AP English Language Roots: Set 1

1. Co, col, con, com: With; together

• Latin
• Derivative words:
  • $Co$^^operate:^^ “^^to operate^^ $together$”
  • $Col$^^labor^^ate: “^^to work^^ $together”$
  • $Con$^^vert:^^ “to ^^change^^ $altogether$”
  • “vert” from latin vertere [to turn]
  • Literally: “^^to turn^^ $together”$
  • $Con$^^vene:^^ “^^to come^^ $together”$
  • “vene” from latin “venire” [to come]
  • $Col$^^lide:^^ “^^to strike^^ $together$”
  • “lide” from latin “laedere” [to strike]
  • $Com$^^press:^^ “^^to press^^ $together$”
  • $Con$^^verge:^^ “^^to meet at a point^^ $together”$
  • “verge” from latin “vergere” [to incline]
  • Literally: ^^to incline^^ $together$
  • $Com$^^pact:^^ “^^packed^^ $together$”
  • “pact” from latin “pangere” [to fasten]
  • Literally: “Fastened together”
  • $Com$^^bine^^: “to merge together”
  • “bine” from latin “bin” [two, twice, double]
  • Literally: “^^to put two^^ $together”$
  • $Com$^^pati^^ble [to be able to exist together]
  • “pati” from latin “path” [to feel/suffer]
  • Literally: “^^to suffer/feel^^ $with”$

2. Di, Dia: Through, across, away

• Greek
• Derivative words:
  • $Dia$^^gona^^l: “to be at an angle”
  • “gona” from greek “gōniā” [angle]
  • Literally: “$through$ ^^an angle^^”
  • $Dia$^^meter^^: “the width of something”
  • “meter” from greek “metron” [measure]
  • Literally: “^^to measure^^ $across$”
  • $Dia$^^logue^^: “a conversation between two or more people”
  • “logue” from greek “logos” [word or meaning]
  • Literally: “(to put) ^^words/meaning^^ $across$”
  • $Dia$^^gnosis^^: “the identification of a problem”
  • “gnosis” from greek “gignōskein” [to recognize/know]
  • Literally: “^^to recognize^^ $through$ (investigation)”
  • $Dia$^^gram^^: “something represented in graphic form”
  • “gram” from greek “graphein” [to write, mark, draw]
  • Literally: “(to put) $through$ ^^marks^^”
  • $Dia$^^spora:^^ “the dispersion of people from their original homeland”
  • “spora” from greek “speirein” [to scatter]
    • like mushrooms scattering spores
  • Literally: “^^to scatter^^ $across$”
  • $Dia$^^tribe^^: “a bitter verbal attack; discourse”
  • “tribe” from greek “tribein” [to wear, rub]
  • Literally: “^^A wearing^^ $away$ (of time), a waste of time”

3. Vid, vis: See

• Latin
• Derivative words
  • $Vis$i^^ble^^: “to be ^^able to be^^ $seen$”
  • $Vid$^^eo^^^^:^^ “a recording of moving visual images”
  • The visual equivalent to latin “audio” [to hear]
  • Vid + audio = video
  • Literally: “$to see$ ^^audio^^”
  • ^^E^^$vid$ent: “^^clearly^^ $seen$”
  • “E” from latin “ex” [out]
  • Literally: “out to see”
  • ^^Pro^^$vid$ence: “foresight; precaution”
  • “Pro” from latin “Pro” [ahead]
  • Literally: “$to see$ ^^ahead^^”
  • ^^Re^^$vis$e: “$to look$ at ^^again^^”
  • “Re” from latin “Re” [again]
  • ^^Super^^$vis$e: “$to look$ ^^over^^”
  • “Super” from latin “Super” [over]
  • $Vis$ta: A $view$ or prospect”
  • $Vis$it: “$to go see$ and spend time with”

4. Dict: Assert, speak, tell, words

• Latin
• Derivative words:
  • $Dict$ate: “$to say$ assertively”
  • $Dict$ion: “the choice and use of $words and phrases$ in speech or writing”
  • ^^Ver^^$dict$: “a decision on a disputed issue (in a criminal case)”
  • “Ver” (latin) meaning “true”
  • Literally: “^^True^^ $saying$”
  • ^^Contra^^$dict$: “$to speak$ ^^against^^; oppose”
  • “Contra” (latin) meaning “Against”
  • ^^Bene^^$dict$ion: A blessing
  • “Bene” (latin) meaning “good, well”
  • Literally: “$Speaking$ ^^well^^”
  • $Dict$a^^phone^^: The first cassette recorder to capture sound
  • Fun Fact: All phones are Dictaphones
  • “Phone” from greek “phon” [sound]
  • Literally: “$Speaking$ ^^sound^^”
  • $Dict$ionary: A book that lists the $words$ of a language
  • ^^Pre^^$dict$: $To say$ something ^^before^^ it happens

5. Bi, Bin: Two, twice, double

• Latin
  • Derviatives:
  • $Bi$^^gamy^^: Being ^^married^^ $to two$ people at a time
    • “Gamy” from greek “gamos” [marrying]
    • Literally: “Marrying twice”
  • $Bi$^^pedal^^: Using $two$ ^^legs^^ for walking
    • “Pedal” from latin “Ped” [Foot]
    • Literally: “Two feet”
  • $Bi$^^cycle^^: A vehicle with $two$ ^^wheels^^
    • “Cycle” from Greek “kyklos” [wheel]
  • $Bi$^^cep^^: Any muscle with $two$ ^^points of attachment^^
    • “Cep” from latin “Caput” [head]
    • Literally: “Two heads”
  • $Bi$nary: “Consisting of $two$”
  • $Bi$^^lingual^^: “Speaking $two$ ^^languages^^ fluently”
    • “Lingual” from latin “lingua” [tongue]
    • Literally: “Two tongued”
  • $Bi$^^sect^^: “^^To divide^^ into $two$ parts”
    • “Sect” from latin “Secare” [to cut]
    • Literally: “To cut in two”

6. Pre: Before

• Latin
  • Derivatives
  • $Pre$^^vious^^: “Existing $before$ in time”
    • “vious” from latin “via” meaning “road; way; going”
    • Literally: “^^Going^^ $before$”
  • $Pre$^^fer^^^^:^^ “to like one thing better than others”
    • “fer” from latin “ferre” [to carry; to bear]
    • Literally: “^^To carry^^ $before$”
  • $Pre$^^conceive^^: “^^To form a truth^^ $before$ having evidence”
  • $Pre$^^mediate^^: “^^Thought out^^ $before$”