etymology (semester 1)

agnostic

[A not + GNOS to know]--one who does not know whether there is a God. Ex

amoral

lit.* without moral standards; neither moral nor immoral; unable to distinguish between right and wrong. Ex

anarchy

[AN without + ARCH ruler]--lit. without a ruler; political disorder and confusion. Ex

anecdote

[AN not + EKDOTOS given out]--originally, not published (some stories were made public by publishing them, and others were kept private); now, merely a short account of some interesting or humorous incident. Ex

anemia

[AN without + HEM blood]--lit. Without blood; a deficiency of red corpuscles in the blood. Ex

anesthetic

[An without + ESTHET feeling]--lit. without feeling; a drug causing one to be insensitive to pain. Ex

anomaly

[AN not + HOMO same]--lit. not the same (as others); a rare exception; something that is not normal. Ex

anonymous

[AN without + ONYM name]--lit. without a name; having an unknown or unacknowledged name. Ex

asymmetrical

[A not + SYM together + METER measure]--lit. not measured together; not having both sides exactly alike; not symmetrical. Ex

atheist

[A without + THE god]--lit. one who is without a God; one who denies the existence of God. Ex

atypical

lit. not typical. Ex

ambience

[AMBI around]--the surrounding atmosphere. Ex

ambiguous

[AMBI around + AGERE to drive]--lit. to drive around (in an uncertain manner because there were few roads in early days); uncertain; having two possible meanings. Ex

ambitious

originally, going around for votes; today, having a desire to succeed. Ex

amphitheater

an oval or round structure with tiers of seats around an open space. Ex

ambidextrous

[AMBI both + DEXTR right hand]--lit. both right hands; able to use both hands with equal ease. Ex

ambiguity

[AMBI both] the quality of having two possible meanings. Ex

ambivalence

conflicting (both kinds of) feelings toward a person or thing (noun). Ex

ambivalent

having conflicting (both kinds of) feelings toward someone or something (adjective). Ex

amphibian

[AMPHI both + BIO life] an animal that lives both in the water and on land (noun). Ex

amphibious

[AMPHI both + BIO life] able to live or to travel both on land and in water (adjective). Ex

annuls

[ANN year] a written account of events year by year; historical records (noun). Ex

anniversary

[ANN year + VERS to turn] the yearly return of the date of some memorable event. Ex

annual

[ANN year] yearly. Ex

annuity

[ANN year] an investment that provides fixed payments yearly or at other regular intervals. Ex

biannual

[BI two + ANN year] occurring two times a year. Ex

biennial

[BI two + ENN year] occurring every two years. Ex

centennial

[CENT hundred + ENN year] a hundredth anniversary. Ex

millennium

[MILLI thousand + ENN year] a period of a thousand years; specifically, the thousand years when, according to the New Testament, Christ is to reign on earth; thus, a period of happiness and prosperity. Ex

per annum

[PER through + ANN year] by the year; annually. Ex

perennial

[PER through + ENN year] having a life cycle lasting through more than two years, as a perennial plant. Ex

semiannual

[SEMI half + ANN year] half-yearly; occurring two times a year. Ex

superannuated

[SUPER above + ANN year] lit. beyond the year of retirement; retired because of age. Ex