Word Building

Roots (or Stems)

Learning the meanings of roots, or stems, can help you determine the definitions of many words. For example, if the word aqueduct is unfamiliar to you, but you know that aque is a root meaning "water," then you can determine that aqueduct has to do with water.

The below list of roots or stems is accompanied by words in which the letter combinations appear. Use the dictionary to look up any words which are not clear in your mind.

Note: Under some of the stems or roots you will find words in which the key letters are not designated in blue. This is because the spelling of the letter combination has changed with the development of the language, but the key meaning is still there.

acer, acr

(sharp)

Examples: acerbity, acrid, acrimony, acerose, acerbate, acerate, acridine, acrimonious

ag, act, ig

(carry on, do, drive, conduct)

Examples: agency, exact, prodigal, action, reagent, demagogue, pedagogue, synagogue, reactionary, agitate, reactivate, inactive, transaction, actor

ali

(nourish)

Examples: alimony, aliment, alimentary, alimentative

ali, allo, alle

(other)

Examples: alibi, alias, aliquant, aliquot, allegory, allonym, allopath, alien, alienate, inalienable

alter

(another, the other)

Examples: alter, alternate, unalterable, alteration, altercate, altercation

alt

(high)

Examples: exalt, altitude, alto, altitudinous, altiscope, altimeter

ambul

(walk)

Examples: amble, preamble, ambulance, ambulatory, perambulator, ambulant

am, em

(friend)

Examples: amicable, amity, enemy, enmity

am, amo, ama

(love)

Examples: amateur, amorous, amatory, enamoured, amour, inamorata

anim

(mind, breath, life)

Examples: animated, animal, unanimous, magnanimity, animosity, animadversion, inanimate, animation, animism, animus

annu, enni

(year)

Examples: anniversary, annual, centennial, millennium, perennial

anthro

(man)

Examples: anthropology, misanthrope, philanthropic, anthropomorphous

appe

(a call upon)

Examples: appeal, appellate, appellation

aqua, aque

(water)

Examples: aquatic, aquarium, aquacade, aqueduct, aqua-fortis, aquatint, aquamarine, aqueous

arbitr

(a judge)

Examples: arbitration, arbitrate, arbiter, arbitrary, arbitrable

art

(art)

Examples: artisan, artistic, artifice

ast, astr

(star)

Examples: astrology, astronomy, disaster, asterisk, asteroid, astral, aster, asteriated, asterism, astrolabe

audi, aur, aus

(hear)

Examples: audible, auditorium, audience, audition, auricular, ausculation, auride, inaudible, aurist

bibl

(book)

Examples: bible, bibliography, bibliomania, bibliopole, bibliophile

bio

(life)

Examples: blology, blography, bionomics, bioplasm, bioscope, amphibiotic, amphibian, biotic

brevi

(short)

Examples: abbreviate, breviary, brevity, brevirostrate, brevier

cad, cas, cid

(fall)

Examples: cadence, casualty, acciddent, casual, decadence, occasion, incident, decay

cam, chamb

(room)

Examples: chamber, camera, cam, cameral, chambered, chamberlain

camp, champ

(country, field)

Examples: campus, camp, campaign, champerty, chamPaign

cant, chant, cent

(sing)

Examples: cantate, canto, chant, incentive, accent, recant, canticle, cantor, enchant

ced, ceed, cess

(yield, go, proceed)

Examples: accession, ancestor, cede, concede, excessive, incessant, intercession, precedence, predecessor, proceed, procedure, procession, recede, recession, secede, successful, successor

celer

(speed)

Examples: accelerate, acceleration, decelerate, celerity

cent

(hundred)

Examples: century, centurion, percent, centenary, centimeter, sesquicentennial

chef, cap

(head)

Examples: captain, chieftain, decapitate, capital, capitol, chef, capitation

cap, capt

(take, seize)

Examples: capture, captive, capable, capacious, captor, captivate

chrom, chromo, chroma

(color)

Examples: panchromatic, chromo, achromatic, chromosphere, chromAtics

chron, chrono

(time)

Examples: anachronism, chronicle, chronic, chronology, synchronize, chronological, chronoscope, chronometer

cide, cis, cise

(cut, kill)

Examples: decide, suicide, homicide, fratricide, excise, precise, regicide, incision, ostracise, scissors

civ, civi

(citizen)

Examples: civil, civilized, uncivilized, civic, civilian, civism

clam, claim

(shout, call out)

Examples: clamor, declaim, proclaim, acclaim, proclamation, clamorous

clud, cluse

(close, shut off)

Examples: exclude, include, preclude, seclusion, recluse, conclusion, clause, conclude

cline

(bend, slope)

Examples: recline, incline, decline, declension, declinometer

coc, coct

(cook)

Examples: concoct, decoction, precocious, decoct, cooking

col, cul

(till)

Examples: cultivate, colony, colonial, culture, horticulture, agriculture, incult

cor, cord

(heart)

Examples: accord, concord, cordial, discord, courage, core, cordiform

corp, corps, corpor

(body)

Examples: corporation, corps, corpse, corporal, corporate, corpulent, incorporate, corporeal

cras

(tomorrow)

Examples: procrastinate, procrastination

cred, creed

(believe)

Examples: credit, credential, discredit, incredible, creed, credulous, incredulous, credibility

crea

(create)

Examples: create, creature, creation, miscreate

cresc, crue, cret, crete

(grow)

Examples: increase, crescent, concrete, accrue, accretion, crescendo, excrescence, recruit

crux, cruc

(a cross)

Examples: crucial, cruciate, crucible, cruciferous, crucifix, cruciform, crucifer, crux, crucify

crypt

(hide)

Examples: crypt, cryptogram, cryptic, cryptograph, cryptography, cryptonym, cryptophyte

culp

(guilt)

Examples: culpable, culprit, inculpate, culpability

cur, course

(to run)

Examples: current, intercourse, concurrent, cursive, cursory, excursion, discourse, incur, currency, curriculum

cur, cura

(care)

Examples: curate, curator, accurate, secure, sinecure, curious, procure

cycl

(wheel, circle)

Examples: cycle, bicycle, encyclopedia, cyclic, cyclograph, cycloid, cyclone, cyclothymia, cyclostyle

deca, deci

(ten)

Examples: decade, decagon, decaliter, decameron, decameter, decapod, decasyllable, decimal, decimate

dem, demo

(people)

Examples: democratic, pandemic, epidemic, demagogue, demotic

dens

(thick)

Examples: condense, dense, density

derm

(skin)

Examples: epidermis, pachyderm, dermatalogy, taxidermist, hypodermic, dermatoid, dermatogen, dermal

dexter

(right-handed)

Examples: dexterous, dexterity, ambidextrous

di, dia

(day)

Examples: diary, diurnal, daily, quotidian, dial

dic, dict

(speak, declare)

Examples: dictate, indicate, predict, abdicate, diction, dictionary, verdict

dign

(worthy)

Examples: indignity, indignation, condign, deign, dainty, dignify, dignity

doc, doct

(teach)

Examples: doctor, doctrine, document, docile, indoctrinate, doctrinaire, documentary

dom

(lord, master)

Examples: dominate, domineer, predominant, dominion, domino, dominical, dominator

dom, domi

(house)

Examples: domicile, domestic, major domo, dome, domical

dorm

(sleep)

Examples: dormant, dormitory, dormer, dormouse, dormient

(two)

Examples: duet, duel, dual, dubious, duplex, duplicate, duplicity

dur, dure, dura

(hard, lasting)

Examples: durable, endure, duration, obdurate, durance, indurate

duc, duct

(lead)

Examples: educate, conduce, induce, educe, reduce, produce, abduction, ductile, induct, product, productive

dyn

(power)

Examples: dynamite, dynamic, dynasty, dyne, electrodynamics, dynamo

err

(wander, go astray)

Examples: errant, error, erratic, aberration, erroneous, erring, erratum, err

erg

(work)

Examples: energy, erg, ergometer, ergon

ego

(I)

Examples: egotist, egoism, etc

fact, fic, fice, fy, fect

(make, do)

Examples: manufacture, artifact, artifice, facile, facility, faculty, factotum, factor, factory, fact, etc

fer

(bear, carry)

Examples: transfer, infer, ferry, proffer, suffer, circumference, indifferent, defer, differ, fertile

fid, fide

(faith, trust)

Examples: fidelity, infidelity, confide, affidavit, infidel, perfidious, fiducial, fiduciary

fil

(son)

Examples: filial, affiliate, filiate

fin

(limit)

Examples: infinite, final, finish, define, confine, finite, infinity, finalist, finals

firm

(strengthen)

Examples: affirm, infirm, confirm, firmament, infirmity, confirmation

flex, flect

(bend)

Examples: flexible, deflect, reflect, inflection, genuflection, reflex

flu, flux, fluct, fluv

(flow)

Examples: fluent, influence, superfluous, fluctuate, effluvium, affluence, fluid, influx, flux, confluence

fort

(strong)

Examples: fortress, fortitude, comfort, fortify, effort, pianoforte

found, fuse, fund

(pour)

Examples: refund, confound, confuse, infusion, refuse, transfuse, foundry, profuse, effuse, fusible, fusion

fract, frang, frag

(break)

Examples: fragile, fragment, fracture, frangible, fraction, refract, refractory, infraction

frater, fratr

(brother)

Examples: fratricide, fraternal, fraternity, fraternize, friar, fratricidal

fug

(flee)

Examples: fugitive, refuge, subterfuge, fugue, centrifugal

gam

(marriage)

Examples: bigamist, monogamist, misogamy, polygamy

(earth)

Examples: geology, apogee, geography, geometry, geophysics, georgic, perigee, geotropism, geomancy, geoid, geodetic, geognosy, geocentric

gen

(birth)

Examples: gender, general, generate, generic, genus, progeny, regenerate, genealogy, genital, genius, progenitor, geniture, genteel

gest, ger

(carry, bear)

Examples: gestation, congestion, digest, gesture, register, congeries, belligerent, suggest

gov, gub

(govern, rule)

Examples: Government, governor, gubernatorial, governess

grad, gress

(walk, go)

Examples: progress, graduate, degrade, di-gress, aggressive, degree, gradient, retrograde, congress, egress, grad-ual

grand

(great)

Examples: aggrandize, grandeur, grand, grandiloquent, grandiose

graph, gram

(word, write)

Examples: telegraph, graphic, diagram, photograph, graphite, epigram, grammar, program, telegram, anagram, cryptogram

grat, grati, gratu, grac

(pleasing, agreeable)

Examples: gratitude, congratulate, gracious, disgrace, grateful, ingratiating, gratification, gratuitous

grav

(heavy)

Examples: gravity, grave, aggravate, grieve, aggravation

greg

(crowd)

Examples: gregarious, congregate, congregation, segregate, egregious, aggregate

hab, hib

(have, hold)

Examples: habit, inhabitant, exhibit, inhibit, habitual, prohibit, habitation

homo

(same)

Examples: homonym, homogeneous, homosexual, homologous, homophone, homomorphy, homograph, homogony, homogamy

hydr

(water)

Examples: hydra, hydrangea, hydraulics, hydrodynamics, hydroelectric, hydrogen, hydromechanics, hydrometer, hydropathy, hydrous, hydrant, hydroplane, etc

ject

(throw)

Examples: project, projectile, inject, reject, conjecture, eject, subject, abject, adjective, interjection, deject, ejaculate, objective

jud, jur, jus

(right, law)

Examples: judgment, justice, judicious, prejudice, jurist, jurisdiction, injury, just, jurisprudence, justification, justify, juridicial

junct, jug

(join)

Examples: junction, adjunct, conjunction, disjunctive, juncture, subjunctive, conjugal, conjugate, subjugate, conjugation

juven

(young)

Examples: juvenile, rejuvenate, juvenilia, juvenescent, juvenility

labor

(toil, work)

Examples: laboratory, elaborate, labor, laborious, collaborate, laborite, belabor

laud

(praise)

Examples: laudatory, cum laude, laudable, laudation, laud, lauder, laudative

lav

(wash, clean)

Examples: lavatory, lave, lotion

leg, lig, lect

(read, choose, pick up)

Examples: legible, elegant, negligent, diligent, neglect, select, delegate, lecter, lecture, lector, lectionary, elect

leg

(law)

Examples: legislature, legal, illegal, legitimate, privilege, legate

lib, libr

(book)

Examples: librarian, library, libel, liber

liber

(free)

Examples: liberty, libertine, liberal, liberate, liberticide, libertinage

lig

(bind)

Examples: oblige, ligament, ligature, obligate, colleague, liaison

liter

(letter)

Examples: literal, illiterate, literary, literature, obliterate, literacy, literator

loc

(place)

Examples: location, locale, dislocate, allocate, relocate, locus

locu, loqu

(speak, talk)

Examples: colloquial, colloquy, eloquent, grandiloquence, loquacious, loquacity, obloquy, soliloquy, elocution, interlocuter, circumlocution, locution

log

(word, speech, reason)

Examples: logic, apology, dialogue, epilogue, logical, meteorology, philology, prologue

luc, lum

(light)

Examples: illuminate, translucent, luminary, luminous, lucid, pellucid, luculent, lucule

lucidity, luciferous, lucent, elucidate.

lud, lus

(play)

Examples: allude, delude, elude, interlude, ludicrous, prelude, collusion, delusion, illusion

magn

(great)

Examples: magnify, magnitude, magnate, magni-ficent, magniloquent, magnanimous, magnipotent, magnicaudate, magniiic???????, magnum

mand

(order)

Examples: mandate, mandatory, demand, commandment, mandamus, mandatary, mandated, command, commandant, commandeer, commandery

man, manu

(hand)

Examples: manual, manufacture, manure??????????, manuscript, manacle, manipulate, amanuensis, manumission, manubrium, manicure, manifest

mar, mari

(sea)

Examples: maritime, submarine, marine, mari-ner

mater, matr

(mother)

Examples: maternal, maternity, matricide, alma mater, matron, matronly, maternally

matur

(ripe)

Examples: mature, immature, maturity, premature, maturate, maturation

med

(middle)

Examples: median, intermediate, immediate, medium, mediate, mediocre, mediocrity, mediation, mediastium, mediatory

men, ment

(mind)

Examples: demented, mental, mentality, mentally

mens, mest

(month)

Examples: semester, menstruation, menstrual, mensal, menses

merg

(dip)

Examples: submerge, emerge, immerge, emergency, emersion, submersion

mis, mit

(send)

Examples: permit, submit, surmise, commission, admit, commit, emit, remit, admissible, demise, dismiss, missionary, missive, missile, promise

morph

(shape)

Examples: amorphous, metamorphosis, morphology, anthropomorphic, morphometry, morpheus, morphine, morphic, morphologist, morphinism, morphia

mor, mort

(death)

Examples: mortal, immortal, mortality, morgue, mortify, mortgage, mortician, mortuary, mortmain, mortification

mov, mot, mob

(move)

Examples: remove, automobile, motive, motivation, commotion, locomotive, locomotion, motion, motor, promote, remote, mobilize, motility, immobile, movement, motivity, moving

mut

(change)

Examples: mutant, mutation, commute, transmute, permutation, mutual

nasc, nat

(born)

Examples: nativity, nascent, cognate, innate, nation, national, renascent, renaissance, natural, etc

nihil

(nothing)

Examples: anihilate, nihilist, nil

nom, nomin

(name)

Examples: nominate, denominator, cognomen, nominal, denomination, nomenclature, nomenclator, nominalism, nominee

nov

(new)

Examples: novel, novelty, renovate, novus, novice, novitiate, novocaine

oper, opus

(work)

Examples: opera, operator, opus, cooperation, operetta, operable, operose

path, pass

(feel, suffer)

Examples: allopathic, antipathy, passion, apathy, homeopathic, compassion, passive, sympathy, pathetic, pathology, pathos

pater, patr

(father)

Examples: paternal, paternity, patricide, patrician, patrimony, patron, paternoster

pars, part

(a part)

Examples: partner, apart, compartment, depart, impart, partake, partial, partisan, party, partition, participation, department

ped, pod

(foot)

Examples: biped, pedal, pedestrian, expedite, pedometer, pedestal, pedate, expedition, expedient, podiatrist, podium, tripod, antipodes, hexapod

pel, puls

(drive)

Examples: impulse, repel, dispel, interpellation, expulsion, propulsion, pulse, repulse, repulsive, compel, propeller

pend, pens

(hang, weigh)

Examples: impending, expense, suspense, preponderant, expend, ponder, stipend, pendant, pendulum, propensity, suspension, pending, depend, dependence

pet

(seek, ask)

Examples: petition, compete, impetuous, petulant, appetite, perpetuate, impetus, competitor

pet, petr

(rock)

Examples: petrify, petrol, petrel, petrology, petroleum, petrifactive, petrous, petrography, petrologic, petrosal

phil

(love)

Examples: philosophy, philter, philander, philatelist, philharmonic, philologist, philogynist, bibliophile, francophile, philanthropic

phobia

(fear)

Examples: hydrophobia, agoraphobia, claustrophobia, etc

phon

(sound)

Examples: telephone, microphone, phonograph, symphony, euphonious, cacophony, dictaphone, phonetics, phonic, phonology, phonometer, phonophore

poli

(city, state)

Examples: political, politics, polity, policy, policeman, metropolis, cosmopolitan

port

(carry)

Examples: import, export, transport, portfolio, comport, deportment, portable, porter, pur

port, report, portmanteau, portly, portative, portamento, portage, disport.

pon, pos

(put, place)

Examples: exponent, deponent, opponent, component, composition, deposit, deposition, expose, exposition, impose, imposter, interposition, juxtaposition, postpone, repository, supposition, transposition

pot

(power)

Examples: potentate, potential, impotent, potency, omnipotent, potent, potentiometer

prim

(first)

Examples: primary, primate, primer, primeval, primitive, primal

pris, prehen

(seize, grasp)

Examples: apprehend, comprehend, reprehend, comprehensive, enterprise, surprise, comprise, imprison, prehensile, reprehend

prob

(test, prove, try)

Examples: probate, approbation, probation, reprobate, probe

put

(think)

Examples: impute, putative, compute, depute, dispute, repute, reputation, indisputable

pyr

(fire)

Examples: pyromaniac, pyrotechnics, antipyrine, pyrosis, pyrometer, pyromancy, pyrostat, pyrotoxin

rog

(question)

Examples: interrogation, abrogate, arrogate, rogation, prerogative, derogatory, surrogate, prorogue

reg, rec

(direct, keep straight)

Examples: direct, regent, regiment, regular, regulation, reign, correct, rectify, rector, regnant

rupt

(break)

Examples: rupture, interrupt, abrupt, bankrupt, corrupt, disrupt, irruption, eruption, incorruptible

sci, scio

(know)

Examples: conscience, conscientious, conscious, consciousness, omniscience, scientific, sciolist, plebiscite, adscititious

scop

(watch)

Examples: telescope, microscope, episcopal, helioscope, horoscope, scope, skeptic, spectroscope, stethoscope

scrib, script

(write)

Examples: describe, description, circumscribe, scribble, superscription, ascribe, inscribe, subscribe, transscribe, conscription, script, scripture, transscript, scribe

seg, sect

(cut)

Examples: section, dissect, sectarian, segment, bisect, secant, intersect, trisect, insect

sed, ses, sid

(seat)

Examples: session, sedulous, sedentary, supersede, president, reside, assessor, assize

sens, sent

(feel)

Examples: sentiment, assent, consent, dissent, presentiment, resent, sense, sensibility, sentient, sentence, sensual, sensitive, consensus

sequ, secu, sue

(follow)

Examples: sequence, consecutive, ensue, sequel, subsequent, consecutive, persecute, prosecute

sign

(sign, mark)

Examples: insignificant, assign, designate, resign, signet, signify, signature, consign, consignment, ensign

sol

(alone)

Examples: solitude, solitary, sole, desolation, desolate, solo

solv, solu

(loosen, free, unravel)

Examples: resolve, adsolve, dissolve, solvent, soluble, solution, dissolute, resolution, absolute, resolute

somn

(sleep)

Examples: insomnia, somnolent, somniferous, somnambulist, somnific, somniloquy

soph

(wise, wisdom)

Examples: sophomore, philosopher, sophism, sophistry, sophisticate, unsophisticated

spec, spect, spic

(look, see)

Examples: spectacle, spectator, conspicuous, specimen, specious, speculate, suspicion, aspect, circumspect, inspect, introspection, prospect, prospectus, respect, retrospect, respectable, suspect

spir, spirit

(breathe)

Examples: aspire, conspiracy, conspire, expire, transpire, spiritual, respire, per-spire, aspirate, inspiration, spirit, inspire

spond, spouse

(promise)

Examples: despond, correspond, sponsor, ecpouse, response

sta, sti, sist

(stand)

Examples: circumstance, constant, distant, obstacle, stable, stationary, stationer, statue, status, understand, substitute, substantial, subsist, subsistence

stead

(place)

Examples: steadfast, instead, homestead, roadstead, farmstead

strict, string, strain

(bind)

Examples: district, restrict, stringent, restrain, stricture, astringent, constrain, distrain, strict, restrictive, constrict, strictly

stru

(build)

Examples: structure, construe, instrument, construct, instruct, destructive, obstruct, mis

construe.

tact, ting, tang

(touch)

Examples: tactile, contingency, intangible, contact, tangent, integrity, contingent, attain

tail

(cut)

Examples: curtail, detail, entail, tailor, tally

tend, tent, tens

(stretch, extend)

Examples: tendency, tension, intense, tent, ostensible, attend, contend, distend, portend, extend, pretend, subtend, superintend, tendency, attention, contention, distention, portent, pretension, intend, intent

tena, tene, tain, ten

(hold)

Examples: detain, detention, tenant, tenement, tenet, tenure, contain, detain, en-tertain, retention, sustain, sustenance, tenacious, tenacity

tent, tempt

(try)

Examples: tentative, temptation, attempt

term

(end, limit)

Examples: term, terminal, determinate, term-inate, exterminate, coterminous, determine, interminable

terr, ter

(earth)

Examples: inter, terrestrial, terrier, terri-tory, subterranean, terrace, parterre, terracotta, terrain, terrarium, terricolous, terrigenous

theo

(God)

Examples: theology, atheist, theism, theologian, monotheism, pantheism

therm

(heat)

Examples: thermometer, thermal, thermostat, thermic, thermoelectricity

thesis

(setting, statement)

Examples: antithesis, hypothesis, thesis, parenthesis, synthesis, synthetic, anathema

tor, tort

(twist)

Examples: torch, torture, tortuous, contort, distort, distortion, retort, tort, torsion, torque, tortile, tortoise, tortuosity, torticollis, torsade, torsibility

tract, tra, trai

(draw)

Examples: tractor, train, abstract, attract, ??????????TRAII, subtract, portray, contract, distract, tractable, traction, extract, subtrahend, detract, detraction, protract, protracted

trib

(pay, grant)

Examples: tribute, attribute, contribute, dis-