free vs.

premium connect   

Join now log in

about us resources get started

Root Words & Prefixes: Quick Reference like - share - follow

Jump directly to a root word:

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
Looking for suffixes (word endings)?
You find them on a separate list of suffixes.

Link Root word Meanings Origin Examples and Definitions

a/n not, without Greek abyss - without bottom; achromatic - without color; anhydrous - without
water

a on Latin afire - on fire; ashore - on the shore; aside - on the side

a, ab/s from, away, off Latin abduct - carry away by force; abnormal - away from normal, not normal;
absent - away, not present; aversion - the act of turning away from;
abbreviate: to shorten.

a/c/d to, toward, near Latin accelerate - to increase the speed of; accessible - easily entered,
approached, or obtained; admittance - allowing into;

acro top, height, tip, Greek acrobat - a "high walker"; acronym - a word formed from the first
beginning
Link Root word Meanings Origin Examples and Definitions

(capital) letters of a word; acrophobia - fear of height

act do Latin activity - something that a person does; react - to do something in

response; interaction - communication between two or more things

aer/o air Greek aerate - to let air reach something; aerial - relating to the air; aerospace -
the air space

agr/i/o farming Latin agriculture - management of the land, agribusiness - making money by
Greek utilizing land; agrarian - relating to the management of land

alg/o pain Latin neuralgia - pain caused by a nerve; analgesic - a drug that makes one
pain free; nostalgia - aching for the familiar

ambi, amphi both, on both Latin ambidextrous - able to use both hands equally; ambiguous - having
sides, around more than one meaning; ambivalence - conflicting or opposite feelings
toward a person or thing

ambul walk, move Latin amble - to walk in a slow, relaxed way; ambulant - walking or moving
around; ambulance - a vehicle that moves a patient

ami/o love Latin amiable - friendly, pleasant, lovable; amity - friendly and peaceful
relations; amorous - showing romantic love

ana up, back, against, Greek analysis - a close examination of something; anatomy - the structure of
again, throughout something as visible when cut up for analysis; anachronism - not being
in the right place in time

andr/o man, male Greek androgynous - being both male and female; android - resembling a
human; misandry - hatred towards men

anim life, spirit Latin animal - a living organism; animate - to make alive; equanimity - of
balanced spirit

ann/enn year Latin anniversary - a date observed once a year; annual - happening once a
year; millennium - 1,000 years

ante before, in front Latin antecede - to come before something in time; antemeridian - before
noon; anteroom- a small room before the main room

anth/o flower Greek chrysanthemum and amaranth - names of flowers; anthology - a

collection of treasured writings; anthozoan - half plant, half animal, like
anemones and corals.

anthrop/o human Greek anthropology - the study of mankind; anthropomorphism - giving human
form to non-human things; philanthropy - the love to mankind
(expressed through good deeds)

anti against, opposite Greek antibody - a substance that destroys micro-organisms; antiseptic -
of preventing infection; antisocial - opposing social norm

apo, apho away, off, Greek aphorism - a short expression of a general truth; apology - an explicit
separate expression of regret, apostrophe - a small dash used in place of an
omitted letter

aqu/a water Latin aquarium - a water container for fish; aquatic- relating to water;
aqueduct - a pipeline for water

arbor tree Latin arborist - someone working with trees; arbor - a shady area formed by
trees; arborous - having many trees

arch/i chief, most Greek archbishop - the highest ranking bishop; archenemy - chief or worst
important, rule enemy; matriarch - a female who rules a group; monarch - a king or
 queen
Link Root word Meanings Origin Examples and Definitions
arch/a/i primitive, ancient Greek archaeology - the study of ancient cultures; archaic - belonging to an
earlier period; archive - a collection of historical materials

arthr/o joint Latin arthroscope - a tool to see inside a joint; arthritis - inflammation of a
Greek joint; arthropod - invertebrates with jointed legs, like spiders,
crustaceans, insects

art skill Latin artifact - object made by a person's skill; artisan - a person skilled in a
craft; artist - a person who creates skillfully

astro, star, stars, outer Greek astronaut - a person traveling to the stars; astronomer - someone who
aster space studies the stars; asterisk - a star-shaped sign used as a reference tool

aud/i/io hear Latin audible - loud enough to be heard; audience - people who listen to a
program; audiovisual - relating to sound and vision

auto self, same, one Greek autocrat - a person who governs with absolute power; autograph - a
person's own signature; automatic - moving by itself

avi/a bird Latin aviary - a large enclosure for birds; aviatrix - a female airplane pilot;
aviation - the art of designing or operating aircraft

bar/o pressure, weight Greek baric - pertaining to pressure, esp. of the atmosphere; milliard - metric
unit, equal to 1/1000th of a bar; baryon - heavy elementary particle

bell/i war Latin bellicose - warlike; belligerent - hostile, ready to fight; rebel - person who
opposes and fights

bene good, well Latin benefactor - person who gives money to a cause; beneficial - producing
a good effect; benevolent - showing kindness or goodwill

bi/n two, twice, once Latin biannual - happening twice a year; binoculars - optical device with two
in every two lenses; bilateral - of or involving two sides

bibli/o book Greek bibliography - a list of books used as sources; bibliomania - an extreme
love of books; bibliophile - a person who loves books

bio life, living matter Greek biography- a life story written by another person; biology - the science of
life; biosphere - Earth's surface inhabited by living things

blast/o cell, primitive, Greek blastula - an early stage of embryonic development; fibroblast - a cell
immature cell that forms connective tissue; blastoderm - the layer surrounding the
inside of an egg

burs pouch, purse Latin bursar- an administrative officer in charge of funds; bursary- the
treasury of a college or monastery; disburse- to expend especially from
a public fund

calc stone Latin calcite; calcium- the flame of acetylene gas generated by reaction of
calcium carbide with water; calcification- impregnation with calcareous
matter

cand glowing, Latin candid- free from bias, prejudice, or malice; candle- something that
iridescent gives light; incandescent- white, glowing, or luminous with intense heat

capt, cept, take, hold Latin intercept - to stop or interrupt;

ceive perceive - to take notice of something; captivating - taking hold of

cardi/o heart Greek cardiac - relating to the heart; cardiogenic - resulting from heart disease;
cardiologist - a heart doctor

carn/i flesh, meat Latin carnivorous - flesh-eating; carnal - pertaining to the body or flesh;
incarnate - given bodily form
Link Root word Meanings Origin Examples and Definitions

cata down, against Greek cataclysm - a flood or other disaster, catalog - a complete listing;
completely, catastrophe - turning for the worst, a substantial disaster
intensive,
according to

caust, to burn Latin cauterize - to burn with a hot instrument; caustic - capable of burning or
caut Greek eating away; holocaust - total devastation, especially by fire

cede, go, yield Latin exceed - to go beyond the limits; recede - to go back; accessible - easily
ceed,
entered, approached, or obtained;
cess

celer fast Latin accelerate - to increase the speed of; decelerate - to reduce the speed
of

cent/i hundred, Latin centennial- the 100th anniversary; centimeter - 1/100 of a meter;
hundredth century - 100 years

centr/o/i center Greek egocentric - self-centered; eccentric - not having a common center, not
according to norm; centrifugal - moving outward from a center

cephal/o head Greek encephalitis - inflammation of the brain; cephalic - pertaining to the
head; cephalopod - marine mollusks like octopus and squid who have
tentacles growing from their head

cerebr/o brain Latin cerebral - pertaining to the brain; cerebrate - to use the brain;
cerebrospinal - pertaining to the brain and the spinal cord

cert sure Latin ascertain- to find out something with certainty; certain - being
absolutely sure; certify - to state that something is true

chrom/o color, pigment Greek achromatic - without color; chromium - a blue-white metallic chemical
chromat/o, element, chromatics - the study of color
chros

chron/o time Greek chronic - lasting for a long time; chronological - arranging events in time
order, synchronize - happening at the same time

chrys/o gold, yellow Greek chrysanthemum and helichrysum - golden/yellow flowers; chrysolite - a
yellowish gem

cide, cise cut, kill Latin homicide - murder; incisor - a sharp tooth for cutting food; insecticide -
a chemical used to kill insects

circum, around, about Latin circumnavigate - to sail around; circumscribe - to draw around;
circle circumspect - looking around

claim, clam shout, speak out Latin clamor - to shout and make noise; exclaim - to cry out loudly and
suddenly; proclamation - something announced officially in public

clar clear Latin clarification - an explanation; clarify - to make something clear; declare -
to state something clearly

clud, clus close Latin conclusion - the end or last part; exclusion - shutting out, rejecting;
seclude - to keep away from; to isolate

cline lean Latin inclination - a leaning toward; incline - a surface that slopes or leans;
recline - to lean back and relax

co with, together, Latin coauthor - writer who collaborates with another author; coeducation -
joint educating males and females together; cohousing - planning your
Link Root word Meanings Origin Examples and Definitions

neighborhood in an intentional neighborly fashion

col together, jointly Latin Collaborate - to work together; collision - smashing together; colloquial -
words formed by everday interaction

com together, common Latin commemorate - to memorize together; composition - an arrangement or

putting together of parts; commune - living together while owning
things in common

cogn/i know Latin cognition - process of acquiring knowledge; incognito - disguised so no

one knows you; recognize - to discover that one knows

con with, jointly Latin concur - to agree with someone; contemporary - of the same time
period as others; convention - a gathering of people with a common
interest

contra/o against, opposite Latin contradict to argue against, Contraflow, contraception, contrary not in
agreement, controversy disagreement

corp/o body Latin corporation - a company recognized by law as a single body; corpse - a
dead body; corporal - pertaining to the body

cosm/o universe Greek cosmonaut - a Russian astronaut; cosmos - the universe; microcosm - a
miniature universe

counter opposite, counteract - to oppose the effects of an action; countermand - to cancel

contrary, a previous order; counteroffensive - attack against an attack
opposing

cranio skull Greek craniology - the study of skull characteristics; cranium - skull of
vertebrates; cranial - pertaining to the skull

cred believe Latin credence - belief that something is true or valid; credulous - believing
things too easily, gullible; incredible - unbelievable

cruc cross Latin crucial-characteristic of or having the form of a cross ; crucifix- the
cross itself as a Christian emblem; excruciating- so intense as to cause
great pain or anguish

crypto hidden, secret Greek cryptic - of hidden meaning; cryptography - science of secret codes;
encrypt - encode into secret code

cumul mass, heap Latin accumulate - to gather or pile up; cumulative - gradually building up

curr, curs run Latin concurrent- running parallel; current- flowing easily and
smoothly; cursive- having a flowing, easy, impromptu character

cycl circle, ring Greek bicycle - a vehicle with two wheels; cycle - a sequence that is repeated;
cyclone - a storm with circling winds

de reduce, away, Latin decelerate - to slow down, reduce speed; dethrone - to remove from
down, remove power; debug - to remove bugs

dec/a, ten Greek decade - 10 years; decathlon - athletic contest that includes 10
deka disciplines in which each participant competes; December - formerly
the 10th month of the Roman calendar

deci one tenth Latin deciliter - a tenth of a liter; decimate - reduce dramatically; decibel - one
tenth of the sound volume unit bel

dem/o people Greek democracy - government of the people; demographic - the study of
people; epidemic - spreading among people in a region
Link Root word Meanings Origin Examples and Definitions

demi half, less than Latin demitasse - a small cup of coffee; demimonde - someone of little
respected life style

dendr/o/i tree Greek philodendron - a climbing plant that grows on trees; dendrochronology -
dating events by studying growth rings in trees; dendriform - in the
shape of a tree

dent, dont tooth Latin dental - relating to teeth; dentist - a doctor for the teeth; dentures - a set
of false teeth

derm/a skin Greek dermatologist - a doctor for the skin; pachyderm - a class of animals
with very thick skin (elephant, rhinoceros); dermatitis - inflammation of
the skin

di/plo two, twice Greek dichromatic - displaying two colors; diploma - a certificate, literally "a
letter folded double"; dilemma - a situation that requires a choice
between two alternatives.

di/s apart, away, Latin digression - a departure from the main issue, subject; disappear - to
not, to the move out of sight; dissect - to cut apart piece by piece.
opposite

dia through, between, Greek diabetes - disease characterized by excessive thirst and discharge of
apart, across urine; diagnosis - understanding a condition by going through a detailed
review of symptoms; dialog - conversation between two people.

dict speak Latin contradict - to express the opposite of; prediction - a statement
foretelling the future; dictate - to speak out loud for another person to
write down.

domin master Latin dominate - to be the master of; domineering - excessively controlling;
predominate - to have more power than others

don/at give Latin donation - a contribution or gift; donor - someone who gives something;
pardon - to give forgiveness for an offense

duc/t lead Latin conduct - to lead musicians in playing music; educate - to lead to
knowledge; deduction - a subtraction of an amount.

du/o two, twice Latin duplicate - make an identical copy; duet - a musical composition for two
voices or instruments; duo - a pair normally thought of as being
together.

dur harden, to last, Latin durable - having the quality of lasting; duration - the length of time
lasting something lasts; enduring - able to last.

dyn/a/am power, energy, Greek dynamo - a generator of energy; dynamic - having physical
strength energy/power; dynamite - a powerful explosive.

dys abnormal, bad Greek dyspepsia - abnormal digestion; dystopia - an imaginary place of total
misery; dyslexia - impairment of the ability to handle words.

e- out, away Latin eloquent - speaking beautifully and forcefully; emissary - a

representative of a country or group sent on a mission; eject - throw out
forcefully.

ego self Latin egoistic - self-centered; alter ego - a higher aspect of oneself; egomania
Greek - excessive preoccupation with oneself.

em, en into, cover with, empathy - intention to feel like another person; empower - put into
cause power; engorge - make larger.
Link Root word Meanings Origin Examples and Definitions

endo within, inside Greek endotherm - a creature that can keep its inside temperature fairly
constant; endocrine - relating to glands that secrete directly into the
blood or lymph; endogamy - the custom to marry within one's clan, tribe
etc.

enn/i, anni years Latin bicentennial - of or relating to an age or period of 200 years; centennial -
of or relating to an age or period of 100 years; perennial -lasting through
many years.

en, in inside, inwards Latin envision - to picture in the mind; enclose - lock inside; inwards - towards
the inside.

ep/i on, upon, over, Greek epidemic - the rapid spread of something negative; epilogue - a short
among, at, after, speech delivered after a play; epicenter - the center of an earthquake.
to, outside

equ/i equal, equally Latin equidistant - an equal distance from two points; equanimity - calm
temperament, evenness of temper; equation - a statement of equality.

erg/o work Greek ergonomics - study of the working environment; energy - the power to
accomplish work; energetics - science that looks at energy and its
transformation.

esth/aesth feeling, sensation, Latin esthetician - someone who beautifies; aesthetic - pertaining to a sense
beauty of beauty; kinesthesia - the sensation of bodily movement.

ethno race, people Greek ethnic - pertaining to a defined group of people; ethnocentric - focusing
on the ethnicity of people; ethnology - the science of people and races.

eu good, well Greek euphemism - replacing an offensive word with an inoffensive one;
euphonious - having a pleasant sound; euphoria - feeling of well-being.

ex from, out, Latin excavate - to dig out; exhale - to breathe out; extract - to pull out.

extra, extro outside, beyond Latin extraordinary - beyond ordinary; extraterrestrial - outside the Earth;
extrovert - an outgoing person.

fac/t make, do Latin artifact - an object made by a person; factory - a place where things are
made; malefact - a person who does wrong.

fer bear, bring, carry Latin confer - to bring an honor to someone; ferry - a boat that carries
passengers; transfer - to move to another place.

fid faith Latin confide - place trust in someone, fidelity - faithfulness; fiduciary - a
trustee;

flect bend Latin deflect - to bend course because of hitting something; inflection - a
bending in the voice's tone or pitch; flexible - easily bending.

flor/a, flower Latin florist - someone working with flowers; floral - flowerlike; flora - the plant
fleur life of a particular time or area

for completely (used forsaken or forfeited - completely lost; forgiven - completely given (a
to intensify release of debt).
the meaning of a
word)

fore in front of, forebear - ancestor; forebode - to give an advance warning of

previous, earlier something bad; forecast - a preview of events to be.

form shape Latin conformity- correspondence in form, manner, or character; formation-

something that is formed; reformatory- intended for reformation
Link Root word Meanings Origin Examples and Definitions

fract, frag break Latin fracture - a break; fragile - easy to break; fragment or fraction - a part or
element of a larger whole;

fug flee, run away, Latin fugitive - a person who is running away; refuge - a sheltered place to flee
escape to; refugee - a person seeking protection

funct perform, work Latin defunct - no longer working or alive; function - to work or perform a role
normally; malfunction - to fail to work correctly.

fus pour Latin confusion - being flooded with too much information that is hard to
make sense of; fuse - to melt by heating; infuse - to put into.

gastr/o stomach Greek gastric - pertaining to the stomach; gastronomy - serving the stomach
by providing good food; gastritis - inflammation of the stomach.

gen/o/e/ birth, production, Greek genealogy - the study of the history of a family; generation - all the
genesis formation, kind people born at approximately the same time; genetic -relating to
heredity encoded in the genes.

geo earth, soil, global Greek geography - study of the earth's surface; geology - study of the structure
of the earth; geoponics - soil based agriculture.

ger old age Greek geriatrics - medicine pertaining to the elderly; gerontocracy - the rule of
the elders; gerontology - the science of aging.

giga a billion Greek gigabyte - unit of computer storage space; gigahertz - unit of frequency
(one billion Hz/sec); gigawatt unit of electric power (one billion watts).

gon angle Latin decagon - a polygon with 10 angles; diagonal - a slanting line running
Greek across a space; octagon - a geometrical figure with 8 angles.

gram letter, written Greek diagram - a simple drawing; grammar - rules of how to write words in
sentences; telegram - a message sent by telegraph.

gran grain Latin granary- a storehouse or repository for grain especially after it is
threshed or husked; granola- a mixture of rolled oats and other
ingredients; granule- a little grain (as of sugar)

graph/y writing, recording, Greek Graphology - the study of handwritings; autograph - written with one's
written own hand; seismograph - a machine noting strength and duration of
earthquakes.

grat pleasing Latin gratify - to please someone; grateful - feeling thankful; gratuity - a tip,
token of appreciation.

gyn/o/e woman, female Greek gynecology - the science of female reproductive health; gynephobia -
fear of women; gynecoid - resembling a woman.

gress, to step, to go Latin digression - a departure from the main issue, subject, etc.; progress -
grad/e/i movement forward or onward; gradual - step by step.

hect/o, hecat hundred Greek hectoliter - 100 liters; hectare - metric unit equaling 100 ares or 10,000
square meters; hectometer - 100 meters.

helic/o spiral, circular Greek helicopter - an aircraft with horizontal rotating wing; helix - a spiral form;
helicon - a circular tuba.

heli/o sun Greek heliotropism - movement or growth in relating to the sun; heliograph -
apparatus used to send message with the help of sunlight; helianthus -
genus of plants including sunflowers.

hemi half, partial Greek hemicycle - a semicircular structure; hemisphere - one half of the earth;
hemistich - half a line of poetry.
Link Root word Meanings Origin Examples and Definitions

hem/o/a blood Latin hemorrhage - clotting of the blood; hemorrhoids - swelling of the blood
Greek vessels; hemoglobin - red blood particle.

hepa liver Latin hepatitis - inflammation of the liver; hepatoma - a tumor of the liver;
hepatotoxic - toxic and damaging to the liver.

hept/a seven Greek heptagon - a shape with seven angles and seven sides; Heptateuch - the
first seven books of the Old Testament; heptameter - a line of verse
consisting of seven metrical feet.

herbi grass, plant Latin herbicide - any chemical used to kill unwanted plants, etc.; herbivorous -
plant-eating; herbal - relating to plants.

hetero different, other Greek heterogeneous - made up of unrelated parts; heteronyms - words with
same spelling but different meanings; heterodox - not conforming to
traditional beliefs.

hex/a six Greek hexagon - a shape with six angles/sides; hexameter - a verse measured
in six; hexapod - having six legs.

histo tissue Greek histology - study of the microscopic structure of tissues; histochemistry
- study of the chemical constitution of cells and tissues.

homo, like, alike, same Latin homogeneous - of the same nature or kind; homonym - sounding alike;
homeo Greek homeopath - a therapy that is based on treating "same with same"

hydr/o liquid, water Greek hydrate - to add water to; hydrophobia - intense fear of water;
hydroponics - growing plants in liquid nutrient solution; hydraulic -
operated by force created by a liquid.

hygr/o moisture, Greek hygrometer - tool used to measure humidity; hygrograph - instrument
humidity for recording variations in atmospheric humidity.

hyper too much, over, Latin hyperactive - very restless; hypercritical - too critical; hypertension -
excessive, beyond Greek above normal pressure.

hyp/o under Greek hypoglycemia - an abnormally low level of sugar in the blood;
hypothermia - abnormally low body temperature; hypothesis - a theory
that is unproven but used under the assumption that it is true.

iatr/o medical care Greek geriatrics - medical care of the elderly; pediatrician - a doctor who treats
children; podiatry - medical care for feet.

icon/o image Latin icon - an (often religious) image, in modern usage a simplified graphic
Greek of high symbolic content; iconology - science of symbols and icons;
iconoclast - someone who destroys religious images and traditional
beliefs.

idio peculiar, personal, Greek idiomatic - Peculiar to a particular language; idiosyncracy - a physical or
distinct mental characteristic typical or a particular person; idiot - someone who
is distinctly foolish or stupid.

il, in in, into Latin illuminate - to give light to; innovation - a new idea, method, or device;
inspection - the act of examining or reviewing.

ig, il, im, not, without Latin illegal - not legal; impossible - not possible; inappropriate - not
in, ir appropriate; irresponsible - not responsible.

imag likeness Latin image - a likeness of someone; imaginative - able to think up new ideas
or images; imagine - to form a picture or likeness in the mind.

infra beneath, below Latin infrastructure - underlying framework of a system; infrared - below the
regular light spectrum.
Link Root word Meanings Origin Examples and Definitions

inter between, among, Latin international - involving two or more countries; intersection - place
jointly where roads come together; intercept - to stop or interrupt the course
of.

intra, within, inside Latin intrastate - existing in one state; intravenous - inside or into a vein;
intro introvert - shy person who keeps within him/herself.

ir not Latin irredeemable - not redeemable; irreformable - not reformable; irrational -

not rational.

iso equal isobar - a line on a map connecting points of equal barometric pressure;
isometric - having equality of measure; isothermal - having equal or
constant temperature.

ject throw Latin eject - to throw someone/something out; interject - to throw a remark
into a discussion; project - to cast or throw something.

jud law Latin judgment - a decision of a court of law; judicial - having to do with
judges or courts of law; judiciary - a system of courts of law.

junct join Latin conjunction - a word that joins parts of sentences; disjunction - a
disconnection; junction - a place where two things join.

juven young Latin juvenile - youthful or childish; rejuvenate - to bring back to youthful
strength or appearance.

kilo thousand Greek kilobyte - 1,000 bytes; kilometer - 1,000 meter; kilograms - 1,000 grams.

kine/t motion, division Greek kinetics - study of the force of motion; psychokinesis or telekinesis - the
/mat ability to move objects with your mind; cinematography - motion picture
making.

lab work Latin collaborate - to work with a person; elaborate - to work out the details;
laborious - requiring a lot of hard work.

lact/o milk Latin lactate - to give milk, nurse; lactose - the sugar contained in milk; lactic
acid.

later side Latin bilateral - of or involving two sides; unilateral - affecting one side of
something.

leuk/o, white, colorless Greek leukemia - abnormal increase of white blood cells in the blood;
leuc/o leukocyte - a mature white blood cell; leucine - a white, crystalline amino
acid.

lex word, law, reading Greek lexicology - the study and history of words; alexia -loss of the ability to
read; illegal - not authorized by the official rules or laws.

liber free Latin liberate - to set free; libertine - a person with a free, wild lifestyle; liberty -
freedom.

lingu language, tongue Latin linguist - one who studies languages; multilingual - able to
communicate in multiple languages; linguine - long, flat "tongue-
shaped" pasta.

lip/o fat Greek liposuction - the mechanical removal of fat reserves in the tissue; lipase
- enzyme that breaks down fat; lipoid - resembling fat.

lite, ite, mineral, rock, Greek apatite - a group of common minerals; granite - a hard, granular rock;
lith/o fossil monolith - a remarkable, unique stone.

loc place Latin dislocate - to put something out of its usual place; location - a place;
relocate - to move to a new place.
Link Root word Meanings Origin Examples and Definitions

log/o word, doctrine, Greek logic - correct reasoning; monologue - a long speech by one
discourse speaker;analogy - similarity, especially between things otherwise
dissimilar.

loqu, locu speak Latin eloquent - speaking beautifully and forcefully ; loquacious - very
talkative; elocution - art of public speaking.

luc light Latin elucidate - to explain, to throw light on; lucid - easily understood, giving
off light; translucent - allowing light through.

lud, lus to play Latin prelude - introduction to the major performance; illusion - misleading
optical image or impression; delude - to mislead, deceive.

lumin light Latin illuminate - to fill with light; lumen - unit measuring light.

lun/a/i moon Latin lunar - relating to the moon; lunarscape - the surface of the moon;
lunatic - insane (as if driven mad by the moon).

macro large, great Greek macroevolution - large scale evolution; macromolecule - a large
molecule; macroeconomics - study of the overall forces of economy.

magn/a/i great, large Latin magnify - make larger; magnificent - grand; magnate - a powerful
person, especially in business or industry.

mal/e bad, ill, wrong Latin malcontent - wrong content; malaria - "bad air", infectious disease
thought to originate from the "bad air" of the swamps, but caused by the
bite of an infected mosquito; malicious - showing strong ill will.

man/i/u hand Latin maneuver - to move by hand; manual - done with the hands; manuscript
- a book written by hand.

mand to order Latin command - an order or instruction; demand - a hard-to-ignore order;

mandate - an official order.

mania madness, Greek bibliomania - a crazy love of books; egomania - a mad love of oneself;
insanity, maniac an insane person.
excessive desire

mar/i sea Latin marina - a harbor for pleasure boats; maritime - relating to the sea;
submarine - an undersea boat; aquamarine - color of sea water.

mater, mother Latin maternal - relating to motherhood; maternity - the state of being a
matr/i mother; matriarch - a woman head of a household.

max greatest Latin maximal - the best or greatest possible; maximize - to make as great as
possible; maximum - the greatest amount.

medi middle Latin medieval - pertaining to the Middle Ages; medium - in the middle;
mediocre - only of medium (inferior) quality.

mega great, large, Greek megalopolis - an area with many nearby cities; megaphone - a device
million that projects a loud voice; megastructure - huge building or other
structure.

melan/o black Greek melancholy - a state of dark emotions; melanoma - malignant dark
tumor of the skin; melodrama - a dark, pathetic drama.

memor/i remember Latin commemorate - to honor the memory of, as by a ceremony; memorial -
related to remembering a person or event; memory: an ability to retain
knowledge or an individual's stock of retained knowledge.
Link Root word Meanings Origin Examples and Definitions

merge, dip, dive Latin immerge or immerse - to put or dip something into a liquid; submerge to
mers dip something completely into wate.r

meso middle Latin Mesoamerica - Middle America; meson - elementary particle with a
Greek mass between an electron and a proton.

meta change, after, Greek metaphysics - study of nature and reality; metamorphosis - a complete
beyond, between change of form; metastasis - the transmission of disease to other parts
of the body.

meter, measure Greek audiometer- an instrument that measures hearing acuteness;

metr/y chronometer- an instrument that measures time; metric - measured.

micro very small, short, Greek microbe - a very small living thing; microchip - a tiny wafer with an
minute integrated circuit; microscope - a device to see very small things.

mid middle Latin midriff - the area between the chest and the waist; midterm - middle of
Greek a term in school; midway - halfway between.

migr move Latin immigrant - a person who moves to a new country to settle; migrant -
person who moves from place to place; migration - the process of
moving.

milli onethousandth Latin millimeter - one thousandth of a meter; millibar - one thousandth of a
bar; milliliter - one thousandth of a liter.

min/i small, less Latin mini - something that is very small; minuscule - extremely tiny; minutiae
- very small or trivial details.

mis/o bad, badly, wrong, Greek misbehave - to behave badly; misprint - an error in printing; misnomer -
wrongly, an error in naming a person or thing.
to hate

miss, mit send, let go Latin dismiss - to send someone away; missile - a weapon sent into the air;
emit - to send something out; admittance - entry.

mob move Latin immobilize - to stop from moving; mobile - able to move freely; mobility -
the quality of being able to move.

mon/o one, single, alone Greek monochromat - having one color; monologue - a speech spoken by one
person; monotheism - belief in one god.

mot, mov move Latin motion - the act of moving; motivate - to move someone to action;
promote to move someone forward; removable - able to be taken or
carried away.

morph/o form Greek metamorphosis - complete change of form; endorphins - chemical in

the brain able to transform pain; amorphous - without distinct shape or
form.

mort death Latin immortal - living forever, unable to die; mortal - certain to die; mortician -
an undertaker.

multi many, more than Latin multicolored - having many colors; multimedia - using a range of media;
one or two multitasking - doing many things at once.

mut change Latin immutable - not changing; mutant - an organism that has undergone
change; mutate - to undergo a change.

my/o muscle Latin myocardium - the middle muscle of the heart; myasthenia - muscle
fatigue or weakness; myosin - common protein in muscle tissue.
Link Root word Meanings Origin Examples and Definitions

narr tell Latin narrate - to tell a story; narrative - a story; narrator - a person who tells a
story.

nat born Latin innate - included since birth; natal - relating to birth; natural - gotten at
birth, not afterward.

nav ship Latin circumnavigate - to sail around a place; naval - relating to a navy or
warships; navigate - to sail a ship through a place.

necr/o dead, death Greek necrophil - loving death; necrosis - the death of tissue due to disease or
injury; necrology - a list of persons who have recently died.

neg no Latin negate - to say it didn't happen; negative - meaning "no"; renege - to go
back on a promise.

neo new, recent neoclassic - a revival of classic form, neocolonialism - the indirect
("new") economical and political control of a region by a more powerful
foreign power; neonatal - a newborn child, especially the first few
weeks.

nephr/o kidney Greek nephritis - inflammation of the kidneys; nephrotomy - surgical incision
of a kidney; nephron - a single, excretory unit in the kidney.

neur/o nerve Greek neuralgia - pain along a nerve; neurologist - doctor specializing in the
nerves; neurotic - mental disorder that usually does not include an
impaired perception of reality.

nom/in name Latin misnomer - an error in naming a person or thing; nominal - being
something in name only but not in reality; nominate - to name for
election or appointment, to designate.

non no, not, without Latin nondescript - with no special characteristics; nonfiction - true, real, not
made-up; nonsense - without sense.

not mark Latin notable - marked as worthy of attention; notarize - to certify a signature
on a legal document; annotate - to add remarks.

noun, declare Latin announce - to declare in public; denounce - to proclaim harsh criticism;
nunc enunciate - to speak or declare something clearly.

nov new Latin innovate - to introduce a new way; novelty - something new; novice - a
person who is new at a job; renovate - to make something like new
again.

numer number Latin enumerate - to name a number of items on a list; numerology - the study
of magical uses of numbers; numerous - a large number.

ob, op in the way, Latin object - to be against something; obscure - hard to understand;
against opposition - the act of resistance or action against.

oct/a/o eight Greek octagon - a figure with 8 sides and 8 angles; octogenarian - person in
his or her 80s; octopus - sea animal with 8 arms.

ocu eye Latin binoculars - lens device for seeing distances; monocula - relating to one
eye; oculist - an eye doctor.

od path, way Greek diode - an electron tube having two electrodes, a cathode and an
anode; odometer - an instrument attached to a vehicle to measure the
distance traversed; triode - an electron tube with an anode, a cathode,
and a control grid

odor smell, scent Latin deodorant - a substance that helps prevent body odor; malodorous -
having a terribly bad smell; odoriferous- something that bears or
Link Root word Meanings Origin Examples and Definitions

diffuses a scent

omni all Latin omnipotent - with all the power; omniscient - knowing all things;
omnivorous eating all foods.

op/t/s eye, visual Greek optic - relating to the eyes; optician - a person who fits eyeglasses;
condition, sight autopsy - the examination of a dead body.

opt best Latin optimal - the best, the most desirable; optimize - to make the best of;
optimum - the best something could be.

ortho straight Greek orthodontist - a dentist that straightens teeth; orthopedic - a doctor
concerned with the proper alignment of the bones; orthography - the
correct way of writing.

osteo bone Greek osteoarthritis - inflammation caused by degeneration of the joints;

osteopathy - therapy that uses among others manipulation of the
skeleton to restore health; osteology - the study of bones.

out goes beyond, Outgoing - being of lively, sharing nature; outdoing - doing better than;
surpasses, outdoor - outside.
exceeds

over excessive English overconfident - more confident than is appropriate; overstock - more
supplies than is desirable; overexcited - ,more excited than one should
be.

oxi/oxy sharp Greek oxymoron - combining two ideas that sharply contradict each other;
oxidize - corrode a surface.

pale/o ancient Greek paleontology - study of ancient fossils; paleography - the study of
ancient forms of writing; Paleolithic - period of the Stone Age.

pan all, any, everyone Greek panacea - a cure for all diseases or problems; panorama - an all-around
view; pantheism - the worship of all gods; pandemic - affecting all.

para beside, beyond, Greek parasite - an organism that lives on and off another living being; parallel
abnormal, - alongside and always an equal distance apart; paragraph - a portion of
assistant a writtenn document that presents a distinct idea.

para protection from parachute - protection from falling; parasol - an umbrella used to protect
from the sun;

pater, father Latin paternal - relating to fathers; paternity - fatherhood; patriarch - a man
patr/i Greek who rules a group.

path feeling, emotion antipathy - a feeling of great dislike; apathy - a lack of feeling or interest;
empathy - ability to understand another's feelings.

ped/i/e foot, feet Latin pedal - a lever pushed by the foot; pedestrian - one who walks; pedicure
- cosmetic treatment of feet and toes.

pel drive, force Latin compel - to force someone to act; expel - to drive someone out of a
place; repel - to force back.

pent/a five Greek pentagon - shape having 5 angles and 5 sides, pentagram - a five-
pointed star formerly used as a symbolic figure in magic; pentathlon -
an athletic contest that includes five events.

pept, digestion Greek dyspepsia - abnormal digestion; peptic - aiding digestion; pepsin - a
peps digestive enzyme.

per through, Latin permanent - lasting throughout all time; permeate - to spread
throughout throughout; persist - to continue for a long time; perennial - lasting
 through many years.
Link Root word Meanings Origin Examples and Definitions
peri around, enclosing Greek periodontal - pertaining to bone and tissue around a tooth; peripheral -
lying outside of the center; perimeter - the outer boundary of an area.

phag/e to eat Greek esophagus - muscular tube that carries food to the stomach;
anthropophagy or sarcophagy - cannibalism; xylophagous - feeding on
wood.

phil/o love, friend Greek philanthropist - one who loves humanity; philology - the love of words;
philosophy - the love of wisdom; bibliophil - loving books.

phon/o sound Greek cacophony - loud, unpleasant sounds; microphone - a device that
/e/y records and amplifies sound; phonetic - relating to human speech
sounds.

phot/o light Greek photogenic - caused by light; photograph - image made on light-
sensitive film; photon - the smallest possible unit of light.

phyll/o leaf Greek chlorophyll - a group of green pigments found in leaves; phyllotaxis - the
arrangement of leaves on a stem; phyllite - a rock that forms sheets,
similar to slate.

phys nature, medicine, Greek physical - relating to the body; physician - a doctor; physique - nature
the body and shape of one's body.

phyt/o/e plant, to grow Greek epiphyte - a plant growing independently on the surface of another;
hydrophyte - a plant that grows only in water; neophyte - a beginner,
especially a person recently converted to a new belief.

plas/t/m to form, Greek protoplasm - something that is the first made or formed, also the living
development, portion of a cell; plastic - able to be formed, especially when warm;
forming cells plaster - a mixture of lime, sand and water that forms a smooth solid
covering for walls.

plaud, plod, approve, clap Latin applaud- to show approval of especially by clapping the
plaus, plos hands; explosion- an act of exposing something as invalid or
baseless; plausible- worthy of being applauded

pneum/o breathing, lung, Greek pneumonia - inflammation of the lungs; pneumatic - using the force of
air, spirit air; dyspnea - difficulty breathing.

pod/e foot Greek podiatrist - a doctor for the feet; podium - a small platform to stand on;
tripod - a stand or frame with 3 legs.

poli city Greek metropolis - a large city; police - people who work for the government to
maintain order in a city; politics - actions of a government or political
party.

poly many, more than Greek polychrome - with many colors; polyglot - a person fluent in many
one languages; polygon - shape with 3 or more straight sides.

pon place, put Latin opponent - a person who places him/herself against an action, idea,
etc.; postpone - to put off doing something.

pop people Latin popular - appealing to a lot of people; population - all of the people who
live in a particular area; populist - a supporter of the rights of people.

port carry Latin export - to carry goods out of a place to another; portable - able to be
carried; porter - a person who carries luggage.

pos place, put Latin deposit - to place or drop something; expose to place out into the open
for all to see; position - the place where someone is.

post after, behind Latin posthumous - after someone's death; postpone - to delay something;
postscript - an addition to an already completed document.
Link Root word Meanings Origin Examples and Definitions

pre earlier, before, in Latin preamble - a part in front of a formal document; prepare - to get ready in
front of advance; prediction - a statement foretelling the future.

pro before, in front of, Greek prognosis - a prediction of what will happen; prologue - a passage
for, forward Latin before the main part; prophet - a person who foretells the future.

prot/o primitive, first, Greek prototype - the first of a kind; proton - on of the very basic parts of an
chief atom; protocol - a first draft from which a document is prepared.

pseud/o wrong,false Greek pseudonym - a fictitious name; pseudoscience - theories presumed

without proof of a scientific nature; pseudopregnancy - a false
pregnancy.

psych/o mind, mental Greek psyche - the human spirit or soul; psychic - relating to the human mind
or someone who has supernatural mental abilities; psychology - the
study of the mind.

pugn/a, to fight Latin pugnacious - having a quarrelsome or aggressive nature; repugnant -

pung distasteful, offensive or revolting; pungent - piercing.

pul urge compulsion - a very strong urge; expulsion - to someone out; impulsive -
having a spontaneous urge to do something.

purg clean Latin purge - remove anything undesirable; purgatory - according to Roman
Catholics a place where souls must clean themselves of sin; expurgate -
remove objectionable passages from a publication.

put think Latin computer - an electronic thinking device; dispute - to disagree with what
another person thinks; input - contribution of one's thinking.

pyr/o fire, heat Greek pyrotechnics - the art of making fireworks; pyrometer - a thermometer
for measuring high temperature; pyretic - relating to or producing fever.

quad/r/ri four Latin quadrant - open space with buildings on 4 sides; quadrennium - period
of 4 years; quadruped - a 4-footed animal.

quart fourth Latin quarter - one fourth; quart - a fourth of a gallon; quartet - a musical
composition or group involving 4 voices or instruments.

quin/t five, fifth Latin quintett - a composition for 5 voices or instruments; quintessence - pure
essence, based on the ancient philosophy that there was a fifth element
that was present in all things; quintuple - fivefold.

radic, root Latin eradicate - pull out at the roots; radical - fundamental, looking at things
radix from a drastic point of view; radish - an edible root of the mustard
family.

radio radiation, ray radioactive - emitting radiation; radiologist - someone diagnosing or

treating via radiation.

ram/i branch Latin ramification - the resulting consequence of a decision; ramify - to

spread or branch out; ramus - a branchlike part.

re again, back, Latin rebound -to spring back again; rewind - to wind something backward;
backward reaction: a response; recognize: to identify someone or something seen
before.

reg guide, rule Latin regent - a person who rules on behalf of a king or queen; regime - a
government that rules; regulate - to apply a rule.

retro backward, back Latin retroactive - relating to something in the past; retrogress - to go back to
an earlier condition; retrospect - the remembering of past events.
Link Root word Meanings Origin Examples and Definitions

rhin/o nose Greek rhinoceros - a species of animals with a big horn on the snout;
rhinoplasty - surgery of the nose; rhinovirus - viruses that are causing
the common cold.

rhod/o red Greek rhododendron - a flower with red/pink flowers; rhodium - an element
which produces a red solution; rhodopsin - a purple pigment in the
retina that is needed for vision.

rid laugh Latin deride - to make fun of someone; ridicule - to make fun or mock;
ridiculous - silly, causing laughter.

rrh/ea flow, discharge Latin diarrhea - abnormally excessive bowl movement; hemorrhage - heavy
/oea/ag Greek blood flow; catarrh - inflammation of a mucous membrane, especially
the nose and throat.

rub red Latin ruby - deep red color and a precious stone of the same color; rubella -
measles; bilirubin - reddish pigment in bile.

rupt break, burst Latin bankrupt - unable to pay because you're "broke"; interrupt - to break into
a conversation or event, to disturb; rupture - a break in something.

san health Latin sane - mentally healthy; sanitary - relating to cleanliness and health;
sanitation - maintenance of public health and cleanliness.

scend climb, go Latin ascend - to climb upward; crescendo - a climbing up of the volume of
music; descend - to go or climb down.

sci know Latin conscience - sense of knowing right from wrong; conscious - knowing
what is happening; omniscient - knowing everything.

scler/o hard Greek arteriosclerosis - hardening of the arterial walls; multiple sclerosis -
disease which causes the tissue of the brain and spinal cord to harden;
sclerometer - instrument for measuring hardness.

scop/e/y see, examine, Greek microscope - a device used to see tiny things; periscope - a seeing
observe instrument on a submarine; telescope - a device used to see over a
distance.

scrib, write, written Latin inscribe - to write letters or words on a surface; scribe - a person who
script writes out documents; describe - to represent with words or pictures.

se apart Latin secede - to formally break away from; seclude - to keep away from;
serum - a liquid isolated out of another.

sect cut Latin dissect - to cut apart piece by piece; intersection - the place or point
where two things cross each other; bisect - to cut into two equal parts.

sed, sid, sess sit Latin reside- be stationed; sediment- the matter that settles to the bottom of
a liquid; session- an actual or constructive sitting of a body

self of, for, or by itself self-discipline - the ability to discipline yourself; self-respect - respect
for yourself; selfish concerned only with your own interests.

semi half, partial Latin semiannual - every half year; semicircle - half a circle; semiconscious -
partly conscious; semiannual - every half of a year.

sept/i seven Latin September - this used to be the seventh month in the Roman calendar;
septet - a group of seven musicians; septuagenarian - a person in
his/her seventies.

serv save, keep Latin conserve - to save or keep something safe; preserve - to save
something; reservation - a place kept for a person.
Link Root word Meanings Origin Examples and Definitions

sex six Latin sextet or sextette - a composition or group of six, sextuple - sixfold;
sexagenarian - person in his/her sixties.

sol alone Latin desolate - lonely, dismal, gloomy; solitary - done alone, by yourself; solo
- a performance done by one person alone.

sol sun Latin solar - involving the sun; parasol - umbrella protecting from the sun;
solarium - a room where one is exposed to sun light.

somn/I sleep Latin insomnia - inability to fall asleep; somniloquy - talking in your sleep;
somnolent - feeling sleepy.

son sound Latin consonant - a speech sound; sonorous - producing loud, full, rich
sounds; supersonic - faster than sound; unison - as one voice.

soph wise Greek philosopher - a wise person; sophisticated - wise about the ways of the
world; sophism - a clever but misleading argument.

spec/t, see, look Latin circumspect - cautious, looking all around; retrospective - a looking
spic back at past things; spectator - a person who sees an event.

sphere ball Greek biosphere - the whole round surface of the earth; hemisphere - half the
earth spherically shaped like a ball.

spir breathe Latin inspire - to stimulate or animate; transpire - to give of vapor with waste
product through the skin or a membrane; spirit - invisible life force.

sta stand Latin stable - standing steady and firm; stagnant - standing still, not moving;
stationary - at a standstill, fixed.

stell star Latin constellation - a group of stars that forms a pattern; interstellar -
between the stars; stellar - relating to stars.

struct build Latin construct - to build; destruction - the act of destroying something that
was built; structure - something built; infrastructure - underlying
framework of a system.

sub under, lower than, Latin submarine - an underwater boat; submerge - to put underwater;
inferior to substandard - inferior to accepted standards.

sum highest Latin sum - the combined total of everything; summation - the total, highest
amount; summit the highest point or top.

super higher in quality Latin Super bowl - the final annual football game; superior - above average,
or quantity better in quality; supersonic - faster than the speed of sound.

sy/m together, with, Greek symmetry -similarity in size, form or arrangement; synergy - the
/n/l/s same combined effect; synchronize - to cause to occur at the same time.

tact, tang touch Latin contact - a state in which two things touch; tactile - relating to the sense
of touch; tangible - able to be touched; intact - with nothing missing.

tax/o arrangement Greek syntax - the systematic arrangement of words; taxonomy - the science
of classification; ataxia - loss of the ability to coordinate muscle action.

techno technique, skill Greek technology - the practical application of knowledge; technocracy - rule
of technology; technologically - characterized by technology.

tel/e/o far, distant, Greek telephone - a device to talk to a distant person; telescope - a device to
complete view distant objects; television - a device to receive pictures from afar;
telecommuting - working remotely, bridging the distance via virtual
devices.
Link Root word Meanings Origin Examples and Definitions

temp/or time Latin contemporary- existing at the same time; temporal - relating to time;
temporary - lasting for a limited time.

ten, tin, tent hold Latin continent- serving to restrain or limit; detention- the act or fact of
detaining, tenacious- having parts or elements strongly adhering to
each other

ter, trit rub Latin attrition- the act of rubbing together or wearing down; detritus- a
product of disintegration or wearing away; trite- used or occurring so
often as to have lost interest, freshness, or force

term/ina end, limit Latin determine - to find something out at the end of an investigation;
terminate - to end; exterminate - to destroy or get rid of completely.

terr/a/i land, earth Latin extraterrestrial - existing outside the earth; terrain - ground or land;
territory - an area of land.

tetra four Latin tetrapod - having 4 legs; tetrarchy - government by 4 rulers; tetrose - a
monosaccharide with four carbon atoms.

the put Greek bibliotheca- a list or catalog of books; theme- a proposition for
discussion or argument; thesis- a dissertation embodying results of
original research and especially substantiating a specific view

the/o god Greek monotheism - belief in one god; polytheism - worshiping more than one
god; theology - the study of religion, god, etc.

therm/o heat Greek thermal - relating to heat; thermos - an insulated jar that keeps heat in;
thermostat - a device that controls heat.

tort twist Latin contortion - a twisted shape or position; distort - to alter the shape or
condition of; retort - reply in a manner that is supposed to change the
effect of something previously said.

tox poison Latin detoxification - the process of removing poisons; toxic - poisonous;
toxicology - the study of poisons; intoxicated - influenced by drugs.

tract pull, drag Latin attract - to pull objects nearer; distract - to drag attention away from
something; tractor - a motor vehicle that pulls things.

trans across,beyond, Latin transcontinental - across the continent; transfer - to move from one
through place to another; transport - to carry something across a space.

tri three, once in Greek triangle - a figure with 3 sides and 3 angles; triathlon - an athletic
every three, Latin contest with 3 events; tricycle - a 3-wheeI vehicle with pedals.
third

ultra beyond, extreme, Latin ultrahigh - extremely high; ultramodern - more modern than anything
more than else; ultrasonic - sound waves beyond human hearing.

un not,opposite of, Latin unabridged - not shortened; unfair - opposite of fair; unfriendly - lacking
lacking friendliness.

uni one, single Latin unicycle - a vehicle with one wheel; unilateral - decided by only one
person or nation; unique - the only one of its kind; unison - as one voice.

urb city Latin suburb - residential area on the edge of a city; urban - relating to a city;
urbanology - the study of city life.

vac empty Latin evacuate - to empty a dangerous place; vacant - empty, not occupied;
vacation - a time without work.
Link Root word Meanings Origin Examples and Definitions

ven/t come Latin circumvent - to go around or bypass restrictions; convention - a

gathering or assembly of people with a common interest; intervene - to
come between.

ver/I truth Latin veracious - truthful, honest; veracity - the truth; verify - to make sure that
something is true.

verb word Latin verbalize - to put into words; adverb - a word relating to a verb; proverb -
a short saying that expresses a well-known truth.

vers, turn Latin reverse - to turn around; introvert - being turned towards the inside;
vert version - a variation of an original; controversy - a conversation in which
positions are turned against each other.

vice acting in place of, Latin vice-president - the person next in rank to the president
next in rank

vid see Latin evident clearly seen

vince, conquer Latin convince - to win someone over; invincible - not able to be conquered;
vic victory - the conquest of an enemy.

vis, vid see Latin vision - the ability to see; envision - to picture in the mind; evident -
clearly visible.

viv/i live, life Latin revival - the act of bringing back to life; vital - pertaining to live;
vit vivacious - high-spirited and full of life.

voc/i voice, call Latin advocate - to speak in favor of; equivocate - to use misleading language
that could be interpreted two different ways; vocalize - to produce with
your voice.

vol/i/u wish, will Latin benevolent - showing good will and kindness; volition - the act of
making a choice or decision, voluntary - resulting from your own free
will.

vor, eat Latin carnivorous - meat-eating; voracious - desiring or eating food in great
vour quantities; devour - to eat quickly.

xanth yellow Latin xanthium- a genus of coarse and rough or spiny herbs; xanthochromia-
yellowish discoloration (as of the skin or cerebrospinal
fluid); xanthogenic

xen/o foreign Greek xenophobic - afraid of foreigners; xenogenesis - the creation of

offspring that is completely different from either parent; xenophile -
attracted to foreigners.

xer/o/I dry Greek xerophyte - a plant that grows in dry climate; xerography - a dry
photocopying process; xeric - requiring small amounts of moisture.

xyl wood Greek xylocarp; xyloid- resembling wood; xylophone-an organ percussion stop
of similar tone quality

zo/o animal life Greek zoology - study of animals; zooid - resembling an animal; zooplankton -
minute floating aquatic animals.

zyg/o pair Greek zygote - a cell formed by the union of two gametes and the organism
developing from that; zygomorphic - pertaining to organisms that can
be divided into symmetrical halves along one axis only.
support spelling bee
policy spelling bee words
volunteer learn English (ELL)
Find us on Google+ academic vocabulary/GRE
Our LinkedIn group SAT words
Spelling City comparison TOEFL vocabulary/IELTS

spelling words
spelling coaching
commonly misspelled words
spelling word list
spelling games
tutoring partners

LearnThatWord and the Open Dictionary of English are programs by LearnThat Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit.

Questions? Feedback? We want to hear from you!

Email us or click here for instant support.

Copyright © 2005 and after - LearnThat Foundation. Patents pending.

by