Greek & Latin Roots and Affixes

1. Greek & Latin Roots and Affixes Set 3

2. Pre, Pro—for, before, forward, in front of pre-Columbian—before Europeans arrived in the New World premonition—a warning that comes before prescience—knowledge of the future progressive—moving forward project—to throw before proscribe—to forbid, to prohibit prescribe—to lay down a rule, to tell what to do Contra, Contro—against contradict—to speak against contravene—to oppose; to disagree with contraceptive—preventing conception contraband—illegal good; against the law (ban) Prefix

3. Circa, Circum—in a circle, circular, around circa—about the time of, around the time of (c. 1800) circus—a show held in a circular arena circumspect—to look around, to be cautious circumvent—to go around, to cheat, to avoid Amphi, Ambi—around, both, on both sides of amphibious—living a double life ambiguous—double meaning, hence unclear ambidextrous—two right hands ambivalence—simultaneous conflicting feelings Prefix

4. Ortho—straight, true, correct orthopedist—bone specialist orthodox—correct belief orthography—spelling (straight writing) orthodontist—tooth straightened Prefix

5. Script—writing scripture—sacred writings circumscribe—draw a circle around; to confine transcribe—to transfer writing from here to there describe—written down manuscript—written by hand Graph, Gram—writing phonograph—sound writing; a record chronograph—a fancy watch photograph—light writing telegram—writing from far away grammar—the art of letters Root

6. Prefix • Co, Com, Con—with • conscript—to draft against one’s will (with writing) • conspire—to work secretly together (to breath together) • compliant—bending with; obedient • coalesce—to come together (to grow together) • cohabitate—to live with • Syn, Sym, Syl—with, together • synonym—words with the same meaning • synthesis—putting together various parts (place with) • synoptic—with the same eyes • sympathy—to feel with • symptom—falling together • sylable—sounds spoken together

7. Prefix • Neo—new • Mrs. Duggin • Neolithic—newest stone age, the period of advanced stone tools • neologism—a newly created word, e.g., pwn’d • neophyte—a newbie, a recent convert • neonatal—having to do with newborns • Paleo—old • Mr. Felt • Paleolithic—the older stone age, the period of crude stone tools • paleography—the study of ancient handwriting • paleozoology—the study of ancient animals

8. Root • Ped, Pod—foot • podiatrist—doctor specializing in problems of the foot • piedmont—the foothills • impediment—obstacle (something to trip over) • pedal—something you push with your foot • pedestal—the base of • biped—having two feet; centipede—having 100 feet • pedestrian—going by foot • Ped—child, learning • pedagogue—a teacher • pedant—schoolmaster; overly precise about subject • pediatrician—doctor who specializes in children • encyclopedia—book of knowledge (circle of arts for the proper rearing of children)

9. suffix • -ize, -ise—to cause, to make (verb ending) • legalize—to make legal • scrutinize—to examine carefully • organize—to bring order to • minimize/maximize—to make smaller/larger • enfranchise—to give the rights of citizenship, esp. voting • -fy—to cause, to make (verb ending) • liquefy—to make liquid • fortify—to strengthen • rectify—to correct mistakes • amplify—to increase, to make bigger • glorify—to extol, to praise