Common Word Roots

Root agri astro bio cardio cede chromo demos derma dyna geo helio hydro hypno ject magni man(u) mono ortho pod psycho pyro script terra thermo zoo Meaning field star life heart go color people skin power earth sun water sleep throw hand one straight foot mind fire write earth heat animal Example agronomy anthropology astronaut biology cardiac precede chromatology democracy epidermis dynamic geology heliotrope hydroponics hypnosis eject manuscript monoplane orthodox pseudopod psychology pyrometer manuscript terrace thermometer zoology Definition field-crop production and soil management the study of man one who travels in interplanetary space the study of life pertaining to the heart to go before the science of colors government by the people the outer layer of skin characterized by power and energy the study of the earth any plant that turns toward the sun growing of plants in water reinforced with nutrients a state of sleep induced by suggestion to throw out to enlarge, to make bigger written by hand airplane with one wing right, true, straight opinion false foot study of the mind in any of its aspects an instrument for measuring temperatures hand written a raised platform of earth instrument for measuring heat the study of animals

anthropo man

great, big magnify

Common Prefixes
anteantiautobenecircumcontradedisdysectoendoexequiextrahyperhypoininterintraintromacromalmicromultineononpanpolypostpreproprotopseudore-, redre-, redretrosemisubsuperteletransbefore against self good around against reverse, remove apart bad outside within out equal beyond over under in between within in, into large bad small many new not all many after before for first false back again together backward half under above far across antebellum antifreeze automatic benefit circumscribe contradict defoliate dislocate dysfunctional ectoparasite endogamy excavate equidistant extraterrestrial hypertension hypotension interim intervene intramural introspect macroscopic maladjusted microscopic multimillionaire neolithic nonconformist pantheon polygonal postgraduate precede proponent prototype pseudonym rejuvenate reconnect retrospect semicircle submerge superfine telescope transalpine before the war liquid used to guard against freezing self-acting or self-regulating an act of kindness; a gift to draw a line around; to encircle to speak against remove the leaves from a tree to unlodge not functioning parasite living on the exterior of animals marriage within the tribe to dig out equal distance beyond the earth high blood pressure low blood pressure in between come between within bounds of a school to look within, as one's own mind large enough to be observed by the naked eye badly adjusted so small that one needs a microscope to observe one having two or more million dollars new stone age one who does not conform a temple dedicated to all gods having many sides after graduating to go before a supporter first or original model false name; esp., an author's pen-name to make young to put together again a looking back on things half a circle to put under water extra fine seeing or viewing afar across the Alps

Number prefixes
uni- one mono- one bi- two duo- two di- two tri- three quad- four tetra- four quint- five pent- five sex- six hex- six sept- seven hept- seven oct- eight nov- nine dec- ten lat- side ped- foot pod- foot

Math & Science Affixes and Roots

Root or Affix aqua (water) hydro (water) hemi (half) semi (half) equi (equal) tele (far off) micro (small) onomy (science of) ology (study of) uni (one) bi (two) tri (three) octa (eight) dec (ten) centi (hundred) milli (thousand) bio (life) astro (star) thermo (heat) meter (measure) ped (foot) pod (foot) Example aquarium hydroplane hemisphere semicircle equivalent telescope microfilm astronomy geology universe bicycle triangle octagon decade centimeter millimeter biology astronaut thermodynamic diameter pedestrian tripod

Prefixes that mean "no": a- de- dis-, in- non- un-, contra
Examples: disqualify, nondescript, unscrupulous, contradict, inadvertent
Prefix a-, andedis-, dif-, diin-, il-, it-, imnonuncontra-, counterMeaning without, not reverse action, away not, apart not not not against Examples asexual, atypical, amoral, anarchy defrost, demystify, desensitize, deduct dissatisfied, disorganized, different, divert inappropriate, invisible, illegal, impossible nonproductive, nonessential, nonsense unlikely, unnoticeable, unreliable contrary, contradict, counterproductive

Prefixes that indicate "when," "where," or "more": pre-, post-, ante-, inter-, infra-, traps-, sub-, circum-, ultra
Examples: premature, postscript, anteroom, intervene, transformation
Prefix postanteinterintratranssubcircumultraMeaning after before between, among within across under around beyond, on the far side of, excessive Examples pre-dinner, preliminary, previous, prologue postwar, postoperative, postpone antecedent, antechamber interstate, intercept, interfere intramural, intrastate, intravenous transcontinental, transparent, transaction submarine, submerge, subjugate circumnavigate, circumference ultrasonic, ultraviolet, ultraconservative pre-, pro- before