Root Words - GRE

GRE Study Material

a-

meaning: without

examples: amoral, amorphous, asexual

ambi-

meaning: on both sides

examples: ambidextrous, ambivalent

ante-

meaning: before or in front

examples: antecedent, antedate

anti-

meaning: against

examples: antipathy, antisocial

aqu/aqua-

meaning: water

examples: aquatic, aqueous, aquarium, aqueduct

bene-

meaning: good

examples: benefit, benediction, benevolent

bi-

meaning: two

examples: bifurcate, biannual, bisect

bio-

meaning: life

examples: biology, biography, biome

cede/ceed

meaning: go or yield

examples: precede, exceed, recede

circum-

meaning: around

examples: circumscribe, circumnavigate, circumvent

contra-

meaning: against or opposite

examples: contradiction, contraception, controversy

cycl

meaning: circle

examples: bicycle, cyclical

de-

meaning: reduce or remove

examples: deescalate, defenestrate, decelerate

di-, dis-

meaning: apart or away

examples: digress, disappear, diverge

dict

meaning: speak or say

examples: edict, dictation, dictator, prediction, contradiction

dox

meaning: belief

examples: orthodox, paradox, heterodox

du-, duo-

meaning: two

examples: dual, duology, duochrome

em-, en-

meaning: into, in

examples: embrace, enclose, encircle

esce

meaning: becoming

examples: coalesce, adolescence, obsolescent, tumescent

ex-

meaning: out or way

examples: exit, exhale, extirpate, exile

extra-, extro-

meaning: beyond or outside

examples: extraordinary, extraterrestrial

fid/e

meaning: faith

examples: bonafide, fidelity, confide

fore

meaning: before, previously, earlier

examples: forestall, before, forebear, forebode, forecast

gram

meaning: writing, letters

examples: diagram, grammar, epigram, telegram

graph

meaning: writing, recording

examples: stenography, autograph, graphics

hetero-

meaning: different

examples: heterosexual, heterozygous, heterogeneous, heterodox

homo-

meaning: same

examples: homogenous, homosexual, homologous

hyper-

meaning: excessive

examples: hyperactive, hyperbole

hypo-

meaning: under, below

examples: hypothermia, hypocrite, hypoglycemic

inter-

meaning: between

examples: intercede, interlude

intra-/intro-

meaning: inside, within

examples: introvert, intramural, intravenous

junct

meaning: joining

examples: juncture, conjunction, disjunct

-less

meaning: without

examples: listless, aimless, heartless

-logy

meaning: the study of

examples: biology, geology, psychology

mal, male

meaning: bad, evil

examples: malediction, malice

mis-

meaning: bad or incorrect

examples: misprint, misbehave, misstep

-ness

meaning: state of being

examples: likeness, greatness

non-

meaning: not, without

examples: nonfiction, nonresident

ob-

meaning: against or before

examples: obdurate, obfuscate

omni-

meaning: all, everything

examples: omnipotent, omniscient, omnivorous

pedi, pede

meaning: foot

examples: pedestrian, pedicure

phil

meaning: love or affinity

examples: bibliophile, philanthropy

pre-

meaning: before or earlier

examples: pretest, preamble

pro-

meaning: before or forward

examples: proceed, prologue

re-

meaning: again, backwards

examples: reaction, rebound, reuse

sub-

meaning: under or lower

examples: submarine, subprime

temp

meaning: time

examples: temporal, contemporary, temporarily

tort

meaning: twist

examples: tortuous, contortion

trans-

meaning: across or beyond

examples: transnational, transit

un-

meaning: not or opposite

examples: unimpressive, unwanted, unwarranted