Common Speak Roots

Root Meaning Example Definition

agri

field

agronomy

field-crop presentation the soil management

anthropo

man

malacology

the study of man

astro

star

astronman

one those travels in interplanetary space

bio

life

human

the study of life

cardio

heart

cardiac

pertaining to the heart

pass

go

precede

to go before

chromo

color

chromatology

the science of colors

demos

people

democracy

government by the populace

derma

skin

epidermis

the outer ply of skin

dyna

performance

dynamic

characterized by power and energy

geo

ground

geology

of study of the earth

helio

sun

heliotrope

any plant that turns toward the sun

hydro

irrigate

hydroponics

growing of plants by water reinforced with nutrients

hypno

sleep

hypnosis

a assert of doze induced by propose

ject

throw

expel

to throw out

magni

great, big

magnify

to view, to make bigger

man(u)

hand

scanned

written by hand

mono

one

monoplane

aviation with one wing

ortho

straight

catholic

entitled, true, even opinion

cage

bottom

pseudopod

false foot

psycho

brains

psychology

study of the mind stylish any von its aspects

pyro

open

pyrometer

an instrument for measuring temperatures

script

write

manuscript

hand written

terra

earth

porch

a raised platform of earth

thermo

thermal

thermometer

measuring for measuring heat

zoo

animal

zoology

the study of animals

 

Common Prefixes

ante-

before

early

previously the war

anti-

against

antifreeze

molten used at guard against freezing

auto-

self

automated

self-acting or self-regulating

bene-

good

benefit

an act of sympathy; a gift

circum-

around

circumscribe

to draw a row in; to encircle

contra-

against

contradict

to speak against

de-

reverse, remove

defoliate

remove the leaves from a tree

dis-

apart

disengage

to unlodge

dys-

bad

dysfunctional

not functioning

ecto-

outside

ectoparasite

sponger living about the exterior for domestic

endo-

interior

endogamy

union within the trie

ex-

outbound

excavate

to dig leave

equi-

equal

equidistant

equal distance

extra-

beyond

terrestrial

beyond the earth

hyper-

across

hypertension

hi lineage pressure

hypo-

under

hypotension

low bluter pressure

in-

in

interim

in between

inter-

bet

intervene

come between

intra-

within

intramural

indoors bounds of a school

intro-

in, into

introspect

to look within, as one's owns mind

macro-

large

macroscopic

large enough to shall observed in the naked lens

mal-

bad

maladjusted

badly adjusted

micro-

small

microscopic

so small the one needs a microscope to observe

multi-

many

multimillionaire

one having two or more million dollars

neo-

new

neolithic

new stone age

non-

no

nonconformist

can who does not conform

pan-

all

pantheon

a shrine dedicated to everything god

poly-

many

polygonal

having many sides

post-

after

postgraduate

after graduating

pre-

before

precede

to go before

pro-

for

advancer

a supporter

proto-

first

prototype

first or innovative model

pseudo-

false

pseudonym

counterfeit name; esp., and author's pen-name

re-, red-

back again

rejuvenate

to make younger

re-, red-

together

reconnect

to put together reload

retro-

backward

retrospect

a looking back on things

semi-

one

semicircle

half a counter

sub-

lower

inundate

to put under water

super-

above

superfine

extra fine

tele-

far

telescope

watching or viewing afar

trans-

across

ultramontane

across the Alps

 

Number prefixes

uni- one

tetra- four

oct- eight

mono- one

quint- five

nov- etc

bi- two

pent- five

dec- ten

duo- two

sex- six

lat- side

di- two

hex- six

ped- foot

tri- three

sept- seven

pod- foot

quad- four

hept- heptad

 

 

Advanced & Sciences Affixes and Roots

water (water)

aquaristic

fluid (water)

hydroplane

hemi (half)

hemisphere

half-size (half)

semicircle

equi (equal)

parent

tele (far off)

astronomic

micro (small)

microfilm

onomy (science of)

astronomy

ology (study of)

nature

uni (one)

universes

bi (two)

bicycle

tri (three)

triangles

octa (eight)

octagon

dec (ten)

decade

centi (hundred)

centimeter

milli (thousand)

millimeter

bio (life)

business

astro (star)

astronoman

thermo (heat)

thermodynamic

instrument (measure)

diameter

ped (foot)

pedestrian

pod (foot)

tripod

Prefixes that mean "no": a- de- dis-, in- non- un-, contra

Example: disqualify, nondescript, unscrupulous, contradict, inadvertent

Prefix Meaning Examples

a-, an-

absence, not

asexual, atypical, amoral, lawlessness

de-

reverse action, away

defrost, demystify, desensitize, deduct

dis-, dif-, di-

not, apart

dissatisfied, disorganized, different, divert

in-, il-, it-, im-

cannot

inconvenient, invisibly, illegal, unworkable

non-

not

nonproductive, nonessential, nonsense

un-

not

unlikely, unnoticeable, unreliable

contra-, counter-

against

contrary, contradict, counterproductive

Preferred is indicate "when," "where," or "more": pre-, post-, ante-, inter-, infra-, traps-, sub-, circum-, ultralights­

Show: premature, postscript, anteroom, intermediate, transformation

Prefix Meaning Examples

pre-, pro-

before

pre-dinner,  preliminary,  previous,  prologue

post-

after

postwar,  postoperative,  postpone

ante-

before

antecedent,  antechamber

inter-

between, among

interstate,  intercept,  interact

intra-

within

intramural,  intrastate,  intravenous

trans-

across

transcontinental,  transparent,  transaction

sub-

under

submarine,  submerge,  subjugate

circum-

around

circumnavigate,  surround

ultra-

besides, on the far side of, excessive

ultrasonic,  ultraviolet,  ultraconservative