Greek and Latin Roots

Dual heritage of English vocabulary

English words come from Germanic (everyday, short) and Latin/Greek (longer, technical, euphemistic) sources. About 50% Latin, 10% Greek in common words.

Morphological change (Latin → English)

Ranges from minimal (arena → arena) to major (radius → ray). Includes predictable patterns like -tia → -ce (gratia → grace).

Semantic change – Generalization

Word meaning broadens (discus → disc for anything round).

Semantic change – Specialization

Word meaning narrows (fabula “story” → fable = specific kind).

Semantic change – Metaphorical extension

Word gains figurative meaning (focus “hearth” → focus of attention).

Semantic change – Amelioration

Meaning improves (minister “servant” → minister = respected role).

Semantic change – Pejoration

Meaning worsens (idiota → idiot).

Affixation

Adding prefixes/suffixes to modify meaning; creates new words (e.g., via → deviation, impervious).

English adjective-forming suffixes

• -y (bloody, healthy)

• -ly (manly, kingly)

• -ish (childish, bookish)

• -some (handsome, wholesome)

• -ful (sinful, helpful)

Latin compound – types

• Descriptive: adj + noun (aequilibrium = equal balance).

• Dependent: noun/adj + verb (carnivora = flesh eaters).

Latin connecting vowel

Almost always -i-, sometimes -u- (quadruped). None if second base begins with vowel (magnanimous).

Importance of Greek compounds

Greek = especially rich in compounds, widely used in science & medicine (dermatology, democracy).

Greek connecting vowel

Always omicron (-o-). Not needed if next base begins with vowel (hierarchy). Sometimes first vowel is kept (agoraphobia, telephone).

Word analysis in compounds

Divide by morpheme, not syllable. Ex: helic-o-pter = spiral wing.

-logia → -logy

“Writing / description” (geography, biography).
-graph = instrument/person (photograph).
-gram = product (telegram).

-metria → -metry

“Measurement” (geometry, chronometry).
-meter = measuring device (barometer, thermometer).

-nomia → -nomy

“Law/system” (astronomy, economy).

-mania → -mania

“Madness/obsession” (pyromania, kleptomania).
-maniac = person with obsession.

-philia → -philia

“Love/affection” (bibliophilia).
-phile = lover of (Anglophile).

-phobia → -phobia

“Fear” (xenophobia, hydrophobia).
-phobe = one who fears.

-scope

“Instrument for viewing” (microscope, telescope).
-scopy = process of viewing.

-archia → -archy

“Rule” (monarchy, patriarchy).
-arch = ruler (monarch).

-kratia → -cracy

Power/government” (democracy, theocracy).
-crat = ruler (aristocrat, technocrat).