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

(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

-ar [from Latin]

(suffix)

pertaining to

cellular [literally, pertaining to cells.’]

familiar [literally, ‘pertaining to the family;’ frequently experienced; comfortable.]

granular [literally, ‘pertaining to little grains;’ composed of grains or granules.]

popular

regular [literally, pertaining to the rules;’ usual; typical; in accordance with expectations.]

secular

popular (adjective) [literally, ‘pertaining to a people;’ very well liked; liked by many persons.]

secular (adjective) [literally, ‘pertaining to the (current) generation;’ worldly (as opposed to spiritual or religious); not religious.]

Root

Original Meaning/

Usage Notes

English Derivatives

Vocabulary

(base)

aud- [from Latin]

(verb)

to hear

audible [literally, ‘hearable;’ what is heard or can be heard.]

audio [literally, ‘I hear;’ the sending, receiving, or reproducing of sound.]

audit [literally, ‘he or she hears;’ checking of financial records to ascertain their accuracy.]

audition

auditorium [literally, ‘place for hearing;’ a large room in which performances may be heard and seen.]

clairaudience

audition (noun) [literally, ‘a hearing;’ an act of hearing; a demonstration of a performance.]

clairaudience (noun) [literally, ‘clear hearing;’ the alleged ability to hear things outside the normal range of human hearing.]

Root

Original Meaning/

Usage Notes

English Derivatives

Vocabulary

(base)

cor(d)- [from Latin]

(noun)

heart

concord

cordial [literally, ‘pertaining to the heart;’ amiable; friendly.]

cordiform [literally, ‘having the form of a heart.’]

discord

misericord [literally, ‘heartfelt pity;’ easing of the rules of monastic living.]

to record [literally, ‘(to have learned) again by heart;’ to copy down in written words, in sounds, or in images for the sake of preserving.]

concord (noun) [literally, ‘with hearts together;’ harmony of thoughts or feelings.]

discord (noun) [literally, ‘with hearts apart;’ disharmony of thoughts or feelings.]

Root

Original Meaning/

Usage Notes

English Derivatives

Vocabulary

carn- (charn-) [from Latin]

(noun)

flesh

carnage [literally, ‘flesh (heap);’ mass slaughter.]

carnal

carnation [literally, ‘fleshiness;’ a perennial plant having showy, variously colored flowers with fringed petals.]

carnivorous [literally, ‘flesh-devouring;’ meat-eating or predatory,]

incarnadine [literally, ‘like-in-flesh;’ meat-colored; blood-red.]

incarnation

carnal (adjective) [literally, ‘of the flesh;’ pertaining to physical, especially sexual, appetites.]

incarnation (noun) [literally, ‘put into flesh;’ the descent of spirit into bodily form.]

Root

Original Meaning/

Usage Notes

English Derivatives

Vocabulary

cern-/cret- [from Latin]

(verb)

to sift

to ascertain [literally, ‘to sift near;’ to determine with certainty.]

to discern

discrete

to excrete [literally, ‘to sift out;’ to separate and expel from a bodily organ.]

secret [literally, ‘sifted apart;’ kept hidden or concealed.]

to secrete [literally, ‘to sift by itself;’ to produce and separate something from a bodily organ.]

to discern (verb) [literally, ‘to sift apart;’ to perceive something in its distinctness.]

discrete (adjective) [literally, ‘sifted apart;’ separate.]

Root

Original Meaning/

Usage Notes

English Derivatives

Vocabulary

can(t)- [cen(t)-]/chant- [from Latin]

(verb)

to sing

accent [literally, ‘sung toward or near;’ emphasis or stress on a particular verbal unit.]

canticle [literally, ‘little song;’ a chant, especially a religious one, e. g., a hymn.]

cantor [literally, ‘singer;’ in Judaism, the religious official who leads the congregation in song.]

chanticleer

incantation [literally, ‘a singing unto;’ formal recitation of a spell or ritual formula.]

to recant

chanticleer (noun) [literally, ‘clear singer;’ a rooster.]

to recant (verb) [literally, ‘to sing back;’ to take back formally statements formerly spoken, especially in an official inquiry or courtroom.]

Root

Original Meaning/

Usage Notes

English Derivatives

Vocabulary

cid- (caed-)/cis- [from Latin]

(verb)

to cut[-down]

concise

to decide [literally, ‘to cut from;’ to make up one’s mind; to determine.]

fratricide [literally, ‘cutting down a brother;’ killing one’s brother.]

homicide

incisive [literally, ‘cutting into;’ clear, sharp, and forceful.]

precise [literally, ‘cut before;’ exact and clearly defined.]

concise (adjective) [literally, ‘cut together;’ expressing much with few words.]

homicide (noun) [literally, ‘cutting down a human;’ killing a person; murder.]