ROOTS

The following is a list of roots for English vocabulary. The list is displayed so that the root with its
definition is shown first, then the source of the root (Latin, Greek, etc.) with the source word's definition,
and then last is an example of the root as used in a word and the word's definition. The sample words are
linked to additional words with the same root.

DAY#/ROOT NOTES

1. act, ag: do, act, drive

a. Latin, agere: to drive, lead, act, do
b. active (adjective): moving about

2. am, ami: love, like

a. Latin, amare: to love
b. amorous (adjective): loving

3. anim: mind, life, spirit, anger

a. Latin, animus: spirit
b. animal (noun): a living creature

4. annu, enni: yearly

a. Latin, annuus: yearly
 b. annual (adjective): yearly

5. auc, aug, aut: to originate, to increase

a. Latin, augere: to originate, increase
b. augment (verb): to increase, to add to

6. aud, audit, aur: hear

a. Latin, audire: to hear
b. audible (adjective): can be heard

7. bene, ben: good, well, gentle

a. Latin, bene: good
b. benign (adjective): harmless, mild,
gentle

8. bio, bi: life

a. Greek, bios: life
b. biography (noun): a book written
about a person's life

9. bibli, biblio: book

a. Greek, biblion: book
b. bibliophile (noun): a person who likes
or collects books

10. brev: short

a. Latin, brevis: short
b. abbreviate (verb): to shorten

11. cad, cap, cas, ceiv, cept, cid: to take, to

 seize, to hold
a. Latin, capere: to seize
b. receive (verb): to take in, to acquire

12. ceas, cede, ceed, cess: go, yield

a. Latin, cedere: to go
b. exceed (verb): to go beyond a limit, to
be greater than

13. chron: time

a. Greek, khronos: time
b. chronological (adjective): arranged in
order of time or sequence

14. clam, claim: shout

a. Latin, clamare: to call out, shout
b. clamor (verb): to make noise

15. cogn, gnos: know to know

a. Latin, cognoscere: to know
b. recognize (verb): to know, to identify

16. corp: body

a. Latin, corpus: body
b. corporate (adjective): formed into a
body or association, united in one
group

17. cre, cresc, cret: grow

a. Latin, crescere: to grow
 b. create (verb): to originate, to produce
through imagination

18. cred: trust, believe

a. Latin, credere: to believe
b. incredible (adjective): unbelievable

19. cour, cur, curr, curs: run, course

a. Latin, currere: run
b. occur (verb): to happen, to come to
mind

20. dic, dict, dit: say, speak

a. Latin, dicere: to say
b. indicate (verb): to show, to point out

21. doc, doct: teach, prove

a. Latin, docere: to teach
b. docile (adjective): obedient, easily
taught

22. dog, dox: thought, idea

a. Greek, dokein: seem, think
b. dogma (noun): an established opinion

23. dec, dign: suitable

a. Latin, decere: to be suitable
b. decent (adjective): conforming to
standards, suitable, good
24. duc, duct**: lead
a. Latin, ducere: to draw or lead
b. conduct (verb): to lead or guide
(noun) - a person's behavior
c. ** ducere is one of the most prolific
sources of English words

25. ev, et: time, age

a. Latin, aevum: lifetime
b. medieval (adjective): related to the
Middle Ages (500 - 1500 AD)

26. fac, fact, fec, fic, fas, fea: make do, do

a. Latin, facere - make, do
b. difficult (noun): hard to do,
troublesome

27. fer: bear, carry

a. Latin, ferre: bear, carry
b. infer (verb): to come to a conclusion
from looking at facts, to guess

28. fict, feign, fain: shape, make, fashion

a. Latin, fingere: shape, make
b. fiction (noun): something produced
from imagination, an invented story

29. fid: belief, faith

a. Latin, fidere: to trust
b. confide (verb): to trust, to trust
 another person with a secret

30. fig: shape, form

a. Latin, figura: form, shape, figure
b. figurem (noun): shape, pattern,
drawing
(verb) - decide, plan, decipher

31. flu, fluct, flux: flow

a. Latin, fluere: to flow
b. fluid (adjective): capable of flowing,
a smooth easy style
(noun) - a liquid

32. form: shape

a. Latin, forma: beauty, shape, form
b. format (noun): the shape and size of
something

33. fract, frag, frai: break

a. Latin, frangere: to break
b. frail (adjective): easily broken, not
strong, weak

34. gen, gin: to give birth, kind

a. Greek, genus: birth
b. generate (verb): to produce, to create

35. geo: earth

a. Greek, ge: earth
 b. geography (noun): a science that
describes the earth's surface

36. gor: to gather, to bring together

a. Greek, ageirin: to gather
b. category (noun): a class or set in
which a thing is placed

37. grad, gress, gree: step, go, move

a. Latin, gradus: step
b. degree (noun): a step or stage in a
process

38. graph, graf: write, draw

a. Greek, graphein: write, scratch,
carve
b. graphic (adjective): written, drawn,
vividly shown

39. her, hes: to stick

a. Latin, haerere: to stick
b. adhere (verb): to stick

40. jac, ject, jet: to throw

a. Latin, jacere: to throw, to lie
b. reject (verb): to throw out, unwilling
to accept

41. jug, junct, just: to join

a. Latin, jungere: to join
 b. junction (noun): a place at which two
things join

42. lex, leag, leg: law

a. Latin, lex: law
b. legal (adjective): based on law

43. lect, leg, lig: choose, gather, select, read

a. Latin, legere: to choose
b. collect (verb): to gather, to bring
together

44. loc: place, area

a. Latin, locare: to place
b. location (noun): a place, a position
occupied

45. log: say, speech, word, reason, study

a. Greek, logos: speech, word, reason
b. logic (noun): the study of reason,
reasoning

46. luc, lum, lust: light

a. Latin, lucare: shine
b. Latin, lumen: light
c. Latin, lustrare: light-up
d. translucent (adjective): permitting
some light to come through

47. man: hand, make, do

 a. Latin, manus: hand
b. manage (verb): to handle with skill, to
be able to do

48. mem: recall, remember

a. Latin, memor: mindful
b. memory (noun): the ability to recall or
to bring to mind

49. ment: mind

a. Latin, mens: mind
b. mental (adjective): related to the mind

50. min: little, small

a. Latin, minuere: to lessen
b. minor (adjective): less important,
lesser

51. mit, miss: send

a. Latin, mittere: put, send
b. admit (verb): to accept, to allow entry

52. mob, mov, mot: move

a. Latin, movere: move
b. motion (noun): act of moving, action

53. nasc, nat, gnant, nai: to be born

a. Latin, nasci to be born
b. nascent (adjective) - just born
54. nom, nym: name
a. Latin, nomen: name
b. nominate (verb): to name for office

55. nov: new

a. latin, novus: new
b. novice (noun): a beginner or
newcomer

56. oper: work

a. Latin, opus: work
b. operate (verb): to work, to perform

57. pat, pass: feel, suffer

a. Latin, pati: suffer
b. passion (noun): a strong feeling or
emotion

58. path: feel

a. Greek, pathos: feeling
b. sympathy (noun): sharing another
person's feelings

59. ped: foot

a. Latin, pes: foot
b. impede (verb): to hinder, to slow
down

60. pod: foot

a. Greek, pous: foot
 b. podium (noun): a platform, an area
raised above the surrounding ground

61. pel, puls: drive, push

a. Latin, pellere: to drive, push, beat
b. repel (verb): to drive away or push
back

62. pend, pond: to hang, weigh

a. Latin, pendere: to hang, to weigh
b. append (verb): to add or correct

63. phan, phas, phen, fan, phant, fant: show,

make visible
a. Greek, phainein: show
b. phantom (noun): something seen but
having no physical existence, a
ghost

64. phil: love

a. Greek, philos: loving
b. philosopher (noun): a person who
seeks (loves) wisdom

65. phon: sound

a. Greek, phone: voice, sound
b. phonetic (adjective): related to speech
sounds

66. pict: paint, show, draw

 a. Latin, pingere: to paint
b. picture (verb): to paint or draw

67. port: carry

a. Latin, portare: carry
b. import (verb): to bring in from a
foreign country

68. pli, ply: fold

a. Latin, plicare: fold
b. reply (verb): to respond, to answer

69. pon, pos: put, place

a. Latin, ponere: to lay down, put,
place
b. postpone (verb): to put off to a later
time

70. psych: mind

a. Greek, psukhe: soul, spirit
b. psychology (noun): study of how the
mind works

71. quir, quis, quest, quer: seek, ask

a. Latin, quaerere: seek, ask
b. query (verb): to ask questions

72. rupt: break

a. Latin, rumpere: break
 b. rupture (verb): to break or burst

73. sci, scio: to know

a. Latin, scire: to know
b. conscious (adjective): aware, having
knowledge of oneself

74. scrib, scrip: write

a. Latin, scribere: to write
b. script (noun): handwriting, something
written

75. sent, sens: feel, think

a. Latin, sentire: feel
b. sentiment (noun): a thought prompted
by feeling

76. sequ, secut, sue: follow

a. Latin, sequi: to follow
b. sequence (noun): a continuous series

77. sist: to withstand, make up

a. Latin, sistere: to make a stand
b. insist (verb): to be firm about
something needed, to demand

78. soci: to join, companions

a. Latin, sociare, socius: to join, a
companion
b. sociable (adjective): inclined to seek
 friendship, companionship

79. sol: alone

a. Latin, solus: alone, single
b. solitary (adjective): being alone

80. solv, solu, solut: loosen, explain

a. Latin, solvere: too loosen, release
b. solve (verb): to find an answer

81. spec, spi, spic, spect: look

a. Latin, specere: look, look at
b. spectator (noun): a person who
watches

82. spir: breath, soul

a. Latin, spirare: breathe
b. respiration (noun): breathing

83. stab, stat: stand

a. Latin, stare: to stand
b. stature (noun) - height of a standing
body, importance of position

84. strain, strict, string, stige: bind, pull

a. Latin, stringere: to bind or pull tight
b. constrict (verb) - to squeeze, to make
narrow

85. stru, struct, stroy: build

 a. Latin, struere: to build
b. destroy (verb): to ruin, to pull down

86. tact, tang, tig, ting: touch

a. Latin, tangere: to touch
b. tactile (adjective): related to the sense
of touch

87. tele: far away

a. Greek, telos: end
b. telepathy (noun): communication
from one mind to another without
verbal or written communication

88. tend, tens: stretch

a. Latin, tendere: to stretch
b. contend (verb): to strive or reach for,
to argue

89. tain, ten, tent, tin: hold, keep, have

a. Latin, tenere: to hold
b. retain (verb): to keep, to hold in place

90. term: end, boundary, limit

a. Latin, terminusm: limit, boundary
b. exterminate (verb): to kill off, to get
rid of

91. terr: earth

a. Latin, terra: earth
 b. territory (noun): area of land

92. test: see, witness

a. Latin, testis: witness
b. attest (verb): to provide proof, to say
something is true

93. therm: heat

a. Greek, therme: heat
b. thermometer (noun): a device for
measuring heat

94. tor, tors, tort: twist

a. Latin, torquere: twist
b. torsion (noun): twisting of the body

95. tract, trai, treat: pull, draw

a. Latin, trahere: pull
b. attract (verb): to draw toward, to
arouse interest

96. uni: one

a. Latin, unus: one
b. unite (verb): to make one, to join
together

97. vac: empty

a. Latin, vacare: to be empty
b. vacant (adjective): empty, not
 occupied

98. ven, vent: come

a. Latin, venire: to come
b. convene (verb): to assemble, to come
together

99. ver: true

a. Latin, venus: true
b. verify (verb): to confirm that
something is true

100. verb, verv: word

a. Latin, verbum: word
b. verbalize (verb): to express in words,
to put into words

101. vers, vert: turn,change

a. Latin, versare: to turn
b. versatile (adjective): capable of
changing or adapting, useful

102. vid, vie, vis: see

a. Latin, videre: to see; Latin, videre:
to separate
b. visible (adjective): able to be seen
c. divide (verb): to separate

103. vit, viv: live

a. Latin, vivere: to live
 b. vital (adjective) - necessary for life

104. voc, voke: call

a. Latin, vocare: call, voice
b. vocal (adjective): spoken or uttered
by the voice

105. volv, volt, vol: roll, turn

a. Latin, volvere: to roll, turn

b. revolve (verb): to turn around

PREFIXES

Prefixes and suffixes were originally words themselves but they are now groups of letters added to words or to roots to create new
words. Prefixes [pre (before) + fix (fasten) = fasten before] are groups of letters placed before words or roots. Prefixes modify or
extend the meanings of words and roots. Following is a list of commonly used prefixes and sample vocabulary.

DAY#/PREFIX NOTES

1. a-, ac-, ad-, af-, ag-, al-, an-, ap-, as-, at- to, toward, near,
in addition to
a. aside (adverb): to or toward the side
i. a + side
b. accompany (verb): to go with someone as a
companion
i. ac + com + pan + y
c. adjust (verb): to correct, to move closer to a
correct position
i. ad + just
d. affix (verb): to attach to something, to fasten
i. af + fix
e. aggression (noun): hostile behavior towards
someone or something
i. ag + gress + ion
f. allocate (verb): to distribute to specific people or
for specific purposes
i. al + loc + ate
g. annihilate (verb): to destroy
i. an + nihil + ate
h. associate (verb): to join with
i. as + soci + ate
 i. attend (verb): to look after, to go to
i. at + tend

2. a-, an- not, without

a. apolitical (adjective): without interest in politics
i. a + polit + ic + al
b. anemia (noun): the condition (disease) of not
having enough red blood cells
i. an + em + ia

3. ab-, abs- away from, off

a. abrupt (adjective): unexpected change
i. ab + rupt
b. absolve (verb): to be set free from one's actions or
obligations
i. ab + solve

4. ante- before
a. anterior (adjective): before or near the front
i. ante + rior

5. anti- against
a. antipathy (noun): dislike, opposite feeling
i. anti + path + y

6. auto- self
a. automotive (adjective): related to self-propelled
machines
i. auto + mot + ive

7. bi- two
 a. biped (noun): a two-footed animal
i. bi + ped
b. biennial (adjective): happening every two years bi
+ enni + al

8. cat-, cata-, cath- down, with

a. category (noun): a class or set to which a thing
belongs
i. cate + gor + y
b. catalogue (noun): a book or pamphlet that lists
and describes
i. cata + log + ue
c. catheter (noun): a medical device used to transfer
fluids cath +eter

9. circum- around
a. circumvent (verb): to manage to get around a
situation
i. circum + vent

10. co-, cog-, col-, com-, con-, cor together, with

a. cohesiveness (noun): the ability to stick together
i. co + hes + ive + ness
b. cognate (adjective): related, similar in nature
i. cog + nate
c. collaborate (verb): to work together
i. col + lab + or + ate
d. commitment (noun): to entrust, to put into a place
i. com + mit + ment
 e. convenient (adjective): handy, nearby
i. con + veni + ent
f. correct (verb): to set right, to be right
i. cor + rect

11. contra- against, opposite

a. contradict (verb) to state the opposite
i. contra + dict

12. de- to do the opposite, to take away from

a. decrease (verb): to grow smaller, to become less
i. de + cre + ase

13. di-, dif-, dis- apart, separate, two, opposite, not

a. divide (verb): to separate into two or more parts
i. di + vide
b. differ (verb): to be unlike
i. dif + fer

14. dis- not, opposite of, exclude

a. distrust (verb): to have no confidence or trust
i. dis + trust

15. e-, ex- out, out of, from

a. emit (verb) to send out
i. e + mit
b. expel (verb): to force out ex + pel

16. en-, em- put into

a. enamor (verb): to cause to love, to "put" someone
"into" love
 i. en + am + + or
b. empower (verb): to give power, to put into power
em + pow + er

17. epi-, upon, beside, over

a. epilogue (noun): the concluding section of a play
or literary work
i. epi + logue

18. extra- beyond

a. extraordinary (adjective): going beyond normal
i. extra + ordin + ary

19.
I

20. il-, im-, in-, ir, not, in

a. illegible (adjective): cannot be read
i. il + leg + ible
b. imposter (noun): someone who poses as someone
else
i. im + post + er
c. inaction (noun): lack of motion, idle
i. in + act + ion
d. irresolute (adjective): uncertain about hot to act,
undecided, not having a solution
i. ir + re + solute

21. in-, im-, il- in, into

a. instead (adverb): in place of, an alternative
i. in + stead
 b. import (verb): to bring into a country from another
country
i. im + port

22. inter- between, among

a. interject (verb): to throw something (usually a
comment) between other things
i. inter + ject

23. intro- into

a. introspection (noun): to look into one's own
thoughts and feelings
i. intro + spect + ion

24. mal- bad

a. malfunction (noun): when something does not
work properly
i. mal + funct + ion

25. mis- wrong

a. misconduct (noun): wrong doing, bad behavior
i. mis + con + duct

26. mono- one

a. monologue (noun): a dramatic performance or
speech given by one actor
i. mono + logue

27. multi- many

a. multiply (verb): to increase in number
 i. multi + ply

28. non- not, no

a. nonsense (noun): something that has no meaning
or makes no sense
i. non + sense

29. ob-, oc-, of-, op- toward, against, in the way

a. obtain (verb): to gain or get, to get a hold of
i. ob + tain
b. occur (verb): to happen, to come to mind
i. oc + cur
c. offer (verb): to attempt to give, to propose, to try
to hand out
i. of + fer
d. oppose (verb): to be against, to stand in the way of
something
i. op + pose

30. over- excessive, above

a. overwork (verb): to have too much work
i. over + work

31. para- beside

a. paradox (noun): a statement that seems true and
contradictory at the same time
i. para + dox

32. per- through

a. persecute (verb): to go after, to pursue
 i. per + secute

33. post- after

a. postpone (verb): to put off to a later time, to delay
i. post + pone

34. pre- before

a. precede (verb): to go before, to come in front of
i. pre + cede

35. pro- for, foward

a. propel (verb): to push forward
i. pro + pel

36. re- back, again

a. readmit (verb): to allow in again
i. re + ad + mit

37. retro- backward

a. retrospect (noun) to look back at past events
i. retro + spect

38. se- apart, move away from

a. secede (verb): to withdraw from an organization
i. se + cede

39. semi- half

a. semiannual (adjective): occurring twice a year
i. semi + annu + al

40. sub-, suc-, suf-, sup-, sur-, sus under, beneath, near, from
 below, secretly, above, up
a. submarine (adjective): underwater
i. sub + mar + ine
b. succeed (verb): to do well, to come after
i. suc + ceed
c. suffice (verb): to be enough
i. suf + fice
d. support (verb): to hold up, too keep up
i. sup + port
e. survive (verb): to live, to live through something,
to exist
i. sur + vive
f. sustain (verb): to keep up, to hold up,
i. sus + tain

41. super- over, above

a. superimpose (verb): to place something on top of
something else
i. super + im + pose

42. syn-, sym- together, at the same time

a. synchronous (adjective): happening at the same
time
i. syn + chron + ous
b. sympathy (noun): sharing another person's
feelings, compassion
i. sym + path + y

43. trans- across, beyond, change

a. transform (verb): to change shape
 i. trans + form

44. tri- three

a. tripod (noun): a three-legged stand
i. tri + pod

45. un- not, against, opposite

a. unceasing (adjective): never ending, continuous
i. un + ceas + ing

46. uni- one

a. uniform (adjective): having the same form or
consistency
b. uni + form
SUFFIXES

Suffixes are groups of letters attached to the ends of roots, words, and word groups. Suffixes serve a grammatical function. A
suffix can indicate what part of speech (noun, verb, adjective, adverb) the word belongs to. Suffixes can also change and extend the
meaning. The following suffixes are grouped beneath the grammatical function they perform.

NOUNS

Nouns perform the function of naming. Nouns name persons, places animals or things, as well as groups, ideas and qualities. In a
sentence, nouns can be subjects, objects, or appositives.

DAY#/SUFFIX NOTES

1. -acy, -cy
a. Noun: state or quality
i. privacy: the state of being alone
1. priv + acy
ii. infancy: the state of being a baby or young
child
1. in + fan + cy

2. -age
a. Noun: activity, or result of action
i. courage : having the spirit to overcome
fear
1. cour + age

3. -al ,el, ul
a. Noun: action, result of action
i. referral : the action of directing a person
to another place, person or thing
 1. re + ferr + al

4. -an
a. Noun: person
i. artisan : a craftsperson
1. arti + san

5. -ance, -ence
a. Noun: action, state, quality or process
i. resistance : the action of opposing
something
1. re + sist + ance
ii. independence: the state of not being under
the control of others, free, self-governing
1. in + de + pend + ence

6. -ancy, -ency
a. Noun: state, quality or capacity
i. vacancy : an empty room or position
1. vac + ancy
ii. agency: the capacity to exert power or
influence, a position or person that
performs a function
1. ag + ency

7. -ant, -ent
a. Noun: an agent, something that performs the
action
i. disinfectant : an agent that destroys germs,
somthing that cleans
1. dis + in + fect + ant
 ii. dependent: a thing supported by another, a
thing determined by another
1. de + pend + ent

8. -ate
a. Noun: state, office, fuction
i. candidate : a person nominated for an
office or position
1. candid + ate

9. -ation
a. Noun: action, resulting state
i. specialization : the result of being
distinguished by one quality or ability
1. spec + ial + iz + ation

10. -dom
a. Noun: place, state of being
i. wisdom : possessing knowledge
1. wis + dom

11. -er, -or

a. Noun: person or thing that does something
i. porter : a person who carries things
1. port + er
ii. collector: a person who collects or gathers
things
1. col + lect + or

12. -ful
 a. Noun: an amount or quanity that fills
i. mouthful : an amount that fills the mouth
1. mouth + ful

13. -ian, an
a. Noun: related to, one that is
i. pedestrian : a person who walks
1. ped + estr + ian
ii. human: a person
1. hum + an

14. -ia
a. Noun: names, diseases
i. phobia : an illogical fear of something
1. phob + ia

15. -iatry
a. Noun: art of healing
i. psychiatry : branch of medicine that deals
with the mind and emotions
1. psych + iatry

16. -ic, ics

a. Noun: related to the arts and sciences
i. arithmetic : a branch of math that usually
deals with non-negative numbers
1. arithm + et + ic
ii. economics: the social science related to
studying business
1. eco + nom + ics
17. -ice
a. Noun: act
i. malice : the desire to do evil
1. mal + ice

18. -ing
a. Noun: material made for, activity, result of an
activity
i. flooring : a material made for floors
1. floor + ing
ii. swimming: the activity of swimming or
moving through water
1. swim(m) + ing
iii. building: the result of making a structure
1. build + ing

19. -ion
a. Noun: condition or action
i. abduction : the action of carrying someone
away by force
1. ab + duct + ion

20. -ism
a. Noun: doctrine, belief, action or conduct
i. formalism : a belief in sticking to
prescribed forms or artistic styles
1. form + al + ism

21. -ist
a. Noun: person or member
i. podiatrist : a foot doctor
 1. pod + iatr + ist

22. -ite
a. Noun: product or part
i. graphite : a black material used in making
pencils
1. graph + ite

23. -ity, ty
a. Noun: state or quality
i. lucidity : clear thinking
1. luc + id + ity
ii. novelty: something new or unusual
1. nov + el + ty

24. -ive
a. Noun: condition
i. native : a person born in a specific place
1. nat + ive

25. -ment
a. Noun: condition or result
i. document : an official paper usually
showing proof or evidence of something
1. docu + ment

26. -ness
a. Noun: state, condition, quality
i. kindness : the quality of being kind or nice
1. kind + ness
27. -or
a. Noun: condition or activity
i. valor : bravery, courage
1. val + or

28. -ory
a. Noun: place for, serves for
i. territory : an area around a place
1. territ + ory

29. -ship
a. Noun: status, condition
i. relationship : the state of being related or
connected to something or someone
1. re + lat + ion + ship

30. -ure
a. Noun: act, condition, process, function
i. exposure : the condition of being exposed
or unprotected
1. pos + ure

31. -y
a. Noun: state, condition, result of an activity
i. society : companionship
1. soci + et + y
ii. victory: the result of winning something
1. vict + or + y