ENGLISH VOCABULARY IMPORTANT ROOT WORDS

“Learn one root and you have the key that will unlock the meanings of up to ten or twenty words in which the root appears.”

It is the basis for the development of all the other skills: reading comprehension, listening comprehension, speaking, writing, spelling and pronunciation.

Knowing roots can help you in two more ways. First, instead of learning one word at a time, you can learn a whole group of words that contain a certain root. They’ll be related in meaning, so if you remember one, it will be easier for you to remember others. Second, roots can often help you decode an unknown vocab word. If you recognize a familiar root, you could get a good enough grasp of the word to answer the question.

Etymology (et’-a-MOL’-a-jee) deals with the origin or derivation of words. When you know the meaning of a root (for example, Latin ego, I or self), you can better understand, and more easily remember, all the words built on this root. Learn one root and you have the key that will unlock the meanings of up to ten or twenty words in which the root appears. Learn ego and you can immediately get a handle on egocentric, egomaniac, egoist, egotist, and alter ego. Learn anthropos (Greek, mankind), and you will. quickly understand, and never forget, anthropology, misanthropy, anthropoid, anthropocentric, anthropomorphic, philanthropy, and anthropophobia. Meet any word with anthropo- in it, and you will have at least some idea of its meaning.

In the etymological approach to vocabulary building:

• You will learn about prefixes, roots, and suffixe, so You will be able to figure out unfamiliar words by recognizing their structure, the building blocks. from which they are constructed-

• You will be able to construct words correctly by learning to put these building blocks together in the proper way-and

• You will be able to derive verbs from nouns, nouns and verbs from adjectives, adjectives from nouns, etc.-and do all this correctly.

Learn how to deal with etymology and you will feel comfortable with words-you will use new words with self-assurance-you will be able to figure out thousands of words you hear or read even if you have never heard or seen these words before. That’s why the best approach to new words is through etymology:-as you will discover for yourself as soon as you start reading the below given root words. Use these tricks, as well as other exercises that we will provide based on these notes, as aids to learning. “No one is perfect, no one learns in the exact same way or at the same rate as anyone else. Find the optimum technique and speed for your unique learning patterns-and then give yourself every opportunity to exploit your actual, latent, and potential abilities.” 

1.AC/ACR: SHARP, BITTER

acid: something that is sharp, sour or ill natured

acute: sharp at the end; ending in a point

acerbic: sour or astringent in taster; harsh in temper

acrid: sharp or biting to the taste or smell

acrimonious: caustic, stinging, or bitter in nature

exacerbate: to increase bitterness or violence; aggravate

2.AL/ALI/ALTER: OTHER, ANOTHER

alternative: a possible choice

alias: an assumed name; another

alibi: the defense by an accused person that he was verifiably elsewhere at the time of the crime with which he is charged

alien: one born in another country; a foreigner

alter ego: the second self; a substitute or deputy

altruist: a person unselfishly concerned for the welfare of others

allegory: figurative treatment of one subject under the guise of another

3.AM: LOVE

amateur: a person who engages in an activity for pleasure rather than financial or professional gain

amatory: of or pertaining to lovers or lovemaking

amenity: agreeable ways or manners

amorous: inclined to love, esp. sexual love

enamored: inflamed with love; charmed; captivated

amity: friendship; peaceful harmony

inamorata: a female lover

amiable: having or showing agreeable personal qualities

amicable: characterized by exhibiting good will

4.AMB: TO GO; TO WALK

ambient: moving freely; circulating

ambitious: desirous of achieving or obtaining power

preamble: an introductory statement

ambassador: an authorized messenger or representative

ambulance: a wheeled vehicle equipped for carrying sick people, usually to a hospital

ambulatory: of, pertaining to, or capable of walking

ambush: the act of lying concealed so as to attack by surprise

perambulator: one who makes a tour of inspection on foot

5.AMBI/AMPH: BOTH, MORE THAN ONE, AROUND

ambiguous: open to various interpretations

amphibian: any cold-blooded vertebrate, the larva of which is aquatic, and the adult of which is terrestrial; a person or thing having a twofold nature

ambidextrous: able to use both hands equally well

6.ANTE: BEFORE

anterior: placed before

antecedent: existing being, or going before

antedate: precede in time

Antebellum: before the war (especially the American Civil War)

antediluvian: belonging to the period before the biblical flood; very old or old-fashioned

7.ANTHRO/ANDR: MAN, HUMAN

anthropology: the science that deals with the origins of mankind

android: robot; mechanical man

misanthrope: one who hates humans or mankind

philanderer: one who carries on flirtations

androgynous: being both male and female

androgen: any substance that promotes masculine characteristics

anthropocentric: regarding man as the central fact of the universe

8.ANTI: AGAINST

antibody: a protein naturally existing in blood serum, that reacts to overcome the toxic effects of an antigen

antidote: a remedy for counteracting the effects of poison, disease, etcetera

antiseptic: free from germs; particularly clean or neat

antipathy: aversion

antipodal: on the opposite side of the globe

9.AUTO: SELF

automatic: self-moving or self-acting

autocrat: an absolute ruler

autonomy: independence or freedom

10.BEL/BEL: WAR

Antebellum: before the war

rebel: a person who resists authority, control, or tradition belligerent: warlike, given to waging war

11.BEN/BON: GOOD

benefit: anything advantageous to a person or thing

benign: having a kindly disposition

benediction: an act of uttering a blessing

benevolent: desiring to do good to others

bonus: something given over and above what is due

bona fide: in good faith; without fraud

12.BI: TWICE, DOUBLE

binoculars: involving two eyes

biennial: happening every two years

bilateral: pertaining to or affecting two or both sides

bilingual: able to speak one’s native language and another with equal facility

bipartisan: representing two parties

13.CED/CEED/CESS: TO GO; TO YIELD; TO STOP

antecedent: existing, being, or going before

concede: to acknowledge as true, just, or proper; admit

predecessor: one who comes before another in an office, position, etcetera

cessation: a temporary or complete discontinuance

incessant: without stop

14.CHRON: TIME

synchronize: to occur at the same time or agree in time

chronology: the sequential order in which past events occurred

anachronism: an obsolete or archaic form

chronic: constant, habitual

chronometer: a time piece with a mechanism to adjust for accuracy

15.CIRCU: AROUND, ON ALL SIDES

circumference: the outer boundary of a circular area

circumstances: the existing conditions or state of affairs surrounding and affecting an agent

circuit: the act of going or moving around

circumambulate: to walk about or around

circuitous: roundabout, indirect

16. CIS: TO CUT
    scissors: cutting instrument for paper
    precise: definitely stated or defined
    exorcise: to seek to expel an evil spirit by a ceremony
    incision: a cut, gash, or notch
    incisive: penetrating, cutting
17. DEM: PEOPLE
    democracy: government by the people
    epidemic: affecting at the same time a large number of people, and spreading from person to person
    endemic: peculiar to a particular people or locality
    pandemic: general, universal
    demographics: vital and social statistics of populations
18. FORE: BEFORE
    foresight: care or provision for future
    foreshadow: be a warning or indication of ( a future event)
    forestall: to prevent by advance action
    forthright: straightforward, outspoken, decisive
19. GEN: BIRTH, CREATION, RACE, KIND
    generous: giving or given freely
    genetics: the study of heredity and variation among animals and plants
    gender: classification roughly corresponding to the two saxes and sexlessness
    carcinogenic: producing cancer
    congenital: existing or as such from birth
    progeny: offspring, descendants
    miscegenation: interbreeding of races
20. HETERO: DIFFERENT
    heterosexual: of or pertaining to the sexual orientation toward members of the opposite sex; relating to different sexes
    heterogeneous: of other origins: not originating in the body
    heterodox: different from the acknowledged standard: holding unorthodox opinions or doctrines
21. HYPO: UNDER, BENEATH, LESS THAN
    hypodermic: relating to the parts beneath the skin
    hypochondriac: one affected by extreme depression of mind or spirits often centered on imaginary physical ailments
    hypocritical: affecting virtues or qualities one does not have
    hypothesis: assumption subject to proof
22. IDIO: ONE’S OWN
    idiot: an utterly stupid person
    idiom: a language, dialect, or style of speaking particular to a people
    idiosyncrasy: the peculiarity of temperament; eccentricity
23. LOC/LOG/LOQU: WORD, SPEECH
    dialogue: conversation, esp. in a literary work elocution: the art of clear and expressive speaking prologue: an introduction to the poem, play etc.
    eulogy: speech or writing in praise of someone
    colloquial: or ordinary or familiar conversation
    grandiloquent: pompous or inflated in language
    loquacious: talkative
24. MAG/MAJ/MAX: BIG
    magnify: to increase the apparent size of
    magnitude: the greatness of size, extent, or dimensions
    maximum: the highest amount, value, or degree attained
    magnate: a powerful or influential person
    magnanimous: generous in forgiving an insult or injury
    maxim: an expression of general truth or principle
25. MAL/MALE: BAD, ILL, EVIL, WRONG
    malfunction: failure to function properly
    malicious: full of or showing malice
    malign: to speak harmful untruths about, to slander
    malady: a disorder or disease of the body
    maladroit: clumsy, tactless
    malapropism: humorous misuse of a word
    malfeasance: misconduct or wrongdoing often committed by a public official
    malediction: a curse
26. OMNI: ALL
    omnibus: an anthology of the works of one author or of writings on related subjects
    omnipresent: everywhere at one time
    omnipotent: all powerful
    omniscient: having infinite knowledge
27. PAN: ALL, EVERYONE
    panorama: an unobstructed and wide view of an extensive area
    panegyric: formal or elaborate praise at an assembly
    panoply: a wide-ranging and impressive array or display
    pantheon: a public building containing tombs or memorials of the illustrious dead of a nation
    pandemic: widespread, general, universal
28. PERI: AROUND
    perimeter: the border or outer boundary of a two-dimensional figure
    periscope: an optical instrument for seeing objects in an obstructed field of vision
    peripatetic: walking or traveling about; itinerant
29. PHIL: LOVE
    philosophy: the rational investigation of the truths and principles of being, knowledge, or conduct
    philatelist: one who loves or collects postage stamps
    philology: the study of literary texts to establish their authenticity and determine their meaning
    bibliophile: one who loves or collects books
30. THEO: GOD
    atheist: one who not believe in a deity or divine system
    theocracy: a form of government in which a deity is recognized as the supreme ruler
    theology: the study of divine things and the divine faith
    apotheosis: glorification, glorified ideal
31. VOR: TO EAT
    voracious: having a great appetite
    carnivorous: meat-eating
    omnivorous: eating or absorbing everything