Words with same origin:
egress, ingredient, regress, transgression, progression, degree, aggression, centigrade, gradation, grade, gradual, graduate
|circum-|
Meaning: around
Origin: circus (Latin) means “ring”.
Example Words:
circum·locution: circum + loqui ("to speak")
circum·scribe: circum + scribere ("write")
circum·ambulate: circum + ambule ("to walk")
- to walk or go about or around, esp. ceremoniously
circum·spect: circum + specere ("to look")
- to look around, as in being careful, prudent
More Words:
circumference, circumstance, circumvent, circuit, circumambient, circumcision, circumvallate, circumvolution
|-syn-|
Meaning: “together”
Origin: unknown
Example Words:
idio·syn·crasy: idios ("one's own") + synkrasis ("mixture of personal characteristics" from syn + krasis meaning "mixture")
syn·chron·ous: syn + khronos ("time")
- existing or happening at the same time
syn·tax: syn + tassein ("arrange")
- the rules or patterns, esp. in languages
syn·ergy: syn + ergon ("work")
- cooperation; combined action or functioning
syn·drome: syn + dromos ("running, course.")
- a number of symptoms occurring together, esp. in sequence
More Words:
sync, synchronic, synchronism, synchronize, synclinal, syncopation, syncope, syndic, synaesthesia, synagogue, synapse, syndicalism, synecdoche, synergism, synod, syncretism, synonym, synopsis, synthesis, eleemosynary, photosynthesis
|-bene-|
Meaning: “well”
Origin: bene (Latin)
Example Words:
bene·diction: bene + dicere ("to speak")
bene·fac·tor: bene + facere ("to do")
- one who does well
bene·vol·ence: bene + vol ("wish.")
- desire to do good to others
More Words:
benefit, beneficiary, benefaction
|mal-|
Meaning: “bad”, “evil”
Origin: male (Latin) meaning "badly"
Used as prefix coined in 19th century
Example Words:
male·diction: male + dicere ("to say")
- the utterance of a curse.
male·fac·tor: male + facere ("to perform")
- one who does wrong
male·vol·ence: male + vol ("wish.")
- ill will, desire to do bad
More Words:
maleficent, maleficence, malefic, malignant, malevolent, malodorous, malnourished, malnutrition, malfunction; malcontent, malnourished, malodorous, maladminister, malformation, malabsorption.
|-seq-, -sec-, -sue|
Meaning: “to follow”
Origin: sequi (Latin) meaning "follow"
Example Words:
sub·sequent: sub ("closely, up to") + sequi
- following in order or succession
con·sequence: com ("with") + sequi
- an effect or result
ex·ecut·ion: ex ("out") + sequi
- to follow/carry out; to do or perform
pur·sue: pro "forward" + sequi "follow"
- to follow actively especially with hostile intent
| -gen-|
Meaning: “to produce, beget”
Origin: generare (Latin) "bring forth"
gignere (Latin) "to produce, beget"
genea (Latin) "generation, descent"
Example Words:
indi·genous: indu ("in, within") + gignere
- native, born in a country
pro·geny: pro ("forth") + gignere
- descendant, offspring
geneo·logy: genea + logos ("study of")
- the study of family ancestries and histories
ben·ign: bene ("well") + gnus (from gignere)
- kind, gracious, well doing. (literal meaning “well born”)
More Words of same origin:
genius, gentle, genuine, genus, malign, engine, primogenitor, primogeniture, generation, gene, genital, genesis
| -tact-, -tang-|
Meaning: related to touch
Origin: tangere (Latin) " to touch "
tactus (Latin) "touch"
Example Words:
in·tact: in ("not") + tactus
- not altered or broken; untouched.
con·tact: com ("together") + tangere
- the act or state of touching; an acquaintance.
More Words:
intangible, tact, tangent
|-pun-|
Meaning: related "to pierce, prick" or "to stab"
Origin: pungere (Latin) "to pierce, prick" or "to stab"
Example Words:
com·punction: com- (intensive prefix i.e. with, by) + pungere
ex·punge: ex- "out" + pungere
- to strike or blot out; erase; obliterate.
More Words with same origin:
pungent, punch, puncture, pink, poniard, point, counterpoint
Note: This is related to words with root –pugn- like pugilist, pugnacious, impugn. These words have their origin from pugnus (meaning “fist”) or pugnare (meaning “to fight”).
| -port- |
Meaning: “to carry”
Origin: portare (Latin) "to carry"
Example Words:
im·port: in- ("into") + portare
- to bring in
ex·port: ex- ("away") + portare
- to send out
trans·port: trans- ("across") + portare
- "carry or convey across"
port·folio: portare + foglio ("sheet, leaf")
- a case for carrying loose papers
More Words with same origin:
rapport, purport, disport, report, comport, port, portable, portage, porter, support, pret a porter
| -vert, -vers-|
Meaning: “to turn”
Origin: vertere (Latin) meaning "to turn"
Example Words:
re·vert: re- ("back") + vertere
- To go back to a previous state.
sub·vert: sub ("under") + vertere
- To cause the downfall of or to corrupt morally
intro·vert: intro- ("inward") + vertere
- A shy person. Someone who concentrates (one's interests) upon oneself.
More Words with same origin:
versus, vertigo, version, versatile, vertex, adverse, transverse, anniversary, convert, extrovert, avert, invert , divert, vortex, vertebra, verse, advertise, universe, pervert, vice versa.
Exceptions:
Some words with root -ver- (origin: verus meaning “truth”) like veracity, verify, verisimilitude, verity, very, severity, aver.
| -tact-, -tang-|
Meaning: related to touch
Origin: tangere (Latin) " to touch "
tactus (Latin) "touch"
Example Words:
in·tact: in ("not") + tactus
- not altered or broken; untouched.
con·tact: com ("together") + tangere
- the act or state of touching; an acquaintance.
More Words:
intangible, tact, tangent
| -vol-|
Meaning: Today’s root can have either of the two meanings:
1. “to wish”
2. “to roll”
Origin: 1. velle (Latin) meaning "to wish"
2. volvere (Latin) meaning "to roll"
Example Words:
1. To wish:
bene·volence: bene "well" + volentem (from velle)
- desire to do good to others
male·volence: mal "bad" + volentem (from velle)
- wishing evil or harm to another or others
2. To roll:
re·volve: re- "back, again" + volvere
- to turn around or rotate, as on an axis
con·voluted: com- "together" + volvere
- rolled up or coiled together.
More Words with same origin:
1. To wish: volition, voluntary, voluptuous, will
2. To roll: voluble, valve, vault, vault, volume, devolve, evolve, involve, Volvo
| -lev-|
Meaning: to raise or lighten.
Origin: levare (Latin) "to lift up, lighten,"
Example Words:
a·llev·iate: ad- ("to") + levare
e·lev·ate: ex- ("out") + levare
- to move or raise to a higher place or position; lift up.
More Words with same origin:
levitate, lever, light, leaven, legerdemain, allay,
| -ven-|
Meaning: to come.
Origin: venire (Latin) meaning “to come”
Example Words:
circum·vent: circum ("around") + venire
- to surround
contra·vene: contra ("against") + venire
- to come or be in conflict with; go or act against
super·vene: super ("over, upon") + venire
- to happen as an additional or unexpected development
inter·vent·ion: inter- ("between") + venire
- to come in between, interrupt
More Words with same origin:
convention, achieve, subvention, venue, advent, adventure, event, invention, revenue, come, souvenir, avenue, prevent
|-somn-|
Meaning: “sleep”
Origin: somnus (Latin) "sleep"
Example
Words:
somn·ambulism: somnus +
ambulare ("to walk")
- sleepwalking
in·somnia:
in ("not") + somnus
More Words:
somnolence
|-acer-, -acri-, -acid-, -acet-|
Meaning: “bitter”, “sharp”, “harsh”
Origin: acere (Latin) "sharp"
acerbus (Latin) "bitter, sharp, tart"
acidus (Latin) "acidic"
Example
Words:
acido·philus:
acidus + philos ("loving", Greek)
- Growing well
in an acid medium.
medi·ocre:
medius ("middle") + acer
- of moderate
quality, neither good nor bad
anta·cid:
anti + acid.
- neutralizing
acidity, as of the stomach.
ex·acer·bation:
ex ("thoroughly") + acerbus
More Words:
acerbity, acetic, acrid, acrylic, acid, acidulous.
Closely
related:
Words holding meaning “sharp” or “keen”:
eager, acute, acumen, acuity
|-plen-,
-plem-, -plete|
Meaning: "full" or "to fill"
Origin: plenus (Latin) means "full"
plere
(Latin) means "to fill"
Example Words:
re·plen·ish:
re ("again") + plenus
- to make full
or complete again
com·plem·ent:
com ("together") + plere
- something that
completes or makes perfect
de·plete:
de ("off, away", used here to oppose) + plere
- to decrease
seriously or exhaust the abundance or supply of something
More
Words:
complete,
replete, plenary, plenipotentiary, plenty, plenum, implement, expletive, supply
|demo-,
-demic |
Meaning: "people"
Origin: demos (Greek) means “people”
Example
Words:
demo·cracy:
demos + kratos ("rule")
- government by
the people
demo·graphy:
demos + -graphy ("the study of")
- the science of
vital and social statistics of populations.
en·demic:
en- ("in") + demos
- characteristic
of a specific people or place
More Words:
demotic,
epidemic, demiurge
Exception to
the rule:
Too many to be ignored – words with prefix de- (demolish, demote,
demonstration etc).
|
-abul-|
Meaning: "walk"
Origin: ambulare (Latin) "to walk"
Example
Words:
per·ambulate:
per ("through") + ambulare
- To walk
through.
fun·ambulist:
funis ("rope") + ambulare
- A tightrope
walker.
somn·ambulism:
somnus ("sleep") + ambulare
- sleepwalking
More Words:
ambulance
(originally "walking hospital")
|-sent-,
-sens-|
Meaning: “feel” or “sense”
Origin: sentir, sentire (Latin) "to feel,
think"
Example
Words:
as·sent:
ad ("to") + sentire
- to agree or
express agreement
con·sent:
com ("with") + sentire
- to permit,
approve, or agree; comply or yield
in·sensible:
in ("not") + sensibilis (from sentire)
- incapable of
feeling or perceiving
re·sent:
re + sentire
- feel pain,
regret, annoyed about (something)
More Words:
scent,
sentient, sense, sentence, sentiment, sentinel, sensible, sensitive, sensory
|-anim-|
Meaning: “mind” or “spirit”
Origin: animus (Latin) means "mind, soul, spirit"
anima
(Latin) means "breath, soul"
Example
Words:
magn·anim·ity:
magnus ("great") + animus
- generous in
forgiving an insult or injury
pusill·anim·ous:
pusillis ("very weak, little") + animus
- lacking
courage or resolution; faint-hearted; timid
un·anim·ous:
unus ("one") + animus
- of one mind;
in complete agreement
anim·adversion:
animus + advertere ("to turn to")
- perception,
observation
More
Words:
animus,
animal, animate, anima, animism
|-spec- ,
-spic-|
Meaning: “to look (at)” or “view”
Origin: specare (Latin) means "to look."
specere
(Latin) means "to look at, view"
Example
Words:
con·spic·uous:
com ("together, all") + specare
- easily seen or
noticed; readily visible or observable
in·spect:
in ("into") + specere
- to look
carefully at or over; view closely and critically
retro·spect:
retro ("back") + specere
- to look back
in thought; refer back
de·spise:
de ("down") + specere
- to regard with
contempt, disgust
More Words:
expect,
aspect, prospect, suspect, despicable, scope, perspective, introspect,
circumspect, frontispiece, species, specimen, spectacle, spectrum, speculation,
speculum, inspection
|-que- ,
-qui-|
Meaning: “to know, seek” or “to gain or acquire”
Origin: quærere (Latin) means "to know, seek, gain."
Example
Words:
re·quire:
re
("repeatedly") +
quærere ("ask, seek")
-
to have need of
con·quer:
com
(intensive prefix) +
quærere ("to seek, acquire")
-
to acquire by force of
arms
ex·qui·site:
ex
("out") + quærere ("to seek")
-
carefully selected
More
Words:
query,
quest, question, acquisition, inquire, disquisition
|-viv-
, -vita-|
Meaning: “related to life” or “to live”
Origin: vivere (Latin) means "to live"
vita
(Latin) means "life,"
vivus
(Latin) means "alive, living"
Example
Words:
sur·vive:
super ("over, beyond") + vivere
- to remain or continue in
existence
vivi·parous:
vivus + parere ("bring forth, bear")
- bringing forth living
young rather than eggs, as most mammals
con·vivial:
com- ("together") + vivere
- fond of feasting,
drinking, and merry company; jovial
More
Words:
vital,
revive, viand, victuals, viva, vivacity, vivid, vitamin, vivisection,
revitalize, vivacious
|-theo-|
Meaning: “god”
Origin: theos (Greek) means "god"
Example Words:
theo·logy:
theos + logos ("study of.")
-The study of
the nature of God and religious truth.
poly·theism:
polys ("many") + theos
- Belief in more
than one god.
theo·cracy:
theos + kratos ("a rule, regime")
- A government
by religious priests, hence, ruled by God(s).
More Words:
monotheism,
theosophy, pantheist, pantheon, theist, apotheosis, theogony
| -voc- , -voke |
Meaning: “call”
Origin: vocare (Latin) means “to call”
Example Words:
con·voc·ation
: com ("together") + vocare - a formal assembly
in·voke
: in ("upon") + vocare - to call on (a deity, Muse, etc.), as in prayer
re·voke
: re ("back") + vocare - to take back or withdraw
More Words:
vocal, vocation, invocation, evocation, provoke, advocate, provocative, equivocation, vocabulary
| -path- , -pathy |
Meaning: “feel”, “suffer”, “disease”
Origin: pathos (Greek) means "feeling", "suffering", "disease"
pati (Greek) means "to suffer" or "to endure"
patheia (Greek) means "effect,"
Example Words:
psycho·path: psyche ("mind") + pathos ("suffering")
- suffering from an undiagnosed mental disorder
tele·pathy: tele ("far") + pathos ("feeling")
- Communication by means other than through the normal senses
patho·genic: pathos ("disease") + genic ("produced by")
- capable of producing disease
allo·pathy: allos ("other") + patheia
-treatment of disease by remedies that produce effects opposite to the symptoms
More Words:
(from pathos) sympathy, apathy, empathy, pathology, pathos, psychopathic, pathetic, pathogenic, sociopath, osteopathy, (from pati) passion, passive, patience, (from patheia) homeopathy
| -greg- |
Meaning: “group”
Origin: grex (Latin) "herd, flock."
gregare (Latin) "to collect into a flock, to gather"
Example Words:
con·greg·ate: com- ("together") + grex
- to come together; assemble, esp. in large numbers
ag·greg·ate: ad- ("to") + gregare
- a sum, mass of particulars; a total or gross amount
se·greg·ate: se ("apart from") + gregare
- to separate or set apart from others
|-flu-|
Meaning: “flowing” or “to flow”
Origin: fluere (Latin) means "to flow"
Example Words:
ef·flu·ence: ex ("out") + fluere
- the action or process of flowing out; or something that does so
super·flu·ous: super ("over") + fluere
- being more than is sufficient or required; excessive
in·flu·ence: in ("in") + fluere
- power to sway or affect based on prestige, wealth, ability, or position
con·flu·ence: com ("together") + fluere
- a coming together of people or things
More Words:
fluctuation, fluent, flume, flush, fluvial, flux, influenza (yes J, it’s derived from influence)
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