A Root Meaning in English Origin language Etymology (root origin) English examples ab-, a-, abs-, au- away from, down, off Latin abdication, abduction, aberrant, abnormal, abrasion, absent, absorb, abstain, abstemious, abstraction, aversion, avulsion abac- slab Ancient Greek (), () abaciscus, abacus, abax ac-, acm-, acr- point Greek (), (), (), (), (), Acidanthera, acme, acmeism, acmesthesia, acmic, acne ac-, ace- cure Greek (), (), () aceology, autacoid, panacea academ- Akademos Greek () academe, academia, academic, academy acanth- thorn Greek , () Acanthaster, Acanthion, acanthite, Acanthocephala, acanthocephaliasis, acanthocyte, Acanthomintha, Acanthosaura, Acanthus, Metriacanthosaurus, neuroacanthocytosis acar- mite Greek () acariasis, acarid, acariphagous, acaroid, acarology, acarophobia, Acarus accipitr- hawk Latin Accipiter, accipitrine acer-, acri- bitter, sharp, sour Latin , , acerbic, acrid, acrimonious, acrimony, exacerbate acet- sour, vinegar Latin acetabulum, acetate, acetic, acetone, acetum, triacetate acid- acidic, sour Latin acidiferous, acidity, acidosis, acidulation, acidulous acr- height, summit, tip, top Greek (), () "high", "extreme", () acrobat, acrobatics, acrochordon, acromegalia, acromegaly, acromion, acronym, acrophobia, acropolis, acrostic, acroterion, acrotomophilia actin- beam, ray Greek () actinic, actinism, actinium, actinocerid, actinodrome, actinoid, actinomere, actinometer, actinomorphic, Actinomyces, actinophryid, actinopod, Actinopterygii, actinotherapy, Actinozoa acu-, acut- sharp, pointed Latin , past participle of "to sharpen", from "needle" acerose, acupuncture, acumen, acute, ad-, a-, ac-, af-, ag-, al-, am-, an-, ap-, ar-, as-, at- movement to or toward; in addition to Latin "to", "toward" accept, accurate, adapt, addition, address, adept, adherent, adhesive, adjust, admit, admonish, advertisement, affect, agglomerate, aggregate, aggression, allege, allude, ammunition, annectent, approximate, arreption, arride, arrogant, ascend, assault, assimilate, attend, attract aden- gland Greek () adenocarcinoma, adenoid, adenoidectomy, adenology, adenoma, adenomyosis, adenosis adip- fat Latin "fat" adipocellular, adipose aer- (ΑΕΡ) lift, raise Greek (), (), , aorta, aortic, endaortitis, meteor, meteorology aer-, aero- air, atmosphere Greek () "air" aerobic, aerodynamic, aeronautics, aeroplane, aerorrhachia, aerosol, aerotitis aesth- feeling, sensation Greek (), () "of sense perception" from () "to perceive" aesthesia, aesthesis, aesthete, aesthetics, anaesthetic, synesthesia aether-, ether- upper pure, bright air Greek (), () ether, ethereal, etheric, hypaethros aev-, ev- age Latin age, coeval, eon, eternal, longevity, medieval, primeval ag-, -ig-, act- do, go, move Latin , act, action, activation, activity, actor, agenda, agent, agile, agitate, ambiguous, castigate, cogent, cogitate, cogitation, deactivate, excogitate, mitigate, navigate, proactive, react, transaction ag- lead Greek () (cognate with Latin agere), () agony, antagonist, antagonize, demagogue, pedagogue, pedagogy, strategy, synagogue agap- love Greek () agape agr- field Greek () agronomist, agronomy agri-, -egri- field Latin "field, country" agriculture, peregrine ailur- cat Greek () Ailuroedus, ailuromancy, ailurophile, ailurophilia, ailurophobia alac- cheerful Latin alacrity, allegro alb- dull white Latin albedo, albino, albumen alcyon- kingfisher Greek () Halcyon, halcyon ale- (ΑΛ) wheat flour Greek , (), aleuromancy, aleurone, aleuronic alg- pain Greek (), , (), () analgesic, arthralgia, neuralgia, nostalgia ali-, alter- other Latin "another", "other" alias, alibi, alien, alter, alternate, altruism all- other Greek () allegory, allogenic, allograph, allophone, parallactic, parallax allel- one another Greek () allele, allelomorph, allelotaxis, parallel, parallelism, parallelogon, parallelogram alph- A, a Greek , () alphabet, alphabetic, analphabetic, panalphabetic, polyalphabetic alphit- barley Greek (), () alphitomancy alt- high, deep Latin , altimeter, altitude, alto, altocumulus, contralto, exalt am-, amat- love, liking Latin , , amateur, amatory, amenity, amorous, enamoured am-, amic-, -imic- friend Latin amiable, amicable, amity, enemy, enmity, inimical amath- sand Greek ἄμαθος (amathos) amathophobia ambi-, am-, amb-, ambo-, an- both, on both sides Latin ambidexterity, ambient, ambiguous, ambit, ambition, ambivalent, amboceptor, amputation, ancipital, andante ambly- blunt, not sharp, dull Greek () amblygeustia, amblygonite, amblyopia, Amblypoda ambul- walk Latin ambulance, ambulatory, amble, perambulate, preamble, somnambulist amm- sand Greek (), () amathophobia, Ammophila (a plant genus and a wasp genus) amn- lamb Greek (), , , () amniocentesis, amnion, amnioscope, amniote, amniotic, anamniote amph-, amphi- both, on both sides of, both kinds Greek () "on both sides" amphibian, amphibious, amphibole, amphibolic, amphimacer, Amphipoda, amphistyly, amphitheatre, amphoterism ampl- ample, abundant, bountiful, large Latin ample, amplify, amplitude amygdal- almond Greek (), () almond, amygdala, amygdale, amygdalin, amygdaloid, amygdule an-, a-, am-, ar- not, without Greek Greek "not" ambrosia, anaerobic, anarchy, anemia, anesthesia, anhydrous, anonymous, apathy, aphasia, arrhythmia, atheism, atypical ana-, am-, an- again, against, back, up Greek () anagram, anabaptist, anaphylaxis, anarrhexis, anion, anode andr- (ΑΝΕΡ) male, masculine Greek (), Andrew, Alexander, androcentric, androcentrism, androgen, , androgyne, androgynous, androgyny, android, andrology, androphobia, androspore, diandry, misandry, monandry, philander, polyandrous, polyandry, protandry, pseudandry, synandrous anem- (ΑΝ) wind Greek () anemograph, anemometer, anemometric, anemone, anemophilous, anemophily, anemophobia, anemoscope, anemotropism anim- breath, life, soul, spirit Latin "breath", "soul" animal, animation, anime, animism, animus, inanimate, equanimity ann-, -enn- year, yearly Latin "year" anniversary, , centennial, millennium, perennial ant-, anti- against, opposed to, preventive Greek () "against" antagonist, antagonize, antibiotic, antibody, antichrist, antidepressant antidote, antifreeze, antifungal, antigen, antinomies, antipathy, antipodes, antirrhinum, antiseptic, antisocial, antithesis ante-, anti- before, in front of, prior to; old Latin "before", "against"; see also "old" , antecedent, antedate, antediluvian, anteroom, anticipate, antiquarian, antiquate, antique, antiquity anth- flower Greek (), (), (), (), () anther, anthesis, Anthocoridae, anthodite, anthology, anthophobia, anthophore, Anthozoa, chrysanthemum, dianthus, enanthem, enanthema, exanthem, exanthematic, hydranth, hypanthium, perianth, zoanthid anthrac- coal Greek () anthracite, anthracnose, anthracycline, anthrax anthrop- human Greek () "man" anthropology, anthroposophy, anthropomorphic, misanthrope, philanthropy ap-, apo- off, away from, separate, at the farthest point Greek () "from, away, un-, quite", sometimes "changed, switched" aphelion, apocrine, apocryphal, apogee, aporrhinosis, apostasy, apostate aper- open Latin aperient, apéritif, aperitive, aperture, overt, overture, pert aphrod- Aphrodite Greek (), (), () aphrodisiac, pseudohermaphroditism api- bee Latin apian, apiary, , ; Petrus Apianus aqu- water Latin acquacotta, akvavit, aqua vitae, aquaculture, aquamarine, aquarelle, aquarium, Aquarius, aquatic, aquatile, aqueduct, aqueous, aquifer, aquiferous, aquiform, gouache, semiaquatic ara- plow, till Latin arability, arable, aration, aratory, exarate, exaration, inarable, nonarable arachn- spider Greek , () Arachne, arachnid, arachnodactyly, arachnoid, arachnology, arachnophobia arbit- judge Latin (from "to" + "to come, go") arbiter, arbitrage, arbitrary, arbitration arcan- box Latin arcane, arcanum arch-, arche-, archi- ruler Greek (), (), () "rule" (in compounds: , ) anarchism, anarchist, anarchy, andrarchy, antarchy, archangel, archetype, architect, archon, autarch, autarchism, autarchy, eparch, eparchy, exarch, gynarchy, monarch, monarchism, monarchist, monarchy, navarch, octarchy, oligarchy, patriarchy, plutarchy, polyarchy, synarchism, synarchy, tetrarchy, triarchy, trierarch archae-, arche- ancient Greek () "ancient" from () "rule" Archaea, archaeoastronomy, archaeology, archaic, archaism, archegonium, archeology arct- Relating to the North Pole or the region near it; relating to cold Greek () "bear", () Antarctic, arctic, Arctic Ocean, palearctic ard- heat, glow, passion Latin "to burn", ardent, ardor, arson ardu- difficult Latin "high, steep" arduous aret- virtue Greek () aretaic, arete argent- silver Latin argent, Argentina arid- be dry Latin "be dry or parched" arid arist- excellence Greek () aristocracy, aristocrat arithm- count, number Greek (), , () antilogarithm, arithmetic, arithmomania, logarithm, logarithmic arm- weapon Latin armament, armistice, armor, armory, arms, army, disarm, rearm arsen- male Greek (), () arsenic, arsenopyrite art- art, skill Latin artifact, artifice, artificial, artificiality, artisan arthr- joint Greek () Anarthria, arthritic, arthritis, arthrogryposis, arthropathy, arthroplasty, arthropod, arthroscope, arthroscopic, arthroscopy, arthrosis, dysarthria, osteoarthritis, spondyloarthropathy arti- even Greek (), "evenness", artiodactyl, artiodactylous asc- bag Greek (), () ascidium, ascites, ascitic, ascocarp, ascoma, ascomycete, Ascomycota, ascospore, ascus asin- donkey, ass Latin asinine, ass, easel asper- rough Latin "rough" asperity, exasperate aspr- white Greek () diaper aster-, astr- star, star-shaped Greek (), () "star" aster, asterisk, asteroid, astrology, astronomy, astronaut, diasterism geaster, monaster asthen- weak Greek () asthenopia, asthenosphere, asthenozoospermia ather- gruel Greek () atherogenic, atheroma, atherosclerosis athl- contest Greek () "contest, feat", athlete, athletic, decathlon, pentathlon, triathlon -athroid- gathered or lumped together Greek () "to gather together" epiathroid, hypoathroid audac- daring Latin "brave, bold, daring", from "to dare" audacious, audacity aud- hearing, listening, sound Latin "to hear" audible, audience, audio, audiobook, audiology, audiovisual, audit, audition, auditorium, auditory aug-, auct- grow, increase Latin , "to increase" auction, augend, augment, augmentation, augur, augury, august, author, auxiliary, inauguration aul- flute, tube Greek , (), , , () aulete, aulos, hydraulic, hydraulus aur- relating to gold, or gold-colored Latin "gold" aureate, aureole auri-, aus- relating to the ear Latin "ear" aural, auricle, aurinasal, auscultate, auscultation aut-, auto- self; directed from within Greek () "self", "same" autarchism, autarchy, autarky, authentic, autism, autistic, autobiography, autocracy, autograph, autoimmune, automatic, automaton, automobile, autonomy, autopilot aux- increase Greek (), auxánein, (), () auxanogram, auxanography, auxanology, auxanometer, auxesis, auxetic, auxin, auxochrome, auxology, auxotroph, auxotrophy av- desire Latin "crave, long for" avarice, avaricious, avarous, ave, avid, avidity avi-, au- bird Latin auspice, auspicious, avian, aviary, aviation, aviator axi- merit, worth Greek () "worth" axiology, axiom, axiomatic axi- axis Latin axion, axis, axisymmetry axon- axis, axle Greek () axon, axonography, axonometric, axonotmesis References