12/5/2014 List of Greek and Latin roots in English ­ Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia List of Greek and Latin roots in English From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The following is an alphabetical list of Greek and Latin roots, stems, and prefixes very 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. Contents 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 References · External links A Meaning in Origin Etymology (root Root English examples English language origin) abnormal, abrasion, absent, ab­, a­, abs­ away from Latin ab abstain, abstraction, auference, , au­ aversion bitter, sharp, acerbic, acrid, acrimony, acer­, acri­ Latin acer, acris, acerbus, acere sour exacerbate acet­ sour, vinegar Latin acetum acetate, acetic, acetone, acetum acidiferous, acidity, acidosis, acid­ acidic, sour Latin acidus acidulation, acidulous height, summit, ἄκρος (ákros) "high", acrobatics, acromegaly, acronym, acr­ Greek tip "extreme" acrophobia, acropolis, acrostic acutus, past participle of acerose, acupuncture, acute, acu­, acut­ sharp, pointed Latin acuere "to sharpen", from acutifoliate acus "needle" ad­, a­, ac­, accept, adapt, affect, af­, ag­, al­, movement to or agglomerate, aggrandize, am­, an­, toward; in Latin ad "to", "toward" aggregate, aggression, annectent, ap­, ar­, as­, addition to approximate, ascend at­ adip­ fat Latin adeps, adipis "fat" adipocellular, adipose aerobic, aerodynamic, ἀήρ, ἀέρος (aḗr, aéros) aero­ air, atmosphere Greek aeronautics, aeroplane, "air" aerorrhachia, aerosol, aerotitis αἰσθητός (aisthētós), αἰσθητικός (aisthētikós) aesthesia, aesthesis, aesthete, feeling, "of sense perception" from aesth­ sensation Greek αἰσθάνεσθαι aesthetics, anaesthetic, (aisthánesthai) "to synesthesia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Greek_and_Latin_roots_in_English 1/69 12/5/2014 List of Greek and Latin roots in English ­ Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (aisthánesthai) "to synesthesia perceive" aether­, upper pure, αἴθειν (aíthein), αἰθήρ ether, ethereal, etheric, Greek ether­ bright air (aithḗr) hypaethros age, coeval, eon, eternal, aev­, ev­ age Latin aevum longevity, medieval, primeval act, action, agenda, agent, agile, ag­, ­ig­, agitate, ambiguous, castigate, do, go, move Latin agere, actus act­ cogent, cogitate, cogitation, excogitate, mitigate, navigate ἄγειν (ágein) (cognate agony, antagonist, antagonize, ag­, ­agogue lead Greek with Latin agere), ἀγωγός demagogue, pedagogue, (agōgós) pedagogy, strategy, synagogue agri­, ­egri­ field Latin ager, agris "field, country" agriculture, peregrine agro­ field Greek ἀγρός (agrós) agroforestry, agronomy alac­ cheerful Latin alacer alacrity, allegro alb­ dull white Latin albus albedo, albino, albumen ἄλγος (álgos), ἀλγεινός, alg­ pain Greek ἀλγεῖν (algeîn), ἄλγησις analgesic, arthralgia, neuralgia (álgēsis) alias, alibi, alien, alter, alternate, ali­, alter­ other Latin alius altruism all­ other Greek ἄλλος (állos) allograph, allophone, parallax alt­ high, deep Latin altus, altitudo altimeter, altitude amateur, amatory, amenity, am­, amat­ love, liking Latin amāre, amatus, amor amoration, amorous, enamoured ami­, amic­, amiable, amicable, amity, enemy, friend Latin amicus imic­ enmity, inimical ambidexterity, ambient, ambi­, am­, both, on both ambiguous, ambit, ambition, amb­, Latin ambi sides ambivalent, amboceptor, ambo­, an­ amputation, ancipital, andante ambulance, ambulatory, ambul­ to walk Latin ambulare preamble both, on both amph­, ἀμφί (amphí) "on both amphibian, amphibolic, sides of, both Greek amphi­ sides" amphitheatre, amphoterism kinds ample, ampl­ abundant, Latin amplus ample, amplify, amplitude bountiful, large an­, a­, am­, anaerobic, anhydrous, ambrosia, not, without Greek Greek ἀν­/ἀ­ "not" ar­ arrhythmia, atheism, atypical ana­, am­, again, against, anabaptist, anaphylaxis, Greek ἀνά (aná) httap:n//e­n.wikipedia.org/wbikai/cLikst,_ ouf_pGreek_and_Latin_roots_in_English anarrhexis, anion, anode 2/69 12/5/2014 List of Greek and Latin roots in English ­ Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Greek ἀνά (aná) an­ back, up anarrhexis, anion, anode andr­ male, ἀνήρ, ἀνδρός (anḗr, androgen, android, polyandrous, Greek (ΑΝΕΡ[1]) masculine andrós) polyandry anemograph, anemometer, anem­ wind Greek ἄνεμος (ánemos) anemone, anemophilous, anemophobia, anemotropism breath, life, anim­ Latin anima "breath" animal, animation spirit anniversary, annual, centennial, ann­, ­enn­ year, yearly Latin annus "year" millennium, perennial against, antagonist, antagonize, antibiotic, ant­, anti­ opposed to, Greek ἀντί (antí) "against" antipodes, antirrhinum preventive antebellum, antediluvian, before, in front ante "before", "against"; ante­, anti­ Latin anticipate, antiquarian, of, prior to; old see also antiquus "old" antiquated, antique, antiquity anth­ flower Greek ἄνθος (ánthos) anther, anthology ἄνθραξ, ἄνθρακος anthrac­ coal Greek anthracite, anthracycline, anthrax (ánthraks, ánthrakos) ἄνθρωπος (ánthrōpos) anthropology, anthropomorphic, anthrop­ human Greek "man" misanthrope, philanthropy away from, aphelion, apocrine, apocryphal, ἀπό (apó) "from, away, ap­, apo­ separate, at the Greek apogee, aporrhinosis, apostasy, un­, quite" farthest point apostate aperient, apéritif, aperitive, aper­ open Latin aperire aperture, overt, overture, pert aqu­, aqua­, aquamarine, aquarium, aqueduct, water Latin aqua aque­, aqui­ aquifer ara­ plow, till Latin ărāre arable arbiter (from ad "to" + arbiter, arbitrage, arbitrary, arbit­ judge Latin baetere "to come, go") arbitration arcan­ box Latin arcanus arcane, arcanum anarchy, archangel, archetype, ἄρχειν (árchein), ἄρχων arch­, architect, archon, autarchism, (árchōn), ἀρχή (archḗ) autarchy, exarch, monarchy, arche­, ruler Greek "rule" (in compounds: archi­ oligarchy, patriarchy, polyarchy, ἀρχε­, ἀρχι­) synarchy, triarchy ἀρχαῖος (arkhaîos) archae­, ancient Greek "ancient" from ἀρχή archaeology, archaic, archaism arche­ (arkhḗ) "beginning" Relating to the arct­ North Pole or Greek ἄρκτος (árktos) "bear", Antarctic, arctic, Arctic Ocean, the region near ἀρκτικός (arktikós) palearctic http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Greek_and_Latin_roots_in_English 3/69 12/5/2014 List of Greek and Latin roots in English ­ Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia the region near ἀρκτικός (arktikós) palearctic it; relating to cold heat, glow, ard­ Latin ardere "to burn", arsus ardent, ardor, arson passion ardu­ difficult Latin arduus "high, steep" arduous argent­ silver Latin argentum argent, Argentina aret­ virtue Greek ἀρετή (aretḗ) aretaic, arete arid­ be dry Latin ārēre "be dry or parched" arid arist­ excellence Greek ἄριστος (áristos) aristocracy, aristocrat artist, artillery, artisan, inert, art­ art Latin ars, artis inertia arthritic, arthritis, arthropod, arthr­ joint Greek ἄρθρον (árthron) arthroscopic, arthrosis asin­ ass Latin asinus asinine, ass, easel asper­ rough Latin asper "rough" asperity, exasperate ἀστήρ, ἀστέρος (astḗr, aster, asterisk, asteroid, star, star­ aster­, astr­ Greek astéros), ἄστρον (ástron) astrology, astronomy, astronaut, shaped "star" diasterism geaster, monaster ἆθλος (áthlos) "contest, athlete, athletic, decathlon, athl­ prize Greek feat", ἄεθλος pentathlon, triathlon gathered or ἀθροίζειν (athroízein) "to lumped ­athroid­ Greek gather together" epiathroid, hypoathroid together audax "brave, bold, audac­ daring Latin daring", from audere "to audacious, audacity dare" hearing, audible, audio, audiology, audi­ Latin audire "to hear" listening, sound audition, auditorium, auditory auction, augend, augment, augēre, auctus "to augmentation, augur, augury, aug­, auct­ grow, increase Latin increase" august, author, auxiliary, inauguration relating to gold, aur­ Latin aurum "gold" aureate, aureole or gold­colored relating to the auricle, aurinasal, auscultate, auri­, aus­ Latin auris "ear" ear auscultation autarchy, authentic, autism, self; directed αὐτός (autós) "self", aut­, auto­ Greek autocracy, autograph, automatic, from within "same" autonomy avarice, avaricious, avarous, ave, av­ desire Latin avere "crave, long for" avid, avidity http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Greek_and_Latin_roots_in_English 4/69 12/5/2014 List of Greek and Latin roots in English ­ Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia auspice, auspicious, avian, avi­, au­ bird Latin avis aviary, aviation, ἄξιος (áxios) "worth", axi­ merit Greek axiology, axiom, axiomatic ἀξίωμα (axíōma) axi­ axis Latin axis axis, axisymmetry ἄξων, ἄξονος axon, axonography, axon­ axis, axle (áxōn, axonometric áxonos) B Meaning Origin Etymology (root Root in English examples language origin) English bac­ rod­shaped Latin baculum baculiform, baculum anabolic, anabolism, ball, ballista, βάλλειν (bállein), βολή ballistic, catabolic, catabolism, devil, bal­, bol­ throw Greek (bolḗ), βλῆμα (blêma) diabolic, hyperbole, metabolism, parable, problem, symbol bapt­ βάπτειν (báptein), dip Greek abaptiston, Anabaptist, baptism, baptize (ΒΑΦ[2]) βάμμα (bámma) barograph, barometer, barostat, weight, βαρύς (barús), βάρος barycentre, barycentric, baryogenesis, bar­ Greek pressure (báros) baryon, barysphere, baryton, barytone, hyperbaric, hypobaric, isobaric βάσις (basis) "step", base, basic, basis, basicranial, at the basi­, bas­ Greek from βαίνω (bainō), "I basioglossal, basirrhinal, bottom walk, march" basommatophoric, basolateral, debase bathy­, βαθύς (bathús/bathýs), batholith, bathymetry, bathyscaphe, deep, depth Greek batho­