Cumulative Vocab List Humanities (H)

Roots and Vocab Definitions

Humanus (root)

Human-being (root)

Athropos (root)

Human-being or man

Homo, Hominis (root)

man

Vir (root)

man

Gyne (root)

woman

Femina (root)

woman

Autos (root)

Self

Ego (root)

I

humane adj.

Having the worthy qualities of a human being, such as kindness or compassion

humanism n.

A philosophy in which interests or values of human being are of primary importance

humanities n.

Branches of knowledge concerned with human beings and their culture: philosophy, literature, and fine arts as distinguished from the sciences

anthropology n.

The scientific study or origins, cultural development, and customs of human beings

misanthrope n.

A person who hates all people

homicide n.

The killing of one person by another; a person who kills another

virile adj.

Having certain characteristics popularly associated with men, especially physical strength, procreative power, assertiveness, and vitality

gynecology n.

The branch of medicine dealing with disease in the reproductive system of women

feminism n.

The belief that women should possess the same political and economic rights as men

feminist n.

A supporter of women’s claims to the same rights and treatments as men

autocrat n.

A ruler who has absolute or unlimited power; a despot

automaton n.

A person who behaves in a mechanical, routine manner; a robot

autonomy n.

The condition of being self-governing; independent

autopsy n.

The examination of a corpse to determine the cause of death

egoism n.

Conceit; valuing everything according to one’s personal interest; excessive confidence in the rightness of one’s own opinion

Geno, Geneos (root)

race and family

Gens, Gentis (root)

Race, clan, and family

Genus, Generis (Root)

Birth, race, kind, tribe, and clan

Gigno, Gingere, Genui, Genitum (root)

to beget, to bear, to bring forth

genealogy n.

A record of descent from one’s ancestors; the study of family records

genocide n.

The planned annihilation of a racial, political, or cultural group

genre n.

A type, class, or category, especially of fine arts or literature

genteel adj.

Well-mannered; refined; polite

gentile n.

Anyone not of the Jewish faith; a Christian

gentry n.

Aristocratic or well-bred people

heterogenous adj.

Having parts that are unrelated or completely different

homogeneous adj.

Of the same kind or sort

congenital adj.

Existing at birth but not hereditary

Engender v.

To give rise to; to bring into existence

genesis n.

A beginning or origin

indigenous adj.

Occurring in or characterizing an area; native

progenitor n.

A direct ancestor; an originator of a line of descent

progeny n.

Children of descendants; offspring

Ingenious adj.

Cleverly inventive and resourceful

Mater and Matris (root)

Mother

Pater and Patris (root)

father

Frater and Fratris (root)

brother

Avunulus and Avunculi (root)

uncle

Familia (root)

family

Uxor and Uxoris (root)

wife

Gamos (root)

marriage

Matrix n.

The surroundings within which something begins or develops

Matriarchy n.

A society ruled or controlled by women

Matriculate v.

To register as a student at a college or university

Patriarch n.

The head of a family or tribe

Patrimony n.

A family inheritance

Patronage n.

1. Support; encouragement 2. Business clientele; customers

Patronize v.

1. To go regularly 2. To treat someone as inferior

Patronymic n.

Name derived from a paternal ancestor

Fraternal adj.

Pertaining to brothers; brotherly

Avuncular adj.

Like an uncle

familia adj.

Having to do with family

Uxorious adj.

Dominated by one’s wife

Bigamy n.

Marriage to two mates

Monogamy n.

Married to a single mate

Puer (root)

a male child

Pais, Paidos (root)

Child, boy

Sum, esse fui, futurum (root)

To be

Morior, mori, mortuum (root)

To die

Thanatos

Death

Nascor, Nasci, Natum

To be born

Puerile adj.

Childish; immature

Orthopedics noun.

Branch of medicine treating disorders of the skeletal system and tissues related to movement

Pedagogue n.

A teacher

Pedant n.

1. A person who pays excessive attention to learning rules rather than to understanding 2. A scholarly show-off

Entity n.

Something that has a real or independent existence

Nonentity n.

1. A person or thing of no importance 2. Something that does not exist or exists only in imagination

Essense n.

1. The basic element; the identifying characteristic 2. A substance in concentrated form obtained from a plant or drug 3. A perfume

Moribund adj.

About to die or end

Mortify v.

To shame 2. To discipline oneself by denial

Postmortem n.

1. An examination to determine the cause of death; an autopsy 2. An analysis of something that is over

Euthanasia n.

The act of painlessly killing a suffering person or animal; mercy killing

Innate adj.

Possessed at birth; inborn

Naive adj.

1. Childlike; unsophisticated 2. Gullible

Nascent adj.

Emerging; coming into existence

Renaissance n.

1. A rebirth; a renewal 2. A revival of humanism in fourteenth century to sixteenth century Europe