Root

Original Meaning/

Usage Notes

English Derivatives

Vocabulary

(base)

par- [from Latin]

(adjective)

equal

to compare

to disparage [literally, ‘to treat as unequal;’ to demean or belittle someone or something.]

disparity [literally, ‘inequality.’]

nonpareil [literally, ‘without equal;’ having no equal.]

par

parity [literally, ‘equality.’]

to compare (verb) [literally, ‘to make equal together;’ to consider things with respect to their similarity.]

par (noun) [literally, ‘equal;’ a quantity or level of achievement deemed to be standard or average.]

Root

Original Meaning/

Usage Notes

English Derivatives

Vocabulary

-ics/-tics [from Greek]

(suffix)

skill in

economics [literally, ‘household law skill;’ the social science that studies the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.]

ethics

genetics [literally, ‘skill in begetting;’ the science that studies heredity and inherited traits.]

hermeneutics [literally, ‘skill in interpreting;’ the philosophical study of interpretation.]

physics

politics [literally, ‘skill in citizenship;’ the study of regimes and citizens.]

ethics (noun) [literally, ‘skill in habits;’ the philosophical study of morals, virtue, and moral choices.]

physics (noun) [literally, ‘skill in nature;’ the science of the nature and behavior of matter and energy.]

Root

Original Meaning/

Usage Notes

English Derivatives

Vocabulary

(base)

iso- [from Greek]

(adjective)

equal

isobar [literally, ‘equal heaviness;’ a line on a weather map connecting points of equal atmospheric pressure.]

isometrics [literally, ‘skill in equal measuring;’ a program of exercises in which muscular contraction is used to strengthen muscles.]

isomorphic [literally, ‘having an equal shape;’ having a similar structure.]

isosceles

isotope

isotropic [literally, ‘equal turning;’ the same in all directions.]

isosceles (adjective) [literally, ‘equal legged;’ having two sides equal.]

isotope (noun) [literally, ‘an equal place;’ one of a group of atoms having the same atomic number but different masses.]

Root

Original Meaning/

Usage Notes

English Derivatives

Vocabulary

(base)

equi-/iqui- [from Latin]

(adjective)

even

equal [literally, ‘even;’ being the same as another.]

equanimity [literally, ‘evenness of soul;’ calmness and having an even temper.]

equilateral [literally, ‘even-sided;’ having all sides the same length.]

equilibrium

equity [literally, ‘evenness;’ fairness.]

iniquity

equilibrium (noun) [literally, ‘an even scale condition;’ a condition in which all acting forces are in a balanced state.]

iniquity (noun) [literally, ‘unevenness;’ an unjust or wicked act; a sin.]

Root

Original Meaning/

Usage Notes

English Derivatives

Vocabulary

(base)

gen(e)-/gon- [from Greek]

(verb)

to beget

cosmogony

genealogy [literally, ‘speech about begetting;’ the family ancestry (tree) of a person.]

genesis [literally, ‘the begetting;’ the coming into being of a thing.]

genetics [literally, ‘skill in begetting;’ the science that studies heredity and inherited traits.]

hydrogen

theogony [literally, ‘the begetting of the gods;’ a narration of the origin and genealogy of the gods.]

cosmogony (noun) [literally, ‘begetting the world;’ an account of the origin of the universe.]

hydrogen (noun) [literally, ‘begetting water;’ a colorless, element, the lightest of all gases, and the commonest element in the universe.]