A Selection of Latin Roots and Greek Roots,

Combining Forms, Words, and Prefixes

an etymological means of acquiring an adequate vocabulary
Strathnaver Books
1994

Copyright©1994 by Tammy McQuoid

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise, without prior permission in writing from the author.

Introduction
Why I compiled this list: When in high school, I took a vocabulary class based on Greek and Latin
roots. Upon reaching college and being enrolled in a Freshman composition class, I started taking
the weekly vocabulary tests. I found, much to my amazement and delight, that I didn't have to study
for those tests that were based on Greek and Latin roots. For me, that showed the value of my high
school course. Now that our family is homeschooling, I feel that our children would benefit from
learning this information. What I wanted was a very thorough alphabetical list (not a workbook) of
combining forms, roots, and prefixes that differentiated between Greek and Latin all in one book. I
wanted to be able to decide which combining forms would be introduced and integrated into our
curriculum. I also wanted to be able to choose when their introduction would be most beneficial.
However, when I went to find a book containing the desired information in the desired form, I
couldn't find any. So I decided to compile a list of my own to use. Possibly you can put this list to
work for you also.

What will this list do for you: That's totally up to you and your students. I can make no claims
concerning the results you may get if you use this list, whether they be positive or negative. Author
and friend of C. S. Lewis, Dorothy Sayers, claims, "[Latin] is the key to the vocabulary and
structure of all the Romance languages ... as well as to the technical vocabulary of all the sciences
and to the literature of the entire Mediterranean civilisation...."1 She, however, feels that students
should learn the Latin language and its grammar, not just a few hundred combining forms. Sayers
goes on to inform us, "... even a rudimentary knowledge of Latin cuts down the labour and pains of
learning almost any other subject by at least fifty per cent."2 Douglas Wilson, founder of Logos
School and author of numerous educational books, states, "About 80 percent of our English
vocabulary comes to us from Latin and Greek."3 It seems that some form of knowledge of Latin and
Greek will be of great benefit to most English-speaking people, especially if vocabulary
enhancement is the objective. This list is not a Latin or Greek language course. It is a lengthy list of
combining forms to learn. Once learned, many English words of Latin or Greek derivation will be
understandable. It could almost be described as putting a jigsaw puzzle together. And after years of
working on it, all the pieces finally fit. Take a peek farther back in this book for examples.

How the list is organized: On the left margin is the prefix, combining form, word, or root. There is
not a lot of consistency here. Sometimes an infinitive is used, sometimes a root. This should not
cause any problems since we are not using this list to learn Latin or Greek or how to conjugate
foreign verbs. In the center column is the meaning or meanings of the combining form/prefix. On
the right is a list of examples that utilize the combining forms/prefixes. The number of examples

1
was kept small to keep the list from becoming too cumbersome. Also, part of acquiring a good
vocabulary is achieved by using the dictionary and the mind to discover words that utilize the
combining forms--not by having all the English words that utilize Latin and Greek combining forms
easily available to the student.

Ways you may choose to use this list: One way is a five-day plan. Arbitrarily choose ten
combining forms and/or prefixes. Give them to your student(s). The student(s) will then be required
to look up the meanings of the combining forms and/or prefixes and make a 3x5 card for each,
putting the definition on the back. On the next day the meanings can be reviewed. Two English
words that incorporate the combining forms/prefixes can then be found for each combining
form/prefix and used in a sentence. (Two English words for each combining form/prefix.) On the
third day, the instructor can review the assignment from the day before and choose 20 of the English
words found by the student(s) or add a few of her/his own to make up 20 words for a vocabulary
test. On the next day the student(s) can study the 20 English words. On the last day, the test can be
given. The word should be given verbally to the student(s). It should be spelled correctly by the
student(s). Then the definition should be written by the student and the word should also be used
properly in a sentence.

Day 1: Ten (10) combining forms/prefixes are given to the student. Example: colare, deus, fabula,
filia, hospes, manus, somnus, sanguis, terra, verus

Put these on 3x5 cards. Look up the definitions and write them on the back. These meanings should
be memorized.

Day 2: Review the meanings of the combining forms/prefixes. The student can find, using the
dictionary, 2 English words for each combining form/prefix. Then an original sentence can be
constructed. (NOTE: On occasion finding two examples will be very difficult.)

Example: (colare: portcullis, colander)

portcullis: an iron gate suspended and raised and lowered by a chain, castles often utilized them.
The knight quickly lowered the portcullis when he saw the raiders approaching.

colander: a container with holes in the bottom that is used to facilitate cleaning or draining of
vegetables or pasta. My mom's colander was used most often for draining spaghetti noodles.

The student will have 20 English words, 20 definitions, and 20 sentences when this assignment is
completed.

Day 3: The instructor can give a test to see if the meanings of the combining forms/prefixes are
sufficiently memorized. The instructor can choose 20 words from yesterday's assignment that will
be on the test on Day 5. If the instructor has more than one student, the selection of 20 words will
be easier since the instructor will have more to choose from. The instructor should choose words
that she/he feels will be most beneficial for the student to know. If only one student is involved, the
instructor may need to do some extra work and choose some English words of her own to
supplement or replace some of the student's list so that the most useful words will be learned. This
is a judgment call for the instructor. Possibly the student could be required to find 4 English words
rather than just 2.

Day 4: The student should study the 20 words received from the instructor on Day 3.

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Day 5: Test--20 English words. The student(s) must supply the definitions and original sentences.
Some instructors may wish to include the combining forms/prefixes and their meanings to the test
(if this hasn't already occurred) since memorizing the combining forms/prefixes will help in the
future when the student(s) comes upon an unfamiliar word in his studies.

If the above schedule is followed, there are enough combining forms, roots, words, and prefixes to
last at least 45 weeks which is nine weeks longer than a usual 180-day school year. The list includes
over 450 combining forms, roots, words, and prefixes. To keep track of which combining forms you
have covered, you might write the date completed in the margin in a color that has been assigned to
that student.

Another possible way to use this list would be to give the student(s) two words from the far right
column. Then ask the student(s) to find the root, the meaning, and two more examples of the
combining form being used in English. Sentences could be written for each word. (NOTE: On
occasion it will be very difficult or impossible to find two more examples.)

A benefit of having a comprehensive list of Latin and Greek combining forms is its adaptability to
many learning styles. Those of you who are using the unit study method may choose words that go
along with the unit being studied. Some instructors may want to choose the most prevalent
combining forms and cover them all in one semester. My high school offered a class in Latin and
Greek roots; it fulfilled the English requirement for one semester. However, in my Freshman
composition class at college, Latin and Greek roots were covered in about a month. If your
child(ren) are younger and there is no hurry, this list could last many years. Of course, you may
only want to introduce one new combining form a week. There are probably as many ways to use
this list to help students learn as there are instructors who will use the book. Experiment, and then if
you have time, let me know what works for you.

The shortcomings (or what may be perceived as shortcomings): There are many. 1) Suffixes are
purposely not included because their meanings seem too abstract for memorization by students who
are below the secondary level. 2) There are errors in this list. This list was gone over quite
extensively to eradicate mistakes and typographical errors. Some mistakes crept in because at times
it seemed like deciphering etymologies was more of an art that an exact science. The convoluted
path that some words have taken to get into the English language is sometimes amazing. Perhaps
the errors will be caught if this list is revised. 3) This list is incomplete. There are many more
combining forms that could be listed; however, the line had to be drawn somewhere. Although this
list is incomplete, it includes more than enough entries to help a diligent student develop an entirely
adequate vocabulary of words derived from Latin and Greek combining forms. 4) Medical terms are
not included, but they can be found in any good medical dictionary such as Taber's Cyclopedic
Medical Dictionary. 5) There is no money-back guarantee if you don't like this list. 6) This is not a
workbook. The student has to find the vocabulary words with the use of a dictionary, without the
help of a list already plotted out for them. The instructor has to choose which words would be best
to learn. The student alone must write sentences out that use the vocabulary words; sentences are
not already written out with a place to fill in the vocabulary word. This is just a list, not a
workbook. 7) There are no grade-level guidelines included with this list. Instructors will have to
adapt this list to fit the learning level, interest level, and learning style of their student(s).

What else is needed: A good dictionary is needed. By "good dictionary," I mean one that gives the
etymological information about a word as far back as is known (usually Indo-European--IE). Just
because a dictionary has a recent copyright date does not mean that it will be helpful in learning the
origins of words. (I know this because I have a flashy 1991 dictionary that is less than helpful
etymologically.) If you don't have a good dictionary, you will think that many example words have
nothing to do with the combining form listed. Also, finding other words derived from the combining

3
form/prefix will be difficult. If the dictionary gives scanty etymologies, it will not be easy to
ascertain exactly what combining form the word is derived from. Please compare dictionaries
before you buy. The dictionary listed in the Bibliography is excellent.
.
.

Endnotes
l.
Sayers, Dorothy L., "The Lost Tools of Learning," in Rosamond Kent Sprague (ed.), A Matter of
Eternity, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, MI, 1973, pp. 121-122.
2.
Ibid., p. 121.
3.
Wilson, Douglas, Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning: An Approach to Distinctively Christian
Education, Crossway Books, Wheaton, IL, 1991, p. 87.

4
 LATIN
LATIN PREFIX(ES) DEFINITION(S) EXAMPLES OF PREFIX(ES)
ab, a from, down, away abstract, aversion, abject
ad, ac, af, ag, al, an, ap, to advent, accent, accelerate, affectation, aggravate
ar, as, at, a
ambi both ambidextrous, ambiance
ante before antecedent, antebellum
bi two biennium, bifurcate, bicarbonate
circum, circa around, about circumnavigate, circumference
com, col, con, cor, co closely along, together, collusion, coheir, consort, cooperate, compact
next to, with
contra, counter against contradict, contraband, counterfeit
de from, down, entirely deplete, demerit, depress, defrost, decline,
defunct
di, dis, dif away, from, apart different, disburse, digest
duo, du two dubious, duet, duplication
ex, e, ef, ec, es from, out of, without effervescent, exhale, escape, extradition, eclectic
extra beyond extrapolate, extraordinary
in, il, ir, im in, into, on infer, induct, incarnate, illuminate, irrigate,
imbibe
in, il, ir, im no, not, without, non insignificant, illiterate, irresponsible, impossible,
imbecile, inappropriate,
inter among, between interchange, intervention, intercept
intra, intro within, inside of intramural, intrastate, intramuscular
milli, mille thousand millennium, millimeter
multi, multus much, many multitudinous, multifaceted, multiply
non not nonresident, nonconformity
ob, o, oc, of, op, against, before, toward, for offer, omit, occur, obscene, oppress
omni all, everywhere omniscient, omnivorous, omnificent
quadri, quadr four times, four fold quadriceps, quadrisect, quadrivium
per through, completely persecute, pilgrim, perfect, pellucid
post after, behind postdate, postdiluvian
pre before precedent, precept, preposition
pro, pur before, for proceed, purport, pursue
re back, again recompense, refine
retro back, backward retrograde, retrofit
se apart, aside seclude, select
semi half semicircle, semiprivate
sub, suc, suf, sug, sum, under, less than, inferior suffer, submarine, succumb, suggest
sup, sur, sus
super, supra above, superior, soprano, superabundance, superintendent
surpassing
trans across, through transcontinental, transit
tri three triangle, triceps, Triassic
ultra beyond, on other side of ultrasound, ultraconservative

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LATIN SUFFIX DEFINITION(S) EXAMPLES OF SUFFIX
-itis inflammation neuritis, conjunctivitis
LATIN ROOT(S) DEFINITION(S) EXAMPLE(S) OF ROOT(S)
acerbus, acris, acuere sharp, to sharpen, acerbate, acupuncture, acuity, acrimony
needle, bitter
aequare to make equal, even equivocate, adequate, equilibrium
aevum age coeval, medieval
ager, agri, agro field agrestic, agronomy
agere, actum, agitare to act, to do agility, react, agitate
alius other, else alias, alienate
alter other altercation, adulterate
altus high altimeter, exaltation, alto
ambulare to walk, to go preamble, ambulatory
amare, amor, amatum, to love, love, friend amateur, amiable, enamored
amicus
anima life, soul, breath, animosity, inanimate, unanimous
mind
annus year biennial, centennial, annual
apparere to come forth, be apparent, appearance, apparitor
visible
aptare, aptus, apere to fit, suitable aptitude, adaptable, ineptitude
aqua water aqueous, aquarelle
arbiter judge arbitration, arbitrary
arbor tree arboretum, arboreal
ardere to burn arduous, ardor
artis art artifice, artifact, artisan
audire to hear audit, audible
augere to increase augmentation, augur, august
avis bird avionics, aviation, aviary, avian
beatus blessed, happy beatific, beatitude
bellare, bellum to wage war, war rebellious, bellicose
bene well benevolence, beneficent
bonus, bon good bonanza, bonny, bon voyage
brevis short, brief abbreviate, breviary
cadere fall recidivism, cascade, cadaver, decadent
caedere, cide to cut, kill incision, pesticide
canere, cantare, cantus to sing recant, chant, cantata
capere, captum, cip, cept to take, hold, contain capacious, incipient, intercept participate, capable,
captive, conceive, precept
caput, capitis head cape, chapter, biceps, capital
carnis flesh carnal, carnival, incarnate, carnivore
cavare, cavus to make hollow cavernous, cavity, excavate
cedere, cessum to go, withdraw, concession, recede, access
move
centrum center eccentric, concentric, concentrate
centum, centi hundred, tenth, ten percent, centimeter, centurion

6
cernere, certus to see as being discern, secret, certitude
different, to sift,
distinguish
civis, civilis citizen, community civic, city, civility
clamare, clamor to shout, cry out reclamation clarare, clarus, clarify, clarity,
acclaim, clear, to declaration, claret
make clear
claudere, clausum to shut, close recluse, cloister, enclosure, conclusion
clemens mild, merciful clemency, inclement
clinare to lean, slope clinometer, incline
colare to strain, filter portcullis, percolate, colander
colere, cultus to till, care, cultivate cultivation, culture, cult
coquere, coctum to cook, to mature precocious, concoction, cook
cor, cordis heart courage, cordial, accord
corium skin, hide excoriate
corona crown corona, coronation, coronary
corpus body corporation, corporeal
credere, credens to believe, trust credentials, credit, incredible
crescere, cretum to grow crescendo, concretism, accretion, increase
crimen crime, offense criminology, incriminate
cruciare, crux, crucis to torture, cross excruciating, crusade, cruzeiro
culpare to blame, fault culpable, exculpate
cumulare to heap up cumulative, accumulate
curare, cura, curatus to take care of, curate, curious, manicure
concern
currere, cursus, cour to run, go occur, precursor, concur, course
dens, dentis tooth denture, endodontia, dentifrice
deus, dei god deify, deity, deism
dexter, dextro right, right hand ambidextrous, dextrorotation
dicere, dictare to speak, say abdicate, indict
dignus worthy, fitting, condign, dignitary
suitable
dirigere, directus to direct dirge, dirigible, address-- -- -- -- --see "regere" below
docere, doctum to teach document, docent, doctrine
dominus lord, master danger, domineer
domus a dwelling, home domesticity, major-domo
donare, do to give, to forgive condone, donation, donor
dormire, dorm to sleep dormouse, dormitory
ducere, ductum to lead, take, bring abduct, seduction, conducive, duke, education
durare, durus to harden, hard obdurate, duress
errare, erratum to wander, go astray aberration, err, erratic
fabula story confabulate, fable, fabulous
facere, factum, fect, fic to make, to do manufacture, sufficient, facsimile
fallere to deceive, fallacious, infallible, fail
disappoint
ferre, latum to bear, to carry relate, confer, referendum
ferrum iron ferrotype, ferric, ferrous
fervere to boil, glow, rage fervor, effervescent
fidere, fidelis, fides to trust, believe, faith perfidy, fiduciary, confidant
filius, filia son, daughter filial, affiliation

7
 (respectively)
finire, finis, fin to end, to limit infinity, finite, confinement
firmare to make firm, affirm, confirmation, firmament
strengthen
figare, fixus to fasten, attach fixative, crucifix, suffix
flare, flatus blow deflate, inflation
flectere, flexus to bend flexible, deflection, inflection
fluere, fluxum, fluctus to flow confluence, fluid, effluvium, influx, flume
foedus, fed league confederacy, federation
fortis strong fort, comfort, fortify, force
frangere, fractum to break fraction, frangible, infringement
frater brother fraternal, fraternize
fugere, fugitum to flee centrifugal, fugue
fumus smoke fumitory, fumarole
fundere, fusum to pour refund, diffuse, profound
generare, genus1 birth, origin, race, generous, generic, gentle, genre, engender, generation
species, kind, to
beget, produce
gerere, gestum to carry, to bear belligerent, gesture, digest, gestation
glomerare to form into a ball conglomeration, glomerulus
gnoscere, cognoscere, to know incognito, cognition, ignorant, gnostic
gnarus, cognitum
gradi, gressus, gradus to step, to walk, a progress, graduate, centigrade
degree
granum, grani seed, kernel granary, granule
gratia, gratus agreeable, favor, congratulate, gratitude, grace
thanks
gravare, gravis to weigh down, heavy aggravate, gravamen, gravid, grief
grex, gregis, gregar flock, herd, to gather segregate, congregation gregarious
into a flock
habere, habitum to have, hold habit, inhibit
haerere to stick coherence, adhere
herba grass, herb herbivorous, herbaceous
hilarare, hilaris to gladden, merry hilarious, exhilarate
homo man homicidal, hominize
horrere to shudder, terrible horrendous, abhor
hospes guest, host hospice, hostage, hostess
ire, itum, itineris to go, journey, walk itinerant, transit, initiate
jacere, ject, jactum2 to lie, cast oneself reject, adjacent, eject
down, to throw
jicere2 to throw between interjection
judex, judicare judge judicious, prejudice, judge
jungere, junctum to join conjugal, junction, joint
jus, juris, jurare law, right, to swear jurisprudence, abjure, perjury, juror, injury, justify
juvenis young rejuvenate, juvenescent
laborare to work collaborate, elaborate, laboratory
lacto, lact milk lacteal, lactose
lapis stone lapis lazuli, lapidate
latus side lateral, bilateral, collateral
laudare, laudatum to praise, glory laudable, allow

8
lavare to wash lavender, laver, lavish, lavabo
laxare to loosen, widen relax, laxity
legere, lectum3 to read, choose, elegant, elite, collect, dialect, legend, select, election,
gather neglect
lex, legis, legalis3 law privelege, illegitimate, legislature, lex non scripta,
legal
liber book libel, libretto
liber free libertine, deliberate, liberal
ligare to bind allegiance, ally, oblige, ligature
lingua tongue, language linguistics, lingual, language
littera letter obliterate, literature, letter, literati
locare, locus to place, place dislocate, allocate, local
loqui, locutus speak, talk soliloquy, loquacious, circumlocution
lucere, lux, lucis, lumen to shine, light translucent, Lucifer, luminous
ludere, lusum, ludus to play, to mock illusion, interlude, ludicrous
luna moon lunate, lunatic, lunation, lunula
magnus, magna great magnanimous, Magna Carta
malus, mal bad, evil, wrong malevolent, malfeasance, grand mal
mandare, mando to order, to command mandate, commandment, mandarin
manus, mani, man hand emancipate, manifest, manumit
mare sea mariner, aquamarine, mare
mater mother alma mater, maternity
mecari to trade, buy merchant, market
medius, medio middle medieval, intermediary
mens mind mention, mentation
migrare to move from one migratory, emigrant
place to another
militare to serve as soldiers demilitarize, militia
mille thousand millennium, millivolt
minimus, minor least, small minimal, minimize, minute
mirare, miror, mirari to look at, to wonder miracle, mirage, admiral
at
mittere, missum to send, let, go emissary, remit, admittance, commissary
monere, monitus to warn monitor, admonition
morbus disease morbid, morbilli
mordere, morsun to bite morsel, remorse, mordacious
moris manners, customs morality, mores
mors, mortis, mori deather, to die post-mortem, mortgage, mortmain
movere, motus to move locomotive, motion, motor
multus much, many multiply, multimedia
mutare, mutatum to change molt, mutation
nascor, natus to bear, to born native, prenatal, nature, renaissance
negare, negatus to deny negation, abnegate
nihil nothing annihilate, nil
nocere to harm, injure innocent, innocuous, obnoxious
nominare, nomen, to name, name nominate, misnomer, nomenclature
nominis
norma rule normative, enormity
notare to mark, note notation, notary, connotation
novus new renovate, novice, nova

9
nox, noct night equinox, noctuid
nullus none annul, nullifidian
numerus number enumerate, supernumerary, numerology
nuntiare, nuntius to report, tell, nuncio, renounce
messenger
oculus eye monocle, binocular
opus, operari work, to work magnum opus, opera, operative
parare, par, pari to make equal, equal disparate, parity, peer
passus, pati suffer patient, passive
pater father paternoster, patronize
pax, pacis peace pacific, appease
pedis, pes foot expedition, pedicel
pellere, pulsus to drive, driven compel, expel, propellant, pulsate
pendere, pensare, to weigh, hang, impending, compendium, appendage, expenditure
pendulus weight
petere to rush at, seek impetuous, petulant, petition
placare, placidus, placere to soother, gentle, to placate, implacable, placebo, please
please
plaudere, plauseum to clap, applaud plaudit, implode
plenus full plenipotentiary, replenish, plenty
plere, pletum to fill expletive, replete
plicare, plicatum, plicit, to fold reply, implicate, complicate, explicate, plait
ply
plus, pluris more pluriaxial, plurality, surplus
ponere, positum to place position, opposite, depot
populus people popularity, populace
portare, port to carry portage, export
portio share, portion apportion, proportion
potens, potentis powerful potentate, potentiometer
prehendere, prehensum to seize, take hold apprentice, reprehensible
pressus pressed down depress, oppress, impress
pretiare, prec to value depreciation, precious, price
primus, primatis first primordial, prima facie
privare separate, peculiar privilege, deprive
probare, probatum to prove, test probation, prove
proximus nearest approximate, proximity
pugil, pugnare boxer, to fight repugnant, pugilist
purgare to clean purge, purgatory, expurgation
putare to think, estimate computer, reputation
quaerere, quaesitus to ask, seek exquisite, inquisition, conquer, quest
radius ray radiation, radian
radix root radicle, radical, eradicate
rapere to seize rapture, surreptitious, usurp, ravish
ratus fixed by calculation reason, ration
regere, rectus4 right, to make straight erect, rectitude, rectus
regere, rex, regis4 to rule, king regency, regal, corrigible, regimen, direct, rule,
regular
ridere, risum to laugh derision, ridicule
rogare, rogatum to ask arrogance, rogation, interrogate
rotare, rotatus, rota to turn, wheel, turned rotation, rotary, rotor

10
rumpere, ruptus to break, broken rupture, interrupt
sacer, sacrare5 holy, to make holy consecrate, sacrifice, sacrarium
sagax, sagacis, sapare wise, to taste, know sage, sagacious, sapient
sal salt salimeter, saline
salire, saltum to leap, jump sally, saltatory, resile, result
salvare to save save, salvation, salvage
sanctus5 holy sanctity, sanctuary, sacrosanct
sanguis blood sangria, sanguine, consanguinity
sanitas, sanatorius health, healthy sanitation, sanitarium
satis, satiare enough, to fill full sated, insatiable, satisfaction
scandere to climb ascend, descendant, ascension
scire, sciens to know, knowing omniscient, science
scribere, script to write, the thing describe, subscription, scribe
written
secare, sect to cut intersection, secateurs
sedere, sess to sit sediment, sedan, session, president
seminare, semen to sow, seed seminal, disseminate, seminary
sentire, sensum to feel, perceive consent, sensible, sentient
sepsis putrefaction, poison septic, septicemia, aseptic
sequens, sequi to follow, following prosecute, second, sequential, pursue, non sequitur
signare, signum to mark out assignation, consignment
similare, simulare to make like, to feign similar, facsimile, simulation, assimilate
socius, sociare companion, to join social, society, association
sol sun solar, solstice
solare, solus to make lonely, alone solo, solitary
solvere, solutum to loose solvent, dissolute, soluble
somnus sleep somnolent, somniloquy
sonus sound dissonance, unison, sonorous
sors, sortis lot, a share sort, consortium
specere, spectum, spic to look at, see perspicacity, specify, spectacle, retrospect, prospect,
perspective
spirare to breathe spirit, aspirator, expire, inspiration, respiration, aspire
spondere, sponsus to pledge, promise spouse, correspondence
stare, stet, stat to stand stable, establish, statue, superstition, distant
stellare, stella to shine, star constellation, stelliferous
stringere, strictum bind, draw tight astringent, constriction, strict
struere, structus build, arrange, pile up misconstrue, instruct, instrument
surgere, surrection to rise, risen insurgency, resurrection
tangere, tactus to touch tangent, tactual
tegere, tectus to cover, covered integument, detection, protect
temperare, tempus time tense, contemporize, temper
tendere, tent to stretch, strain, thin pretentious, tenuous, contend, tend, tense
tenere, tain to hold pertain, abstinence, tenacious, tenant
tentare, tent to touch, try tentacle, tentatively
terminus limit, end, boundary determine, terminator
terra earth terra firma, terrace
torquere, tortum to twist, twisted contortionist, extort, torsion, torque
tradere to deliver extradite, tradition, treason
trahere, tract to draw, drawn subtract, tractable, protract
tribuere, tributus, tribus to assign, allot, pay tributary, attribute, distribute
11
trudere, trusus to thrust, thrust intrusion, protrusile
toxicare, toxicum to smear with poison toxic, toxoplasmosis, toxicology
tumere to swell tumescence, tumult, contumelious
turbare, turba to disturb perturb, turbid
unus, uni one union, unipetalous
urbs, urbanus city exurb, urbanologist
vacare, vacuus to be empty, empty vacuity, vacuous, evacuate
vagari to wander extravagant, vagaries
valere, validum to be strong, to have valor, valid, evaluate
worth
velle, volens wish, willing volition, velleity
verbum word proverb, verbatim
venire, ventum to come revenue, convention, advent, contravene
vertere, versum to turn, change, vertigo, verse, introvert, versatile, anniversary
incline
verus true verily, verify, very
vestire to dress vestment, divest, investiture
via way pervious, viaticum
videre, visum see, look, provide provident, visible, supervise
vincere to overcome, conquer invincible, convince, victor
violare, violatus to violate violation, inviolate
vir man triumvirate, virago
vita life vitality, vitamin
vivere, vita to live, life revive, viviparous, vonvivial
vocare, vocatum, vox to call, voice vociferous, convocation, irrevocable, revoke
volvere, volutum turn involve, revolt, devolve
vorare to devour voracious, carnivore, omnivorous

12
 GREEK
GREEK DEFINITION(S) EXAMPLES OF PREFIX(ES)
PREFIX(ES)
a, an not, without amoral, anarthria
amphi about, around, amphibian, amphibolite
both
ana up, against anapest, anasarca
anti against, opposite antivivisection, antipodes
cata down catacomb, catapult
dia, di across, through dialysis, dialect
epi upon, over episode, epistle
exo outside, outer part exoteric, exostosis
eu well euphemism, euthanasia, eugenics
heteros other heterodox, heterogeneous
homos same homonym, homoiothermal
hyper over, extremely hypergamy, hyperpnea
hypo under, in smaller hypocrite, hypocaust
measure
meta after, over, metaplasia, metathesis
between
para beside parable, paradox
peri around, about perimeter, periphery
poly many, much polygamy, polyhedron, polyglot
pro before procrastinate, projectile
syn, sym, syl, sys together, with, by syllable, synapsis, syncretism
means of

GREEK SUFFIX DEFINITION EXAMPLES OF SUFFIX

osis state, condition, neurosis, psychosis
action

GREEK ROOT(S) DEFINITION(S) EXAMPLE(S) OF ROOT(S)

acro tip, top, apex, acropolis, acrophobia
pointed
agogos, agein to lead, to direct, to demagogue, pedagogic
incite
agon, agonia struggle, contest antagonist, agony
agro, agros field, earth, soil agronomy, agrostology
algia pain neuralgia, diaphragmalgia
allo, allos other, departure allopath, allogamy
from normal
andros, aner, anthropos man, stamen anthropomorphic, androsphinx
anemo, anemos wind anemometer, anemophilous

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archaeo, archaios ancient, old, archaeology, archeozoic
original
arch, archos chief, first, rule monarch, archipelago, archangel
aristo, aristos best aristocracy, aristocrat
astron, aster, astro star aster, astral
auto, autos self autoharp, autoimmune, autochthon
baro, baros pressure, weight barograph, barometer
barys heavy barium, hyperbaric
biblos, biblion book, of books bibliopole, bibliolatry
bios life, living things biocenosis, bionics, biopsy
caco bad, poor, evil cacophony, cacoethes
chiro, cheir hand chiromancy, chiropter
chroma, chromato color chromomere, chromoprotein
chrono, chronos time chronograph, chronicle
cosmos world, order cosmography, cosmic
cracy, crat type of government theocracy, bureaucrat
crypto hide cryptogam, cryptogenic
cyclos circular, wheel cyclothymia, cyclorama
deca ten Decapolis, decaliter
demos people demographics, endemic, democrat
dendron tree dendrochronology, dendroid
derma skin hypodermic, dermoid
deutero, deuter second Deuteronomy, deuterocanonical
didonai, dosis give dose, dosage
dis, di twice, doubly dichotomy, dipody
doxo opinion, praise heterodox, doxology
dynamis power dynamo, dyne
esthesia the ability to feel anesthesia, aesthetics
sensation
ethnos race, nation ethnomusicology, ethnocentrism
gamos marriage monogamy, polygamy
gastro stomach gastritis, gastrolith, gastric
ge, geo earth geodesic, geometry
gen, geno2 race, kind, descent Genesis
glot, glossa1 tongue, language glossary, monoglot, glossalalia
glyphe carving petroglyph, glyphography
gon figure having pentagon, polygon
angles
gonos to produce cosmogony, theogony
gramma, gram something written telegram, electrocardiogram
or drawn
grapho write lithography, graphology
gyn, gyneco woman, women misogyny, gyniatrics, gynarchy
hemo, hema blood hemoglobin, hematoma
hedron, hedral, hedra side, base, seat hexahedral, polyhedron
helios sun, bright heliotropic, helium, heliograph
hemi half hemisphere, hemicranial
hepta seven heptahedron, heptameter
hexa six hexameter, hexahedron
hiero sacred, holy hieroglyphic, hierophant

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hydor, hydro water hydroponics, hydrology
hypno sleep autohypnosis, hypnotoxin
icono image, likeness, iconology, iconostasis
figure
ideo idea ideogram, ideophone
isos equal, alike, isocracy, isometric
identical
kilo, chilioi thousand chiliarch, kilocalorie, kilovolt
klastes breaker, broken iconoclast, clastic
latreia service, worship idolatry, demonolatry
lithos, lite stone chrysolite, lithotomy
logos word, study logic, logomachy
lysis to loosen analysis, electrolysis
macros, macro enlarged, elongated macrocosm, macropterous
mania madness pyromania, kleptomania
mega large, powerful megapod, megalith
megalo large, great, megalocardia, megalomania
enlarged
metron measure thermometer, metronome
micros, micro small microcosm, microphone
miso, misein to hate misogyny, misology, misoneism
monos one, alone monocle, monosyllable
morphe form metamorphic, morphallaxis
mytho myth mythological, mythos
naus, nautes3 ship, sailor naumachia, astronaut, navigation
necro physical death, necrology, necrophagia
corpse
neos new, young Neoplatonism, neoprene
neuron, neuro nerve neuritis, neuropteran
nomos law, science, nomography, astronomer
management
octo eight octagonal, octogenarian
oligo few, scant, small oligarchy, oliguria
onoma, onym name allonym, homonym
opsis, optic, ophthalmo view, sight optical, amblyopia
ornitho bird, birds ornithopter, ornithosis
oro mountain orogenic, orology
orthos right, correct orthography, orthogenesis
osteon bone osteoporosis, ossify
pais, paidos child pediatric, pedobaptism
paleo ancient, early, paleontology, paleolithic
prehistoric
pan all, every pandemonium, Pandora
pater, patri father patronymic, patrician
pathos, path suffering, disease empathy, pathogen
ped, pedo small child pediatrics, pedant, pedobaptism
penta five Pentateuch, pentathlon
petros rock, stone petrography, petrol
phago, phage eating, destroying anthropophagite, phagocyte
phainein to show, be visible emphasis, fantasy, fancy

15
philos loving philharmonic, philately
phobia, phobos fear, dread photophobia, xenophobia
phone sound, speak phonograph, phoneme
phos, photo light photobiotic, phosgene
physis, physio nature physiologic, physiocrat
plasma form plasmodium, deutoplasm
pneuma air, breath, spirit pneumothorax, pneumococcus
podos, pous foot octopus, chiropodist, podiatry
polis city politician, Neopolitan, police
polys many polynomial, polymer
protos first proton, protozoa
pseudes, pseudo false, fake pseudoscience, pseudosalt
psycho soul, mind, breath psychometry, psychosis
ptero feather, wing pterosaur, pteropod
pyr fire pyromaniac, pyrography, pyretic, pyrogen
rheo, rrhea flow, current logorrhea, rheophile
schizo cleave, cut schizogenesis, schizogony
scopos, skopein spy, watcher, to see telescope, otoscope
seismo earthquake seismology, seismic
sophia wisdom sophomoric, sophist
sphero sphere, ball, layer of ionosphere, atmosphere, spheroid
gas
static causing to stand hydrostatics, electrostatic
taphos tomb, bury epitaph
techno art tectonic, technocrat
tele far, far off telemetry, telencephalon
temno, tomos cut, that which is appendectomy, lobotomy, tome
cut off, out
tetra four tetrarch, Tetragrammaton
thanato death thanatopis, thanatology, euthanasia
theos god monotheism, theophany
therapy to cure, nurse therapeutics, heliotherapy
thermo heat thermophile, thermotaxis
thesis, tithenai position synthesis, thesis
topo place, local toponym, topographic, topic
typos type, figure, model typography, typify
zoon animal zoogenic, zoonosis

16