Word Roots Flashcards by Christiane Tan

a-, an-
Greek
anhydrous, atypical

without, not

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

ab-, a-, abs-
Latin
abnormal, abrasion, absent, abstain, abstraction, aversion

away from

“away”

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

acu-
Latin
acupuncture, acute, accurate

sharp or pointed

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

acerb-
Latin
acerbus

sharp, bitter, sour

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

acid-
Latin
acidosis

sour or acid

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

acr-
Greek
acrobatics, acromegaly, acronym, acrophobia

height, summit, tip

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

acr-, acri-
Latin
acer, acris
acrid, acrimony

bitter, pungent, sharp, sour

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

acu-
Latin
acupuncture, acute, acutifoliate

sharp

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

ad-, a-, ac-, af-, ag-, al-, ap-, ar-, as-, atm
Latin
accept, adapt, affect, approximate, ascend

movement to or toward; in addition to

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

adip-
Latin
adipose

fat

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

aer-
Greek
aeronautics, aerosol

air, atmosphere

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

aesthet-
Greek
aesthetics, anaesthetic

feeling, sensation

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

agr-
Greek
agronomy

field

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

agri-, -egri-
Latin
agriculture, peregrine

field

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

alb-
Latin
albedo, albino, albumen

dull white

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

am-, amat-, amor-
Latin
amateur, amorous, amiable, enamoured

love, loved

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

ambi-
Latin
ambidexterity, ambivalent

both, on both sides

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

amic-, -imic
Latin
amicable, inimical

friend

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

amph-, amphi-
Greek
amphibian, amphibolic, amphoterism

around, about, both, on both sides of, both kinds

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

ampl-
Latin
amplification

ample, abundant, bountiful

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

ana-, an-
Greek
anabaptist, anaphylaxis, anion, anode

again, against, back, up

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

andr-
Greek
androgen, android

male, masculine

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

anem-
Greek
anemometer

wind

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

anim-
Latin
animal, animation

breath

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

ann-, -enn- Latin anniversary, annual, biannual, millennium

year, yearly

ant-, anti- Greek antagonist, antibiotic, antipodes

against, opposed to, preventive

ante-, anti- Latin antebellum, antediluvian, anticipate, antiquarian

before, in front of, prior to

anth- Greek anther, anthology

flower

anthrop- Greek anthropology, anthropomorphic

human

ap-, apo- Greek apocrine, apogee, apostasy

away from, separate, at the farthest point

aqu- Latin aquamarine, aquarium, aqueduct, aquifer

water

ar- Latin arable

plow, till

ar- Latin arid

be dry

arche-, archi- Greek archangel, archetype

ruler

archae-, arche- Greek archaeology or archeology, archaic

ancient

arct- Greek Arctic Ocean

Relating to the North Pole or the region near it; relating to cold; used as the scientific name of some bear species, e.g. Ursus arctos horribilis

argent- Latin argent, Argentina

silver

arist- Greek aristocracy

excellence

arthr- Greek arthritis, arthropod

joint

astr- Greek asterisk, astrology, astronomy, disaster

star, star-shaped

athl- Greek athlete, pentathlon

prize

audi- Latin audible, auditorium, auditory

hearing, listening, sound

aug-, auct- Latin augend, augmentation

grow, increase

aur- Latin aureate, aureole

relating to gold, or gold-colored

auri- Latin auricle

relating to the ear

aut-, auto- Greek autograph, automobile, autonomy

self; directed from within

avi- Latin aviary, aviation

bird

axi- Latin axisymmetry

axis

axio- Greek axiology

merit

bac- Latin bacilla, bacteria

rod-shaped

bar- Greek barograph, barometer

weight, pressure

basi- Greek basic, basis

at the bottom

bathy-, batho- Greek batholith, bathyscaphe

deep, depth

be-, beat- Latin beatification

bless

bell- Latin antebellum, bellicose, belligerent

war

ben- Latin benefit, benignity

good, well

bi- Latin binary, binoculars, bigamy, biscotti

two

bib- Latin imbibe

drink

bibl- Greek bible, bibliography

book

bio- Greek biography, biology, biologist, biosphere, bioluminescent

life

blenn- Greek blennophobia, blennosperma

slime

blast- Greek blastula, fibroblast, osteoblast, sideroblast

germ, embryo, bud, cell with nucleus

bon- Latin bonify, bonitary

good

bor- Greek / Latin borealis

north

botan- Greek botany

plant

bov- Latin bovine

cow, ox

brachi- Greek brachial artery, brachiosaurus

arm

brachy- Greek brachydactyly

short

brady- Greek bradycardia

slow

branchi- Greek branchiopod, nudibranch

gill

brev(i)- Latin abbreviation, brevity

brief, short (time)

briz- | Greek

nod, slumber

brom- Greek Bromus ramosus

oats

brom- Greek bromide

stench

bronch- Greek bronchitis, bronchus, bronchiole

windpipe

bront- Greek Brontosaurus

thunder

bucc- Latin buccal, buccinator muscle

cheek, mouth, cavity

bulb- Latin bulbous, bulbule

bulbous

bull- Latin ebullient, ebullism

bubble, flask

burs- Latin bursa, bursar, bursary, disburse

pouch, purse

cac- Greek cacophony

bad

cad-, -cid-, cas- Latin accident, cadence, case

fall

caed-, -cid-, caes-, -cisc Latin caesura, incisor

cut

calc- Latin and Greek calcite, calcium, calculus

stone

call-, calli- Greek calligraphy

beautiful

calor- Latin calorie

heat

calyp- Greek apocalypse

cover

camer- Latin bicameral, camera

vault

camp- Latin champion, campaign

field

can- Latin canine, Canis Major

dog

can-, -cin-, cant- Latin cantata, canto, cantor

sing

cand- Latin candela, candid, candle, candor, incandescent, incendiary, incense

glowing, iridescent

cap-, -cip-, capt-, -cept Latin capture, captive, conception, recipient

hold, take

capit-, -cipit- Latin capital, decapitation, precipitation

head

capr- Latin Capricorn, caprine

goat

caps- Latin capsule

box, case

carbo- Latin carbon

coal

carcer- Latin incarceration

jail

carcin- Latin from Greek carcinogenic, carcinoma

cancer (disease)

cardi- Greek cardiograph, cardiology

relating to the heart

cardin- Latin cardinal

hinge

carn- Latin carnal, carnival, carnivore

flesh

carp- Greek carpology

relating to fruit

carp- Greek carpal, carpal tunnel syndrome

relating to the wrist

cast- Latin caste, castigate, castrate

pure

cata-, cat- Greek catabolic, catalyst, catastrophe, catatonia, cathode, cation

down

caten- Latin catenary, concatenation

chain

cathar- Greek catharsis

pure

caud- Latin caudal

tail

caus-, -cus- Latin causative

cause or motive

cav- Latin cave, cavity, excavation

hollow

ced-, cess- Latin ocession, recede, secede

celer- Latin acceleration, celerity

quick

cen- Greek Cenozoic

new

cen- Greek cenotaph

empty

cens- Latin census

estimate (?)

cent- Latin cent, centennial, centurion

hundred

centen- Latin centenary

hundred each

centesim- Latin centesimal, centesimation

hundredth

centr- Greek eccentric

center

cephal- Greek cephalic, cephalopod, encephalogram

head

ceram- Greek ceramic

clay

cerat- Greek keratin

horn

cern- Latin discern, secern

sift

cervic- Latin cervix, cervical

relating to the neck, relating to the cervix

ceter- Latin et cetera

other

chir- Greek chiral, chiropractic, chiroptera

of the hand or hands

chelon- Greek chelonia

relating to a turtle

chlor- Greek chlorine, chlorophyll, chloroplast

green

chore- Greek choreography

relating to dance

chord- Latin and Greek chordata

cord

chrom- Greek chromium, chromosome, monochrome

color

chron- Greek chronic, chronology, chronometer

time

chrys- Greek chrysolite

gold

cili- Latin cilia, supercilious

eyelash

cine- Greek cinema

motion

ciner- Latin incineration

ash

cing-, cinct- Latin' succinct

gird

circ- Latin circus

circle

circum- Latin circumcise, circumference, circumlocution, circumnavigate

around

cirr- Greek cirrhosis

orange

cirr- Latin cirrus

curl, tentacle

civ- Latin civility

citizen

clad- Greek clade

branch

clar- Latin clarity, declaration

clear

clast- Greek iconoclast, osteoclast

broken

claud-, -clud-, claus-, -clusc Latin clause, exclusion, include

clav- Greek clavichord, clavicle, conclave

key

cl(e)ist- | Greek

closed

cleithr- Greek cleithrum

bar, key

clement- Latin clemency, inclement

mild

clin- Latin declination, inclined

bed, lean, recline

cochl- Greek cochlea

shell

coel- Greek blastocoel, coelom, spongocoel

hollow

cogn- Latin cognitive, cognizant, recognize

know

col- Latin colander

strain

coll- Latin colline

hill

coll- Latin collar

neck

color- Latin coloration, coloratura, tricolor

color

con-, co-, col-, com-, cor- Latin coagulate, collide, compress, connect, contain, corrode

with, together

con- Greek conic, conical, conoid

cone

condi- Latin condiment

season

contra- Latin contradiction, contrast

against

copr- Greek coprolite, coprophagia, coprophilia

dung

corac- Greek coracoid

raven

cord- Latin accord, cordial

heart

corn- Latin cornea, cornucopia, unicorn

horn

coron- Latin corona, coronation

crown

corpor- Latin corporation, corpse, corpuscle

body

cortic- Latin corticosteriod

bark

cosm- Greek cosmic, cosmonaut

universe

cosmet- Greek cosmetics, cosmetology

cost- Latin costal

rib

cotyl- Greek cotyledon

cup

-cracy, -crat Greek democracy

government, rule, authority

crani- Greek cranium

skull

crass- Latin crassitude

thick

cre- Latin creation, creature

make

cred- Latin credentials, credibility, creditor, incredible

believe, trust

crep- | Greek

boot, shoe

cribr- Latin cribble, cribrate

sieve

cris-, crit- Greek crisis, critic

judge

crisp- Latin crispate

curled

crist- Latin cristate

crest

cross- | Greek

fringe, tassel

cruc- Latin crucial, crucifix, crucify, excruciating

cross

crur- Latin crural

leg, shank

crypt- Greek cryptic, cryptography

hidden

cten- Greek ctenophore

comb

cub- Greek cubic, cuboid

cube

cub- Latin incubation, succuba

lie

culin- Latin culinary

kitchen

culp- Latin culpable, exculpate

blame, fault

cune- Latin cuneiform

wedge

curr-, curs- Latin concurrent, current, cursive, recursion

run

curv- Latin curvature

bent

cuspid- Latin bicuspid

lance, point

cut- Latin cuticle

skin

cyan- Greek cyanide

blue

cycl- Greek bicycle, cycle, cyclone

circular

cylind- Greek cylinder

roll

cyn- Greek cynosure

dog

cyst- Greek cystic

capsule

cyt- Greek cytoplasm, cnidocyte

cell

dactyl- Greek dactylology, pterodactyl

finger, toe, digit

damn-, -demn Latin condemn, damnation

to inflict loss upon

de- Latin deletion, dementia, descend

from, away from, removing, down

deb- Latin debit

owe

deca-, dec-, deka-, dekt Greek decagram, decahedron

ten

decim- Latin decimal, decimate

tenth part

delt- Greek deltoid

dem- Greek demagogue, democracy

people

den- Latin denarius, denary

ten each

dendr- Greek dendrite, dendrochronology

resembling a tree

dens- Latin condense, density

thick

dent- Latin dental, dentifrice, dentures

tooth

derm- Greek dermis, epidermis, hypodermic

skin

deuter- Greek Deuteronomy, deuterostome

second

dexter- Latin dexterity, dextrose

right

dexi- Greek Dexiarchia

right

di- Greek dicot, diode, dipole

two

dia- Greek dialysis, diameter, diagram

apart, through

dict- Latin contradict, dictate, dictation, dictionary, edict, predict

say, speak

digit- Latin digital

finger

dino- Greek dinosaur

terrible, fearfully great

dipl- Greek diploid, diplosis

double; twofold

doc-, doct- Latin docile, doctor, indoctrinate

teach

dodec- Greek dodecasyllabic

twelve

dogmat-, dox- Greek dogmatic, orthodox

opinion, tenet

dom- Latin dome

house

don- Latin condone, donation

give

dorm- Latin dormant, dormitory

sleep

dors- Latin dorsal

back

du- Latin dual

two

dub- Latin dubious

doubtful

duc-, Latin abduct, conduct, introduce, produce, reducte, deduce

to lead, take, bring

dulc- Latin dulcet

sweet

dur- Latin durable, duration, duress, endure, obdurate

hard

dy- Greek dyad

two

dynam- Greek dynamism, dynasty, dynamite

power

dys- Greek dysentery, dysplasia, dystrophy

badly, ill

ec- Greek eccentric

out

eco- Greek ecology, economics, ecumenism

house

ecto- Greek ectoderm

outside

ed-, es- Latin edible

eat

ego- Latin, Greek egocentric

self, I (first person)

ego-, eg- Greek egophony

goat

em-, empt- Latin exemption, preempt, redeem

buy

eme- Greek emetic

vomit

emul- Latin emulator

striving to equal, rivaling

en-, em- Greek emphasis

endo- Greek endocrine, endocytosis

inside

engy- | Greek

narrow

ennea- Greek ennead, enneagon

nine

ens- | Latin

sword

eo-, eos-, eoso- Greek Eocene

dawn, east

ep-, epi- Greek epicenter, epitaph, epoch

upon

epistem- Greek epistemic

knowledge or science

equ-, -iqu- Latin equal, equivalence

even, level

equ- Latin equestrian

horse

erg- Greek ergonomics

work

err- Latin aberration, errant

stray

erythr- Greek erythrocyte

red

eso- Greek esoteric

within

etho-, eth-, ethi- Greek ethology

custom, habit

ethm- Greek ethmoid

sieve

ethn- Greek ethnarch, ethnic

people, race, tribe, nation

etym- Greek etymology

true

eu- Greek euphoria, euthanasia

well, good

eur- Greek Europe

wide

ex-, e-, ef- Latin exclude, extend, extrude

from, out

exo- Greek exoskeleton, exothermic

outside

exter-, extra- Latin exterior

outer

extrem- Latin extremity, extremophile

outermost, utmost

fa-, fat- Latin fate, infant, preface

say, speak

fab- Latin faba bean

bean

ali, allo, alter | alias, alibi, alien, alloy, alter, alter ego, altruism

other

-gress | digress, progress, transgress

walk

-ject | eject, inject, interject, project, reject, subject

throw

fac-, -fic-, fact, -fect- Latin defect, factory, manufacture

make

falc- Latin falciform

sickle

fall-, -fell-, fals- Latin falsity, infallibility

deceive

fallac- Latin fallacy

false

famili- Latin familiarity

a close attendant

fant- Greek fantasy

to show

fasc- Latin fasciculation, fascism

bundle

fatu- Latin fatuous, infatuation

foolish, useless

feder- Latin confederation, federal

treaty, agreement, contract, league, pact

fel- Latin Felinae, feline

cat

felic- Latin felicity

happy, merry

fell- Latin fellation

suck

femin- Latin femininity

women, female

femor- Latin femoral

thigh

fend-, fens- Latin defend, offense

strike

fenestr- Latin defenestration

window

fer- Latin reference, transfer

carry

feroc- Latin ferocity

fierce

ferr- Latin ferrous

iron

fet- Latin fetid, fetor

stink

fic- Latin Ficus

fig

fid-, fis- Latin confidence, fidelity

faith, trust

fil- Latin filament

thread

fili- Latin affiliation

son

fin- Latin finish, final

end

find-, fiss- Latin fission, fissures

split

firm- Latin confirmation, firmament

fix, settle

fistul- Latin fistula

hollow, tube

fl- Latin flatulence, inflation, insufflation

blow

flacc- Latin flaccid

flabby

flav- Latin flavonoid

yellow

flect-, flex- Latin flexible, flexile, flexor, inflection

bend

flig-, flict- Latin conflict, inflict

strike

flor- Latin floral, florid

flower

flu-, flux- Latin effluent, fluency, influx

flow

foc- Latin focal

hearth

fod-, foss- Latin fossil

dig

foli- Latin defoliant

leaf

font- Latin font, fontal, fontanelle

spring

for- Latin foralite, foramen, foraminifer, perforation

bore, drill

form- Latin conformity, deformity, formation, reformatory

shape

fornic- Latin fornication

vault

fort- Latin fortification

strong

fove- Latin fovea

shallow round depression

frang-, -fring-, fract-, frag- Latin fracture, fragment, frangible, infringe

break

Word Roots Flashcards

(324 cards)