LEARNING WORDS BY THEIR ROOTS

Prefixes

PREFIXES ab ad
ambi

Meaning

Example

an, a anti
ante

be bi cata circum com, cor contra de deca decem di dia dis du

dys

epi equi ex
extra

fore hemi hyper hypo in, ir in, ir inter intro, intra ilo
meta

micro mili, milli mis mono multi neo nil, nihil

from aberration to adequate both ambidextrous without anarchy against anticlimatic before antecedent throughout belie two bilateral down catacomb around circumference together confluence against contraindicate down (negative) debase ten decathlon ten decimal two dipole through, between dialectic apart (negative) disprove two duplication abnonnal, impaired dysmenorreah upon epicenter equal equitable out extricate beyond extracurricular in front of foreword half hemisphere excessive hyperboleventilate too little hypothennia not inefficient very invite, inflammable between interloper inside introduce one thousand kilometer changing metaphysics small microcosm one thousand millisecond bad, hate misanthrope one monopoly many multiply new neophyte nothing nihilism

non

not against all beside throughout around many after before first forward four again backward half under above together across not one

nonentity obstinate panoramic paranormal permeate periscope polygon posterity predecessor primate procession quadruple reiterate retrograde semiliterate succumb superannuated synthesis transgression unkempt unique

ob, oc, of, op pan para

er

peri poly post pre prim pro quad re

retro

semi sub,suc, sup super, supra

syn! sym! sy" trans #n

uni

S#ffixes

Suffix able, ible

a$y ant

Meaning capable of state of full of to make one who making belief one who to make like study of full of full of state of state of, act

Example credible celibacy luxuriant legitimate censor traffic fascism racist victimize steroid geology verbose pious gratitude primogeniture

ate er, or fic ism ist i!e

oid o"o%y ose

ous tude ure

R""# $IS#

%, %&- not, without

amoral, atrophy, asymmetrical, anarchy, anesthetic, anonymity, anomaly

%', %- from, away, apart

abnormal, abdicate, aberration, abhor, abject, abjure, abortive, abrogate, abscond, absolve, abstemious, annul, avert, aversion

%(, %(R- sharp, sour

acid, acerbic, exacerbate, acute, acuity, acumen, acrid, acrimony

%), %* to, toward

adhere, adjacent, adjunct, admonish, adroit, advent, abeyance, abet, accede, acquiesce, affluent, aggrandize, aggregate, alleviate, allude, ascribe, aspersion, aspire, assail, attest

%$l, %$#R- another

alias, alienate, inalienable, altruism

%M, %MI- love

amorous, amicable, amiable, amity

%M'I, %MP+I- both

ambiguous, ambivalent, ambidextrous, amphibious

%M'$, %M',$- walk

amble, ambulatory, perambulator, somnambulist

%&IM* mind, spirit, breath

animal, animosity, unanimous, magnanimous

%&&, E&&- year

annual, annuity, superannuated, biennial, perennial

%&#E, %&#-before
antecedent, antediluvian, antebellum, antepenultimate, anterior, antiquity, antiquated, anticipate

%&#+R"P- human
anthropology, anthropomorphic, misanthrope, philanthropy

%&#I, %&#- against, opposite

antidote, antipathy, antithesis, antacid, antagonist, antonym

%,)* hear
audio, audience, audition, auditory, audible

%,#"- self
autobiography, autocrat, autonomous

'E$$I, 'E$$- war

belligerent, bellicose, antebellum, rebellion

'E&E, 'E&- good

benevolent, benefactor, beneficent, benign

'I- two
bicycle, bisect, bilateral, bilingual, biped

'I'$I"* book
Bible, bibliography, bibliophile

'I"- life
biography, biology, amphibious, symbiotic, macrobiotics

',RS- money, purse

reimburse, disburse, bursar

(%), (%S, (I)- happen, fall

accident, cadence, cascade, deciduous

(%P, (IP- head

captain, decapitate, capitulate, precipitous, precipitate

(%P, (%P#, (EP#, (IP- take, hold, seize

capable, recapitulate, captivate, deception, intercept, precept, inception, anticipate, emancipation, incipient, cede, precede, accede, recede, antecedent, intercede, secede

(%R&* flesh
carnal, carnage, carnival, carnivorous, incarnate

(E), (ESS- yield, go

cease, cessation, incessant, cede

(+R"M-- color
chrome, chromatic, monochrome

(+R"&- time
chronology, chronic, anachronism

(I)E- murder
suicide, homicide, regicide, patricide

(IR(,M- around
circumference, circumlocution, circumnavigate, circumscribe, circumspect, circumvent

($I&, ($I-- slope

incline, declivity, proclivity

($,), ($,S, ($%,S, ($"IS- shut, close

conclude, reclusive, claustrophobia, cloister, preclude, occlude

(", ("M, ("&- with, together

coeducation, coagulate, coalesce, coerce, cogent, cognate, collateral, colloquial, commensurate, compassion, compatriot, complacent, compliant, complicity, compunction, conciliatory, concord, concur, condone, conflagration, congeal, congenial, congenital, conglomerate, conjure, conjugal, conscientious, consecrate, consensus, consonant, constrained, contentious, contrite, convalescence, convene, convivial, convoke, convoluted, congress

(".&, .&"- know

recognize, cognition, cognizance, incognito, diagnosis, agnostic, prognosis, gnostic, ignorant

("&#R%* against
controversy, incontrovertible, contravene

("RP - body
corpse, corporeal, corpulence

("SM", ("SM- world

cosmopolitan, cosmos, microcosm, macrocosm

(R%(, (R%# - rule, power

democracy, bureaucracy, theocracy, autocrat, aristocrat, technocrat

(RE)* trust, believe

incredible, credulous, credence

(RES(, (RE# - grow

crescent, crescendo, accretion

(,$P- blame, fault

culprit, culpable, inculpate, exculpate

(,RR, (,RS- run

current, concur, cursory, precursor, incursion

)E- down, out, apart

depart, debase, debilitate, decry, deface, defamatory, defunct, delegate, demarcation, demean, demur, deplete, deplore, depravity, deprecate, deride, desist, detest, devoid

)E(* ten, tenth

decade, decimal, decathlon, decimate

)EM", )EM- people

democrat, demographics, demagogue, epidemic, pandemic, endemic

)I, )I,R&- day

diary, diurnal, quotidian

)I%* across
diagonal, diatribe

)I(, )I(# - speak

diction, interdict, predict, abdicate, indict, verdict

)IS, )IF, )I- not, apart, away

disaffected, disband, disbar, disburse, discern, discordant, discredit, disheveled, disparage, disparate, dispassionate, dispirit, dissemble, disseminate, dissension, dissipate, dissonant, dissuade, distend, differentiate, diffidence, diffuse, digress, divert

)"(, )"(# - teach

doctrine, docile

)"$* pain
condolence, doleful, dolorous, indolent

),(, ),(#- lead

seduce, induce, conduct, viaduct, induct

E."* self
ego, egoist, egocentric

E&, EM- in, into

enter, entice, encumber, endemic, ensconce, enthrall, entreat, embellish, embezzle, embroil, empathy

ERR- wander
erratic, aberration, errant

E,- well, good

eulogy, euphemism, euphony, euphoria, eurythmics, euthanasia

EX, E* out, out of

exit, exacerbate, excerpt, excommunicate, exculpate, exhume, exonerate, exorbitant, exorcise, expatriate, expedient, expiate, expunge, expurgate, extenuate, extort, extremity, extricate, extrinsic, exult, evoke, evict, elicit, egress, egregIous

F%(, FI(, FE(#, F/, FE%- make, do

factory, facility, benefactor, malefactor, fiction, fictive, beneficent, affect, magnify, unify, rectify, vilify, feasible

F%$, F%$S- deceive

false, infallible, fallacious

FER- * boil
fervent, fervid, effervescent

F$,, F$,X- flow

fluent, flux, affiuent, confluence, effluvia, superfluous

F"RE- before

forecast, foreboding, forestall

FR%., FR%(- break

fragment, fracture, diffract, fractious, refract

F,S* pour
profuse, infusion, effusive, diffuse

.E&* birth, class, kin

generation, congenital, homogeneous, heterogeneous, ingenious, engender, progeny

.R%), .RESS- step

graduate, gradual, retrograde, centigrade, degrade, gradation, gradient, progress, digress, transgress

.R%P+, .R%M- writing

biography, bibliography, epigraph, grammar, epigram

.R%# - pleasing
grateful, gratitude, gratis, ingrate, congratulate, gratuitous, gratuity

.R%/0 .RIE-- heavy

grave, gravity, aggravate, grieve, aggrieve, grievous

.RE.- crowd, flock

segregate, gregarious, egregious, congregate, aggregate

+%'I#, +I'I# - have, hold

habit, inhibit, cohabit, habitat

+%P- by chance
happen, haphazard, hapless, mishap

+E$l", +E$l- sun

heliocentric, helium, heliotrope, aphelion, perihelion

+E#ER"- other
heterosexual, heterogeneous, heterodox

+"$- whole
holocaust, catholic, holistic

+"M"- same
homosexual, homogenize, homogeneous, homonym

+"M"- man
homo sapiens, homicide, bonhomie

+/)R- water
hydrant, hydrate, dehydration

+/PER- too much, excess

hyperactive, hyperbole, hyperventilate

+/P"- too little, under

hypodermic, hypothermia, hypochondria, hypothesis, hypothetical

I&, I., I$, IM, IR- not

incorrigible, indefatigable, indelible, inept, inert, inexorable, insatiable, insentient, insolvent, insomnia, interminable, intractable, incessant, inextricable, infallible, infamy, inoperable, insipid, intemperate, intrepid, inviolable, ignorant, ignominious, ignoble, illicit, immaculate, immutable, impasse, impeccable, impertinent, implacable, impotent, impregnable, impassioned, impervious, irregular, invade, incandescent, incarcerate, incense, indenture, induct, ingratiate, introvert, inception, incisive, infer

I&, I$, IM, IR- in, on, into

infusion, innate, inquest, inscribe, insinuate, inter, illustrate, imbue, immerse, implicate, irrigate, irritate

I&#ER* between, among

intercede, intercept, interject, interlocutor, interloper, intermediary, intermittent, interpolate, interpose, interrogate, intersect, intervene

I&#R%, I&#R- within

intrastate, intravenous, intramural, intrinsic

I#, I#ER- between, among

transit, itinerant, reiterate, transitory

1E(#, 1E#- throw

eject, interject, abject, trajectory, jettison

1",R- day
journal, adjourn, sojourn

1,)- judge
judge, judicious, prejudice, adjudicate

1,&(#, 1,.- join

junction, adjunct, injunction, conjugal, subjugate

1,R- swear, law

jury, abjure, adjure, conjure, perjure, jurisprudence

$%# - side
lateral, collateral, unilateral, bilateral, quadrilateral

$E., $E(, $EX- read, speak

legible, lecture, lexicon

$E-- light
elevate, levitate, levity, alleviate

$I'ER* free
liberty, liberal, libertarian, libertine

$I., $I, $/- bind

ligament, oblige, religion, liable, liaison, lien, ally

$I&., $%&.- tongue

lingo, language, linguistics, bilingual

$I#ER* letter
literate, alliteration, literal

$I#+- stone
monolith, lithograph, megalith

$"2,, $"(, $".- speech, thought

eloquent, loquacious, colloquial, soliloquy, circumlocution, interlocutor, monologue, dialogue, eulogy, philology, neologism

$,(, $,M- light

lucid, illuminate, elucidate, translucent

$,), $,S- play

ludicrous, allude, delusion, allusion, illusory

M%(R"- great
macrocosm, macrobiotics

M%., M%1, M%S, M%X - great

magnify, majesty, master, maximum, magnanimous, magnate, magnitude

M%$- bad
malady, maladroit, malevolent, malodorous

M%&* hand
manual, manuscript, emancipate, manifest

M%R* sea
submarine, marine, maritime

M%#ER, M%#R- mother

maternal, matron, matrilineal

ME)I* middle
intermediary, medieval, mediate

ME.%- great
megaphone, megalomania, megalith

MEM, ME&- remember

memory, memento, memorabilia, reminisce

ME#ER, ME#R, ME&S* measure

meter, thermometer, perimeter, metronome, commensurate

MI(R"- small
microscope, microorganism, microcosm, microbe

MIS- wrong, bad, hate

misunderstand, misanthrope, misapprehension, misconstrue, misnomer, mishap

MI#, MISS- send

transmit, emit, missive

M"$$* soft
mollify, emollient, mollusk

M"&, M"&I#- warn

admonish, monitor, premonition

M"&"- one
monologue, monotonous, monogamy, monolith, monochrome

M"R, M"R# - dead

morbid, moribund, mortal, amortize

M"RP+- shape
amorphous, metamorphosis, morphology

M"/, M"#, M"', M"M- move

remove, motion, mobile, momentum, momentous

M,# * change
mutate, mutability, immutable, commute

&%#, &%S(- born

native, nativity, natal, neonate, innate, cognate, nascent, renaissance

&E.* not, deny

negative, abnegate, renege

&E"* new
neoclassical, neophyte, neologism, neonate

&I+I$- none, nothing

annihilation, nihilism

&"M, &/M- name

nominate, nomenclature, nominal, cognomen, misnomer, ignominious, antonym, homonym, pseudonym, synonym, anonymity

&"X, &I(, &E(, &"(- harm

obnoxious, noxious, pernicious

&"/- new
novelty, innovation

&,MER- number
numeral, numerous, innumerable, enumerate

"'* against
obstruct, obdurate, obfuscate, obnoxious, obsequious, obstinate, obtrusive

"M&I* all
omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient, omnivorous

"&ER* burden
onerous, onus, exonerate

"PER* work
operate, cooperate, inoperable

P%(* peace
pacify, pacifist, pacific

P%$P* feel
palpable, palpitation

P%&* all
panorama, panacea, panegyric, pandemic

P%#ER, P%#R- father

paternal, paternity, patriot, compatriot, expatriate, patrimony, patricide, patrician

P%#+, P%SS- feel, suffer

sympathy, antipathy, empathy, apathy, pathos, impassioned

PE(* money
pecuniary, impecunious

PE$, P,$S* drive

compel, compelling, expel, propel, compulsion

PE&* almost
peninsula, penultimate, penumbra

PE&), PE&S- hang

pendant, pendulous, compendium, suspense, propensity

PER* through, by, for, throughout

percipient, perfunctory, permeable, perturbation, perusal, perennial

PER* against, destruction

perfidious, pernicious, perjure

PERI* around
perimeter, periphery, peripatetic

PE#* seek, go toward

petition, impetus, impetuous, petulant, centripetal

P+I$* love
philosopher, philanderer, philanthropy, bibliophile, philology

P+"'* fear
phobia, claustrophobia, xenophobia

P+"&* sound
phonograph, megaphone, euphony, phonetics, phonics

P$%(- calm, please

placate, implacable, placid, complacent

P"&, P"S* put, place

postpone, proponent, exponent, preposition, posit, interpose, juxtaposition, depose

P"R#* carry
portable, deportment, rapport

P"# * drink
potion, potable

P"#* power
potential, potent, impotent, potentate, omnipotence

PRE* before
precede, precipitate, preclude, precocious, precursor, predilection, predisposition, preponderance, prepossessing, prescient, prejudice, predict, premonition, preposition

PRIM, PRI* first

prime, primary, primal, primeval, primordial, pristine

PR"* ahead, forth

proceed, proclivity, procrastinator, profane, profuse, progenitor, progeny, prognosis, prologue, propel, proponent, propose, proscribe, protestation, provoke

PR"#"* first
prototype, protagonist, protocol

PR"X, PR"P* near

approximate, propinquity, proximity

PSE,)"* false
pseudoscientific, pseudonym

P/R* fire
pyre, pyrotechnics, pyromania

2,%), 2,%R, 2,%#-four

quadrilateral, quadrant, quadruped, quarter, quarantine, quaternary

2,ES, 2,ER, 2,IS, 2,IR- question

quest, inquest, query, querulous, inquisitive

2,IE* quiet
disquiet, acquiesce, quiescent, requiem

2,I&#, 2,I&- five

quintuplets, quintessence

R%)I, R%MI- branch

radius, radiate, radiant, eradicate, ramification

RE(#, RE.- straight, rule

rectangle, rectitude, rectify, regular

RE#R"* backward
retrospective, retroactive, retrograde

RI), RIS- laugh

ridiculous, deride, derision

R".* ask
interrogate, derogatory, abrogate, arrogant

R,)* rough, crude

rude, erudite, rudimentary

R,P# * break
disrupt, interrupt, rupture

S%(R, S%&(#- holy

sacred, sacrilege, consecrate, sanctify, sanction, sacrosanct

S(RI', S(RIP#, S(RI- - write

scribe, ascribe, circumscribe, inscribe, proscribe, script, manuscript, scrivener

SE* apart, away

separate, segregate, secede, sedition

SE(, SE(#, SE.-- cut

sector, dissect, bisect, intersect, segment, secant

SE), SI)- sit

sedate, sedentary, supersede, reside, residence, assiduous, insidious

SEM- seed, sow

seminar, seminal, disseminate

SE&* old
senior, senile, senescent

SE&#, SE&S* feel, think

sentiment, nonsense, assent, sentient, consensus, sensual

SE2,, SE(,- follow

sequence, sequel, subsequent, obsequious, obsequy, non sequitur, consecutive

SI.&- mark, sign

signal, designation, assignation

SIM, SEM- similar, same

similar, semblance, dissemble, verisimilitude

S"$* sun
solar, parasol, solarium, solstice

S"$* alone
solo, solitude, soliloquy

S"M&* sleep
insomnia, somnolent, somnambulist

S"&- sound
sonic, consonance, dissonance, assonance, resonate

S"P+- wisdom
philosopher, sophistry, sophisticated, sophomoric

SPE(, SPI(- see, look

spectator, circumspect, retrospective, perspective

SPER- hope
prosper, prosperous, despair, desperate

SPERS, SP%R- scatter

disperse, sparse, aspersion, disparate

SPIR- breathe
respire, inspire, spiritual, aspire, transpire

S#RI(#, S#RI&.- bind

strict, stricture, constrict, stringent, astringent

S#R,(#, S#R,- build

structure, construe, obstruct

S,'- under
subconscious, subjugate, subliminal, subpoena, subsequent, subterranean, subvert

S,MM* highest
summit, summary, consummate

S,PER, S,R- above

supervise, supercilious, supersede, superannuated, superfluous, insurmountable, surfeit

S,R.E, S,RRE(# - rise

surge, resurgent, insurgent, insurrection

S/&, S/M* together

synthesis, sympathy, synonym, synopsis, symposium, symbiosis

#%(I#, #I(- silent

tacit, taciturn, reticent

#%(#, #%., #%&.- touch

tact, tactile, contagious, tangent, tangential, tangible

#E&, #I&, #%I&- hold, twist

detention, tenable, tenacious, pertinacious, retain

#E&), #E&S, #E&#- stretch

intend, distend, tension, tensile, ostensible, contentious

#ERM-- end
terminal, terminate, interminable

#ERR** earth, land

terrain, terrestrial, extraterrestrial, subterranean

#ES#- witness
testify, attest, testimonial, testament, detest, protestation

#+E* god
atheist, theology, theocracy

#+ERM- heat
thermometer, thermal, thermonuclear, hypothermia

#IM* fear, frightened

timid, intimidate, timorous

#"P* place
topic, topography, utopia

#"RP* stiff, numb

torpedo, torpid, torpor

#"R#* twist
distort, extort, tortuous

#"X* poison
toxic, toxin, intoxication

#R%(# - draw
tractor, intractable, protract

#R%&S- across, over, through, beyond

transport, transgress, transient, transitory, translucent, transmutation

#REM, #REP- shake

tremble, tremor, tremulous, trepidation, intrepid

#,R'* shake
disturb, turbulent, perturbation

,M'R* shadow
umbrella, umbrage, adumbrate, penumbra

,&I, ,&* one

unify, unilateral, unanimous

,R'** city
urban, suburban, urbane

-%(-empty
vacant, evacuate, vacuous

-%$, -%I$- value, strength

valid, valor, ambivalent, convalescence, avail, prevail, countervail

-E&, -E&# -- come

convene, contravene, intervene, venue, convention, circumvent, advent

-ER- true
verify, verity, verisimilitude, veracious, aver, verdict

-ER'* word
verbal, verbose, verbiage, verbatim

-ER#, -ERS- turn

avert, convert, pervert, revert, incontrovertible, divert, subvert, versatile, aversion

-I(#, -I&(- conquer

victory, conviction, evict, evince, invincible

-I), -IS- see

evident, vision, visage, supervise

-I$* base, mean

vile, vilify, revile

-I-0 -I# * life

vivid, vital, convivial, vivacious

-"(, -"3, -"4- call, word

vocal, equivocate, vociferous, convoke, evoke, invoke, avow

-"$- wish
voluntary, malevolent, benevolent, volition

-"$-0 -"$,# - turn, roll

revolve, evolve, convoluted

-"R- eat
devour, carnivore, omnivorous, voracious