Common Roots Part A (ab-, ad-, anim, a-, bio) Flashcards by Stephanie Geary

abnormal

ab + normal

away + normal

“away” from being normal

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absent

ab + sent

away + sent

being “away” from a place

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abvolate

ab + vol + ate

away + fly + verb marker

fly “away”

The bird approached the feeder, grew suspicious, and abvolated.

This word is now obsolete. It is only recorded in the early 1600s.

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absolutely

ab + solute (solvere)+ ly

away + detach/loosen + adverb marker

loosened “away” from any doubt

Latin absolutus, past participle of absolvere “to set free, acquit; complete, bring to an end; make separate,” from ab “off, away from” (see ab-) + solvere “to loosen, untie, release, detach,” from PIE *se-lu-, from reflexive pronoun *s(w)e- (see idiom) + root *leu- “to loosen, divide, cut apart.”

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abduct

ab + duct

away + lead

lead “away”

1.
take (someone) away by force or deception; kidnap.
“the millionaire who disappeared may have been abducted”

2.
Physiology
(of a muscle) move (a limb or part) away from the midline of the body or from another part.
“the posterior rectus muscle, which abducts the eye”

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abdicate

ab + dic (dicare) + ate

away + proclaim + verb marker

a monarch saying she wants to be “away” from being in power

1.
(of a monarch) renounce one’s throne.
“in 1918 Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated as German emperor”

fail to fulfill or undertake (a responsibility or duty).
“she charged the board with abdicating its responsibilities”

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abort

ab + ort (oriri)

away/amiss + be born

“away” from rising or beginning

ab, here as “amiss” , + stem of oriri “appear, be born, arise,” from PIE *heri- “to rise” (see origin)

Verb
1.
carry out or undergo the abortion of (a fetus).
“the decision to abort the fetus”

bring to a premature end because of a problem or fault.
“the pilot aborted his landing”

Noun
1.an act of aborting a flight, space mission, or other enterprise.
“there was an abort because of bad weather”

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absorb

ab + sorb (sorbere)

away + suck

suck “away”

sorbere “suck in,” from PIE root *srebh- “to suck, absorb”

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abrasive

ab + ras (radere)+ ive

away + scrape + adjective marker (or noun)

relating to scraping “away” at

from Latin abras-, past-participle stem of abradere “to scrape away, shave off”, radere “to scrape”

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aberrant

ab + err + ant

away + wander/stray + adjective marker

wander “away”

errare “to wander, stray, roam, rove”

Adjective

departing from an accepted standard.
“this somewhat aberrant behavior requires an explanation”
Biology
diverging from the normal type.
“aberrant chromosomes”

Latin errare “wander, go astray,” figuratively “be in error,” from PIE root *ers-

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advertise

ad + vert (vertere) + ise

towards + turn + verb marker

turn ‘towards’

vertere “to turn” from PIE root *wer- “to turn, bend”

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adhere

ad + here

towards + stick

stick ‘to’

haerere “to stick”

haesitare “stick fast, remain fixed; stammer in speech,”

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adjust

ad + just (iuxta)

towards + join

tilt ‘towards’

Latin iuxta “next, close by” (from suffixed form of PIE root *yeug- “to join”).

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adapt

ad + apt (aptus/apere)

towards + fitted/joined

make suitable ‘towards’

aptare “to join,”

Latin aptus “fit, suited, proper, appropriate,” adjectival use of past participle of *apere “to attach, join, tie to.” This is reconstructed to be from PIE root *ap- (1) “to grasp, take, reach”

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admit

ad + mit (mittere)

towards + send/let go

send ‘to’

mittere “let go, send”

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adopt

ad + opt (optare)

towards + choose/wish

to make a choice ‘towards’

optare = choose, wish, desire

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adventure

ad + vent (venire) + ure

towards + come + noun marker

a coming ‘towards’

venire = to come

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advisor

ad + vis + or

towards + see + marker for thing or person that does the verb

one who looks ‘towards’ another person to help him

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advice

ad + vis

toward + look

a looking ‘towards’ to help

ultimately from Latin visum, neuter past participle of videre “to see” (from PIE root *weid- “to see”).

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adverb

ad + verb (verbum)

towards + word/verb

word ‘towards’ a verb or adjective

from ad “to” (see ad-) + verbum “verb, word” (from PIE root *were- (3) “to speak;”

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adjective

ad + ject + ive

toward + throw + adjective marker

word ‘towards’ a noun

from ad “to” (see ad-) + combining form of iacere “to throw” (from PIE root *ye- “to throw, impel”).

animal

anim + al

mind/spirit + marks as noun here

a creature that has a “spirit” and “mind”

noun use of neuter of animalis (adj.) “animate, living; of the air,” from anima “breath, soul; a current of air” (from PIE root *ane- “to breathe;”

animated

anim + ate + ed

mind/spirit + verb marker + past tense or adj marker

“spirited”

inanimate

in + anim + ate

not + mind/spirit + adjective marker

not being “spirited”

from Late Latin inanimatus “lifeless,” from in- “not” (see in- (1)) + animatus

BUT there was another meaning:
Inanimate also was a verb in 17c. English, “infuse with life or vigor,” from the other in-

animation

anim + ate + ion spirit/mind + verb marker + noun marker a state of being “spirited” and hence possessing movement

animator

anim + ate + or spirit/mind + verb marker + something or someone that does that noun marker one who gives a “spirit” to still pictures

magnanimous

magn (magnus) + anim + ous great + mind/spirit + adjective marker of being great in “spirit” generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or less powerful person. "she should be magnanimous in victory" ## Footnote 1580s, "nobly brave or valiant," from magnanimity + -ous, or else from Latin magnanimus "highminded," literally "great-souled," from magnus "great" (from PIE root *meg- "great") + animus "mind, soul, spirit" (see animus). From 1590s as "elevated in soul or sentiment, superior to petty resentments."

magnanimity

magn (magnus) + anim + ity great + mind/spirit + noun marker the state of being “great” in spirit the fact or condition of being magnanimous; generosity "both sides will have to show magnanimity"

unanimous

un (uni) + anim + ous one + mind/spirit + adjective marker being of one “mind” Adjective 1. (of two or more people) fully in agreement. "the doctors were unanimous in their diagnoses" 2. (of an opinion, decision, or vote) held or carried by everyone involved. "this requires the unanimous approval of all member states"

unanimity

un (uni) + anim + ity one + spirit/mind + noun marker the state of being of one “mind” 1. agreement by all people involved; consensus. "there is almost complete unanimity on this issue"

equanimity

equ + anim + ity balanced (equal) + mind/spirit + noun marker the state of having a balanced and hence peaceful “mind” Noun 1. mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult situation. "she accepted both the good and the bad with equanimity"

amnesia

a + mnesi (mnasthai) + a not + remembering/thinking + noun marker? ‘not’ able to remember Noun 1. a partial or total loss of memory. "they were suffering from amnesia" ## Footnote "loss of memory," 1786 (as a Greek word in English from 1670s), Modern Latin, from Greek amnesia "forgetfulness," from a- "not" (see a- (3)) + mnesi- "remembering" (found only in compounds), from stem of mnasthai "to recall, remember," which is related to mnemnon "mindful," mneme "memory" (from PIE root *men- (1) "to think"). The usual compound in Greek was amnestia, but this had a specialized sense of "forgetfulness of wrong"

apathetic

a + pathet (apathēs --> pathos) + ic not + emotion/feeling/suffering + adjective marker ‘not’ caring Adjective 1. showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern. "apathetic slackers who don't vote" ## Footnote from French apathie (16c.), from Latin apathia, from Greek apatheia "freedom from suffering, impassibility, want of sensation," from apathēs "without feeling, without suffering or having suffered," from a- "without" (see a- (3)) + pathos "emotion, feeling, suffering" (from PIE root *kwent(h)- "to suffer"). Originally a positive quality; the sense of "indolence of mind, indifference to what should excite" is by 1733.

asocial

a + social not + social ‘not’ social Asocial people prefer solitude and limited social interaction. Antisocial people tend to have a blatant disregard for the feelings or well-being of others. Adjective 1. avoiding social interaction; inconsiderate of or hostile to others. "the cat's independence has encouraged a view that it is asocial" Antisocial Adjective 1. contrary to the laws and customs of society; devoid of or antagonistic to sociable instincts or practices. "a dangerous, unprincipled, antisocial type of man" 2. not sociable; not wanting the company of others. ## Footnote 1883, "antagonistic to society or social order," from a- (3) "not" + social (adj.); also compare antisocial. antisocial = also anti-social, "unsocial, averse to social intercourse," 1797, from anti- + social (adj.). The meaning "hostile to social order or norms" is from 1802. Other, older words in the "disinclined to or unsuited for society" sense include dissocial (1762), dissociable (c. 1600). social = socius "companion, ally," probably originally "follower," from PIE *sokw-yo-, suffixed form of root *sekw- (1) "to follow."

apolitical

a + politic + al not + of citizens + adjective marker ‘not’ political Adjective 1. (of a person) not interested in politics; not thinking politics are important 2. not connected with a political party an apolitical organization Administration should be an apolitical tool of the government. ## Footnote politic = early 15c., politike, "pertaining to public affairs, concerning the governance of a country or people," from Old French politique "political" (14c.) and directly from Latin politicus "of citizens or the state, civil, civic," from Greek politikos "of citizens, pertaining to the state and its administration; pertaining to public life," from polites "citizen," from polis "city"

atheist

a + the (theos) + ist not + a god + adjective marker ‘not’ believing in a deity

amorphous

a + morph (morphe) + ous not + form + adjective marker ‘not’ having a shape

atom

a + tom (tomos) not + cutting particle of matter which can “not” be cut ## Footnote late 15c., as a hypothetical indivisible extremely minute body, the building block of the universe, from Latin atomus (especially in Lucretius) "indivisible particle," from Greek atomos "uncut, unhewn; indivisible," from a- "not" (see a- (3)) + tomos "a cutting," from temnein "to cut" (from PIE root *tem- "to cut"). An ancient term of philosophical speculation (in Leucippus, Democritus); revived scientifically 1805 by British chemist John Dalton. In late classical and medieval use also the smallest unit of time, 22,560 to the hour.

anaemia (US spelling) or anemia

an + emia (eima --> haima) without + blood having ‘not’ enough hemoglobin or red blood cells ## Footnote "deficiency of blood in a living body," 1824, a medical term from French (1761), from Latinized form of Greek anaimia "lack of blood," from anaimos "bloodless," from an- "without" (see an- (1)) + haima "blood" (see -emia). -emia = word-forming element in pathology meaning "condition of the blood," Modern Latin combining form of Greek haima (genitive haimatos) "blood," a word of no established etymology (replacing the usual IE word, represented in Greek by ear; possibly from uncertain PIE root *sei- "to drip"

analgesic

an + algesia (algein) + ic not + feeling pain + noun marker pertains to ‘not’ having pain ## Footnote algia = word-forming element denoting "pain," from Greek algos "pain," algein "to feel pain," which is of unknown origin. Related to alegein "to care about," originally "to feel pain."

anarchy

an + arch (arkhos) + y not + leader + noun marker a state of ‘not’ having a central ruling ## Footnote archon = from Greek arkhon "ruler, commander, chief, captain,"

anonymous

an + onym (onyma) + ous not + name + adjective marker ‘not’ having a name ## Footnote c. 1600, "without a name;" 1670s, "published under no name, of unknown authorship," from Late Latin anonymus, from Greek anonymos "without a name," from an- "without" (see an- (1)) + onyma, Æolic dialectal form of onoma "name" (from PIE root *no-men- "name").

abulia

a + bulia not + swelling ‘not’ being able to make a decision ## Footnote Old High German bulia =.Perhaps ultimately from PIE root *bhel- (2) "to blow, swell," or from *beu- "to grow, swell"

biology

bio + ology life + study of study of ‘life’ ## Footnote "the science of life and living things," 1819, from Greek bios "life, one's life, lifetime" (from PIE root *gwei- "to live;" see bio-) + -logy "study of." The compound was suggested 1802 by German naturalist Gottfried Reinhold Treviranus, and introduced as a scientific term that year in French by Lamarck; the two seem to have hit upon the word independently. bio = word-forming element, especially in scientific compounds, meaning "life, life and," or "biology, biology and," or "biological, of or pertaining to living organisms or their constituents," from Greek bios "one's life, course or way of living, lifetime" (as opposed to zoe "animal life, organic life"), from PIE root *gwei- "to live." The correct usage is that in biography, but since c. 1800 in modern science it has been extended to mean "organic life," as zoo-, the better choice, is restricted in modern use to animal, as opposed to plant, life. Both are from the same PIE root.

microbiology

micro + bio + ology small + life + study of study of very small ‘life’ forms ## Footnote micro = word-forming element meaning "small in size or extent, microscopic; magnifying;" in science indicating a unit one millionth of the unit it is prefixed to; from Latinized form of mikros, Attic form of Greek smikros "small, little, petty, trivial, slight," perhaps from PIE *smika, from root *smik- "small" (source also of Old High German smahi "littleness"), but Beekes thinks it a Pre-Greek word.

amphibian

amphi + bio + an of both kinds + life + marker here denoting a noun (like human, magician etc.) ‘life’ living in water and on land ## Footnote 1630s, "having two modes of existence; of doubtful nature," from Greek amphibia, neuter plural of amphibios "living a double life," from amphi "of both kinds" (see amphi-) + bios "life" (from PIE root *gwei- "to live").

biography

bio + graph (graphia) + y life + record/account + noun marker a ‘life’ history

symbiosis

sym (syn) + bios + sis together + life + greek form of 'ing' marker denoting action but part of speech is noun two ‘life’ forms living together ## Footnote 1876, as a biological term, "union for life of two different organisms based on mutually benefit," from Greek symbiosis "a living together," from symbioun "live together," from symbios "(one) living together (with another), partner, companion, husband or wife," from assimilated form of syn- "together" (see syn-) + bios "life" (from PIE root *gwei- "to live"). Given a wider (non-biological) sense by 1921. An earlier sense of "communal or social life" is found in 1620s. A back-formed verb symbiose is recorded from 1960. Either of the two organisms is a symbiont (1887; earlier in German). -sis = suffix in Greek-derived nouns denoting action, process, state, condition, from Greek -sis, which is identical in meaning with Latin -entia, English -ing (1).

aerobic

aero + bios + ic air + life + adjective marker pertaining to air for ‘life’ to exist ## Footnote "able to live or living only in the presence of oxygen, requiring or using free oxygen from the air," 1875, after French aérobie (n.), coined 1863 by Louis Pasteur in reference to certain bacteria; from Greek aero- "air" (see aero-) + bios "life" (from PIE root *gwei- "to live"). Aerobian and aerobious also were used in English. Hence aerobe "type of micro-organism which lives on oxygen from the air." The meaning "pertaining to aerobics is from 1968.

anaerobic

an + aero + bios + ic not + air + life + adjective marker lacking air for ‘life’ to exist

biosphere

bios + sphere life + sphere part of the Earth where organisms ‘live’