English Words Roots

English is an Aryan Language and has its roots in many old Aryan languages especially German, Green and Latin.

Most of the English words are a combination of basic words and additional prefixes and suffixes.

These roots are the basis of new words and help understand the complex words.

For a deeper understanding of the English vocabulary, sound knowledge of word roots is imperative.

Root WordMeaningsOriginExamples and Definitions
A/nnot, withoutGreekabyss - without bottom; achromatic - without color; anhydrous - without water
AonLatinafire - on fire; ashore - on the shore; aside - on the side
A, Ab/sfrom, away, offLatinabduct - carry away by force; abnormal - away from normal, not normal; absent - away, not present; aversion - the act of turning away from; abbreviate: to shorten.
A/c/dto, toward, nearLatinaccelerate - to increase the speed of; accessible - easily entered, approached, or obtained; admittance - allowing into;
Acrotop, height, tip, beginningGreekacrobat - a "high walker"; acronym - a word formed from the first (capital) letters of a word; acrophobia - fear of height
ActdoLatinactivity - something that a person does; react - to do something in response; interaction - communication between two or more things
Aer/oairGreekaerate - to let air reach something; aerial - relating to the air; aerospace - the air space
Agr/i/ofarmingLatin Greekagriculture - management of the land, agribusiness - making money by utilizing land; agrarian - relating to the management of land
Alg/opainLatinneuralgia - pain caused by a nerve; analgesic - a drug that makes one pain free; nostalgia - aching for the familiar
Ambi, Amphiboth, on both sides, aroundLatinambidextrous - able to use both hands equally; ambiguous - having more than one meaning; ambivalence - conflicting or opposite feelings toward a person or thing
Ambulwalk, moveLatinamble - to walk in a slow, relaxed way; ambulant - walking or moving around; ambulance - a vehicle that moves a patient
Ami/oloveLatinamiable - friendly, pleasant, lovable; amity - friendly and peaceful relations; amorous - showing romantic love
Ana
up, back, against,
again, throughout
Greekanalysis - a close examination of something; anatomy - the structure of something as visible when cut up for analysis; anachronism - not being in the right place in time
Andr/oman, maleGreekandrogynous - being both male and female; android - resembling a human; misandry - hatred towards men
Animlife, spiritLatinanimal - a living organism; animate - to make alive; equanimity - of balanced spirit
Ann/ennyearLatinanniversary - a date observed once a year; annual - happening once a year; millennium - 1,000 years
Antebefore, in frontLatinantecede - to come before something in time; antemeridian - before noon; anteroom- a small room before the main room
Anth/oflowerGreekchrysanthemum and amaranth - names of flowers; anthology - a collection of treasured writings; anthozoan - half plant, half animal, like anemones and corals.
Anthrop/ohumanGreekanthropology - the study of mankind; anthropomorphism - giving human form to non-human things; philanthropy - the love to mankind (expressed through good deeds)
Antiagainst, opposite ofGreekantibody - a substance that destroys micro-organisms; antiseptic - preventing infection; antisocial - opposing social norm
Apo, Aphoaway, off, separateGreekaphorism - a short expression of a general truth; apology - an explicit expression of regret, apostrophe - a small dash used in place of an omitted letter
Aqu/awaterLatinaquarium - a water container for fish; aquatic- relating to water; aqueduct - a pipeline for water
ArbortreeLatinarborist - someone working with trees; arbor - a shady area formed by trees; arborous - having many trees
Arch/ichief, most important, ruleGreekarchbishop - the highest ranking bishop; archenemy - chief or worst enemy; matriarch - a female who rules a group; monarch - a king or queen
Arch/a/iprimitive, ancientGreekarchaeology - the study of ancient cultures; archaic - belonging to an earlier period; archive - a collection of historical materials
Arthr/ojointLatin
Greek
arthroscope - a tool to see inside a joint; arthritis - inflammation of a joint; arthropod - invertebrates with jointed legs, like spiders, crustaceans, insects
ArtskillLatinartifact - object made by a person's skill; artisan - a person skilled in a craft; artist - a person who creates skillfully
Astro, Asterstar, stars, outer spaceGreekastronaut - a person traveling to the stars; astronomer - someone who studies the stars; asterisk - a star-shaped sign used as a reference tool
Aud/i/iohearLatinaudible - loud enough to be heard; audience - people who listen to a program; audiovisual - relating to sound and vision
Autoself, same, oneGreekautocrat - a person who governs with absolute power; autograph - a person's own signature; automatic - moving by itself
Avi/abirdLatinaviary - a large enclosure for birds; aviatrix - a female airplane pilot; aviation - the art of designing or operating aircraft
Bar/opressure, weightGreekbaric - pertaining to pressure, esp. of the atmosphere; milliard - metric unit, equal to 1/1000th of a bar; baryon - heavy elementary particle
Bell/iwarLatinbellicose - warlike; belligerent - hostile, ready to fight; rebel - person who opposes and fights
Benegood, wellLatinbenefactor - person who gives money to a cause; beneficial - producing a good effect; benevolent - showing kindness or goodwill
Bi/ntwo, twice, once in every twoLatinbiannual - happening twice a year; binoculars - optical device with two lenses; bilateral - of or involving two sides
Bibli/obookGreekbibliography - a list of books used as sources; bibliomania - an extreme love of books; bibliophile - a person who loves books
Biolife, living matterGreekbiography- a life story written by another person; biology - the science of life; biosphere - Earth's surface inhabited by living things
Blast/ocell, primitive, immature cellGreekblastula - an early stage of embryonic development; fibroblast - a cell that forms connective tissue; blastoderm - the layer surrounding the inside of an egg
Burspouch, purseLatinbursar- an administrative officer in charge of funds; bursary- the treasury of a college or monastery; disburse- to expend especially from a public fund
CalcstoneLatincalcite; calcium- the flame of acetylene gas generated by reaction of calcium carbide with water; calcification- impregnation with calcareous matter
Candglowing, iridescentLatincandid- free from bias, prejudice, or malice; candle- something that gives light; incandescent- white, glowing, or luminous with intense heat
Capt, Cept, Ceivtake, holdLatinintercept - to stop or interrupt;perceive - to take notice of something; captivating - taking hold of
Cardi/oheartGreekcardiac - relating to the heart; cardiogenic - resulting from heart disease; cardiologist - a heart doctor
Carn/iflesh, meatLatincarnivorous - flesh-eating; carnal - pertaining to the body or flesh; incarnate - given bodily form
Cata
down, against
completely, intensive,
according to
Greekcataclysm - a flood or other disaster, catalog - a complete listing; catastrophe - turning for the worst, a substantial disaster
Caust, Cautto burnLatin
Greek
cauterize - to burn with a hot instrument; caustic - capable of burning or eating away; holocaust - total devastation, especially by fire
Cede, Ceed, Cessgo, yieldLatinexceed - to go beyond the limits; recede - to go back; accessible - easily entered, approached, or obtained;
CelerfastLatinaccelerate - to increase the speed of; decelerate - to reduce the speed of
Cent/ihundred, hundredthLatincentennial- the 100th anniversary; centimeter - 1/100 of a meter; century - 100 years
Centr/o/icenterGreekegocentric - self-centered; eccentric - not having a common center, not according to norm; centrifugal - moving outward from a center
Cephal/oheadGreekencephalitis - inflammation of the brain; cephalic - pertaining to the head; cephalopod - marine mollusks like octopus and squid who have tentacles growing from their head
Cerebr/obrainLatincerebral - pertaining to the brain; cerebrate - to use the brain; cerebrospinal - pertaining to the brain and the spinal cord
CertsureLatinascertain- to find out something with certainty; certain - being absolutely sure; certify - to state that something is true
Chrom/o Chromat/o, Chroscolor, pigmentGreekachromatic - without color; chromium - a blue-white metallic chemical element, chromatics - the study of color
Chron/otimeGreekchronic - lasting for a long time; chronological - arranging events in time order, synchronize - happening at the same time
Chrys/ogold, yellowGreekchrysanthemum and helichrysum - golden/yellow flowers; chrysolite - a yellowish gem
Cide, Cisecut, killLatinhomicide - murder; incisor - a sharp tooth for cutting food; insecticide - a chemical used to kill insects
Circum, Circlearound, aboutLatincircumnavigate - to sail around; circumscribe - to draw around; circumspect - looking around
Claim, Clamshout, speak outLatinclamor - to shout and make noise; exclaim - to cry out loudly and suddenly; proclamation - something announced officially in public
ClarclearLatinclarification - an explanation; clarify - to make something clear; declare - to state something clearly
Clud, CluscloseLatinconclusion - the end or last part; exclusion - shutting out, rejecting; seclude - to keep away from; to isolate
ClineleanLatininclination - a leaning toward; incline - a surface that slopes or leans; recline - to lean back and relax
Cowith, together, jointLatincoauthor - writer who collaborates with another author; coeducation - educating males and females together; cohousing - planning your neighborhood in an intentional neighborly fashion
Coltogether, jointlyLatinCollaborate - to work together; collision - smashing together; colloquial - words formed by everday interaction
Comtogether, commonLatincommemorate - to memorize together; composition - an arrangement or putting together of parts; commune - living together while owning things in common
Cogn/iknowLatincognition - process of acquiring knowledge; incognito - disguised so no one knows you; recognize - to discover that one knows
Conwith, jointlyLatinconcur - to agree with someone; contemporary - of the same time period as others; convention - a gathering of people with a common interest
Contra/oagainst, oppositeLatincontradict to argue against, Contraflow, contraception, contrary not in agreement, controversy disagreement
Corp/obodyLatincorporation - a company recognized by law as a single body; corpse - a dead body; corporal - pertaining to the body
Cosm/ouniverseGreekcosmonaut - a Russian astronaut; cosmos - the universe; microcosm - a miniature universe
Counteropposite, contrary, opposingcounteract - to oppose the effects of an action; countermand - to cancel a previous order; counteroffensive - attack against an attack
CranioskullGreekcraniology - the study of skull characteristics; cranium - skull of vertebrates; cranial - pertaining to the skull
CredbelieveLatincredence - belief that something is true or valid; credulous - believing things too easily, gullible; incredible - unbelievable
CruccrossLatincrucial-characteristic of or having the form of a cross ; crucifix- the cross itself as a Christian emblem; excruciating- so intense as to cause great pain or anguish
Cryptohidden, secretGreekcryptic - of hidden meaning; cryptography - science of secret codes; encrypt - encode into secret code
Cumulmass, heapLatinaccumulate - to gather or pile up; cumulative - gradually building up
Curr, CursrunLatinconcurrent- running parallel; current- flowing easily and smoothly; cursive- having a flowing, easy, impromptu character
Cyclcircle, ringGreekbicycle - a vehicle with two wheels; cycle - a sequence that is repeated; cyclone - a storm with circling winds
Dereduce, away, down, removeLatindecelerate - to slow down, reduce speed; dethrone - to remove from power; debug - to remove bugs
Dec/a, DekatenGreekdecade - 10 years; decathlon - athletic contest that includes 10 disciplines in which each participant competes; December - formerly the 10th month of the Roman calendar
Decione tenthLatindeciliter - a tenth of a liter; decimate - reduce dramatically; decibel - one tenth of the sound volume unit bel
Dem/opeopleGreekdemocracy - government of the people; demographic - the study of people; epidemic - spreading among people in a region
Demihalf, less thanLatindemitasse - a small cup of coffee; demimonde - someone of little respected life style
Dendr/o/itreeGreekphilodendron - a climbing plant that grows on trees; dendrochronology - dating events by studying growth rings in trees; dendriform - in the shape of a tree
Dent, DonttoothLatindental - relating to teeth; dentist - a doctor for the teeth; dentures - a set of false teeth
Derm/askinGreekdermatologist - a doctor for the skin; pachyderm - a class of animals with very thick skin (elephant, rhinoceros); dermatitis - inflammation of the skin
Di/plotwo, twiceGreekdichromatic - displaying two colors; diploma - a certificate, literally "a letter folded double"; dilemma - a situation that requires a choice between two alternatives.
Di/sapart, away,
not, to the opposite
Latindigression - a departure from the main issue, subject; disappear - to move out of sight; dissect - to cut apart piece by piece.
Diathrough, between,
apart, across
Greekdiabetes - disease characterized by excessive thirst and discharge of urine; diagnosis - understanding a condition by going through a detailed review of symptoms; dialog - conversation between two people.
DictspeakLatincontradict - to express the opposite of; prediction - a statement foretelling the future; dictate - to speak out loud for another person to write down.
DominmasterLatindominate - to be the master of; domineering - excessively controlling; predominate - to have more power than others
Don/atgiveLatindonation - a contribution or gift; donor - someone who gives something; pardon - to give forgiveness for an offense
Duc/tleadLatinconduct - to lead musicians in playing music; educate - to lead to knowledge; deduction - a subtraction of an amount.
Du/otwo, twiceLatinduplicate - make an identical copy; duet - a musical composition for two voices or instruments; duo - a pair normally thought of as being together.
Durharden, to last, lastingLatindurable - having the quality of lasting; duration - the length of time something lasts; enduring - able to last.
Dyn/a/ampower, energy, strengthGreekdynamo - a generator of energy; dynamic - having physical energy/power; dynamite - a powerful explosive.
Dysabnormal, badGreekdyspepsia - abnormal digestion; dystopia - an imaginary place of total misery; dyslexia - impairment of the ability to handle words.
E-out, awayLatineloquent - speaking beautifully and forcefully; emissary - a representative of a country or group sent on a mission; eject - throw out forcefully.
EgoselfLatin
Greek
egoistic - self-centered; alter ego - a higher aspect of oneself; egomania - excessive preoccupation with oneself.
Em, Eninto, cover with, causeempathy - intention to feel like another person; empower - put into power; engorge - make larger.
Endowithin, insideGreekendotherm - a creature that can keep its inside temperature fairly constant; endocrine - relating to glands that secrete directly into the blood or lymph; endogamy - the custom to marry within one's clan, tribe etc.
Enn/i, AnniyearsLatinbicentennial - of or relating to an age or period of 200 years; centennial - of or relating to an age or period of 100 years; perennial -lasting through many years.
En, Ininside, inwardsLatinenvision - to picture in the mind; enclose - lock inside; inwards - towards the inside.
Ep/i
on, upon, over,
among, at, after,
to, outside
Greekepidemic - the rapid spread of something negative; epilogue - a short speech delivered after a play; epicenter - the center of an earthquake.
Equ/iequal, equallyLatinequidistant - an equal distance from two points; equanimity - calm temperament, evenness of temper; equation - a statement of equality.
Erg/oworkGreekergonomics - study of the working environment; energy - the power to accomplish work; energetics - science that looks at energy and its transformation.
Esth/aesthfeeling, sensation, beautyLatinesthetician - someone who beautifies; aesthetic - pertaining to a sense of beauty; kinesthesia - the sensation of bodily movement.
Ethnorace, peopleGreekethnic - pertaining to a defined group of people; ethnocentric - focusing on the ethnicity of people; ethnology - the science of people and races.
Eugood, wellGreekeuphemism - replacing an offensive word with an inoffensive one; euphonious - having a pleasant sound; euphoria - feeling of well-being.
Exfrom, out,Latinexcavate - to dig out; exhale - to breathe out; extract - to pull out.
Extra, Extrooutside, beyondLatinextraordinary - beyond ordinary; extraterrestrial - outside the Earth; extrovert - an outgoing person.
Fac/tmake, doLatinartifact - an object made by a person; factory - a place where things are made; malefact - a person who does wrong.
Ferbear, bring, carryLatinconfer - to bring an honor to someone; ferry - a boat that carries passengers; transfer - to move to another place.
FidfaithLatinconfide - place trust in someone, fidelity - faithfulness; fiduciary - a trustee;
FlectbendLatindeflect - to bend course because of hitting something; inflection - a bending in the voice's tone or pitch; flexible - easily bending.
Flor/a, FleurflowerLatinflorist - someone working with flowers; floral - flowerlike; flora - the plant life of a particular time or area
For
completely (used to intensify
the meaning of a word)
forsaken or forfeited - completely lost; forgiven - completely given (a release of debt).
Forein front of, previous, earlierforebear - ancestor; forebode - to give an advance warning of something bad; forecast - a preview of events to be.
FormshapeLatinconformity- correspondence in form, manner, or character; formation- something that is formed; reformatory- intended for reformation
Fract, FragbreakLatinfracture - a break; fragile - easy to break; fragment or fraction - a part or element of a larger whole;
Fugflee, run away, escapeLatinfugitive - a person who is running away; refuge - a sheltered place to flee to; refugee - a person seeking protection
Functperform, workLatindefunct - no longer working or alive; function - to work or perform a role normally; malfunction - to fail to work correctly.
FuspourLatinconfusion - being flooded with too much information that is hard to make sense of; fuse - to melt by heating; infuse - to put into.
Gastr/ostomachGreekgastric - pertaining to the stomach; gastronomy - serving the stomach by providing good food; gastritis - inflammation of the stomach.
Gen/o/e/ Genesisbirth, production,
formation, kind
Greekgenealogy - the study of the history of a family; generation - all the people born at approximately the same time; genetic -relating to heredity encoded in the genes.
Geoearth, soil, globalGreekgeography - study of the earth's surface; geology - study of the structure of the earth; geoponics - soil based agriculture.
Gerold ageGreekgeriatrics - medicine pertaining to the elderly; gerontocracy - the rule of the elders; gerontology - the science of aging.
Gigaa billionGreekgigabyte - unit of computer storage space; gigahertz - unit of frequency (one billion Hz/sec); gigawatt unit of electric power (one billion watts).
GonangleLatin
Greek
decagon - a polygon with 10 angles; diagonal - a slanting line running across a space; octagon - a geometrical figure with 8 angles.
Gramletter, writtenGreekdiagram - a simple drawing; grammar - rules of how to write words in sentences; telegram - a message sent by telegraph.
GrangrainLatingranary- a storehouse or repository for grain especially after it is threshed or husked; granola- a mixture of rolled oats and other ingredients; granule- a little grain (as of sugar)
Graph/ywriting, recording, writtenGreekGraphology - the study of handwritings; autograph - written with one's own hand; seismograph - a machine noting strength and duration of earthquakes.
GratpleasingLatingratify - to please someone; grateful - feeling thankful; gratuity - a tip, token of appreciation.
Gyn/o/ewoman, femaleGreekgynecology - the science of female reproductive health; gynephobia - fear of women; gynecoid - resembling a woman.
Gress, Grad/e/ito step, to goLatindigression - a departure from the main issue, subject, etc.; progress - movement forward or onward; gradual - step by step.
Hect/o, HecathundredGreekhectoliter - 100 liters; hectare - metric unit equaling 100 ares or 10,000 square meters; hectometer - 100 meters.
Helic/ospiral, circularGreekhelicopter - an aircraft with horizontal rotating wing; helix - a spiral form; helicon - a circular tuba.
Heli/osunGreekheliotropism - movement or growth in relating to the sun; heliograph - apparatus used to send message with the help of sunlight; helianthus - genus of plants including sunflowers.
Hemihalf, partialGreekhemicycle - a semicircular structure; hemisphere - one half of the earth; hemistich - half a line of poetry.
Hem/o/abloodLatin
Greek
hemorrhage - clotting of the blood; hemorrhoids - swelling of the blood vessels; hemoglobin - red blood particle.
HepaliverLatinhepatitis - inflammation of the liver; hepatoma - a tumor of the liver; hepatotoxic - toxic and damaging to the liver.
Hept/asevenGreekheptagon - a shape with seven angles and seven sides; Heptateuch - the first seven books of the Old Testament; heptameter - a line of verse consisting of seven metrical feet.
Herbigrass, plantLatinherbicide - any chemical used to kill unwanted plants, etc.; herbivorous - plant-eating; herbal - relating to plants.
Heterodifferent, otherGreekheterogeneous - made up of unrelated parts; heteronyms - words with same spelling but different meanings; heterodox - not conforming to traditional beliefs.
Hex/asixGreekhexagon - a shape with six angles/sides; hexameter - a verse measured in six; hexapod - having six legs.
HistotissueGreekhistology - study of the microscopic structure of tissues; histochemistry - study of the chemical constitution of cells and tissues.
Homo, Homeolike, alike, sameLatin
Greek
homogeneous - of the same nature or kind; homonym - sounding alike; homeopath - a therapy that is based on treating "same with same"
Hydr/oliquid, waterGreekhydrate - to add water to; hydrophobia - intense fear of water; hydroponics - growing plants in liquid nutrient solution; hydraulic - operated by force created by a liquid.
Hygr/omoisture, humidityGreekhygrometer - tool used to measure humidity; hygrograph - instrument for recording variations in atmospheric humidity.
Hyper
too much, over,
excessive, beyond
Latin
Greek
hyperactive - very restless; hypercritical - too critical; hypertension - above normal pressure.
Hyp/ounderGreekhypoglycemia - an abnormally low level of sugar in the blood; hypothermia - abnormally low body temperature; hypothesis - a theory that is unproven but used under the assumption that it is true.
Iatr/omedical careGreekgeriatrics - medical care of the elderly; pediatrician - a doctor who treats children; podiatry - medical care for feet.
Icon/oimageLatin
Greek
icon - an (often religious) image, in modern usage a simplified graphic of high symbolic content; iconology - science of symbols and icons; iconoclast - someone who destroys religious images and traditional beliefs.
Idiopeculiar, personal, distinctGreekidiomatic - Peculiar to a particular language; idiosyncracy - a physical or mental characteristic typical or a particular person; idiot - someone who is distinctly foolish or stupid.
Il, Inin, intoLatinilluminate - to give light to; innovation - a new idea, method, or device; inspection - the act of examining or reviewing.
Ig, Il, Im, In, Irnot, withoutLatinillegal - not legal; impossible - not possible; inappropriate - not appropriate; irresponsible - not responsible.
ImaglikenessLatinimage - a likeness of someone; imaginative - able to think up new ideas or images; imagine - to form a picture or likeness in the mind.
Infrabeneath, belowLatininfrastructure - underlying framework of a system; infrared - below the regular light spectrum.
Interbetween, among, jointlyLatininternational - involving two or more countries; intersection - place where roads come together; intercept - to stop or interrupt the course of.
Intra, Introwithin, insideLatinintrastate - existing in one state; intravenous - inside or into a vein; introvert - shy person who keeps within him/herself.
IrnotLatinirredeemable - not redeemable; irreformable - not reformable; irrational - not rational.
Isoequalisobar - a line on a map connecting points of equal barometric pressure; isometric - having equality of measure; isothermal - having equal or constant temperature.
JectthrowLatineject - to throw someone/something out; interject - to throw a remark into a discussion; project - to cast or throw something.
JudlawLatinjudgment - a decision of a court of law; judicial - having to do with judges or courts of law; judiciary - a system of courts of law.
JunctjoinLatinconjunction - a word that joins parts of sentences; disjunction - a disconnection; junction - a place where two things join.
JuvenyoungLatinjuvenile - youthful or childish; rejuvenate - to bring back to youthful strength or appearance.
KilothousandGreekkilobyte - 1,000 bytes; kilometer - 1,000 meter; kilograms - 1,000 grams.
Kine/t /matmotion, divisionGreekkinetics - study of the force of motion; psychokinesis or telekinesis - the ability to move objects with your mind; cinematography - motion picture making.
LabworkLatincollaborate - to work with a person; elaborate - to work out the details; laborious - requiring a lot of hard work.
Lact/omilkLatinlactate - to give milk, nurse; lactose - the sugar contained in milk; lactic acid.
LatersideLatinbilateral - of or involving two sides; unilateral - affecting one side of something.
Leuk/o, Leuc/owhite, colorlessGreekleukemia - abnormal increase of white blood cells in the blood; leukocyte - a mature white blood cell; leucine - a white, crystalline amino acid.
Lexword, law, readingGreeklexicology - the study and history of words; alexia -loss of the ability to read; illegal - not authorized by the official rules or laws.
LiberfreeLatinliberate - to set free; libertine - a person with a free, wild lifestyle; liberty - freedom.
Lingulanguage, tongueLatinlinguist - one who studies languages; multilingual - able to communicate in multiple languages; linguine - long, flat "tongue-shaped" pasta.
Lip/ofatGreekliposuction - the mechanical removal of fat reserves in the tissue; lipase - enzyme that breaks down fat; lipoid - resembling fat.
Lite, Ite, Lith/omineral, rock, fossilGreekapatite - a group of common minerals; granite - a hard, granular rock; monolith - a remarkable, unique stone.
LocplaceLatindislocate - to put something out of its usual place; location - a place; relocate - to move to a new place.
Log/oword, doctrine, discourseGreeklogic - correct reasoning; monologue - a long speech by one speaker;analogy - similarity, especially between things otherwise dissimilar.
Loqu, LocuspeakLatineloquent - speaking beautifully and forcefully ; loquacious - very talkative; elocution - art of public speaking.
LuclightLatinelucidate - to explain, to throw light on; lucid - easily understood, giving off light; translucent - allowing light through.
Lud, Lusto playLatinprelude - introduction to the major performance; illusion - misleading optical image or impression; delude - to mislead, deceive.
LuminlightLatinilluminate - to fill with light; lumen - unit measuring light.
Lun/a/imoonLatinlunar - relating to the moon; lunarscape - the surface of the moon; lunatic - insane (as if driven mad by the moon).
Macrolarge, greatGreekmacroevolution - large scale evolution; macromolecule - a large molecule; macroeconomics - study of the overall forces of economy.
Magn/a/igreat, largeLatinmagnify - make larger; magnificent - grand; magnate - a powerful person, especially in business or industry.
Mal/ebad, ill, wrongLatinmalcontent - wrong content; malaria - "bad air", infectious disease thought to originate from the "bad air" of the swamps, but caused by the bite of an infected mosquito; malicious - showing strong ill will.
Man/i/uhandLatinmaneuver - to move by hand; manual - done with the hands; manuscript - a book written by hand.
Mandto orderLatincommand - an order or instruction; demand - a hard-to-ignore order; mandate - an official order.
Mania
madness, insanity,
excessive desire
Greekbibliomania - a crazy love of books; egomania - a mad love of oneself; maniac an insane person.
Mar/iseaLatinmarina - a harbor for pleasure boats; maritime - relating to the sea; submarine - an undersea boat; aquamarine - color of sea water.
Mater, Matr/imotherLatinmaternal - relating to motherhood; maternity - the state of being a mother; matriarch - a woman head of a household.
MaxgreatestLatinmaximal - the best or greatest possible; maximize - to make as great as possible; maximum - the greatest amount.
MedimiddleLatinmedieval - pertaining to the Middle Ages; medium - in the middle; mediocre - only of medium (inferior) quality.
Megagreat, large, millionGreekmegalopolis - an area with many nearby cities; megaphone - a device that projects a loud voice; megastructure - huge building or other structure.
Melan/oblackGreekmelancholy - a state of dark emotions; melanoma - malignant dark tumor of the skin; melodrama - a dark, pathetic drama.
Memor/irememberLatincommemorate - to honor the memory of, as by a ceremony; memorial - related to remembering a person or event; memory: an ability to retain knowledge or an individual's stock of retained knowledge.
Merge, Mersdip, diveLatinimmerge or immerse - to put or dip something into a liquid; submerge to dip something completely into wate.r
MesomiddleLatin
Greek
Mesoamerica - Middle America; meson - elementary particle with a mass between an electron and a proton.
Metachange, after, beyond, betweenGreekmetaphysics - study of nature and reality; metamorphosis - a complete change of form; metastasis - the transmission of disease to other parts of the body.
Meter, Metr/ymeasureGreekaudiometer- an instrument that measures hearing acuteness; chronometer- an instrument that measures time; metric - measured.
Microvery small, short, minuteGreekmicrobe - a very small living thing; microchip - a tiny wafer with an integrated circuit; microscope - a device to see very small things.
MidmiddleLatin
Greek
midriff - the area between the chest and the waist; midterm - middle of a term in school; midway - halfway between.
MigrmoveLatinimmigrant - a person who moves to a new country to settle; migrant - person who moves from place to place; migration - the process of moving.
MillionethousandthLatinmillimeter - one thousandth of a meter; millibar - one thousandth of a bar; milliliter - one thousandth of a liter.
Min/ismall, lessLatinmini - something that is very small; minuscule - extremely tiny; minutiae - very small or trivial details.
Mis/o
bad, badly, wrong, wrongly,
to hate
Greekmisbehave - to behave badly; misprint - an error in printing; misnomer - an error in naming a person or thing.
Miss, Mitsend, let goLatindismiss - to send someone away; missile - a weapon sent into the air; emit - to send something out; admittance - entry.
MobmoveLatinimmobilize - to stop from moving; mobile - able to move freely; mobility - the quality of being able to move.
Mon/oone, single, aloneGreekmonochromat - having one color; monologue - a speech spoken by one person; monotheism - belief in one god.
Mot, MovmoveLatinmotion - the act of moving; motivate - to move someone to action; promote to move someone forward; removable - able to be taken or carried away.
Morph/oformGreekmetamorphosis - complete change of form; endorphins - chemical in the brain able to transform pain; amorphous - without distinct shape or form.
MortdeathLatinimmortal - living forever, unable to die; mortal - certain to die; mortician - an undertaker.
Multimany, more than one or twoLatinmulticolored - having many colors; multimedia - using a range of media; multitasking - doing many things at once.
MutchangeLatinimmutable - not changing; mutant - an organism that has undergone change; mutate - to undergo a change.
My/omuscleLatinmyocardium - the middle muscle of the heart; myasthenia - muscle fatigue or weakness; myosin - common protein in muscle tissue.
NarrtellLatinnarrate - to tell a story; narrative - a story; narrator - a person who tells a story.
NatbornLatininnate - included since birth; natal - relating to birth; natural - gotten at birth, not afterward.
NavshipLatincircumnavigate - to sail around a place; naval - relating to a navy or warships; navigate - to sail a ship through a place.
Necr/odead, deathGreeknecrophil - loving death; necrosis - the death of tissue due to disease or injury; necrology - a list of persons who have recently died.
NegnoLatinnegate - to say it didn't happen; negative - meaning "no"; renege - to go back on a promise.
Neonew, recentneoclassic - a revival of classic form, neocolonialism - the indirect ("new") economical and political control of a region by a more powerful foreign power; neonatal - a newborn child, especially the first few weeks.
Nephr/okidneyGreeknephritis - inflammation of the kidneys; nephrotomy - surgical incision of a kidney; nephron - a single, excretory unit in the kidney.
Neur/onerveGreekneuralgia - pain along a nerve; neurologist - doctor specializing in the nerves; neurotic - mental disorder that usually does not include an impaired perception of reality.
Nom/innameLatinmisnomer - an error in naming a person or thing; nominal - being something in name only but not in reality; nominate - to name for election or appointment, to designate.
Nonno, not, withoutLatinnondescript - with no special characteristics; nonfiction - true, real, not made-up; nonsense - without sense.
NotmarkLatinnotable - marked as worthy of attention; notarize - to certify a signature on a legal document; annotate - to add remarks.
Noun, NuncdeclareLatinannounce - to declare in public; denounce - to proclaim harsh criticism; enunciate - to speak or declare something clearly.
NovnewLatininnovate - to introduce a new way; novelty - something new; novice - a person who is new at a job; renovate - to make something like new again.
NumernumberLatinenumerate - to name a number of items on a list; numerology - the study of magical uses of numbers; numerous - a large number.
Ob, Opin the way, againstLatinobject - to be against something; obscure - hard to understand; opposition - the act of resistance or action against.
Oct/a/oeightGreekoctagon - a figure with 8 sides and 8 angles; octogenarian - person in his or her 80s; octopus - sea animal with 8 arms.
OcueyeLatinbinoculars - lens device for seeing distances; monocula - relating to one eye; oculist - an eye doctor.
Odpath, wayGreekdiode - an electron tube having two electrodes, a cathode and an anode; odometer - an instrument attached to a vehicle to measure the distance traversed; triode - an electron tube with an anode, a cathode, and a control grid
Odorsmell, scentLatindeodorant - a substance that helps prevent body odor; malodorous - having a terribly bad smell; odoriferous- something that bears or diffuses a scent
OmniallLatinomnipotent - with all the power; omniscient - knowing all things; omnivorous eating all foods.
Op/t/seye, visual condition, sightGreekoptic - relating to the eyes; optician - a person who fits eyeglasses; autopsy - the examination of a dead body.
OptbestLatinoptimal - the best, the most desirable; optimize - to make the best of; optimum - the best something could be.
OrthostraightGreekorthodontist - a dentist that straightens teeth; orthopedic - a doctor concerned with the proper alignment of the bones; orthography - the correct way of writing.
OsteoboneGreekosteoarthritis - inflammation caused by degeneration of the joints; osteopathy - therapy that uses among others manipulation of the skeleton to restore health; osteology - the study of bones.
Out
goes beyond,
surpasses, exceeds
Outgoing - being of lively, sharing nature; outdoing - doing better than; outdoor - outside.
OverexcessiveEnglishoverconfident - more confident than is appropriate; overstock - more supplies than is desirable; overexcited - ,more excited than one should be.
Oxi/oxysharpGreekoxymoron - combining two ideas that sharply contradict each other; oxidize - corrode a surface.
Pale/oancientGreekpaleontology - study of ancient fossils; paleography - the study of ancient forms of writing; Paleolithic - period of the Stone Age.
Panall, any, everyoneGreekpanacea - a cure for all diseases or problems; panorama - an all-around view; pantheism - the worship of all gods; pandemic - affecting all.
Para
beside, beyond, abnormal,
assistant
Greekparasite - an organism that lives on and off another living being; parallel - alongside and always an equal distance apart; paragraph - a portion of a writtenn document that presents a distinct idea.
Paraprotection fromparachute - protection from falling; parasol - an umbrella used to protect from the sun;
Pater, Patr/ifatherLatin
Greek
paternal - relating to fathers; paternity - fatherhood; patriarch - a man who rules a group.
Pathfeeling, emotionantipathy - a feeling of great dislike; apathy - a lack of feeling or interest; empathy - ability to understand another's feelings.
Ped/i/efoot, feetLatinpedal - a lever pushed by the foot; pedestrian - one who walks; pedicure - cosmetic treatment of feet and toes.
Peldrive, forceLatincompel - to force someone to act; expel - to drive someone out of a place; repel - to force back.
Pent/afiveGreekpentagon - shape having 5 angles and 5 sides, pentagram - a five-pointed star formerly used as a symbolic figure in magic; pentathlon - an athletic contest that includes five events.
Pept, PepsdigestionGreekdyspepsia - abnormal digestion; peptic - aiding digestion; pepsin - a digestive enzyme.
Perthrough, throughoutLatinpermanent - lasting throughout all time; permeate - to spread throughout; persist - to continue for a long time; perennial - lasting through many years.
Periaround, enclosingGreekperiodontal - pertaining to bone and tissue around a tooth; peripheral - lying outside of the center; perimeter - the outer boundary of an area.
Phag/eto eatGreekesophagus - muscular tube that carries food to the stomach; anthropophagy or sarcophagy - cannibalism; xylophagous - feeding on wood.
Phil/olove, friendGreekphilanthropist - one who loves humanity; philology - the love of words; philosophy - the love of wisdom; bibliophil - loving books.
Phon/o /e/ysoundGreekcacophony - loud, unpleasant sounds; microphone - a device that records and amplifies sound; phonetic - relating to human speech sounds.
Phot/olightGreekphotogenic - caused by light; photograph - image made on light-sensitive film; photon - the smallest possible unit of light.
Phyll/oleafGreekchlorophyll - a group of green pigments found in leaves; phyllotaxis - the arrangement of leaves on a stem; phyllite - a rock that forms sheets, similar to slate.
Physnature, medicine, the bodyGreekphysical - relating to the body; physician - a doctor; physique - nature and shape of one's body.
Phyt/o/eplant, to growGreekepiphyte - a plant growing independently on the surface of another; hydrophyte - a plant that grows only in water; neophyte - a beginner, especially a person recently converted to a new belief.
Plas/t/m
to form, development,
forming cells
Greekprotoplasm - something that is the first made or formed, also the living portion of a cell; plastic - able to be formed, especially when warm; plaster - a mixture of lime, sand and water that forms a smooth solid covering for walls.
Plaud, Plod, Plaus, Ploapprove, clapLatinapplaud- to show approval of especially by clapping the hands; explosion- an act of exposing something as invalid or baseless; plausible- worthy of being applauded
Pneum/obreathing, lung, air, spiritGreekpneumonia - inflammation of the lungs; pneumatic - using the force of air; dyspnea - difficulty breathing.
Pod/efootGreekpodiatrist - a doctor for the feet; podium - a small platform to stand on; tripod - a stand or frame with 3 legs.
PolicityGreekmetropolis - a large city; police - people who work for the government to maintain order in a city; politics - actions of a government or political party.
Polymany, more than oneGreekpolychrome - with many colors; polyglot - a person fluent in many languages; polygon - shape with 3 or more straight sides.
Ponplace, putLatinopponent - a person who places him/herself against an action, idea, etc.; postpone - to put off doing something.
PoppeopleLatinpopular - appealing to a lot of people; population - all of the people who live in a particular area; populist - a supporter of the rights of people.
PortcarryLatinexport - to carry goods out of a place to another; portable - able to be carried; porter - a person who carries luggage.
Posplace, putLatindeposit - to place or drop something; expose to place out into the open for all to see; position - the place where someone is.
Postafter, behindLatinposthumous - after someone's death; postpone - to delay something; postscript - an addition to an already completed document.
Preearlier, before, in front ofLatinpreamble - a part in front of a formal document; prepare - to get ready in advance; prediction - a statement foretelling the future.
Probefore, in front of,
for, forward
Greek
Latin
prognosis - a prediction of what will happen; prologue - a passage before the main part; prophet - a person who foretells the future.
Prot/oprimitive, first, chiefGreekprototype - the first of a kind; proton - on of the very basic parts of an atom; protocol - a first draft from which a document is prepared.
Pseud/owrong,falseGreekpseudonym - a fictitious name; pseudoscience - theories presumed without proof of a scientific nature; pseudopregnancy - a false pregnancy.
Psych/omind, mentalGreekpsyche - the human spirit or soul; psychic - relating to the human mind or someone who has supernatural mental abilities; psychology - the study of the mind.
Pugn/a, Pungto fightLatinpugnacious - having a quarrelsome or aggressive nature; repugnant - distasteful, offensive or revolting; pungent - piercing.
Pulurgecompulsion - a very strong urge; expulsion - to someone out; impulsive - having a spontaneous urge to do something.
PurgcleanLatinpurge - remove anything undesirable; purgatory - according to Roman Catholics a place where souls must clean themselves of sin; expurgate - remove objectionable passages from a publication.
PutthinkLatincomputer - an electronic thinking device; dispute - to disagree with what another person thinks; input - contribution of one's thinking.
Pyr/ofire, heatGreekpyrotechnics - the art of making fireworks; pyrometer - a thermometer for measuring high temperature; pyretic - relating to or producing fever.
Quad/r/rifourLatinquadrant - open space with buildings on 4 sides; quadrennium - period of 4 years; quadruped - a 4-footed animal.
QuartfourthLatinquarter - one fourth; quart - a fourth of a gallon; quartet - a musical composition or group involving 4 voices or instruments.
Quin/tfive, fifthLatinquintett - a composition for 5 voices or instruments; quintessence - pure essence, based on the ancient philosophy that there was a fifth element that was present in all things; quintuple - fivefold.
Radic, RadixrootLatineradicate - pull out at the roots; radical - fundamental, looking at things from a drastic point of view; radish - an edible root of the mustard family.
Radioradiation, rayradioactive - emitting radiation; radiologist - someone diagnosing or treating via radiation.
Ram/ibranchLatinramification - the resulting consequence of a decision; ramify - to spread or branch out; ramus - a branchlike part.
Reagain, back, backwardLatinrebound -to spring back again; rewind - to wind something backward; reaction: a response; recognize: to identify someone or something seen before.
Regguide, ruleLatinregent - a person who rules on behalf of a king or queen; regime - a government that rules; regulate - to apply a rule.
Retrobackward, backLatinretroactive - relating to something in the past; retrogress - to go back to an earlier condition; retrospect - the remembering of past events.
Rhin/onoseGreekrhinoceros - a species of animals with a big horn on the snout; rhinoplasty - surgery of the nose; rhinovirus - viruses that are causing the common cold.
Rhod/oredGreekrhododendron - a flower with red/pink flowers; rhodium - an element which produces a red solution; rhodopsin - a purple pigment in the retina that is needed for vision.
RidlaughLatinderide - to make fun of someone; ridicule - to make fun or mock; ridiculous - silly, causing laughter.
Rrh/ea /oea/agflow, dischargeLatin
Greek
diarrhea - abnormally excessive bowl movement; hemorrhage - heavy blood flow; catarrh - inflammation of a mucous membrane, especially the nose and throat.
RubredLatinruby - deep red color and a precious stone of the same color; rubella - measles; bilirubin - reddish pigment in bile.
Ruptbreak, burstLatinbankrupt - unable to pay because you're "broke"; interrupt - to break into a conversation or event, to disturb; rupture - a break in something.
SanhealthLatinsane - mentally healthy; sanitary - relating to cleanliness and health; sanitation - maintenance of public health and cleanliness.
Scendclimb, goLatinascend - to climb upward; crescendo - a climbing up of the volume of music; descend - to go or climb down.
SciknowLatinconscience - sense of knowing right from wrong; conscious - knowing what is happening; omniscient - knowing everything.
Scler/ohardGreekarteriosclerosis - hardening of the arterial walls; multiple sclerosis - disease which causes the tissue of the brain and spinal cord to harden; sclerometer - instrument for measuring hardness.
Scop/e/ysee, examine, observeGreekmicroscope - a device used to see tiny things; periscope - a seeing instrument on a submarine; telescope - a device used to see over a distance.
Scrib, Scriptwrite, writtenLatininscribe - to write letters or words on a surface; scribe - a person who writes out documents; describe - to represent with words or pictures.
SeapartLatinsecede - to formally break away from; seclude - to keep away from; serum - a liquid isolated out of another.
SectcutLatindissect - to cut apart piece by piece; intersection - the place or point where two things cross each other; bisect - to cut into two equal parts.
Sed, Sid, SesssitLatinreside- be stationed; sediment- the matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid; session- an actual or constructive sitting of a body
Selfof, for, or by itselfself-discipline - the ability to discipline yourself; self-respect - respect for yourself; selfish concerned only with your own interests.
Semihalf, partialLatinsemiannual - every half year; semicircle - half a circle; semiconscious - partly conscious; semiannual - every half of a year.
Sept/isevenLatinSeptember - this used to be the seventh month in the Roman calendar; septet - a group of seven musicians; septuagenarian - a person in his/her seventies.
Servsave, keepLatinconserve - to save or keep something safe; preserve - to save something; reservation - a place kept for a person.
SexsixLatinsextet or sextette - a composition or group of six, sextuple - sixfold; sexagenarian - person in his/her sixties.
SolaloneLatindesolate - lonely, dismal, gloomy; solitary - done alone, by yourself; solo - a performance done by one person alone.
SolsunLatinsolar - involving the sun; parasol - umbrella protecting from the sun; solarium - a room where one is exposed to sun light.
Somn/isleepLatininsomnia - inability to fall asleep; somniloquy - talking in your sleep; somnolent - feeling sleepy.
SonsoundLatinconsonant - a speech sound; sonorous - producing loud, full, rich sounds; supersonic - faster than sound; unison - as one voice.
SophwiseGreekphilosopher - a wise person; sophisticated - wise about the ways of the world; sophism - a clever but misleading argument.
Spec/t, Spicsee, lookLatincircumspect - cautious, looking all around; retrospective - a looking back at past things; spectator - a person who sees an event.
SphereballGreekbiosphere - the whole round surface of the earth; hemisphere - half the earth spherically shaped like a ball.
SpirbreatheLatininspire - to stimulate or animate; transpire - to give of vapor with waste product through the skin or a membrane; spirit - invisible life force.
StastandLatinstable - standing steady and firm; stagnant - standing still, not moving; stationary - at a standstill, fixed.
StellstarLatinconstellation - a group of stars that forms a pattern; interstellar - between the stars; stellar - relating to stars.
StructbuildLatinconstruct - to build; destruction - the act of destroying something that was built; structure - something built; infrastructure - underlying framework of a system.
Subunder, lower than,
inferior to
Latinsubmarine - an underwater boat; submerge - to put underwater; substandard - inferior to accepted standards.
SumhighestLatinsum - the combined total of everything; summation - the total, highest amount; summit the highest point or top.
Superhigher in quality
or quantity
LatinSuper bowl - the final annual football game; superior - above average, better in quality; supersonic - faster than the speed of sound.
Sy/m /n/l/stogether, with, sameGreeksymmetry -similarity in size, form or arrangement; synergy - the combined effect; synchronize - to cause to occur at the same time.
Tact, TangtouchLatincontact - a state in which two things touch; tactile - relating to the sense of touch; tangible - able to be touched; intact - with nothing missing.
Tax/oarrangementGreeksyntax - the systematic arrangement of words; taxonomy - the science of classification; ataxia - loss of the ability to coordinate muscle action.
Technotechnique, skillGreektechnology - the practical application of knowledge; technocracy - rule of technology; technologically - characterized by technology.
Tel/e/ofar, distant, completeGreektelephone - a device to talk to a distant person; telescope - a device to view distant objects; television - a device to receive pictures from afar; telecommuting - working remotely, bridging the distance via virtual devices.
Temp/ortimeLatincontemporary- existing at the same time; temporal - relating to time; temporary - lasting for a limited time.
Ten, Tin, TentholdLatincontinent- serving to restrain or limit; detention- the act or fact of detaining, tenacious- having parts or elements strongly adhering to each other
Ter, TritrubLatinattrition- the act of rubbing together or wearing down; detritus- a product of disintegration or wearing away; trite- used or occurring so often as to have lost interest, freshness, or force
Term/inaend, limitLatindetermine - to find something out at the end of an investigation; terminate - to end; exterminate - to destroy or get rid of completely.
Terr/a/iland, earthLatinextraterrestrial - existing outside the earth; terrain - ground or land; territory - an area of land.
TetrafourLatintetrapod - having 4 legs; tetrarchy - government by 4 rulers; tetrose - a monosaccharide with four carbon atoms.
TheputGreekbibliotheca- a list or catalog of books; theme- a proposition for discussion or argument; thesis- a dissertation embodying results of original research and especially substantiating a specific view
The/ogodGreekmonotheism - belief in one god; polytheism - worshiping more than one god; theology - the study of religion, god, etc.
Therm/oheatGreekthermal - relating to heat; thermos - an insulated jar that keeps heat in; thermostat - a device that controls heat.
TorttwistLatincontortion - a twisted shape or position; distort - to alter the shape or condition of; retort - reply in a manner that is supposed to change the effect of something previously said.
ToxpoisonLatindetoxification - the process of removing poisons; toxic - poisonous; toxicology - the study of poisons; intoxicated - influenced by drugs.
Tractpull, dragLatinattract - to pull objects nearer; distract - to drag attention away from something; tractor - a motor vehicle that pulls things.
Transacross,beyond, throughLatintranscontinental - across the continent; transfer - to move from one place to another; transport - to carry something across a space.
Trithree, once in every three,
third
Greek
Latin
triangle - a figure with 3 sides and 3 angles; triathlon - an athletic contest with 3 events; tricycle - a 3-wheeI vehicle with pedals.
Ultrabeyond, extreme, more thanLatinultrahigh - extremely high; ultramodern - more modern than anything else; ultrasonic - sound waves beyond human hearing.
Unnot,opposite of, lackingLatinunabridged - not shortened; unfair - opposite of fair; unfriendly - lacking friendliness.
Unione, singleLatinunicycle - a vehicle with one wheel; unilateral - decided by only one person or nation; unique - the only one of its kind; unison - as one voice.
UrbcityLatinsuburb - residential area on the edge of a city; urban - relating to a city; urbanology - the study of city life.
VacemptyLatinevacuate - to empty a dangerous place; vacant - empty, not occupied; vacation - a time without work.
Ven/tcomeLatincircumvent - to go around or bypass restrictions; convention - a gathering or assembly of people with a common interest; intervene - to come between.
Ver/itruthLatinveracious - truthful, honest; veracity - the truth; verify - to make sure that something is true.
VerbwordLatinverbalize - to put into words; adverb - a word relating to a verb; proverb - a short saying that expresses a well-known truth.
Vers, VertturnLatinreverse - to turn around; introvert - being turned towards the inside; version - a variation of an original; controversy - a conversation in which positions are turned against each other.
Viceacting in place of,
next in rank
Latinvice-president - the person next in rank to the president
VidseeLatinevident clearly seen
Vince, VicconquerLatinconvince - to win someone over; invincible - not able to be conquered; victory - the conquest of an enemy.
Vis, VidseeLatinvision - the ability to see; envision - to picture in the mind; evident - clearly visible.
Viv/i Vitlive, lifeLatinrevival - the act of bringing back to life; vital - pertaining to live; vivacious - high-spirited and full of life.
Voc/ivoice, callLatinadvocate - to speak in favor of; equivocate - to use misleading language that could be interpreted two different ways; vocalize - to produce with your voice.
Vol/i/uwish, willLatinbenevolent - showing good will and kindness; volition - the act of making a choice or decision, voluntary - resulting from your own free will.
Vor, VoureatLatincarnivorous - meat-eating; voracious - desiring or eating food in great quantities; devour - to eat quickly.
XanthyellowLatinxanthium- a genus of coarse and rough or spiny herbs; xanthochromia- yellowish discoloration (as of the skin or cerebrospinal fluid); xanthogenic
Xen/oforeignGreekxenophobic - afraid of foreigners; xenogenesis - the creation of offspring that is completely different from either parent; xenophile - attracted to foreigners.
Xer/o/idryGreekxerophyte - a plant that grows in dry climate; xerography - a dry photocopying process; xeric - requiring small amounts of moisture.
XylwoodGreekxylocarp; xyloid- resembling wood; xylophone-an organ percussion stop of similar tone quality
Zo/oanimal lifeGreekzoology - study of animals; zooid - resembling an animal; zooplankton - minute floating aquatic animals.
Zyg/opairGreekzygote - a cell formed by the union of two gametes and the organism developing from that; zygomorphic - pertaining to organisms that can be divided into symmetrical halves along one axis only.


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