Root, Prefix or Suffix Meaning Examples a, ac, ad, af, ag, al, an, ap, as, at to, toward, near, in addition to, by aside, accompany, adjust, aggression, allocate, annihilate, affix, associate, attend, adverb a-, an- not, without apolitical, atheist, anarchy, anonymous, apathy, aphasia, anemia ab, abs away from, off absolve, abrupt, absent -able, -ible Adjective: worth, ability solvable, incredible acer, acid, acri bitter, sour, sharp acerbic, acidity, acrid, acrimony act, ag do, act, drive active, react, agent, active, agitate acu sharp acute, acupuncture, accurate -acy, -cy Noun: state or quality privacy, infancy, adequacy, intimacy, supremacy -ade act, product, drink blockade, lemonade aer, aero air, atmosphere, aviation aerial, aerosol, aerodrome ag, agi, ig, act do, move, go agent, agenda, agitate, navigate, ambiguous, action -age Noun: activity, or result of action courage, suffrage, shrinkage, tonnage agri, agro pertaining to fields or soil agriculture, agroindustry -al Noun: action, result of action referral, disavowal, disposal, festival -al, -ial, Adjective: quality, relation structural, territorial, categorical alb, albo white, without pigment albino, albite ali, allo, alter alias, alibi, alien, alloy, alter, alter ego, altruism alt high, deep altimeter, altitude am, ami, amor love, like, liking amorous, amiable, amicable, enamoured ambi both ambidextrous -
to walk ambulatory, amble, ambulance, somnambulist -an Noun: person artisan, guardian, historian, magician ana, ano up, back, again, anew anode, anagram, anagenetic -ance, Noun: action, state, quality or process resistance, independence, extravagance, fraudulence -ancy, Noun: quality or capacity vacancy, agency, truancy, latency andr, andro male, characteristics of men androcentric, android ang angular anim mind, life, spirit, anger animal, animate, animosity ann, annu, enni yearly annual, annual, annuity, anniversary, perrenial -ant, -ent Noun: an something that performs the action disinfectant, dependent, fragrant -ant, -ent, Adjective: kind of agent, indication important, dependent, convenient ante before anterior, anteroom, antebellum, antedate, antecedent antediluvian anthrop man anthropology, misanthrope, philanthropy anti, ant against, opposite antisocial, antiseptic, antithesis, antibody, antinomies, antifreeze, antipathy anti, antico old antique, antiquated, antiquity apo, ap, aph away from, detached, formed apology, apocalypse, aphagia aqu water aqueous -ar, -ary Adjective: resembling, related to spectacular, unitary arch first, rule archangel, architect, archaic, monarchy,
matriarchy, patriarchy, Archeozoic era -ard, -art Noun: characterized braggart, drunkard, wizard aster, astr star aster, asterisk, asteroid, astronomy, astronaut -ate Noun: office, fuction candidate, electorate, delegate -ate Verb: cause to be graduate, ameliorate, amputate, colligate -ate Adjective: kind of inviolate -ation Noun: action, resulting specialization, aggravation, alternation auc, aug, aut to originate, to increase augment , author, augment, auction aud, audi, aur, aus to hear, listen audience, audio, audible, auditorium, audiovisual, audition, auricular, ausculate aug, auc increase augur, augment, auction aut, auto self automobile, automatic, automotive, autograph, autonomous, autoimmune bar weight, pressure barometer be on, around, over, about, excessively, make, cause, name, affect berate, bedeck, bespeak, belittle, beleaguer belli war rebellion, belligerent, casus belli, bellicose bene good, well, gentle benefactor, beneficial, benevolent, benediction, beneficiary, benefit bi, bine two biped, bifurcate, biweekly, bivalve, biannual bibl, bibli, biblio book bibliophile, bibliography, Bible bio, bi life biography, biology, biometricsm biome, biosphere brev short abbreviate, brevity, brief
cad, cap, cas, ceiv, cept, capt, cid, cip to take, to seize, to hold receive, deceive, capable, capacious, captive, accident, capture, occasion, concept, intercept, forceps, except, reciprocate cad, cas to fall cadaver, cadence, cascade -cade procession motorcade calor heat calorie, caloric, calorimeter capt head decapitate, capital, captain, caption carn flesh carnivorous, incarnate, reincarnation, carnal cat, cata, cath down, with catalogue, category, catheter caus, caut burn, heat caustic, cauldron, cauterize cause, cuse, cus cause, motive because, excuse, accusation ceas, ced, cede, ceed, cess to go, to yield, move, go, surrender succeed, proceed, precede, recede, secession, exceed, succession cent hundred centennial, century, centipede centri center eccentricity, centrifugal, concentric, eccentric chrom color chrome, chromosome, polychrome, chromatic chron time chronology, chronic, chronicle chronometer, anachronism, synchronize cide, cis, cise to kill, to cut, cut down fratricide, homicide, incision, incision, circumcision, scissors circum around circumnavigate, circumflex, circumstance, circumcision, circumference, circumorbital, circumlocution, circumvent, circumscribe, circulatory cit call, start incite, citation, cite civ citizen civic, civil, civilian, civilization
clam, cry out exclamation, clamor, proclamation, reclamation, acclaim clin lean, bend decline, aclinic, inclination clud, clus claus to close, shut include, exclude, clause, claustrophobia, enclose, exclusive, reclusive, conclude co, cog, col, coll, con, com, cor with, together cohesiveness, cognate, collaborate, convene, commitment, compress, contemporary, converge, compact, confluence, convenient, concatenate, conjoin, combine, correct cogn, gnos to know recognize, cognizant, diagnose, agnostic, incognito, prognosis com, con fully complete, compel, conscious, condense, confess, confirm contr, contra, counter against, opposite contradict, counteract, contravene, contrary, counterspy, contrapuntal cord, cor, cardi heart cordial, concord, discord, courage, encourage corp body corporation, corporal punishment, corpse, corpulent, corpus luteum cort correct escort, cortage cosm universe, world cosmos, microcosm, cosmopolitan, cosmonaut cour, cur, curr, curs run, course excursion, discourse, courier, course crat, cracy rule autocrat, aristocrat, theocracy, technocracy cre, cresc, cret, crease grow create, crescent, accretion, increase crea create creature, recreation, creation cred believe creed, credo, credence, credit, credulous, incredulous, incredible
-en Adjective: material golden, woolen, silken en-, em- put into, make, provide with, surround with enamor, embolden, enslave, empower, entangle -ence, Noun: action or process, quality or state reference, emergency, dependence, eminence, latency end- inside, within endorse, endocardial, endergonic, endoskeleton, endoscope, endogenous epi- upon, close to, over, after, altered epicenter, epicarp, epilogue, epigone, epidiorite equi- equal equidistant, equilateral, equilibrium, equinox, equation, equator -er, -ier Adjective: comparative better, brighter, sooner, hotter, happier -er, -or Noun: person or thing that does something flyer, reporter, player, member, fryer, collector, concentrator -er, -or Verb: action ponder, dishonor, clamor erg work, effect energy, erg, allergy, ergometer, ergograph, ergophobia -ery collective qualities, art, practice, trade, collection, state, condition snobbery, bakery, geenery, gallery, slavery -es, -ies Noun: plural of most nouns ending in -ch, -s, -sh, -o and -z and some in -f and -y passes, glasses, ladies, heroes -es, -ies Verb: third person singular present indicative of verbs that end in -ch, -s, -sh, and some in -y blesses, hushes, fizzes, defies
flu, fluc, fluv, flux flow influence, fluid, flue, flush, fluently, fluctuate, reflux, influx -fold Adverb: in a manner of, marked by fourfold for, fore before forecast, fortune, foresee forc, fort strength, strong effort, fort, forte, fortifiable, fortify, forte, fortitude form shape, resemble form, format, conform, formulate, perform, formal, formula frag, frai fracture, infraction, fragile, fraction, refract, fuge flee subterfuge, refuge, centrifuge -ful Noun: an amount or quanity that fills mouthful -ful Adjective: having, giving, marked by fanciful fuse pour confuse, transfuse -fy make, form into falsify, dandify gam marriage bigamy, monogamy, polygamy gastr, gastro stomach gastric, gastronomic, gastritis, gastropod gen kind generous gen birth, race, produce genesis, genetics, eugenics, genealogy, generate, genetic, antigen, pathogen geo geometry, geography, geocentric, geology germ part germination, germ, germane gest carry, bear congest, gestation giga billion gigabyte, gigaflop gin careful gingerly gloss, glot tongue glossary, polyglot, epiglottis glu, glo lump, bond, glue glue, agglutinate, conglomerate
gor to gather, to bring together category, categorize grad, gress, gree to gather, to bring together, step, go grade, degree, progress, gradual, graduate, egress graph, gram, graf write, written, draw graph, graphic, autograph, photography, graphite, telegram, polygraph, grammar, biography, lithograph, graphic grat pleasing congratulate, gratuity, grateful, ingrate grav weighty grave, gravity, aggravate, gravitate greg herd gregarious, congregation, segregate, gregarian hale, heal make whole, sound inhale, exhale, heal, healthy, healthiness helio sun heliograph, heliotrope, heliocentric hema, hemo blood hemorrhage, hemoglobin, hemophilia, hemostat her, here, hes stick adhere, cohere, cohesion, inherent, hereditary, hesitate hetero other, different heterodox, heterogeneous, heterosexual, heterodyne hex, ses, sex six hexagon, hexameter, sestet, sextuplets homo same homogenize, homosexual, homonym, homophone hum, human earth, ground, man humus, exhume, humane hydr, hydra, hydro water dehydrate, hydrant, hydraulic, hydraulics, hydrogen, hydrophobia hyper over, above hyperactive, hypertensive, hyperbolic, hypersensitive, hyperventilate, hyperkinetic hypn sleep hypnosis, hypnotherapy
-ia Noun: names, diseases phobia -ian, an Noun: related to, one that is pedestrian, human Noun: art of healing psychiatry -ic Adjective: quality, relation generic -ic, ics Noun: related to the arts and sciences arithmetic, economics -ice Noun: act malice -ify Verb: cause specify ignis fire ignite, igneous, ignition -ile Adjective: having the qualities of projectile in, im into, on, near, towards instead, import in, im, il, ir not illegible, irresolute, inaction, inviolate, innocuous, intractable, innocent, impregnable, impossible, imposter infra beneath infrared, infrastructure -ing Noun: material made for, activity, result of an activity flooring, swimming, building -ing Verb: present participle depicting -ing Adjective: activity cohering inter between, among international, intercept, interject, intermission, internal, intermittent, intra within, during, between layers, underneath intramural, intranet, intranatal intro into, within, inward interoffice, introvert, introspection, introduce -ion Noun: condition or action abduction -ish Adjective: having the character of newish
-ism Noun: doctrine, belief, action or conduct formalism -ist Noun: person or member podiatrist -ite Noun: state or quality graphite -ity, ty Noun: state or quality lucidity, novelty -ive Noun: condition native -ive, -ative, -itive Adjective: having the quality of festive, cooperative, sensitive -ize Verb: fantasize jac, ject reject, eject, project, trajectory, interject, dejected, inject, ejaculate, adjacent join, junct join adjoining, enjoin, juncture, conjunction, injunction, conjunction judice judge prejudice jug, junct, just to join junction, adjust, conjugal juven young juvenile, rejuvenate work laborious, belabor lau, lav, lot, lut wash launder, lavatory, lotion, ablution, dilute lect, leg, lig choose, gather, select, read collect, legible, eligible leg law legal, legislate, legislature, legitimize -less Adjective: without, missing motiveless levi light alleviate, levitate, levity lex, leag, leg law college, league liber, liver free liberty, liberal, liberalize, deliverance lide strike collide, nuclide liter letters literary, literature, literal, alliteration, obliterate loc, loco place, area location, locally, locality, allocate, locomotion
log, logo, word, study, say, speech, reason, study catalog, prologue, dialogue, zoology, logo loqu, locut talk, speak eloquent, loquacious, colloquial, circumlocution luc, lum, lun, lus, lust light translucent, luminary, luster, luna, illuminate, illustrate lude play prelude -ly Adverb: in the manner of fluently macr-, lean emaciated, meager magn great magnify, magnificent, magnanimous, magnate, magnitude, magnum main strength, foremost mainstream, mainsail, domain, remain mal bad, badly malformation, maladjusted, dismal, malady, malcontent,malfunction, malfeasance, maleficent man, manu hand, make, do manual, manage, manufacture, manacle, manicure, manifest, maneuver, emancipate, management mand command mandatory, remand, mandate mania madness mania, maniac, kleptomania, pyromania mar, mari, mer sea, pool marine, marsh, maritime, mermaid matri mother matrimony, maternal, matriarchate, matron medi half, middle, between, halfway mediate, medieval, Mediterranean, mediocre, medium mega great, million megaphone, megaton, megaflop, megalomaniac, megabyte, megalopolis mem recall, remember memo, commemoration, memento, memoir, memorable ment mind mental, mention
-ment Noun: condition or result document meso middle mesomorph, mesoamerica, mesosphere meta beyond, change metaphor, metamorphosis, metabolism, metahistorical, metainformation meter measure meter, voltammeter, barometer, thermometer metr admeasure, apportion metrics, asymmetric, parametric, telemetry micro small, millionth microscope, microfilm, microcard, microwave, micrometer, microvolt migra wander migrate, emigrant, immigrate mill, kilo thousand millennium, kilobyte, kiloton thousandth millisecond, milligram, millivolt min little, small minute, minuscule mis wrong, bad, badly misconduct, misinform, misinterpret, mispronounce, misnomer, mistake, misogynist mit, miss send emit, remit, submit, admit, commit, permit, transmit, omit, intermittent, mission, missile mob, mov, mot move motion, remove, mobile, mon warn, remind monument, admonition, monitor, premonition mono one monopoly, monotype, monologue, mononucleosis, monorail, monotheist, mor, mort mortal, death mortal, immortal, mortality, mortician, mortuary morph shape, form amorphous, dimorphic, metamorphosis, morphology, polymorphic, morpheme, amorphous
multi many, much multifold, multilingual, multiped, multiply, multitude, multipurpose, multinational nano billionth nanosecond, nanobucks nasc, nat, gnant, nai to be born nascent, native, pregnant, naive nat, nasc to be from, to spring forth innate, natal, native, renaissance neo new Neolithic, nuveau neologism, neophyte, neonate -ness Noun: state, condition, quality kindness neur nerve neuritis, neuropathic, neurologist, neural, neurotic nom law, order autonomy, astronomy, gastronomy, economy nom, nym name nominate, synonym nomen, nomin name nomenclature, nominate, ignominious non nine nonagon non not nonferrous, nonsense, nonabrasive, nondescript nov new novel, renovate, novice, nova, innovate nox, noc night nocturnal, equinox, noctilucent numer number numeral, numeration, enumerate, innumerable numisma coin numismatics ob, oc, of, op toward, against, in the way oppose, occur, offer, obtain oct eight octopus, octagon, octogenarian, octave oligo few, little Oligocene, oligosaccharide, oligotrophic, oligarchy omni all, every omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, omnivorous onym name anonymous, pseudonym, antonym, synonym
oper work operate, cooperate, opus -or Noun: condition or activity valor, honor, humor, minor ortho straight, correct orthodox, orthodontist, orthopedic, unorthodox -ory Noun: place for, serves for territory, rectory -ous, -ose, -ious Adjective: having the quality of, relating to adventurous, courageous, verbose, fractious over excessive, above overwork, overall, overwork pac pacifist, pacify, pacific pair, pare arrange, assemblage, two repair, impair, compare, prepare paleo old Paleozoic, Paleolithic, paleomagnetism, paleopsychology pan all Pan-American, panacea, pandemonium (place of all the demons), para beside paradox, paraprofessional, paramedic, paraphrase, parachute pat, pass, path feel, suffer patient, passion, sympathy, pathology pater, patr father paternity, patriarch, patriot, patron, patronize path, pathy feeling, suffering pathos, sympathy, antipathy, apathy, telepathy ped, pod foot pedal, impede, pedestrian, centipede, tripod, podiatry, antipode, podium pedo child orthopedic, pedagogue, pediatrics pel, puls drive, push, urge compel, dispel, expel, repel, propel, pulse, impulse, pulsate, compulsory, expulsion, repulsive
pend, pens, pond hang, weigh pendant, pendulum, suspend, appendage, pensive, append per through, intensive persecute, permit, perspire, perforate, persuade peri around periscope, perimeter, perigee, periodontal eat macrophage, bacteriophage phan, phas, phen, fan, phant, fant show, make visible phantom, fantasy phe speak blaspheme, cipher, phenomenon, philosopher phil love philosopher, philanthropy, philharmonic, bibliophile phlegma inflammation phlegm, phlegmatic phobia, phobos fear phobia, claustrophobia, acrophobia, aquaphobia, ergophobia, homophobia phon telephone, phonics, phonograph, phonetic, homophone, microphone, symphony, euphonious phot, photograph, photoelectric, photogenic, photosynthesis, photon pico trillionth picofarad, picocurie, picovolt pict paint, show, draw picture, depict plac, plais please placid, placebo, placate, complacent pli, ply fold reply, implicate, ply plore cry out, wail implore, exploration, deploring plu, plur, plus more plural, pluralist, plus pneuma, pneumon breath pneumatic, pneumonia, pod foot, feet podiatry, tripod
poli city metropolis, police, politics, Indianapolis, megalopolis, acropolis poly many polytheist, polygon, polygamy, polymorphous pon, pos, pound place, put postpone, component, opponent, proponent, expose, impose, deposit, posture, position, expound, impound pop people population, populous, popular port carry porter, portable, transport, report, export, import, support, transportation portion part, share portion, proportion post after, behind postpone, postdate pot power potential, potentate, impotent pre, pur before precede prehendere grasp apprehend, comprehend, comprehensive, prehensile prin, prim, prime first primacy, prima donna, primitive, primary, primal, primeval, prince, principal pro for, foward propel proto first prototype, protocol, protagonist, protozoan, Proterozoic, protoindustrial psych mind, soul psyche, psychiatry, psychology, psychosis punct dot punctual, punctuation, puncture, acupuncture, punctuation pute think dispute, computer quat, quad four quadrangle, quadruplets quint, penta five quintet, quintuplets, pentagon, pentane, pentameter quip ship equip, equipment quir, quis, quest, quer seek, ask query, inquire, exquisite, quest
sent, sens feel, think sentiment, consent, resent, dissent, sentimental, sense, sensation, sensitive, sensory, dissension sept septet, septennial sequ, secu, sue follow sequence, consequence, sequel, subsequent, prosecute, consecutive, second, ensue, pursue serv save, serve, keep servant, service, subservient, servitude, preserve, conserve, reservation, deserve, conservation, observe -ship Noun: status, condition relationship, friendship sign, sign, mark, seal signal, signature, design, insignia, significant simul like, resembling similar, assimilate, simulate, simulacrum, simultaneous sist, sta, stit stand, withstand, make up assist, insist, persist, circumstance, stamina, status, state, static, stable, stationary, substitute soci to join, companions sociable, society sol, solus solo, soliloquy, solitaire, solitude, solitary, isolate solv, solu, solut loosen, explain solvent, solve, absolve, resolve, soluble, solution, resolution, resolute, dissolute, absolution somn sleep insomnia, somnambulist soph wise sophomore (wise fool), philosophy, sophisticated spec, spect, spi, spic look, see specimen, specific, spectator, spectacle, aspect, speculate, inspect, respect, prospect, retrospective, introspective, expect, conspicuous sper render favorable prosper
sphere ball, sphere sphere, stratosphere, hemisphere, spheroid spir breath spirit, conspire, inspire, aspire, expire, perspire, respiration stand, stant, stab, stat, stan, sti, sta, st, stead stand stature, establish, stance -ster person mobster, monster strain, strict, string, stige bind, pull, draw tight stringent, strict, restrict, constrict, restrain, boa constrictor stru, struct, stroy, stry build construe, structure, construct, instruct, obstruct, destruction, destroy, industry, ministry sub, suc, suf, sup, sur, sus under, below, from, secretly, instead of sustain, survive, support, suffice, succeed, submerge, submarine, substandard, subnormal, subvert sume, sump take, use, consume, assume, sump, presumption supra over, above superior, suprarenal, superscript, supernatural, superimpose, supercede syn, sym together, at the same time sympathy, synthesis, synchronous, syndicate tact, tang, tag, tig, ting touch tactile, contact, intact, intangible, tangible, contagious, contiguous, contingent tain, ten, tent, tin hold, keep, have retain, continue, content, tenacious tect, teg cover detect, protect, tegular, tegument tele distance, far, from afar telephone, telegraph, telegram, telescope, television, telephoto, telecast, telepathy, telepathy tem, tempo time tempo, temporary, extemporaneously, contemporary, pro tem, temporal ten, tin, tain hold tenacious, tenant, tenure, untenable, detention, retentive,
turbo disturb turbulent, disturb, turbid, turmoil typ print type, prototype, typical, typography, typewriter, typology, typify ultima last ultimate, ultimatum umber, umbraticum shadow umbra, penumbra, (take) umbrage, adumbrate un not, against, opposite unceasing, unequal uni one uniform, unilateral, universal, unity, unanimous, unite, unison, unicorn -ure Noun: act, condition, process, function exposure, conjecture, measure vac vacate, vacuum, evacuate, vacation, vacant, vacuous vade go evade, invader vale, vali, valu strength, worth equivalent, valiant, validity, evaluate, value, valor veh, vect to carry vector, vehicle, convection, vehement ven, vent come convene, intervene, convenient, avenue, circumvent, invent, convent, venture, event, advent, prevent ver, veri true very, aver, verdict, verity, verify, verisimilitude verb, verv word verify, veracity, verbalize, verve vert, vers turn, change convert, revert, advertise, versatile, vertigo, invert, reversion, extravert, introvert, diversion, introvert, convertible, reverse, controversy vi way viable, vibrate, vibrant vic, vicis change, substitute vicarious, vicar, vicissitude vict, vinc conquer victor, evict, convict, convince, invincible
vid, vis see video, evident, provide, providence, visible, revise, supervise, vista, visit, vision, review, indivisible viv, vita, vivi alive, life revive, survive, vivid, vivacious, vitality, vivisection, vital, vitamins, revitalize voc, voke call vocation, avocation, convocation, invocation, evoke, provoke, revoke, advocate, provocative, vocal vol will malevolent, benevolent, volunteer, volition volcan fire volcano, vulcanize, Vulcan volv, volt, vol turn about, roll revolve, voluble, voluminous, convolution, revolt, evolution vor eat greedily voracious, carnivorous, herbivorous, omnivorous, devour -ward Adverb: in a direction or manner homeward -wise Adverb: in the manner of, with regard to timewise, clockwise, bitwise with against withhold, without, withdraw, forthwith -y Noun: condition, result of an activity society, victory -y Adjective: marked by, having hungry, angry, smeary, teary zo animal zoo (zoological garden), zoology, zodiac, protozoan