» Greek (ancient)

Latin and Greek Roots of English Vocabulary: An Online Manual: Lesson 42 [vers-/vert-, trop-]

Doc Z — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 06:41:13 +0000

Root

Original Meaning/

Usage Notes

English Derivatives

Vocabulary

(base)

vers-/vert- [from Latin]

(verb)

to turn

conversion [literally, ‘turning together with;’ adopting of a new belief, especially a religion.]

to reverse [literally, ‘to turn back;’ to turn backward.]

versatile

vertebra [literally, ‘turning point;’ one of the bones that form the spinal column.]

vertex

vertigo [literally, ‘turning around;’ feeling of dizziness.]

versatile (adjective) [literally, ‘able to turn;’ able to do many things well.]

vertex (noun) [literally, ‘turning post;’ highest point; point of intersection of the sides of an angle.]

(base)

trop- [from Greek]

(verb)

to turn

entropy

heliotropic [literally, ‘turning to the sun;’ growth of an organism in the direction of the sun.]

trope

trophy [literally, ‘(over)turning;’ prize for victory.]

tropism [literally, ‘turningness;’ the turning of an organism away from an outside stimulus, such as heat or light.]

troposphere [literally, ‘turning sphere;’ the lowest region of the earth’s atmosphere.]

entropy (noun) [literally, ‘turning in;’ tendency for all matter and energy in the universe to move toward a state of inert uniformity.]

trope (noun) [literally, ‘turn (of speech);’ figurative speech; figure of speech.]

Latin and Greek Roots of English Vocabulary: An Online Manual: Lesson 41 [nom(y)-]

Doc Z — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 04:42:12 +0000

Root

Original Meaning/

Usage Notes

English Derivatives

Vocabulary

(base)

nom(y)- [from Greek]

(noun)

law

astronomy [literally, ‘star law;’ the science that studies the nature and motions of heavenly bodies.]

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

economics

ergonomic [literally, ‘pertaining to work law;’ designed to meet the special requirements of a work station or workplace.]

gastronomic [literally, ‘pertaining to the law of the stomach;’ pertaining to fine dining.]

taxonomy

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

taxonomy (noun) [literally, ‘law of ordering;’ classification of beings or phenomena into an ordered system.]

Latin and Greek Roots of English Vocabulary: An Online Manual: Lesson 37 [orth-]

Doc Z — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 05:48:43 +0000

Root

Original Meaning/

Usage Notes

English Derivatives

Vocabulary

(base)

orth- [from Greek]

(adjective)

correct, right

orthodontia [literally, ‘tooth correctness;’ the specialty in dental medicine that corrects tooth irregularities, e.g., by braces.]

orthodox

orthogonal [literally, ‘pertaining to right angles;’ pertaining to, or composed of, right angles.]

orthography

orthopedics [literally, ‘correct child-educating skill;’ the medical specialty that deals with disorders of the skeletal system and associated musculature.]

orthostatic [literally, ‘pertaining to standing upright.’]

orthodox (adjective) [literally, ‘correct opinion;’ pertaining to, or practicing, traditionally accepted beliefs and practices, especially of a religion.]

orthography (noun) [literally, ‘correct writing;’ the branch of grammar that studies the rules of correct spelling.]

Latin and Greek Roots of English Vocabulary: An Online Manual: Lesson 36 [terr-/ge(o)-]

Doc Z — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 04:49:39 +0000

Root

Original Meaning/

Usage Notes

English Derivatives

Vocabulary

(base)

terr- [from Latin]

(noun)

earth

to inter

subterranean [literally, ‘pertaining to what is under the earth;’ located below the earth’s surface or underground; hypogeal.]

terrace [literally, ‘earthy/earthen;’ an open outdoor living area which extends from a house; a patio.]

terrain

terrestrial [literally, ‘of the earth;’ pertaining to the earth or to those who dwell upon it.]

territory [literally, ‘demarcated earth;’ an area of land either privately owned or under the control of a larger political entity.]

to inter (verb) [literally, ‘to enearth;’ to bury.]

terrain (noun) [literally, ‘pertaining to the earth;’ a land area or its characteristics.]

(base)

ge(o)- [from Greek]

(noun)

earth

apogee [literally, ‘away from the earth;’ the point in the orbit of a satellite which is farthest away from the celestial body which is orbited.]

geocentric [literally, ‘pertaining to the earth (as) center;’ of the center of the earth; having the earth as the center, as in the geocentric theory of the universe.]

geography [literally, ‘writing about the earth;’ the study of the physical or surface characteristics of the earth.]

geology [literally, ‘speech about the earth;’ the science that studies the structure of the earth.]

geomancy

geometry

geomancy (noun) [literally, ‘earth divination;’ predicting the future by means of lines and figures.]

geometry (noun) [literally, ‘measuring the earth;’ the branch of mathematics that studies and describes the characteristics of points, lines, angles, surfaces, and solids.]

Latin and Greek Roots of English Vocabulary: An Online Manual: Lesson 34 [scrib-, script-/graph-, gram-]

Doc Z — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 13:43:23 +0000

Root

Original Meaning/

Usage Notes

English Derivatives

Vocabulary

(base)

scrib-/script- [from Latin]

(verb)

to write

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

conscription

to describe [literally, ‘to write down;’ to give a picture-like account; to draw the outline of a geometrical figure.]

postscript [literally, ‘written after;’ a message added as an afterthought to a letter or a book.]

to prescribe [literally, ‘to write before;’ to posit regulations; to direct the use of something, such as medicine.]

scribble

conscription (noun) [literally, ‘writing together;’ compelling into service, especially military service; drafting into service.]

scribble (noun) [literally, ‘little writing;’ hasty writing that borders on illegibility or meaninglessness.]

(base)

graph-/gram- [from Greek]

(verb)

to write

autobiography

diagram [literally, ‘a thing written through;’ ’ an illustrative or explanatory sketch or drawing.]

epigram [literally, ‘writing upon;’ a brief, frequently witty, statement of a sentiment, either in prose or in poetry.]

grammar [literally, ‘writing skill;’ the system of rules that governs the use of a language.]

photograph

telegram [literally, ‘writing from afar;’ a message sent by means of electric impulses through wires.]

autobiography (noun) [literally, ‘writing one’s lifetime oneself;’ a person’s written account of his or her own life story.]

photograph (noun) [literally, ‘writing with light;’ an image produced by light on a chemically sensitive surface.]

Latin and Greek Roots of English Vocabulary: An Online Manual: Lesson 33 [nov-/ne(o)-]

Doc Z — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 06:01:00 +0000

Root

Original Meaning/

Usage Notes

English Derivatives

Vocabulary

(base)

nov- [from Latin]

(adjective)

new

innovation [literally, ‘making something new;’ the devising of something previously unconceived.]

nova

novelty [literally, ‘a new thing;’ an unusual (and/or new) thing.]

novice [literally, ‘a new person;’ a beginner in an activity.]

novitiate [literally, ‘new-personness;’ the period of time during which one is a beginner or initiate.]

renovate

nova (noun) [literally, ‘new (star);’ a star that suddenly becomes much brighter, then gradually returns to its original brightness.]

to renovate (verb) [literally, ‘to make new again;’ to restore something to its pristine condition, the condition in which it was when it was new.]

(base)

ne(o)- [from Greek]

(adjective)

new

neoclassic [literally, ‘new-classic;’ pertaining to a revival of classical forms in art.]

Neolithic [literally, ‘new stone-like;’ pertaining to the period characterized by the development of agriculture and polished stone tools.]

neologism

neon [literally, ‘new;’ one of the inert gases.]

neonatal

neophyte [literally, ‘new-grown;’ a beginner at a job or activity; a newbie.]

neologism (noun) [literally, ‘new speech;’ a newly created word or phrase.]

neonatal (adjective) [literally, ‘newborn;’ pertaining to a just born infant.]

Latin and Greek Roots of English Vocabulary: An Online Manual: Lesson 31 [super-/sur-/hyper-]

Doc Z — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 10:08:37 +0000

Root

Original Meaning/

Usage Notes

English Derivatives

Vocabulary

(prefix)

super- [sur-] [from Latin]

(preposition)

over

insuperable

superannuated [literally, ‘over-yeared;’ useless because of excessive old-age; obsolete.]

superfluous [literally, ‘overflowing;’ more than is needed or proper.]

supernatural [literally, ‘over the natural;’ pertaining to what is beyond the natural; divine; miraculous; hyperphysical.]

surreal

to supervise [literally, ‘to oversee;’ to be in charge; to superintend; to direct.]

insuperable (adjective) [literally, ‘unovercomable;’ impossible to overcome.]

surreal (adjective) [literally, ‘over the real;’ dreamlike or super-real.]

(prefix)

hyper- [from Greek]

(preposition)

over

hyperactive [literally, ‘overactive;’ excessively active.]

hyperbola [literally, ‘overthrowing;’ the locus (graph) of a point which moves in a plane in such a way that the difference of its distances from two fixed points is a constant.]

hyperbole

hyperopia [literally, ‘over-seeing;’ farsightedness.]

hypertension [literally, ‘over-stretching;’ unusually high blood pressure.]

hypertrophic

hyperbole (noun) [literally, ‘overthrowing;’ a figure of speech in which exaggeration is used for rhetorical effect.]

hypertrophic (adjective) [literally, ‘over-nourished;’ pertaining to the abnormal enlargement of an organ or tissue.]

Latin and Greek Roots of English Vocabulary: An Online Manual: Lesson 30 [duc-/duct-/agog(ue)-]

Doc Z — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 04:33:58 +0000

Root

Original Meaning/

Usage Notes

English Derivatives

Vocabulary

(base)

duc-/duct- [from Latin]

(verb)

to lead

to conduct [literally, ‘to lead together with;’ to direct, lead, or guide; to transmit heat, light, sound, or an electrical discharge.]

to deduce

to induce

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

reduction [literally, ‘leading back;’ bringing down in size or degree.]

to seduce [literally, ‘to lead by itself;’ to lead away from accepted ethical principles and behavior; to lead astray.]

to deduce (verb) [literally, ‘to lead down from;’ to reason from a generalization to particulars.]

to induce (verb) [literally, ‘to lead into or unto;’ to reason from particulars to a generalization; to produce a course of action by force or persuasion.]

(base)

agog(ue)- [from Greek]

(verb)

to lead

demagogue

glucagon [literally, ‘leading the sweet;’ a pancreatic hormone that stimulates an increase in blood sugar levels, thereby opposing the action of insulin.]

hypnagogic [literally, ‘leading to sleep;’ inducing sleep; soporific.]

mystagogue [literally, ‘leader of a mystery candidate;’ person who prepares candidates for initiation into a mystery or mystery religion.]

pedagogy [literally, ‘child leading;’ the technique or profession of teaching.]

synagogue

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

synagogue (noun) [literally, ‘a leading together;’ the house of worship in the Jewish faith.]

Latin and Greek Roots of English Vocabulary: An Online Manual: Lesson 28 [pre-/pro-]

Doc Z — Sun, 30 May 2010 04:57:06 +0000

Root

Original Meaning/

Usage Notes

English Derivatives

Vocabulary

(prefix)

pre- [from Latin]

(preposition)

before

[Note: Its original form is ‘prae.’ When the “ae” combination comes from Latin into English, it is typically shortened to ‘e.’]

prelapsarian

to predict [literally, ‘to say before;’ to foretell something; to prophesy.]

preface [literally, ‘utter before;’ an introductory or preliminary statement to a speech or writing.]

prelude [literally, ‘play before;’ an enactment that is prefatory to a longer, perhaps more important, performance.]

preposition

to prevent [literally, ‘to come before;’ to stop something from happening or someone from acting.]

prelapsarian (adjective) [literally, ‘before the slide or slip;’ pertaining to the time and condition of Adam and Eve before they fell by disobedience of God’s command.]

preposition (noun) [literally, ‘putting before;’ a word that establishes a relationship between a word in a basic clause and another word or words (the object of the preposition): the preposition and its object are called a prepositional phrase.]

(prefix)

pro- [from Greek]

(preposition)

before (in time or in space)

proboscis

to prognosticate

program [literally, ‘writing before;’ a listing of a series of events, speeches, studies, or deeds which usually are scheduled for public presentation.]

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

to prophesy [literally, ‘to assert before;’ to predict the future, usually under the guidance of a god.]

proscenium [literally, ‘before the tent;’ the section of a contemporary theater between the curtain and the orchestra.]

proboscis (noun) [literally, ‘before the feed (fodder);’ a snout (sometimes long and flexible, like the trunk of an elephant); a nose.]

to prognosticate (verb) [literally, ‘to recognize before;’ to predict the future;.]

Latin and Greek Roots of English Vocabulary: An Online Manual: Lesson 26 [cap(i)t-/cip(it)-/cephal-]

Doc Z — Sun, 16 May 2010 04:41:36 +0000

Root

Original Meaning/

Usage Notes

English Derivatives

Vocabulary

(base)

cap(i)t- [cip(it)-] [from Latin]

(noun)

head

capital [literally, ‘headlike;’ the governmental seat or headquarters of a geopolitical entity; wealth, especially money or property used to produce more money and property.]

capitellum [literally, ‘little head;’ the knob at the lower end of the humerus that interlocks with the radius.]

captain [literally, ‘head person;’ the commander of a vessel, such as a starship, or of a formally organized group of persons.]

to decapitate

occipital

sinciput [literally, ‘half the head;’ the upper half of the cranium; the forehead.]

to decapitate (verb) [literally, ‘to take the head down from;’ to behead.]

occipital (adjective) [literally, ‘against the head;’ pertaining to the back part of the head or skull.]

(base)

cephal- [from Greek]

(noun)

head

acephalous [literally, ‘headless.’]

brachycephalic [literally, ‘short-headed;’ having a short, broad head.]

cephalopod

encephalitis [literally, ‘inflammation in the head;’ inflammation of the brain.]

encephalogram

hydrocephalic [literally, ‘water headed;’ congenital condition characterized by an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the cerebral ventricles that destroys much of the neural tissue.]

cephalopod (noun) [literally, ‘head foot;’ a mollusk of the class Cephalopoda, such as the octopus, characterized by a large head and prehensile tentacles,]

encephalogram (noun) [literally, ‘writing of the head;’ an x-ray image of the brain.]