ROOT WORDS-1

COMMON ROOT WORDS AND WORD ORIGINS

ROOTS	MEANING	WORD
alter	other	alternate, alter ego
ami, amic-	love	amiable, amicable
amphi	both ends or all sides	amphibian
ann, enni	year	anniversary, annual, biennial, perennial
anthrop	human, man	anthropology, anthropomorphic, misanthrope
aqua, aque	water	aquatic, aquarium, aqueduct
arch	chief, leader, ruler	archangel, monarch, archaic, archenemy
arthro	joint	arthritis
aud	sound	auditorium, audible, audiologist, audiotape
bell	war	belligerent, bellicose
biblio	book	bibliography, bibliophile
bio-	life	biography, autobiography, biology, antibiotic
brev	short	brief, abbreviate
cap	take, seize	capture, captivate, capacity
carn	meat	carnivorous, chili con carne
ced	yield, go	recede, secede, proceed, intercede, concession
chrom-	color	chromatic, monochrome, polychrome
chron-	time	chronicle, chronology, chronometer, synchronize
cogn	know	recognize, cognitive, incognito
cord/chord	cord	harpsichord
corp	body	corpus, corpse, corporal
crac, crat	rule, ruler	autocrat, democracy, bureaucrat, democracy
cred	believe	credible, credulous, credibility, credit, credo
cruc	cross	crucifix, crucial
crusta	shell	crustacean
crypt	hidden	cryptogram, cryptology, cryptic
culp	guilt	culpable, culprit
dei	god	deity, deify
demo-	people	demography, democracy, epidemic
dent	tooth	dentist, dentifrice, dentin
derm-	skin	dermatology, epidermis, hypodermic
dic	speak, say	dictate, predict, diction, indict
dox	belief, opinion	orthodoxy, paradox, heterodoxy
duc, duct	lead	induce, deduce, seduction, conduct, abduct
duo	two	duo
dynam-	power	dynamo, hydrodynamics
ego	self	egotist, egomania
equ	equal	equal, equity, equanimity, equate, equidistant
fac	make, do	manufacture, factory, benefactor
fil	threadlike	filament
frater	brother	fraternal, fraternize
gam-	marriage	monogamy, polygamy, bigamy
geo-	earth	geopolitical, geology, geography, geothermal
glyph	vertical groove	Hieroglyphics—Egyptian “sky writing”
grad, gress	step	gradual, progression, transgression
graph-	writing, printing	graphology, biography, telegraph, geography
gym	naked	gymnasium
gyn-	woman	gynecologist, androgynous
hemo, hema, hem	blood	hemophilia, hematology, hemoglobin
holo	whole, entire	holograph
hydro, hydr	water	dehydrate, hydraulics, hydroelectric, hydroplane
iso	equal, identical	isolate
ject	throw	inject, reject, subject, projection
jud	judge	judicial, judge, adjudicate
leg, lect	read, choose	legible, lectern, lecturer, election
liter	letter	literature, illiterate, literal
loc	place	local, location
log	word	monologue, epilogue
luc	light	lucid, elucidate
magn	large	magnify, magnate, magnificent
man	hand	manufacture, manual, manuscript
mar	sea	marine, mariner
mater	mother	maternal, maternity, matriarchy, matricide
mere	part, segment	mere
meta, met	behind, between	metacognition—behind the thinking
metri, meter-	measure	geometric, thermometer, odometer
min	small	minority, minuscule, minute
mit, miss	send	permit, submission, mission, emit,
mob, mot, mov	move	mobile, automobile, motion, promote, movie
mon	warn	premonition, admonition
mor, mort	death	mortal, mortician, immortality
morph	form, structure	metamorphosis, amorphous, morphology
mut	change	mutant, mutability, mutate
neuro	nerve	neurology, neurosis, neurobiology
nomen /nomin	name	nominal, nominate, nomenclature
nov	new	novel, renovate, innovation, novella
nym, onym	word, name	synonym, acronym, anonymous, pseudonym
odonto	tooth	orthodontist—one who straightens teeth
ortho-	straight, correct	orthodox, orthodontist, orthopedic
pac	peace	pacify, Pacific Ocean, pacifist
pater	father	paternal, paternity, patricide, patrilineal, patriotic
path	feeling, suffering	sympathy, apathy, empathy, telepathy, pathology
ped, pod	foot	pedal, pedometer, centipede, gastropod
pel, puls	push	pulsate, repulsive, impulse, compel, propel
pend	hang, weigh	pendulum, pendant, suspend, pending
phon-, phono-	sound, voice	telephone, euphony, cacophony, phonograph
plan	flat	planar, plantation, plane
pneum	lung	pneumatic
pod	feet	podiatrist
port	carry	portable, transport, portage, report,
pot	power	potent, omnipotent, potentate
psych-	soul, spirit, mind	psychology, psychic, psychobiography
pugna	fight	pugnacious, pugilist
quer, quis	ask	query, inquisition,
scent, scend	climb	ascend, ascent
schizo, schiz	division, split	schizophrenic
sci	know	scientific
sciss	cut	scissors
scrib, script	write	manuscript, scribe, proscribe, scripture
sec, sect	cut	dissect, section
sed, sess	sit	sedentary, session
sens, sent	feel, be aware	sensible, sentient
sequ, secu	follow	sequence, sequel, consecutive
serv	serve, protect	service
simil	same	similar, assimilate, simile, facsimile (fax)
siphon	tube	siphon
sol	sun	solar
son	sound	sonar, resonate, unison
soph	wisdom, knowledge	philosophy, sophisticated, sophomore (wise fool)
spec, spic	look, see	spectacles, spectator, inauspicious, prospect
spir	coil	spiral
spir	breathe	inspire, respiration, conspire, perspiration
spond, spons	promise, answer for	respond, responsible
spont	by one's own force	spontaneous
stat	stay, position	station
tang, tact	touch	tactile, tangible
temp	time	temporary, temporize
ten, tent	hold	tentative, tenable, tenuous
terr	earth	subterranean, terrain, terrestrial, disinter
theo	god, deity	theology, polytheism, atheist, monotheism
therm-	heat	thermal, thermos, thermometer
trophy	nutrition, food	atrophy—without nutrition
uro	urine	urologist
vac	empty	vacation, vacuum, vacuous, vacant
ven, vent	come, go	intervene, convene, contravene
ver	truth	veracity, verify, verity
vert	turn	introvert, irreversible, vertigo
vit	life	vital, revitalize, vitamin
voc	call	revoke, invocation, vocal, evocative, convocation
zoo	animal	zoo, zoology, zoolatry

PREFIXES

PREFIX	MEANING	EXAMPLES
a-, an-	not, without	amoral, anesthetic, apolitical, asocial
ab-	away from	abduction, abstain, abnormal
ad-	to, toward	adjoin, adjacent (lying near to)
ambi-	both	ambidextrous, ambivalent
ana-	up, back, again	analogy, anatomy, anagram
anti-	against	antipathy, antiwar, antisocial
apo-	from, away from	apology, apologize
auto-	self	autobiography, automobile, autocracy, automaton
bene-	good	benediction benevolent benefactor
cata-, cat-	down, against	catastrophe--a turning down
centro, centri-	around, center	concentric, centrifugal
circum-	around	circumlocution circumference, circumvent
com-	with, together	communal, community
con-	with, together	connect, confide conspire
contra-	against	contradict, contravene
de-	down, away	descend, deject (cast down)
dia-, di-	through, across	diameter, division
dis-	apart, not	disengage, discord, discomfort
dys-	ill, difficult, bad	dysfunctional, dysentery
e-	out of, from	elect (choose out of), eject (throw out)
ecto-	on the outside	ectoderm--outer skin
en-, em-	in	empathy--feeling in
endo-	within, inside	endoscope--instrument for observing inside
epi-	upon	epitaph epidermis, epicenter
eso-	inward, within	esoteric--more inward, esophagus
eu-	well, good	euthanasia--good death
ex-	out of, from	exhume, exhale, exodus
hetero-	other, different	heterosexual, heterodoxy, heterodox heterogeneous
homo-	same	homosexual, homogeneous, homogenized
hyper-	over	hypertension, hypersensitive, hyperactivity
hypo-	under	hypotension, hypodermic
il-	not	illegitimate, illicit, illegal, illegible
im-	not	imperfect, impolite, impossible
im-	into	imbibe (drink in, take in)
in-	not	indiscreet, invisible
in-	into	incorporate (take into the body)
inter-	between	intervene (come between), interstate
intra-	within	intrastate, intramural
ir-	not	irregular, irrational, irredeemable
macro-	large	macrocosm, macroeconomics
mal, male-	bad, evil	malediction malevolent, malnutrition
meta-	beyond	metaphysical
micro-	small	microscope, microcosm, microeconomics
mono-	one, single	monologue, monotheism, monarchy, monogamy
neo-	new, recent	neologism, neo-liberal, neonatology. neolithic
ob-	against	object, obstruct (build against)
palin-, pali-	back, again	palindrome
pan-	all, every	pantheism, Pan-Hellenic, panorama, pandemic
para-	false	paramilitary, paralegal, parachute
per-	through	percolate (flow through) perforate (punch through)
peri-	around	perimeter, periscope
phil-, philo-	like, lover of	philosophy, Francophile, bibliophile, philanthropy
poly-	many, several	polygon, polygamy, polytechnic, polytheism
post-	after	postgraduate, posthumous postpone
pre-	before	precede, predict (tell before)
pro-	for, forward	promote, project
pros-	toward, in front	prospect—view in front, something coming up
proto-	first	prototype, protoplasm, protobiology
pseudo	false	pseudonym, pseudoscience
re-	again, back	repeat, recede, regress (step back)
retro-	back	retrogression, retroactive
se-	away from	seduce (lead away), secede
sub-	under	submarine, subject, subhuman subterranean
sur-, super-	over, above	superhuman, superego, superintend, surpass
syn-, sym-, syl-, sys-	with, together	symphony, synonym, system, syllable
tele-	distant, far off	telephone, telepathy, television, telegram
trans-	across	transient, Transatlantic, transport (carry across)

SUFFIXES

SUFFIX	DEFINITION	EXAMPLE
-agog, -agogue	leader	demagogue, pedagogue
-cide	kill(ing)	patricide, infanticide, herbicide. suicide
-ectomy	cutting	appendectomy, splenectomy
-ia, -y	act, state	amnesia, mania, democracy, anarchy
-ic, -tic, -ical, -ac	having to do with	anthropomorphic, dramatic, biblical, cardiac
-ics	things having to do with	optics, physics
-isk, -iscus	small	asterisk--a little star
-ism	the belief in	pacifism, terrorism, socialism, communism
-ist	one who believes in	pacifist, terrorist, socialist, communist
-ite	one connected with	meteorite, polite, cosmopolite
-logy	study field of	biology, geology, etymology, cardiology
-oid	resembling, like-shaped	asteroid, spheroid
-or, -er	one who takes part in	doctor, actor, teacher, driver
-phobia	exaggerated fear	photophobia, claustrophobia, agoraphobia
-sis	act, state, condition of	analysis

LEARN WORDS

Pretense:  (noun)  the act of giving false appearance
Synonyms: falsehood, charade
Antonyms: reality, honesty
Usage: To attend that lavish party she was under the pretense to be his biggest well-wisher.

Nondescript: (adj.)  lacking distinct or individual characteristics
Synonyms: unremarkable, ordinary
Antonyms: extraordinary, distinguished
Usage: This document is nondescript as it doesn’t provide the basics.

Effrontery: (noun) audacious behavior that you have no right to
Synonyms: arrogance, brashness
Antonyms: care, caution
Usage: The apparent effrontery in the public place cannot be unnoticed.

Prowess: (noun) skill learned by study and practice and observation
Synonyms: aptitude, dexterity
Antonyms: failure, inability
Usage: She  took ten years to prove her prowess.

Infirm: (adj.) lacking strength
Synonyms: feeble, ailing
Antonyms: healthy, sound
Usage: In old age generally people get infirmed towards any task.

Snub : (verb) refuse to acknowledge
Synonyms: disregard, ignore
Antonyms: welcome, respect
Usage: It is better to snub people who are grumpy.

Improvise : (verb) create or perform spontaneously without any preparation
Synonyms: extemporize, ad lib
Antonyms: plan, design
Usage: Rahul is a consummate professional, always prepared yet ready to improvise.

Purport :  (verb) appear or claim to do something especially falsely
Synonyms: claim, intend
Antonyms: insignificance, meaninglessness
Usage: The closing letters do not purport to be an exhaustive list of all possible problematic areas.

Scanty : (adj.)  lacking in amplitude or quantity
Synonyms: insufficient, limited
Antonyms: adequate, sufficient
Usage: Due to less rain maize production is scanty.

Hapless : (adj.) deserving or inciting pity
Synonyms: unlucky, woeful
Antonyms: happy, fortunate
Usage: The hapless bureaucrat was forced to eat his own words.

Browbeat : (verb) to frighten, threat                                                                     
Synonyms : coerce, bully, intimidate
Antonyms : boost, help
Usage : They were browbeaten into accepting the offer.

Cacophony : (noun) harsh, displeasing sound
Synonyms : noise, clamour
Antonyms : silence, peace
Usage :  The businessmen chose the quiet park for their meeting in order to avoid the cacophony of their offices.

Fulsome : (adj.) exaggerated or excessive
Synonyms : bombastic, flattering
Antonyms : reasonable, sincere
Usage : The fulsome expressions of gratitude that she showered on him made everyone feel slightly sick.

Impotent : (adj.) lacking power or ability
Synonyms: ineffective, powerless
Antonyms: capable, competent
Usage: The magician claims that his secret potion prevents his powers from becoming impotent.

Invective : (noun) abusive language
Synonyms : criticism, abuse
Antonyms : praise, compliment
Usage : We should refrain from using invective in our speeches.

Diaphanous: (adj.) a very transparent cloth
Synonyms: flimsy, sheer
Antonyms: opaque, thick
Usage: A diaphanous silk veil looks very graceful.

Disputatious: (adj.) fond of argument
Synonyms: argumentative, quarrelsome
Antonyms: peaceful, calm
Usage: She is very disputatious by nature and just falls for any bait.

Dilate: (verb) cause to expand
Synonyms: augment, amplify
Antonyms: abridge, compress
Usage: The doctors put the eye drops in order to dilate the pupils before surgery.

Dowdy: (verb) not neat or smart in dress
Synonyms: shabby, unkempt
Antonyms: bright, good, neat
Usage: A good wardrobe though necessary, is not a sufficient condition to change a person who is dowdy.

Extol: (verb) laud
Synonyms: acclaim, applaud
Antonyms: castigate, blame
Usage: The Ramayana extols the virtues of Lord Rama.

Sluggish : (adj.) slow moving or inactive
Synonyms : lethargic, slow,
Antonyms : active, energetic
Usage : The real problem is that many people are struggling because of the sluggish economy.

Amiss : (adj.) not quite right; inappropriate
Synonyms : improper, untoward
Antonyms : proper, suitable
Usage : There is something seriously amiss here and it has nothing to do with science.

Antecedent : (noun) A thing or event that existed before or logically precedes another
Synonyms : precedent, anterior, former
Antonyms : current, present
 Usage : It's fairly common to write a sequel, but not so common to write an antecedent.

Abetment : (noun) encourage or assist to do something wrong
Synonyms : assist, help, support
Antonyms : discouragement, stop
Usage : Lawyers believe many of these convictions related to the suicide of a dowry victim were secured after proving the abetment charge.

Sabotage : (verb) deliberately destroys, damage, or obstructs (something).
Synonyms : damage, disrupt
Antonyms : fix, devotion
Usage : Investigators are looking at theories including hijacking, mechanical failure, sabotage and pilot action.

Immolation : (noun)  killing or offering  as a sacrifice
Synonyms :  sacrifice, offering
Antonyms : increase, rise
Usage : Superstition leads to immolation and there are many places where it takes place.

Disgruntled : (adj.)  in a state of sulky dissatisfaction
Synonyms :  annoyed, irritated
Antonyms : pleased, satisfied
Usage : Ronn was disgruntled when his boss didn’t appreciate him for his commendable task.

Vent : (verb) give expression or utterance to
Synonyms : ventilator, utter
Antonyms : closure
Usage : In the vent of anger she had heated argument with her colleague.

Throttle : (verb) place limits on  (extent or access)
Synonyms :  strangle, inhibit
Antonyms : encourage, release
Usage : Some big companies have long agreed to throttle back their consumption at times of peak demand.

Ludicrous : (adj.) broadly or extravagantly humorous
Synonyms : comical, absurd
Antonyms : serious, ordinary
Usage :  It is ludicrous to call cottage a mansion.

Replete : (adj.) well filled, stuffed
Synonyms: satiated, overflowing
Antonyms: unfilled, empty
Usage: The apartment was replete with expensive antiques.

Palpable : (adj.) tangible, obvious
Synonyms: apparent, blatant
Antonyms: ambiguous, concealed
Usage: The tension in the room was almost palpable.

Meticulous : (adj.) extremely careful
Synonyms: fastidious, diligent, punctilious
Antonyms: careless, inaccurate
Usage: The painting had been executed with meticulous attention to detail.

Impertinent : (adj.) rude
Synonyms: impolite, uncivil
Antonyms: Kind, mannered
Usage: No teacher can tolerate impertinent behavior.

Exalt : (adj.) celebrating, promote, praise
Synonyms: extol, glorify
Antonyms: blame, castigate
Usage:  The allowance of such a claim would exalt form over substance.

 Bawdy: (adj.) indecent
Synonyms: erotic, lewd
Antonyms: decent, moral
Usage: They got arrested once, for singing bawdy songs in a cemetery.

Cagey: (adj.) to be secretive about something
Synonyms: crafty, secretive
Antonyms: honest, naive
Usage:  He is cagey about his future plans; perhaps he is serious about a career in politics.

Defalcate: (verb) to steal or misuse funds
Synonyms: pilfer, misuse
Antonyms: give, receive
Usage: The bureaucrat who was indicted for defalcation was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment.

Filch: (verb) to steal
Synonyms: steal, rob
Antonyms: give, receive
Usage: Raj should be checked of his compulsive habit of filching.

Quack: (noun) an untrained person who practices medicine fraudulently
Synonyms: impostor, fake
Antonyms: real, genuine
Usage: I have got a check-up with the quack next week.

Paucity : (noun) an insufficient quantity or number
Synonyms : dearth, shortage
Antonyms : plenty, affluence
Usage : In many regions there is paucity of water.

Venerate : (verb) regard with feelings of respect and reverence
Synonyms : esteem, cherish
Antonyms : denounce, abhor
Usage : The Bible says we should venerate our parents and our elders.

Clad : (adj.) having an outer covering especially of thin metal
Synonyms : attired, covered
Antonyms :  exposed, unclad
Usage : Turn left where you see the three-story metal-clad police box.

Ensue : (verb) issue or terminate
Synonyms : arise, befall
Antonyms : half, ceased
Usage : Unless the politicians move fast, more turmoil could ensue.

Contrive: (verb) make or work out a plan for
Synonym: fabricate, devise
Antonym: break, dissuade
Usage: In a decidedly contrived episode, Biel then abruptly leaves the consulate and disappears.

Horrendous: (adj.) causing fear or dread or terror
Synonyms: atrocious, terrible
Antonyms: pleasant, wonderful
Usage: His friends cheated him of everything and then discarded him in a most horrendous way.

Malodorous: (adj.) having an unpleasant smell
Synonyms: stinking, foul, decayed
Antonyms: aromatic, perfumed
Usage: There lie tons of malodorous garbage bags in that street.

Mellifluous: (adj.) pleasing to the ears
Synonyms: smooth, honeyed, melodious
Antonyms: harsh
Usage: I grew up around people who had wonderful, mellifluous voices.

Obtuse: (adj.) slow to understand
Synonyms: imperceptive, dumb
Antonyms: bright, intelligent
Usage: The obtuse remark left everyone perplexed!

Pauper: (noun) a person who is very poor
Synonyms: beggar, bankrupt
Antonyms: rich, wealth
Usage: He did die a pauper and is buried in an unmarked grave.
 

Gamut : (noun) a complete extent of range
Synonyms : spectrum, range
Usage :  Ronn depicts the gamut of human emotions in his poem.

Garrulous : (adj.) full of trivial conversation
Synonyms : chatty, loquacious, talkative
Antonyms : quiet, silent
Usage :  The lady I met at the restaurant was garrulous, but I enjoyed listening to her various anecdotes.

Discern : (verb) detect with the senses
Synonyms : anticipate, determine
Antonyms : overlook, confuse
Usage :  I could discern an air of tension in the room.

Deter : (verb) turn away by persuasion
Synonyms : discourage, obstruct
Antonyms : encourage, assist
Usage : The high price of the service could deter people from seeking advice.

Mawkish : (adj.) effusively emotional
Synonyms : sentimental, emotional
Antonyms : unemotional, serious
Usage :  A sordid, sentimental plot unwinds, with an inevitable mawkish ending.

Opportunistic : (adj.) to exploit a situation for personal gain
Synonyms : strategic, gracious
Antonyms : rude, artless
Usage :  Beware of him, he is very opportunistic.

Nonchalant : (adj.) to appear calm and unruffled
Synonyms : casual, unconcerned
Antonyms : biased, careful
Usage : He appeared nonchalant when his mother handed him the exam timetable, aggravating her fears.

Obnoxious : (adj.) extremely unpleasant, offensive
Synonyms : horrible, unbearable
Antonyms : decent, friendly
Usage : The people at my table were so obnoxious that I simply had to change my seat.

Pragmatic : (adj.) concerned with practical matters
Synonyms : logical, realistic
Antonyms : impractical, irrational
Usage : The company took pragmatic decision based on local conditions.

Gaffe : (noun) a social or diplomatic blunder
Synonyms : blunder, faux pas
Antonyms : correction
Usage : The senator committed a gaffe when he turned down the dinner invitation.

Bedazzle : (verb) to cause someone to lose clear vision, especially from intense light
Synonyms : daze, confuse, dumbfound
Antonyms : clear
Usage : The bright lights bedazzled her.

Callous : (adj.) emotionally hardened
Synonyms : insensitive, apathetic, impassive
Antonyms :  caring, concerned
Usage : He is accused of consistently and callously ill-treating his wife.

Dawdle: (verb) to waste time; take one’s time, proceed slowly
Synonyms : procrastinate, loiter
Antonyms : rush, forward, hasten
Usage : They dawdled along by the river, laughing and talking.

Doff : (verb) take off
Synonyms : remove, uncover
Antonyms : cover, put on
Usage : The gentleman doffed his hat in presence of the gracious lady.

Fidelity : (noun) the quality of being faithful
Synonyms : loyalty, devotion
Antonyms : faithlessness, infidelity
Usage : The dog is one animal that is known for its fidelity.

Bedazzle: (verb) to cause someone to lose clear vision, especially from intense light
Synonyms: daze, confuse, dumbfound
Antonyms: clear
Usage: The bright lights bedazzled her.

Callous: (adj.) emotionally hardened
Synonyms: insensitive, apathetic, impassive
Antonyms:  caring, concerned
Usage: He is accused of consistently and callously ill-treating his wife.

Dawdle: (verb) to waste time; take one’s time, proceed slowly
Synonyms: procrastinate, loiter
Antonyms: rush, forward, hasten
Usage: They dawdled along by the river, laughing and talking.

Doff: (verb) take off
Synonyms: remove, uncover
Antonyms: cover, put on
Usage: The gentleman doffed his hat in presence of the gracious lady.

Fidelity: (noun) the quality of being faithful
Synonyms: loyalty, devotion
Antonyms: faithlessness, infidelity
Usage: The dog is one animal that is known for its fidelity.

Grapple : (verb) come up against a situation
Synonyms : challenge, confront, encounter
Antonyms : support, assist
Usage : The government is failing to grapple with terrorism.

Replenish : (verb) fill something that had previously been emptied
Synonyms : refill, restock
Antonyms : damage, deplete
Usage : Researchers have identified stem cells in brain cancer tumors that replenish the tumors and keep them growing.

Excavate : (verb) remove the inner part or the core of; dig up
Synonyms : unearth, uncover
Antonyms : cover, fill
Usage : He had been working at a site there for a few years and was looking for another place to excavate.

Brandish : (verb) flaunt, swing around
Synonyms : flash, display
Antonyms : guard, protect
Usage : When companies brandish maps of their conquests, trouble usually follows.

Bolster : (verb) support and strengthen
Synonyms : boost, cushion
Antonyms : discourage, block
Usage : Only a few handfuls got quickly added to bolster the numbers.