GRE Word Roots

A/AN

= NOT, WITHOUT

agnostic: one who believes the existence of god is not provable

anomaly: an irregularity

atrophy: the wasting away of body tissue

AB

= OFF, AWAY FROM, APART, DOWN

abdicate: to renounce or relinquish a throne

abject: cast down, degraded

abstruse: hard to understand; secret, hidden

ABLE/IBLE

= CAPABLE OF, WORTHY OF

combustible: capable of being burned; flammable

inevitable: impossible to be avoided; certain to happen

changeable: able to be changed

AC/ACR

= SHARP, BITTER, SOUR

acerbic: sour or astringent in taste; harsh in temper

acrimonious: caustic, stinging, or bitter in nature

acumen: mental sharpness; quickness of wit

ACOU

= HEARING

acoustic: pertaining to hearing; sound made through

ACT/AG

= TO DO, TO DRIVE, TO FORCE, TO LEAD

prodigal: wastefully or recklessly extravagant

agile: quick and well-coordinated in movement; active, likely

AD

= TO, TOWARD, NEAR

accede: to yield to a demand; to enter office

advocate: to plead in favor of

adjoin: to be close or in contact with

AL/ALI/ALTER

= OTHER, ANOTHER

altruist: a person unselfishly concerned for the welfare of others

allegory: figurative treatment of one subject under the guise of another

alias: an assumed name; another name

AM

= LOVE

amatory: of or pertaining to lovers or lovemaking

amiable: having or showing agreeable personal qualities

amity: friendship; peaceful harmony

AMBI/AMPHI

= BOTH, ON BOTH SIDES, AROUND

ambient: moving around freely; circulating

ambiguous: open to various interpreations

AMBL/AMBUL

= TO GO, TO WALK

ambulatory: of, pertaining to, or capable of walking

perambulator: one who makes a tour of inspection on foot; a baby stroller

ANIM

= OF THE LIFE, MIND, SOUL, BREATH

animosity: a feeling of ill will or enmity

equanimity: mental or emotional stability, especially under tension

ANNUI/ENNI

= YEAR

annals: a record of events, esp. a yearly record

annuity: a specified income payable at stated intervals

ANT/ANTE

= BEFORE

antecedent: existing, being, or going before

antediluvian: belonging to the period before the biblical flood; very old or old-fashioned

ANTHRO/ANDR

= MAN, HUMAN

misanthrope: one who hates humans or humanity

philanderer: one who carries on flirtations

androgen: any substance that promotes masculine characteristics

ANTI

= AGAINST, OPPOSITE

antipodal: on the opposite side of the globe

antipathy: aversion

antiseptic: free from germs; particularly clean or neat

APO

= AWAY

apogee: the highest or most distant point

apostasy: a total desertion of one’s religions, principles, party, cause, etc.

apocryphal: of doubtful authorship or authenticity

AQUA/AQUE

= WATER

subaqueous: underwater

aqueduct: a channel transporting water

ARCH/ARCHI/ARCHY

= CHIEF, PRINCIPAL, RULER

oligarchy: a state or society ruled by a select few

architect: the devisor, maker, or planner of anything

ARD

= TO BURN

ardent: burning; fierce; passionate

ardor: flame; passion

AUTO

= SELF

autocrat: an absolute ruler

automatic: self-moving or self-acting

BE

= ABOUT, TO MAKE, TO SURROUND, TO AFFECT (OFTEN USED TO TRANSFORM WORDS INTO TRANSITIVE VERBS)

belie: to misrepresnt; to contradict

bemoan: to moan for; to lament

BEL/BELL

= BEAUTIFUL

belle: a beautiful woman

embellish: to make beautiful; to ornament

BEN/BENE

= GOOD

benediction: act of uttering a blessing

benign: having a kindly disposition

BELL

= WAR

belligerent: warlike, given to waging war

BI/BIN

= TWO

biennial: happening every two years

bilateral: pertaining to of affecting two or both sides

bipartisan: representing two parties

BON/BOUN

= GOOD, GENEROUS

bountiful: generous

bona fide: in good faith; without fraud

BREV/BRID

= SHORT, SMALL

abridge: to shorten

brevet: an honorary promotion with no additional pay

breviloquent: laconic; concise in one’s speech

BURS

= PURSE, MONEY

bursar: treasurer

bursary: treasury

reimburse: to pay back

CAD/CID

= TO FALL, TO HAPPEN BY CHANCE

cascade: a waterfall descending over a deep surface

recidivist: one who repeatedly relapses, as into crime

decadent: decaying, deteriorating

CANT/CENT/CHANT

= TO SING

recant: to withdraw or disavow a statement

incantation: the chanting of words purporting to have a magical power

accent: prominence of a syllable in terms of pronunciation

CAP/CIP/CEPT

= TO TAKE, TO GET

precept: a commandment or direction given as a rule of conduct

susceptible: capable of receiving, admitting, undergoing, or being affected by something

percipient: having perception; discerning; discriminating

CARD/CORD/COUR

= HEART

concord: agreement; peace, amity

discord: lack of harmony between persons or things

encourage: to inspire with spirit or confidence

CARN

= FLESH

carnage: the slaughter of a great number of people

incarnation: a being invested with a bodily form

carnivorous: eating flesh

CAST/CHAST

=TO CUT

castigate: to punish in order to correct

chastise: to discipline, esp. by corporal punishment

chaste: free from obscenity; decent

CAUS/CAUT

= TO BURN

caustic: burning or corrosive

cautery: an instrument used for branding

cauterize: to burn or deaden

CED/CEED/CESS

= TO GO, TO YIELD, TO STOP

accede: to yield to a demand; to enter office

cessation: a temporary or complete discontinuance

incessant: without stop

CELER

= SPEED

celerity: speed; quickness

accelerant: something used to speed up a process

CENT

= HUNDRED, HUNDREDTH

bicentennial: two-hundredth anniversary

century: one hundred years

CENTR

= CENTER

centrifuge: an apparatus that rotates at high speed and separates substances of different densities using centrifugal force

concentric: having a common center, as in circles or spheres

eccentric: off-center

CERN/CERT/CRET/CRIM/CRIT

= TO SEPARATE, TO JUDGE, TO DISTINGUISH, TO DECIDE

ascertain: to make sure of; to determine

discreet: judicious in one’s conduct of speech, esp. with regard to maintaining silence about something of a delicate nature

discrete: detached from others, separate

CHROM

= COLOR

monochromatic: having only one color

chromatic: having to do with color

CHRON

= TIME

anachronism: something that is out-of-date or belonging to the wrong time

synchronize: to occur at the same time or agree in time

chronometer: a highly accurate clock or watch

CIRCU/CIRCUM

= AROUND

circuit: a line around an area; a racecourse; the path traveled by electrical current

circumspect: cautious; watching all sides

circuitous: roundabout, indirect

CIS

= TO CUT

exorcise: to seek to expel an evil spirit by ceremony

incisive: penetrating; cutting

CLA/CLO/CLU

= TO SHUT, TO CLOSE

cloister: a courtyard bordered with covered walks, esp. in a religious institution

preclude: to prevent the presence, existence, or occurrence of

CLAIM/CLAM

=TO SHOUT, TO CRY OUT

clamor: a loud uproar

disclaim: to deny interest in or connection with

reclaim: to claim or demand the return of a right or possession

CLI

= TO LEAN FORWARD

climax: the most intense point in the development of something

proclivity: inclination, bias

disinclination: aversion, distaste

CO/COL/COM/CON

= WITH, TOGETHER

coerce: to compel by force, intimidation, or authority

commensurate: suitable in measure, proportionate

conciliate: to placate, win over

COGN/CONN

= TO KNOW

recognize: to identify as already known

incognito: with one’s name or identity concealed

CORP/CORS

= BODY

corps: a body (an organized group) of troops

corpulent: obese; having a lot of flesh

corset: a garment used to give shape and support to the body

COSM

= ORDER, UNIVERSE, WORLD

microcosm: a small system that reflects a larger whole

cosmopolitan: worldly

COUR/CUR

= RUNNING, A COURSE

concur: to accord in opinion; agree

cursory: going rapidly over something; hasty; superficial

incursion: a hostile entrance into a place, esp. suddenly

CRE/CRESC/CRET

= TO GROW

accrue: to be added as a matter of periodic gain

excrescence: an outgrowth

accretion: an increase by natural growth

CRED

= TO BELIEVE, TO TRUST

credo: any formula of belief

credentials: anything that provides the basis for belief

credulity: willingness to believe or trust too readily

CRYPT

= HIDDEN

cryptology: the science of interpreting secret writings, codes, ciphers, and the like

apocryphal: of doubtful authorship or authenticity

CUB/CUMB

= TO LIE DOWN

incumbent: holding an indicated position

recumbent: lying down; reclining; leaning

CULP

= FAULT, BLAME

inculpate: to charge with fault

mea culpa: through my fault; my fault

DAC/DOC

= TO TEACH

didactic: intended for instruction

docile: easily managed or handled; tractable

DE

= AWAY, OFF, DOWN, COMPLETELY, REVERSAL

deferential: respectful; to yield to judgement

defile: to make foul, dirty, or unclean

delineate: to trace the outline of; sketch or trace in outline

DELE

= TO ERASE

indelible: impossible to erase; lasting

DEM

= PEOPLE

endemic: peculiar to a particular group of people

pandemic: general, universal

democracy: government by the people

DEXT

= RIGHT HAND, RIGHT SIDE, DEFT

dexter: on the right

dexterity: deftness; adroitness

DI

= DAY

dial: a device for seeing the hour of the day; a clock face

dismal: gloomy

diurnal: daily

DI/DIF/DIS

= AWAY FROM, APART, REVERSAL, NOT

diffuse: to pour out and spread, as in a fluid

dilate: to make wider or larger; to cause to expand

dissipate: to scatter wastefully

DIC/DICT/DIT

= TO SAY, TO TELL, TO USE WORDS

interdict: to forbid; prohibit

verdict: a judgement or decision

DIGN

= WORTH

condign: well deserved; fitting; adequate

deign: to think fit in accordance with one’s dignity

dignitary: a person who holds a high rank or office

DOG/DOX

= OPINION

dogma: a system of tenets, as of a church

orthodox: sound or correct in opinion or doctrine

DOL

= TO SUFFER, TO PAIN, TO GRIEVE

doleful: sorrowful, mournful

dolorous: full of pain or sorrow; grievous

DON/DOT/DOW

= TO GIVE

pardon: kind indulgence, forgiveness

anecdote: a short narrative about an interesting event

DORM

= TO SLEEP

dormant: sleeping; inactive

DORS

= BACK

dorsal: having to do with the back

endorse: to sign on the back; to vouch for

DUB

= DOUBT

dubiety: doubtfulness

dubious: doubtful

DUC/DUCT

= TO LEAD

abduct: to carry off or lead away

induce: to lead or move by influence

induct: to install into a position with formal ceremonies

DULC

= SWEET

dulcified: sweetened; softened

dulcimer: a musical instrument

dulcet: sweet; pleasing

DUR

= HARD, LASTING

dour: sullen, gloomy

duress: compulsion by threat, coercion

obdurate: stubborn, resistant to persuasion

DYS

= FAULTY, ABNORMAL

dysfunctional: poorly functioning

dyspepsia: impaired digestion

dystrophy: faulty or inadequate nutrition or development

E/EX

= OUT, OUT OF, FROM, FORMER, COMPLETELY

efface: to rub or wipe out; surpass, eclipse

exonerate: to free or declare free from blame

extricate: to disentangle, release

EGO

= SELF

egocentric: focused on oneself

egoism/egotism: selfishness; self absorption

EM/EN

= IN, INTO

embrace: to clasp in the arms; to include or contain

enclose: to close in on all sides

EPI

= UPON

epigram: a witty or pointed saying tersely expressed

epithet: a word or phrase, used invectively as a term of abuse

epilogue: a concluding part added to a literary work

EQU

= EQUAL, EVEN

iniquity: gross injustice; wickedness

adequate: equal to the requirement or occasion

ERR

= TO WANDER

err: to go astray in thought or belief, to be mistaken

errant: wandering or traveling, especially in search of adventure

ESCE

= BECOMING

incandescent: glowing with heat, shining

obsolescent: becoming obsolete

reminiscent: reminding or suggestive of

EU

= GOOD, WELL

euphemism: pleasant-sounding term for something unpleasant

euphony: pleasantness of sound

EXTRA

= OUTSIDE, BEYOND

extract: to take out, obtain against a person’s will

extrapolate: to estimate (unknown facts or values) from known data

FAB/FAM

= TO SPEAK

affable: friendly, courteous

ineffable: to great for description in words

famous: well-known; celebrated

FAC/FIC/FIG/FAIT/FEIT/FY

= TO DO, TO MAKE

configuration: manner of arrangement, shape

effigy: sculpture or model of a person

prolific: producing many offspring or much output

FAL

= TO ERR, TO DECIEVE

fallacy: a flawed argument

faux pas: a false step; a social gaffe

infallible: incapable of being wrong

FATU

= FOOLISH

fatuity: foolishness; stupidity

fatuous: foolish; stupid

infatuated: swept up in a fit of passion, impairing one’s reason

FERV

= TO BOIL, TO BUBBLE

effervescent: with the quality of giving off bubbles of gas

fervid: ardent, intense

fervor: passion, zeal

FIN

= END

infinitesimal: infinitely or very small

infinite: boundless

FLAGR/FLAM

= TO BURN

conflagration: a large, destructive fire

flagrant: blatant, scandalous

FLECT/FLEX

= TO BEND, TO TURN

genuflect: to bend knee, esp. in worship

inflect: to change or vary pitch of

reflect: to throw back

FLU/FLUX

= TO FLOW

confluence: merging into one

mellifluous: pleasing, musical

effluence: flowing out of (light, electricity, etc.)

FORE

= BEFORE

foreshadow: be warning or indication of

forestall: to prevent by advance action

forthright: straightforward, outspoken, decisive

FORT

= CHANCE

fortuitous: happening by luck

FORT

= STRENGTH

fortify: to provide with fortifications; strengthen

fortissimo: very loud

FRA/FRAC/FRAG/FRING

= TO BREAK

fractious: irritable, peevish

infringe: to break or violate (a law, etc.)

FULG

= TO SHINE

effulgent: shining forth

refulgent: radiant; shining