Did you know that the English language is made up of many words derived from other languages? In fact, over 60% of English words are derived from Latin, French, and Greek. This article will explore Latin roots, suffixes, and prefixes. Not sure what they are? No worries, we will look at a definition of each of these terms, along with some examples and English words that use them.
Latin Roots, Suffixes, and Prefixes Definition
It’s important to be aware of what roots, prefixes, and suffixes are, as they all help to determine the meaning of words. If you haven’t heard of these terms before, here are some definitions and examples:
Roots Definition
A root (also known as a base) refers to the core form of a word. It has a distinct meaning and can make sense on its own.
An example of a root word is ‘child.’ This word makes sense on its own and has its own definition. Nothing has been added to it.
A root carries most of a word’s meaning. Once you learn the root of a word, you will be able to construct new words. For example, take the verb ‘slow.’ This is a root word. You can add ‘ly’ to the end to turn it into the adverb ‘slowly.’ The ending ‘ly’ is known as a suffix.
Here’s a definition of suffix:
Suffix Definition
A suffix refers to a letter or group of letters added to the end of a root word to create a new meaning. Suffixes can be added to a root word for a variety of reasons, such as:
1. To change tense
Take the root word ‘paint‘ (e.g., I paint a picture). To change this to the past tense, you would add the ‘ed‘ suffix, which changes it to ‘painted.’
It is important to be aware that the grammar rules in English are not always consistent, and words are not always ‘regular.’ This means that the suffixes and prefixes added to words will not always be the same or follow the exact same pattern. For example, if you wanted to turn the verb ‘run‘ into the past tense, you would not add an ‘ed‘ suffix, as ‘runned‘ does not make grammatical sense. Instead, you would say ‘ran.’
2. To express plurality (more than one of something)
Take the singular root word ‘cup.’ If you want to make it plural, you would add the suffix ‘s‘ at the end, which changes it to ‘cups.’ This shows there is more than one cup.
The addition of ‘s/es‘ suffixes to create a plural does not always work… Take ‘sheep‘ as an example — the plural of ‘sheep‘ is still ‘sheep.’
3. To change the word class
Take the root word ‘agree’ (verb). To change this to an adjective, you would add the suffix ‘able,’ which changes it to ‘agreeable’ (adjective).
When ‘able‘ is used, sometimes letters from the root words get dropped. For example, adding ‘able‘ to the root ‘adore‘ does not make it ‘adoreable‘ — instead, it’s ‘adorable.’
Prefix Definition
A prefix refers to a letter or group of letters added to the beginning of a root word to create a new meaning. Prefixes can be used for a couple of reasons, including:
1. To negate a word (make the meaning negative)
Take the root word ‘legal.’ To make this negative, you would add the prefix ‘il’, changing it to ‘illegal.’
Fig. 1 — Illegal has negative connotations, whereas legal has positive connotations.
Other prefixes used to create a negative meaning are:
-
in- (e.g., incorrect)
-
im- (e.g., impossible)
-
ir- (e.g., irresponsible)
-
un- (e.g., unimpressed)
-
dis- (e.g., disapprove)
2. To show repetition
Adding the ‘re‘ prefix to the root ‘do‘ creates the word ‘redo‘, which means to do something again/more than once.
Sometimes, prefixes can be hyphenated so as to not be misread or mispronounced. This is often the case if the last letter of the prefix and the first letter of the root word are the same. For example, the word ‘re-enter‘ is often written with a hyphen — otherwise, it may be pronounced as ‘reen-ter.’
Latin Roots, Suffixes, and Prefixes Example
Let’s look at some examples of roots, suffixes, and prefixes derived from Latin. Did you know these words came from Latin?
Latin Roots Examples
| Latin Root | Meaning |
| Audire | To hear |
| Pac | Peace |
| Mens | Mind |
| Annus | Year/yearly |
| Cavus | Hollow |
| Densus | Thick |
| Frater | Brother |
| Lingua | Language |
| Solus | Alone/only |
Latin Suffixes Examples
| Latin Suffix | Meaning |
| able/ible | capable/worthy of (used to form adjectives) |
| ation | used to turn verbs into nouns |
| ty/ity | used to turn adjectives into nouns |
| fy/ify | to cause/make/become (used to form verbs) |
| ment | used to turn verbs into nouns |
| ic/tic | used to create adjectives |
| ion | used to turn verbs into nouns |
| arium | A place associated with a specified thing. |
Latin Prefixes Examples
Did you know the ‘pre’ in the word ‘prefix’ is a Latin prefix itself? It derives from the Latin ‘prae‘, which means ‘before/prior to.’
| Latin Prefix | Meaning |
| co- | together |
| inter- | between |
| dis- | not/not any |
| sub- | under |
| pre- | before |
| post- | after |
| re- | again |
| de- | away/off |
| non- | not |
Latin Roots, Suffixes, and Prefixes Words
Now that you know some Latin roots, suffixes and prefixes, let’s take a look at some English words that use them!
We’ll begin with the Latin root words and the English words that use these roots:
Latin Roots and English Words
| Latin Root | Used in English words |
| Audire (to hear) | audible, auditorium, auditory |
| Pac (peace) | pacifism, pacify |
| Mens (mind) | mental, mentality |
| Annus (year/yearly) | annual, anniversary |
| Cavus (hollow) | cave, cavity, excavation |
| Densus (thick) | dense, density, condense |
| Frater (brother) | fraternal, fraternity |
| Lingua (language) | linguistics, bilingual |
| Solus (alone/only) | solo, sole, desolate |
Latin Suffixes and English Words
| Latin suffix | English words |
| able/ible | predictable, accessible |
| ation | information, imagination |
| ty/ity | equality, loyalty |
| fy/ify | intensify, purify |
| ment | amazement, statement |
| ic/tic | romantic, academic |
| ion | collection, invention |
| arium | aquarium, planetarium |
Latin Prefixes and English Words
| Latin prefix | English words |
| co- | co-occur, co-operate |
| inter- | international, intertwine |
| dis- | discomfort, disbelief |
| sub- | subway, submarine |
| pre- | preconceive, preview |
| post- | post-war, post-natal |
| re- | rearrange, remake |
| de- | decompress, deactivate |
| non- | nonsense, non-verbal |
The Influence of Latin on English
Why does English have so many Latin words? One important term to discuss is…
Loanwords
Loanwords are words that have been taken from one language and integrated into the vocabulary of another. This is often done when two countries/cultures come into close contact, usually due to migration, trade, and/or war between countries.
During the Roman Empire, Latin was the lingua franca in most of Europe — a lingua franca is a common language used between countries that have different native languages. This means it was widely spoken and other European countries were often exposed to Latin vocabulary. Many English words were either directly taken from Latin, or new words were created using Latin roots, suffixes, and prefixes.
Below is a pie chart of the languages with the most influence on English. This shows the percentage of words in the English language that derive from each of these languages:
Fig. 2 — Pie chart showing the percentage of words in English that derive from other languages
Latin Roots, Suffixes, and Prefixes Review
So, what do we now know about Latin roots, suffixes, and prefixes?
Here are a few key points:
-
A root is the core form of a word. It makes sense on its own.
-
A suffix is added to the end of a root word. This can be done to change the tense, express plurality, or change the word class.
-
A prefix is added to the beginning of a root word. This can be done to negate a word or show repetition.
If you are familiar with Latin roots, prefixes, and suffixes, you can use them to help determine the meanings of unfamiliar English words.
For example:
The word ‘indescribable‘ is made up of:
- prefix: in
- root: describe
- suffix: able
From this, we can tell that:
- The root word ‘describe’ means to give a detailed description or account of something.
- But the prefix ‘in’ is used to negate the word — in this case meaning ‘not able to be described.’
- The suffix ‘able’ means that the word is an adjective, so is used to modify a noun.
Latin Roots, Suffixes, and Prefixes — Key Takeaways
- A root refers to the base form of a word.
- Examples of Latin root words include ‘audire’, ‘mens’ and ‘lingua’
- A suffix is a letter/group of letters added to the end of a root word, whereas a prefix is a letter/group of letters added to the beginning of a root word.
- Examples of Latin suffixes include ‘able,’ ‘ify,’ and ‘ment’
- Examples of Latin prefixes include ‘co,’ ‘dis,’ and ‘re’
Table of Contents
- What is the root word of essential?
- Where does the word essential originate from?
- What word means essential?
- What is the Latin root meaning of light?
- What is the difference between Latin and Greek root words?
- What are 5 words that contain the Greek or Latin root affix?
- Why all the words are derived from Latin and Greek?
- What is the meaning of the Latin root just?
- What does DV mean in Latin?
- What does DV mean in Christianity?
- What is the full meaning of DV?
- What’s the full meaning of DV?
- What does DV mean in French?
- What does DV stand for in military?
- What does DV mean in technology?
- What is DV in Japanese?
- What is DV Urban Dictionary?
- What does divvy mean?
- What does DP mean?
- What does DB stand for?
- What is a dB person?
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 …
What is the root word of essential?
mid-14c., “that is such by its essence,” from Late Latin essentialis, from essentia “being, essence,” abstract noun formed (to translate Greek ousia “being, essence”) from essent-, present participle stem of esse “to be,” from PIE root *es- “to be.” Meaning “pertaining to essence” is from late 14c., that of ” …
Where does the word essential originate from?
From Late Latin essentiālis, from Latin essentia (“being, essence”).
What word means essential?
essential
- all-important,
- critical,
- imperative,
- indispensable,
- integral,
- must-have,
- necessary,
- necessitous,
What is the Latin root meaning of light?
lev
What is the difference between Latin and Greek root words?
Answer. Explanation: Greek is the native and official language of Greece, Cyprus and some other countries while Latin was the language of the Romans. A large number of scientific, technical, and medical words stemmed from Greek roots while Latin lent words to many other languages.
What are 5 words that contain the Greek or Latin root affix?
The answer is:
- literature (written works)
- literary (related to the study of literature)
- literacy (the ability to read and write)
- literally (in a literal manner, exact)
- literatim (the copying of a text letter by letter)
Why all the words are derived from Latin and Greek?
Latin and Greek are related due to both being descended from the same prehistoric ancestor language. English also shares a common prehistoric ancestor with Latin and Greek. Most languages have a single origin (though creoles and mixed languages have two).
What is the meaning of the Latin root just?
and directly from Latin iustus “upright, righteous, equitable; in accordance with law, lawful; true, proper; perfect, complete” (source also of Spanish and Portuguese justo, Italian giusto), from ius “a right,” especially “legal right, law” (see jurist; from Latin ius also come English jury (n.), injury, etc.).
What does DV mean in Latin?
List of common abbreviations
| abbreviation | Latin | translation |
|---|---|---|
| D.V. | Deo volente | “God willing” |
| D.G. | Dei gratia | “by the grace of God” |
| ead. | eadem | “the same” (woman) |
| et al. | et alii, et alia, et alibi | “and others”, “and co-workers”, “and other things”, “and other places” |
What does DV mean in Christianity?
1. Douay Version (of the Bible) 2. God willing. Word origin.
What is the full meaning of DV?
Digital Video. DV. Domestic Violence. DV. Daily Values (Nutrition Facts in US)
What’s the full meaning of DV?
Daily Value
What does DV mean in French?
[ˌdiːˈviː ] abbreviation for. (= Deo volente) si Dieu le veut.
What does DV stand for in military?
What does DV stand for?
| Rank Abbr. | Meaning |
|---|---|
| DV | Distinguished Visitor |
| DV | Diminishing Value |
| DV | Descent Vehicle |
| DV | Driver’s Viewer |
What does DV mean in technology?
Digital Video
What is DV in Japanese?
Initialism of Deo volente (God willing).
What is DV Urban Dictionary?
DV/SA stands for Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault. Domestic violence is a pattern of coercive, controlling behavior that can include physical abuse, emotional or psychological abuse, sexual abuse, or financial abuse (using money and financial tools to exert control).
What does divvy mean?
transitive verb. : divide, share —usually used with up.
What does DP mean?
The most popular phrase that this acronym stands for is “display picture.” It is another way to refer to someone’s profile picture on social media sites.
What does DB stand for?
| Acronym | Definition |
|---|---|
| DB | Database |
| DB | Decibel |
| DB | Deutsche Bundesbahn (German Federal Railways, 1994 amalgamation with Deutsche Reichsbahn, aka DBAG) |
| DB | Double |
What is a dB person?
DB is often used as an abbreviation of the slang term “Douchebag”, which is as an insulting way to refer to a person who is obnoxious and untrustworthy or who acts like an idiot.
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.
| Root | Meaning | Examples |
| anti | against | antibacterial, antidote, antithesis |
| ast(er) | star | asteroid, astronomy, astronaut |
| auto | self | automatic, automate, autobiograph |
| biblio | book | bibliography, bibliophile |
| bio | life | biography, biology, biodegradable |
| chrome | color | monochromatic, phytochrome |
| chrono | time | chronic, synchronize, chronicle |
| dyna | power | dynasty, dynamic, dynamite |
| geo | earth | geography, geology, geometry |
| gno | to know | agnostic, acknowledge |
| graph | write | autograph, graphic, demographic |
| hydr | water | dehydrate, hydrant, hydropower |
| kinesis | movement | kinetic, photokinesis |
| log | thought | logic, apologize, analogy |
| logos | word, study | astrology, biology, theologian |
| narc | sleep | narcotic, narcolepsy |
| path | feel | empathy, pathetic, apathy |
| phil | love | philosophy, bibliophile, philanthropy |
| phon | sound | microphone, phonograph, telephone |
| photo | light | photograph, photocopy, photon |
| schem | plan | scheme, schematic |
| syn | together, with | synthetic, photosynthesis |
| tele | far | telescope, telepathy, television |
| tropos | turning | heliotrope, tropical |
Latin Root Words
The table below defines and illustrates 25 of the most common Latin roots.
| Root | Meaning | Examples |
| ab | to move away | abstract, abstain, aversion |
| acer, acri | bitter | acrid, acrimony, exacerbate |
| aqu | water | aquarium, aquatic, aqualung |
| audi | hear | audible, audience, auditorium |
| bene | good | benefit, benign, benefactor |
| brev | short | abbreviate, brief |
| circ | round | circus, circulate |
| dict | say | dictate, edict, dictionary |
| doc | teach | document, docile, doctrinal |
| duc | lead, make | deduce, produce, educate |
| fund | bottom | founder, foundation, funding |
| gen | to birth | gene, generate, generous |
| hab | to have | ability, exhibit, inhabit |
| jur | law | jury, justice, justify |
| lev | to lift | levitate, elevate, leverage |
| luc, lum | light | lucid, illuminate, translucent |
| manu | hand | manual, manicure, manipulate |
| mis, mit | send | missile, transmit, permit |
| omni | all | omnivorous, omnipotent, omniscent |
| pac | peace | pacify, pacific, pacifist |
| port | carry | export, import, important |
| quit | silent, restive | tranquil, requiem, acquit |
| scrib, script | to write | script, proscribe, describe |
| sens | to feel | sensitive, sentient, resent |
| terr | earth | terrain, territory, extraterrestrial |
| tim | to fear | timid, timorous |
| vac | empty | vacuum, vacate, evacuate |
| vid, vis | to see | video, vivid, invisible |
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.
What is a Latin root word?
A basic word to which affixes (prefixes and suffixes) are added is called a root word because it forms the basis of a new word. The root word is also a word in its own right. … For example, the word reject is made up of the prefix re- and the Latin root ject, which is not a stand-alone word.
What is the Greek root for word?
Greek Root Words
| Root | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| dyna | power | dynasty, dynamic, dynamite |
| geo | earth | geography, geology, geometry |
| gno | to know | agnostic, acknowledge |
| graph | write | autograph, graphic, demographic |
What are the parts of a word called?
The parts of a word are called morphemes. These include suffixes, prefixes and root words.
What are the four types of word parts?
There are a total of four different word parts, and any given medical term may contain one, some, or all of these parts. We will classify these word parts as: (1) roots, (2) prefixes, (3) suffixes, and (4) linking or combining vowels. Furthermore, which word part gives a term its primary or basic meaning?
What word parts mean?
You can use word parts to help you determining the meaning of an unfamiliar word.. When you come across an unfamiliar word in a passage, one of the ways to determine its meaning is to break the word down to smaller parts. These are known as word parts and there are three types: root words.
What 3 word parts are in antibiotic?
The three primary word elements are prefixes, roots and suffixes.
Which word part means many?
Numbers and Amounts
| Part | Definition |
|---|---|
| mic-, micro- | small |
| mon-, mono- | one |
| multi- | many |
| olig-, oligo- | few, little |
Which word part means hair?
Medical Terminology: Integumentary Root Words
| Root Word | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Steat/o | Fat, sebum |
| Trich/o | Hair |
| Xer/o | Dry |
| Xanth/o | Yellow |
What word root means Pimple?
It comes from the Old English pipilian, “to break out in pimples,” from the Latin papula, meaning “pimple.”
Which word part means skin?
A. The root word for skin is derm. Its combining forms are derma-, dermat-, dermot-, ;and dermo— .
Which medical term means loose skin?
seborrhea
What is the meaning of loose skin?
Saggy skin, on both the face and body, is often associated with the loss of fat. The deterioration or reduction of collagen and elastin in the dermis are another cause of saggy skin. While anyone can get saggy skin, it’s more likely to occur in people as they age.
Which medical term means incision into a nail?
onychotomy
What is loosening of the skin?
Loose or sagging skin occurs when internal or external factors affect the key molecules that help keep the skin elastic, firm, and hydrated. … Skin laxity that occurs with age is mostly due to a loss of collagen networks, elastin fibers, and hyaluronic acid — a molecule that helps the skin retain moisture.
What is best for skin tightening?
Dr. Bowe believes that retinoids (as included in this product) are the «gold standard when it comes to tightening skin from the outside in.» And Dr. Engelman agrees: «Retinol is the most potent ingredient that helps build collagen and elastin, which leads to tighter, smoother skin.»
Does baking soda tighten skin?
Baking soda works to remove dead skin cells, soften your complexion, and tighten pores. Used as part of a wrinkle-fighting beauty routine, exfoliating with baking soda can lead to visibly smoother, firmer skin. … Wash your face and with warm water to remove the baking soda.
Is banana good for skin?
“Bananas are the secret to a well-nourished skin as it helps keep it hydrated. It also helps moisturize dry skin, making it soft and supple. Vitamin A in banana restores the skin’s moisture and smoothens out the rough texture by healing dry and parched skin,” says Plabita Sharma, skincare expert, The Body Shop.
Are eggs good for skin?
Eating eggs can help to firm and nourish the skin from the inside out. Eggs contain lutein and zeaxanthin, two antioxidants studies show have the potential to improve skin tone. They also contain vitamin A and zinc.
What vitamin is good for skin?
Vitamin D is one of the best vitamins for your skin, along with vitamins C, E, and K. Making sure you get enough vitamins can keep your skin looking healthy and youthful.
Which vitamin makes skin white?
Vitamin C Complex
What type of vitamin C is best for skin?
L-ascorbic acid
Do vitamin C pills work?
Most scientists agree that vitamin C is not an effective treatment for the common cold. In a study by researchers at the University of Toronto, subjects were divided into two groups: an experimental group that received vitamin C pills at the onset of cold symptoms, and a control group that received placebo pills.
Latin was the language spoken by the ancient Romans. As the Romans conquered most of Europe, the Latin language spread throughout the region. Over time, the Latin spoken in different areas developed into separate languages, including Italian, French, Spanish, and Portuguese. These languages are considered “sisters,” as they all descended from Latin, their “mother” language.
In 1066 England was conquered by William, duke of Normandy, which is in northern France. For several hundred years after the Norman invasion, French was the language of court and polite society in England. It was during this period that many French words were borrowed into English. Linguists estimate that some 60% of our common everyday vocabulary today comes from French. Thus many Latin words came into English indirectly through French.
Many Latin words came into English directly, though, too. Monks from Rome brought religious vocabulary as well as Christianity to England beginning in the 6th century. From the Middle Ages onward many scientific, scholarly, and legal terms were borrowed from Latin.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, dictionary writers and grammarians generally felt that English was an imperfect language whereas Latin was perfect. In order to improve the language, they deliberately made up a lot of English words from Latin words. For example, fraternity, from Latin fraternitas, was thought to be better than the native English word brotherhood.
Many English words and word parts can be traced back to Latin and Greek. The following table lists some common Latin roots.
| Latin root | Basic meaning | Example words |
|---|---|---|
| -dict- | to say | contradict, dictate, diction, edict, predict |
| -duc- | to lead, bring, take | deduce, produce, reduce |
| -gress- | to walk | digress, progress, transgress |
| -ject- | to throw | eject, inject, interject, project, reject, subject |
| -pel- | to drive | compel, dispel, impel, repel |
| -pend- | to hang | append, depend, impend, pendant, pendulum |
| -port- | to carry | comport, deport, export, import, report, support |
| -scrib-, -script- | to write | describe, description, prescribe, prescription, subscribe, subscription, transcribe, transcription |
| -tract- | to pull, drag, draw | attract, contract, detract, extract, protract, retract, traction |
| -vert- | to turn | convert, divert, invert, revert |
From the example words in the above table, it is easy to see how roots combine with prefixes to form new words. For example, the root -tract-, meaning “to pull,” can combine with a number of prefixes, including de- and re-. Detract means literally “to pull away” (de-, “away, off”) and retract means literally “to pull back” (re-, “again, back”). The following table gives a list of Latin prefixes and their basic meanings.
| Latin prefix | Basic meaning | Example words |
|---|---|---|
| co- | together | coauthor, coedit, coheir |
| de- | away, off; generally indicates reversal or removal in English | deactivate, debone, defrost, decompress, deplane |
| dis- | not, not any | disbelief, discomfort, discredit, disrepair, disrespect |
| inter- | between, among | international, interfaith, intertwine, intercellular, interject |
| non- | not | nonessential, nonmetallic, nonresident, nonviolence, nonskid, nonstop |
| post- | after | postdate, postwar, postnasal, postnatal |
| pre- | before | preconceive, preexist, premeditate, predispose, prepossess, prepay |
| re- | again; back, backward | rearrange, rebuild, recall, remake, rerun, rewrite |
| sub- | under | submarine, subsoil, subway, subhuman, substandard |
| trans- | across, beyond, through | transatlantic, transpolar |
Words and word roots may also combine with suffixes. Here are examples of some important English suffixes that come from Latin:
| Latin suffix | Basic meaning | Example words |
|---|---|---|
| -able, -ible | forms adjectives and means “capable or worthy of” | likable, flexible |
| -ation | forms nouns from verbs | creation, civilization, automation, speculation, information |
| -fy, -ify | forms verbs and means “to make or cause to become” | purify, acidify, humidify |
| -ment | forms nouns from verbs | entertainment, amazement, statement, banishment |
| -ty, -ity | forms nouns from adjectives | subtlety, certainty, cruelty, frailty, loyalty, royalty; eccentricity, electricity, peculiarity, similarity, technicality |
Latin and Greek Word Elements
It’s All Greek
- It’s All Greek