List of Greek and Latin roots in English

List of Greek and Latin roots in English

1

List of Greek and Latin roots in English

The following is an alphabetical list of Greek and Latin roots, stems, and prefixes commonly used in English. Some of those used in medicine and medical terminology are not listed here but instead in Wikipedia's List of medical roots, suffixes and prefixes.

? ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

A

Root

Meaning in English

Origin language

Etymology (root origin)

English examples

ab-, a-, abs-

away from

Latin

ab "away"

abnormal, abrasion, absent, abstain, abstract, aversion

ac-

sharp or pointed

Latin

acere

acupuncture

acerb-

sharp, bitter, sour

Latin

acerbus

acerbic, exacerbate

acid-

sour or acid

Latin

acidus

acidosis

acr-

height, summit, tip

Greek

(?kros) "high", "extreme" acrobatics, acromegaly, acronym, acrophobia

acr-

bitter, pungent, sharp, sour

Latin

acer, acris

acrid, acrimony

acu-

sharp

Latin

acutus, past participle of acuere acupuncture, acute, "to sharpen", from acus "needle" acutifoliate

ad-, a-, ac-, af-, ag-, al-, ap-, ar-, as-, at-

movement to or toward; in addition to

Latin

ad "to", "toward"

accept, adapt, affect, approximate, ascend

adip-

fat

Latin

adeps, adipis "fat"

adipose

aer-

air, atmosphere

Greek

(ar) "air"

aeronautics, aerosol

aesthet-

feeling, sensation

Greek

aisthtikos "of sense perception" from (aisthanesthai) "to perceive"

aesthetics, anaesthetic

agr-

field

Greek

(agros) "field"

agronomy

agri-, -egri-

field

Latin

ager, agris "field, country"

agriculture, peregrine

alb-

dull white

Latin

albus

albedo, albino, albumen

am-, amat-, amor-

love, loved

Latin

amor "love" from amre "to love"

amateur, amorous

ambi-

both, on both sides

Latin

ambi "on both sides"

ambidexterity, ambivalent

amic-, -imic-

friend

Latin

amicus

amicable, inimical

amph-, amphi- around, about, both, on both sides of, both kinds Greek

(amphi) "on both sides"

amphibian, amphibolic, amphoterism

ampl-

ample, abundant, bountiful

Latin

amplus

amplification

an-, a-

not, without

Greek

Greek -/- "not"

anhydrous, atypical

ana-, an-

again, against, back, up

Greek

(ana) "again", "against"

anabaptist, anaphylaxis, anion, anode

andr-

male, masculine

Greek

andros

androgen, android

List of Greek and Latin roots in English

2

anemanimann-, -enn-

wind breath year, yearly

Greek Latin Latin

ant-, anti-

against, opposed to, preventive

Greek

ante-, anti-

before, in front of, prior to

Latin

anthanthrop-

flower human

Greek Greek

ap-, apo-

away from, separate, at the farthest point

Greek

aqu-

water

Latin

arararche-, archi-

plow, till be dry ruler

Latin Latin Greek

archae-, arche- ancient

Greek

arct-

argentaristarthrastr-

Relating to the North Pole or the region near it; relating to cold; used as the scientific name of some bear species, e.g. Ursus arctos horribilis

Greek

silver

Latin

excellence

Greek

joint

Greek

star, star-shaped

Greek

athlaudi-

prize hearing, listening, sound

Greek Latin

aug-, auctaurauriaut-, auto-

grow, increase relating to gold, or gold-colored relating to the ear self; directed from within

Latin Latin Latin Greek

aviaxiaxio-

bird axis merit

Latin Latin Greek

anemos

anemometer

anima "breath"

animal, animation

annus "year"

anniversary, annual, biannual, millennium

anti "against"

antagonist, antibiotic, antipodes

ante "before", "against"

antebellum, antediluvian, anticipate, antiquarian

(anthos) "flower"

anther, anthology

(anthropos) "man"

anthropology, anthropomorphic

(apo) "from, away, un-, quite"

apocrine, apogee, apostasy

aqua

aquamarine, aquarium, aqueduct, aquifer

rre

arable

rre "be dry or parched"

arid

(arch) "rule" (in compounds: -, -)

archangel, archetype

arkhaios "ancient" from archaeology or archeology,

arkh "beginning"

archaic

arktos "bear"

Arctic Ocean

argentum , aret, aristos (arthron) (astron) "star"

(athlos) "contest, feat" audire "to hear"

augre, auctus "to increase" aurum "gold" auris "ear" (autos) "self", "same"

avis axis (axios) "worth"

argent, Argentina aristocracy arthritis, arthropod asterisk, astrology, astronomy, disaster athlete, pentathlon audible, auditorium, auditory augend, augmentation aureate, aureole auricle autograph, automobile, autonomy aviary, aviation axisymmetry axiology

List of Greek and Latin roots in English

3

B

Root bacbarbasi-

bathy-, bathobe-, beatbellbenbibibbiblbio-

blennblast-

bonbor-

botan-

bovbrachibrachybradybranchibrev(i)brizbrom-

brom-

bronchbrontbuccbulbbullburs-

Meaning in English rod-shaped weight, pressure at the bottom

deep, depth

Origin language

Etymology (root origin)

English examples

Latin

from baculum "rod"

bacilla, bacteria

Greek

(baros)

barograph, barometer

Greek

from , I walk, march, basic, basis "step"

Greek

(bath?s, bath?s)

batholith, bathyscaphe

bless war good, well two drink book life

Latin Latin Latin Latin Latin Greek Greek

slime

Greek

germ, embryo, bud, cell with Greek nucleus

good

Latin

north

Greek / Latin (boreas)

plant

Greek

cow, ox arm short slow gill brief, short (time) nod, slumber oats

Latin Greek Greek Greek Greek Latin Greek Greek

stench

Greek

windpipe thunder cheek, mouth, cavity bulbous bubble, flask pouch, purse

Greek Greek Latin Latin Latin Latin

beare, beatus

beatification

bellum, belli

antebellum, bellicose, belligerent

bene (adverb)

benefit, benignity

bis, "twice"; bini, "in twos"

binary, binoculars, bigamy, biscotti

bibere, bibitus

imbibe

(bibl?on) "book"

bible, bibliography

(b?os) "life"

biography, biology, biologist, biosphere, bioluminescent

(blennos)

blennophobia, blennosperma

(blastain), "I put forth shoots"

blastula, fibroblast, osteoblast, sideroblast

bonus

bonify, bonitary

Greek (borras) "the north borealis wind"

, (botan, botanon)

botany

bos, bovis

bovine

(brakh?n)

brachial artery, brachiosaurus

(brakh?s, brakh?s)

brachydactyly

(brad?s, brad?s)

bradycardia

(br?gkhion, br?nkhion) branchiopod, nudibranch

brevis, breviare

abbreviation, brevity

(briz)

, (br?mos, br?me) Bromus ramosus "oats"

(br?mos) "stench, clangor"

bromide

(br?gkhos, br?nkhos) bronchitis, bronchus, bronchiole

(bront)

Brontosaurus

bucca

buccal, buccinator muscle

bulbus

bulbous, bulbule

bulla, "bubble"

ebullient, ebullism

bursa

bursa, bursar, bursary, disburse

List of Greek and Latin roots in English

4

C

Root

Meaning in English

cac-

bad

cad-, -cid-, cas- fall

caed-, -cid-, caes-, cut -cis-

calc-

stone

call-, calli-

beautiful

calor-

heat

calyp-

cover

camer-

vault

camp-

field

can-

dog

can-, -cin-, cant- sing

cand-

glowing, iridescent

cap-, -cip-, capt-, hold, take -cept-

capit-, -cipit-

head

capr-

goat

caps-

box, case

carbo-

coal

carcer-

jail

carcin-

cancer (disease)

cardicardincarncarpcarpcastcata-, cat-

relating to the heart hinge flesh relating to fruit relating to the wrist pure down

catencatharcaudcaus-, -cuscavced-, cess-

chain pure tail cause or motive hollow go

Origin language

Etymology (root origin)

Greek

(kakos)

Latin

cadere, casus

Latin

caedere, caesus

Latin and Greek Greek Latin Greek Latin Latin Latin Latin Latin

from Latin calx "lime", and from Greek (khalix) "pebble" "limestone" from Greek kallos "beauty" calor "heat" (kaluptein) camera campus "field", "level ground" canis canere candere "to be white or glisten"

Latin

Latin Latin Latin Latin Latin Latin from Greek Greek Latin Latin Greek Greek Latin Greek

capere, captus "take or hold" (vowel changes from a to i in compounds) caput, capitis "head" caper, capri capsa carbo, carbonis carcer, carcerare Latin from Greek (karkinos) "crab" kardia "heart" cardo, cardinis caro, carnis (karpos) "fruit" (karpos) "wrist" from Latin castus "chaste" from Greek (kat?) "down"

Latin Greek Latin Latin Latin Latin

catena (katharos) cauda causa cavus "hollow" cedere, cessus

English examples

cacophony accident, cadence, case caesura, incisor

calcite, calcium, calculus

calligraphy calorie apocalypse bicameral, camera champion, campaign canine, Canis Major cantata, canto, cantor candela, candid, candle, candor, incandescent, incendiary, incense capture, captive, conception, recipient

capital, decapitation, precipitation Capricorn, caprine capsule carbon incarceration carcinogenic, carcinoma

cardiograph, cardiology cardinal carnal, carnival, carnivore carpology carpal, carpal tunnel syndrome caste, castigate, castrate catabolic, catalyst, catastrophe, catatonia, cathode, cation catenary, concatenation catharsis caudal causative cave, cavity, excavation procession, recede, secede

List of Greek and Latin roots in English

5

celercencencenscentcentencentesimcentrcephalceramceratcerncervic-

ceterchirchelonchlorchore-

quick new empty

hundred hundred each hundredth center head clay horn sift relating to the neck, relating to the cervix other of the hand or hands relating to a turtle green relating to dance

chord-

cord

chromchronchryscilicinecinercing-, cinctcirccircum-

color time gold eyelash motion ash gird circle around

cirrcirrcivcladclarclastclaud-, -clud-, claus-, -clus-

orange curl, tentacle citizen branch clear broken close

Latin Greek Greek Latin Latin Latin Latin Greek Greek Greek Greek Latin Latin

celer, celerare (kainos) (kenos) censere "to estimate" centum centeni centesimus (k?ntron) "needle", "spur" (kephale) (keramos) , (keras, keratos) "horn" cernere cervix, cervicis "neck"

acceleration, celerity Cenozoic cenotaph census cent, centennial, centurion centenary centesimal, centesimation eccentric cephalic, cephalopod, encephalogram ceramic keratin discern, secern cervix, cervical

Latin Greek Greek Greek Greek

Latin and Greek Greek Greek Greek Latin Greek Latin Latin Latin Latin

Greek Latin Latin Greek Latin Greek Latin

ceterus

et cetera

(kheir) "hand"

chiral, chiropractic, chiroptera

(khelne) "tortoise"

chelonia

(khlros) "green"

chlorine, chlorophyll, chloroplast

khoreia "dancing in unison" from choreography khoros "chorus"

chorda "rope" from (chord)

chordata

(chrma) "color" (chronos) (khrusos) "gold" cilium (kine) cinis, cineris cingere, cinctus circus circum

(kirros) cirrus civis (klados) clarus, clarare (klastos) claudere, clausus

chromium, chromosome, monochrome chronic, chronology, chronometer chrysolite cilia, supercilious cinema incineration succinct circus circumcise, circumference, circumlocution, circumnavigate cirrhosis cirrus civility clade clarity, declaration iconoclast, osteoclast clause, exclusion, include

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