Comprehensive Guide to Greek and Latin Roots 1-100

Roots 1-10: Light, Writing, Distance, Measure, and Motion

• 1. Photos: light     * Examples: Photograph, telephoto, photometer, phototropic, photophilia, photophobia, photosynthesis.

• 2. Graph: to write or draw     * Examples: Photograph, phonograph, telegraph, graph, lithograph, graphite, autograph, phonogram, hologram.

• 3. Tele: far away, distant     * Examples: Television, telephone, telegraph, telephoto, telescope, telepathy, telethon.

• 4. Metron: measure     * Examples: Meter, geometry, optometry, symmetry, barometer, thermometer, diameter, centimeter, anemometer.

• 5. Tropos: turning     * Examples: Tropics, tropical, phototropic, heliotrope, tropophilous, thermotropism.

• 6. Philia: love/friendship     * Examples: Philosopher, Philadelphia, phillumenist, philogynist, philologist, philtre, Anglophile, Francophile.

• 7. Phobos: fear     * Application Assignment: Create a specific phobia word and define it in your own words.

• 8. Syn: with, together     * Examples: Sympathy, symphony, synthesis, synthetic, photosynthesis, synonym, synagogue, synchronize, syncretism.

• 9. Thesis: put, place, position     * Examples: Thesis, parenthesis, synthetic, synthesizer, hypothesis, antithesis.

• 10. Kinesis: motion     * Examples: Kinetic, kinesiology, kinescope, cinema, cinematographer, knismesis.

Roots 11-14: Sound and Sight

• 11. Phone: sound     * Examples: Phonograph, telephone, phonogram, euphony, symphony, megaphone, microphone.

• 12. Sonus: sound     * Examples: Sound, sonic, sonnet, sonovox, sonar, sonata, consonant.

• 13. Skopeo: see, look, consider, examine     * Examples: Scope, microscope, telescope, periscope, kaleidoscope, Episcopal, bishop.

• 14. Video/Visum: See     * Examples: television, videophone, Montevideo, video, evidence, advise, invisible.

Roots 15-22: Language, Position, and Direction

• 15. Logos: word, study     * Examples: Logic, geology, astrology, biology, zoology, technology, anthropology, psychology, legend.

• 16. Verbum: word     * Examples: Verb, proverb, verbal, verbiage, verbose, verbatim, verbalize, verberium.

• 17. Nomen/Nomenis: name     * Examples: Nominate, nomination, nominal, nomenclature, nom de plume, denomination, denominator.

• 18. Pro: for, before, forward, in place of     * Examples: Profess, problem, professional, proboscis, prologue, proclaim, proceed, pronoun.

• 19. Prae: before, in front of     * Examples: Predict, preamble, precaution, precurser, prefer, pregnant, prejudice.

• 20. Ad: to, toward, near, next to     * Examples: Adequate, adhere, adjective, admire, admonish, admit, advertise.

• 21. Jacio/Jactum: throw     * Examples: Eject, interject, object, objection, project, projective, reject.

• 22. Pono/Positum: lay, put, place     * Examples: Pose, post, postage, position, deposit, repose, depose, impose, component.

Roots 23-32: Union, Physical Parts, and the Body

• 23. Cum: with, together     * Examples: Cooperate, cognate, collaborate, collect, combat, commemorate, community, content, confection.

• 24. Figo/Fixum: fix, fasten, attach     * Examples: Fix, fixture, crucifix, affix (noun and verb), prefix, suffix.

• 25. Jungo/Junctum: join, unite, connect     * Examples: Join, joint, conjugal, conjugation, conjunction, disjointed, junction, subjugate.

• 26. Digitus: finger, toe, inch     * Examples: Digit, digital, digitalis, prestidigitation.

• 27. Caput/Capitis: head     * Examples: Caput, capital, capitalism, captain, capitulate, recapitulate, cabbage, decapitate.

• 28. Manus: hand     * Examples: Manufacture, manifest, manuscript, manumit.

• 29. Pes/Pedis: foot     * Examples: Pedestal, pedestrian, pedal, peddle/peddler, pedicab, pedicure, pedigree, pedometer, pawn.

• 30. Bracchium: arm     * Examples: Brace, embrace, bracelet, brachiate, brachiopod, bracero.

• 31. Dens/Dentis: tooth     * Examples: Dent, dentist, dentate, dental, dentifrice, dentition, denture, dentiform, indent, dandelion.

• 32. Corpus/Corporis: body     * Examples: Corporeal, corps, incorporate, corporation, corpse, corpulence, corpus, corpuscle.

Roots 33-44: Cardinal and Ordinal Numbers

• 33. Unus: one     * Examples: Unit, union, E Pluribus Unum, united, universe, university, unicorn, unison.

• 34. Duo: two     * Examples: Duet, duplicate, dual, dubious, duel, duplex, duplicity.

• 35. Tres: three     * Examples: Trio, tricycle, tripod, triangle, triennial, triceratops, trilobite, tribe.

• 36. Quattuor: four     * Examples: Quadruped, quadricycle, quadrilateral, quadragenarian, quaternity, quatrain, quadrille, quadri.

• 37. Quinque: five     * Examples: Quinquennial, quinquagenarian, quinquesyllable.

• 38. Sex: six     * Examples: Sexennial, sexagenarian, sexdigital, sexcentenary.

• 39. Septem: seven     * Examples: September, septennial, septangle, septuagenarian.

• 40. Octo: eight     * Examples: October, octopus, octogenarian, octagon, octennial.

• 41. Novem: nine     * Examples: November, novena, novennial, novemdigitate, novendial.

• 42. Decem: ten     * Examples: December, decennial, decemdentate, decemfoliate, decempedal, decemplicate.

• 43. Centum: hundred     * Examples: Cent, century, centurion, centimeter, centennial, percent, centipede, centigrade.

• 44. Mille: thousand     * Examples: Mile, mill, millimeter, millennium, millipede.

Roots 45-50: Elements and Quality

• 45. Pyro: fire     * Examples: Pyrotechnics, pyrotechnician, pyre, pyromaniac, empyrean, pyrometer, pyrokinesis.

• 46. Ignis: fire     * Examples: Igneous, ignite, ignition.

• 47. Vulcanus: Vulcan- Roman god of fire     * Examples: Volcano, volcanic, vulcanize, vulcanite, vulcanology.

• 48. Hydros: water     * Examples: Hydroplane, hydrophobia, dehydrate, hydrogen, hyrdophone, hydrology, hyrdoelectric.

• 49. Aqua: water     * Examples: Aquarium, aqueduct, aquaculture, aquamarine, aquaplane, Aquarius, aqueous humor, aquifer.

• 50. Bonus: good     * Examples: Bonus, bon bon, bonny, boon, bounteous, bounty, bonanza, debonaire.

Roots 51-59: Celestial Bodies and Movement

• 51. Helios: Sun     * Examples: Helios, heliotrope, helium, perihelion, aphelion, helioscope, heliometer.

• 52. Sol: Sun     * Examples: Solar, solar system, solarium, solaster, parasol, solstice, ‐Old Sol.‐

• 53. Luna: Moon     * Examples: Lunar, lunatic, lunacy, clair de lune (French), lunambulist, lunarium, interlunar, lunation.

• 54. Dia: through, between, across     * Examples: Diabolical, diadem, diagnosis, diagonal, diagram, diameter, diamond, diacritical.

• 55. Trans: across, over, through     * Examples: Transport, transaction, transcript, transfer, transform, transplant, transparent.

• 56. Geo: Earth     * Examples: Geography, geographer, geologist, geometry, George.

• 57. Terra: Land     * Examples: Territory, terrace, terra cotta, terra firma, terrarium, terrestrial, extraterrestrial, terrier, Mediterranean Sean.

• 58. Dormio/Dormitum: Sleep     * Examples: Dormant, dormant spray, dormitory, dormer window, dormouse, dormeuse, dormitive, dormition.

• 59. Hypnos: Sleep     * Examples: Hypnosis, hypnotize, hypnoloty, hypnotic, hypnotherapy, hypnophobia, Hypnos.

Roots 60-68: Cycles, Nature, and Time

• 60. Annus: Year     * Examples: Annual, anniversary, biannual, biennial, triannual, triennial, centennial, millennial, perennial, annuity, annals.

• 61. Lithos: Stone     * Examples: Lithograph, monolith, megalith, lithology, lithosphere, lithic, eolithic, paleolithic, neolithic.

• 62. Petros: Rock, Stone     * Examples: Petrified, petrification, Peter, petroleum, petroglyph, petrography, petrous.

• 63. Astron: Star     * Examples: Aster, astronomer, asteroid, astrologer, astronaut, disaster, astral, astrology.

• 64. Stella: Star     * Examples: Stellar, constellation, interstellar, stellate, stellascope, stellerid, stellify, Stella.

• 65. Dendron: Tree     * Examples: Rhododendron, lepidodendron, dendrophile, philodendron, dendrometer, dendrolite, dendriform.

• 66. Arbor/Arboris: Tree     * Examples: Arboretum, Arbor day, grape arbor, arboraceous, arboriculture, arborvitae.

• 67. Chronos: Time     * Examples: Synchronize, chronometer, chronology, chronological, anachronism, chronic, chronograph.

• 68. Tempus/Temporis: Time     * Examples: Temporal, temporary, temporize, extemporaneous, contemporary, contemporaries, tempo, tense.

Roots 69-86: Arts, Life, and Human Society

• 69. Para: Beside, along with     * Examples: Parable, parachute, parenthesis, paragraph, parallel.

• 70. Inter: Between, among, amid     * Examples: International, interject, interaction, intervene, intergalactic, interlude, intergluteal.

• 71. Techne: Art, skill     * Examples: Technology, technical, technique, technician, architect, architecture.

• 72. Ars, Artis: Art, skill     * Examples: Art, artist, artistic, artless, artful, artificial, artillery, inert, inertia.

• 73. Bios: Life     * Examples: Biology, biography, autobiography, microbe, amphibian, bionic, biotic, probiotic, antibiotic.

• 74. Vivo, victum: live     * Examples: Vivid, revice, survive, vivacity, convivial, viand, victual, victim.

• 75. Mikros: Small     * Examples: Microphone, microbe, microcosm, microfilm, micrometer, micron, microscope, microwave.

• 76. Megas: Great, large, big     * Examples: Megaphone, megalith, megalomania, megalophonous, megameter, megatons.

• 77. Magnus: Big, large, great     * Examples: Magnify, magnifier, magnitude, magnate, magnificent, magnanimous.

• 78. Pater, Patris: Father     * Examples: Patriarch, patriotism, patrician, patrimony, patron, patronymic.

• 79. Mater, Matris: Mother     * Examples: Matriarch, maternal, matrix, matriculate, alma mater, matrimony, matron.

• 80. Frater, fratris: Brother     * Examples: Fraternal, fraternity, fraternize, friar.

• 81. Demos: The people, the citizens     * Examples: Democracy, demotic, demography, demophile, demophobe, epidemic.

• 82. Populus: People     * Examples: People, public, republic, publish, populace, popular, population, pueblo.

• 83. Polis: City     * Examples: Metropholic, political, police, policy.

• 84. Urb/Urbis: City     * Examples: Urban, suburb, suburbanite, interurban, urbane, urbanity, urbanites.

• 85. Pathos: Feeling, suffering     * Examples: Pathos, pathetic, pathology, pathometer, apathy, antipathy, sympathy, telepathy.

• 86. Autos: Self     * Examples: Autograph, automobile, autobiography, autocrat, autonomy, autodynamic, automatic.

Roots 87-100: Physical Actions, Learning, and Relationships

• 87. Thermos: Heat     * Examples: Thermal, thermos bottle, thermometer, thermotropic, thermogenic, thermoplastic.

• 88. Curro/cursum: Run     * Examples: Current, curriculum, occur, recur, incursion, excursion, cursive, cursor.

• 89. Zoon: Animal     * Examples: Zoo, zoology, protozoon, cenozoic, mesozoic, paleozoic, proterozoic, archeozoic.

• 90. Verto/Versum: Turn     * Examples: Reverse, advertize, universe, university, controversial, conversation, diversity.

• 91. Facio/Factum: Do, make     * Examples: Factory, manufacture, efface, deface, perfect, magnify, satisfy.

• 92. Scribo/Scriptum: Write     * Examples: Scriptures, inscriptions, describe, proscription, prescription, scribe, transcribe, manuscript, script, inscribe.

• 93. Plico/Plicatum: fold     * Examples: Duplicate, triplicate, multiplication, explicit, implicate, complication, accomplice, replica, supplication, replicate.

• 94. Dico/Dictum: Speak, say     * Examples: Dictate, diction, dictation, dictator, predict, benediction, contradict, verdict, malediction.

• 95. Biblos: Book     * Examples: Bible, bibliography, biblioclast, biblioklept, bibliolatry, bibliology, bibliomania, bibliophile, bibliophobia, bibliothetic.

• 96. Liber/Libri: Book     * Examples: Library, librarian, libretto, librettist, libel.

• 97. Scio/Scitum: Know     * Examples: Science, scientific, conscience, prescience, conscious, omniscience.

• 98. Discipulus: Student     * Examples: Disciple, discipline, disciplinary, disciplinarian.

• 99. Sauros: Lizard     * Examples: Dinosaur, tyrannosaurus, allosaurus, stegosaurus, brontosaurus, ankylosaurus.

• 100. Amo, Amatum: Love     * Examples: Amateur, amiable, amicable, amorous, amour, enamored, amity, enmity, eninty.