Latin and Greek Roots of English Vocabulary: An Online Manual: Lesson 20 [cre-/cresc-/cret-]

April 4, 2010

Root

Original Meaning/

Usage Notes

English Derivatives

Vocabulary

(base)

cre-/cresc-/cret- [from Latin]

 

(verb)

to grow

 

 

accretion [literally, ‘grown toward or near;’ becoming or growing bigger by the addition of something external.]

concrete

crescent

excrescence [literally, ‘growing out;’ an outgrowth, sometimes abnormal (such as a wart) or normal (such as a fingernail), perhaps with the suggestion that the outgrowth is unwanted]

to increase [literally, ‘to grow on(to);’ to become or grow bigger as an individual or as a species, i. e., to become or grow larger or to procreate.]

increment [literally, ‘grown on(to);’ an increase in amount, frequently with the suggestion that it is barely noticeable.]

 

concrete (adjective) [literally, ‘grown together;’ pertaining to what actually exists or to a material particular thing.]

crescent (adjective) [literally, ‘growing;’ enlarging or growing in appearance, as with the crescent (increasing or growing) moon.]

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