Root

Original Meaning/

Usage Notes

English Derivatives

Vocabulary

(base)

tract- [from Latin]

(verb)

to drag, to draw

to attract [literally, ‘to draw to;’ to lure others to oneself.]

to detract

distraction [literally, ‘a drawing apart;’ a diversion.]

intractable

to subtract [literally, ‘to draw from under;’ to take away; to lessen arithmetically.]

tractor [literally, ‘that which drags or draws;’ a motorized vehicle designed to perform arduous tasks, especially pulling heavy objects.]

to detract (verb) [literally, ‘to drag down from;’ to take something away; to belittle.]

intractable (adjective) [literally, ‘unable to be drawn (out);’ difficult or impossible to be controlled or educated.]

Root

Original Meaning/

Usage Notes

English Derivatives

Vocabulary

(base)

vi(a)- [from Latin]

(noun)

way, road

deviant

devious [literally, ‘being down from the way;’ indirect; sneaky.]

impervious [literally, ‘without a way through;’ not able to be penetrated or affected (by something).]

to obviate

obvious [literally, against (i.e., appearing right in) the way;’ easily grasped; evident.]

via [literally, ‘by way of.’]

deviant (adjective) [literally, ‘being down from the way;’ departing from the accepted standard way of society.]

to obviate (verb) [literally, ‘to take against (out of) the way;’ to remove as unnecessary.]

Root

Original Meaning/

Usage Notes

English Derivatives

Vocabulary

(base)

volv-/volut- [from Latin]

(verb)

to turn

convoluted

to devolve [literally, ‘to turn down from;’ to be turned upon (over to) another.]

evolution

to involve [literally, ‘to turn unto;’ to bring someone into something, as a participant.]

revolution [literally, ‘act of turning back;’ circular motion around a fixed point; overthrow of a regime.]

revolver [literally, ‘a turner again;’ a pistol with a rotating bullet feeding mechanism.]

convoluted (adjective) [literally, ‘turned together;’ twisted together; highly complex.]

evolution (noun) [literally, ‘a turning out of;’ a process of orderly change and development.]

Root

Original Meaning/

Usage Notes

English Derivatives

Vocabulary

(base)

clam-/claim- [from Latin]

(verb)

to shout

acclamation

claim [literally, ‘a shout;’ a grounds for demanding something that one believes to be rightfully one’s own.]

clamor [literally, ‘a shout;’ a loud and lengthy shouting. or noise.]

declamation [literally, ‘a shouting down from;’ a vigorous public oration.]

disclaimer [literally, ‘a shouting (oneself) apart;’ a denial of specified responsibility.]

proclamation

acclamation (noun) [literally, ‘a shouting to;’ a shout or verbal vote signifying strong approval.]

proclamation (noun) [literally, ‘a shouting forth;’ an official public pronouncement.]