DoubleYourVocabularyinaMonth.doc

Double Your Vocabulary in a Month

The 100 most common Latin and Greek roots figure in more than 5,000 English derivatives just beyond the average person’s vocabulary of 10,000 words. They are the ones in all CAPITAL letters. By memorizing these 100 CAPITALIZED Latin and Greek prefixes, suffixes and roots, you will have a short cut to sight read an additional 5,000 words. If you learn all of them (both the caps and non-caps roots), you can double this to 10,000 additional words. Most of these words are used in medicine, law, business, science and technology. These are all words you must know in order to excel on the PSAT, SAT I and GRE, to do well in college and to have a successful career. The most important of these derived words are in CAPITALIZED BOLD print. You must know their meanings. Look these words up in your dictionary to get all the definitions. Put them on your index cards; the word on the front and definitions on the back. Many will not have the same exact meaning as the original Latin or Greek words but they will be close. When you use your dictionary, pay close attention to the Latin or Greek words from which they are derived. The Romans also combined prefixes and roots to derive new words. Many were borrowed straight from the Greek language, but most were combined with Latin to make additional words with similar but distinctive meanings. Try to get a feel for the ETYMOLOGY of these words.
By breaking a word apart into root, prefix and suffix, you will be able to determine its literal meaning. Since you have encountered the word in context, you can then guess at its present meaning. For example, take the word "interposition." The prefix is ‘INTER-’, the suffix is ‘–ION’ and the root word is ‘POSIT’. Inter- means ‘between’, -ion is ‘the act of’ and ‘POSIT’ is from Latin meaning‘to place.’ Therefore, ‘interposition’ literally means ‘the act of placing between.’ Another example is the word "antipathy." The prefix is ‘ANTI-’, the Greek root word is ‘PATH’ and the suffix is ‘-Y.’ Anti- means ‘against’, the suffix,-y, is ‘the state of’ and PATH means ‘to feel.’ Antipathy therefore means ‘the state of feeling against’. Not all derived words have both a prefix and a suffix, many will have one or the other, some will use just the root word and others will combine two root words, as in ‘manuscript’ and ‘astronaut.’ Man- is the Latin root for ‘hand’ and script is the Latin root ‘to write.’ Astro is the Greek word for ‘star’ and ‘naut’ means sailor.
The secret to increasing your vocabulary is not by memorizing a lot of words. The secret is in knowing how combining different prefixes and suffixes with a root word makes new words. For example, let’s take the Latin word gressum which means ‘to walk, to step or move forward’ and by combining the prefixes, A(D)-, CON-, DI-, E-, PRO-, RE-, RETRO- and TRANS- with the combining word "-GRESS-", we get 8 more words. If we add the suffixes –ION, -IVE, and –OR in turn to each of these words we derive 24 additional words for a total of 32 words. By knowing the meaning of the root word, and the 8 prefixes and 3 suffixes you also know the meaning of the 32 derived words. I use this example of making words to show you how easy it is to take words apart and thereby learn their meaning. As an exercise, combine these prefixes and suffixes with the root word to form the 32 words, write them down and look up their meanings.
Since many Greek words were assimilated by the Romans and Latin words also come down to us through French, Italian and Spanish, the modern spelling of some of these words can be quite different from the original Latin or Greek.
The Latin and Greek prefixes, suffixes and root words are listed alphabetically.
1. Latin Prefixes
The prefixes listed below are from Latin prepositions. They are attached to nouns, adjectives and especially to verbs. When taking apart compound verbs and defining them, it is best to translate the prefix as adverbial rather than prepositional. For example, abduct divides into ab (away) and duct (lead) and so means ‘lead away’ and not ‘away from leading’. Some of these prefixes have different forms depending on the initial letter of the root word. This makes the derived word more pronounceable and is known as assimilation. A prime example is the prefix SUB- which also has SUC-,SUF-,SUG-,SUM-, SUP-, SUR-, and SUS- as different forms.
Prefix
Meaning
Examples
A-
not, without
amoral, APATHY, ANOMALY
AB-, ABS-
away from, off, apart
abrupt, ABSCOND, ABSTRACT
AD-, AC-, AN-, AS-
toward, against
advent, accurate, ANNOTATE, assent
AMBI-, AMB-
around, about, on both sides
AMBIGUOUS, AMBIVALENT
ANTE-
before, in front of, early
antecede, antedate, antebellum
ARCH
main, chief
archangel, archbishop, archenemy
BI-
two
bifurcate, biannually
BENE-
well
BENEFACTOR, benefit, beneficial
CIRCUM-, CIRA-
around, about
circumflex, circumference, circa
CIS-
on this side of
cislunar, cisalpine
CON-
with, together
concur, concede, CONSCRIPT
COM-, COR-, COL-
together, with, very
COMPRISE, corrode, colleteral
CONTRA-
against
contradict, controversy, contravene
COUNTER-
against
counterfeit, counterclockwise
DE-
down, down from, off, utterly
deformed, defoliate, descend, depress
DEMI-
half, partly belongs to
demisemiquaver, demigod
DIS-, DI-, DIF-
apart, in different directions
DIGRESS, divorce, dispute, DISCERN
DU-, DUO-
two
duet, duplicate
EM- EN-
in, into
embrace, enclose
EX-, E-, EF-, EC-
out, out of, from, away
EXTOL, event, expel, evade, ELUCIDATE
EXTRA-,EXTRO-
outside of, beyond
extraordinary, extrovert, EXTRAPOLATE
FORE
before
forestall, forgo, forebear
IN-, I-, IL-, IM-, IR-
in, into, on, toward, put into,
incision, impel, impulse, irrigate,

not, lacking, without
illegal, ignominious, impure, immoral,

(same as above)
immodest, indecent, INCOHERENT
INDU-, INDI-
a strengthened form of IN-
indigent
INFRA-
below, beneath, inferior to, after
infrared, infrasonic
INTER-, INTEL-
among, between, at intervals
intercede, intercept, intellect
INTRA-
in, within, inside of
intramural, intravenous
INTRO-
in, into, within
introduce, introspective
JUXTA
near, beside
juxtapose, juxtaposition
MAL-, MALE-
evil, badly
malformed, malicious, malaise, maladroit
MEDI-, MEDIO-
middle
median, mediocre
MILLI-, MILLE-
thousand
millennium, millimeter
MONO-
one
MONARCH, MONOTONE
MULTI-, MULTUS-
much, many
multifaceted, multiply, multilevel
NE-
not
neuter, NEUTRAL
NON-
not (less emphatic than IN or UN)
nonresident, nonconformity
NUL-, NULL-
none, not any
nullify, nullification
OB-, OF-, OC-,
toward, against, across, down, for
oblong, OBDURATE, offer, occasion, occur
OP-, O-
toward, against, across, down, for
oppose, opposite, omit, offer
OMNI-
all, everywhere
omniscient, omnivorous
PED-, PEDI-
foot
pedestrian, pedicure
PER-, PEL-
through, by, thoroughly, away
PERMEATE, perfidy, pellucid
POST-
behind, after (in time or place)
postpone, postnatal, postorbital
PRE-
before, early, toward
precedent, precept, preposition
PRO-, PUR-
before, for, forth
proceed, purport, pursue, PROLONG
QUADRI-, QUADR-
four times, four fold
quadriceps, quadrisect, quadrangle
RE-, RED-
back, again, against, behind
repel, RELEGATE, redeem, redemption
RETRO-
backwards, behind
retrogressive, retrofit, retrograde
SE-, SED-
aside, apart, away from
secure, seduce, seclude, sedition, select
SEMI-
half
semicircle, semiprivate
SINE
without
sinecure
SUB-, SUC-, SUF-
under, beneath, inferior,
suffer, SUBMISSIVE, succumb,
SUG-, SUM-, SUP-
less than, in place of, secretly
suggest, subtract, suffuse, support
SUR-, SUS-
(same as above meanings)
suspend, surplus
SUBTER-
beneath, secretly
subterfuge
SUPER-, SUPRA-
over, above, excessively
SUPERFICIAL, SUPERCILIOUS
SUR-
over, above, excessively
surcharge, surtax, surplus, surrealism
TRANS-, TRA-
across, over, beyond, through
transoceanic, transgression, transit, transition
TRI-
three
triangle, triceps
ULTRA-
beyond, on other side
ultrasound, ultraconservative
UN- (Old English)
no, not, without
unabashed, unashamed

2. Latin Suffixes
You will also find a few Old English suffixes here since they are used quite freely with Latin and Greek root words.
Suffix
Meaning
Examples
-ABLE, -ABLY
able to, capable of being.
unalienable, insuperable
-ACY
state or quality of being
intricacy, democracy
-AGE
belonging to, related to
marriage, acreage, postage
-AL
pertaining to, act of
infinitesimal, EPHEMERAL
-ANA
sayings, writtings, facts of
Americana
-AN, -ANT, -ENT
one who is
charlatan, blatant, strident
-ANCE
act of, state of being, thing that
ABEYANCE
-ARY
belonging to, a relation to.
hereditary, subsidiary
-ATE
having
alienate, incarnate, insensate
-ATION, -ITION
the act of, result of
alteration, compilation, nutrition
-AR
relating to, like; the nature of
singular, polar, vicar, scholar
-BULUM, -BLE
means, instrument, place
fable, stable
-CIDE, -CIDAL
killer; having power to kill
insecticide, suicidal
-CRAT, -CRACY
to govern
bureaucracy, plutocracy
-CULUM, -CLE
means, instrument, place
curriculum, fulcrum
-EN
to become, or cause to be
darken, weaken
-ENCE
act, fact, quality, state
conference, excellence, despondence
-ENCY
state of being
clemency, dependency
-ER, -OR
one who
interlocutor, volunteer
-ENT
has, shows, or does
circumvent, INADVERTENT
-ERY, -RY
a place to/for; occupation of
tannery, vinery, dentistry, jewelry
-ESCE
becoming
obsolescent, COALESCE
-FY
to make, cause to be, or become
CLARIFY, horrify
-HOOD
state, quality; group of
childhood, priesthood
-IAN
belonging to, a relation to
vulgarian, plebian
-IER
a person concerned with
soldier
-IBLE
able to be.
susceptible, flexible
-IC
pertaining to
ASCETIC, PROSAIC, ENDEMIC
-ICE
state or quality of being
avarice
-IL, -ILE
having to do with
docil, missile, civil, fossil
-ION
the act or result of, one who
legion, opinion
-IUM, -Y, -CE, -GE
the act of
colloquium, colloquy, refuge
-CIUM, -TIUM, -GIUM
something connected with the act
consortium, compendium
-ISH
of, or belonging to; like
devilish, boyish, foolish, bookish
-IST
a person who does, makes, practices
ALTRUIST, artist
-ITIOUS
having the nature of.
nutritious, seditious
-ITUDE, (-TUDE)
state of being.
verisimilitude, aptitude
-ITY
state, character, condition
ANIMOSITY, stability
-IVE
one who, that which is
pensive, ELUSIVE, deductive
-LESS
(OE) without, lacking.
relentless, tireless
-LIKE
characteristic of; suitable for
manlike, childlike, godlike
-LY
specified manner, extent, direction
harshly, hourly
-MEN
result, or means
acumen, specimen
-MENTUM, -MENT
result, or means of an act
armament, impediment, moment
-NESS
state, quality of being
greatness. sadness
-OON
one who
buffoon
-OR
act, or condition of
error, terror, PRECURSOR
-ORY
relating to, thing which, place where
AMBULATORY, laboratory
-OSE, -OUS
having, full of, characterized by
IMPERVIOUS, unctuous, perilous
-SHIP
quality, condition, state of
fellowship, friendship
-SOME
like, tending to be
tiresome, lonesome
-TION
state of that which
convocation, commotion
-TUDE
state of being
verisimilitude, aptitude
-ULUS, -ULOUS
tending to
CREDULOUS, pendulous
-URE
state or act of
CENSURE, tenure
-UUS, -UOUS
tending to
INNOCUOUS
-VOROUS, -VORE
eating, feeding on
omnivorous, herbivore
-WISE
direction, manner, in regard to
clockwise
-Y
state of being.
nullity, APATHY

3. Latin number forms
Suffix
Meaning
Examples
UNI-
one
UNIFORM, unicorn, unilateral
PRIM-, PRIMO-
first
primary, primitive, primogenitor
DU-
two
duet, dual
BI-, BIN-
two, twice
bicycle, binoculars
SECOND-
second
secondary
TRI-
three
triangle, tricycle, trinity
TERTI-
third
tertiary
QUADR(U)-
four
quadrangle, quadruple
QUART-
fourth
quarter
QUINQUE-, QUINT-
five, fifth
quintet, quintessence
SEX-, SEXT-
six, sixth
sextet, sextant
SEPT(EM)-
seven
septet, September
OCT-
eight
octet, October
OCTAV-
eighth
octave, octagon
NOVEM-
nine
November
NON-
ninth
nonagon
DECEM-
ten
December
DECIM-
tenth
decimal, DECIMATE
CENT-
hundre
century, centennial
MILL-
thousand
millimeter, millennium
SESQUI-
one and a half times
sesquicentennial
SEMI-
half, partly
semiannual

4. Latin Base Words
Latin word
Meaning
Examples
abstinere
to hold back
abstain, ABSTINENCE
accollare
to embrace
ACCOLADE
acerbus, AC, ACR
sharp, bitter, sour
acerbic, acrid, acumen, acrimony
actuare
to do, to move
ACTUATE
actus, ACT
drive, lead, to do, to act
active, activate, activism, react
acurer
to sharpen
ACUTE, acumen, acuity
adbaetere
witness, judge
ARBITER
adjacere
to lie near
adjacent
aemulus
trying to equal, excel
EMULATE
aequus
equal
EQUIVALENT
affecere, AFFE
a state of feeling, to feign
AFFECTATION, AFFECTED
ager, agri, agro, AGR
field
agronomy
agere, AG
drive, lead, to do, to act
agility, agitate, AGENDA
alacer
eager, quick, brisk
ALACRITY
albus
white
albino, albedo, albescent
alere, altum,AL, ALT
grow, nourish
altrical
alius
other, else
alias, ALIENATE
alienus, ALIEN
of another, other
alien, alienation, unalienable
alludere
to joke, jest
allude, ALLUSION
alter, ALTER
other, another
alternative, altercation, ADULTERATE
alter
other of two
ALTERNATIVE
altus
high, deep
alto, altimeter, exaltation
amare, AM, AMAT
to love, friend
AMIABLE, enamored, amorous
ambulare, AMB
to walk, to go
amble, preamble, AMBULATORY
amicus
friend
AMITY
amplus
large, spacious
ample
anecdota
unpublished
ANCEDOTE
angere, anxius
to give pain
ANXIOUS, ANXIETY
angulus
a corner
angle, ANGULAR
anima
breath, spirit, soul
ANIMOSITY, inanimate, unanimous
animus, ANIM
reason, mind, soul, life
ANIMATE, magnanimous
annus, ANNU, ENNI
year
annual, biennial, centennial, PERENNIAL
anomalia
inequality
ANOMALY
antiquus
old, ancient
antiquity, antique, ANTIQUATED
apertum, APERT
open, uncovered
aperture
apparere
to come forth
apparent, appearance, APPARITION
appellare, APPELL
address, entreat, call
appellation
apprehendere
to take hold of
apprehend, APPREHENSIVE
apprenare
to teach
APPRISE
aptare, aptus, APT, EPT
to fit, suitable
aptitude, adapt, INEPT
aqua
water
aqueous, aqueduct, aquifer, aquarium
arabilis
to plow
ARABLE
arbit
judge
ARBITRATION, arbitrary
arbor
tree
arboretum, arboreal
archein, ARCH
to rule
MONARCH
ardere ARD
be on fire, to burn
ardor, ARDUOUS
arere
to be dry
ARID
arguere
make clear
argument
arma
implements, weapons
arm, armament, ARMADA
arrogare
full of pride
ARROGANT, ARROGANCE
arsum, ARS
be on fire
arson
ars, artis, ART
skill, craft, method
art, artisan, artist
articulare
jointed; utter distinctly
ARTICULATE, inarti