root words, prefixes,and suffixes

Root Words, Prefixes,and Suffixes

Examples:abiotic,

anaeorobic,asymmetry,

atrophy

a-, an-(G)

without, not

Examples:antediluvian,

American

-an, -ian

native of, pertaining to

Examples:capable,

agreeable, visible

-able, -ible

able, can do

Examples:cardiac,maniac,

hemophiliac

-ac(G)

pertaining to

Examples:reaction,

action

-act-(L)

act

Examples:adjective,adjunct,advise

ad-

at, to, toward

Examples:blockade, lemonade

-ade

result of action

Examples:aerobic,aerosol,

aerodynamics

aero, aeros

air

Example:aesthetic

aesthe, aesthenos

soft

Examples:salvage,

storage, forage

-age

act of, state of, collection of

a grire la ting toEx a mp le s:a g ric u ltu re ,a g ric u ltu ris t

agri

relating to

Examples:agriculture,agriculturist

Examples:gradual,

manual, natural

-al

relating to

Example:neuralgia

-algia

pain

Example:altitude

alt-(L)

high

Ex a mp le:a mp h ib ia n , a mp h ib io u sa mphi-(G)both

Examples:ambidextrous,

ambivalent

ambi-(L)

on both sides

Examples:amble,

ambulance,circumambulate

amb

to go, to walk


Examples:amphibian, amphibious

amphi-(G)

both


Examples:antediluvian,

American

-an, -ian

native of, pertaining to

Examples:anaerobic,

anarchy

an-

without


Examples:anaphase, anarchism

ana-

away


Examples:assistance, allowance, defiance

-ance, ancy

action, process, state

Examples:androgen,

android

andro-

male


Examples:annual,

anniversity,annuity

ann-, anno-(L)

year

Examples:animal,

equanimity,unanimous

anim

life, mind, soul, spirit

Examples:antedate,

anteflexion, anterior

ante-(L)

before, in front of

Ex a mp le s:a s s is ta n t,s e rv a n t-a ntpe rforming, a ge nt

Examples:assistant,servant

-ant

performing, agent

Examples:anthropologist,

anthropoid

anthrop-(G)

human

Examples:anthology,Anthozoa

antho, anthos

flower

Examples:anticline,antibody,antibiotic

anti-(G)

against

Examples:anthropologist,

anthropoid

anthrop-(G)

human

Examples:aqueous, aquifer

aqua-(L)

waterEx a mp le s:Arc h a e b a c te ria ,a rc h a e o lo g y,a rc h a ica rc ha , a rc ha ea nc ie nt

Examples:apogee,apology,apostle

apo

away, send

Examples:aqueous, aquifer,aquatic

aq, aqua(L)

water

Examples:Archaebacteria,

archaeology,archaic

archa, archae

ancient

Example:arena

aren

sand

Ex a mp le s:Arc h a e b a c te ria ,a rc h a e o lo g y,a rc h a ica rc ha , a rc ha ea nc ie nt

Examples:anthropoid,

anthropological

arthro

jointed

Example:artiodactyl

artio-, artios-

even

Examples:dictionary, dormitory,

aviary, ordinary

-ary, -ery, -ory

relating to, quality, place

where

Example:ascus

ascus, askos

bag

astr, aster,astro(L, G)

starExamples:

astronomy, astronauts,

asteroid

Examples:liquidate, segregate

-ate

cause, make

Examples:atmosphere,atmospheric

atmos

air

Examples:liquidate, segregate

-ate

cause, make

Examples:autotroph,automatic

auto-(G)

self

Examples:avian,

aviculture,aviatrix, aviation

avis

bird

Ex a mp le s:b a ro me te r,b a ro g ra p hba r-, ba ro-(G)pre s s ure , he a v y, we ight

Examples:barometer,barograph

bar-, baro-(G)

pressure, heavy, weight

Examples:bathyscaphe,bathysphere

bathys

deep

Examples:bilateral,

bipedal, bivalve,biweekly

bi-(L)

two, twice, double

Ex a mp le s:b a ro me te r,b a ro g ra p hba r-, ba ro-(G)pre s s ure , he a v y, we ight

Examples:benefit,

benefactor

bene

good

Examples:biogenesis, biosphere,

biology, biome

bio-, bios(G)

life, living

brac, brachios

arm

Examples:bracelet,

brachiopod

Example:bryophyte

bryos

moss

Examples:capitalism,precipitous,

caption

cap, capit, cipit

head, headlong

Examples:carnivore,carnage

carn-

flesh

Examples:cardiac,

cardiology, discord

cardi, cardio, cord, cour

(G)

heart

Examples:precede,

supercede

cede

go

Example:Cenozoic

ceno

recent

Ex a mp le s:c e n trip e ta l,c e n trifu g a lc e ntr-, c e ntri-(G)middle

Examples:centripetal,centrifugal

centr-, centri-(G)

middle

Examples:century,

centimeter

cent-, centi-(L)

hundred,hundredth

Ex a mp le s:c e n trip e ta l,c e n trifu g a lc e ntr-, c e ntri-(G)middle

Examples:cephalopod,

cephalic

ceph, cephalo

head

Examples:chemist,

chemistry,

chem-(G)

matter, drug

Examples:triceratops,

keratin

-cerat-, kerat(G)

horn

Examples:chlorophyll,chloroplast

chloros

pale green

Examples:chromatic,

chromatography,chromosome

chroma-, chromo

(G)

colored

Examples:hericide,

insecticide, pesticide

-cide(L)

killer, killing

Examples:chronology,chronometer

chrono-(G)

time

Ex a mp le s:ma gic ia n, optic ia n, phy s ic ia n-c ineha v ing a s pe c ific s k ill

Examples:magician, optician, physician

-cine

having a specific skill

Examples:circumference,

circadian,circuit

circ-,circum-, circa

(L)

around,about

Examples:anticline,syncline

cline

folded

Examples:occlude,

preclusionseclude

clud, clus

close

Examples:covalent,

coefficient, convergent

co-, com-, con-(L, G)

with, together

Examples:corpus luteum,

corpuscles

corpus-(L)

body

Examples:contraception,

contradict

contra

against

Examples:crypt, cryptic, cryptogram

crypt, cryph

hidden

Example:current

curr-(L)

run

Examples:molecule, miniscule

-cule

very small

Examples:cycle, cyclone,

bicycle

cyci, cyc-,cyclo

(G)

circle, cycle, Examples:

advocacy, normalcy,prophecy

-cy

action, function

Examples:decagon,decimal

dec-, deci-(L)

ten, tenth

Examples:deduce,deform,

defoliate,decompose

de-(L)

away from,remove

Examples:demography,democracy

demo-, demos(L)

people

Examples:dental, dentist,

denture

den, dens

tooth

Examples:dendrite,

dendrochronology

dendr, dendro

tree

Examples:epidermis,

dermatology

derm, derma(G)

skin

Examples:diatomic,disectiondivision

di-(L)

two

Examples:diaphragm,diameter, diastolic

dia-(G)

across, through, apart

Examples:prediction,dictionary

-dict-(L)

say, speak

Example:circadian

dies, dian(L)

day

Examples:disrespect,disarray,

disassemble

dis-(L)

apart

Examples:reduce,deduce, produce

-duc-(L)

to lead, bring, take

Examples:dormant,dormitory,dormancy

-dorm-(L)

sleep

Examples:dynamite,dynamic

dyna

power

Examples:dysfunctional,

dyspeptic

dys

bad

echi-, enchino

spine

Examples:Echidna,

echinoderm

Examples:ecosystem,ecological

eco

house

Examples:ectoderm,

ectoparasite

ecto

outside

Examples:employee, nominee, refugee

ee-

one who receives the

actionExamples:baker,

carpenter, brewer

-eer, -or

on who, that which

Ex a mp le s:g o ld e n ,wo o d e ne n-ma de of

Examples:organelle

ella, elle

small

Ex a mp le s:g o ld e n ,wo o d e ne n-ma de of

Examples:golden,wooden

-en

made of

Examples:lengthen,

soften

en-

to cause to be

Examples:endoplasmic, endothermic

end-, endo-(G)

within

Examples:diffence,

conference, urgency

-ence, ency

action, state of, quality

Examples:biennial,

centennial,millennium

enni

year

Examples:epicenter,epidermis,epiglottis

epi-(G)

on top

Examples:equation,equinox,equator

equ-, equi(L)

equal

Examples:adolescent, obsolescent

-escent

in the process of

Examples:genesis, neurosis, osmosis

-esis, osis

action, process, condition

Examples:Japanese,

Vietnamese

ese-

a native of

Examples:midget, octet,

baronet

-et, -ette

small one, group

Examples:poetess, goddess

-ess

female

Examples:eubacteria,eukaryote

eu

true

Examples:extinct,

excretion,excretory system

ex-(G)

out of, out from

Examples:exoskeleton, exothermic,exosphere

exo-(G)

outside, outer, external

Examples:extraterrestrial, extrapolation

extra-(L)

outside, beyond

Examples:scientific, specific

-fic

making, causing

Examples:Porifera,

ferry

fer, fera, ferre

carry

Examples:filament,

filet

-fil-

a thread

Examples:final,

infinite

-fin-(L)

end

Examples:flexor, flexible

-flex-(L)

bend

Examples:foliage, foliation

folia

leaf

Examples:foreleg, forensic,

foreshadow

fore-(L)

before, in front of

Examples:transform,formation

-form-(L)

shape

Examples:fraction,fracture,infraction

-fract-(L)

break

Example:fragment,

fragile

frag-(L)

break

Examples:frightful, beautiful,

helpful

-ful

full of

Examples:diffuse,

transfusion

-fus-(L)

pour

Examples:fusible,fusilade

fusi

spindle

Examples:purify,

rectify, acidify, humidify

-fy(L)

to make

Examples:gastric,

gastrointestinal,gastropod

gastro

stomach

Examples:generate,

genealogy, genetics

gen-(G)

begin, birth

Examples:carcinogenic,

cytogenic, mutagenic

genesis, -genic

(L)

origin, birth

Examples:geography,

geology

-geo-(G)

earth

Example:Gibbous

gibbous(L)

humped

Examples:gravity,

gravitropism

gravi-(L)

heavy

Examples:seismograph,

telegraph, tropography

-graph, graphy(G)

write, process of recording

Example:progress

gress

to go

Example:hemispheres

hemi-(G)

half

Examples:hheliocentric,

Helios, heliotrope

helio

sun

Examples:herbaceous,

herbal, herbivore

herba-(L)

grass, plants

Examples:heterotrophic, heterosexual, heterozygous

hetero-(G)

different ,other

Examples:hexagon,hexane

hex-(G)

six

Examples:hominid,

Homo sapiens

hom-, homo-(L)

man

Examples:hologram,holograph

holo

completely, entirely

Examples:homogeneous, homologous, homzygous

homeo, homo(G)

alike, same

Examples:hominid,

Homo sapiens

hom-, homo-(L)

man

Examples:childhood,

neighborhood,motherhood

-hood

order, quality

Examples:hydrology,

hydroelectric,hydrophobia

hydr-, hudro-(G)

water

Example:hyaloplasm

hyal, hyalo

glassy

Examples:hyperactive,

hyperglycemia, hypertonic

hyper-(G)

over

Examples:hypodermic,

hypoglycemia,hypotenuse

hypo-(G)

beneath, below, under

Examples:hypnosis,hypnotic,hynotize

hypno-

sleep

Examples:biblical,physical

-ical

pertaining to,having the nature

of

Examples:metamorphic,

anthropomorphic

-ic, -tic(G)

pertaining to,having to do with

Examples:justice,malice

-ice

condition, state, quality

Examples:ichthyology,ichthyosaur

ichthys

fish

Examples:fluid, flouride, torrid, canid

-id, ide

something connected to or

belonging to

Examples:ignite,

igneous rock

ign-(L)

fire

Examples:inorganic,

invertebrate, involuntary

in-(L)

not

Examples:infrared,

infrasonic

infra-(L)

below

Examples:feminine,

masculine, medicine

-ine

having the nature or

characteristic of

Examples:international,interphase,interstellar

inter-(L)

between, among

Examples:intracellular,intramural

intra-(L)

within, inside

Examples:contagion, infection, aversion

-ion, sion, tion

act of, state of, result of

Examples:introspect,

introversion, introvert

intro-(L)

into, within

Examples:alcoholism,

heroism, communism

-ism

system, manner,

condition

Examples:isotope, isobar,

isotherm

iso-(G)

equal

Examples:scientist,socialist,terrorist

-ist(G)

one who,that which

Examples:graphite, sulfite,

neophyte

-ite, yte

nature of, quality of

Examples:appendicities,

arthritis, hepatitis

-itis(G)

disease, inflammation

Examples:captivity,

carity

-ity, -ty

state of quality

Examples:conclusive,

festive, restive

-ive

causing

Examples:emphasize,

anthropomorphize

-ize

to make (like)

Examples:eject, reject,

inject, subject

ject

throw

Examples:leukemia,leukocyte

leuco, leuk

white, colorless

Examples:careless,fearless

-less

without

Examples:lever,

elevation,elevator

-lev-(L)

raise

Examples:lingo, lingual,

linguistlinguistics

lingo, lingua

tongue

Examples:lithosphere,

lithospheric plate

litho-, -lithic(G)

rock, stone

Examples:biology,zoology

-logos, -logy(G)

word, the study of

Examples:dialogue,

monologue,prologue

log, logue

word, thought, speech

Examples:lunar,

lunar eclipse,lunar year

lun, luna(L)

moon

Examples:clearly,

fearlessly

-ly

like

Examples:hemolysis, hydrolysis, lysosome

-lys-, -lysis(L)

dissolution, destruction

Examples:reject,inject

-ject(L)

throw

Examples:magnify,

magnitude

magni-(L)

great, big

Examples:macrophage,macrocasm

macr-, macro-(g)

long, large, great

Examples:maladjusted,malpractice

mal

bad

Examples:manuscript,

manual

manu

hand

Examples:maritime polar,

maritime tropical

mari-(L)

seaExamples:

mechanical digestion,

mechanical energy

mechan-(G)

machine

Examples:momentum,amazement,contentment

-ment(L)

an act

Example:mesosphere

meso

middle

Examples:metamorphic rock,metamorphosis

meta-(L, G)

change, after, beyond

Examples:kilometer,

centimeter,micrometer

-meter(G)

measure

Examples:midbrain,midyear

mid-

middle

Examples:microscope,microscopic,microbiology

micro-(G)

small

Examples:mistake,

misfortune,misconception

mis-

bad, wrong

Examples:monocular,

monocotyledon, monoecious

mon-, mono-(G)

one, single

Examples:mortal,

mortality

mort-(L)

death

Examples:metamorphic rock,metamorphosis,

ectomorph

-morph-(G)

shape, form

Examples:mutation,mutualism

mut-(L)

change

Examples:multicellular,

multiply

multi-(L)

many

Examples:neoplasm,Neolithic,

neodymium

neo-(L)

new

Example:willingness

-ness

the quality,state of

Examples:neurology,

neuromuscular,neuron

neuro(G)

nerve

Examples:nocturnal, equinox

noct-, -nox(L)

night

Examples:nonrenewable,

nonvascular plant,non-sexual

non-(L)

not

Example:nova

nova(G)

new

Examples:nucleus,

nuclear energy,nuclear membrane

nuci-(L)

kernal, nut

Examples:asteroid,

humanoid,tabloid

-oid(G)

like

Examples:octopus,octagon,octave

oct(G)

eight

Examples:omnivore,

omnipurpose,omnitolerant

omni(L)

all

Examples:optical,optic

oph-, opt-(G)

eye

Example:triceratops

-ops(G)

face

Examples:orthodox,

orthodonist

ortho

straight

Examples:ovary,

ovulation

ov-, ova-(L)

egg

Examples:generous,glorious

-ous(L)

having, full of

Examples:paleontology

paleontologist,Paleolinthic

paleo-(G)

ancient

Examples:Pangaea,panache,

panophobia

pan-(G)

every

Examples:parallel circuit,

parasite, parasitism

para(G)

beside

Examples:pedoscope,

tripod

-ped-, pod-(L)

foot

Examples:pendent,pendulum

pend-(L)

hang

Examples:pentagon,

pentagram,pentatonic

pent-(G)

five

Examples:percolate,

permeability,perpendicular

per-(L)

through

Examples:perimeter,periphery

peri-(G)

around

Examples:petrified,

petrified fossil,petroleum

petr-(G)

rock

Example:esophagus, Sarcophagia

-phag(G)

eat

Example:telephone

-phon-(G)

sound

Example:hydrophobia

-phobia(G)

fear

Examples:microphone,

telephone

-phon-(G)

sound

Examples:photon,

photograph,photosysnthesis

photo-(G)

light

Examples:physics,

physical science,physiology

phys-(L, G)

body, natural

Examples:chlorophyll, sporophyll

phyll

leaf

Examples:pictogram,

picture

pict-(L)

to paint

Examples:plate tectonics,

plateau

plate, plateo

flat

Examples:duplex,

multiplex

-plex(L)

multiplied by a specific number

Examples:pseudopod,

tripod

pod

foot

Examples:polygon,polymer

poly-(G)

many

Examples:report,

transport

-port-(L)

carry

Examples:posterior, postnatal,

postpartum

post(L)

after, behind

Examples:prophase,prediction

pre-, pro-(L, G)

before, forward

Examples:primitive,

prime meridian, primary

prim-(L)

first

Examples:prophase,prologos

pro-(G)

before, earlier

Examples:pro-American,

proslavery

pro-(L)

for

Examples:protocells, prototype

proto, protos

first

Examples:pseudopod,pseudonym

pseudo

false

Examples:psychologist,psychology,psychosis

psycho

mind

Example:pyroclastic,pyramidal,pyrolusite

pyr, pyro(G)

fire

Examples:quintaplets,pentagon,

quint, penta(L, G)

four, fourth

Examples:quadralateral,

quandrant,quadrillion

quad-(L)

four, fourth

Example:radar,

radiation,radiactive

rad-(L)

ray

Examples:reproduction,

reactant,reaction

re-(L)

again

Examples:rectroactive,retrospect

retro

backward

Examples:erupt,disrupt

-rupt-(L)

break

Example:mycorrihiza

rhiza

root

Examples:science, scientist

sci-(L)

know

Example:dinosaur

saur, sauros(G)

lizard, reptile

Examples:disect

intersection

-sect(L)

cut

Examples:microscopetelescope

-scope(G)

look at

Examples:microscopetelescope

-scope(G)

look at

Example:manuscript

script

write

Examples:disect

intersection

-sect(L)

cut

Example:sediment,

sedimentary

-sed-(L)

settle, sit

Examples:seismograph,seismology

seism(G)

earthquake

Examples:semicircle,semilunar,

semiconductors

semi(G)

half

Examples:osteoperosis,

synthesis,analysis

-sis(G)

condition of

Examples:sequencefrequency

sequ-(L)

follow

Examples:dissolve,solution

solu-, solv-(L)

loosen

Examples:solar,

solar panel

sol-(L)

sun

Examples:centrosome, lysosome, somatic, somite

soma(G)

body

Examples:inspect,

specticles,retrospective

-spec-, spect-(L)

look

Examples:sphere,

biosphere

-sphere-(G)

ball, globe

Examples:gymnosperm,

sperm

sperm-, sperma

seed

Examples:constellation,

interstellar

-stella-(L)

star

Examples:stratus,

stratosphere

strat-(L)

sheet, spread

Examples:subspecies, substitution

sub, sup(L)

below, under, smaller than

Examples:supraorbital, suprarenal

supra(L)

above, upon

Examples:supercerebral, superconductor

super-(L)

above, upper

Examples:photosynthesis,

synthesis

sy-, sym-, syn-, sys-

(G)

likeness, similiarity, being

together

Examples:telescope,telephone,telegram

tele-(G)

distant, far

Example:telophase

telo-, telos(G)

end

Examples:tenacious,

tenant

ten-(L)

to hold

Examples:terminate,terminal

termin-(L)

end

Examples:extemporaneous,

temporal, temporize

tempor

time

Examples:terminate,terminal

termin-(L)

end

Examples:tenacious,

tenant

ten-(L)

to hold

Examples:tetrapod,

tetrahedral,

tetra-(L)

four

Examples:terrain,

terrestrial,terrace

terr, terra(L)

earth, land

Examples:thermal,

thermometerthermos

therm-, thermo(G)

heat

Examples:thylkoid

thulakos

pouch

Examples:antitoxin, toxic,

toxin

tox, toxikon(G)

poison

Ex a mp le s:p h o to tro p ic ,tro p o s p h e retrop-, tropo-(G)turn


Examples:triploid,

tripod, triangle,trilateral

tri-(G)

three

Examples:transcontinental,

transit,transpiration

trans-(L)

across, beyond,through



Examples:phototropic,troposphere

trop-, tropo-(G)

turn

Examples:autotroph, dystrophy, heterotroph

-troph-,throphe

(G)

to feed or eat



Examples:frailty,

electricity,likeness

-ty, -ity,-ness(L) (G)

the quality or state of being

subtle



Examples:unbalance,

unconformity

un-(L, G)

not



Examples:unicellular,

unit, unisom

uni, unis(L)

one



Example:vernal equinox

vernal(L)

spring season

Examples:vaccine,

vaccinate

vacc

cow


Examples:virile,virtue

vir-(L)

manEx a mp le:in v itrov itrogla s s y

Example:invitro

vitro

glassy



Examples:vocal,

vocabulary

voc-(L)

call



Examples:volcano,volcanic

vocan-(L)

fire, heat

Examples:revolve,revolver,revolution

-vol-, -volv-(L)

turn, roll



Examples:herbivore,carnivore

-vor-, vore(L)

devour, eat



Examples:toward,

forward, upward

-ward

having a particular

direction or location

Example:werewolf

were-

man



Examples:clockwise,saleswise

-wise

in the direction,with respect to



Examples:xeric,

xerophyte

xeros(G)

dry

Examples:xenon,

xenophobe

xeno

strange, foreign



Examples:holozoic, protozoa, zoology, zoospore

zo, zoon(G)

animal

Example:zygote

zygo, zygous

joined

root words, prefixes,and suffixes

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