roots everything

latin bellum, “war”

bell

warlike in nature

bellicose

synonym: combative ; antonym: peaceful

bellicose synonym and antonym

occurring before a war

antebellum

a warlike mood or attitude

belligerence

antonym: peace

belligerence synonym and antonym

Latin amor and amicus, “love” and “friend”

am

fond of, feeling love toward

enamored

synonym: charmed ; antonym: repulsed

enamored synonym and antonym

good natured, cheerful

amiable

synonym: cordial; antonym: disagreeable

amiable synonym and antonym

not bitter or hostile, friendly

amicable

Greek agon, “contest/struggle”

agon

to act hostile toward; to provoke

antagonize

synonym: oppose; antonym: soothe

antagonize synonym and antonym

the central character in a work of literature

protagonist

one who is hostile toward, one who opposes

antagonist

Greek phile, “love”

phil

calm and wise, reasonable

philosophical

charitable donation to public causes

philanthropy

antonym: stinginess

philanthropy synonym and antonym

one who loves books

bibliophile

Latin pes, pedis, “foot”

ped

something that gets in the way, and obstacle

impediment

synonym: barrier; ant: assistance

impediment synonym and antonym

practical, prudent

expedient

synonym: profitable

expedient synonym and antonym

lacking excitement, ordinary and dull

pedestrian

Greek pais, paidos, “child”

ped2

one possessing abundant knowledge of minor, often uninteresting things

pedant

a teacher, especially one who is dull and narrow minded

pedagogue

Latin vestis, “clothing”

vest

a bad imitation of; a perversion of

travesty

synonym: mockery, farce; ant: glorification

travesty synonym and antonym

significant to one’s own profit or well-being

vested

clothing worn to symbolize religious or political authority

vestment

to strip or remove a title or position of authority

divest

antonym: endow

divest synonym and antonym

Latin corpor, “body”

corpor, corpu

having to do with the body

corporeal

extremely fat, obese

corpulent

antonym: skinny

corpulent synonym and antonym

to bring together features, ideas, or elements

incorporate

synonym: include, join; antonym: separate, remove

incorporate synonym and antonym

Latin unus, “one”

uni

the same way all the way through, consistent

uniform

synonym: unvarying ; antonym: variable, disparate

uniform synonym and antonym

one voice

unison

showing complete agreement

unanimous

synonym: harmonious ; antonym: divided

unanimous synonym and antonym

Greek monos, “one”

mono

a speech made by a single person

monologue

to use or take so as to prevent others from using or taking

monopolize

synonym: hoard; antonym: share

monopolize synonym and antonym

marriage to only one person at a time

monogamy

exactly the same throughout, lacking any diversity

monolithic

Greek homos, “the same”

homo

a word spelled exactly like another word, but having a different meaning

homonym

forced to be exactly the same

homogenized

antonym: diverse

homogenized synonym and antonym

Latin aequus, “equal, even”

equi

fair, just

equitable

synonym: balanced ; antonym: unjust

equitable synonym and antonym

balance, steadiness

equilibrium

synonym: evenness

equilibrium synonym and antonym

an injustice, a wrong or wicked action or situation

iniquity

synonym: corruption; antonym: morality

iniquity synonym and antonym

greek phos and photos, “light”

phot, phos

tending to grow or move toward light

phototropic

giving off light without heat

phosphorescent

attractive in pictures of photographs

photogenic

latin lux and lucis, “light”

luc

easy to understand, clear

lucid

synonym: comprehensible ; antonym: confusing

lucid synonym and antonym

to make clear by explaining

elucidate

synonym: clarify ; antonym: confuse

elucidate synonym and antonym

allowing light to pass through

translucent

synonym: comprehensible

translucent synonym and antonym

latin specere and spectum, “to look at”

spec, spect

careful; mindful of rules and consequences

circumspect

synonym: prudent ; antonym: reckless

circumspect synonym and antonym

that which is expected

prospect

a ghost or phantom

specter

latin videre and visum, “to see, to look”

vid, vis

hateful or spiteful

invidious

synonym: defamatory ; antonym: pleasant

invidious synonym and antonym

happening by good fortune

providential

synonym: fortunate ; antonym: unlucky

providential synonym and antonym

to create without any forethought or preparation

improvise

antonym: plan

improvise synonym and antonym

latin nuntiare and nuntiatum, “to announce”

nunc, nounc

to pronounce or speak clearly

enunciate

antonym: mumble

enunciate synonym and antonym

to reject by declaration

renounce

synonym: disavow ; antonym: reaffirm

renounce synonym and antonym

a declaration of opinion, a judgement

pronouncement

synonym: declaration

pronouncement synonym and antonym

latin vocare and vocatus, “to call”

voc, vok

to call on for support

invoke

synonym: appeal

invoke synonym and antonym