ROOT WORDS
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452 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 A: | without |
| Amoral | neither moral or immoral |
| ATHEIST | one who does not believe in God |
| Atypical | not typical |
| anonymous | of unknown authorship or origin |
| apathy | lack of interest or emotion |
| atrophy | the wasting away of body tissue |
| anomaly | an irregularity |
| agnostic | one who questions the existence of God |
| AB/ABS: | off, away from, apart, down |
| abduct | to take by force |
| abhor | to hate or to detest |
| abolish | to do away with; to make void |
| Abstract | conceived apart from concrete realities, specific objects, or actual events |
| abnormal | deviating from a standard |
| abdicate | to renounce or relinquish a throne |
| abstinence | forbearance from any indulgence of appetite |
| abstruse | hard to understand; secret or hidden |
| AC/ ACR: | sharp or bitter |
| acid | something that is sharp, sour, or ill natured |
| acute | sharp at the end; ending in a point |
| ascerbic | sour or astringent in taste; harsh in temper |
| ACRID | sharp or biting to the taste or smell |
| ACRIMONIOUS | caustinc, stinging, or bitter in nature |
| exacerbate | to increase bitterness or violence; to aggravate |
| ACT/AG: | to do; to drive; to force; to lead |
| agile | quick and well coordinated in movement; active or lively |
| agitate | to move or force into violent or irregular action |
| litigate | to make the subject of a lawsit |
| prodigal | wastefull or recklessly extravagant |
| pedagogue | a teacher |
| synagogue | a gathering or congregation of Jews for the purpose of religious worship |
| AD/ AL: | to, toward, or near |
| adapt | to adjust or modify fittingly |
| adjacent | near, close or contiguous; adjoining |
| addict | to give oneself over, as to a habit or a pursuit |
| admire | to regard with wonder, pleasure, and approval |
| address | to direct a speech or written statement to |
| adhere | to stick fast; cleave; cling |
| adjoint | to be close or in contact with |
| advocate | to plead in favor of |
| AL/ALI/ALTER | other, another |
| alternative | a possible choice |
| alias | an assumed name; another name |
| alibi | the defense by an accused person that he or she was verifiably elsewhere at the time of a crime with which he or she is charged |
| ALIEN | one born in another country; a foreigner |
| ALTRUIST | a person who is unselfishly concerned for the welfare of other |
| allegory | figurative treatment of one subject under the guise of another |
| AM: | love |
| amateur | a person who engages in an activity for pleasure rather than financial or professional fain |
| amatory | of or pertaining to lovers to to lovemaking |
| amenity | agreeable way or manner |
| amorous | inclined to live |
| anamored | inflamed with love |
| amity | friendship or peaceful harmony |
| inamorata | a female lover |
| amiable | having or showing agreeable personal qualities |
| amicable | characterized by exhibiting good will |
| AMB: | to go; to walk |
| ambient | moving freely; circulating |
| ambitious | desirous of achieving or obtaining power |
| preamble | an introductory statement |
| ambassador | an authoritative messenger or representative |
| ambulance | a wheeled vehicle equipped for carrying sick people usually to a hospital |
| ambulatory | of, pertaining or, or capable of walking |
| ambush | the act of lying concealed so as to attack by surprise |
| perambulator | one who makes a tour of inspection on foot |
| AMBI/ AMPH: | both, more than one, around |
| ambiguous | open to various interpretations |
| ambidextrous | able to use both hands freely |
| ANIM: | of the life, mind, soul, spirit |
| unanimous | in complete accord |
| animosity | a feeling of ill will or enmity |
| animus | hostile feeling or attitude |
| equanimity | mental or emotional stability, especially under tension |
| magnanimous | generous in forgiving an insult or injury |
| ANNUI/ ENNI | a year |
| annual | of, for, or pertaining to a year; yearly |
| perennial | lasting for an indefinite amount of time |
| annals | a record of events- especially a yearly record |
| ANTE | before |
| anterior | placed before |
| antecedent | existing, being, or going before |
| antedate | precede in time |
| antebellum | before the war (especially before the civil war) |
| antediluvian | belonging to the period before the biblical flood; very old or old fashioned |
| ANTHRO/ ANDR | man, human |
| anthropology | the science that deals with the origins of humankind |
| android | a robot or mechanical man |
| misanthrope | one who hates humans or humanity |
| philanderer | one who carries on flirtations; male slut |
| androgynous | being both male and female |
| androgen | any substance that promotes masculine characteristics |
| anthropocentric | regarding humanity as the central fact of the universe |
| ANTI: | against |
| antibody | a protein naturally existing in the blood serum that reacts to overcome the toxic effects of an antigen |
| ANTIDOTE | a remedy for counteracting the effects of poison, disease, ect |
| antiseptic | free from germs; particularly clean or neat |
| antipathy | aversion; opposition in feeling |
| ANTIPODAL | on the opposite side of the globe |
| APO: | away |
| apocalypse | revelation; discovery; disclosure |
| apogee | the highest or most distant point |
| apocryphal | of doubtful authorship or authenticity |
| apostasy | a total desertion of one's religion, principles, party, cause, ect |
| ARCH/ ARCHI/ ARCHY | chief, principal, ruler |
| monarchy | a government in which the supreme power is lodged in a sovereign |
| ANARCHY | a state or society without government or law |
| OLIGARCHY | a state or society ruled by a select group |
| AUTO | self |
| autocrat | an absolute ruler |
| autonomy | independence or freedom |
| BE | to be; to have a particular quality; to exist |
| belittle | to regard something as less impressive than it apparently is |
| bemoan | to express pity for |
| bewilder | to confuse or puzzle completely |
| belie | to misrepresent; to contradict |
| BEL | war |
| rebel | a person who resists authority |
| belligerent | warlike, given to waging war |
| BEN/ BON | good |
| benign | having a kindly disposition |
| benediction | act of uttering a blessing |
| bona fide | in good faith; without fraud |
| BI | twice, double |
| biennial | happening every two years |
| BILATERAL | pertaining to or affecting two or both sides |
| CAD/ CID | to fall, to happen by chance |
| decadent | decaying; deteriorating |
| recidivist | one who repeatedly relapses, as into crime |
| CANT/ CENT/ CHANT | to sing |
| recant | to withdraw or disavow a statement |
| incantation | the chanting of words purporting to have magical power |
| CAP/CIP/CEPT: | to take; to get |
| emancipate | to free from restraint |
| percipient | having perception; discerning; discriminating |
| precept | a commandment given as a rule of conduct |
| CAP/CAPIT/CIPIT | head, headlong |
| precipitate | to hasten the occurrence of; to bring about prematurely |
| precipice | a cliff with a vertical face |
| capitulate | to surrender unconditionally or on stipulated terms |
| CARD/CORD/COUR | heart |
| concord | agreement; peace. aminity |
| discord | lack of harmony |
| concordance | an agreement |
| CARN | flesh |
| carnage | the slaughter of a great number of people |
| incarnation | a being invested with a bodily form |
| CAST/CHAST | cut |
| caste | a hereditary social group, limited to people of the same rank |
| castigate | to punish in order to correct |
| CED/CEED/CESS | to go; to yield; to stop |
| cessation | a temporary or complete discontinuance |
| incessant | without stop |
| CENTR | center |
| eccentric | off center |
| centrist | of or pertaining to moderate political or social ideas |
| CERN/CERT/CRET/CRIM/CRIT | to separate; to judge; to distinguish; to decide |
| ascertain | to make sure of |
| certitude | freedom from dobt |
| CHRON | time |
| anachronism | an obsolete or archaic form |
| CIRCU | around on all sides |
| circumambulate | to walk around ro about |
| circuitous | roundabout; indirect |
| CIS | to cut |
| incision | a cut or gash |
| incisive | penetrating, cutting |
| CLA/ CLO/ CLU | shut ro close |
| disclose | to reveal to to make known |
| cloister | a courtyard bordered with covered walks |
| preclude | to prevent the presence, existence, ro occurrence of |
| CLAIM/ CLAM | to shout or to cry out |
| clamor | a loud uproar |
| disclaim | to deny interest in or connection with |
| CLI | to lean towards |
| proclivity | inclination or bias |
| CO/COL/COM/CON | with or together |
| conciliate | to win over |
| commensurate | suitable in measure or proportionate |
| COUR/CUR | running; a course |
| concur | to agree |
| incursion | a hostile entrance into a place |
| cursory | goind rapidly over something/ hasty/ superficial |
| CRE/CRESC/CRET | to grow |
| accrue | to be added as a matter of periodic gain |
| accretion | an increase by natural growth |
| CRED | to believe to trust |
| credo | any form of belief |
| credulity | willingness to believe to trust too readily |
| CRYP | hidden |
| apocryphal | a doubtful authorship or authenticity |
| CUB/ CUMB | to lie down |
| incumbent | holding an indicated position |
| CULP | to blame |
| inculpate | to charge with fault |
| mea culpa | through my fault; my fault |
| DAC/ DOC | to teach |
| indoctrinate | to imbue a person with learning |
| didactic | intended for instruction |
| DE | away, off, down, completely, reversal |
| defame | to attack the good name or reputation of |
| deferential | respectful; to yield judgement |
| delineate | to trace the outline of; sketch or trace in outline |
| DEM | people |
| endemic | peculiar to a particular people or locality |
| DI/ DIA | apart, through |
| dilatory | inclined to delay or procrastinate |
| DIC/ DICT/ DIT | to say; to tell; to use words |
| interdict | to forbid or prohibit |
| dign | worth |
| dignity | nobility |
| dignitary | a person who holds a high rank or office |
| condign | well deserved; fitting |
| DIS/ DIF | away from, reversal, not |
| disseminate | to scatter |
| DOG/ DOX | opinion |
| paradox | an opinion or statement that is contrary to accepted opinion |
| DOL | suffer or pain |
| condolence | expression of sympathy |
| indolence | state of being lazy |
| doleful | sorrowful, mournful |
| dolorous | full of pain or sorrow |
| DON/ DOT/ DOW | to give |
| endow | to provide qith a permanent fund |
| DUB | doubt |
| dubious | doubtful |
| indubitable | unquestionable |
| DUC/ DUCT | to lead |
| conducive | contributive |
| induct | to install in a position with formal ceremonies |
| DUR | hard |
| duress | compulsion by threat or coersion |
| dour | sullen or gloomy |
| DYS | faulty or abnormal |
| dyspepsia | impaired digestion |
| dyslexia | impairment of the ability to read due to a brain defect |
| E/EF/EX | out, out of, from, former, completely |
| extricate | to disentangle or release |
| efface | to rub or wipe out |
| EPI | upon |
| epilogue | a concluding part added to a literary work |
| epigram | a witty or pointed saying tersely expressed |
| epithet | a word or phrase used invectively as a term of abuse |
| EQU | equal or even |
| equidistant | equally distant |
| iniquity | gross injustice; wickedness |
| ERR | to wander |
| arrant | downright, thorough, notorious |
| ESCE | becoming |
| obsolescent | becoming absolete |
| convalescent | recovering from an illness |
| EU | good, or well |
| euphemism | pleasant sounding term for something unpleasant |
| eugenics | improvement of qualities of race by control of inherited characteristics |
| euphony | a pleasantness of sound |
| EXTRA | beyond or outside |
| extradite | to hand over a person accused of a crime |
| extrapolate | to estimate from known data |
| FAB/ FAM | speak |
| affable | friendly or courteous |
| ineffable | too great for description in words |
| defame | the attack of a good name |
| FAC/FIC/FIG/FAIT/FEIT/FY | to do or to make |
| faction | small dissenting group within larger one |
| deficient | incomplete or insufficient |
| prolific | producing many offspring |
| configuration | manner of arrangement |
| effigy | sculpture or model of a person |
| FER | to bring or carry or to bear |
| REFERENDUM | to vote on political question open to the entire electorate |
| FERV | to boil or to bubble |
| fervid | ardent or intense |
| effervescent | with the quality of giving off bubbles of gas |
| FIN | end |
| affidavit | written statement on oath |
| fiduciary | of a trust or held or given in trust |
| infidel | disbeliever in the supposed true relgion |
| FIN | end |
| infinitesimal | infinitely or very small |
| FLAG/ FAM | to burn |
| flambeau | a lighted torch |
| conflagration | a large destructive fire |
| FLECT/ FLEX | to bend |
| inflect | to change or vary the pitch of |
| FLU/ FLUX | to flow |
| fluctuation | something that varies |
| effluence | flowing out of |
| confluence | merging into one |
| mellifluous | pleasing, musical |
| FORE | before |
| foresight | care or provision for the future |
| forestall | to prevent by advance action |
| FORT | chance |
| fortuitous | happening by luck |
| FORT | strength |
| fortissimo | very loud |
| forte | strong point; something that a person does well |
| FRA/FRAC/FRAG/FRING | to break |
| fractious | irritable, peevish |
| refractory | stubborn, unmanageable, rebellious |
| FUS | to pour |
| fusillade | continuous discharge of firearms or outburst of criticism |
| suffuse | to spread throughout or over from within |
| GEN | birth, creation, race, or kind |
| congenital | existing or as such from birth |
| miscegenation | interbreeding of races |
| GN/ GNO | know |
| prognosis | to forecast |
| GRAD/ GRESS | to step |
| degrade | to humiliate, dishonor, reduce to lower rank |
| egress | going out; way out |
| GRAT | pleasing |
| ingratitude | to bring oneself into favor |
| HER/HES | to stick |
| adherent | able to adhere |
| inherent | involved in the constiution or essential character of something |
| (H)ETERO | different |
| heterodox | different from acknowledged standard |
| (H)OM | same |
| homonym | one of two or more words spelled and pronounced alike but different in meaning |
| HYPER | over, ecessive |
| HYPERBOLE | purposeful exaggeration for effect |
| HYPO | under, beneath, less than |
| hypocritical | affecting cirtues or qualities one does not have |
| IDIO | one's own |
| idiom | a language, dialect, or style of speaking |
| idiosyncrasy | a peculiarity of temperment |
| IM/IN/EM/EN | in, into |
| implicit | not expressely stated |
| indigenous | native; innate; nature |
| IM/IN | not, without |
| innocuous | not harmful |
| indolence | showing a disposition to avoid exertion |
| indigent | deficient in what is requisite |
| INTER | between or among |
| interim | a temporary arrangement |
| intersperse | to scatter |
| JECT | to throw; to throw down |
| conjecture | formation of opinion on incomplete information |
| abject | utterly hopeless, humiliating, or wretched |
| JOIN/ JUNCT | to meet or to join |
| subjugate | to conquer |
| rejoinder | to reply or retord |
| junta | a clique taking power after a coup d-etat |
| JUR | to swear |
| abjure | to renounce on oath |
| adjure | to beg or command |
| LAV/ LUT/ LUV | to wash |
| deluge | a great flood of water |
| antediluvian | before the biblical flood; extremely old |
| ablution | act of cleansing |
| LECT/ LEG | to select or to choose |
| eclectic | selecting dieas from various sources |
| predilection | preference, liking |
| LEV | lift, light, rise |
| levee | embankment against river flooding |
| levity | humour, frivolity |
| LOC/LOG/LOQU | word, speech |
| elocution | art of clear and expressive speaking |
| grandiloquent | prompous or inflated in language |
| loquacious | talkative |
| LUC/LUM/LUS | light |
| transluscent | permitting light to pass through |
| lackluster | lacking brilliance or radiance |
| LUD/ LUS | to play |
| ludicrous | ridiculous, laughable |
| delude | tomislead the mind or judgement of |
| prelude | a preliminary to action |
| elude | to avoid capture |
| MAG/ MAJ/ MAX | big |
| magnate | a powerful or influential |
| maxim | an expression of general truth or principle |
| MAL/ MALE | bad, ill, evil, wrong |
| malady | a disorder or disease of the body |
| maladroit | clumsy, tactless |
| malapropism | humorous misuse of a word |
| malfeasance | misconduct or wrongdoing often comitted by a public official |
| malediction | a curse |
| MAN | hand |
| emancipate | to fre from bondage |
| MIN | small |
| diminish | to lessen |
| diminution | the act or process of diminishing` |
| MIN | to project or to hang over |
| preminent | superior to or notable above all others |
| minatory | menacing, threatening |
| MIS/MIT | to send |
| emissary | a messenger or agent sent to represent the interests of another |
| remit | to send money |
| MISC | mixed |
| miscegenation | the interbreeding of races |
| MON/MONIT | to remind or to warn |
| remonstrate | to say or plead in protect, objection, or reproof |
| MORTH | shape |
| abthropomorphism | attribution of human characteristics to inanimate objects or animals |
| MORT | death |
| moribund | dying or decaying |
| MUT | change |
| transmutation | the act of changing from one form to another |
| permutation | a complete change |
| immutable | unchangeable; invariable |
| NAT/NAS/NAI | to be born |
| cognate | related by blood |
| nascent | starting to develop |
| NIC/NOC/NOX | harm |
| noxious | injurious or harmful to health |
| innocuous | having no adverse effects |
| NOM | rule or order |
| autonomy | independence |
| NOM/NYM/NOUN/NOWN | name |
| nominal | existing in name only; negligible |
| acronym | a word formed from initial letters |
| NOUNC/NUNC | to announce |
| renounce | to give up |
| NOV/ NEO/ NOU | new |
| novice | a person new to any field or activity |
| neologism | a newly coined word, phrase, or expression |
| neophyte | a recent convert |
| OB/OC/OF/OP | toward, to, against, over |
| obstinate | stubbornly adhering to an idea |
| obstreperous | noisily defiant, unruly |
| obfuscate | to render indistinct or dim; to darken |
| obsequious | overly submissive |
| OMNI | all |
| amnibus | an anthology of the works of one author or of writings on related subjects |
| PAC/ PEAC | peace |
| appease | to bring peace |
| pact | a formal agreement |
| PAN | all, everyone |
| panorama | an unobstructed and wide view of an extensive area |
| panegyric | formal or eleborate praise at an assembly |
| panoply | a wide ranging and impressive array or display |
| PAR | equal |
| apartheid | any system or caste that separates people according to race, ect |
| disparage | to belittle, or speak disrespectfully about |
| disparate | essentially different |
| PARA | next to or beside |
| parody | to imitate for purposes of satire |
| paragon | a model of excellence |
| PAS/PAT/PATH | feeling, suffering, disease |
| impassive | showing no feeling |
| PAU/PO/POV/PU | few, little, poor |
| paucity | smallness of quantity |
| pusillanimous | lacking courage or resolution |
| puerile | childish or immature |
| PED | child or education |
| pedagogue | a teacher |
| pedant | one who displays learning ostentatiously |
| PED/POD | foot |
| expedite | to speed the progress of |
| antipodes | places diametrically opposite of one another on the globe |
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