ROOT WORDS

1
ROOT WORDS
What are root words?
Words originating from Latin (ancient Rome) and
Greek. Why is it important to learn root
words? Almost every word in English has root
words, so this makes it easier to understand a
new word and remember how to spell them.
2
Root word aer-, aero-
Origin Greek
Meaning Air, atmosphere
Example Aeronautics
3
Root word agri-
Origin Greek and Latin
Meaning Field
Example Agriculture
4
Root word anima-
Origin Latin
Meaning Breathe
Example Animal
5
Root word ann-
Origin Latin
Meaning Year, yearly
Example Annual
6
Root word aqu-
Origin Latin
Meaning Water
Example Aquarium
7
Root word astro-
Origin Greek
Meaning Star
Example Astronomy
8
Root word aud
Origin Latin
Meaning Hearing, listening, sound
Example Auditorium
9
Root word auto
Origin Greek
Meaning Self
Example Automobile
10
Root word avi-
Origin Latin
Meaning Bird
Example Aviation
11
Root word bi-
Origin Latin
Meaning Two
Example Bicycle
12
Root word bi(o)-
Origin Greek
Meaning Life
Example Biology
13
Root word cap-
Origin Latin
Meaning Hold, take
Example Capture
14
Root word cent-
Origin Latin
Meaning Hundred
Example Century
15
Root word clar-
Origin Latin
Meaning Clear
Example Clarity
16
Root word con-
Origin Latin
Meaning with
Example connect
17
Root word cycl
Origin Greek
Meaning Round
Example Bicycle
18
Root word de-
Origin Latin
Meaning From, away from
Example Delete
19
Root word dem-
Origin Greek
Meaning People
Example Democracy
20
Root word dict-
Origin Latin
Meaning Say, speak
Example Dictation
21
Root word digit-
Origin Latin
Meaning Finger
Example Digital
22
Root word dorm-
Origin Latin
Meaning Sleep
Example Dormitory
23
Root word eco-
Origin Greek
Meaning House
Example Ecology
24
Root word form-
Origin Latin
Meaning Shape
Example Formation
25
Root word frig-
Origin Latin
Meaning Cold
Example Frigid
26
Root word ge(o)-
Origin Greek
Meaning Earth
Example Geology
27
Root word graph-
Origin Greek
Meaning Draw, write
Example Graphic
28
Root word hex-
Origin Greek
Meaning Six
Example Hexagon
29
Root word hydr(o)-
Origin Greek
Meaning Water
Example Hydroponic
30
Root word juven-
Origin Latin
Meaning Young
Example Juvenile
31
Root word kil(o)-
Origin Greek
Meaning Thousand
Example Kilogram
32
Root word leg-
Origin Latin
Meaning Law
Example Legal
33
Root word liber-
Origin Latin
Meaning Free
Example Liberation
34
Root word manu-
Origin Latin
Meaning Hand
Example Manual
35
Root word nov-
Origin Latin
Meaning Nine
Example November
36
Root word numer-
Origin Latin
Meaning Number
Example Numeral
37
Root word oct-
Origin Latin and Greek
Meaning Eight
Example Octangular
38
Root word pent-
Origin Greek
Meaning Five
Example Pentagon
39
Root word phob(ia)-
Origin Greek
Meaning Fear
Example Hydrophobia
40
Root word phos-, phot-
Origin Greek
Meaning Light
Example Photograph
41
Root word phys-
Origin Greek
Meaning Nature
Example Physics
42
Root word pre-
Origin Latin
Meaning Before
Example Previous
43
Root word pseud(o)-
Origin Greek
Meaning False
Example Pseudonym
44
Root word pyr(o)-
Origin Greek
Meaning Heat, fire
Example Pyrolysis
45
Root word quadr-
Origin Latin
Meaning Four
Example Quadrangle
46
Root word quint-
Origin Latin
Meaning Fifth
Example Quintary
47
Root word re-
Origin Latin
Meaning Again, back
Example Recede
48
Root word sept-
Origin Latin
Meaning Seven
Example September
49
Root word serv-
Origin Latin
Meaning Save, protect, serve
Example Conservation
50
Root word terr-
Origin Latin
Meaning Dry land, earth
Example Terrain
51
Root word tri-
Origin Latin and Greek
Meaning Three
Example Triangle
52
Using root words guess what the meaning of these
words.
53
Dynamics is used in physics to describe the
process of how things work.
Aerodynamics
Air
Hydrodynamics
Water
54
What does biofuel mean?
Fuel made from living organisms such as corn,
sugar and plants.
55
What does animation mean?
Cartoon
56
This rose is dormant. What does this mean?
Sleeping when organisms development stop, such
as during winter.
57
Two babies born together are twins, but what are
three babies born together?
Triplets
58
What are four babies called?
Quadruplets
What are five babies called?
Quintuplets
59
Two offspring twins Three offspring triplets
Four offspring quadruplets Five offspring
quintuplets Six offspring sextuplets Seven
offspring septuplets Eight offspring
octuplets Nine offspring nonuplets Ten
offspring decaplets Eleven offspring
undecaplets Twelve offspring duodecaplets
Thirteen offspring tredecaplets Fourteen
offspring quattrodecaplets Fifteen offspring
quindecaplets Sixteen offspring sexdecaplets
Seventeen offspring sepdecaplets Eighteen
offspring octdecaplets Nineteen offspring
nondecaplets
60
A maniac is derived from Greek meaning crazy
person What is a pyromaniac?
Anyone that is dangerously crazy with fire.
61
Rejuvenate
What does this word mean?
To make young again restore to youthful vigor
62
What is a dictator?
A person exercising absolute power, esp. a ruler
who has absolute, unrestricted control in a
government without hereditary succession.