Root

Original Meaning/

Usage Notes

English Derivatives

Vocabulary

per- [from Latin]

(preposition)

through

[Note: As a prefix, this also means ‘thorough(ly).’]

to percolate [literally, ‘to strain through or thoroughly;’ to pass a substance through small holes; to bubble with activity.]

perfection [literally, ‘making thoroughly;’ completeness in every way.]

to permit

to persecute

perspective [literally, ‘of a look through;’ a view or point of view.]

perverted

[literally, ‘thoroughly turned;’ deviating from what is considered normal or proper.]

to permit (verb) [literally, ‘to send through;’ to allow.]

to persecute (verb) [literally, ‘to follow thoroughly;’ to mistreat a person or group of persons doggedly and persistently, particularly on account of the person or group’s religion, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. ]

dia-/di- [from Greek]

(preposition)

through, on-account-of

diagnosis [literally, ‘recognizing through;’ the identification of the nature of a patient’s disease by means of an examination of the patient’s symptoms; any evaluation of the condition of anything.]

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

dialogue

dialysis [literally, ‘loosening through;’ the separation of smaller molecules from larger molecules or of dissolved substances from colloidal particles in a solution by selective diffusion through a semipermeable membrane.]

diameter

diocese [literally, ‘housekeeping through;’ the group of churches and parishioners under the administrative control of a bishop.]

dialogue (noun) [literally, ‘speaking through;’ actual conversation or conversation imitated in literature.]

diameter (noun) [literally, ‘a measure through;’ a line segment that passes through the center of a circle and terminates at its circumference.]