Root Meaning in English Origin language Etymology (root origin) English examples ab- , a- , abs- , au- [ 1] away from, down, off Latin ab ab dicationab duction, ab errant, ab normal, ab rasionab sent, ab sorb, ab stain, ab stemious, ab stractiona version, a vulsion abac- [ 2] slab Ancient Greek ἄβαξ, ἄβακος (ábax, ábakos ἀβακίσκος (abakískos abac iscusabac us abax ac- , acm- , acr- [ 3] point Greek ἀκή (akḗ ἀκίς, ἀκίδος (akís, akídos ἀκόνη akónē ἄκρος ákros ἄκρον ákron ἄκρα Ac idanthera , acm e, acm eism, acm esthesia, acm ic, ac neac- , ace- [ 4] cure Greek ἀκεῖσθαι (akeîsthai ἀκή (akḗ ἄκος, ἄκεος (ákos, ákeos ace ologyautac oid , panace a academ- Akademos Greek Ἀκάδημος (Akádēmos academ e, academ iaacadem ic, academ yacanth- thorn Greek ἀκή , ἄκανθα (ákantha Acanth aster , Acanth ion , acanth iteAcanth ocephalaacanth ocephaliasis, acanth ocyte Acanth omintha , Acanth osaura , Acanth us , Metriacanth osaurus , neuroacanth ocytosis acar- [ 5] mite Greek ἀκαρί (akarí acar iasisacar id, acar iphagousacar oid, acar ologyacar ophobia, [[Acarus|Acar us]] accipitr- hawk Latin accipiter Accipit er accipitr ine acer- , acri- bitter, sharp, sour Latin ācer, ācris , acerbus , acere acer bicacri d, acri monious, acri mony, exacer bate acet- sour, vinegar Latin acētum acetabulum , acetate , acetic , acetone , acetum, triacetate acid- acidic, sour Latin acidus acidiferous, acidity, acidosis , acidulation, acidulous acr- height, summit, tip, top Greek ἀκή akḗ ἄκρος (ákros ἄκρον ákron acrobat , acrobatics , acrochordon , acromegalia , acromegaly , acromion , acronym , acrophobia , acropolis , acrostic , acroterion , acrotomophilia actin- [ 6] beam, ray Greek ἀκτίς, ἀκτῖνος (aktís, aktînos actinic , actinism , actinium , actinocerid , actinodrome, actinoid, actinomere, actinometer , actinomorphic , Actinomyces , actinophryid , actinopod , Actinopterygii , actinotherapy , Actinozoa acu- , acut- sharp, pointed Latin acutus acuere acus "needle"acerose, acupuncture , acumen, acute, acutifoliate ad- , a- , ac- , af- , ag- , al- , am- , an- , ap- , ar- , as- , at- [ 7] movement to or toward; in addition to Latin ad "to", "toward"ac cept, ac curate, ad apt, ad dition, ad dress, ad ept, ad herent, ad hesive, ad just, ad mit, ad monish, ad vertisement, af fect, ag glomerateag gregate, ag gression, al lege, al lude, am munitionan nectent, ap proximate, ar reption, ar ride, ar rogant, a scend, as sault, as similate, at tend, at tractaden- [ 8] gland Greek ἀδήν, ἀδένος (adḗn, adénos adenocarcinoma , adenoid , adenoidectomy , adenology , adenoma , adenomyosis , adenosis adip- fat Latin adeps, adipis "fat"adipocellular, adipose aer- (ΑΕΡ) [ 9] lift, raise Greek ἀείρειν (aeírein ἀορτή aortḗ αἰρόμενον ἀϝείρω aorta , aortic, endaortitis, meteor, meteorology aer-, aero- [ 10] air, atmosphere Greek ἀήρ, ἀέρος (aḗr, aéros aerobic, aerodynamic, aeronautics , aeroplane , aerorrhachia, aerosol , aerotitis aesth- feeling, sensation Greek αἰσθητός (aisthētós αἰσθητικός (aisthētikós αἰσθάνεσθαι (aisthánesthai aesthesia, aesthesis , aesthete , aesthetics , anaesthetic , synesthesia aether- , ether- upper pure, bright air Greek αἴθειν (aíthein αἰθήρ (aithḗr ether, ethereal, etheric, hypaethros aev- , ev- age Latin aevum age, coeval, eon, eternal, longevity, medieval, primeval ag- , -ig- , act- do, go, move Latin agere , actus act, action, activation, activity, actor, agenda, agent, agile, agitate, ambiguous , castigate, cogent, cogitate, cogitation, deactivate, excogitate, mitigate , navigate, proactive, react, transaction ag- [ 11] lead Greek ἄγειν (ágein agere ), ἀγωγός (agōgós agony, antagonist , antagonize, demagogue , pedagogue, pedagogy, strategy, synagogue agap- [ 12] love Greek ἀγάπη (agápē agape agr- [ 13] field Greek ἀγρός, ἀγροῦ (agrós, agroû agronomist, agronomy agri- , -egri- field Latin ager, agris "field, country" agriculture , peregrine ailur- [ 14] cat Greek αἴλουρος (aílouros Ailuroedus , ailuromancy , ailurophile, ailurophilia, ailurophobia alac- cheerful Latin alacer alacrity, allegro alb- dull white Latin albus albedo , albino , albumen alcyon- [ 15] kingfisher Greek ἀλκυών, ἀλκυόνος (alkuṓn, alkuónos Halcyon , halcyonale- [ 16] (ΑΛ) wheat flour Greek ἀλέω ἄλευρον áleuron ἀλείατα aleuromancy , aleurone , aleuronic alg- [ 17] pain Greek ἄλγος (álgos ἀλγεινός ἀλγεῖν (algeîn ἄλγησις (álgēsis analgesic , arthralgia , neuralgia , nostalgia ali- , alter- other Latin alius "another", alter "other"alias, alibi , alien, alter, alternate, altruism all- [ 18] other Greek ἄλλος (állos allegory, allogenic, allograph , allophone , parallactic, parallax allel- [ 19] one another Greek ἀλλήλων (allḗlōn allele , allelomorph, allelotaxis, parallel, parallelism, parallelogon , parallelogram alph- [ 20] A, a Greek Α, α ἄλφα (álpha alphabet, alphabetic, analphabetic , panalphabetic , polyalphabetic alphit- barley Greek ἀλφός (alphós ἄλφιτον, ἀλφίτου (álphiton, alphítou alphitomancy alt- high, deep Latin altus , altitudo altimeter , altitude, alto , altocumulus, contralto , exalt am- , amat- love, liking Latin amāre , amatus amor amateur , amatory, amenity , amorous, enamoured am- , amic- , -imic- friend Latin amicus amiable, amicable, amity, enemy, enmity , inimical amath- sand Greek ἄμαθος (amathos) amathophobia ambi- , am- , amb- , ambo- , an- both, on both sides Latin ambi ambidexterity , ambient, ambiguous , ambit, ambition, ambivalent , amboceptor, amputation, ancipital, andante ambly- [ 21] blunt, not sharp, dull Greek ἀμβλύς (amblús amblygeustia, amblygonite , amblyopia , Amblypoda ambul- walk Latin ambulare ambulance , ambulatory, amble, perambulate, preamble , somnambulist amm- [ 22] sand Greek ἄμμος (ámmos ἄμαθος ámathos amathophobia, Ammophila (a plant genus and a wasp genus ) amn- [ 23] lamb Greek ἀμνός (amnós ἀμνεῖος ἀμνειός ἀμνίον amníon amniocentesis , amnion , amnioscope, amniote , amniotic, anamniote amph- , amphi- [ 24] both, on both sides of, both kinds Greek ἀμφί (amphí amphibian , amphibious, amphibole , amphibolic , amphimacer , Amphipoda , amphistyly, amphitheatre , amphoterism ampl- ample, abundant, bountiful, large Latin amplus ample, amplify, amplitude amygdal- [ 25] almond Greek ἀμυγδάλη (amugdálē ἀμύγδαλον amúgdalon almond , amygdala , amygdale, amygdalin , amygdaloid, amygdule an- , a- , am- , ar- not, without Greek Greek ἀν-/ἀ- "not" ambrosia , anaerobic , anarchy, anemia , anesthesia, anhydrous , anonymous, apathy , aphasia , arrhythmia , atheism , atypical ana- , am- , an- [ 26] again, against, back, up Greek ἀνά (aná anagram, anabaptist , anaphylaxis , anarrhexis, anion , anode andr- [ 27] (ΑΝΕΡ)male, masculine Greek ἀνήρ, ἀνδρός (anḗr, andrós ἀνδρότης Andrew, Alexander, androcentric, androcentrism , androgen , androgenous , androgyne, androgynous, androgyny , android , andrology , androphobia , androspore, diandry , misandry , monandry, philander, polyandrous, polyandry , protandry , pseudandry, synandrous anem- [ 28] (ΑΝ) wind Greek ἄνεμος (ánemos anemograph, anemometer , anemometric, anemone , anemophilous , anemophily , anemophobia , anemoscope , anemotropism anim- breath, life, soul, spirit Latin anima "breath", "soul" animal , animation , anime , animism , animus, inanimate, equanimity ann- , -enn- year, yearly Latin annus "year" anniversary , annual , centennial , millennium , perennial ant- , anti- [ 29] against, opposed to, preventive Greek ἀντί (antí antagonist , antagonize, antibiotic , antibody , antichrist , antidepressant antidote , antifreeze , antifungal , antigen , antinomies , antipathy , antipodes , antirrhinum , antiseptic , antisocial, antithesis ante- , anti- [ 30] before, in front of, prior to; old Latin ante "before", "against"; see also antiquus "old" antebellum , antecedent, antedate , antediluvian , anteroom , anticipate, antiquarian , antiquate, antique, antiquityanth- [ 31] flower Greek ἀνθεῖν (antheîn ἄνθος (ánthos ἄνθησις ánthēsis ἄνθημα ánthēma ἀνθηρός anthērós anther , anthesis , Anthocoridae , anthodite , anthology , anthophobia, anthophore , Anthozoa , chrysanthemum , dianthus , enanthem , enanthema, exanthem , exanthematic, hydranth, hypanthium , perianth , zoanthid anthrac- coal Greek ἄνθραξ, ἄνθρακος (ánthrax, ánthrakos anthracite , anthracnose , anthracycline , anthrax anthrop- human Greek ἄνθρωπος (ánthrōpos anthropology , anthroposophy , anthropomorphic , misanthrope , philanthropy ap- , apo- [ 32] off, away from, separate, at the farthest point Greek ἀπό (apó aphelion , apocrine , apocryphal, apogee , aporrhinosis, apostasy , apostate aper- open Latin aperire aperient , apéritif , aperitive, aperture , overt, overture , pert aphrod- Aphrodite Greek Ἀφροδίτη (Aphrodítē Ἀφροδίσιος Aphrodísios ἀφροδισιακόν aphrodisiakón aphrodisiac , pseudohermaphroditism api- bee Latin apis apian, apiary , apicula , apium ; Petrus Apianus aqu- water Latin aqua acquacotta , akvavit , aqua vitae , aquaculture , aquamarine , aquarelle , aquarium , Aquarius , aquatic, aquatile, aqueduct , aqueous , aquifer , aquiferous, aquiform, gouache , semiaquatic ara- plow, till Latin ărāre arability, arable , aration, aratory, exarate, exaration, inarable, nonarable arachn- spider Greek ἀράχνης ἀράχνη (arákhnē Arachne , arachnid , arachnodactyly , arachnoid, arachnology , arachnophobia arbit- judge Latin arbiter (from ad "to" + baetere "to come, go")arbiter, arbitrage, arbitrary , arbitration arcan- box Latin arcanus arcane, arcanum arch-arche-archi- ruler Greek ἄρχειν (árkhein ἄρχων árkhōn ἀρχή (arkhḗ ἀρχε- ἀρχι- anarchism , anarchist , anarchy , andrarchy , antarchy, archangel , archetype , architect , archon , autarch, autarchism , autarchy, eparch , eparchy , exarch , gynarchy , monarch , monarchism , monarchist, monarchy , navarch , octarchy, oligarchy , patriarchy , plutarchy , polyarchy , synarchism , synarchy , tetrarchy , triarchy , trierarch archae- , arche- ancient Greek ἀρχαῖος (arkhaîos ἀρχή (arkhḗ Archaea , archaeoastronomy , archaeology , archaic, archaism , archegonium , archeology arct- Relating to the North Pole or the region near it; relating to cold Greek ἄρκτος (árktos ἀρκτικός arktikós Antarctic, arctic, Arctic Ocean , palearctic ard- heat, glow, passion Latin ardere "to burn", arsus ardent, ardor, arson ardu- difficult Latin arduus "high, steep"arduous aret- virtue Greek ἀρετή, ἀρετῆς (aretḗ, aretês aretaic , arete argent- silver Latin argentum argent , Argentina arid- be dry Latin ārēre "be dry or parched" arid arist- excellence Greek ἄριστος (áristos aristocracy , aristocrat arithm- count, number Greek ἀριθμός (arithmós ἀριθμέω ἀριθμητικός arithmētikós antilogarithm , arithmetic , arithmomania , logarithm , logarithmic arm- weapon Latin arma armament , armistice, armor, armory, arms, army, disarm, rearm arsen- [ 33] male Greek ἄρσην, ἄρσενος (ársēn, ársenos ἀρσενικός arsenikós arsenic , arsenopyrite art- art, skill Latin ars, artis artifact , artifice, artificial, artificiality, artisan arthr- joint Greek ἄρθρον (árthron Anarthria , arthritic, arthritis , arthrogryposis , arthropathy , arthroplasty , arthropod , arthroscope, arthroscopic, arthroscopy , arthrosis, dysarthria , osteoarthritis , spondyloarthropathy arti- even Greek ἄρτιος (ártios ἀρτιότης ἀρτιάκις artiodactyl , artiodactylous asc- [ 34] bag Greek ἀσκός (askós ἀσκίδιον askídion ascidium, ascites , ascitic, ascocarp , ascoma, ascomycete, Ascomycota , ascospore , ascus asin- donkey, ass Latin asinus asinine, ass, easel asper- rough Latin asper "rough" asperity , exasperate aspr- [ 35] white Greek ἄσπρος (áspros diaper aster- , astr- star, star-shaped Greek ἀστήρ, ἀστέρος (astḗr, astéros ἄστρον (ástron aster, asterisk , asteroid , astrology , astronomy , astronaut, diasterism geaster , monaster asthen- weak Greek ἀσθενής asthenḗs asthenopia , asthenosphere , asthenozoospermia ather- [ 36] gruel Greek ἀθάρη (athárē atherogenic, atheroma , atherosclerosis athl- contest Greek ἆθλος (âthlos ἄεθλος athlete , athletic, decathlon , pentathlon , triathlon -athroid- gathered or lumped together Greek ἀθροίζειν (athroízein epiathroid , hypoathroid audac- daring Latin audax "brave, bold, daring", from audere "to dare"audacious, audacity aud- hearing, listening, sound Latin audire "to hear"audible, audience, audio, audiobook, audiology , audiovisual, audit , audition, auditorium , auditory aug- , auct- grow, increase Latin augēre , auctus auction, augend , augment, augmentation, augur , augury , august, author, auxiliary, inauguration aul- flute, tube Greek ἄημι (ἄϝημι) αὐλός (aulós αὐλέω αὔλησις αὐλητής aulētḗs aulete , aulos , hydraulic, hydraulus aur- relating to gold, or gold-colored Latin aurum "gold" aureate , aureole auri- , aus- relating to the ear Latin auris "ear" aural , auricle , aurinasal, auscultate, auscultation aut- , auto- [ 37] self; directed from within Greek αὐτός (autós autarchism , autarchy , autarky , authentic, autism , autistic, autobiography, autocracy , autograph , autoimmune , automatic, automaton , automobile, autonomy , autopilot aux- [ 38] increase Greek αὔξειν (aúxein αὐξάνειν auxánein , αὔξησις aúxēsis αὐξητικός auxētikós auxanogram, auxanography , auxanology, auxanometer , auxesis, auxetic, auxin , auxochrome , auxology , auxotroph, auxotrophy av- desire Latin avere "crave, long for" avarice , avaricious, avarous, ave, avid, avidity avi- , au- bird Latin avis auspice, auspicious, avian, aviary , aviation, aviator axi- [ 39] merit, worth Greek ἄξιος (áxios axiology , axiom , axiomatic axi- axis Latin axis axion , axis , axisymmetry axon- [ 40] axis, axle Greek ἄξων, ἄξονος (áxōn, áxonos axon , axonography, axonometric , axonotmesis