Root

Original Meaning/

Usage Notes 

English Derivatives

Vocabulary

  inter- [from Latin]

(preposition)

     between, among

to interject [literally, ‘to throw between;’ to interpose something in words between the conversational remarks of others.]

interlude [literally, ‘playiing between;’ an intervening period of time; a short comic skit between the acts of a medieval morality or mystery play; any diversion from the scheduled activity or entertainment.]

intermission [literally, ‘a thing sent between;’ a recess or a period of relaxation between the acts of a theatrical performance.]

interscholastic [literally, ‘between schools;’ conducted among or between schools.]

interval

to intervene

interval (noun) [literally, ‘between the palisade;’ a space between two points in space or time.]

to intervene (verb) [literally, ‘to come between;’ to come between two parties in order to hinder or alter their course of action.]

intra-/intro- [from Latin]

(preposition)

within

intramolecular [literally, ‘pertaining to what is within a molecule.’]

intramural

intravenous [literally, ‘pertaining to what is within the vein;’ administered into a vein.]

to introduce [literally, ‘to lead within;’ to present someone or something for the first time to another person or group of persons.]

introspection

introverted [literally, ‘turned within;’ focused on oneself; reticent or shy.]

intramural (adjective) [literally, ‘within the walls;’ conducted within the bounds of an institution, especially a school.]

introspection (noun) [literally, ‘looking within;’ contemplation of one’s own inner thoughts.]

Root

Original Meaning/

Usage Notes

English Derivatives

Vocabulary

doc(t)- [from Latin]

(verb)

to teach

docent [literally, ‘teaching (person);’ a lecturer or tour guide at a museum or college.]

docile

doctor

doctrine [literally, ‘a teaching;’ an official body of truths, beliefs, or principles.]

document [literally, ‘a teaching lesson;’ a legal or official presentation of something for information or evidence.]

to indoctrinate [literally, ‘to put a teaching into (someone);’ to implant a point of view or body of beliefs into someone.]

docile (adjective) [literally, ‘teachable;’ naturally constituted to be controllable or trainable.]

doctor (noun) [literally, ‘teacher;’ a physician or other person trained in the science of healing; a holder of the highest academic degree.]

Root

Original Meaning/

Usage Notes

English Derivatives

Vocabulary

circum- [from Latin]

 (preposition)

around

circumference

circumlocution [literally, ‘spoken around;’ a roundabout way of saying something that could be said more directly and briefly; periphrasis.]

to circumnavigate [literally, ‘to sail around;’ to travel completely around something, such as the earth.]

to circumscribe [literally, ‘to write around;’ to draw a line around; to limit closely or to restrict.]

circumspect [literally, ‘looking around;’ paying close attention to all circumstances and consequences; skillfully prudent.]

to circumvent

circumference (noun) [literally, ‘bearing around;’ the line which bounds and defines a circle; periphery.]

to circumvent (verb) [literally, ‘to come around;’ to go around or to bypass something (for the purpose of avoiding or evading it).]

peri- [from Greek]

(preposition)

around, about

perigee [literally, ‘around the earth;’ the point in the orbit of a satellite which is closest to the center of the earth or of any other body being orbited.]

perimeter [literally, ‘a measure around;’ the bounding line of a plane surface or figure.]

periodontal [literally, ‘around the tooth;’ relating to the area surrounding a tooth.]

peripeteia

periphrasis

periscope [literally, ‘looking around;’ an optical device for observing things from a position which is not in a direct line with the things to be observed.]

peripeteia (noun) [literally, ‘falling around;’ a sudden reversal of circumstances, especially in a work of literature.]

periphrasis (noun) [literally, ‘asserted around;’ a roundabout way of saying something that could be said more directly and briefly; circumlocution.]

Root

Original Meaning/

Usage Notes

English Derivatives

Vocabulary

loqu-/locut- [from Latin] 

(verb)

to speak/spoken

circumlocution

colloquial [literally, ‘pertaining to speaking together with (someone else);’ characteristic of spoken language or informal writing that is meant to imitate ordinary conversation.]

elocution [literally, ‘speaking out;’ the technique of speaking clearly and emphatically, especially in public.]

interlocutor [literally, ‘speaker between or among;’ one of the persons who engages in a conversation.]

loquacious [literally, ‘speech-full;’ talkative.]

soliloquy

circumlocution (noun) [literally, ‘spoken around;’ a roundabout way of saying something that could be said more directly and briefly; periphrasis.]

soliloquy (noun) [literally, ‘speaking alone;’ a speech spoken by a person in a drama when no one else is on stage.]

log-/-logy [from Greek]

(noun)

speech

apology

biology [literally, ‘speech about a lifetime;’ the study of living organisms as living and their life cycles.]

ecology

epilogue [literally, ‘speech after or added-on;’ a speech delivered after the conclusion of the action of a play or after the end of a literary work.]

prologue [literally, ‘speech before;’ an introductory speech (to a play) or chapter (to a book); preface.]

theology [literally, ‘speech about a god; the formal study of the nature of gods, a god, or God; the formal study of religion.]

apology (noun) [literally, ‘speaking (oneself) away from;’ a statement asking for forgiveness; a public, legal defense speech.]

ecology (noun) [literally, ‘speech about the home;’ the study of the relationships between organisms, especially humans, and their environment.]