Dictionary of Root Words: Greek and Latin Roots (English Word Power Book 17)

What are “Root Words”?



A root, or root word is a word which is used to form another word. It is also called a base word. A root does not have a prefix (A letter or group of letters added to the beginning of a word) or a suffix (A letter or group of letters added to the end of a word).

Root is the primary lexical unit of a word, and of a word family



For example, pure is a root. By adding prefixes and suffixes, the following words could be made:

impure, purity, pureness



Similarly, play and move are root words. By adding prefixes and suffixes, the following words could be made:

plays, played, playing, player

moving, movement, moved, movable, mover, movingly



In this book, I have given most common Greek and Latin roots which are used in English language



Root Words -- A



AB/ABS

Origin: Latin

Meaning: away, from, off

Examples:

abate -- to subside

abhor -- to hate | related word: abhorrence

abject -- hopeless

abjure -- to renounce

abnormal -- unusual | related words: abnormally, abnormality

abrasion -- cut or scratch

abroad -- out of the country

abscess -- swelling

abscond -- to run away | related word: absconder

abseil -- to go down a steep cliff

absence -- nonattendance | related words: absent / absentee / absenteeism / absentia / absently

absolute -- complete

absolve -- to forgive

absorb -- to soak up | related words: absorbable / absorbance / absorbed / absorbency / absorbent / absorbing / absorption

abstain -- to give up something for moral reason | related words: abstainer / abstention / abstinence

abstemious -- critical

abstinent -- not having something for moral reason

abstract -- theoretical | related words: abstracted / abstractedly / abstraction / abstractly

abstruse -- difficult to understand; obscure

absurd -- ridiculous | related words: absurdist / absurdity / absurdly

abundance -- plenty | related words: abundant / abundantly



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ALB

Origin: Latin

Meaning: white

Examples:

albino -- somebody born with no pigment in skin | related word: albinism

albumen -- white of an egg



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AMBI

Origin: Latin

Meaning: both

Examples:

ambiguous -- double meaning; uncertain

ambidexterity -- ability to use both the left and right hand equally well | related word: ambidextrous

ambivalent -- showing both good and bad feelings



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ANIM

Origin: Latin

Meaning: breath, life

Examples:

animate -- having life; to make something full of liveliness | related words: animated, animatedly, animation, animato, animator

animateur -- a person who promotes social activities

animism -- the belief that natural objects possesses soul | related words: animist, animistic



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AQUA

Origin: Latin

Meaning: water

Examples:

aquaculture -- the act of growing of plants in water for food

aqualung -- a device for breathing for divers

aquamarine -- a pale greenish-blue stone or color

aquaplane -- an equipment used in boat

aquarium -- container to kept fish and water plants

aquarobics -- physical exercises that are done in water

aquatic -- growing near water



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AUD

Origin: Latin

Meaning: hearing

Examples:

audible -- capable of being heard | related words: audibly, audibility

audience -- crowd of listeners

auditorium -- a building for public meetings, etc.



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Other Root Words -- A

Root Word [Origin] -- Meaning

a [Greek] -- not

ab [Latin] -- away, off

ablat [Latin] -- remove

ablut [Latin] -- wash

abort [Latin] -- born too soon

abr [Greek] -- delicate

abras [Latin] -- rub off

abund [Latin] -- overflow

aca [Greek] -- point; silence

acanth [Greek] -- thorn

acar [Greek] -- tiny

acceler [Latin] -- hasten

ace [Greek] -- heal

acer [Latin] -- sharp

acerb [Latin] -- bitter

acet [Latin] -- vinegar

ach [Greek] -- pain

achr [Greek] -- colorless

acid [Latin] -- sour

acm [Greek] -- summit

aco [Greek] -- relief

acri [Latin] -- bitter

acrib [Greek] -- exact

acrit [Greek] -- confused

acro [Greek] -- height, summit

acut [Latin] -- sharp