A
| Root | Meaning in English | Origin language | Etymology (root origin) | English examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ab-, a-, abs-, au- | away from, down, off | Latin | ab | abdication, abduction, aberrant, abnormal, abrasion, absent, absorb, abstain, abstemious, abstraction, aversion, avulsion |
| abac- | slab | Ancient Greek | ἄβαξ, ἄβακος (ábax, ábakos), ἀβακίσκος (abakískos) | abaciscus, abacus, abax |
| ac-, acm-, acr- | point | Greek | ἀκή (akḗ), ἀκίς, ἀκίδος (akís, akídos), ἀκόνη (akónē), ἄκρος (ákros), ἄκρον (ákron), ἄκρα | acidanthera, acme, acmeism, acmesthesia, acmic, acne |
| ac-, ace- | cure | Greek | ἀκεῖσθαι (akeîsthai), ἀκή (akḗ), ἄκος, ἄκεος (ákos, ákeos) | aceology, autacoid, panacea |
| academ- | Akademos | Greek | Ἀκάδημος (Akádēmos) | academe, academia, academic, academy |
| acanth- | thorn | Greek | ἀκή, ἄκανθα (ákantha) | Acanthaster, acanthion, acanthite, Acanthocephala, acanthocephaliasis, acanthocyte, Acanthomintha, Acanthosaura, Acanthus, Metriacanthosaurus, neuroacanthocytosis |
| acar- | mite | Greek | ἀκαρί (akarí) | acariasis, acarid, acariphagous, acaroid, acarology, acarophobia, acarus |
| accipitr- | hawk | Latin | accipiter | Accipiter, accipitrine |
| acer-, acri- | bitter, sharp, sour | Latin | ācer, ācris, acerbus, acere | acerbic, acrid, acrimonious, acrimony, exacerbate |
| acet- | sour, vinegar | Latin | acētum | acetabulum, acetate, acetic, acetone, acetum, triacetate |
| acid- | acidic, sour | Latin | acidus | acidiferous, acidity, acidosis, acidulation, acidulous |
| acr- | height, summit, tip, top | Greek | ἀκή (akḗ), ἄκρος (ákros) "high", "extreme", ἄκρον (ákron) | acrobat, acrobatics, acrochordon, acromegalia, acromegaly, acromion, acronym, acrophobia, acropolis, acrostic, acroterion, acrotomophilia |
| actin- | beam, ray | Greek | ἀκτίς, ἀκτῖνος (aktís, aktînos) | actinic, actinism, actinium, actinocerid, actinodrome, actinoid, actinomere, actinometer, actinomorphic, actinomyces, actinophryid, actinopod, Actinopterygii, actinotherapy, actinozoa |
| acu-, acut- | sharp, pointed | Latin | acutus, past participle of acuere "to sharpen", from acus "needle" | acerose, acupuncture, acumen, acute, acutifoliate |
| ad-, a-, ac-, af-, ag-, al-, am-, an-, ap-, ar-, as-, at- | movement to or toward; in addition to | Latin | ad "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 | ἀδήν, ἀδένος (adḗn, adénos) | adenocarcinoma, adenoid, adenoidectomy, adenology, adenoma, adenomyosis, adenosis |
| adip- | fat | Latin | adeps, adipis "fat" | adipocellular, adipose |
| aer- (ΑΕΡ) | lift, raise | Greek | ἀείρειν (aeírein), ἀορτή (aortḗ), αἰρόμενον, ἀϝείρω | aorta, aortic, endaortitis, meteor, meteorology |
| aer-, aero- | air, atmosphere | Greek | ἀήρ, ἀέρος (aḗr, aéros) "air" | aerobic, aerodynamic, aeronautics, aeroplane, aerorrhachia, aerosol, aerotitis |
| aesth- | feeling, sensation | Greek | αἰσθητός (aisthētós), αἰσθητικός (aisthētikós) "of sense perception" from αἰσθάνεσθαι (aisthánesthai) "to perceive" | aesthesia, aesthesis, aesthete, aesthetics, anaesthetic, synesthesia |
| aether-, ether- | upper pure, bright air | Greek | αἴθειν (aíthein), αἰθήρ (aithḗr) | ether, ethereal, etheric, hypaethros |
| aev-, ev- | age | Latin | aevum | age, coeval, eon, eternal, longevity, medieval, primeval |
| ag-, -ig-, act- | do, go, move | Latin | agere, actus | act, action, activation, activity, actor, agenda, agent, agile, agitate, ambiguous, castigate, cogent, cogitate, cogitation, deactivate, excogitate, mitigate, navigate, proactive, react, transaction |
| ag- | lead | Greek | ἄγειν (ágein) (cognate with Latin agere), ἀγωγός (agōgós) | agony, antagonist, antagonize, demagogue, pedagogue, pedagogy, strategy, synagogue |
| agap- | love | Greek | ἀγάπη (agápē) | agape |
| agr- | field | Greek | ἀγρός, ἀγροῦ (agrós, agroû) | agronomist, agronomy |
| agri-, -egri- | field | Latin | ager, agris "field, country" | agriculture, peregrine |
| ailur- | cat | Greek | αἴλουρος (aílouros) | Ailuroedus, ailuromancy, ailurophile, ailurophilia, ailurophobia |
| alac- | cheerful | Latin | alacer | alacrity, allegro |
| alb- | dull white | Latin | albus | albedo, albino, albumen |
| alcyon- | kingfisher | Greek | ἀλκυών, ἀλκυόνος (alkuṓn, alkuónos) | Halcyon, halcyon |
| ale- (ΑΛ) | wheat flour | Greek | ἀλέω, ἄλευρον (áleuron), ἀλείατα | aleuromancy, aleurone, aleuronic |
| alg- | pain | Greek | ἄλγος (álgos), ἀλγεινός, ἀλγεῖν (algeîn), ἄλγησις (álgēsis) | analgesic, arthralgia, neuralgia, nostalgia |
| ali-, alter- | other | Latin | alius "another", alter "other" | alias, alibi, alien, alter, alternate, altruism |
| all- | other | Greek | ἄλλος (állos) | allegory, allogenic, allograph, allophone, parallactic, parallax |
| allel- | one another | Greek | ἀλλήλων (allḗlōn) | allele, allelomorph, allelotaxis, parallel, parallelism, parallelogon, parallelogram |
| alph- | A, a | Greek | Α, α, ἄλφα (álpha) | alphabet, alphabetic, analphabetic, panalphabetic, polyalphabetic |
| alphit- | barley | Greek | ἀλφός (alphós), ἄλφιτον, ἀλφίτου (álphiton, alphítou) | alphitomancy |
| alt- | high, deep | Latin | altus, altitudo | altimeter, altitude, alto, altocumulus, contralto, exalt |
| am-, amat- | love, liking | Latin | amāre, amatus, amor | amateur, amatory, amenity, amorous, enamoured |
| am-, amic-, -imic- | friend | Latin | amicus | amiable, amicable, amity, enemy, enmity, inimical |
| amath- | sand | Greek | ἄμαθος (amathos) | amathophobia |
| ambi-, am-, amb-, ambo-, an- | both, on both sides | Latin | ambi | ambidexterity, ambient, ambiguous, ambit, ambition, ambivalent, amboceptor, amputation, ancipital, andante |
| ambly- | blunt, not sharp, dull | Greek | ἀμβλύς (amblús) | amblygeustia, amblygonite, amblyopia, Amblypoda |
| ambul- | walk | Latin | ambulare | ambulance, ambulatory, amble, perambulate, preamble, somnambulist |
| amm- | sand | Greek | ἄμμος (ámmos), ἄμαθος (ámathos) | amathophobia, Ammophila (a plant genus and a wasp genus) |
| amn- | lamb | Greek | ἀμνός (amnós), ἀμνεῖος, ἀμνειός, ἀμνίον (amníon) | amniocentesis, amnion, amnioscope, amniote, amniotic, anamniote |
| amph-, amphi- | both, on both sides of, both kinds | Greek | ἀμφί (amphí) "on both sides" | amphibian, amphibious, amphibole, amphibolic, amphimacer, Amphipoda, amphistyly, amphitheatre, amphoterism |
| ampl- | ample, abundant, bountiful, large | Latin | amplus | ample, amplify, amplitude |
| amygdal- | almond | Greek | ἀμυγδάλη (amugdálē), ἀμύγδαλον (amúgdalon) | almond, amygdala, amygdale, amygdalin, amygdaloid, amygdule |
| an-, a-, am-, ar- | not, without | Greek | Greek ἀν-/ἀ- "not" | ambrosia, anaerobic, anarchy, anemia, anesthesia, anhydrous, anonymous, apathy, aphasia, arrhythmia, atheism, atypical |
| ana-, am-, an- | again, against, back, up | Greek | ἀνά (aná) | anagram, anabaptist, anaphylaxis, anarrhexis, anion, anode |
| andr- (ΑΝΕΡ) | male, masculine | Greek | ἀνήρ, ἀνδρός (anḗr, andrós), ἀνδρότης | Andrew, Alexander, androcentric, androcentrism, androgen, androgenous, androgyne, androgynous, androgyny, android, andrology, androphobia, androspore, diandry, misandry, monandry, philander, polyandrous, polyandry, protandry, pseudandry, synandrous |
| anem- (ΑΝ) | wind | Greek | ἄνεμος (ánemos) | anemograph, anemometer, anemometric, anemone, anemophilous, anemophily, anemophobia, anemoscope, anemotropism |
| anim- | breath, life, soul, spirit | Latin | anima "breath", "soul" | animal, animation, anime, animism, animus, inanimate, equanimity |
| ann-, -enn- | year, yearly | Latin | annus "year" | anniversary, annual, centennial, millennium, perennial |
| ant-, anti- | against, opposed to, preventive | Greek | ἀντί (antí) "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 | ante "before", "against"; see also antiquus "old" | antebellum, antecedent, antedate, antediluvian, anteroom, anticipate, antiquarian, antiquate, antique, antiquity |
| anth- | flower | Greek | ἀνθεῖν (antheîn), ἄνθος (ánthos), ἄνθησις (ánthēsis), ἄνθημα (ánthēma), ἀνθηρός (anthērós) | anther, anthesis, Anthocoridae, anthodite, anthology, anthophobia, anthophore, Anthozoa, chrysanthemum, dianthus, enanthem, enanthema, exanthem, exanthematic, hydranth, hypanthium, perianth, zoanthid |
| anthrac- | coal | Greek | ἄνθραξ, ἄνθρακος (ánthrax, ánthrakos) | anthracite, anthracnose, anthracycline, anthrax |
| anthrop- | human | Greek | ἄνθρωπος (ánthrōpos) "man" | anthropology, anthroposophy, anthropomorphic, misanthrope, philanthropy |
| ap-, apo- | off, away from, separate, at the farthest point | Greek | ἀπό (apó) "from, away, un-, quite", sometimes "changed, switched" | aphelion, apocrine, apocryphal, apogee, aporrhinosis, apostasy, apostate |
| aper- | open | Latin | aperire | aperient, apéritif, aperitive, aperture, overt, overture, pert |
| aphrod- | Aphrodite | Greek | Ἀφροδίτη (Aphrodítē), Ἀφροδίσιος (Aphrodísios), ἀφροδισιακόν (aphrodisiakón) | aphrodisiac, pseudohermaphroditism |
| api- | bee | Latin | apis | apian, apiary, apicula, apium; Petrus Apianus |
| aqu- | water | Latin | aqua | acquacotta, akvavit, aqua vitae, aquaculture, aquamarine, aquarelle, aquarium, Aquarius, aquatic, aquatile, aqueduct, aqueous, aquifer, aquiferous, aquiform, gouache, semiaquatic |
| ara- | plow, till | Latin | ărāre | arability, arable, aration, aratory, exarate, exaration, inarable, nonarable |
| arachn- | spider | Greek | ἀράχνης, ἀράχνη (arákhnē) | Arachne, arachnid, arachnodactyly, arachnoid, arachnology, arachnophobia |
| arbit- | judge | Latin | arbiter (from ad "to" + baetere "to come, go") | arbiter, arbitrage, arbitrary, arbitration |
| arcan- | box | Latin | arcanus | arcane, arcanum |
| arch-arche-archi- | ruler | Greek | ἄρχειν (árkhein), ἄρχων (árkhōn), ἀρχή (arkhḗ) "rule" (in compounds: ἀρχε-, ἀρχι-) | 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 | ἀρχαῖος (arkhaîos) "ancient" from ἀρχή (arkhḗ) "rule" | Archaea, archaeoastronomy, archaeology, archaic, archaism, archegonium, archeology |
| arct- | Relating to the North Pole or the region near it; relating to cold | Greek | ἄρκτος (árktos) "bear", ἀρκτικός (arktikós) | Antarctic, arctic, Arctic Ocean, palearctic |
| ard- | heat, glow, passion | Latin | ardere "to burn", arsus | ardent, ardor, arson |
| ardu- | difficult | Latin | arduus "high, steep" | arduous |
| aret- | virtue | Greek | ἀρετή, ἀρετῆς (aretḗ, aretês) | aretaic, arete |
| argent- | silver | Latin | argentum | argent, Argentina |
| arid- | be dry | Latin | ārēre "be dry or parched" | arid |
| arist- | excellence | Greek | ἄριστος (áristos) | aristocracy, aristocrat |
| arithm- | count, number | Greek | ἀριθμός (arithmós), ἀριθμέω, ἀριθμητικός (arithmētikós) | antilogarithm, arithmetic, arithmomania, logarithm, logarithmic |
| arm- | weapon | Latin | arma | armament, armistice, armor, armory, arms, army, disarm, rearm |
| arsen- | male | Greek | ἄρσην, ἄρσενος (ársēn, ársenos), ἀρσενικός (arsenikós) | arsenic, arsenopyrite |
| art- | art, skill | Latin | ars, artis | artifact, artifice, artificial, artificiality, artisan |
| arthr- | joint | Greek | ἄρθρον (árthron) | anarthria, arthritic, arthritis, arthrogryposis, arthropathy, arthroplasty, arthropod, arthroscope, arthroscopic, arthroscopy, arthrosis, dysarthria, osteoarthritis, spondyloarthropathy |
| arti- | even | Greek | ἄρτιος (ártios), ἀρτιότης "evenness", ἀρτιάκις | artiodactyl, artiodactylous |
| asc- | bag | Greek | ἀσκός (askós), ἀσκίδιον (askídion) | ascidium, ascites, ascitic, ascocarp, ascoma, ascomycete, Ascomycota, ascospore, ascus |
| asin- | donkey, ass | Latin | asinus | asinine, ass, easel |
| asper- | rough | Latin | asper "rough" | asperity, exasperate |
| aspr- | white | Greek | ἄσπρος (áspros) | diaper |
| aster-, astr- | star, star-shaped | Greek | ἀστήρ, ἀστέρος (astḗr, astéros), ἄστρον (ástron) "star" | aster, asterisk, asteroid, astrology, astronomy, astronaut, diasterism geaster, monaster |
| asthen- | weak | Greek | ἀσθενής (asthenḗs) | asthenopia, asthenosphere, asthenozoospermia |
| ather- | gruel | Greek | ἀθάρη (athárē) | atherogenic, atheroma, atherosclerosis |
| athl- | contest | Greek | ἆθλος (âthlos) "contest, feat", ἄεθλος | athlete, athletic, decathlon, pentathlon, triathlon |
| -athroid- | gathered or lumped together | Greek | ἀθροίζειν (athroízein) "to gather together" | epiathroid, hypoathroid |
| audac- | daring | Latin | audax "brave, bold, daring", from audere "to dare" | audacious, audacity |
| aud- | hearing, listening, sound | Latin | audire "to hear" | audible, audience, audio, audiobook, audiology, audiovisual, audit, audition, auditorium, auditory |
| aug-, auct- | grow, increase | Latin | augēre, auctus "to increase" | auction, augend, augment, augmentation, augur, augury, august, author, auxiliary, inauguration |
| aul- | flute, tube | Greek | ἄημι (ἄϝημι), αὐλός (aulós), αὐλέω, αὔλησις, αὐλητής (aulētḗs) | aulete, aulos, hydraulic, hydraulus |
| aur- | relating to gold, or gold-colored | Latin | aurum "gold" | aureate, aureole |
| auri-, aus- | relating to the ear | Latin | auris "ear" | aural, auricle, aurinasal, auscultate, auscultation |
| aut-, auto- | self; directed from within | Greek | αὐτός (autós) "self", "same" | autarchism, autarchy, autarky, authentic, autism, autistic, autobiography, autocracy, autograph, autoimmune, automatic, automaton, automobile, autonomy, autopilot |
| aux- | increase | Greek | αὔξειν (aúxein), αὐξάνειν auxánein, αὔξησις (aúxēsis), αὐξητικός (auxētikós) | auxanogram, auxanography, auxanology, auxanometer, auxesis, auxetic, auxin, auxochrome, auxology, auxotroph, auxotrophy |
| av- | desire | Latin | avere "crave, long for" | avarice, avaricious, avarous, ave, avid, avidity |
| avi-, au- | bird | Latin | avis | auspice, auspicious, avian, aviary, aviation, aviator |
| axi- | merit, worth | Greek | ἄξιος (áxios) "worth" | axiology, axiom, axiomatic |
| axi- | axis | Latin | axis | axion, axis, axisymmetry |
| axon- | axis, axle | Greek | ἄξων, ἄξονος (áxōn, áxonos) | axon, axonography, axonometric, axonotmesis |
References
- ăb, ā. Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short. A Latin Dictionary on Perseus Project.
- ἄβαξ in Liddell and Scott
- ἀκή in Liddell and Scott
- ἀκή in Liddell and Scott
- ἀκαρί in Liddell and Scott
- ἀκτίς in Liddell and Scott
- ad. Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short. A Latin Dictionary on Perseus Project.
- ἀδήν in Liddell and Scott
- ἀείρω in Liddell and Scott
- ἀήρ in Liddell and Scott
- ἄγω in Liddell and Scott
- ἀγάπη in Liddell and Scott
- ἀγρός in Liddell and Scott
- αἴλουρος in Liddell and Scott
- ἀλκυών in Liddell and Scott
- ἀλέω in Liddell and Scott
- ἄλγος in Liddell and Scott
- ἄλλος in Liddell and Scott
- ἀλλήλων in Liddell and Scott
- ἄλφα in Liddell and Scott
- ἀμβλύς in Liddell and Scott
- ἄμμος in Liddell and Scott
- ἀμνός in Liddell and Scott
- ἀμφί in Liddell and Scott
- ἀμυγδάλη in Liddell and Scott
- ἀνά in Liddell and Scott
- ἀνήρ in Liddell and Scott
- ἄνεμος in Liddell and Scott
- ἀντί in Liddell and Scott
- antĕ. Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short. A Latin Dictionary on Perseus Project.
- ἀνθέω in Liddell and Scott
- ἀπό in Liddell and Scott
- ἄρσην in Liddell and Scott
- ἀσκός in Liddell and Scott
- ἄσπρος in Liddell and Scott
- ἀθάρη in Liddell and Scott
- αὐτός in Liddell and Scott
- αὔξω in Liddell and Scott
- ἀξία in Liddell and Scott
- ἄξων in Liddell and Scott