Formation of Words

THE FORMATION OF WORDS

Such words as are not derived or compounded or developed from other words are called Primary Words. They belong to the original stock of words in the language.

Compound Words, formed by joining two or more simple words; as, Moonlight, nevertheless, undertake, man-of-war.

Primary Derivatives, formed by making some change in the body of the simple word;

as,

Bond from bind, breach from break, wrong from wring.

Note:- The most important class of words formed by internal change consists of the Past Tenses of Primary Verbs, which are not usually classed as Derivatives.

Secondary Derivatives, formed by an addition to the beginning or the end; as, unhappy; goodness.

An addition to the beginning of a word is a Prefix, an addition to he end is a Suffix.

(I) COMPOUND WORDS

Compound words are, for the most part, Nouns, Adjectives and Verbs.

Compound Nouns may be formed from:-

(1) Noun + Noun ; as,

Moonlight, chess-board, armchair, postman, railway, airman, manservant, fire-escape, jailbird, horse-power, shoemaker, ringleader, screwdriver, taxpayer, teaspoon, haystack, windmill.

(2) Adjective + Noun; as,

Sweetheart, nobleman, shorthand, blackboard, quicksilver, stronghold, halfpenny.

(3) Verb + Noun; as,

Spendthrift, makeshift, breakfast, telltale, pickpocket, cut-throat, cutpurse, daredevil, scarecrow, hangman.

(4) Gerund + Noun; as,

Drawing-room, writing-desk, looking-glass, walking-stick, blotting paper, stepping-stone,

spelling-book.

(5) Adverb (or Preposition) + Noun ; as,

Outlaw, afterthought, forethought, foresight, overcoat, downfall, afternoon, bypath, inmate, off-shoot, inside.

(6) Verb + Adverb ; as,

Drawback, lock-up, go-between, die-hard, send-off.

(7) Adverb + Verb ; as,

Outset, upkeep, outcry, income, outcome.

Compound Adjectives may be formed from :-

(1) Noun+Adjective (or Participle); as,

Blood-red, sky-blue, snow-white, pitch-dark, breast-high, skin-deep, purse-proud, lifelong, world-wide, headstrong, homesick, stone-blind, seasick, note-worthy, heart-rending, ear-piercing, time-serving, moth-eaten, heartbroken, bed-ridden, hand-made, sea-girl, love-lorn.

(2) Adjective + Adjective; as, Red-hot, blue-black, white-hot, dull-grey, lukewarm

(3) Adverb + Participle; as,

Long-suffering, everlasting, never-ending, thorough-bred, well-deserved, outspoken,

down-hearted, far-seen, inborn.

Compound Verbs may be formed from:-

(1) Noun+Verb; as,

Waylay, backbite, typewrite, browbeat, earmark.

Adjective+Verb; as, Safeguard, whitewash, fulfil.

Adverb+Verb; as,

Overthrow, overtake, foretell, undertake, undergo, overhear, overdo, outbid, outdo, upset, ill-use.

Note:- In most compound words it is the first word which modifies the meaning of the second. The accent is placed upon the modifying word when the amalgamation is complete. When the two elements of the compound are only partially blended, a hyphen is put between them, and the accent falls equally on both parts of the compound.

Exercise

Explain the formation of the following compound words:-

Newspaper, football, moonstruck, turncoat, brand-new, jet-black, onlooker, soothsayer, stronghold, ice-cold, worldly-wise, tempest-tossed, race-horse, ear-ring, cooking-stove, over-dose, fire-proof, top-heavy, heaven-born, skin-deep, widespread, snake-charmer, lifelong, upland.

(II) PRIMARY DERIVATIVES

(1) Formation of Nouns from Verbs and Adjectives.

Verbs -- Nouns

Advise -- advice

Bear -- bier

Bind -- bond

Bless -- bliss

Break -- breach

Burn -- brand

Choose -- choice

Chop -- chip

Deal -- dole

Deem -- doom

Dig -- ditch, dike

Float -- fleet

Gape -- gap

Grid -- girth

Grieve -- grief

Live -- life

Lose -- loss

Prove -- proof

Sing -- song

Sit -- seat

Speak -- speech

Strike -- stroke

Strive -- strife

Wake -- watch

Weave -- web, woof

Adjectives -- Nouns

Dull -- dolt

Hot -- heat

Proude -- pride

(2) Formation of Adjectives from Verbs and Nouns

Verbs -- Adjectives

Float -- fleet

Lie -- low

Nouns -- Adjectives

Milk -- Milch

Wit -- wise

(3) Formation of Verbs from Nouns and Adjectives

Nouns -- Verbs

Bath -- bathe

Belief -- Believe

Blood -- Weed

Breath -- breathe

Brood -- breed

Cloth -- clothe

Drop -- drip

Food -- feed

Glass -- glaze

Cool -- chill

Hale -- heal

Gold -- gild

Grass -- graze

Half -- halve

Knot -- knit

Price -- prize

Sale -- sell

Sooth -- soothe

Tale -- tell

Thief -- thieve

Wreath -- wreathe

 (Ill) SECONDARY DERIVATIVES English Prefixes

A-, on, in; abed, aboard, ashore, ajar, asleep.

A-, out, from, arise, awake, alight.

Be-, by (sometimes intensive); beside, betimes, besmear, bedaub.

For-, thoroughly ; forbear, forgive.

Fore-, before ; forecast, foretell.

Gain-, against; gainsay.

In-, in ; income, inland, inlay.

Mis-, wrong, wrongly ; misdeed, mislead, misjudge.

Over-, above, beyond ; overflow, overcharge.

To-, this; to-day, to-night, to-morrow.

Un-, not; untrue, unkind, unholy.

Un-, to reverse an action ; untie, undo, unfold.

Under-, beneath, below ; undersell, undercharge, undergo, under ground.

With-, against, back ; withdraw, withhold, withstand. Note:- There are only two prefixes of English origin that are still applied freely to new words, mis and un, the former with the force of the adjective bad and the latter with the force of a negative.

Latin Prefixes

Ab, (a, abs), from, away ; abuse, avert, abstract.

Ad (ac, af, ag, al, an, ap, ar, as, at, a), to; adjoin, accord, affect, aggrieve, allege, announce, appoint, arrest, assign, attach, avail.

Ambi (amb, am), on both sides, around; ambiguous, ambition, amputate.

Ante (anti, an), before; antedate, anticipate, ancestor.

Bene, well; benediction, benefit.

Bis, (bi, bin), twice, two; biscuit, bisect, binocular.

Circum (circu), around ; circumnavigate, circumference, circuit.

Con (col, com, cor) with, together; contend, collect, combine, correct.

Contra (counter), against; contradict, counteract, counterfeit.

De, down; descend, dethrone, depose.

Dis, (dif, di), apart; disjoin, differ, divide.

Demi, half ; demigod.

Ex (ef, e), out of; extract, effect, educe.

Extra, beyond, outside, of; extraordinary, extravagant.

In (il, im, ir, en, em), in, into; invade, illustrate, immerse, irrigate, enact, embrace.

In (il, im, ir), not; insecure, illegal, imprudent, irregular.

Inter (intro, enter), among, within; intervene, introduce, entertain.

Male (mal), ill, badly ; malevolent, malcontent.

Non, not; nonsense.

Ob (oc, of), the way of, against; object, occupy, offend.

Pen, almost; penultimate, peninsula.

Per (pel), through ; pervade, pellucid.

Post, after ; postscript, postdate, postpone.

Pre, before ; prefix, prevent, predict.

Preter, beyond ; preternatural.

Pro (por, pur), for; pronoun, portray, pursue.

Re, back, again ; reclaim, refund, renew, return.

Retro, backwards ; retrospect, retrograde.

Se (sed) ; apart; secede, separate, seduce, sedition.

Semi, half; semicircle, semicolon.

Sine, without; sinecure.

Sub (sue, suf, sug, sum, sup, sur, sus), under; subdue, succeed, suffer, suggest, summon,

support, surmount, sustain.

Subter, beneath ; subterfuge.

Super, above ; superfine, superfluous.

Trans, (tra, tres), across ; transmit, traverse, trespass.

Vice, in the place of; viceroy, vice-president.

Greek Prefixes

A (an), without, not; atheist, apathy, anarchy.

Amphi, around, on both sides; amphitheatre, amphibious.

Ana, up, back; anachronism, analysis.

Anti (ant), against; antipathy, antagonist.

Apo (ap) from; apostate, apology.

Arch (archi) chief; archbishop, archangel, architect.

Auto, self; autocrat, autobiography, autograph.

Cata, down; cataract, catastrophe, catalogue.

Di, twice; dilemma.

Dia, through; diagonal, diameter.

Dys, badly; dyspepsia, dysentery.

En (em), in,; encyclopaedia, emblem.

Epi, upon; epilogue, epitaph.

Eu, well; eulogy, euphony, eugenics.

Ex (ec), out of; exodus, eccentric.

Hemi, half; hemisphere.

Homo (hom), like ; homogeneous, homonym.

Hyper, over, beyond ; hyperbole, hypercritical.

Hypo, under ; hypothesis, hypocrite.

Meta (met), implying change ; metaphor, metonymy.

Mono, alone, single ; monoplane, monopoly.

Pan, all; panacea, panorama, pantheism.

Para, beside, by the side of; parallel, paradox, parasite.

Peri, round ; period, perimeter, periscope.

Philo (Phil),love; philosophy, philanthropy.

Pro, before; prophesy, programme.

Syn, (sym, syl, sy),with, together; synonym, sympathy, syllable, system.

English Suffixes

OF NOUNS

(1) Denoting agent or doer

er (-ar, -or, -yer); painter, baker, beggar, sailor, lawyer.

ster ; spinster, punster, songster.

ter (-ther) ; daughter, father.

Denoting state, action, condition, being, etc. -- dom ; freedom, martyrdom, wisdom.

-- hood (-head); manhood, childhood, godhead. -- lock (-ledge); wedlock, knowledge.

-- ness ; darkness, boldness, goodness, sweetness. -- red ; kindred, hatred.

ship ; hardship, friendship, lordship.

th : health, stealth, arnwth.

(3) Forming Diminutives.

el (-le) ; satchel, kernel, girdle, handle.

en ; maiden, kitten, chicken.

ie ; dearie, birdie, lassie.

kin ; lambkin, napkin.

let; leaflet.

ling ; duckling, darling, stripling, weakling.

ock ; hillock, bullock.

OF ADJECTIVES

ed, having ; gifted, talented, wretched, learned.

en, made of; wooden, golden, woollen, earthen.

fid, full of; hopeful, fruitful, joyful.

ish, somewhat like ; boorish, reddish, girlish.

Jess, free from, without; fearless, shameless, hopeless, senseless, boundless.

ly, like ; manly, godly, sprightly.

some, with the quality of; wholesome, meddlesome, gladsome, quarrelsome.

ward, inclining to ; forward, wayward.

y, with the quality of; wealthy, healthy, windy, slimy, greedy, needy, thirsty, dirty.

OF VERBS

en, causative, forming transitive verbs; weaken, sweeten, gladden, deaden, strengthen.

se, to make ; cleanse, rinse.

er, intensive or frequentative: chatter, glitter, glimmer, fritter, flutter.

OF ADVERBS

ly, like ; boldly, wisely.

long, headlong, sidelong.

ward, (-wards), turning to; homeward, backwards, upwards.

way, (-ways); straightway, anyway, always.

wise, manner, mode ; likewise, otherwise.

Note:- We still feel the force of a few English suffixes. These are:-

er, denoting the actor or agent; as driver.

hood, indicating rank or condition ; as, boyhood.

kin. ling, diminutives, as. lambkin, vearling.

ness, ship, th, indicating abstract nouns ; as, loveliness, friendship, truth.

en, ful, ish, less, ly, some, ward, y, adjective and adverb, endings ; as, golden, hopeful, oldish, helpless, manly, lonesome, homeward, mighty.

Latin Suffixes OF NOUNS

(1) Denoting chiefly the agent or doer of a thing.

ain (-an, -en, -on) ; chieftain, artisan, citizen, surgeon.

air, (-er, -eer, -ier, -ary ); scholar, preacher, engineer, financier, missionary.

ate (-ee, -ey, -y) ; advocate, trustee, attorney, deputy.

or, (-our, -eur, -er); emperor, saviour, amateur, inteipreter.

Denoting state, action, result of an action. -- age; bondage, marriage, breakage, leakage.

-- ance (-ence); abundance, brilliance, assistance, excellence, innocence. -- cy; fancy, accuracy, lunacy, bankruptcy.

-- ion; action, opinion, union.

-- ice (-ise) ; service, cowardice, exercise.

-- ent ; punishment, judgement, improvement. -- mony ; parsimony, matrimony, testimony. -- tude ; servitude, fortitude, magnitude.

-- ty ; cruelty, frailty, credulity.

-- ure ; pleasure, forfeiture, verdure. -- y ; misery, victory.

Forming diminutives.

cule (-ule, -eel, -sel, -el, -le); animalcule, globule, parcel, damsel, chapel, circle.

et; owlet, lancet, trumpet.

ette ; cigarette, coquette.

(4) Denoting place.

ary (-ery, -ry); dispensary, library, nunnery, treasury.

ter (tre) ; cloister; theatre.

OF ADJECTIVES

al; national, legal, regal, mortal, fatal.

an (-ane) ; human, humane, mundane.

ar; familiar, regular.

ary; customary, contrary, necessary, ordinary, honorary.

ate; fortune, temperature, obstinate.

ble (-ible, able) ; feeble, sensible, laughable.

esque; picturesque, grotesque.

id; humid, vivid, lucid.

ile; servile, fragile, juvenile.

ine; feminine, canine, feline, divine.

ive; active, attentive, shortive

lent; corpulent, indolent, turbulent, virulent.

ose (ous); verbose, dangerous, onerous, copious.

OF VERBS

ate; assassinate, captivate, exterminate.

esce; acquiesce, effervesce.

fy; simplify, purify, fortify, sanctify, terrify.

ish; publish, nourish, punish, banish.

Greek Suffixes

ic (-ique); angelic, cynic, phonetic, unique.

ist; artist, chemist.

isk; asterisk, obelisk.

ism (-asm); patriotism, despotism, enthusiasm.

ize; civilize, sympathize, criticize.

sis (-sy); crisis, analysis, heresy, poesy.

e (-y); catastrophe, monarchy, philosophy.  '

Note:- We still feel the force of a number of suffixes of foreign, origin. These are :-

(French), added to nouns to denote, usually, the person who takes a passive share in an action; as, employee, payee, legatee, mortgagee, trustee, referee.

or, ar, er, eer, ier, denoting a person who perfoms a certain actor function; as, emperor, scholar, officer, engineer, gondolier.

ist, denoting a person who follows a certain trade or pursuit; as, chemist, theosophist, artist, nihilist.

ism, forming abstract nouns; as, patriotism.

ble, forming adjectives that have usually a passive sense; as, tolerable, bearable.

ize orise, forming verbs from nouns and adjectives; as, crystallize, moralize, baptize.

Exercise

Give examples showing the use and meaning of the following prefixes :-super-, trans-, con-, sub-, auto-, mis-, ante-, post-, vice-, extra-, pre-, arch-.

Give examples of adjectives formed from nouns by the addition of the suffixes -en, - ish, -less, and explain the meaning of the suffixes.

           Show by the use of suffixes that we can use a single word to express the meaning of each of the following groups of words:-

A little river, the state of being a child, to make fat, that which cannot be read, unfit to be chosen.

Give the meanings of the prefixes and suffixes in the following words:-Incredible, antidote, anarchy, misconduct, monarch, sympathy, manhood, hillock, archbishop, amiss, bicycle, dismantle, freshen.

Form Adjectives from the following nouns:-

Circumstance, habit, stone, miser, irony, labour, circuit.

(f) Form Verbs from:-

Friend, bath, fertile, grass, clean, sweet, critic.

(g) Form Nouns from:-

Sustain, attain, confess, attach, fortify, oblige, give, cruel, hate, govern, sweet.

(h) Form Adjectives from:-

Muscle, hazard, worth, quarrel, admire, thirst, god.

(i) Add to each of the following words a prefix which reverses the meaning:-

Fortune, legible, visible, agreeable, ever, fortunate, practicable, honour, patience, sense, truth, resolute, legal, capable, organize, credible, creditable.

What is the force or meaning of the (1) Prefixes: in-, bene-, post-, dys-, dis-, (2) Suffixes;-en, -fy, -ness, -isk, -ing IName the language from which each is derived.

Mention two prefixes which denote (1) reversal of an action; (2) something good; (3) something bad; (4) a negative.

Name the primary derivatives of the following words:-

Hale, glass, high, sit, dig, strong, deep.

By means of a suffix turn each of the following words into an abstract noun:-Grand, discreet, supreme, rival, certain, warm, desolate, dense.

       A Root is the simple element common to words of the same origin.

A few Latin Roots

Equus, equal: equal, equator, equivalent, adequate.

Ager, afield : agriculture, agrarian.

Ago, actus, I do : agent, agile, active, actor. Aus,another : alien, aliquot, alias, alibi. Amo,

I love : amiable, amateur, amorous, inimical. Angulus, a corner : angle, triangle.

Anima, life; animus, mind : animal, animate, unanimous, magnanimous, Annus, a year :

annual, biennial, perennial. Aperio, apertus, I open : aperture, April. Aqua, water :

aquatic, aquarium, aqueduct.

Appello, I call: appeal, repeal

Ars, artis, art : artist, artisan, artifice.

Audio, I hear : audible, audience, auditor.

Bellum, war : belligerent, rebel, rebellious.

Bene, well: benefit, benevolent, benefactor.

Brevis, short: brevity, abbreviate, abridge.

Caedo, caesus, I cut, kill: suicide, homicide, concise,

Candeo, I shine: candle, candid, candour, incandescent.

Capio, captus, I take : captive, capacious, accept.

Caput, capitis, the head : capital, decapitate, captain.

Caro, carnis, flesh : carnivorous, carnage.

Cedo cessum, I go, yield : concede, proceed, accede.

Centrum, centre : eccentric, centralize, concentrate.

Centum, a hundred : cent, century, centipede.

Cerno, cretus, I distinguish : discern, discreet.

Civis, citizen : civil, civilize.

Clamo, I shout: clamour, claim, exclaim.

Claudo clausus, I shut: exclude, conclude, closet.

Colo, cultus, I till; colony, culture, cultivate, agriculture.

Cor, cordis, the heart: core, cordial, concord, discord, accord, courage.

Corpus, the body : corpse, corps, corporation, corpulent.

Credo, I believe : creed, credible, credence, miscreant.

Cresco, I grow : increase, decrease, crescent.

Crux, a cross : crucify, crusade.

Culpa, a fault: culprit, culpable.

Cura, care : curator, sinecure, accurate, secure, incurable.

Deus, God : deity, deify, divine.

Dico, dictus I say : dictation, contradict, predict, verdict.  .

Dies, a day : diary, daily, meridian.

Do, datus, I give : add, date, tradition, addition, condition.

Doceo, doctus, I teach : docile, doctrine.

Dominus, a lord : dominion, dominant.

Duco, ductus, I lead : adduce, conduit, product, education.

Duo, two : dual, duel, double, duplicate, duodecimal.

Durus, hard lasting : durable, obdurate, duration.

Eo, itum, I go : exit, circuit, transition, ambition.

Esse, to be : essence, essential, present, absent.

Facio, I make : fabric, counterfeit, manufacture.

Fero, latus, I carry : infer, confer, refer, relate.

Fido, I trust: confide, infidel, defy.

Finis, an end : finite, infinite, confine.

Flecto flexus, I bend : inflict, inflexible, reflection.

Forma, a form : formal, deformed, reform.

Fortis, strong : fort, fortress, fortify, fortitude, reinforce.

Frango, fractus, I break : fragment, fragile, fraction, infringe.

Frater, a brother; fraternal, fratricide.

Frons, frontis, forehead : front, affront, frontier, confront.

Fugio, 1 flee : fugitive, refugee, refuge, subterfuge.

Fundo, fusus, I pour : profuse, diffuse, confuse, refund.

Fundus, the bottom : found, foundation, profound, fundamental, founder.

Gens, gentis, a race : congenial, indigenous.

Gradior, grassus, I go: grade, degrade, transgress, progress.

Gratia, favour : gratitude, gratis, ingratiate, grateful.

Gravis, heavy : gravity, gravitation, grief, grievous.

Habeo, I have : habit, habitable, habituate, exhibit, inhabit, prohibit.

Homo, a man : homage, homicide, human, humane.

Impero, I command: imperative, imperial, emperor, empire.

Jacio, jactus, I throw: ejaculate, reject.

Judex, judicis, a judge: judicial, judgment, judicious, prejudice.

Jungo, junctus, I join: junction, conjunction, juncture.

Labor, lapsus, I glide, lapse, collapse, relapse, elapse.

Laus, laudis, praise: laudable, laudatory.

Lego, lectus, I gather, read : collect, neglect, select.

Lego, legatus, I send : delegate, legation.

Levis, light: levity, alleviate, elevate, leaven.

Lex, legis, a law : legal, legislate, legitimate, loyal.

Liber, free : liberal, libertine, deliver.

Ligo, I bind : ligature, ligament, religion, league, obligation.

Litera, a letter : literal, literary, literate, literature.

Locus, a place : local, locality, locomotive.

Loquor, locutus, I speak : loquacious, elocution, eloquence.

Ludo, lusum, I play : elude, delude, ludicrous

Lumen, a light: luminous, luminary.

Luo, lutus, I wash : lotion, ablution, deluge, dilute, pollute.

Lux, lucis, light: lucid, elucidate.

Magnus, great: major, mayor, magnate, magnify, magnitude.

Malus, bad : malady, malice, maltreat, malaria.

Manus, hand : manuscript, amanuensis, manual.

Mare, the sea : marine, mariner, submarine, maritime.

Mater, a mother : maternal, matriculate, matron, matrimony.

Medius, the middle : medium, mediate.

Memor, mindful: memory, memorable, memoir.

Miles, militis, a soldier : military, militia, militant.

Mitto, missus, I send : admit, missionary, promise.

Moneo monitus, I advise : monitor, admonish.

Mons, montis, a mountain : mount, dismount, surmount.

Moveo, motus, I move : motor, motion, commotion, promote

Multus, many; multitude, multiple.

Munus, muneris, a gift : munificent, remunerate.

Navis, a ship : navy, nautical.

Noceo, I hurt: innocent, noxious, nuisance.

Novus, new : novel, novice, innovation.

Nox, noctis, night: nocturnal, equinox.

Omnis, all : omnipotent, omnipresent, omnibus.

Pando, passus, I spread out: expand, compass, trespass.

Pars, partis, a part: part, partial, particle.

Pater, a father : paternal, patron, patrimony.

Patior, passus, I suffer : passive, patient.

Pello, pulsus, I drive : compel, expel, repel.

Pendeo, pensum, I hang : depend, suspend.

Pes, pedis, a foot: biped, quadruped, pedestrian, pedestal.

Peto, petitus, I seek : petition, competition, impetuous.

Pleo, I fill: complete, replete, replenish, supplement.

Pono, positus, I place : position, preposition, composition.

Porto, I carry : portable, portmanteau, import, export.

Primus, first: primary, primitive, prince, premier, principal.

Probo, I try : probation, probable, approval.

Puto, putatus, I cut, think : amputate, dispute, compute.

Rapio, raptus. I seize : rapacious, ravenous.

Rego, rectus, I rule : regal, regent, correct, regulate.

Rumpo, ruptus, I break : rupture, rout, bankrupt, eruption.

Sanctus, holy : sanctuary, sanctify, saint.

Scio, I know: science, conscience, omniscience.

Scribo, scriptus, I write: describe, scribble, postscript, inscription, manuscript.

Seco, I cut: bisect, dissect, sickle.

Sentio, I feel: sentiment, sensation, nonsense, sensual.

Sequor, secutus, I follow: sequel, sequence, consequence, prosecute, execute.

Servio, I serve: servant, serf, service, servitude.

Signum, a sign: signal, significant, design.

Similis, tike: similar, dissimilar, resemblance.

Solvo, solutus, I loose: solution, resolution, absolve, dissolve, resolve.

Specio, spectus, I see: specimen, spectator, suspicion.

Spiro, I breathe: aspire, conspire, inspire, expire.

Stringo, strictus, I bind: stringent, strict, restrict.

Struo, structus, I build: structure, construction.

Sumo, sumptus, I take: assume, presume, resume.

Tango, tactus, I touch: tangent, contact, contagion.

Tempus, temporis, time: tense, temporal, contemporary.

Tendo, tensus, I stretch: tend, contend, attend, extend.

Teneo, tentus, I hold: tenant, tenure, content, retentive.

Terminus, an end: term, terminate, determination.

Terra, the earth: inter, subterranean, terrestrial.

Texo, textus, I weave: textile, texture, context.

Torqueo, tortus, I twist: distort, torture, torment.

Traho, tractus, I draw: contract, abstract, portrait.

Tribuo, I give: tribute, contribute.

Unus, one: union, unique, unanimous.

Valeo, I am well: valid, invalid, equivalent, valiant.

Venio, I come: venture, adventure, convene, prevent.

Verbum, a word: verb, adverb, proverb, verbose, verbal.

Verto, versus, I turn: convert, converse, reverse, diversion.

Verus, true: verify, verdict, aver, veracious.

Video, visus, I see: vision, surve. evident, television.

Vinco, victus, I conquer: victor, invincible, convince.

Vivo, victum, I live: vivid, vivacious, revive, survive.

Voco, vocatus, I call: vocal, vocation, vociferous, invoke, revoke.

Volo, I wish: voluntary, benevolent, malevolence.

Volvo, I roll: revolve, involve, revolution.

Voro, I eat: voracious, omnivorous, carnivorous, devour.

Voveo, votus, I vow: vote, devote, devotee, votary.

Vulgus, the common people: vulgar, divulge.

A Few Greek Roots

Ago, I lead: demagogue, pedagogue, stratagem.

Agon, a contest: agony, antagonist.

Anthropos, a man: anthropology, misanthrope, philanthropist.

Aster, astron, a star: asterisk, astronomy, astrology.

Autos, self: autocrat, autograph, autonomy, autobiography.

Biblos, a book; Bible, bibliography, bibliomaniac.

Bios, life: biology, biography.

Chole, bile: choleric, melancholy.

Chronos, lime: chronicle, chronology, chronometer, chronic.

Deka, ten: decagon, decade.

Demos, the people: democracy, demagogue, epidemic.

Doxa, opinion .- orthodox, dogmatic.

Gamos, marriage: monogamy, bigamy, polygamy.

Geo, the earth: geology, geography, geometry.

Gonia, an angle: diagonal, polygon, hexagon.

Grapho, I write: biography, telegraph, telegram, phonograph.

Helios, the sun: heliograph, heliotrope.

Hippos, a horse: hippopotamus, hippodrome.

Hodos, a way: period, method, episode.

Homos, the same: homogeneous, homonym.

Hudor, water: hydrogen, hydrophobia, hydrant.

Idios, one's own: idiot, idiom, idiosyncrasy.

Isos, equal: isosceles.

Kosmos, the world: cosmopolite.

Kratos, strength: democrat, autocrat, aristocrat, plutocrat

Kuklos, a circle: cycle, cyclone, encyclopaedia.

Lithos, a stone: lithography, aerolite.

Logos, a word, speech: dialogue, catalogue, astrology.

Luo, I loosen: analysis, paralysis.

Meter, a mother; metropolis.

Metron, a measure: thermometer, barometer.

Mikros, little: microscope.

Monos, alone: monarch, monopoly.

Nomos, a, law: astronomy, economy, autonomy.

Ode, a song: prosody, parody.

Onoma, a name: anonymous, synonymous.

Orthos, right: orthodoxy, orthography.

Pan, all: pantheist, pantomime, panacea.

Pathos, feeling: pathetic, sympathy, antipathy,.

Petra, a rock: petrify, petroleum.

Phileo, I love: philosophy, philanthropy.

Phone, a sound: phonograph, telephone.

Phos, photos, light; phosphorus, photograph.

Phrasis, a speech: paraphrase, phraseology.

Poleo, I make: poem, onomatopoeia.

Polis, a city: police, policy, politic, metropolis

Polus, many: polygamy, polygon.

Poiis, podos, afoot: antipodes, tripod.

Rheo, I flow: rheumatic, diarrhoea, catarrh.

Skopeo, I see: telescope, microscope.

Sophia, wisdom: philosopher, sophist.

Techne, an art: technical, architect, pyrotechnics.

Tele, afar: telegraph, telegram, telephone, telescope, telepathy, telemail.

Temno, I cut: anatomy, epitome.

Theos, a god: theism, theology, theosophy.

Thermos, warm: thermometer.

Thesis, a placing: hypothesis, synthesis, parenthesis.

Treis, three: triangle, tripod, trinity.