List of Greek and Latin Roots in English - S

S

Root Meaning in English Origin language Etymology (root origin) English examples
sacchar- sugar Greek σάκχαρον (sakcharon) saccharin
sacr-, secr- sacred Latin sacer, sacrare consecrate, sacrament
sagac- wise Latin sagax, sagacis sagacity
sagitt- arrow Latin sagitta sagittal plane, Sagittaria
sal- salt Latin sal, salis, salere salinity
sali-, -sili-, salt- jump Latin salire, saltus resilient, salient, saltus
salic- willow Latin salix, salicis salicin
salv- save Latin salvus, salvare salvation
san- healthy Latin sanus insane, sanity
sanc- holy Latin sancire, sanctus sanctify, sanctuary
sanguin- blood Latin sanguis, sanguinis consanguinity, sanguine
sapi-, -sipi- taste, wise Latin sapere insipience, sapient
sapon- soap Latin sapo, saponis saponification
sarc- flesh Greek σάρξ, σαρκός (sarx, sarkos) sarcophagus
saur- lizard, reptile Greek σαῦρος (sauros) dinosaur
sax- rock Latin saxum
scab- scratch Latin scabere scabies
scal- ladder, stairs Latin scala scalar, scale
scalen- uneven Greek σκαληνός (skalēnos) scalene muscles, scalene triangle
scand-, -scend-, scans-, -scens- climb Latin scandere ascend, transcendent, descend
scaph- anything hollow, bowl, ship Greek σκάφη, σκάφος scaphoid bone
scel- leg, thigh Greek σκέλος, σκέλεος (skelos) isosceles
schem- plan Greek σχῆμα (schēma) schematic
schis- split Greek σχίζω, σχίσμα (schisma) schism
sci- know Latin scire prescient, science
scind-, sciss- split Latin scindere rescind, scissors
scler- hard Greek σκληρός (sklēros) scleroderma, sclerosis
scoli- crooked Greek σκολιός (skolios) scoliosis
scop-, scept- look at, examine, view, observe Greek σκέπτομαι, σκοπός (skopos) horoscope, kaleidoscope, stethoscope
scrib-, script- write Latin scribere, scriptus inscribe, scripture
sculp- carve Latin sculpere, sculptus sculpture
scut- shield Latin scutum scute
scyph- cup Greek χούφτα (chouphta) Scyphozoa
se-, sed- apart Latin se secede, sedition
seb- tallow Latin sebum sebaceous, sebum
sec-, sect-, seg- cut Latin secare secant, section, segment
sed- settle, calm Latin sedare, sedatus sedative
sed-, -sid-, sess- sit Latin sedere, sessus reside, sediment, session, supersede
sedec- sixteen Latin sedecim sedecimal
seget- in cornfields Latin segetum
sei- shake Greek σείω, σεισμός (seismos) seismograph
selen- moon Greek σελήνη (selēnē) Selene, selenium
sell- saddle, seat Latin sella sella turcica
sema- sign Greek σῆμα (sēma) semantics, semaphore
semi- half Latin semis semifinal
semin- seed Latin semen, seminis insemination
sen- old man Latin senex, senis senator, senility
sen- six each Latin seni senary
senti-, sens- feel Latin sentire, sensus consensus, sentient
sept- fence, partition, enclosure Latin saeptum transept
sept- seven Latin septem septennial
septen- seven each Latin septeni septenary
septim- seventh Latin septimus septimal, septime
septuagen- seventy each Latin septuageni septuagenary
septuagesim- seventieth Latin septuagesimus septuagesima, septuagesimal
septuagint- seventy Latin septuaginta Septuagint
sequ-, secut- follow Latin sequere, secutus consecutive, sequence
ser-, sat- cultivate Latin serere, satus sative
ser- body fluid Latin serum serous
ser- late Latin serus serein, serotine
serp- crawl, creep Latin serpere, serptus serpent
serr- saw, saw-toothed Latin serra, serrare serration
serv- save, protect, serve Latin servare conservation
sesqui- one and a half Latin sesqui sesquicentennial
set- bristle, hair Latin saeta seta, setose
sever- stern, strict, serious Latin severus severity
sex-, se- six Latin sex semester, sexangle, sexennium
sexagen- sixty each Latin sexageni sexagenary
sexagesim- sixtieth Latin sexagesimus sexagesimal
sext- sixth Latin sextus sextant
sibil- hiss Latin sibilus, sibilare sibilance
sicc- dry Latin siccus desiccation
sider- star Latin sidus, sideris sidereal
sign- sign Latin signum design, designate, signal
sil- quiet or still Latin silere silence
silv(i)- forest Latin silva silviculture
simi- ape, monkey Latin simia simian
simil- likeness, trust, group Latin similis assimilate, similarity
simul- imitating, feigning Latin simulare simulation
singul- one each Latin singulus singular
sinistr- left Latin sinister, sinistri sinistral
sinu- (to draw) a line Latin sinuare insinuate
sinus- hollow, bay Latin sinus
siph(o)- tube Greek σίφων (siphōn) siphon
sist- cause to stand Latin sistere consist, persistence
sit- food, grain, wheat Greek σῖτος (sitos) sitology
soci- group Latin socius, sociare associate, social
sol- sun Latin sol, solis solar
sol- comfort, soothe Latin solari consolation, solace
sol- alone, only Latin solus desolate, sole, solo, solipsism
solen- pipe, channel Greek σωλήν (sōlēn) solenoid
solv-, solut- loosen, set free Latin solvere, solutus dissolve, solution
soma- body Greek σῶμα, σώματος (sōma, sōmatos) somatic
somn- sleep Latin somnus insomnia
somni- dream Latin somnium
son- sound Latin sonus resonance
soph- wise Greek σοφός (sophos) sophist
sorb-, sorpt- suck Latin sorbere absorb, absorption
sord- dirt Latin sordes, sordere sordid
soror- sister Latin soror sorority
spati- space Latin spatium spatial
spec-, -spic-, spect- look Latin specere conspicuous, inspection, specimen
spect- watch, look at Latin spectare spectator
specul- observe Latin speculari speculation
sper- hope Latin spes, sperare desperation, esperance
sperm- seed Greek σπέρμα (sperma) angiosperm
sphen- wedge Greek σφήν (sphēn)
spher- ball Greek σφαῖρα (sphaira) sphere, spheroid
sphinct- closing Greek σφίγγα sphincter
spic- spike Latin spica spicule
spin- thorn Latin spina spine
spir- breathe Latin spirare respiration
spond-, spons- a surety, guarantee; give assurance, promise solemnly Latin spondere, sponsus respond
spondyl- vertebra
spu-, sput- spew, spit Latin spuere sputum
squal- scaly, dirty, filthy Latin squalere squalid, squalor
squam- scale Latin squama squamous
squarros- spreading at tips Latin
st- stand Latin stare, status stable, station, statistic, statue, status
stagn- pool of standing water Latin stagnare stagnant
stalact- Greek σταλακτίτης (stalaktitēs) stalactite
stalagm- Greek σταλαγμός (stalagmos) stalagmite
stann- tin Latin stannum stannous
statu-, -stitu- stand Latin statuere institution, statute
stea- fat, tallow Greek στέαρ, στέατος (stear, steatos) stearic acid
steg- covering Greek steganography
stell- star Latin stella constellation, stellar
sten- narrow Greek στενός (stenos) stenography
stere- solid Greek στερεός (stereos)
stern-, strat- spread, strew Latin sternere, stratus stratify
stern- breastbone Greek στέρνον (sternon) sternum
stich- line, row Greek στίχος (stichos)
stig- Greek στίγμα (stigma) stigma
still- drip Latin stilla, stillare distillation
stimul- goad, rouse, excite Latin stimulus stimulate
stingu-, stinct- apart Latin stinguere distinction, distinguish
stoch- aim Greek στόχος stochastic
stom- mouth Greek στόμα (stoma) stomatoplasty
strept- twisted Greek στρεπτός (streptos)
strig- compress Latin strix, strigis strigogyps
strigos- having stiff bristles Latin
string-, strict- upright, stiff Latin stringere, strictus stringent
stroph- turning Greek στροφή (strophē) apostrophe
stru-, struct- to make up, build Latin struere, structus construction, construe
stud- dedication Latin studere student
stup- wonder Latin stupere stupor
styl- column, pillar Greek στῦλος (stulos) stylus
su-, sut- sew Latin suere, sutus suture
sui- self Latin sui sui generis, suicide
suad-, suas- urge Latin suadere, suasus persuasion
suav- sweet Latin suavis suave
sub-, su-, suf-, sug-, sus- below Latin sub submerge, suffix, suggest
subter- under Latin subter subterfuge
sucr- sugar Latin sucrose
sud- sweat Latin sudare sudoriferous
sulc- furrow Latin sulcus sulcus
sum-, sumpt- take Latin sumere, sumptus assumption, consume
super- above, over Latin super supersede
supin- lying back Latin supinus supination
supra- above, over Latin supra supranationalism
surd- deaf Latin surdus absurdity
surg- rise Latin surgere resurgent
syn-, sy-, syl-, sym- with Greek σύν (sun) symbol, symmetry, sympathy, synchronous, synonym, system
syring- pipe Greek σύριγξ, σύριγγος (syrinx, syringos) syringe

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