English word origins from latin

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English is a Germanic language which means that unlike the Romance languages (French, Spanish, Italian) the English language does not originate from Latin.

There are however hundreds of English vocabulary words which come from Latin. Many of these have entered the English language as loanwords from French (a large part of French vocabulary words come from Latin)

List of English words which come from Latin

Here is a list of 160 English vocabulary words which come from Latin:

1. Alien: from Latin aliēnus (which means “outsider” or “foreigner” )
2. Senior: from Latin senior (meaning “older”), which is the comparative form of senex (meaning “aged”, “old”)
3. Election : from Latin ēlectiō (meaning “choice” or “selection”)
4. Extreme: from Latin extrēmus which is the superlative of the Latin word exter (which means “outward”)
5. Senate: from Latin senātus (meaning “council of elders” or “senate”) itself from the Latin adjective from senex (meaning “old”)
6. Amateur: from Latin amātōr (meaning “lover”), itself from the Latin verb amāre (which means “to love”)
7. Aquatic: from Latin aquaticus (meaning “relating to the water”) itself from the Latin word aqua (meaning “water”)
8. Beneficial: from Latin beneficium (meaning “kindness”, “service” or “favor”)
9. Claim: from Latin clāmō (which means “to cry out” or “to proclaim””)
10. Extraordinary: From Latin extrāōrdinārius, itself from extrā ōrdinem (meaning “outside the order”)
11. Absence: from latin absentia
12. Family: from Latin familia
13. City: from Latin cīvitās
14. General: from Latin generālis
15. Public: from Latin pūblicus
16. College: from Latin collēgium
17. President: from Latin praesidēns
18. Common: from Latin commūnis
19. Education: from Latin ēducātiō
20. Similar: from Latin similis
21. Single: from latin singulus
22. Council: from Latin concilium
23. Final: from Latin fīnālis
24. Region: from latin regiō
25. Addition: from Latin additiōnem
26. Music: from Latin mūsica
27. Special: from Latin speciālis
28. Union: from Latin ūniō
29. Position: from Latin positio
30. Royal: from Latin rēgālis
31. Information: from Latin īnfōrmātiō
32. Male: from Latin masculus
33. Social: from Latin sociālis
34. Act: from Latin ācta
35. Division: from Latin dīvīsiō
36. Air: from Latin āēr
37. Active: from Latin activus
38. Civil: from Latin cīvīlis
39. Human: from Latin hūmānus
40. Population: from Latin populatio
41. Culture: from Latin cultūra
42. Province: from Latin prōvincia
43. Structure: from Latin structūra
44. Station: from Latin statiōnem
45. Native: from Latin nātīvus itself from the Latin nātus (meaning “birth”)
46. Professor: from Latin professor
47. Certain: from Latin certus (meaning “fixed” or “certain”)
48. Industry: from Latin industria (meaning “activity”, “diligence”)
49. Distribution: from Latin distributio
50. Section: from Latin sectiō (meaning “cutting”)
51. Space: from Latin spatium
52. Source: from Latin surgō (meaning “to rise”)
53. Variety: from Latin varietās (meaning “diversity, difference”)
54. Create: from Latin creātus
55. Capital: from Latin capitālis (meaning “of the head”)
56. Operation: from Latin operātiō, itself from the Latin opus which means “work”
57. Separate: from Latin sēparātus
58. Museum from Latin mūsēum (meaning “library”, or “study”)
59. Person: from Latin persōna ( meaning “mask used by actor” or “role”)
60. Administration: from Latin administratio
61. Secretary: from Latin secrētārius (meaning “person entrusted with secrets”)
62. Edition: from Latin ēditiō, itself from the Latin verb ēdere ( meaning “to publish”).
63. Complex: from Latin complexus
64. Empire: from Latin imperium, itself from the Latin verb imperare (meaning “to command”)
65. Competition: from Latin competītiō
66. Student: from Latin studēns
67. Increase: from Latin increscere
68. Conference: from Latin cōnferēns
69. Cause: from Latin causa
70. Money: from Latin monēta
71. Police: from Latin polītīa (meaning “the state”, or “the government”)
72. Evidence: from Latin evidentia
73. Justice: from Latin iūstitia
74. Valley: from Latin vallēs
75. Experience: from Latin experientia
76. Material: from Latin māteriālis
77. Influence: Latin īnfluēns (which means “flowing in”)
78. Decision: from Latin dēcīsiō itself from the Latin verb dēcīdō (maning “to decide”)
79. Feature: from Latin factūra itself from the Latin verb faciō (“to do” , “to make”)
80. Formation: from Latin fōrmātiō
81. value : from Latin valēre
82. Continue: from Latin continuāre
83. Congress: From Latin congressum which is the past participle of the Latin verb congredior ( which means “to come together”)
84. Creation: from Latin creātiō
85. Potential: from Latin potentia (meaning “power”)
86. Marine: from Latin marinus (meaning “of the sea”), itself from the Latin noun mare (meaning “sea”)
87. Mountain: from Latin montānus, itself from the latin word mōns (meaning “mountain”)
88. Face: from Latin faciēs (meaning “appearance” )
89. Ability: from Latin habilitās, itself from the Latin word from habilis (meaning “fit” or “able”)
90. Necessary: from Latin necessārius (meaning “inevitable”, or “required”)
91. Distance: from Latin distantia
92. Double: from Latin duplus (meaning “twofold”)
93. Figure: from Latin figūra (meaning “shape” or “form”)
94. Peace: from Latin pāx (meaning “peace”)
95. Festival: from Latin fēstīvus (meaning “festive”)
96. Victory: from Latin victōria
97. Urban: from Latin urbanus
98. Mayor: from Latin maior (meaning “bigger, greater”), which is the comparative form of the Latin asjective magnus ( meaning “big, great”)
99. Supreme: from Latin supremus, which is the superlative of the latin word superus (which means “which is above”)
100. Tradition: from Latin trāditiō
101. Normal: From Latin normālis (which means “according the rules”)
102. Generation: from Latin generātiō, itself from generō ( meaning “to generate”)
103. Liberal: from Latin līberālis
104. Equal: from Latin aequālis
105. Institution: from Latin institūtiō
106. Positive: from Latin positivus
107. Machine: from Latin māchina
108. Naval: from Latin nāvālis
109. Religion: from Latin religiō
110. Labour: from Latin laborare
111. Metal: from Latin metallum
112. Selection: From Latin sēlēctiō
113. Doctor: from Latin doctor
114. Mobile: from Latin mōbilis (meaning “moveable”)
115. Translation: from Latin trānslātiō
116. Medieval: from the combination of two Latin words, medium (which means “middle”) & aevum ( which means “age”)
117. Couple: from Latin cōpula
118. Opinion: from Latin opīniō
119. Element: from Latin elementum
120. Exception: from Latin exceptiō
121. Sequence: from Latin sequentia (“a following”) itself from the latin verb sequi ( which means “to follow”)
122. Coalition: from Latin coalitiō
123. Credit: from Latin crēditum
124. Reputation: from Latin reputationem
125. Legend: from Latin legenda (meaning “a thing worth reading about”) itself from the Latin verb lego (meaning “to read”)
126. Merchant: from Latin mercātus (meaning “market”)
127. Session: from Latin sessiō (meaning “a sitting”)
128. Diverse: from Latin diversus ( meaning “various”, “different”)
129. Offensive: from Latin offensivus, itself from the Latin verb offendere (meaning “to offend”)
130. Ordinary: from Latin ōrdinārius (meaning “regular” or “orderly”) iself from the Latin word ōrdō (meaning “order”)
131. Noble: from Latin nōbilis
132. Spiritual: from Latin spiritus
133. Intention: from Latin intentiō
134. Regime: from Latin regimen (meaning “direction” or “government”)
135. Copy: from Latin cōpia
136. Procedure: from Latin procedere (meaning “to go forward”)
137. Instrument: from Latin īnstrūmentum
138. Charity: from Latin cāritās
139. Variable: from Latin variare (meaning “to change”)
140. Conclusion: from Latin conclūsiō
141. Excellent: from Latin adjective excellēns which is the present participle of the latin verb excello (which means “to be eminent” or “to excell”)
142. Ideal: from Latin ideālis (which means “existing in idea”)
143. Moral: from Latin mōrālis
144. Liberty: from Latin lībertās (meaing “freedom”, or “liberty”)
145. Neutral: from Latin neutralis
146. Statue: from Latin statua, which itself comes from the Latin verb statuō ( which means “to set up” or “to erect”)
147. Fortune: from Latin fortūna (which can mean “fate”, “luck”, “prosperity” or “wealth”)
148. Proportion: from Latin prōportiō
149. Assume: From Latin assūmō (which means “to accept” or “to take”)
150. Inclusion: from Latin inclusio, itself from the Latin verb inclūdō
151. Precise: from Latin praecisus
152. Destination: From Latin dēstinātiō, itself from the Latin verb dēstinō (which means “to destine”)
153. Passion: from Latin passio (meaning “suffering”)
154. Feminine: from Latin fēminīnus, itself from the Latin word fēmina (meaning “woman”)
155. Glory: from Latin glōria
156. To compare: from Latin comparare
157. Color: from latin color
158. Innocent: from Latin innocens
159. Examine: from Latin exāmināre
160. Intelligent: from Latin intellegēns

The reason there are so many English words which come from Latin

As a Germanic language, English did not originate from Latin. The large number of Latin words in English is remarkable given that other Germanic languages (such as German or Norwegian) contain far fewer Latin words.

This linguistic phenomenon has a simple historical explanation.

Many of the Latin vocabulary words found in English have entered the English language as loanwords from French. As a Romance language which is derived from Latin, a large majority (about 80%) of French words come from Latin.

The presence of so many French vocabulary words in the English language is in part due to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 .

At the time, Old Norman (which is a dialect of French) became the language of the Anglo-Norman government in England. This lasted for several centuries.

During that time this French dialect was widely used in the royal court as well as in the church and the justice system of England.

This historical event had wide ranging linguistic effects on the English language and is the reason why English contains so many words originating from Latin.

How to identify English vocabulary words which come from Latin?

The most reliable way to know if an English vocabulary word originates from Latin is use a dictionary which provides etymological information (information on the origin of words).

Heuristics to determine whether an English word is likely or not to have originated from Latin can be obtained from a basic knowledge of Latin. This is because some letters are not used (or rarely used) in Latin.

For instance, the letter ‘w’ was not part of the classical Latin alphabet, so an English word which contains that letter most likely doesn’t come from Latin.

In addition, the presence of the letter ‘k’ in an English word indicates that the word is unlikely to have come from Latin.

Although the classic Latin alphabet contains the letter ‘k’, it hardly ever appears in Latin vocabulary words. The reason is that in Latin the letter ‘c’ is pronounced like a ‘k’ (There is no soft ‘c’ in Latin). This made the letter ‘k’ redundant and hardly ever used in Latin.

The letter ‘z’ is typically not found in Latin vocabulary words. Although the letter ‘z’ was part of the early forms of the Latin alphabet it disappeared because of sound changes in the Latin language. Later, it was reintroduced to accommodate loanwords from Greek.

An English word which contains the letter ‘z’ is unlikely to have originated from Latin.

English words which end “-ion” are likely to have come from French and previously from Latin.

To learn more about Latin, see this list of the 1000 most common Latin words, and this comparison of Italian and Latin.

Modern English words which come from Latin

Latin is considered to be a dead language which means that it’s no longer the native language of any community. This has been the case for several centuries now.

In spite of this, Latin has been used to create new words especially in scientific and technical fields.

For example, the word “casein” which refers to a protein which is found in milk comes from the Latin word “caseus” meaning cheese.

Another example is the word “lactose” which refers to the sugar found in milk and comes from the Latin word “lac” which means ‘milk’.

Conclusion

There are many English words which are derived from Latin, and most of these have come as loanwords from French.

Understanding the Latin roots of those English vocabulary words, provides linguistic insights and enables us to understand the vocabulary in English and in several other languages.

PS: you can use our free language tool, VocabChat to record your own vocabulary and phrase lists.

Latin nouns and adjectives A–M Citation form Declining stem Meaning English derivatives abdomen abdomin- belly abdomen, abdominal, abdominous, intra-abdominal accipiter accipitr- hawk Accipiter, accipitrine acer acer- maple aceric ācer ācr- sharp acrid, acridine, acridity, acrimonious, acrimony, acritude, acrity, acrolein, eager, vinegar acerbus
• acerbior
• acerbissimus acerb- bitter acerbic, acerbity, exacerbate, exacerbation acervus acerv- heap acerval, acervate, acervation, acervative, acervose, Acervulinacea, acervuline, acervulus, coacervate, coacervation †acervulus acervul- acētum acēt- vinegar acetabuliform, acetabulum, acetate, acetic, acetone, aceturic, triacetate acinus acin- berry acinaceous, acinar, acinarious, aciniform, acinose, acinous, acinus, interacinous acus acer- chaff acerose acus acū- needle acicular, acuity, aculeate, aculeolate, aculeus, acumen, acuminate, acupuncture, acusector, acutance, acute, acutifoliate, acutilingual, acutilobate, aiguille, cute, eglantine, nonacuity, peracute, subacute †acicula acicul- †acula acul- adeps adip- fat adipocere, adipose aedes, aedis aed- building aedicule, aedile, cavaedium, edification, edifice, edile †aedicula aedicul- aemulus aemul-, im- emulate, emulation, emulator, emulous, image, imagerial, imagery, imagination, imaginative, imagine, imitable, imitate, imitation, inimitable, preimage, subimago aequus aequ-, -iqu- even, level adequacy, adequality, adequate, disequilibrium, equable, equal, equality, equanimity, equant, equation, equational, equative, equator, equatorial, equilibrium, equitable, equity, equivalence, equivalent, inadequacy, inadequate, inequality, iniquitous, iniquity aes aer- ore aeneator, aeneous, aeruginous, aerugite, aerugo, aim, disesteem, eruginous, esteem, estimable, estimate, inestimable aestas aest- summer aestival, aestivate, aestivation, estivate, estivator aestus aestu- estuarial, estuarine, estuary aetās aet- age coetaneity, coetaneous aevum aev- age, eon age, coeternal, coeval, coevality, eternal, eterne, eviternal, grandevity, grandevous, longevity, longevous, mediaeval, nonage, premediaeval, primaeval, primeval ager agr-, -egr- field agrarian, agrestal, agricultural, agriculture, nonagrarian, nonagricultural, peragration, peregrine, peregrinus, pilgrim, pilgrimage †agrellus agrell- āla^{[note 1]} āl- wing aileron, aisle, alar, alate, aliferous, aliform, aligerous alacer
• alacrior alacr- quick alacritous, alacrity, allegresse, allegretto, allegro albus
• albior
• albissimus alb- dull white alb, alba, albarium, albedo, albino, albite, album, albumen, albumin, aubade alga alg- seaweed algae, algal, algicidal, algicide alius ali- other abalienate, alias, alibi, alien, alienability, alienable, alienate, alienation, aliquot, inalienability, inalienable, nonalien allium, ālium alli- garlic Allium alter alter- other adulterant, adulterate, adulteration, adulterine, adulterous, adultery, alter, alter ego, alterability, alterable, alterant, alteration, alterative, inalterable alternus altern- altern, alternant, alternate, alternation, alternative, alternator, bialternant alumnus alumn- alumnus alumni alveus alve- alveolar, alveolate, alveolus, interalveolar, postalveolar †alveolus alveol- amārus amar- bitter amarelle, amaretti, amaretto, amarine, amaritude, amaro ambō amb- both ambient, ambiguous amoenus amoen- amenity amplus
• amplior
• amplissimus ampl- ample ample, ampliate, ampliation, amplification, amplitude anas anat- duck Anas, anatine ancūla ancūl- ancillary †ancilla ancill- anguis angu- snake Anguidae, anguiform, Anguilla, anguilliform, anguine, anguineous anguiculus anguicul- †Anguilla anguill- angulus angul- corner angular, angularity, angulose, biangular, biangulate, equiangular, equiangularity, multangular, multiangular, nonrectangular, octangle, octangular, quadrangle, quadrangular, quinquangular, rectangle, rectangular, semiangle, semiangular, septangle, septangular, sexangle, sexangular, triangle, triangular, triangularity, triangulation †angellus angell- anima anim- breath, life, soul anima, animal, animalcule, animate, animation, animato, animator, exanimate, inanimate, reanimate animus anim- mind, anger animadversion, animose, animosity, animus, equanimity, equanimous, multanimous, nonunanimous, pusillanimity, pusillanimous, unanimity, unanimous annus ann-, -enn- year annals, annates, anniversary, annotinous, annual, annuity, biannual, bicentennial, biennial, biennium, bimillennial, centennial, decennial, millennial, millennium, octennial, per annum, perennate, perennial, quadrennial, quadrennium, quinquennial, quinquennium, semiannual, septennial, sexennial, superannuate, superannuation, triennial, triennium ānser ānser- goose Anser, anserine †anserculus ansercul- gosling antenna antenn- antenna, antennal, antennule ānus an- ring anal, annelid, Annelida, annular, annulate, annulation, annulus, anus, biannulate, circumanal, exannulate, penannular, semiannular, subanal †ānulus anul- †ānellus anell- apis ap- bee apian, apiarian, apiary, apiculture aqua aqu- water acquacotta, akvavit, aqua vitae, aquaculture, aquamanile, aquamarine, aquarelle, aquarial, aquarium, Aquarius, aquatic, aquatile, aqueduct, aqueous, aquifer, aquiferous, aquiform, ewer, gouache, semiaquatic, sewage, sewer, sewerage †aquula aquul- aquila aquil- eagle Aquila, aquiline, aquilinity arbiter^{[note 2]} arbitr-  – arbiter, arbitrable, arbitrage, arbitrageur, arbitral, arbitrament, arbitrarious, arbitrary, arbitrate, arbitration, arbitrator, arbitratrix, arbitress, nonarbitrary arbor, arbōs arbor- tree arboraceous, arboreal, arboreality, arboreous, arborescence, arborescent, arboretum, arboricide, arboriculture, arborous, arborvitae, arbuscle, arbuscular †arbuscula arbuscul- arca arc- arcane †arcula arcul- arcus arc- bow arc, arciform, arco, arcuate arduus ardu- steep arduous argentum argent- silver argent, argentate, argenteous, argentiferous, Argentina, argentite arma arm- arms (weapons) alarm, ambry, armada, armadillo, armament, armamentarium, armarium, armature, armiferous, armiger, armigerous, armipotent, armistice, armor, armorial, armory, army, disarm, disarmament, gendarme, gendarmerie, nonarmigerous, rearm, rearmament armus arm- shoulder armill, armillary, armillifer †armilla armill- ars art-
-ert- art, skill artifact, artifice, artificial, artificiality, artisan, artisanal, artisanality, inartificial, inert, inertia, inertial, noninert, noninertial artus art- tight arctation, coarct, coarctate, coarctation artūs art- joint article, articulable, articulacy, articular, articulate, articulation, articulative, articulator, articulatory, biarticular, biarticulate, coarticulation, disarticulation, inarticulable, inarticulacy, inarticulate, interarticular, intra-articular, multiarticular, multiarticulate, quinquarticular, subarticle, triarticulate †articulus articul- arvus arv- plowed arval as ass-
-uss- ace, decussate, decussation, semis, tremissis asinus asin- donkey Aselli, asinine, Asinus, easel †asellus asell- asper asper- rough asperate, asperatus, asperity, exasperate, exasperation astus ast- astute audāx
• audācior
• audācissimus audāc- brave, bold audacious, audacity auris aur- ear aural, auricle, auricular, auriculate, auriform, auscultation, biauricular, biauriculate, binaural, circumaural, interauricular, scout †auricula auricul- aurum aur- gold aurate, aureate, aureole, auriferous, aurification, aurous, dory, inaurate, inauration, oriole, orpiment avēna avēn- oat Avena, avenaceous, avenary, avener avis avi- bird aucupation, augur, auspex, auspicate, auspice, auspicious, Aves, avian, aviary, aviation, aviator, aviatrix, avicide, Avicula, aviculture, avifauna †aucella aucell- †avicula avicul- avunculus avuncul- uncle, mother’s brother avuncular, avunculate, avunculicide, avunculocal, uncle axis axi- axle abaxial, adaxial, axial, axiality, axifugal, axile, biaxial, biaxiality, coaxial, interaxial, multiaxial, semiaxis, triaxial, triaxiality, uniaxial baca bac- berry baccalaureate, baccate, bacciferous, bacciform, baccivorous, bagasse, bagatelle †bacula bacul- baculum bacul- staff bacillary, bacilliform, bacillus, baculiform, baculine, baguette, debacle, imbecile, imbecility †bacillum bacill- bāiulus, bājulus bāiul- carrier bail, bailee, bailie, bailiff, bailiwick, bailliage, baillie, bailment, bailor barba barb- beard barb, barbate, barbel, barbellate, barber, barbet, barbicel, barbine, barbule, rebarbative †barbula barbul- bassus bass- low abase, abasement, bas-relief, base, basset, basso, bassoon, bassus, debase, debasement beatus beat- blessed beatification, Beatitudes bellum bell- war antebellum, bellic, bellicose, bellicosity, belligerence, belligerent, debellatio, imbellic, rebel, rebellion, revel, revelment, revelry bellus bell- pretty beautiful, beauty, embellish, embellishment bene ben- well benediction, benedictional, benedictory, benefaction, benefactive, benefactor, benefactrix, benefic, benefice, beneficence, beneficent, benefit, benign, benignity bestia besti- animal beast, bestial, bestiary bini bin- two each binary, binate, combination, combinatorial, combine, recombinant bonus
• melior
• optimus bon-
• melior-
• optim- good
• better
• best bonbon, bonify, bonitary, bonus, boon, debonair
• ameliorate, amelioration, meliority
• optimal, optimate, optimum, suboptimal bōs bov- cow, ox bovine, bovinic acid botulus botul- sausage botulin, boudin †botellus botell- bracchium brac- arm, support embrace, braces, bracelet brevis brev- brief, short abbreviate, abbreviation, breve, brevet, breviary, brevity, brief, debrief bucca bucc- cheek, mouth, cavity buccal, buccinator muscle, buckle, debouch, debuccalization †buccula buccul- bulbus bulb- bulbous bulb, bulbar, bulbose, bulbous, bulbule †bulbulus bulbul- bulla bull- bubble, flask bill, billet, boil, boilery, bola, bolillo, bouillon, bowl, bull, bulla, bullion, ebullience, ebullient, ebullition, garboil bursa burs- pouch, purse bolson, bourse, bursa, bursar, bursary, disbursal, disburse, disbursement, imburse, reimburse, reimbursement caballus caball- horse caballero, cavalcade, cavalero, cavalier, cavalry, chevalier, chivalrous, chivalry calvus calv- bald calvarium, Calvary, Calvin, calvities, calvity, calvous calx calc-
-culc- heel calcaneal, calcaneum, calcaneus, calque, calzone, caulk, inculcate, inculcation, recalcitrance, recalcitrant, retrocalcaneal calx calc- limestone, pebble calcareous, calciferous, calcific, calcification, calciform, calcite, calcium, calculability, calculable, calculate, calculation, calculator, calculus, caliche, chalk, decalcification, incalculable, precalculate, recalcification, recalculate †calculus calcul- camera camer- vault antechamber, bicameral, cabaret, camaraderie, camber, camera, chamber, chamberlain, comrade, concamerate, concameration, multicamera, multicameral, tricameral, unicameral camisia camisi- shirt camisade, camisado, Camisard, camisole, chemise campus camp- field camp, campaign, campesino, campestral, campo, campsite, campus, champart, champarty, champertous, champerty, champignon, champion, decamp, decampment, encamp, encampment cancer cancr- crab cancer, cancerate, cancerous, cancriform, cancrine, canker, precancerous candēla candēl- candle candela, candelabra, candelabrum, chandelier, chandler, chandlery canis can- dog canaille, canary, canicular, canicule, canid, canine, Canis, Canis Major, postcanine cānus cān- gray, grey canescence, canescent capanna capann- cabana, cabin, cabinetry caper, capra capr- goat cabriole, cabriolet, caper, capreolate, capric, Capricorn, caprid, caprifig, capriform, caprigenous, caprine, capriole †capellus capell- †capreolus, capreola capreol- capillus capill- hair capellini, capillaceous, capillarity, capillary, capilliform, capillose, dishevel, dishevelment, precapillary capsa caps- box, case caisson, cajón, capsicum, capsular, capsule, case, cashier, cassette, cassone, chassis, encapsulant, encapsulate, encapsulation, encase, encasement, incase, incasement, intracapsular, subcapsular †capsella capsell- †capsula capsul- caput capit-, -cipit- head achievable, achieve, achievement, ancipital, ancipitous, biceps, bicipital, cabotage, cad, caddie, cadet, cape, cap, capital, capitular, capitulary, capitulate, capitulation, capitule, capitulum, capo, capodecina, caporegime, captain, captaincy, cattle, caudillo, centicipitous, chapter, chaptrel, chattel, chef, chief, chieftain, co-captain, co-captaincy, decapitate, decapitation, occipital, occiput, per capita, precipice, precipitando, precipitation, precipitous, quadriceps, quadricipital, recapitulate, sincipital, sinciput, sous-chef, subcaptain, tri-captain, triceps, tricipital, unicipital, vice-captain, vice-captaincy †capitellum capitell- †capitulum capitul- carbo carbon- coal bicarbonate, carbon, carbonate, carbonation, Carboniferous, carbuncle, radiocarbon carcer, cancer carcer- jail cancel, cancellable, cancellate, cancellation, cancellous, cancellus, chancel, chancellery, chancellor, chancery, incarcerate, incarceration, subchancel †cancelli cancell- cardo cardin- hinge cardinal, cardinality, kern carduus cardu- thistle card cariēs cari- decay cariosity, carious carīna carīn- keel careen caro carn- flesh carnage, carnal, carnary, carnate, carnation, carneous, carnival, carnivore, carnose, carnosity, carrion, caruncle, carunculate, charcuterie, charnel, discarnate, incarnadine, incarnate, incarnation, reincarnate, reincarnation carrus, carrum carr- wheeled vehicle car, career, cargo, caricature, carriage, carry, charge, chargé, chargée, chariot, charioteer, charrette, countercharge, discharge, dischargee, encharge, multicar, recharge, surcharge cartilago cartilagin- cartilage cartilage, cartilaginous, noncartilaginous, precartilage cārus
• cārior
• cārissimus cār- dear caress, caressive, charitable, charity, cherish, cherishable, noncharitable casa cas- house casino cāseus cāse- cheese caseic, casein, caseous, cheese, quesadilla castrum castr- fort -caster, castellan, castellation, castle, chateau, chatelain, Chester †castellum castell- castus
• castior
• castissimus cast-, -cest- pure caste, castigate, castigation, castigator, chaste, chasten, chastenment, chastity, incest, incestuous catēna catēn- chain catenary, catenate, catenation, catenative, catenulate, chain, concatenate, concatenation, enchain, enchaînement, nonconcatenative †catēnula catēnul- cauda caud-, cod- tail cauda, caudal, caudate, caudicle, coda, codetta, curvicaudate, dequeue, enqueue, queue †caudicula caudicul- caulis caul-, col- stalk, stem caulescent, caulicle, cauliflorous, cauliflory, cauliform, cauline, choux †cauliculus caulicul- causa caus-, -cus- motive, accusation accusal, accusation, accusative, accusativity, accusatory, accuse, causality, causation, causative, causativity, excusable, excuse, inexcusable, irrecusable, recusal, recusancy, recusant, recuse, ruse, rush cavus cav- hollow biconcave, biconcavity, cage, cajole, cajolement, caval, cavate, cavatina, cave, cavea, cavern, cavernicolous, cavernous, cavernulous, cavicorn, cavitation, cavity, concave, concavity, encage, excavate, excavation, excavator, quasiconcave, quasiconcavity celeber celebr- famous celebrant, celebrate, celebration, celebratory, celebrity, concelebration celer
• celerior
• celerrimus celer- quick, swift accelerando, accelerant, accelerate, acceleration, accelerator, celerity, decelerando, decelerate, deceleration, decelerator centeni centen- hundred each bicentenary, centenarian, centenary, centenionalis, supercentenarian, ultracentenarian centesimus centesim- hundredth centavo, centesimal, centesimation, centime, céntimo centum cent- hundred cent, centennial, centifidous, centillion, centurial, centurion, century, semicentennial, sesquicentennial, tricentennial cera cer- wax ceraceous, cereous, ceresin, inceration cerebrum cerebr- brain cerebellar, cerebellum, cerebral, cerebrifugal, cerebripetal, intracerebral †cerebellum cerebell- certus cert- certain ascertain, ascertainable, certificate, certification, certiorari, certitude, decertification, incertitude, recertification cervīx cervīc- neck cervical, cervix, intracervical cervus cerv- deer cervid, Cervidae, cervine ceterus ceter- other et cetera cibus cib- food cibarious, cibarium, cibation cicātrīx cicātrīc- scar cicatrice cilium cili- eyelash cilia, ciliary, ciliate, ciliation, supercilious cinis ciner- ashes cinder, cinerarium, cinerary, cinereous, cinerin, incinerate, incineration, incinerator cippus cipp- stake cep circus circ- circle bicircular, circa, circinate, circular, circularity, circulate, circulation, circulator, circulatory, circumcircle, circus, cirque, encircle, encirclement, multicircular, noncircular, quasicircle, recirculate, recirculation, recirculator, research, ricercar, search, searchable, semicircle, semicircular, tricircular †circulus circul- †circellus circell- cirrus cirr- curl, tentacle cirrate, cirriform, cirriped, cirrose, cirrous, cirrus citer
• citerior
• citimus citr-
• citerior-
• citim- on this side
•
• • citerior
• cīvis cīv- citizen citadel, city, civil, civilian, civility, incivil, incivility, intercity clārus
• clārior
• clārissimus clār- clear chiaroscuro, clairaudience, claircognizance, Claire, clairgustance, clairolfactus, clairsentience, clairvoyance, clairvoyant, Clara, clarain, claret, clarificant, clarification, clarify, clarinet, clarion, Clarissa, claritude, clarity, clear, clearage, clearance, cleartext, declarable, declaration, declarative, declaratory, declare, éclair, glair, glaireous, redeclare clavis clav- key claves, clavicle, clavier, enclave, exclave †clāvicula clāvicul- clemens clement- mild clemency, clement, inclemency, inclement codex codic- code, codex, codical, codicil †codicillus codicill- collis coll- hill colliculus †colliculus collicul- collum coll- neck collar color color- color bicolor, Colorado, coloration, coloratura, concolorous, decolor, discolor, discoloration, multicolor, tricolor, unicolor, versicolor cōlum cōl- strainer colander, coulee, coulis, coulisse, couloir, cullender, cullis, percolate, percolation, percolator, piña colada, portcullis columba columb- dove columbarium, columbary, Columbella, columbine cor cord- heart accord, accordance, accordant, accordatura, concord, concordance, concordant, concordat, corcle, cordate, cordial, cordiality, cordiform, core, courage, courageous, discord, discordance, discordant, discourage, discouragement, encourage, encouragement, nonaccordant, obcordate, record, scordatura †corcillum corcill- †corculum corcul- corbis corb- basket corb, corf corium cori- skin, hide coriaceous, excoriate cornū corn- horn bicorn, bicorne, Capricorn, cornea, corneal, corneous, corner, cornicle, corniculate, corniferous, cornification, corniform, cornucopia, quadricorn, quadricornous, tricorn, tricorne, tricornigerous, tricornute, unicorn, unicornous †corniculum cornicul- cornus corn- dogwood cornaceous, cornel, Cornus †cornicula cornicul- corona coron- crown corolla, corollaceous, corollarial, corollary, corona, coronamen, coronary, coronate, coronation, coronavirus, coroner, coronet, coroniform, Coronilla, crown, incoronate †corolla coroll- corpus corpor- body accorporate, bicorporal, concorporate, concorporation, corporal, corporality, corporate, corporation, corporative, corporature, corporeal, corporeality, corporeity, corps, corpse, corpulence, corpulent, corpus, corpuscle, corpuscular, disincorporate, disincorporation, extracorporeal, incorporal, incorporality, incorporate, incorporation, incorporeal, incorporeality, incorporeity, tricorporal †corpusculum corpuscul- cortex cortic- bark, rind cortical, corticate, corticiform, corticifugal, corticipetal, decorticate, decortication, decorticator coruscus corusc- vibrate coruscant, coruscate, coruscation corvus corv- raven corbel, cormorant, corvine †corvellus corvell- costa cost- rib accost, bicostate, coast, coastal, costa, costal, costate, curvicostate, entrecôte, infracostal, intercostal, intracoastal, multicostate, quadricostate, supracostal, tricostate, unicostate cotoneum cotōne- quince cotoneaster coxa cox- hip coxal crapula crapul- inebriation crapulence, crapulent cras cras- tomorrow crastination, procrastinate, procrastination, procrastinator crassus crass- thick crass, crassitude, crassulaceous crātis crāt- lattice, wickerwork crate, grate, graticulation, graticule, griddle, grill, grillade, grillage, grille †craticula craticul- crēna crēn- notch bicrenate, crena, crenate, crenation, crenature, crenulate, crenulation †crēnula crēnul- creta cret- chalk cretaceous cribrum cribr- sieve cribble, cribellum, cribrate, cribriform, garble †cribellum cribell- crimen^{[note 3]} crimin- judgment, offense criminal, criminality, criminate, incriminate, recriminate, recrimination crīnis crīn- hair crinel, crinigerous, crinite, crinoline, crinose, crinosity crispus crisp- curled crape, crepe, crêpe, crisp, crispate, crispation crista crist- crest crease, crest, cristate crus crur- leg, shank bicrural, crural, crus, equicrural crusta crust- rind, shell, crust crostata, croustade, croûte, crouton, crust, crustacean, crustaceous, crustal, crustation, crustific, crustose, custard, duricrust, encrust, encrustation, incrust, incrustation crux cruc- cross crucial, cruciate, crucifer, cruciferous, crucifix, crucifixion, cruciform, crucify, crucigerous, crusade, cruzeiro, discruciate, excruciate cucullus cucull- hood cowl, cucullate cuculus cucul- cuckoo cuculiform cucurbita cucurbit- gourd cucurbit, Cucurbita, cucurbitaceous culcita culcit- mattress quilt culex culic- gnat Culex, culiciform, culicifuge, culicine, Culicivora culina culin- kitchen culinarian, culinary, kiln culpa culp- blame, fault culpability, culpable, culprit, exculpate, exculpatory, inculpable, inculpate, inculpatory, mea culpa culter cultr- knife colter, coulter, cultellus, cutlass, cutler, cutlery †cultellus cultell- cūlus cul- buttocks culet, culottes, recoil cumulus cumul- heap accumulate, accumulation, accumulator, cumulate, cumulative, cumulativity, cumuliform, cumulose, cumulous, cumulus cūnae cūn- cradle cunabula, incunable, incunabula, incunabular, incunabulum cuneus cune- wedge coign/coigne, coin, cuneate, cuneiform, cuneus, encoignure, obcuneate, precuneus, quoin, sconcheon/scuncheon cūpa cūp- tub, goblet, cask cooper, cooperage, cup, cupel, cupellation, cupola, cupule †cūpella cūpell- †cūpula cūpul- cura cur- care accuracy, accurate, assecure, assurance, assure, curable, curate, curative, curator, cure, curettage, curette, curio, curiosity, curious, ensure, inaccurate, incurable, insecure, insecurity, insurability, insurable, insurance, insure, pococurante, proctor, proctorage, procurable, procuracy, procuration, procurator, procure, procurement, proxy, reassurance, reassure, reinsurance, reinsure, scour, scourage, secure, security, sinecural, sinecure, sure, surety currus curr- chariot corral, curule curtus curt- shortened curt, curtail, curtate, decurt curvus curv- bent curb, curvate, curvation, curvature, curve, curviform, curvilinear, curvity, incurvate, incurvature, incurve, recurvate, recurve, recurvous cuspis cuspid- tip bicuspid, bicuspidate, cusp, quadricuspid, tricuspid custos custod- guardian custodial, custodian, custody, noncustodial cutis cut- hide, skin cutaneous, cuticle, cuticolor, cuticular, cutin, cutis, cutisector, subcutaneous †cuticula cuticul- damnum damn-
-demn- harm condemn, condemnation, damage, damnation, damnific, damnify, indemnification, indemnify, indemnity decem decem- ten dean, deanery, decan, decanal, December, decemfid, decempedal, decemvirate, decemviri, decennary, decennial, decennium, decuple, decurion, decurionate, decury, dicker, doyen, doyenne decimus decim- tenth decimal, decimate, decimation, dime decus decor- decor, décor, decorament, decorate, decoration, decorative, decorator, decorous, decorum, redecorate deni den- ten each denar, denarian, denarius, denary, denier, dinar, dinero, dinheiro dens dent- tooth bident, bidental, dental, dentate, denticity, denticle, denticulate, dentiferous, dentiform, dentifrice, dentil, dentin, dentinal, dentition, denture, indent, indentation, indenture, interdental, intradental, multidentate, quadridentate, trident, tridentate †denticulus denticul- densus dens- thick condensable, condensate, condensation, condense, dense, density, nondense deter
• dēterior
• dēterrimus deter-
• deterior-
• deterrim- • worse
• worst • deterior, deteriorate, deterioration
• deus de- god deicidal, deicide, deific, deification, deiform, deity dexter
• dexterior
• dextimus dextr-
• dexterior-
• dextim- right ambidextrous, dexterity, dexterous, dextral, dextrality, dextrin, dextrorse, dextrose
•
• diēs diē- day adjourn, adjournment, aggiornamento, antemeridian, circadian, dial, diary, diurnal, diurnality, infradian, jornada, journal, journey, meridian, meridional, nundinal, per diem, postmeridian, quotidian, semidiurnal, sojourn, transmeridional, triduan, triduum, ultradian digitus digit- finger, toe bidigitate, digit, digital, digitate, digitiform, digitigrade, multidigit, multidigitate dignus dign- worthy condign, deign, dignify, dignitarial, dignitary, dignity, disdain, indign, indignance, indignant, indignation, indignity dirus dir- fearful dire discipulus discipul- student disciple, disciplinarian, disciplinary, discipline, interdisciplinarity, interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, transdisciplinarity divus div- god divination, divinatory, divine, divinity dominus domin- lord beldam/beldame, codomain, codominance, codominant, condominium, dam, dame, damsel, demesne, demoiselle, domain, dominance, dominant, dominate, domination, dominative, dominator, dominatrix, domine, domineer, dominicide, dominion, dominium, domino, duenna, madam, madame, mademoiselle, madonna, predominance, predominant, predominate, semidominance, subdominant, superdominant domus dom- house domal, dome, domestic, domesticate, domestication, domesticity, domestique, domicile, domiciliary, major-domo, semidome dōnum dōn- gift condonation, condone, donation, donative, donator, donatory, pardon, pardonable dorsum dors- back disendorse, dorsal, dorsum, dossier, endorse, endorsee, endorsement, indorse, indorsement, reredos dos dot- dowry dotal, dotation dowager dowry endow endowment drappus drapp- cloth drab, drape, drapery dulcis dulc- sweet billet-doux, dolce, dolcetto, douce, doux, dulcet, dulcian, dulcify, dulcimer, edulcorant, edulcorate, subdulcid duo du- two deuce, doubt, dual, duality, dubiety, dubious, duet, duo, duplex, duumvirate, duumviri, nonduality duodecim duodec- twelve dozen, duodecennial, duodecillion duodecimus duodec- twelfth duodecimal duodeni duoden- twelve each duodenal, duodenary, duodenum duplus dupl- twofold dobla, double, doubloon, doublure, duplation, duple, redouble, semidouble durus dur- hard dour, durability, durable, duration, durative, duress, durum, endurable, endurance, endurant, endure, indurate, induration, nondurable, obdurate, obduration, perdurable, perdurance, perdure, subdural ebrius ebri- drunk inebriant, inebriate, inebriation, inebriety, sober, sobriety ensis ens- sword ensiferous, ensiform equus equ- horse equestrian, equine eruca eruc- caterpillar eruciform exterus
• exterior
• extremus exter-
• exterior-
• extrem- • outer
• outmost extern, external, externality
• exterior
• extreme, extremity, extremum faba fab- bean faba bean, fabaceous, aquafaba faber fabr- fabric, fabrication, fabricator faenum faen- hay fennel, sainfoin falx falc- sickle defalcation, falcate, falciform fames fam- hunger famine, famish fanum fan- temple profane, profanity fascis fasc- bundle fasces, fascicle, fascicular, fasciculation, fascine †fasciculus fascicul- fatuus fatu- foolish, useless fatuous, infatuation fauces fauc-, -foc- throat faucal, suffocate, suffocation febris febr- fever antefebrile, febrifacient, febriferous, febrifuge, febrile fēlēs fēl- cat felid, Felinae, feline fēlix fēlic- happy felicitations, felicitous, felicity fēmina fēmin- woman effeminacy, effeminate, feminine, feminism, feminist, femininity femur femor- thigh femoral, femur fenestra fenestr- window defenestration ferox feroc- fierce ferocious, ferocity ferrum ferr- iron farrier, farriery, ferrate, ferrite, ferreous, ferrous, ferruginous, ferrugo, nonferrous ferus fer- wild feral, ferine, ferocious, ferocity, fierce festūca festūc- fescue, Festuca festus fest- feast, festal, festival, festive, festivity, festivous, festoon, Festus, fete, fiesta, infestive feudum feud- fee feodary, feudal, feudary, feudatory, subinfeudation fibra fibr- defibrillate, defibrillation, defibrillator, fiber, fibre, fibriform, fibril, fibrillar, fibrillate, fibrin, fibrinous, fibrous, multifibrous †fibrilla fibrill- fībula^{[note 4]} fībul- clasp, fastener fibula, fibular, infibulate, infibulation ficus fic- fig Ficus fidēs fid- faith, trust affiance, affiant, affidavit, confidant, confidante, confide, confidence, confident, confidential, confidentiality, defiance, defiant, defy, diffide, diffidence, diffident, faith, feal, fealty, fiancé, fiancée, fidelity, fiducial, fiduciary, infidel, infidelity, interfaith, multifaith, perfidious, perfidy, prefident fīlia
fīlius fīli-
fīli- daughter
son affiliate, affiliation, affiliative, disaffiliate, disaffiliation, filial, filiate, filiation, filicide, filiety, nonaffiliation filum fil- thread bifilar, defilade, defile, enfilade, filament, filarial, filariform, filet, filiferous, filiform, filigree, fillet, multifilament, profile, unifilar fimbriae fimbri- fimbria, fimbrial, fimbriate, fimbriation, fimbrillate, fringe fimus fim- dung fimicolous fīnis fīn- end, limit affinal, affine, affinitive, affinity, confine, confinement, confines, confinity, define, definiendum, definiens, definite, definition, definitive, equifinality, final, finality, finance, fine, finery, finesse, finis, finish, finite, finito, finitude, indefinite, indefinitude, infinite, infinitesimal, infinitive, infinitude, infinity, nonaffinity, nonfinal, nonfinite, prefinite, raffinate, raffinose, redefine, redefinition, refinance, refine, refinement, refinery, semidefinite, semifinal, superfine, transfinite firmus firm- firm affirm, affirmance, affirmant, affirmation, affirmative, affirmatory, confirm, confirmation, confirmational, confirmatory, disaffirm, disaffirmation, farm, fermata, firmament, infirm, infirmarian, infirmary, infirmity, nonaffirmation, obfirm, obfirmation, reaffirm, reaffirmation, reconfirm, reconfirmation fiscus fisc- basket confiscate, confiscation, confiscatory, fisc, fiscal, fiscus fistula fistul- pipe, tube fistula, fistulate, fistuliform, fistulose, fistulous flaccus flacc- flabby flaccid, flaccidity flagrum flagr- flagellant, flagellar, flagellate, flagellation, flagelliform, flagellin, flagellum, flail, multiflagellate, uniflagellate †flagellum flagell- flamma^{[note 5]} flamm- flame flamage, flambé, flambeau, flamboyance, flamboyant, inflame, inflammable, inflammation, inflammatory, oriflamme flavus flav- yellow flavin, flavivirus, flavonoid floccus flocc- tuft deflocculant, deflocculation, floc, floccillation, floccinaucinihilipilification, floccose, flocculant, floccular, flocculation, floccule, flocculent, floccus, flock †flocculus floccul- flōs flōr- flower counterflory, deflorate, defloration, effleurage, effloresce, efflorescence, efflorescent, fiori, fioritura, fleur-de-lis, fleury, flora, floral, florescence, florescent, floret, floriculture, florid, floridean, floridity, floriferous, floriform, florilege, florilegium, florin, floruit, florulent, flory, flour, flourish, flower, inflorescence, multiflora, multiflorous, pauciflor, pluriflor, uniflorous †floscellus floscell- focus foc- hearth bifocal, confocal, defuel, focaccia, focal, focus, foyer, fuel, fusillade, multifocal, omnifocal, parfocal, refocus, refuel, trifocal, varifocal foedus foeder- confederate, confederation, federacy, federal, federation folium foli- leaf bifoliate, bifoliolate, centifolious, cinquefoil, counterfoil, defoliant, defoliate, defoliation, exfoliant, exfoliate, exfoliation, exfoliative, feuilleton, foil, folate, foliage, foliar, foliate, foliation, foliature, folic, foliferous, folio, foliolate, foliole, foliose, foliosity, folivore, folivorous, folivory, multifoil, multifoliate, octofoil, perfoliate, portfolio, quadrifoliate, quadrifolium, quatrefoil, septifolious, trefoil, trifoliate, trifoliolate, trifolium, unifoliate †foliolum foliol- leaflet follis foll- bellows follicle, follicular, follis, folly, fool, foolery †folliculus follicul- fons font- fountain, spring font, fontal, fontanelle foris for- outdoors afforest, afforestation, deforest, deforestation, disforest, foreclose, foreign, forensic, forest, forfeit, forum, reforest, reforestation fōrma fōrm- form, shape biform, biformity, conform, conformable, conformance, conformant, conformity, counterreformation, deform, deformable, deformation, deformity, disinformation, formable, formal, formality, formant, format, formation, formative, formula, formulary, formulation, inform, informal, informality, informant, information, informative, irreformable, malformation, nonconformance, perform, performance, preform, preformat, reform, reformable, reformat, reformation, reformatory, transform, transformable, transformation, transformational, transformative, triform, triformity, uniform, uniformity †formella formell- †formula formul- formica formic- ant formic formus form- warm fornix fornic- vault fornication, forniciform fors fort- luck fortuitous, fortuity, fortunate, fortune fortis fort- strong comfort, effort, force, forcible, forte, fortification, fortify, fortis, fortissimo, fortitude fovea fove- shallow round depression fovea, foveal, foveole frāter frātr- brother fraternal, fraternity, fratricide, friar, friary fraus fraud- fraud defraud, defraudation, fraud, fraudulent frēnum frēn- bridle frenal, frenate, frenulum, frenum, refrain, refrainment †frenulum frenul- frequēns
• frequentior
• frequentissimus frequent- often frequency, frequent, frequentation, frequentative, infrequency, infrequent fretum fret- strait transfretation, transfrete frīgus frigor- cold frigorific †frīgusculum friguscul- frōns, fruns frond- frond, frondent, frondescence, frondiferous, frondlet, frondose frōns front- brow, forehead affront, affrontive, bifront, confront, confrontation, confrontational, effrontery, front, frontage, frontal, frontier, frontispiece, nonconfrontational, nonfrontal, prefrontal, quadrifrons, transfrontier frustum frust- piece bifrustum, frustule, frustulent, frustulum, frustum †frustillum frustill- †frustulum frustul- frutex frutic- shrub frutescence, frutescent, fruticose, fruticulose, suffrutescent, suffruticose, suffruticulose †fruticulus fruticul- frūx frūg- fruit frugal, frugality, frugiferous, frugivore, frugivorous, frumenty, infrugiferous fulvus
• fulvissimus fulv- tawny fulvic, fulvid, fulvous fūmus fūm- smoke fumacious, fumade, fumage, fumarine, fumarole, fumatorium, fumatory, fume, fumeuse, fumid, fumidity, fumiferous, fumigant, fumigate, fumigation, fumigator, infumate, infumation, perfume, perfumery, suffumigate, suffumigation fundus fund- bottom cofound, defund, found, foundation, foundational, founder, fund, fundament, fundamental, fundoplication, fundus, profound, profundal, profundity †fundulus fundul- fungus fung- mushroom fungal, fungicidal, fungicide, fungiform, fungus fūnis fūn- rope funambulatory, funicle, funicular, funiculate, funiform †fūniculus fūnicul- fūnus funer- funeral, funerary, funerate, funereal fur fur- thief furuncle furca furc- fork bifurcation, fourchette, furcate, furcula, furcular, multifurcate, trifurcate, trifurcation †furcilla furcill- †furcula furcul- furtum furt- theft furtive fuscus
• fuscior fusc- dark fuscation, fuscine, fuscous, infuscate, infuscation, obfuscate, obfuscation, subfuscous fūstis fūst- cudgel fustigate, fustigation †fusticulus fusticul- fūsus fūs- spindle fusain, Fusarium, fusarole, fusee, fuselage, fusilli, fusula, fuze galbus galb- yellow jaundice galea gale- helmet galea, galeate, galeiform galēna galēn- lead ore galena, galenic gallīna gallīn- hen gallinacean, gallinaceous, gallinule †gallīnula gallīnul- gelu gel- congeal, congelation, gel, gelati, gelatin, gelatinous, gelation, gelato, gelée, gelid, gelifluction, gelignite, jellification, jelly geminus gemin- twin bigeminal, bigeminy, gemel, gemelli, gemelliparous, geminal, geminate, gemination, gemini, gimmal, ingeminate, quadrigeminal, trigeminal, trigeminy †gemellus gemell- gemma gemm- bud gem, gemma, gemmaceous, gemmate, gemmiferous, gemmiform, gemmiparous, gemmulation, gemmule, gemmuliferous †gemmula gemmul- gena gen- cheek fixigena, gena, genal, librigena gens gent- gens, genteel, gentile, gentility, gentle, gentrice, gentrification, gentry genū genū- knee genicular, geniculate, geniculation, geniculum, genu, genual, genucubital, genuflect, genuflection, genuflexion †geniculum genicul- genus gener- birth, offspring, creation congener, congeneric, degenerate, degenerative, engender, gender, general, generality, generate, generation, generational, generative, generator, generatrix, generic, generosity, generous, genre, genuine, genus, intergenerational, intergeneric, regenerate, regenerative, subgenre, subgenus, transgender germen germin- sprout germ, germane, germicide, germinal, germinate, germination, nongermane, regerminate gibbus gibb- hump gibbose, gibbosity, gibbous glaber glabr- smooth glabella, glabellar, glabrate, glabrescent, glabrous †glabellus glabell- glacies glaci- ice englacial, glacé, glacial, glaciation, glacier, glacious, glacis, glance, interglacial, interglaciation, postglacial, subglacial, supraglacial gladius gladi- sword gladiate, gladiator, gladiatory, gladiature, gladiolus glāns gland- acorn eglandular, eglandulose, gland, glandiferous, glandula, glandular, glandule, glanduliferous, glandulose, glans †glandula glandul- glēba, glaeba glēb- clod gleba, glebal, glebe, glebosity globus glob- conglobate, global, globate, globe, globose, globosity, globular, globule, globulin, inglobate †globulus globul- glomus glomer- agglomerate, agglomeration, agglomerative, glomerate, glomerular, glomerulation, glomerulus, juxtaglomerular †glomerulus glomerul- gluten glutin- glue agglutinant, agglutinate, agglutination, agglutinative, deglutination, glutelin, gluten, glutinosity, glutinous, nonagglutinative gracilis
• gracilior
• gracillimus gracil- slender engrail, engrailment, gracile, gracility gradus grad- step aggradation, aggradational, aggrade, antegrade, anterograde, centigrade, degradable, degradation, degradational, degrade, degree, digitigrade, gradation, grade, gradient, gradine, gradual, graduality, graduand, graduate, graduation, gree, laterigrade, multigrade, nongraduate, plantigrade, postgraduate, progradation, prograde, retrogradation, retrograde, saltigrade, tardigrade grandis
• grandior
• grandissimus grand- aggrandise, aggrandisement, grandee, grandeur, grandific, grandiloquent, grandiose, grandiosity, grandioso, grandity, grandmaster granum gran- grain degranulation, engrain, filigree, garner, garnet, grain, granary, grange, granger, granite, granivore, granivorous, granivory, granular, granularity, granulate, granulation, granule, grenade, grenadier, grogram, grosgrain, ingrain, multigrain, pomegranate †granulum granul- grātus
• gratissimus grāt- aggrace, agree, agreeable, agreeance, agreement, congratulant, congratulate, congratulations, congratulatory, disgrace, grace, graciosity, gracious, gratify, gratification, gratis, gratitude, gratuitous, gratuity, gratulant, gratulate, gratulation, gratulatory gravis
• gravior
• gravissimus grav- heavy aggravate, aggravation, degravation, gravamen, grave, gravid, gravida, gravidity, gravitas, gravitate, gravitation, gravitational, gravity, grief, grieve, grievance, grievant, grievous, ingravescence, ingravescent, multigravida, multigravidity, nongravitational, nulligravida, primigravida, reaggravate, supergravity grex greg- flock, herd aggregate, aggregation, aggregator, congregate, congregation, congregational, desegregate, desegregation, disaggregate, egregious, gregarious, intercongregational, segregate, segregation grossus
• grossior gross- thick engross, engrossment, grocer, grocery, grosgrain, gross gula gul- gula, gular, gullet, gully, subgular gurges gurgit- demigorge, disgorge, disgorgement, engorge, engorgement, gorge, gorgeous, gorget, ingurgitate, ingurgitation, regurgitate, regurgitation gustus gust- taste disgust, gustatory, gusto, gustoso gutta gutt- drop gout, gutta, guttate, gutter, guttifer, guttiform guttur guttur- throat goitre, guttural hallux halluc- big toe hallucal, hallux hāmus hām- hook hamate, hamiform, hamular, hamulate, hamulus †hāmulus hāmul- harena haren- sand arena, arenaceous, arenite, arenose hasta hast- spear hasta, hastate, hastatic, hastile hebes hebet- blunt, dull hebetate, hebetude hedera heder- ivy Hedera, hederaceous herba herb- grass herbaceous, herbal, herbarium, herbicide, herbivore, herbivorous, herbivory, non-herbal hērēs hērēd- disinherit, heir, hereditable, hereditament, hereditary, heredity, heritability, heritage, inherit, inheritable, inheritance, inheritor, inheritrix, nonhereditary, noninheritable hibernus hibern- hibernacle, hibernal hiems hiem- winter hiemal hircus hirc- goat hircine homō homin- man (human being) bonhomie, homage, hombre, homicide, hominid, homuncular, homunculus, human, humane, humanitarian, humanity, inhuman, inhumane, inhumanity, Nemo, nonhuman, prehuman, subhuman, superhuman, transhuman †homunculus homuncul- honor honor- honor honorable, honorarium, honorary, honorific hortus hort- garden cohort, court, courteous, courtesan, courtesy, courtier, curtain, horticulture hostis host- enemy hostile, hostility humus hum- ground exhumation, exhume, humate, humation, humic, humiliate, humility, inhumation, inhume ignis ign- fire igneous, ignite, ignition imbecillus imbecill- weak imbecile, imbecility inanis inan- inane, inanity inferus
• inferior
• infimus infer-
• inferior-
• infim- • lower
• lowest • inferior, inferiority
• inguen inguin- groin inguinal īnsula īnsul- island insular, insulate, insulation, peninsula, peninsular, isolate, isolation interus
• interior
• intimus inter-
• interior-
• intim- •
• entrail, intern, internal, internality
• interior
• intima, intimacy, intimate, intimation iocus
jocus joc- jest jocular, jocularity, joke †joculus jocul- iūdex
jūdex ^{[note 6]} iūdic- judge adjudicate, adjudication, adjudicative, adjudicator, adjudicatory, extrajudicial, injudicious, judge, judgement, judgment, judgmental, judicable, judicative, judicator, judicatory, judicature, judicial, judiciary, judicious, nonjudicial, prejudge, prejudgment, prejudice, prejudicial iugum
jugum iug- yoke conjugacy, conjugal, conjugate, conjugation, jugal, jugate, jugular iūs iūr- law, right abjuration, abjure, conjure, de jure, jurat, juration, juratory, jurisdiction, jury, justice iuvenis
juvenis juven- young junior, juniorate, juniority, juvenile, juvenilia, juvenility, rejuvenate jejunus jejun- jejunal, jejune, jejunity, jejunum labia labi- lip labial, labium labor labor- toil collaboration, collaborative, collaborator, elaboration, laboratory, laborious labrum labr- lip labrose, labrum lac lact- milk lactate, lactic, lactose lacrima lacrim- tear lachrymose lacus lac- lacuna, lacustrine, lagoon, lake lapis lapid- stone dilapidate, lapidary lassus lass- lassitude latex latic- liquid laticifer latus lat- broad, wide latifoliate, latitude latus later- side collateral, lateral laus laud- praise laud, laudable, Lauds laxus lax- loose laxity, relax lenis leni- gentle leniency, lenient, leniment, lenis, lenition, lenitive, lenitude, lenity lens lent- lentil lens, lenticel, lenticular, lentiform lentus lent- lentic, relent leo leon- lion leonine lepus lepor- hare leporid, leporine levis lev- light (weight) levity, relieve lēx lēg- law alleged, extralegal, illegal, legal, legality, legislation, legislator, privilege liber liber- free illiberal, illiberality, liberal, liberality, liberate, liberation, liberator liber libr- book librarian, library, libretto libra libr- balance, scales deliberate, deliberation, deliberative, equilibrium, libration lignum lign- wood ligneous, ligniform, lignin, lignite, lignose limbus limb- edge limbate, limbic, limbo limes limit- delimit, limes, limit, limitation linea line- line align, collinear, collineation, linea, lineage, linear, linearity, multicollinearity lingua lingu- tongue bilingual, bilinguality, bilinguous, collingual, elinguation, interlanguage, language, ligula, ligular, ligule, lingua franca, lingual, linguiform, linguine, multilingual, prelingual, quadrilingual, sublingual, trilingual †lingula, ligula lingul- lira lir- furrow delirament, delirant, delirate, deliration, deliriant, delirifacient, delirious, delirium littera litter- letter alliteration, alliterative, biliteral, illiteracy, illiterate, literacy, literal, literary, literate, literature, obliterate, obliteration, transliteracy, transliteration, triliteral locus, stlocus loc- place accouchement, bilocation, bilocular, cislocative, collocation, couch, couchant, dislocate, dislocation, interlocal, lieu, local, locale, locality, locate, location, locative, locator, loculament, locular, locule, loculose, loculus, milieu, multilocal, multilocation, multilocular, nonlocal, quasilocal, relocate, relocation, translocal, translocate, translocation, translocative, trilocular, unilocular †locellus locell- †loculus locul- longus
• longior
• longissimus long- long allonge, elongate, elongation, longa, longanimity, longe, longeron, longinquity, longitude, longitudinal, longum, lunge, lungo, oblong, prolong, prolongation, purloin lūbricus lūbric- slippery lubricant, lubricate, lubrication, lubricator, lubricity, lubricous lucrum lucr- gain, profit lucrative, lucre, lucrific †lucellum lucell- lūmen^{[note 7]} lūmin- light dislimn, enlumine, illuminable, illuminance, illuminant, illuminate, illuminati, illumination, illumine, intraluminal, limn, lumen, luminaire, luminal, luminance, luminant, luminaria, luminary, lumination, lumine, luminescence, luminescent, luminiferous, luminosity, luminous, relumine, subluminal, subluminous, superluminal, transillumination, transluminal, ultraluminous lūna^{[note 8]} lūn- Moon circumlunar, cislunar, demilune, interlunar, interlunation, lunar, lunate, lunatic, lunation, lune, lunette, luniform, lunisolar, mezzaluna, mezzelune, plenilunary, semilunar, sublunar, sublunary, superlunary, translunar lupus lup- wolf lupine lūtra lūtr- otter Lutra, lutrine lutum lut- mud lutaceous, lutite lux luc- light elucidate, elucidation, elucubrate, elucubration, lucent, lucid, lucidity, Lucifer, luciferous, lucifugal, noctilucent, pellucid, pellucidity, semipellucid, translucency, translucent, translucid, translucidity, translucidus luxus lux- luxuriant, luxurious, luxury †macula macul- spot immaculate, macula, macular, maculate, maculation, maculature, macule, maculose magister magistr- master maestro, magisterial, magistery, magistracy, magistral, magistrate, magistrature, master, mastery, mistral, quartermaster, remaster magnus
• māior
• maximus magn-
• māior-
• maxim- big, great
• greater
• greatest magnanimity, magnanimous, magnate, magnificent, magnitude
• maestoso, majesty, major, majorate, majordomo, majoritarian, majority, majuscule, mayor, mayoral, mayoralty, semimajor, supermajority
• maxim, maximal, maximum malleus malle- hammer malleability, malleable, mallet malus
• peior
• pessimus mal-
• peior-
• pessim- bad
• worse
• worst dismal, grand mal, malady, malaise, malevolence, malevolent, malice, malicious, malignancy, malignant, nonmalignant, petit mal, premalignant
• impair, impairment, pejoration, pejorative
• pessimal mantum mant- dismantle, dismantlement, manta, mantel, mantelet, mantilla, mantle †mantellum mantell- manus manu- hand amanuensis, Bimana, bimanous, bimanual, mainour, maintain, manacle, manage, manageable, management, managerial, mandamus, mandate, maneuver, manicure, manifer, manifest, manifestation, manifesto, maniform, maniple, manipulation, manner, manual, manuary, manubrium, manuduction, manufacture, manumission, manumit, manus, manuscript, Quadrumana, quadrumanous †manicula manicul- mare mar- sea marinade, marinate, marine, mariner, maritime, submarine, ultramarine Mars marti- Mars martial, Martian māter mātr- mother immaterial, material, materiality, maternal, maternity, matricide, matriculant, matriculate, matrilocal, matrimonial, matrimony, matrix, matron, matter maturus matur- ripe immature, immaturity, maturant, maturate, maturation, mature, maturescent, maturity, premature maxilla maxill- jaw hemimaxilla, hemimaxillectomy, intermaxilla, maxillar, maxillary, maxillate, maxillectomy, maxilliferous, maxilliform, maxillula, premaxilla, septomaxilla, submaxilla, supermaxilla, supramaxilla, zygomaxillare medius medi- middle antemeridian, dimidiate, dimidiation, immediacy, immediate, intermediary, intermediate, intermedio, intermezzo, mean, media, medial, median, mediant, mediation, mediator, mediatrix, mediety, medieval, mediocre, mediocrity, medium, meridian, mezzanine, postmeridian mel mell- honey melliferous, mellific, mellifluence, mellifluent, mellifluous, melliloquent, mellivorous membrum membr- bimembral, dismember, dismemberment, member, membral, membrane, membranous, nonmember, semimembranous, transmembrane memor memor- mindful commemorate, commemoration, commemorative, immemorial, memoir, memorabilia, memorability, memorable, memorandum, memorial, memory, remember, remembrance, rememorate menda mend- blemish emend, emendation mendicus mendic- beggar mendicant, mendicate, mendication, mendicity mens ment- mind comment, commentary, dementia, mental, mentality merus mer- pure mere mēta met- goal mete miles milit- soldier militant, military, militate, militia mīlle mīll- thousand bimillennium, mile, mileage, miliarense, miliaresion, millefeuille, millefiori, millefleur, millennial, millennium, milli-, million, millionaire, millipede, milreis, multimillion, postmillennial, premillennial millēnī millēn- a thousand each bimillenary, millenarian, millenary, postmillenarian millēsimus millēsim- thousandth mil, millesimal mirus mir- admirability, admirable, admiration, admirative, admire, marvel, miracle, miraculous, mirage, Miranda, mirative, mirativity, mirror †miraculum miracul- miser
• miserior
• miserrimus miser- wretched commiserate, commiseration, miser, miserable, misericord, misery †misellus misell- missa miss- Mass missal, missificate mitis
• mitissimus mit- mitigant, mitigate, mitigation modus mod- accommodate, accommodation, accommodative, accommodator, bimodal, bimodality, commode, commodification, commodious, commodity, decommodification, demodulate, demodulation, demodulator, immodest, immodesty, intermodal, intermodulation, modal, modality, mode, model, modern, modernity, modest, modesty, modicum, modification, modify, modiolus, modular, modularity, modulate, modulation, modulator, module, modulo, modulus, multimodal, multimodality, postmodern, postmodernity, Quasimodo, remodel, remodulate, supermodel, trimodal, trimodality, ultramodern, unimodular, unimodularity †modulus modul- moles mol- mass bimolecular, demolition, mole, molecule mollis moll- soft emollient, mollient, mollify, mollitude, mollusc, molluscicide, molluscivore, mollusk mons mont- mountain cismontane, dismount, montage, montane, monticello, monticule, montiform, montigenous, mount, piedmont, submontane, surmount, tramontane, transmontane, ultramontane †monticellus monticell- †monticulus monticul- mora mor- delay demur, demure, demurrage, demurral, moratorium morbus morb- sickness morbid, morbidity mors mort- death immortal, immortality, mortal, mortality, mortician, rigor mortis mortuus mort- dead mortgage, mortuary, morgue, postmortem mōs mōr- custom immoral, immorality, moral, morale, morality, mores, morigerous, morose, morosity mucrō mucrōn- point mucro, mucronate, mucronation, mucronulate, mucronule mūcus mūc- mucic, muciferous, muciform, mucigel, mucilage, mucilaginous, mucivore, mucosa, mucous, muculent, submucosa mulier muli- woman muliebrity, mulierose multa, mulcta mult- penalty mulct multus
• plūs
• plūrimus mult-
• plūr-
• plūrim- many
• more
• most multiplex, multiplicity, multitude
• nonplus, plural, plurality, pluriform, plus, surplus
• plurimal mūlus mūl- mule mular mundus mund- world antemundane, demimondaine, demimonde, extramundane, intramundane, mondain, mondaine, mondial, mondo, mundane, mundanity, ultramundane mūrex mūric- murex, muricate, muriculate muria muri- brine muriate, muriatic murmur murmur- murmur, murmuration, murmurous †murmurillum murmurill- mūrus, moerus mūr- wall antemural, immuration, immure, immurement, intramural, murage, mural mūs mūr- mouse intermuscular, murine, muscular, muscularity, musculature †mūsculus mūscul- musca musc- fly Musca, muscarine, Muscicapa, Muscidae, musciform, mosquito mūscus mūsc- moss mustus must- new must mutilus mutil- mutilate, mutilation, mutilous mūtulus mūtul- modillion intermutule, modillion, mutular, mutule mūtus mūt- mute N–V Citation form Declining stem Meaning English derivatives nāpus nāp- turnip neep nāris nār- nostril internarial, nares, narial, prenarial nāsus nās- nose intranasal, nasal, nasalance, nasality, nonnasal nāvis nāv- ship antenave, naval, nave, navicular, navigable, navigate, navy, nonnavigable †nāvicella nāvicell- †nāvicula navicul- nebula nebul- cloud nebula, nebular, nebulizer, nebulous necesse^{[note 9]} necess- necessary, necessitarian, necessitate, necessitude, necessity, nonnecessity nemus nem- grove nemoral nemorose nemorous nepōs nepōt- nephew grandnephew, nephew, nepoticide, nepotism nervus nerv- innervate, nerval, nervate, nerve, nervose, nervosity, trinervate neuter neutr- neither neutral, neutrality, nonneutrality nīdor nīdor- nidor, nidorose nīdus nīd- nest denidation, niche, nidicolous, nidificate, nidification, nidifugous, nidulant, nidulate †nidulus nidul- niger nigr- black denigrate, denigration, denigrative, denigrator, negrita, nigrities, negrito, negritude, nigrescence, nigrescent, nigrine, nigritude nihil nihil- nothing annihilate, annihilation, annihilator, nihil, nil nodus nod- knot acnode, crunode, denouement, internodal, internode, nodal, node, nodose, nodosity, nodular, nodule, nodulose, tacnode †nodulus nodul- nomen nomin- name agnomen, agnominal, agnomination, binomen, binominal, denomination, denominational, denominative, denominator, ignominious, ignominy, interdenominational, multidenominational, multinominal, nominal, nomination, nominative, nominator, nominee, nondenominational, noun, postnominal, praenomen, prenominal, pronominal, pronoun, redenomination, renown, surnominal, trinomen, trinominal nonageni nonagen- ninety each nonagenarian, nonagenary nonagesimus nonagesim- ninetieth nonagesimal nōnus non- ninth nonary, None, noon norma norm- carpenter’s square abnormal, abnormality, denormal, enormity, enormous, nonnormal, nonnormative, norm, normal, normality, normative, seminorm, seminormal, subnormal noster nostr- our nostrum novem novem- nine November, novennial novemdecim novemdec- nineteen novemdecillion noveni noven- nine each Novena, novenary novus
• novior
• novissimus nov- new innovate, innovation, innovational, innovative, innovator, innovatory, nova, novation, novel, novella, novelty, novice, novitiate, renovatable, renovate, renovation, renovative, renovator, supernova †novellus novell- nox noct- night equinoctial, equinox, noctambulous, noctiluca, noctilucent, noctule, nocturn, nocturnal, nocturnality, nocturne, notturno, seminocturnal, trinoctial nūbēs nūb- cloud enubilate, enubilous, nuance, nubilose, nubilous, obnubilate nudus nud- naked denudation, denude, nonnude, nude, nudity, seminude, seminudity nugae nug- trifles nugacious, nugacity, nugation, nugatory nūmen nūmin- nod numen, numinous numerus numer- number denumerable, enumerable, enumerate, enumeration, enumerative, enumerator, equinumerant, equinumerous, innumerable, innumeracy, innumerate, innumerous, nonenumerative, numerable, numeracy, numeral, numerary, numerate, numeration, numerative, numerator, numerical, numero, numerosity, numerous, renumerate, supernumerary nux nuc- nut enucleate, enucleation, extranuclear, internuclear, intranuclear, nucament, nucellus, nucifer, nuciferine, nuciferous, nuciform, Nucifraga, nucivorous, nuclear, nucleate, nucleation, nucleus, nucleolar, nucleolate, nucleolus †nucula nucul- octāvus octav- eighth octaval, octave, octavo octō oct- eight octal, octangular, octavalent, octennial, October, octofid, octopartite, octuped, octuple, octuplet, octuplicate octōdecim octodecim- eighteen octodecillion, octodecimo octogeni octogen- eighty each octogenarian, octogenary octōgēsimus octogesim- eightieth octogesimal octōni octon- eight each octonary, octonion oculus ocul- eye binocular, circumocular, inoculation, intraocular, inveigle, ocular, oculus †ocellus ocell- odium odi- hatred annoy, ennui, odious, odium odor odor- deodorant, malodor, malodorous, odoriferous, odorous oleum ole- oil oleose, oleosity, oleum omen omin- abominable, abomination, omen, ominous omnis omn- all omnibenevolence, omniform, omnipotence, omnipresence, omniscience, omnivore onus oner- burden, load exonerate, exoneration, onerous, onus opacus opac- shady opacity, opaque ops op- copious, inopulent, opulence, opulent opus oper- work chef-d’oeuvre, cooperate, cooperation, cooperative, hors d’oeuvre, inoperable, interoperability, interoperable, inure, inurement, manoeuvre, oeuvre, opera, operability, operable, operand, operant, operate, operation, operational, operative, operator, operose, operosity, opus, opuscule, postoperative, preoperative †opusculum opuscul- orbis orb- ring deorbit, orb, orbicle, orbicular, orbiculate, orbit, orbital, postorbital, suborbital, superorbital †orbiculus orbicul- ordo ordin- order coordinal, coordinate, coordination, disorder, extraordinary, incoordinate, incoordination, infraorder, inordinate, inordination, insubordinate, insubordination, ordain, ordainment, order, ordinal, ordinance, ordinary, ordinate, ordination, ordinative, ordnance, ornery, parvorder, preordain, preorder, preordination, quasiorder, reordain, reorder, reordination, suborder, subordinate, subordination, superordain, superorder, superordinate, superordination os or- mouth adorable, adoral, adoration, adore, adosculation, exorable, inexorable, inosculate, inosculation, interosculate, intraoral, oral, oration, orator, oratorio, oratory, orifice, oscitate, oscitation, osculant, oscular, oscularity, osculate, osculation, osculator, osculatory, osculatrix, oscule, osculum †osculum oscul- os oss- bone exossation, interosseous, osseous, ossicle, ossicular, ossiferous, ossification, ossifrage, ossify, ossuary †ossiculum ossicul- ōscen ōscin- songbird oscine ostium osti- ostiary, ostiolar, ostiole, ostium †ostiolum ostiol- otium oti- leisure negotiable, negotiate, negotiation, nonnegotiable, otiose, otiosity, renegotiate, renegotiation ovis ov- sheep ovile, ovine †ovicula ovicul- ovum ov- egg oval, ovarian, ovary, ovicapsule, ovicidal, ovicide, oviduct, oviferous, oviform, oviposition, ovipositor, ovolo, ovular, ovulation, ovulatory, ovule, ovum, pluriovulate †ovulum ovul- pagus pag- pagan, paisano, peasant, peasantry pala pal- spade palette palatum palat- roof of the mouth impalatable, palatability, palatable, palatal, palate palla pall- covering, cloak circumpallial, pall, pallial, palliate, palliative, pallium pālus pāl- stake impale, impalement, pale, palisade, pole, travail pălus palūd- marsh paludose paluster palustr- palustral, palustrine panis pan- bread accompaniment, accompany, appanage, companion, company, empanada, impanate, pannier, pantry pannus pann- empanel, impanel, pane, panel, repanel, subpanel panus pan- panicle †panicula panicul- papaver papaver- poppy papaveraceous, papaverine papilio papilion- butterfly pavilion par par- equal comparative, comparator, disparage, disparagement, parity, disparity, impar, imparity, nonpareil, pair, par, parile, parity, peer, peerage, subpar, umpire parcus parc- parcity paries pariet- wall biparietal, parietal pars part-
-pert- piece apart, apartment, apportion, apportionment, bipartient, bipartisan, bipartite, bipartition, champerty, compart, compartition, compartment, compartmental, coparcenary, coparcener, counterpart, counterparty, depart, department, departmental, departure, dispart, disproportionate, equipartition, ex parte, impart, impartial, intraparty, jeopardous, jeopardy, multipartite, nonpartisan, parcel, parcenary, parcener, parse, partial, partiality, participate, participle, particle, particular, particularity, particulate, partisan, partita, partite, partition, partitive, partner, party, passel, portion, proportion, proportional, proportionality, purpart, purparty, quadripartite, reapportion, reapportionment, repartee, repartition, superparticular, tripartient, tripartite, unipartite †particella particell- †particula particul- parvus
• minor
• minimus parv-
• min-
• minim- small
• less
• least parvifoliate, parvity, parvovirus
• administer, administration, administrative, administrator, administratrix, maladminister, minister, ministerial, ministrant, ministrative, ministry, minor, minority, minstrel, minstrelsy, minus, minuscule, semiminor
• minim, minimal, minimum passer passer- sparrow passerine passus pass- compass, encompass, pace, passage, passant, passement, passementerie, passenger pater patr- father Jupiter, paternal, paternity, patrician, patrilineal, patrilocal, patrilocality, patrimonial, patrimony, patron, patronage, perpetrate, repatriation paucus pauc- few paucal, pauciloquent, paucity, poco pauper pauper- impoverish, impoverishment, pauperage, poor, poverty pausa paus-
pos- compose, composure, counterpose, counterproposal, disposable, disposal, dispose, disposure, exposal, expose, exposé, exposure, imposable, impose, imposure, interposal, interpose, multipurpose, opposable, opposal, oppose, posada, pose, poseur, poseuse, predispose, proposal, propose, purpose, reimpose, reposal, repose, repurpose, supposal, suppose, transposable, transposal, transpose pavo pavon- peacock pavone, pavonine pax pac- peace appease, appeasement, copayment, pacific, pacify, pay, payment, repay, repayment pectus pector- chest pectoral pecu pecu- impecunious, peculiar, pecuniary penna penn- feather pen, pennage, pennate, penniform, pennigerous, pennon perca perc- perch Perca, Percidae, perciform, percoid, Percoidea persona person- person impersonate, impersonation, impersonator, person, personable, personage, personal, personality, personification, subpersonality, transpersonal pēs ped- foot biped, bipedal, expedient, expedite, expedition, impeach, impeachment, impediment, inexpedient, oppidum, pawn, pedal, pedestal, pedestrian, pedicel, pedicle, pedicure, pediform, pedigerous, pedigree, peon, peonage, piedfort, piedmont, pioneer, quadruped, quadrupedal, tripedal †pediculus pedicul- pestis pest- pest pesticide, pestiferous, pestilence pila pil- ball pellet, pelota, peloton, pill †pilula pilul- pileus pile- cap Pilea, pileate, pileum, pileus pilus pil- hair depilation, depilatory, epilation, piliferous, piliform, pilose, pilosity pinna pinn- feather panache, pinnacle, pinnal, pinnate, pinniform, pinniped †pinnaculum pinnacul- pinus pin- pine, pineal pirus pir- pear piriform piscis pisc- fish pisces, pisciform, piscine, piscivore pius pi- dutiful piety, pious, pittance, pity pix pic- Picea, picene, piceous, pitch planca planc- plank planch planta plant- sole implant, implantable, implantation, plant, plantar, plantation, plantigrade, supplant, supplantation, transplant, transplantation planus plan- flat applanate, applanation, complanar, complanate, coplanar, coplanarity, esplanade, explain, explanation, explanatory, piano, pianoforte, plain, plaintext, planar, planary, planate, planation, plane platea plate- place displace, displacement, emplacement, piazza, placement, plaza, replace, replacement, transplace plēbs pleb- common people plebeian, plebiscite, plebs plenus plen- full plenary, plenipotent, plenipotentiary, plenish, plenishment, plenitude, plenitudinous, plenum plūma plūm- feather deplumation, deplume, displume, plumage, plume, plumose, plumosity, plumulaceous, plumular, plumule, plumulose, semiplume, superplume †plūmula plūmul- plumbum plumb- lead plumb, plumbaginous, plumbago, plumbeous, plummet, plunge, replumb pluvia pluvi- rain compluvium, displuviate, impluvium, plover, pluvial, pluviosity pōculum pōcul- cup poculent, poculiform †pōcillum pōcill- pollen pollin- polenta, pollen, pollinate, pollination, pollinator, polliniferous pollex pollic- thumb pollex, pollical, pollicate, prepollex pondus ponder- weight imponderable, ponder, ponderable, ponderance, ponderation, ponderosa, ponderosity, ponderous, pound, preponderance, preponderate pons pont- bridge pons, pontage, pontic, pontile, pontine, pontonier, pontoon, punt populus popul- depopulate, depopulation, people, populace, popular, popularity, populate, population, pueblo, repopulate, repopulation, subpopulation †popellus popell- pōpulus pōpul- poplar populetum, Populus porca, porcus porc- pig porcine, porcupine, pork porta port- gate anteporch, anteport, anteportico, porch, portal, portcullis, portico, portière †portula portul- portus port- importune, importunity, opportune, opportunity, port posterus
• posterior
• postremus poster-
• posterior-
• postrem- •
• posterity
• a posteriori, posterior, posteriority
• postremogeniture potis pot- compossible, idempotence, idempotent, impossible, impotence, impotency, impotent, nilpotence, nilpotent, posse, possible, potence, potency, potent, potentate, potential, potentiality, puissance, puissant, subpotency, superpotency, superpotential, unipotent prandium prandi- lunch prandial, preprandial pravus prav- crooked depravity pretium preti- price appreciate, appreciation, depreciation, precious prex prec- prayer preces prior
• prīmus prior-
• prīm- former
• first a priori, prior, priority, priory, subprior
• prima facie, primacy, primal, primary, primate, prime, primer, primine, primitive, primogeniture, primordial, primrose, Primula, subprimal, subprime privus priv- own privacy, private, privy probrum probr- opprobrium probus prob- approbation, approval, approve, improbability, improbable, probability, probable, proband, probate, probation, probationary, probative, probity, reprobate, reproval prope
• propior
• proximus prop-
• propior-
• proxim- near, nigh
• nearer
• nearest propinquity, propitiation, propitiatory, propitious
• approach, rapprochement, reproach
• proximal, proximate, proximity proprius propri- proper appropriate, appropriation, impropriety, inappropriate, propriety prunus prun- plum prune publicus public- public, publican, publication, publicity puer puer- boy puerile, puerility, puerperant pulcher pulchr- beautiful pulchritude, pulchritudinous pullus pull- poultry, pullet, pullorum, pullulate, pullulation, repullulate, repullulation †pullulus pullul- pulmo pulmon- lung extrapulmonary, intrapulmonary, pulmonary pulvinus pulvin- cushion, pillow pulvilli, pulvinar, pulvinated, pulvinus pulvis pulver- dust, powder pulverize, pulverulence, pulverulent pumex pumic- pumice stone pumicate, pumice, pumiceous, pumiciform, pumicite pupa pup- doll pupae, pupal, puparium, pupation, pupil purus pur- pure depurate, depuration, impure, impurity, pure, purification, purity pus pur- pus purulence, purulent quadrageni quadragen- forty each quadragenarian, quadragenary quadrāgēsimus quadrāgēsim- fortieth Quadragesima, quadragesimal quadrāgintā quadrāgint- forty quarantine quadrini quadrin- four each carillon, carillonneur, quadrin quadrum, quadrus quadr- square biquadrate, biquadratic, cadre, conquadrate, escadrille, intrasquad, quadrance, quadrate, quadratic, quadratrix, quadrature, quadrel, quadric, quadrille, quarry, squad, squadron, squarable, square, subsquadron †quadrellus quadrell- quartus quart- fourth inquartation, interquartile, quadroon, quart, quartal, quartan, quartary, quarter, quartet, quartic, quartile, quartine, quarto, semiquartile quaternī quatern- four each biquaternion, quatern, quaternary, quaternate, quaternion, quaternity, quire quattuor quadr- four quadrangle, quadrennial, quadriceps, quadrifarious, quadrifid, quadrifolium, quadrifrons, quadrilateral, quadrilingual, quadriliteral, quadrillion, quadrinational, quadrinodal, quadrinomial, quadrinominal, quadripara, quadrireme, quadrisection, quadrivalent, quadrivium, quadruped, quadruple, quadruplet, quadruplex, quadruplicate, quatrain, quatre, quatrefoil quattuordecim quattuordecim- fourteen quatorzain, quatorze, quattuordecillion quiēs quiēt- rest acquiesce, acquiescence, acquiescent, acquit, acquittal, acquittance, inquietude, quiescence, quiescent, quiet, quietude, quietus, quit, requiem, requiescat, requital, requite, requitement quīndecim quīndecim- fifteen quindecennial, quindecillion, quindecimal, quindecimvir, quinzaine, quinze quindēni quindēn- fifteen each quindenary quingēnī, quingentēnī quingēn- five hundred each quingenary quīnī quīn- five each biquinary, quinarius, quinary, quinate quinquageni quinquagen- fifty each quinquagenarian, quinquagenary quintus quint- fifth biquintile, quint, quinta, quintal, quintan, quintant, quinte, quintessence, quintessential, quintic, quintile, quintipara, quintus, semiquintile radius radi- ray, spoke biradial, circumradius, interradial, irradiance, irradiate, irradiation, multiradial, nonradiative, nonradioactive, radial, radian, radiance, radiant, radiation, radiator, radio, radioactive, radioactivity, radius, raion, ray, semiradial, transradial rādīx rādīc- root biradical, deracinate, deracination, eradicable, eradicate, radical, radicand, radicant, radicate, radicel, radicle, radicular, radicule, radiculose, radish, ultraradical †radicula radicul- rāmus rām- branch biramous, ramada, ramage, ramal, ramate, ramification, ramiform, ramon, ramose, ramosity, ramulose, ramulus, ramus, ramuscule, uniramous †rāmulus rāmul- rāna rān- frog ranula, ranunculaceous, ranunculus †rānula rānul- †rānunculus rānuncul- rāpa, rāpum rāp- turnip rape, ravioli †rāpulum rāpul- remus rem- oar bireme, quadrireme, quinquereme, remex, remiform, remiges, remigial, remiped, sexireme, trireme rēn ren- kidney adrenal, renal, reniform res re- thing irrealis, real, reality, surreal rete ret- net reticle, reticular, reticulate, reticulation, reticule, retiform, retina †reticulum reticul- rēx rēg- king interregnum, regal, regalia, regality, regency, regent, regicide, regious, reguline, reign, royal, viceroy †regulus regul- ripa rip- bank arrival, arrive, arrivé, riparian, river, riverine, riviera, transriverine ritus rit- rite ritual rivus riv- brook corrival, corrivation, derivation, derivative, derive, nonrivalrous, rival, rivality, rivalrous, rivalry, rivose, rivulet, Rivulus †rivulus rivul- rōbor rōbor- oak corroborant, corroborate, corroboration, corroborative, corroborator, robust rōs rōr- dew irrorate, irroration rosa ros- rose primrose, rosacea, rosaceous, rosarian, rosarium, rosary, rosé, roseola, rosette, rosulate, sub rosa †rosula rosul- rōstrum rōstr- beak, prow brevirostrate, curvirostral, lamellirostral, rostellate, rostelliform, rostellum, rostral, rostrate, rostriform, rostrulum, rostrum †rostellum rostell- †rostrulum rostrul- rota rot- wheel circumrotation, contrarotation, rondeau, rondel, rondo, rotary, rotation, rotational, rotelle, rotifer, Rotifera, rotiferous, rotiform, rotula, rotund, rotunda, rotundifolious, rotundity, roulette, round, roundel, rowel †rotella rotell- †rotula rotul- ruber rubr- red erubescence, erubescent, rubella, Rubio, rubious, rubric, rubricate, rubrication, rubricator, ruby †rubellus rubell- rūdis rūd- rude erudiate, erudite, erudition, rudiment, rudimentary, rudity rūdus rūder- rubbish ruderal rūfus rūf- red rufescence, rufescent, rufous ruga rug- wrinkle arroyo, corrugant, corrugate, corrugation, erugate, rugose rūmen rūmin- throat rumen, rumenic, ruminal, ruminant, ruminate, rumination, ruminator rūpēs rūp- crag, rock rupestrine, rupicolous rūs rūr- countryside, farm nonrural, roister, roisterous, rural, rustic, rusticate, rustication, rusticity sacer sacr-
-secr- sacred consecrate, consecration, deconsecration, desecration, desecrator, execrable, execrate, execration, inexecrable, obsecrate, reconsecrate, sacrament, sacrifice, sacrificial, sacrilege, sacrilegious, sacristy, sacrosanct, saint, sanctimony, sanction, Sanctus, Tersanctus saeculum saecul- nonsecular, secular, secularity saepēs saep- hedge septal, septarium, septate, septiform, septifragal, septulate, septulum, septum, transept, transeptal, uniseptate saeta, sēta saet- bristle searce, seta, setaceous, setal, setaria, setiferous, setiform, setigerous, setireme, setose †saetula saetul- sagina sagin- fatten saginate, sagination sal sal- salt desalinate, desalination, salami, salary, saline, salinity, salsa, sauce, saucisson, sausage sanguis sanguin- blood consanguineous, sangfrois, sanguinaceous, sanguinary, sanguine sanus san- sound insane, insanity, sanatorium, sane, sanity saxum sax- rock saxatile, saxicavous, saxicoline, saxifrage, saxifragous sēdecim sēdecim- sixteen sedecimal sēdēnī sēdēn- sixteen each sedenion semen semin- seed disseminate, dissemination, disseminative, disseminator, disseminule, inseminate, insemination, semen, seminal, seminar, seminarian, seminary, seminiferous, seminific, seminivorous, seminose semis semi- half semiannual, semicolon, semiconductor, semiconscious, seminatural senex sen- old man senate, senator, senile, senility, senior, seniority seni sen- six each senary septem sept- seven septangular, September, septemfid, septemfluous, septemvir, septennial, septifarious, septilateral, septinsular, septireme, septivalent, septuple, septuplet, septuplicate septeni septen- seven each septenary septimus septim- seventh septimal, septime sex sex- six semester, sexangle, sexangular, sexavalent, sexennial, sexennium, sexireme, sexivalent, sexpartite, sexradiate, sextain, sextuple, sextuplet sexageni sexagen- sixty each sexagenarian, sexagenary sexagesimus sexagesim- sixtieth sexagesimal sextus sext- sixth bissextile, bissextus, semisextile, sestet, sestina, Sext, sextain, sextan, sextans, sextant, sextary, sextic, sextile, sextillion, siesta, sixte †sextula sextul- sibilus sibil- hiss assibilate, assibilation, persiflage, sibilance, sibilant, sibilate, sibilation, sibilous siccus
• siccior sicc- dry demi-sec, desiccant, desiccation, exsiccant, exsiccate, exsiccation, exsiccator, exsiccatum, sec, siccant, siccation, siccative, siccific sidus sider- constellation consider, considerable, considerate, consideration, desiderate, desideration, desiderative, desideratum, desideria, desirability, desirable, desire, Desiree, inconsiderable, inconsiderate, inconsideration, reconsider, reconsideration, sidereal signum sign- mark, sign adsignify, assign, assignable, assignat, assignation, assignee, assignment, consign, consignable, consignation, consignee, consignment, cosign, cosignatory, countersign, countersignal, countersignature, design, designate, designation, designative, designator, designatory, designee, ensign, insignia, insignificance, insignificant, nonsignatory, re-sign, reassign, reassignment, redesign, redesignate, redesignation, reseal, resealable, resign, resignation, sain, seal, sealable, sealant, sigil, sigillary, sigillate, sigla, sign, signaculum, signage, signal, signalment, signate, signation, signatory, signature, signee, signet, significance, significant, signification, significative, significavit, signum †sigillum sigill- silva silv- forest sylvan, silviculture similis simil- like assimilate, assimilation, similar, similarity, simile, similitude, verisimilitude sincerus sincer- insincere, insincerity, sincere, sincerity singulus singul- one each single, singularity, singulation, singulative sinister sinistr- left sinister, sinistral sinus sinu- curve insinuation, sine, sinus, sinuose, sinuosity, sinuous soccus socc- slipper sock †socculus soccul- socius, socia soci- associate, association, associative, consociate, consociation, consociational, disassociate, disassociation, dissociable, dissocial, dissociate, dissociation, dissociative, interassociation, nonassociative, sociability, sociable, social, sociality, sociative, societal, society sol sol- sun circumsolar, extrasolar, insolate, insolation, solar, solarium, soliform, soliscence, solstice, subsolar solidus solid- nonsolid, quasisolid, semisolid, sol, solder, soldier, soldiery, soldo, solid, solidarity, solidary, solidification, solidity, solidus, sou solium soli- seat soil, soilure, subsoil solum, solea sol- bottom aridisol, entresol, inceptisol, insole, sole, soleus, solifluxion, solum solus sol- alone, only desolate, desolation, desolatory, saudade, sole, soliloquy, solitaire, solitary, solitude, solitudinarian, solitudinous, solivagous, solo, sullen somnium somni- dream somnial somnus somn- sleep insomnia, somnifacient, somniferous, somnific, somniloquy, somnolent sonus son- sound absonant, ambisonic, assonance, assonant, assonate, consonance, consonant, consonous, dissonance, dissonant, inconsonance, inconsonant, infrasonic, infrasound, resonance, resonant, resonate, resound, sonance, sonant, sonnet, sonorant, sonority, soun, sound, subsonic, supersonic, triconsonantal, ultrasonic, ultrasound, unison, unisonal, unisonant, unisonous sopor sopor- deep sleep sopor, soporific soror soror- sister cousin, sororal, sororate, sororicide, sorority sors sort- lot consort, consortial, consortium, sort, sortition, subsort †sorticula sorticul- spatium spati- space interspace, interspatial, space, spatial, spatiate, subspace spēs spēr- hope despair, desperado, desperate, desperation, esperance, prosper, prosperity, prosperous spica spic- ear of grain spica, spicate, spicose, spicosity, spicular, spiculate, spicule, spiculiform †spiculum spicul- spina spin- thorn infraspinate, infraspinatus, interspinal, spinal, spine, spinel, spinescent, spiniferous, spiniform, spinose, spinous spūma spūm- foam despumate, despumation, spoom, spumante, spume squāma squām- scale desquamate, desquamation, desquamative, squamate, Squamella, squamiform, squamosal, squamose, squamous, squamule, squamulose, subsquamosal, supersquamosal †squāmula squāmul- squarrōsus squarrōs- squarrose, squarrulose squātina squātin- angel shark Squatina stagnum stagn- restagnant, restagnate, restagnation, stagnancy, stagnant, stagnate, stagnation stella^{[note 10]} stell- star circumstellar, constellation, interstellar, quasistellar, stellar, stellate, stellation, stelliferous, stelliform, stellula, stellular, substellar sterilis steril- nonsterile, sterilant, sterile, sterility stilus^{[note 11]} stil- stiletto, stiliform, style, stylet, stylus stimulus stimul- costimulation, costimulatory, stimulate, stimulation, stimulative, stimulator, stimulus stipes stipit- etiolate, etiolation, exstipulate, instipulate, stipe, stipel, stipellate, stipes, stipitate, stipitiform, stipular, stipule, stubble †stipella stipell- †stipula stipul- stips stip- stipend stiria stiri- drop distill, distilland, distillate, distillation, distillery, stillatitious, stillatory †stilla still- stirps stirp- extirpate, extirpation strēnuus strenu- strenuity, strenuous stria stri- furrow extrastriate, striate, striation, striatum, striature strix strig- owl strigine, Strix stuppa stupp- tow stupeous, stupose stuprum stupr- constuprate, constupration suavis suav- sweet assuage, assuagement, suave, suaviloquent, suaviloquy, suavity sucus
succus succ- juice exsuccous, succulence, succulent sulcus sulc- furrow bisulcate, bisulcous, sulcal, sulcate, sulcation, sulciform, sulcus, trisulcate superus
• superior
• supremus, summus super-
• superior-
• suprem-, sum- over
• higher
• highest insuperable, superable
• superior, superiority
• consummate, sum, summa, summation, summit, summitry, summity, supreme, supremity, supremum supīnus supin- resupinate, resupination, resupine, supinate, supination, supinator, supine, supinity sūra sur- calf sural surdus surd- deaf absurd, absurdity, surd sūrus sur- branch surculate, surculose †sūrculus surcul- sūs su- sow suid, Suidae susurrus susurr- whisper susurrant, susurrate, susurration, susurrous taberna tabern- tabernacle, tabernacular, tavern tabernaculum tabernacul- tabes tab- tabefaction, tabes, tabescence, tabescent, tabid tabula tabul- board tabellion, table, tablet, tabular, tabulate, tabulation, tabulator †tabella tabell- taedium taedi- tediosity, tedium tardus tard- slow retard, retardation, tardy templum templ- temple templar, template tempus tempor- time contemporaneous, contemporary, extemporaneous, tempest, tempo, temporal, temporaneous, temporary tenuis tenu- thin attenuant, attenuate, attenuation, attenuator, extenuate, extenuation, tenuate, tenuifolious, tenuis, tenuity, tenuous terminus termin- boundary coterminous, determinable, determinant, determinate, determination, determinative, determinator, determine, exterminate, extermination, indeterminable, indeterminate, interminable, terminal, terminate, termination, terminative, terminator terni tern- three each tern, ternary, ternate, ternion terra terr- dry land, earth atterration, circumterrestrial, disinter, disinterment, extraterrestrial, extraterritorial, extraterritoriality, inter, interment, parterre, reinter, reinterment, souterrain, subterrane, subterranean, terrace, terracotta, terrain, terran, terrane, terraqueous, terrarium, terrene, terreplein, terrestrial, terricolous, terrier, terrigenous, territorial, territoriality, territory, terroir, tureen tertius terti- third sesquitertian, sesterce, subtertian, Terce, tercet, tercine, tertial, tertian, tertiary, tertiate, tierce testis test- witness attest, attestable, attestation, attestator, contest, contestable, contestant, contestation, counter-protest, detest, detestable, detestation, incontestability, incontestable, intestable, intestacy, intestate, obtest, obtestation, protest, Protestant, protestation, protestator, testacy, testament, testamentary, testamur, testate, testation, testator, testatrix, testicle, testicond, testicular, testiculate, testimonial, testimonium, testimony titulus titul- title disentitle, disentitlement, entitle, entitlement, intertitle, nontitle, retitle, subtitle, tilde, titular, titulary, titulus tōtus tōt- all, whole factotum, subtotal, total, totality, totipotent trēs tri- three trammel, trellis, trey, triangle, triceps, triennial, trillion, triolet, triple, triplet, triplicate, triquetra, triquetrous, triradiate, trireme, triumvirate, trivia tribus trib- attributable, attribute, attribution, attributive, contribute, contribution, contributive, contributor, contributory, deattribute, deattribution, distributable, distributary, distribute, distribution, distributive, distributor, equidistribution, intertribal, nondistributive, redistribute, redistribution, retribute, retribution, retributive, subtribe, tribal, tribe, tribunal, tribune, tributary, tribute tricae tric- tricks extricable, extricate, extrication, inextricable, intricacy, intricate, intrigant, intrigue, treacherous, treachery, trickery trīgēsimus trīgēsim- thirtieth trigesimal trīnī trīn- three each nontrinitarian, trinal, trinary, trine, Trinidad, Trinitarian, trinity tubus tub- tube intubate, intubation, tubal, tubate, tube, tubicolous, tubicorn, tubiform, tubular, tubulate, tubule †tubulus tubul- turba turb- disturb, disturbance, nonperturbative, perturb, perturbance, perturbation, perturbative, trouble, troublous, turbid, turbidity, turbinate, turbine, turbulence, turbulent †turbula turbul- tussis tuss- cough pertussis, tussive ūber ūber- udder exuberance, exuberant, exuberate, uberous, uberty ulcus ulcer- sore nonulcerous, ulcer, ulcerate, ulceration, ulcerative, ulcerous †ulcusculum ulcuscul- ulmus ulm- elm Ulmaceae, ulmaceous, ulmic, Ulmus ulter
• ulterior
• ultimus ultr-
• ulterior-
• ultim- –
• farther
• farmost, farthest –
• ulterior, ulteriority
• penultimate, ultima, ultimate, ultimatum, ultimogeniture umbra umbr- shade, shadow adumbrate, adumbration, inumbrate, penumbra, umbrage, umbrageous, umbrella †umbella unbell- uncia unci- twelfth inch, ounce, quincuncial, uncial uncus unc- hook unciform, Uncinaria, uncinate, Uncinia unda und- wave abound, abundance, abundant, inundate, redound, redundancy, redundant, superabound, superabundance, superabundant, surround, undulant, undulate, undulation, undulatory, undulose undecim undecim- eleven undecimarticulate undeni unden- eleven each undenary unguis ungu- claw, hoof ungual, unguiferous, unguiform, ungular, ungulate †ungula ungul- ūnus ūn- one adunation, biunique, coadunate, coadunation, disunite, disunity, malunion, nonuniform, nonuniformity, nonunion, nonunique, nonunity, onion, reunification, reunion, reunite, triune, unanimity, unanimous, unary, unate, unicorn, unific, unification, uniform, uniformity, union, unique, unite, unity †ūllus^{[note 12]} ūll- urbs urb- city conurbation, interurban, suburb, suburban, urban, urbane ursus urs- bear ursine, Ursus uterus uter- womb extrauterine, transuterine, uterine, uterus †uterculus utercul- ūva uv- grape uvea, uveal, uvula, uvular †ūvula uvul- uxor uxōr- wife uxorial, uxoricide, uxorilocal, uxorious vacca vacc- cow vaccary, vaccination, vaccine, vaquero vacuus vacu- empty avoid, avoidable, avoidance, devoid, evacuate, evacuee, vacant, , vacate, vacation, vacuole, vacuous, vacuum, void, voidable, voidance vadum vad- ford vadose vāgīna vāgīn- sheath extravaginal, invaginate, invagination, transvaginal, vagina, vaginal, vanilla vagus vag- wandering astray, evagation, extravagance, extravagant, extravaganza, extravagate, stray, vagabond, vagary, vagile, vagrant, vague, vagus valgus valg- bow-legged valgus valles
vallis val- valley valley, vale, valles, vallis vallum vall- rampart circumvallate, circumvallation, contravallation, interval, multivallate, vallar, vallate, vallation, vallum valva valv- bivalve, valvate, valve vanus van- empty, vain evanesce, evanescence, evanescent, evanish, vaniloquence, vain, vanish, vanitas, vanity, vaunt varius vari- varying bivariate, contravariance, contravariant, countervair, covariance, covariant, covariate, covariation, intervarietal, invariable, invariance, invariant, miniver, multivariable, multivariate, subvariety, univariate, vair, vairy, variability, variable, variance, variant, variate, variation, variational, variegate, variegation, variegator, varietal, variety, variform, variola, variolation, variorum, various, vary vās vās- vessel extravasate, extravasation, extravascular, intravasate, intravasation, intravascular, vas, vasal, vascular, vasculature, vasculose, vasculum, vase, vasiform, vasoconstriction †vāscellum vāscell- †vāsculum vāscul- vassus vass- servant valet, varlet, vassal, vassalage †vassallus vassall- vastus vast- empty devastate, devastation, vast, vastitude, vastity, wastage, waste vellus veller- fleece vellum, vellus velox
• velocior
• velocissimus veloc- quick, swift velocipede, velociraptor, velocity vēlum vēl- sail, veil reveal, revelation, revelator, revelatory, velamen, velar, velate, veliger, velum, vexil, vexillary, vexillatio, vexillum, voile †vēxillum vēxill- flag vēna vēn- vein devein, intravenous, vein, veinlet, venae cavae, venation, venational, venesection, venipuncture, venisection, venose, venosity, venous, venular, venule, venulose †venula venul- venēnum venēn- envenomation, venenation, venenose, venom, venomous venter ventr- belly eventration, interventricular, subventricular, supraventricular, ventral, ventricle, ventricular, ventriloquy ventus vent- wind ventage, ventail, ventilate, ventilation, ventilator, ventilatory, ventose, ventosity †ventulus ventul- venum ven- venal, venality, vend venus vener- desire venerable, venereal vērātrum vērātr- hellebore veratridine, veratrine, Veratrum verbum verb- word adverb, adverbial, proverb, proverbial, verbal, verbatim, verbiage, verbicide, verbid, verbose, verbosity vermis verm- worm vermeil, vermian, vermicelli, vermicide, vermicular, vermiculate, vermiculation, vermicule, vermiculite, vermiculose, vermiculture, vermiform, vermifuge, vermilion, vermin, verminate, vermination, verminous, vermiparous, vermivore, vermivorous †vermiculus vermicul- vernus vern- spring vernal vērus ver- true veracious, veracity, verify, verisimilitude, veritable, verity, vespa vesp- wasp vespacide vesper vesper- evening vespertine vestigium vestig- trace, track investigate, vestige, vestigial vestis vest- clothing circumvest, disinvest, disinvestment, divest, divestiture, divestment, invest, investiture, investment, reinvest, reinvestment, revest, revet, revetment, transvestite, travesty, vest, vestment, vesture vetus veter- old inveteracy, inveterate, inveteration, veteran, veterovata via vi- way bivial, bivious, bivium, convey, conveyance, convoy, deviance, deviant, deviate, deviation, devious, envoy, impervious, invoice, nontrivial, obviate, obviation, obvious, pervious, previous, quadrivial, quadrivium, semipervious, trivial, triviality, trivium, via, viaduct, vialis, viary, viatical, viaticum, viator, voyage, voyageur viceni vicen-, vigen- twenty each vicenarian, vicenary vīcēsimus vīcēsim- twentieth vicesimary, vicesimate, vicesimation, vigesimal vicis vic- change subvicar, vicar, vicarage, vicarial, vicariance, vicariant, vicariate, vicarious, viceroy, vicissitude, vicissitudinous, viscount, viscountess vicus vic- vicinage, vicinal, vicine, vicinity vīgēsimus vīgēsim- twentieth septemvigesimal, vigesimal vīgintī vīgint- twenty vigintillion, vigintisexviri, vigintivirate, vigintiviri vīlis
• vilior
• vilissimus vīl- cheap, vile revile, revilement, vile, vilification, vilify, vilipend vīlla vīll- country house demivill, intervillage, supervillain, supervillainess, vill, villa, village, villain, villainess, villainous, villainy, villanelle, villatic, ville, villein, villeinage †vīllula vīllul- villus vill- shaggy hair intervillous, velour, velvet, villiform, villose, villosity, villous, villus vindex vindic- avenge, revanche, revenge, vendetta, vengeance, vindicable, vindicate, vindication, vindicator, vindicatory, vindictive vinum vin- wine vignette, vine, viniculture, vinosity vir vir- man (masculine) quadrumvirate, triumvirate, virago, virile, virility, virtue virga virg- rod, twig virga, virgate, virgule vīrus viru- poison virulent, virus viscus viscer- internal organ eviscerate, visceral, viscus vita vit- life revitalize, viable, vital, vitality, vitamin vitium viti- vice, vicious, vitiate vitrum vitr- glass vitreous, vitriol viverra viverr- ferret viverrid, viverrine vola vol- palm volar vox vōc- voice advocacy, advocate, advowson, avocate, avocation, avoke, avouch, avouchment, avow, avowal, avowance, avowant, avowry, convocation, convoke, devoice, disavouch, disavow, disavowal, disavowance, equivocal, equivocation, equivocator, invocation, irrevocable, nonvocal, prevocalic, provocation, revocable, revocation, revoice, revoke, sub voce, univocal, univocalic, univocity, vocable, vocabulary, vocal, vocalic, vocality, vocation, vocational, vocative, vociferant, vociferous, voice, voiceprint, vouch, voucher, vouchment, vouchsafe, vowel †vōcula vōcul- vulgus vulg- crowd divulge, vulgar, vulgarity, vulgate vulnus vulner- wound invulnerability, invulnerable, vulnerability, vulnerable, vulnerary, vulnerose vulpēs vulp- fox vulpecular, vulpicide, vulpine †vulpēcula vulpēcul- vultur vultur- vulture vulture, vulturine, vulturous Citation form Declining stem Meaning English derivatives

Latin prepositions and other words Word Meaning Prefixes Ref. ā, ab away from ab-, a-, abs-, as- ^[2] ad to, toward ad-, a-, ac-, af-, ag-, al-, ap-, ar-, at- ambo both ambi-, am-, amb- ante before ante-, anti- bis twice bi-, bis- circum around circum- cis this side of cis- contrā against, opposite to contra-, contro- cum together, with con-, co-, col-, com-, cor- dē down from de- dexter right, to the right hand dextro- dis-, un- apart dis-, di-, dif-, dir- ex, ē from, out of ex-, e-, ef- extrā outside extra-, extro- in in, into in-, il-, im-, ir- īnfrā below infra- inter among, between inter-, intel- intrā within intra-, intro- iuxtā beside juxta- multus much, many multi- ne no ne-, neg- non-, un- not non- ob, obs toward, against, in the way of, by reason of ob-, o-, oc-, of-, og-, op-, os- paene almost, nearly pen- per thorough, through per-, pel- post after, behind post- prae before pre- praeter by, past preter- prō for, forth, in front of pro-, pol-, por-, prod- re- again, back re-, red- retro backwards retro- sē apart, without se-, sed- sinister left, to the left hand sinistr- sub from below, under sub-, su-, suc-, suf-, sug-, sum-, sup-, sur-, sus- subter beneath subter- super above, over super- suprā above, more than supra- trāns across trans-, tra-, tran- ^[3] ultrā beyond ultra- ^[4][5] ve- out ve-

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The English language contains over one million words, most of which the average speaker will never even know. Stacker identified the 50 most important Latin roots to help English speakers better comprehend the extensive English lexicon.

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Anyone who has ever studied a stack of GRE vocabulary words or invested in a word-a-day calendar to try to expand their lexicon can attest to the fact that the English language is incredibly expansive. Data has shown that the average adult knows somewhere around 40,000 words in total, and that includes active (i.e., regularly used) and passive (i.e., familiar, but not utilized) vocabulary. Put that number up against the more than one million total words in the English language, and it becomes clear that the percentage of terms in English speakers’ everyday rotation is only a small fraction of the English language as a whole.

Looking at the sheer volume of the English vocabulary, one thing that helps make sense of the words is the notable patterns that emerge in light of its etymological roots; particularly, its Latin roots. Though Latin itself has often been referred to as a dead language, it is very much alive in the 80% of English terms that are borrowed directly from the ancient language and the over 60% of English words that have roots in Latin and Greek. In the same way that a new reader may try to sound out a word phonetically, looking at English through the lens of Latin etymology allows us to obtain a new grasp on the language, such that we can more actively deduce the meanings of unfamiliar words. This is the secret behind amazing spellers at the Bee!

To identify key linguistic elements from Latin that appear throughout the English language today, Stacker sorted through educational resources and online databases and compiled a list of 50 important Latin roots that shape the English language as we know it. Read on to get a better understanding of how some of the words you use regularly—and a few perhaps you’ve never seen before—all share a common foundation in Latin.

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Ann

– Meaning in English: Yearly

The Latin root “ann”—which means “yearly”—can be found in countless words that reference events and occurrences that happen on a yearly basis. For example, an anniversary celebration marks the passing of another year of a relationship, a business, or a birthday. Then there are yearly events that are characterized as annual, such as award ceremonies (e.g., the Academy Awards), sporting events (e.g., Super Bowl), and holidays (e.g., Halloween).

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Aqu

– Meaning in English: Water, sea

Whether it’s being used in reference to a color such as aqua, a blueish-green hue, or to describe sea life, i.e., aquatic, the Latin root “aqu” is familiar in its relationship to water and large bodies of water. The mainstream familiarity of the Latin root was on full display in the 2006 coming-of-age film “Aquamarine,” where the titular character is a mermaid washed ashore.

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Audi

– Meaning in English: Hearing, listening, sound

Those who prefer the convenience of listening to their books rather than reading them may recognize this Latin root from the name of Audible, Amazon’s audiobook and entertainment platform. The root also makes an appearance in the English terms audience, as in a group of people gathered together to listen to or receive a performance, and auditorium, the room in which said audience sits to listen.

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Bene

– Meaning in English: Good

Derived from a Latin term meaning “well,” bene is most commonly used as a prefix in the English language. The word benign means harmless or favorable, and in pathology is used to describe a condition that is not life-threatening. A benefit is something that is considered favorable or advantageous, and the term can also be used to describe a charitable event. A benefactor gives help to a person or a cause. Perhaps the most famous example of a benefactor is Miss Havisham from “Great Expectations” by Charles Dickens.

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Bi

– Meaning in English: Two

The Latin prefix “bi” means two, as does the closely related, Greek-derived prefix “di.” A bifurcation describes the act of something splitting off into two distinct branches. In anatomy, the bicep is a muscle of the arm that runs between the shoulder and the elbow, so-named because it splits off into two branches where the muscle connects at the scapula. The word bicep translates to “two-headed muscle of the arm.”

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Bibl

– Meaning in English: Book

The Latin root “bibl” may sooner remind college students of having to create bibliographies—detailed lists of the books and sources referenced in academic work—than anything else. However, the root’s connection to the English language has a far deeper history: “bibl” is also the root for the name of the Bible, the collection of Judeo-Christian texts and scripture.

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Cent

– Meaning in English: Hundred

The term “cent” likely conjures up thoughts of money—i.e., dollars and cents—before anything else, but that ties back perfectly to the Latin root from which the term comes. One cent is 1/100th of a dollar. Pennies aside, the Latin root also makes an appearance in terms like “century” and “centennial,” which pertain to 100-year timespans and a hundredth anniversary, respectively.

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Circum

– Meaning in English: Around

The Latin root “circum”—meaning “around”—appears in terms like “circumnavigate,” which is the act of traveling all the way around something. Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan is remembered for successfully circumnavigating the globe in the early 16th century. This root also appears in terms like “circumvent,” which describes the act of getting around a problem, and “circumstance,” which pairs this root with another Latin root—“stance,” meaning “stand”—to reference a situation that focuses on a core cause.

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Civ

– Meaning in English: Citizen

“Civility” is characterized by respect towards others, and “civics,” which refers to the infrastructure in place that is intended to facilitate civility, are both rooted in the Latin “civ,” meaning “citizen.” The root also makes an appearance in the name of the Honda Civic, a car that––as the brand puts it––is meant to improve the lives of citizens.

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Clar

– Meaning in English: Clear

The term “clarity”—which comes from the Latin root “clar,” meaning “clear”—is the property of being both pure and clean, as well as being lucid and coherent. The root has seen a variety of modern uses alluding to its Latin translation, including the brand Clarisonic, a beauty company that develops products meant to provide clearer-looking skin, and Claritin, an allergy medication that promises clarity and relief from chronic allergies.

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Cred

– Meaning in English: Believe

Credibility is the characteristic of being believable, and it’s a term that comes from the Latin root “cred,” meaning “believe.” While the term may appear in the case of legal proceedings—e.g., a court case requires credible witnesses—it also ties into the idea of credit and credit cards. Since credit cards work by allowing users to acquire items before paying for them in full, they operate on a system of trust and good faith—belief, essentially—that payments will be made in full at a later time.

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Dict

– Meaning in English: Say/speak

The Latin root “dict” appears in words like dictate, meaning to read something aloud; dictation, the act of speaking aloud with the intention of having your words recorded or transcribed; and predict, the act of stating something that will happen before it actually happens. Of all the instances in which “dict” appears in the English language, though, one of the most important may be the dictionary, which offers a comprehensive guide to all of the officially-recognized words in the English language. Some of the most respected and trusted dictionaries in the U.S. include the Oxford English Dictionary, Collins English Dictionary, and Merriam-Webster.

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Ex

– Meaning in English: Out

The Latin root “ex” means “out,” while related roots, including “exter” and “extrem,” offer additional variations of the same translation. The word extreme, for example, may refer to something that falls out of a normal expected range, as was the case with weather extremities, including record rainfall and high/low daily temperatures across the U.S. in 2019, which broke more than 120,000 records across the country.

Canva

Fract

– Meaning in English: Break

The Latin “fract” is closely related to fellow Latin roots “frang,” “fring,” and “frag,” all of which mean “break.” A few of its familiar appearances may include infringe, as in the breaking of a legal agreement or violation of copyright, and fragment, a small piece of an item that has been broken. The root also appears in the word fragile, which can be used to describe items that are easily breakable.

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Inter

– Meaning in English: Between

The premise of the film “Interstellar” starring Matthew McConaughey is that a NASA physicist travels the universe via a wormhole in a quest to find a new home for mankind. The plot––and the flick’s title––reference the Latin root “inter,” meaning “between,” as McConaughey’s character essentially travels between cosmic stars. This root also appears in terms like international, which may refer to travel or political relations between nations, and interpersonal, which may refer to communication happening between different people (as opposed to intrapersonal, which uses the Latin root meaning “within”).

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Jur

– Meaning in English: Law

Legal systems are intended to act as a source of order and justice in society, and it turns out that a lot of the legal terminology that we’re familiar with today stems from the Latin “jur”—as well as the related roots “jus” and “judic”—meaning “law.” This includes the word jury, as in the body of citizens meant to come to a verdict in legal cases; judicial, as in something pertaining to the court or judge; and justice, as in fairness.

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Lax

– Meaning in English: Not tense

There are a number of ways that someone may choose to relax—yoga, unwinding with a good book, taking a bath, etc. Regardless of the method, the practice of relaxation just comes down to letting go of stress and releasing tension. The root origin of the term—the Latin “lax,” meaning “not tense”—is echoed in this way. The root also appears in the word laxative, which describes an agent used to relieve constipation by reducing tension in the bowels.

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Liber

– Meaning in English: Free

Liberty—which is defined as freedom from oppression in regards to one’s belief systems and way of life—is a fundamental tenet on which democracy is built. As for the Latin word “liber,” this is a fundamental root from which the term “liberty” stems. Further examples of “liber” in mainstream English language include the words liberate and liberation.

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Lumin

– Meaning in English: Light

This Latin root meaning “light” appears in a number of common English words including luminous, which means that something is bright and shining. However, the Latin root has seen several linguistic iterations that go beyond these everyday terms as well, including brand names such as Luminary, a podcast streaming platform that may be considered to be bringing new and creative ideas “to light,” and fictional terms such as “lumos maxima,” the incantation used in the “Harry Potter” universe to generate a bright flash of light.

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Magn

– Meaning in English: Big, great

The Latin root “magn,” meaning “big” or “great,” can be used either in reference to something physically large in size or something that big in its presence, such that it’s striking. In regular use today, the root appears in words like magnificent, which simply refers to something that’s amazing or awe-inspiring, and magnitude, which is used to characterize the large size or impact of something (e.g., a 3.2 magnitude earthquake).

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Mal

– Meaning in English: Bad

“Mal” is a Latin root meaning “bad,” and appears in such English terms as malicious, which is defined as having the intention to cause harm, as well as malevolent, which combines this root with another Latin root “volent,” which means “wishing.” Mal is defined as wishing evil or ill will upon another. Perhaps one of the most common pop culture affiliations with the root is “Maleficent,” the Disney film starring Angelina Jolie as the villainous fairy known for cursing Sleeping Beauty.

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Migr

– Meaning in English: Wander

This Latin root is perhaps most prevalent in its connection to current events. Namely, “migr”—meaning “wander”—appears in the terms immigration and migrant, both of which have become majorly familiar in the collective consciousness as a result of such issues as the European migrant crisis as well as the U.S. border crisis and questions surrounding the country’s immigration policies.

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Multi

– Meaning in English: Many

There are a multitude of examples in the English language of the Latin root “multi,” meaning “many,” in use (with multitude being one of them). The root is perhaps most notable for its role in arithmetic, as it occurs in multiplication, which is a mathematical process for growing a number in size and count. The root also appears in the title of the 1996 comedy “Multiplicity,” which stars Michael Keaton as a man who clones himself numerous times to manage the demands of his day-to-day life.

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Neg

– Meaning in English: Say no

The Latin root “neg” appears in English words that are defined by a lack of positive or affirmative response. For example, the word negate means that something is being nullified or shut down, or, it’s being “said no to,” essentially. Negativity, a quality often associated with pessimism and naysaying, is another example of the root in action.

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Non

– Meaning in English: Not

When something is described as nonsensical, it means that it doesn’t make sense. When something or someone is characterized as noncommittal, it means that they won’t commit. These words—along with others that include “non” as a prefix—pull from the Latin root’s definition meaning “not.” It’s important to keep in mind that the line between “non” and “un” can get a little troublesome when navigating common vocabulary. For example, while unprofessional refers to behavior that isn’t professional, nonprofessional refers to lines of work that don’t require professional training.

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Nov

– Meaning in English: New

The allure of novels comes from their imaginative stories that can take readers away from the ordinary and mundane. A novel concept or innovative idea is characterized by offering something fresh and new, which all ties back to the Latin root “nov.”

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Ov

– Meaning in English: Egg

While there are some English words beginning with “ov” that don’t tie back to this Latin root such as “oven,” which actually comes from Germanic origins, there are others that reference the root’s original definition: “egg.” Examples include oval, as in the egg-like shape, and ovary, as in the female reproductive organ that produces eggs.

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Pre

– Meaning in English: Before

“Pre” is a Latin-derived prefix that clarifies chronological order by signifying that something came before something else. For example, predict means that you talk about something happening before it actually happens. The word preliminary is another example and means that something occurs prior to something else in preparation for the main event. Of course, “pre” also occurs in the word prefix itself, which by definition is a grammatical add-on to the beginning of a word—i.e., it comes “before” the original word—that changes its meaning.

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Prim

– Meaning in English: First

In addition to words that reflect this root’s origins in its most literal sense such as primary, primordial, and primitive, there are also words derived from this Latin root that more loosely mean best-in-class, or top-tier. One such example is the word prime, most commonly used in reference to Amazon Prime, the membership service that provides expedited shipping and a catalog of member-only streaming content for Amazon customers.

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Proxim

– Meaning in English: Nearness

When one makes an approximation of something, they’re making an educated guess about the count, measurement, or quantity of something based on information that allows them to come close—though maybe not exact—to the correct value. This word, along with others like proximity or proximal, comes from the Latin root “proxim,” meaning nearness.

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Ques

– Meaning in English: Seek

A Latin root that means “to seek” or “to look for,” “ques” appears in a number of words that English speakers use on a daily basis. Besides the very literal quest, which basically refers to a long search for something, there are also the terms question and request, both of which attempt to elicit some kind of response, information, or action.

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Re

– Meaning in English: Again, backward

This Latin root is one that could refer to something happening over and over again, as is the case with such words as repeat or recur. It may also, however, be used to reference something that moves backward by being withdrawn, as is the case with the words renege and revert.

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Retro

– Meaning in English: Backward, behind

Retro has been a standalone word since the mid-1970s when it started getting used in reference to fashion nostalgia. Before that, though, the word existed in the Latin vocabulary as a prefix meaning “backward” or “behind.” Of all the words that include the prefix—e.g., retrogress, retroactive, retrospective—one of the most familiar nowadays may be retrograde, as in Mercury Retrograde (when Mercury appears to be moving backward in its orbit).

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San

– Meaning in English: Healthy

This Latin root appears throughout the English language in a few different ways. For starters, it has a very literal and practical application in words like sanitize and sanitary, which simply refer to the eradication of bacteria so as to make something healthier and safer. However, the same root also occurs in the term sanity—and the opposite, insanity—which refers to mental health.

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Sci

– Meaning in English: Know

The Latin root “sci” (meaning “know”) has a few different roles in English. For one, it can refer to the actual act of knowing things, as is the case with terms like omniscience (meaning all-knowing), conscience (knowing right from wrong), and prescience (knowing things before they happen). Beyond that, “sci” also ties into the accumulation of knowledge, as it is a key root in the term science and is thus connected to all scientific branches (formal, natural, and social sciences).

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Scrib

– Meaning in English: Write

While a young child’s doodles on a piece of paper might be dismissed as nothing but a little scribble, it turns out that scribble has some roots in the Latin language. The root “scrib” actually means “write,” and appears in such terms as transcribe, the act of copying down words from a recording or dictation, and describe, the act of writing down (or saying) what something looks, feels, tastes, sounds, or smells like.

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Semi

– Meaning in English: Half

The Latin root “semi” (meaning “half”) is central to a lot of the traditions that we consider to be commonplace. For example, there’s the idea of a semi-final, where two sports teams face off in a match directly before the final and only one—such as half of the two teams—moves on to the final. A lot of brands, most notably, Victoria’s Secret, are also known for having semi-annual sales: one at the start of the year in January and one around the half-way mark in June.

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Senti

– Meaning in English: Feel

The Latin root “senti,” which is also close to the root “sens,” means “feel”—which is evident when looking at the English terms that have stemmed from the original root. The root is at the heart of our sensory system, which allows us to feel and experience things through our different senses. The classic book “Sense and Sensibility” by Jane Austen interestingly juxtaposes two words that stem from this same Latin root in its title; here, sense is the ability to act with sound judgment and without being overly emotional, while sensibility refers to the ability to act from the heart or with feelings as a guide.

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Soci

– Meaning in English: Group

In the most basic sense, the Latin root “soci” appears in the term society, which is very literally a group of people who coexist in some capacity, whether they’re connected by a common government, neighborhood, or even just common interests (e.g., the National Audubon Society). This Latin root is also at the core of one of the biggest trends to have shaped modern culture: social media and the rise of platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat.

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Sol

– Meaning in English: Alone

While social networks bring people together—even if only virtually—togetherness isn’t always the name of the game. “Sol,” the Latin root for “alone,” is also a big player in the English language, and is used in words that refer to loneliness or lack of connection. For example, solitude and isolation are two words that pull from the root, as is the name for Solitaire, the computer card game meant to be played solo.

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Sub

– Meaning in English: Under

When The Beatles released “Yellow Submarine,” they may not have realized that they were incorporating some Latin-based lyrics in their hit song. “Sub” is the Latin root meaning “under,” and beyond showing up in the name of the underwater warship, the root also occurs in terms like submerge, which is the act of putting something underwater. The New York City subway system also employs the Latin root for the name of its network of underground trains and tracks.

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Surg

– Meaning in English: Rise

Not to be confused with the root for surgery, which comes from the Greek words meaning “hand work,” the Latin “surg” means “rise.” For example, there’s been a “resurgence”: This combines the Latin root “re” with “surg”. Anyone who has attempted to call an Uber during rush hour or an “extreme” (if we’re using Latin) rainstorm is also likely familiar with the phenomenon of surge pricing, where rates increase as a result of heightened demand.

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Tempor

– Meaning in English: Time

Musicians understand that tempo is the speed of a song’s underlying beat, and thus that the tempo helps determine the timing of a piece of music. For those less musically-inclined, however, this Latin root may feel more familiar in words like temporary, meaning something that only lasts for a given period of time, and contemporary, meaning that something is of the current time.

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Test

– Meaning in English: Witness

Though the term “test” is a word on its own, the Latin root “test” is unrelated to the term meaning exam. Instead, the Latin here means “witness,” as in testimony, where someone shares their account of what they saw in a court trial. Legal proceedings aside, the root also appears in the word testament, which reflects a reliable account of something, such that it can be used as evidence to make a point.

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Trans

– Meaning in English: Across

English terms that include the root “trans” are generally referring to something that has traversed a physical or imaginary border in some way. For example, the first trans-Atlantic flight was completed in 1919 by Charles Lindbergh when he spent 34 hours traveling from New York to Paris. A common use of the root is also in reference to transgender individuals, whose gender identity does not align with their birth sex.

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Vac

– Meaning in English: Empty

The Latin root “vac” appears in several highly-used English words, including what may be a collective favorite: “vacation.” Unlike certain terms that have a more literal tie to this root’s definition––e.g., “vacancy” means there are empty rooms in a space, “vacate” means emptying out a space, etc.––“vacation” is more of a loose derivative of the root, alluding to an empty schedule.

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Vag

– Meaning in English: Wander

Of the Latin roots on this list, “vag” is one of the more unique in that it has a few different derivative words that reflect the term in unique ways. For example, while vagabond is a pretty literal extension of the Latin root, one of the other common derivative words—vague—reflects the meaning of the Latin root in a less direct way (i.e., it alludes to ideological “wandering” from the main topic).

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Ver

– Meaning in English: True

“Ver” is one of the more common Latin roots to appear in the English language. There are some terms that include the root—verdict and veracity—that may be less frequently utilized in everyday jargon, but that’s hardly the case with one of the most popular words that stems from this root: very. Whenever something is described as very soft, for example, the intention of the speaker is to communicate that something is “truly” soft.

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Vid

– Meaning in English: See, visual

While videotapes might have become obsolete, this Latin root, meaning “see,” is still kept alive in plenty of other key terms in the English language. One of the biggest, of course, is video, and though people’s sources of video entertainment have changed over the years, their affinity for it certainly has it. According to recent data, people watch an average of 16 hours of online video per week.

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Uni

– Meaning in English: One

This root, meaning “one,” is incredibly prevalent throughout the English language. It appears in a wide range of words, including unicorn (a one-horned mythical horse), unity (one entity), uniform (one outfit), unicycle (one-wheeled bike), and unibrow (one eyebrow).

This article originally appeared on Stacker.com. The article has been re-published pursuant to a CC BY-NC 4.0 License.

In English grammar, a root is a word or portion of a word from which other words grow, usually through the addition of prefixes and suffixes. By learning root words, you can decipher unfamiliar words, expand your vocabulary, and become a better English speaker. 

The Roots of Words

Most words in the English language are based on words from ancient Greek and Latin. The root of the word «vocabulary,» for example, is ​voc, a Latin root meaning «word» or «name.» This root also appears in such words as «advocacy,» «convocation,» «evocative,» «vocal,» and «vowel.» By dissecting words such as these, etymologists can study how a word has evolved over time and tell us about the cultures they came from.

In some cases, root words might be slightly transformed en route to becoming part of words that we’re familiar with. In the above example, «vowel» is a word that’s clearly related to the voc root and its family of derivative words, and yet the «c» in «voc» is not present. There are several reasons for this sort of pattern, and the changes often depend on what language each individual word comes from, but it serves as a reminder that not every word with the same root will look exactly the same.

Root words are also useful for creating new words, especially in technology and medicine, where new innovations occur frequently. Think of the Greek root word tele, which means «far,» and inventions that traverse long distances, such as the telegraph, telephone, and television. The word «technology» itself is a combination of two other Greek root words, techne, meaning «skill» or «art,» and logos, or «study.»

Because several modern languages share some of the same ancestor languages, it’s not entirely uncommon for several related languages to share root words. For instance, the Latin root voc, described above, is shared by several Romance languages. Connections between languages can be found in the shared roots between them, although one always has to be wary of false cognates — that is, words that sound like they have the same roots (and thus related meanings) but actually don’t.

Greek Root Words

The table below defines and illustrates 25 of the most common Greek roots.

Latin Root Words

The table below defines and illustrates 25 of the most common Latin roots.

​Understanding the meanings of the common word roots can help us deduce the meanings of new words that we encounter. But be careful: root words can have more than one meaning as well as various shades of meaning. In addition, words that look similar may derive from different roots.

In addition, a handful of root words can stand on their own as whole words in and of themselves. This list includes words such as photo, kinesis, chrome, port, and script. Words like this tend to have related meanings on their own, then can also act as roots for longer, more complex words.

Sources

• Bryant, Alice, and Robbins, Jill. «Grow Your Vocabulary by Learning Root Words.» VOANews.com, 28 November 2017.
• Grammarly staff. «Why You Should Learn Roots.» Grammarly.com, 6 February 2016.
• McCammon, Ellen. «50 GRE Words You Should Know.» PrepScholar.com, 8 February 2017.