A
Root | Meaning in English | Origin language | Etymology (root origin) | English examples |
---|---|---|---|---|
ab-, a-, abs- | away from | Latin | ab "away" | abnormal, abrasion, absent, abstain, abstract, aversion |
ac- | sharp or pointed | Latin | acere | acupuncture |
acerb- | sharp, bitter, sour | Latin | acerbus | acerbic, exacerbate |
acid- | sour or acid | Latin | acidus | acidosis |
acr- | height, summit, tip | Greek | ἄκρος (ákros) "high", "extreme" | acrobatics, acromegaly, acronym, acrophobia |
acr- | bitter, pungent, sharp, sour | Latin | acer, acris | acrid, acrimony |
acu- | sharp | Latin | acutus, past participle of acuere "to sharpen", from acus "needle" | acupuncture, acute, acutifoliate |
ad-, a-, ac-, af-, ag-, al-, ap-, ar-, as-, at- | movement to or toward; in addition to | Latin | ad "to", "toward" | accept, adapt, affect, approximate, ascend |
adip- | fat | Latin | adeps, adipis "fat" | adipose |
aer- | air, atmosphere | Greek | ἀήρ (aēr) "air" | aeronautics, aerosol |
aesthet- | feeling, sensation | Greek | aisthētikos "of sense perception" from αἰσθάνεσθαι (aisthanesthai) "to perceive" | aesthetics, anaesthetic |
agr- | field | Greek | ἀγρός (agros) "field" | agronomy |
agri-, -egri- | field | Latin | ager, agris "field, country" | agriculture, peregrine |
alb- | dull white | Latin | albus | albedo, albino, albumen |
am-, amat-, amor- | love, loved | Latin | amor "love" from amāre "to love" | amateur, amorous |
ambi- | both, on both sides | Latin | ambi "on both sides" | ambidexterity, ambivalent |
amic-, -imic- | friend | Latin | amicus | amicable, inimical |
amph-, amphi- | around, about, both, on both sides of, both kinds | Greek | ἀμφί (amphi) "on both sides" | amphibian, amphibolic, amphoterism |
ampl- | ample, abundant, bountiful | Latin | amplus | amplification |
an-, a- | not, without | Greek | Greek ἀν-/ἀ- "not" | anhydrous, atypical |
ana-, an- | again, against, back, up | Greek | ἀνά (ana) "again", "against" | anabaptist, anaphylaxis, anion, anode |
andr- | male, masculine | Greek | ἀνδρός andros | androgen, android |
anem- | wind | Greek | ἄνεμος anemos | anemometer |
anim- | breath | Latin | anima "breath" | animal, animation |
ann-, -enn- | year, yearly | Latin | annus "year" | anniversary, annual, biannual, millennium |
ant-, anti- | against, opposed to, preventive | Greek | ἀντί anti "against" | antagonist, antibiotic, antipodes |
ante-, anti- | before, in front of, prior to | Latin | ante "before", "against" | antebellum, antediluvian, anticipate, antiquarian |
anth- | flower | Greek | ἄνθος (anthos) "flower" | anther, anthology |
anthrop- | human | Greek | ἄνθρωπος (anthropos) "man" | anthropology, anthropomorphic |
ap-, apo- | away from, separate, at the farthest point | Greek | ἀπό (apo) "from, away, un-, quite" | apocrine, apogee, apostasy |
aqu- | water | Latin | aqua | aquamarine, aquarium, aqueduct, aquifer |
ar- | plow, till | Latin | ărāre | arable |
ar- | be dry | Latin | ārēre "be dry or parched" | arid |
arche-, archi- | ruler | Greek | ἀρχή (archē) "rule" (in compounds: ἀρχε-, ἀρχι-) | archangel, archetype |
archae-, arche- | ancient | Greek | ἀρχαῖος arkhaios "ancient" from arkhē "beginning" | archaeology or archeology, archaic |
arct- | Relating to the North Pole or the region near it; relating to cold; used as the scientific name of some bear species, e.g. Ursus arctos horribilis | Greek | ἄρκτος arktos "bear" | Arctic Ocean |
argent- | silver | Latin | argentum | argent, Argentina |
arist- | excellence | Greek | ἀρετή, ἄριστος aretē, aristos | aristocracy |
arthr- | joint | Greek | ἄρθρον (arthron) | arthritis, arthropod |
astr- | star, star-shaped | Greek | ἄστρον (astron) "star" | asterisk, astrology, astronomy, disaster |
athl- | prize | Greek | ἄθλος (athlos) "contest, feat" | athlete, pentathlon |
audi- | hearing, listening, sound | Latin | audire "to hear" | audible, auditorium, auditory |
aug-, auct- | grow, increase | Latin | augēre, auctus "to increase" | augend, augmentation |
aur- | relating to gold, or gold-colored | Latin | aurum "gold" | aureate, aureole |
auri- | relating to the ear | Latin | auris "ear" | auricle |
aut-, auto- | self; directed from within | Greek | αὐτός (autos) "self", "same" | autograph, automobile, autonomy |
avi- | bird | Latin | avis | aviary, aviation |
axi- | axis | Latin | axis | axisymmetry |
axio- | merit | Greek | ἄξιος (axios) "worth" | axiology |
Read more about this topic: List Of Greek And Latin Roots In English