Root

Original Meaning/

Usage Notes

English Derivatives

Vocabulary

voc-/vok- [from Latin]

(noun/verb)

voice (voicing)/to call

equivocal

evocative [literally, ‘calling out;’ having the power to bring something to mind.]

invocation [literally, ‘calling unto;’ a verbal appeal to a higher power, especially to a poetic Muse, for inspiration and assistance.]

irrevocable

to provoke [literally, ‘to call forth;’ to rouse to action or feeling, usually hostile.]

vocal [literally, ‘pertaining to the voice.’]

equivocal (adjective) [literally, ‘(dual) even voicing;’ susceptible of two (or more) meanings, possibly intended to mislead deliberately.]

irrevocable(adjective) [literally, ‘uncallable back;’ impossible to be taken back or reversed.]

Root

Original Meaning/

Usage Notes

English Derivatives

Vocabulary

-ile [from Latin]

(suffix)

able (to)

agile [literally, ‘able to act;’ capable of action characterized by physical or mental quickness and ease.]

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

fragile

reptile [literally, ‘(creature) able to crawl;’ a cold-blooded vertebrate of the class Reptilia, e. g., a snake.]

tensile [literally, ‘able to stretch;’ capable of being stretched.]

volatile

fragile [literally, ‘able to fracture;’ easily breakable.]

volatile (adjective) [literally, ‘able to fly;’ tending to evaporate quickly and easily.]

Root

Original Meaning/

Usage Notes

English Derivatives

Vocabulary

dem- [from Greek]

(noun)

a people

demagogue [literally, ‘leader of a people;’ a charismatic person who gains power by appealing to the irrational passions of the mass of persons.]

democracy

demotic [literally, ‘pertaining to a people;’ pertaining to the common people.]

endemic [literally, ‘within a people;’ prevalent in, or peculiar to, a particular locale or people.]

epidemic

pandemic [literally, ‘pertaining to all peoples;’ pertaining to a widely spread disease; extremely far-reaching.]

democracy (noun) [literally, ‘mastery by a people;’ government by the people, either participatory (direct) or republican (through representatives).]

epidemic (noun) [literally, ‘over a people;’ widely and extensively spreading disease.]

Root

Original Meaning/

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English Derivatives

Vocabulary

(suffix)

-ant/-ent/-ient [from Latin]

(present active participle ending)

-ing

adherent

agent [literally, ‘acting (person);’ person who acts for another.]

parent [literally, ‘(a person) bringing forth (results or offspring);’ one who begets or rears a child.]

sedentary

servant [literally, ‘a serving (person);’ one who performs services for a person or an institution.]

vigilant [literally, ‘being watchful;’ highly alert.]

adherent (noun) [literally, ‘(a person) clinging to (someone or something);’ a person devoted to another person or to a cause.]

sedentary (adjective) [literally, ‘characterized by sitting;’ characterized by a lack of motion or by sitting to do one’s usual work.]

Root

Original Meaning/

Usage Notes

English Derivatives

Vocabulary

aut-/taut- [from Greek]

(adjective)

(one)self

autocrat [literally, ‘(one)self-the master;’ a ruler with absolute power; a tyrant or despot.]

automaton

automobile [literally, ‘something capable of self-motion;’ a self-propelled motorized passenger vehicle.]

autonomy

autopsy [literally, ‘a seeing for oneself;’ examination of a dead body to determine the cause of death; a postmortem.]

automaton [literally, ‘a self-acting thing;’ a self-operating artificial device; a robot.]

autonomy (noun) [literally, ‘law to oneself;’ self-determination; self-regulation; independence.]