Common Roots

Root	Meaning	Examples
acer, acid, acri	bitter, sour, sharp	acerbic, acidity, acrid, acrimony
acu	sharp	acute, acupuncture, accurate
ag, agi, ig, act	do, move, go	agent, agenda, agitate, navigate, ambiguous, action
ali, allo, alter	other	alias, alibi, alien, alloy, alter, alter ego, altruism
alt(us)	high, deep	altimeter, altitude
am, amor	love, liking	amiable, amorous, enamoured
Anni, annu, enni	year	anniversary, annually, centennial
anthrop	man	anthropology, misanthrope, philanthropy
anti(co)	old	antique, antiquated, antiquity
arch	chief, first, rule	archangel, architect, archaic, monarchy, matriarchy, patriarchy, Archeozoic era
aster, astr	star	aster, asterisk, asteroid, astronomy, astronaut
aud, aus	hear, listen	audiology, auditorium, audio, audition, ausculate
aug, auc	increase	augur, augment, auction
auto, aut	self	automobile, autograph, automatic
belli	war	rebellion, belligerent, casus belli, bellicose
bibl	book	Bible, bibliography, bibliomania
bio	life	biology, biometrics, biome, biosphere
brev	short	abbreviate, brief
cad, cas	to fall	cadaver, cadence, cascade
calor	heat	calorie, caloric, calorimeter
cap, cip, cept	take	capable, intercept, forceps, capture, except, reciprocate
capit, capt	head	decapitate, capital, captain, caption
carn	flesh	carnivorous, incarnate, reincarnation, carnal
caus, caut	burn, heat	caustic, cauldron, cauterize
cause, cuse, cus	cause, motive	because, excuse, accusation
ced, ceed, cede, cess	move, yield, go, surrender	procedure, proceed, cede, concede, recede, precede, accede, success
cenetri	center	concentric, centrifugal, centripetal, eccentric
chrom	color	chrome, chromosome, polychrome, chromatic
chron	time	chronology, chronometer, synchronize
cide, cise	cut down, kill	homicide, exorcise, germicide, incision, scissors
cit	call, start	incite, citation, cite
civ	citizen	civic, civil, civilian, civilization
clam, claim	cry out	exclamation, clamor, proclamation, reclamation, acclaim
clud, clus, claus	shut	include, conclude, recluse, claustrophobia, occlusion, occult
cognoac, gnosi	know	recognize, prognosis, cognoscenti, incognito, agnostic
cord, cor, cardi	heart	cordial, concord, discord, courage, encourage
corp	body	corporation, corporal punishment, corpse, corpulent, corpus luteum
cosm	universe, world	cosmos, microcosm, cosmopolitan, cosmonaut
crat, cracy	rule	autocrat, aristocrat, theocracy, technocracy
crea	create	creature, recreation, creation
cred	believe	creed, credo, credence, credit, credulous, incredulous, incredible
cresc, cret, crease, cru	rise, grow	crescendo, concrete, increase, decrease, accrue
crit	separate, choose	critical, criterion, hypocrite
cur, curs	run	current, concurrent, concur, incur, recur, occur, courier, precursor, cursive
cura	care	curator, curative, manicure
cycl, cyclo	wheel, circular	Cyclops, unicycle, bicycle, cyclone, cyclic
deca	ten	decade, decalogue, decathlon, decahedron
dem	people	democracy, demography, epidemic
dent, dont	tooth	dental, denture, orthodontist, periodontal
derm	skin	hypodermic, dermatology, epidermis, taxidermy
dict	say, speak	dictation, dictionary, dictate, dictator, Dictaphone, edict, predict, verdict, contradict, benediction
doc, dokein	teach	doctrine, indoctrinate, document, dogma, dogmatic
domin	master	dominate, dominion, predominant, domain
don	give	donate, condone
dorm	sleep	dormant, dormitory
dox	opinion, praise	orthodox, heterodox, paradox, doxology
drome	run, step	syndrome (run together), hippodrome (place where horses run)
duc, duct	lead	induce, seduce (lead aside), produce, reduce
dura	hard, lasting	durable, duration, endure
dynam	power	dynamo, dynamic, dynamite, hydrodynamics
endo	within	endorse, endocardial, endoskeletal, endoskeleton, endosperm
equi	equal	equinox, equilibrium, equipoise
erg	work	energy, erg, allergy, ergometer, ergograph, ergophobia
fac, fact, fic, fect	do, make	factory, fact, manufacture, amplification, confection
fall, fals	deceive	fallacy, falsify, fallacious
fer	bear, carry	ferry, coniferous, fertile, defer, infer, refer, transfer
fid, fide, feder(is)	faith, trust	confidante, fidelity, confident, infidelity, infidel, federal, confederacy, semper fi
fila, fili	thread	filigree, filament, filter, filet, filibuster
fin	end, ended, finished	final, finite, finish, confine, fine, refine, define, finale
fix	fix	fix, fixation, fixture, affix, prefix, suffix
flex, flect	bend	flex, reflex, flexible, flexor, inflexibility, reflect, deflect
flu, fluc, fluv	flowing	influence, fluid, flue, flush, fluently, fluctuate
form	form, shape	form, uniform, conform, formulary, perform, formal, formula
fort, forc	strong	fort, fortress, fortify, forte, fortitude
fract, frag	break	fracture, infraction, fragile, fraction, refract
gam	marriage	bigamy, monogamy, polygamy
gastr (o)	stomach	gastric, gastronomic, gastritis, gastropod
gen	birth, race, produce	genesis, genetics, eugenics, genealogy, generate, genetic, antigen, pathogen
geo	earth	geometry, geography, geocentric, geology
germ	vital part	germination, germ, germane
gest	carry, bear	congest, gestation
gloss, glot	tongue	glossary, polyglot, epiglottis
glu, glo	lump, bond, glue	glue, agglutinate, conglomerate
grad, gress	step, go	grade, gradual, graduate, progress, graduated, egress
graph, gram	write, written	graph, graphic, autograph, photography, graphite, telegram
grat	pleasing	congratulate, gratuity, grateful, ingrate
grav	heavy, weighty	grave, gravity, aggravate, gravitate
greg	herd	gregarious, congregation, segregate, gregarian
hypn	sleep	hypnosis, hypnotherapy
helio	sun	heliograph, heliotrope, heliocentric
hema, hemo	blood	hemorrhage, hemoglobin, hemophilia, hemostat
here, hes	stick	adhere, cohere, cohesion, inherent, hereditary
hetero	different	heterogeneous, heterosexual, heterodox
homo	same	homogeneous, homonym, homogenize
hum, human	earth, ground, man	humus, exhume, humane
hydr, hydra, hydro	water	dehydrate, hydrant, hydraulic, hydraulics, hydrogen, hydrophobia
ignis	fire	ignite, igneous, ignition
ject	throw	deject, inject, project, eject, interject
join, junct	join	adjoining, enjoin, juncture, conjunction, injunction, conjunction
juven	young	juvenile, rejuvenate
lau, lav, lot, lut	wash	launder, lavatory, lotion, ablution, dilute
leg	law	legal, legislate, legislature, legitimize
levi	light	alleviate, levitate, levity
liber, liver	free	liberty, liberal, liberalize, deliverance
liter	letters	literary, literature, literal, alliteration, obliterate
loc, loco	place	locality, allocate, locomotion
log, logo, ology	word, study, speech	catalog, prologue, dialogue, logogram (symbol representing a word), zoology
loqu, locut	talk, speak	eloquent, loquacious, colloquial, circumlocution
luc, lum, lus, lun	light	translucent, luminary, luster, luna (moon goddess)
macr-, macer	lean	emaciated, meager
magn	great	magnify, magnificent, magnanimous, magnate, magnitude, magnum
man	hand	manual, manage, manufacture, manacle, manicure, manifest, maneuver, emancipate
mand	command	mandatory, remand, mandate
mania	madness	mania, maniac, kleptomania, pyromania
mar, mari, mer	sea, pool	marine, marsh, maritime, mermaid
matri	mother	matrimony, maternal, matriarchate, matron
medi	half, middle, between, halfway	mediate, medieval, Mediterranean, mediocre, medium
mega	great	megaphone, megalopolis, megacycle (a million cycles), megaton
mem	remember	memo, commemoration, memento, memoir, memorable
meter	measure	meter, voltammeter, barometer, thermometer
micro	small	microscope, microfilm, microcard, microwave, micrometer
migra	wander	migrate, emigrant, immigrate
mit, miss	send	emit, remit, submit, admit, commit, permit, transmit, omit, intermittent, mission, missile
mob, mot, mov	move	mobile, motionless, motor
mon	warn, remind	monument, admonition, monitor, premonition
mor, mort	mortal, death	mortal, immortal, mortality, mortician, mortuary
morph	form	amorphous, dimorphic, metamorphosis, morphology
multi	many, much	multifold, multilingual, multiped, multiply
nat, nasc	to be from, to spring forth	innate, natal, native, renaissance
neo	new	Neolithic, nuveau riche, neologism, neophyte, neonate
neur	nerve	neuritis, neuropathic, neurologist, neural, neurotic
nom	law, order	autonomy, astronomy, gastronomy, economy
nomen, nomin	name	nomenclature, nominate, ignominious
nov	new	novel, renovate, novice, nova, innovate
nox, noc	night	nocturnal, equinox, noctilucent
numer	number	numeral, numeration, enumerate, innumerable
numisma	coin	numismatics
oligo	few, little	Oligocene, oligosaccharide, oligotrophic, oligarchy
omni	all, every	omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, omnivorous
onym	name	anonymous, pseudonym, antonym, synonym
oper	work	operate, cooperate, opus
ortho	straight, correct	orthodox, orthodontist, orthopedic, unorthodox
pac	peace	pacifist, pacify, pacific ocean
paleo	old	Paleozoic, Paleolithic, paleomagnetism, paleopsychology
pan	all	Pan-American, pan-African, panacea, pandemonium (place of all the demons),
pater, patr	father	paternity, patriarch, patriot, patron, patronize
path, pathy	feeling, suffering	pathos, sympathy, antipathy, apathy, telepathy
ped, pod	foot	pedal, impede (get feet in a trap), pedestrian, centipede, tripod, podiatry, antipode
pedo	child	orthopedic, pedagogue, pediatrics
pel, puls	drive, urge	compel, dispel, expel, repel, propel, pulse, impulse, pulsate, compulsory, expulsion, repulsive
pend, pens, pond	hang, weigh	pendant, pendulum, suspend, appendage, pensive
phage	eat	macrophage, bacteriophage
phil	love	philosophy, philanthropy, philharmonic, bibliophile
phlegma	inflammation	phlegm, phlegmatic
phobia, phobos	fear	phobia, claustrophobia, acrophobia, aquaphobia, ergophobia, homophobia
phon	sound	phonograph, phonetic, symphony, homophone, euphonious
photo	light	photograph, photoelectric, photogenic, photosynthesis
plac, plais	please	placid, placebo, placate, complacent
plu, plur, plus	more	plural, pluralist, plus
pneuma, pneumon	breath	pneumatic, pneumonia,
pod (see ped)
poli	city	metropolis, police, politics, Indianapolis, megalopolis, acropolis
poly	many	polysaccharide, polyandrous, polytheistic
pon, pos, pound	place, put	postpone, component, opponent, proponent, expose, impose, deposit, posture, position, expound, impound
pop	people	population, populous, popular
port	carry	porter, portable, transport, report, export, import, support, transportation
portion	part, share	portion, proportion
pot	power	potential, potentate, impotent
prehendere	seize, grasp	apprehend, comprehend, comprehensive, prehensile
prim, prime	first	primacy, prima donna, primitive, primary, primal, primeval
proto	first	prototype, protocol, protagonist, protozoan, Proterozoic, protoindustrial
psych	mind, soul	psyche, psychiatry, psychology, psychosis
punct	point, dot	punctual, punctuation, puncture, acupuncture, punctuation
reg, recti	straighten	regiment, regular, rectify, correct, direct, rectangle
ri, ridi, risi	laughter	deride, ridicule, ridiculous, derision, risible
rog, roga	ask	prerogative, interrogation, derogatory
rupt	break	rupture, interrupt, abrupt, disrupt, ruptible
sacr, sanc, secr	sacred	sacred, sacrosanct, sanction, consecrate, desecrate
salv, salu	safe, healthy	salvation, salvage, salutation
sat, satis	enough	satient (giving pleasure, satisfying), saturate, satisfy
sci, scientia	know	science, conscious, omniscient, cognocienti
scope	see, watch	telescope, microscope, kaleidoscope, periscope, stethoscope
scrib, script	write	scribe, scribble, inscribe, describe, subscribe, prescribe, manuscript
sed, sess, sid	sit	sediment, session, obsession, possess, preside, president, reside, subside
sen	old	senior, senator, senile
senescere	to grow old	senescence, evanescent
sent, sens	feel	sentiment, consent, resent, dissent, sentimental, sense, sensation, sensitive, sensory, dissension
sequ, secu, sue	follow	sequence, consequence, sequel, subsequent, prosecute, consecutive, second, ensue, pursue
serv	save, serve	servant, service, subservient, servitude, preserve, conserve, reservation, deserve, conservation, observe
sign, signi	sign, mark, seal	signal, signature, design, insignia, significant
simil, simul	like, resembling	similar, assimilate, simulate, simulacrum, simultaneous
sist, sta, stit	stand	assist, persist, circumstance, stamina, status, state, static, stable, stationary, substitute
solus	alone	solo, soliloquy, solitaire, solitude
solv, solu	loosen	solvent, solve, absolve, resolve, soluble, solution, resolution, resolute, dissolute
somnus	sleep	insomnia, somnambulist
soph	wise	sophomore (wise fool), philosophy, sophisticated
spec, spect, spic	look	specimen, specific, spectator, spectacle, aspect, speculate, inspect, respect, prospect, retrospective, introspective, expect, conspicuous
sphere	ball, sphere	sphere, stratosphere, hemisphere, spheroid
spir	breath	spirit, conspire, inspire, aspire, expire, perspire, respiration
string, strict	draw tight	stringent, strict, restrict, constrict, boa constrictor
stru, struct	build	construe (build in the mind, interpret), structure, construct, instruct, obstruct, destruction, destroy
sume, sump	take, use, waste	consume, assume (to take, to use), sump pump presumption (to take or use before knowing all the facts
tact, tang, tag, tig, ting	touch	tactile, contact, intact, intangible, tangible, contagious, contiguous
tele	far	telephone, telegraph, telegram, telescope, television, telephoto, telecast, telepathy
tempo	time	tempo, temporary, extemporaneously, contemporary, pro tem, temporal
ten, tin, tain	hold	tenacious, tenant, tenure, untenable, detention, retentive, content, pertinent, continent, obstinate, contain, abstain, pertain, detain
tend, tent, tens	stretch, strain	tendency, extend, intend, contend, pretend, superintend, tender, extent, tension, pretense
terra	earth	terrain, terrarium, territory, terrestrial
test	to bear witness	testament, detest, testimony, attest
the, theo	God, a god	monotheism, polytheism, atheism, theology
therm	heat	thermometer, theorem, thermal, thermos bottle, thermostat, hypothermia
thesis, thet	place, put	antithesis, hypothesis, synthesis, epithet
tom	cut	atom (not cuttable), appendectomy, tonsillectomy, dichotomy, anatomy
tort, tors	twist	torture (twisting to inflict pain) retort, extort, distort, contort, torsion, tortuous, torturous
tox	poison	toxic, intoxicate, antitoxin
tract, tra	draw, pull	tractor, attract, subtract, tractable, abstract, subtrahend
tom	cut	atom (not cutable, smallest particle of matter), appendectomy, tonsillectomy, dichotomy, anatomy
tort, tors	twist	torture (twisting to inflict pain), retort, extort (twist out), distort, contort, torsion
tox	poison	toxic, intoxicate, antitoxin
tract, tra	draw, pull	tractor, attract, traction, subtract, tractable, abstract (to draw away), subtrahend (the number to be drawn away from another).
trib	pay, bestow	tribute, contribute, attribute, retribution, tributary
turbo	disturb	turbulent, disturb, turbid, turmoil
typ	print	type, prototype, typical, typography, typewriter, typology, typify
ultima	last	ultimate, ultimatum
umber, umbraticum	shadow	umbra, penumbra, (take) umbrage, adumbrate
uni	one	unicorn, unify, university, unanimous, universal
vac	empty	vacate, vacuum, evacuate, vacation, vacant, vacuous
vale, vali, valu	strength, worth	equivalent, valiant, validity, evaluate, value, valor
ven, vent	come	convene, intervene, venue, convenient, avenue, circumvent, invent, convent, venture, event, advent, prevent
ver, veri	true	very, aver, verdict, verity, verify, verisimilitude
vert, vers	turn	avert, divert, invert, introvert, convertible, reverse, controversy, versatile
vic, vicis	change, substitute	vicarious, vicar, vicissitude
vict, vinc	conquer	victor, evict, convict, convince, invincible
vid, vis	see	video, evident, provide, providence, visible, revise, supervise, vista, visit, vision
viv, vita, vivi	alive, life	revive, survive, vivid, vivacious, vitality, vivisection
voc	call	vocation, avocation, convocation, invocation, evoke, provoke, revoke, advocate, provocative, vocal
vol	will	malevolent, benevolent, volunteer, volition
volcan	fire	volcano, vulcanize, Vulcan
volvo	turn about, roll	revolve, voluble (easily turned about or aroundor talkative), voluminous, convolution
vor	eat greedily	voracious, carnivorous, herbivorous, omnivorous, devour
zo	animal	zoo (short for zoological garden), zoology, zoomorphism (attributing animal form to god), zodiac (circle of animal constellations), protozoan