The Greek & Latin Roots of English (17 page)
Read The Greek & Latin Roots of English Online
Authors: Tamara M. Green
Tags: #Language Arts & Disciplines, #Linguistics, #General, #Vocabulary, #Etymology
| Latin Preposition | English Meaning | English Combining Form | Example |
| ab, a | from, away from | ab-, a- | abduct, avert |
| ad 1 | to, toward, for | ac-, ad-, af-, ag-, al-, | accept, admit, affirm, |
| | | an-, ap-, ar-, as-, at- | aggression, allocate, |
| | | | announce, applaud, |
| | | | arrive, assume, attack |
| ante | before | ante- | antecedent |
| cum 2 | with, together | com-, col-, con- | compose, collect, |
| | | cor-, co- 3 | convene, correct, cohere |
| circum | around | circum- | circumnavigate |
| contra 4 | against | contra- | contradict |
| de | down, from, about | de- | depose |
| ex, e | out of | ex-, e-, ef- | except, edict, effort |
| extra | outside | extra- | extraordinary |
| in | in, into, on | in-, il-, im- | incur, illusion, import |
| inter | between | inter- | interact |
| intra | within | intra- | intravenous |
| ob | to, against | ob-, oc-, of-, op- | object, occur, offer, |
| | | | oppose |
| per | through, by | per-, pel- | permit, perfect, pellucid |
| post | after | post- | postpone |
| prae | before | pre- | predict, prefer |
| pro | in front of, | pro- | propose, provide |
| | on behalf of | | |
| sine | without | se- | secure, secluded |
| sub | under, | sub-, suc-, suff-, | submit, success, suffer |
| | in addition to | sug-, sup-, sus- | suggest, suppose, |
| | | | suspend |
| super 5 | above | super- | supervise |
| trans | across | trans-, tra- | transmit, tradition |
| ultra 6 | beyond | ultra- | ultrasonic |
Phoenix mosaic. The phoenix was a mythical bird that was said to live for 500 years, then consume itself in fire, only to be reborn out of the ashes. Third century CE (Urfa, Turkey)
II. GREEK PREPOSITIONS
| Greek Preposition | English Meaning | English Combining Form | Example |
| amphi (άμφί) | around, on both sides; | amphi- | amphitheatre |
| | of both kinds | | amphibious |
| ana (άνά) | up; backward; again | ana- | anagram, analogy |
| anti (άντί) | against | anti- | antidote, antipathy |
| apo (άπό) | from, away from | apo-, aph-* | apology, apostle, |
| | | | aphorism |
| cata (κατά) | down, away; concerning | cata-, cath-* | catalog, catastrophe, |
| | | | catholic, catheter |
| dia (διά) | through | dia- | diameter |
| en (ἐν) | in | en-, em- | endemic, empathy |
| ec (ἐκ) | out of | ec-, ex- | ecstasy, exodus |
| epi (ἐπί) | on, at, to; in addition to | epi-, eph-* | epistle, epidemic |
| | | | ephemeral |
| hyper 7 (ύπέρ) | over, beyond; excessively | hyper- | hyperbole, |
| | | | hyperactive |
| hypo (ύπό) | under, below; slightly | hypo-, hyph-* | hypothesis, hyphen |
| meta (μετά) | with, after, beyond; change | meta-, meth-* | metabolism, method |
| para (παρά) | beside, beyond; contrary | para- | paradox, parallel, |
| | to; irregular | | paranoia |
| peri (περί) | around, about, near | peri- | perimeter, periphery |
| pro (πρό) | before, in front of | pro- | problem, prophet |
| pros (πρός) | to, toward, in addition to | pros- | prosthesis |
| syn 8 (σύν) | with, together | syn-, sym-, syl-, | synthesis, sympathy, |
| | | sym-, sys- | syllable, symphony, |
| | | | system |
| | |||
| * When placed before a word that begins with a rough breathing mark, the final vowel is dropped, and π changes to a ϕ, and a τ changes to a θ. |
III. PREFIXES DERIVED FROM GREEK AND LATIN ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS
Most English compound words formed from the following Greek and Latin adjectives and adverbs are learned borrowings.
Words of Measurement
| Greek or Latin Word | English Meaning | English Combining Form | Example |
| acron (άκρον) | topmost | acro- | acropolis |
| aequum, aequi | equal | equi- | equilateral |
| auto (αύτό) | self | auto- | autograph |
| homeon (ὁμοι̑ον) | similar | homeo- | homeopathic |
| homon (όμόν) | same | homo- | homogenize |
| ison (ἴσον) | equal | iso- | isosceles |
| macron (μακρόν) | large, long, excessive | macro- | macrocosm |
| magnum, magni | large | magni- | magnify |
| mega (μέγα) | large, great | mega- | megaphone |
| megalon (μεγάλον) | large, great | megalo- | megalomania |
| micron (μικρόν) | small | micro- | microphone |
| multum, multi | much, many | multi- | multiply |
| omne, omnis | all | omni- | omnivore |
| pan (πα̑ν) | all | pan-, panto- | pantheon, |
| | | | pantomime |
| poly (πολύ) | much, many | poly- | polygamy |
| tele (τη̑λε) | at a distance, far | tele- | telephone |
Words of Praise
| Greek or Latin Word | English Meaning | English Combining Form | Example |
| bene | well | bene- | benefactor |
| eu (εὐ̑) | well | eu- | eulogy |
| orthon (ὀρθόν) | straight, right | ortho- | orthodox |
| philia (φιλία) | love | phil-, philo- | philanthropy, |
| | | | philosophy |
| rectum, recti | straight, right | recti- | rectify |
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