by Hugh M. Lewis

Root power is a way of enhancing one's vocabulary building skills in English, and can be useful in word attack analysis of new words. One should not become a slave to remembering English roots, but if one wants to make the extra effort, then they will more than reward the English learner by increasing one's ability to understand new words.

One way of approaching roots is to understand their origins. Many English roots are from the Old English or Anglo-Saxon. Roots were the main part of the language, from which new words were made. These roots remain centrally embedded in the language today. The Norman Conquest introduced Norman-French words made to hand. This opened the door to borrowing more foreign words, particularly Latin and Greek. Greek words were used heavily, and even today most scientific terms are derived from the Greek.

Akr--(a field) acre, acorn

Bacon--(to bake) baker, batch, bacon

Beatan--(to strike, beat) beaten, batter, battle, batten

Beran--(to bear) bairn, burden, breed, bare, bear, born

Bindan--(to bind) bundle, binding, bondage, band

Blowan--(to blossom) blow, bloom, blown

Brecan--(to break) brake, break, breach, brittle

Breowan--(to brew) brewery, brew, beer, broth, bread

Bugan--(to bend) bow, bough, elbow

Byrnan--(to burn) burn, brown, brand

Ceapian--(to buy) cheap, chop, chap

Ceowan--(to chew) chew, cud, cheek

Cleovan--(to cleave) cleft, clover

Cnawan--(to know) know, knowledge

Cwic--(alive) quick, quicksilver

Daelan-- (divide) deal, dole, dale

Deman--(judge) demand, deem, doom, demon, kingdom

Doan--(to act) do, deed, done

Dragan--(to draw) drag, draft, drain

Driftan--(to push) drive, drift

Drincan--(to soak) drink, drench

Dripan--(to drip) dribble, droop, drop

Faran-- (to go) fare, ferry, ford

Fengan --(to catch) fang, finger

Fleotan--(to float) float, fleet, flotsam

Foda--(food) fodder, forage, father

Freon--(to love) friend, friendship

Galan--(to sing) gale, nightingale, yell

Grafan--(to cut) grave, carve, groove

Gripan--(to seize) grab, grip, grasp, grope

Gyrdan--(to surround) girlde, garden, yard

Haelan--(to heal) hale, heal, holy, health

Hebban--(to raise) heavy, heave, heaven

Hiaf--(bread) loaf, lord, lady

Liegan--(to live) lie, lair, outlay

Magan--(to be able) main, mighty, may

Mona--(moon) month, moonshine

Nasu--(nose) nasal, nozzle, nostril

Pennan--(to shut up) pound, impound

Pic--(point) peak, pike, picket

Sceapan--(to form) shape, ship, landscape

Sceotan--(to throw) shut, shot, shoot

Sceran--(to cut) shear, share, shirt

Schufan--(to push) shove, shovel, scuffle

Settan--(to set) seat, settle, saddle

Slagan--(to strike) slay, slaughter, sledge

Slipan--(to slip) slipper, sleeve, slop

Snican--(to crawl) snail, snake, sneak

Stearc--(stiff) strong, strength, strangle

Stede--(place) instead, steady, homestead

Stigan--(to climb) stair, stirrup, sty

Styran--(to direct) steer, steerage, stern

Swerian--(to declare) swear, forswear, answer

Taecan--(to teach) teach, taught, token

Tellan--(to account) teller, tale, talk

Techan--(to draw) tow, tug

Thaec--(roof) thatch, deck

Tredan--(to walk) tread, trade, treadle, tradesman

Truwa--(good faith) true, truth, betroth

Wefan--(weave) weaver, woof, web

War--(defense) war, wary, guard

Witan--(to know) wit, witness, wisdom

Wraestan--(to wrest) wrest, wrestle, wrist

 Aer--(air) airplane, aeronaut, aerostat

Agon--(contest) agony, agonistic, antagonism

Allos--(another) allopathy, allegory

Angelos--(messenger) angel, evangelist

Anthos--(flower) anthology, anthologist

Anthropos--(man) philanthropy, misanthropy

Arche--(rule, beginning) archbiship, monarch, archaic

Aristos--(best) aristocracy, aristocrat

Aster, astron--(star) astronomy, astrology, asteroid

Atmos--(vapor) atmosphere, atmology

Autos--(self) atuocrat, autography, automobile

Ballo--(I throw) symbol, hyperbole

Bapto--(I dip) baptize, baptism, baptist

Biblos, bliblion--(book) Bible, bibliography, bibliomania

Bios--(life) biology, biography

Cheir--(hand) chiropodist, chiropracter

Chromos--(time) chronicle, chronology, chronic

Daklulos--(finger) dactyl, pterodactyl

Deka--(ten) decade, decalogue

Demos--(people) demography, democratic, epidemic

Dendron--(tree) rhododendron, dendrology

Doxa--(opinion) doxology, dogma, orthodox

Dunamis--(power) dynamite, dynamics

Eidos--(form) kaleidoscope, spheroid

Eikon--(image) icon, iconoclastic

Electron--(amber) electric, electron

Ergon--(work) energy, surgeon

Eu--(well) euphony, evangel, eucharist

Gamos--(marriage) polygamy, monogamy

Gaster--(stomach) gastric, gastronomy

Ge--(earth) geography, geology, geometry

Glossa--(tongue) glottis, glossary, glossolalia

Gramma--(letter) monogram, diagram, grammer

Grapho--(write) biography, telegraph, calligraphy

Gyne--(woman) gynecology, misogyny

Haima--(blood) hemorrhage, hemeophagic

Helios--(sun) heliography, heliotrop, heliocentric

Hepta--(seven) heptameter, heptagon, heptachord

Hieros--(sacred) hieroglyphic, hierophant, hierarchy

Hippos--(horse) hippopotamus, hippodrome

Hodos--(a way) method, exodus, period

Homos--(same) homogenous, homologous, homosexual

Hydor--(water) hydraulics, hydrogen, hydrophobia

Ichthus--(fish) ichthyology

Isos--(equal) isosceles, equality, isocracy

Kakos--(bad, evil) cacophony, cacogenic, cacodemon

Kardia--(heart) cardiac, carditis

Kosmos--(world, order) cosmology, cosmos, cosmopolitan

Krino--(judge) critic, hypocrit

Kykios--(circle, ring) cycle, encyclopedia, cyclone

Kyon--(dog) cynic, cynicism

Lithos--(stone) lithography, monolith

Logos--(word) monologue, dialogue, trilogy

Methon--(measure) diameter, barometer

Mikros--(small) microscope, microbe

Misos--(hatred) misanthrope

Monos--(alone) monologue, monogram

Morphe--(shape) metamorphosis

Mythos--(fable) myth, mythology

Naus--(ship) nautical, navigation, cosmonaut

Nekros--(dead) necropolis, necrology, necromancy

Neos--(new) neonate, neophyte, neologism

Neuron--(nerve) neuritis, neurosis, neuron

Nomos--(law) Deuteronomy, autonomy, astronomy

Nosos--(disease) nosology, nosography

Oide--(song) ode, prosody, palinode

Oikos--(house) economy, ecology

Onoma, onyma--(name) synonym, pseudonym, anonymous

Orthos--(right) orthodox, orthography

Pais--(child) pedagogue, pediatrics

Pan--(all) pandemic, panoply, panorama

Pathos--(feeling) pathetic, sympathy, antipathy

Pente--(five) pentagon, pentarchy

Petra--(rock) petrify, Peter

Phaino--(show) phantom, phenomenon

Philos--(loving) philology, philanthropy

Phobos--(fear) hydrophobia, claustrophobia

Phone--(sound) microphone, phonology

Phos--(light) phosphorescent, photography, photometer

Physis--(nature) physiology, physician

Poieo--(make) poem, poet, pharmacopoeia

Polis--(city) politics, police, metropolis

Polys--(many, much) polyandry, polygamous

Pous--(foot) chirpodist, antipodal

Potamos--(river) hippoptomaous, transpotamian

Protos--(first) protoype, protean, protocol

Pseudes--(false) pseudonym

Psyche--(soul) psychology, psychedelic

Pyr--(fire) pyre, pyrotechnic, pyromanic

Rheo--(flow) rhetoric, pyorrhea, catarrh

Skopeo--(see) telescope, flouroscope

Sophia--(wisdom) sophist, philosophy

Sphaira--(sphere) hemisphere, atmosphere

Stello--(send) apostle, epistle

Stratos--(army) strategy

Strepho--(turn) apostrophe, catastrophe

Techne--(art) skill, craft

Tele--(far, distant) telegraph, telescope

Theos--(God) theism, theocracy

Therme--(heat) thermos, thermometer, thermal

Topos--(place) toponym, topical, topography

Treis--(three) tripod, trinity

Trepo--(turn) heliotrope, tropic, tropism

Typos--(mark) type, typography, stereotype

Zoon--(animal) zoology

Acer--(sharp) acrid, acrimony, acetic acid, vinegar

Aedes--(a building) edifice, edify

Ager--(a field) agriculture, agrarian

Ago--(act) action, agent, agitate

Alo--(nourish) aliment, alimentary

Alter--(another) alternate, alteration

Altus--(high) altitude, exalt

Amo--(love) amorous, amiable

Anima--(breath, life) animal, animate

Animus--(mind) unanimous, magnanimity

Annus--(year) annual, anniversary, biennial

Antiquus--(ancient) antique, antiquity

Appello--(call) appeal, appellation

Aqua--(water) aquatic, aqueduct, acquarium

Arbor--(tree) arboreal, arborage, arboriculture

Arcus--(bow) arcade, archer

Ars--(art) artist, artisan, artificial

Audio--(hear) audible, audience, audition

Augeo--(increase) auction, augment

Barba--(beard) barber, barb

Bellum--(war) bellicose, antebellum, belligerent

Bis--(twice) bisect, biscuit

Brevis--(short) brevity, abbreviate

Cado--(fall) accident, decadence

Canis--(dog) canine

Cano--(sing) canticle, chant

Cavus--(hollow) cave, cavity, excavate

Cedo--(go) cede, accede

Cito--(call) cite, recitation

Civis--(citizen) civil, civilian

Clamo--(cry out) clamour, exclaim, proclaim

Clarus--(clear, clarity) clarify, clarion, declare

Claudo--(shut) excluce, seclusion

Clino--(bend) incline, declination

Coelum--(heaven) celestial

Colo--(tell) cultivate, culture

Cor--(heart) cordial, courage

Corona--(crown) coronet, coronation

Credo--(believe) creed, credible, incredulous

Cresco--(grow) increase, decrease, crescent

Crux--(cross) crucify, cross, crux

Culpa--(fault) culprit, culpable

Cura--(care) curate, accurate, curare, cure

Decem--(ten) decimal, December

Dens--(tooth) dental, dentist, indent

Dexter--(right-handed) dexterity, dexterous

Dico--(say) dictation, verdict, diction

Dies--(day) diurnal, diary

Dignus--(worthy) dignity, dignitary

Doceo--(teach) docile, doctrine

Domus--(horse) domicile, domestic

Duco--(lead) induct, educate

Durus--(hard) enduring, durable, duration

Ego--(I) egotist, egoism

Emo--(buy) redeem, exemption

Erro--(wander) errant, error, aberration

Esse--(to be) essence, quintessential

Facilis--(easy) facility, facilities

Fames--(hunger) famine, famish

Felix--(happy) felicity, felicitous

Femina--(woman) feminine, effeminate

Fido--(trust) confide, fidelity

Finis--(end) finite, finish, infinite

Fluo--(flow) flux, fluency

Folium--(leaf) foliage, portfolio

Fortis--(strong) fortify, fortress

Frango--(break) fragile, fraction

Frater--(bother) fraternity, friar

Frons--(forehead) front, frontal, frontier

Fumus--(smoke) fumigate, fumigation

Fundus--(bottom) foundation, founder, profound

Gelu--(frost) gelid, congeal

Gens--(race, people) gentile, generation, gender

Gradus--(step) grade, gradient

Gravis--(heavy) grave, gravity

Grex--(flock) aggregate, gregarious

Habeo--(have) habit, habitate

Haereo--(stick) adhere, cohere

Halo--(breathe) inhale, exhale

Homo--(man) homage, human

Hostis--(enemy) hostile, hostility

Humus--(earth) humus, humble, exhumation

Ignis--(ignite) ignition, igneous

Impero--(command) empire, imperative

Insula--(island) insular, peninsula

Ira--(anger) irate, ire

Judex--(judge) judicial, judiciary

Jungo--(join) juncture, junction

Jus--(right) justice, jurisdition

Lapis--(stone) lapidary, dilapidated

Laus--(praise) laudation, laudable

Lavo--(wash) lave, lavatory

Laxus--(loose) lax, laxity, relax

Lego--(gather) collect, lecture, legible

Lego--(send) legate, delegate

Lex--(law) legal, legitimate

Liber--(free) liberty, liberal

Liber--(book) library, librarian

Libra--(balance) librate, equilibrium

Lignum--(wood) ligneous, lignite

Ligo--(bind) ligament, liable, religion

Litera--(letter) literal, literary, literature

Locus--(place) local, location, allocate

Loquor--(speak) elocution, eloquent, loquacious

Lumen--(light) luminary, luminous, illuminate

Luna--(moon) lunacy, lunatic

Luo--(wash) ablution, dilute

Lux--(light) luccid, elucidate

Macula--(spot) immaculate, maculate

Magnus--(great) magnify, magnificent

Malus--(bad, evil) malevolent, malady

Manus--(hand) manual, manufacture

Mare--(sea) marine, maritime

Mars--(God of War) marital, Martian

Medius--(middle) median, medium, intermediate

Memor--(mindful) memory, memorial

Mens--(mind) mental

Mergo--(dip) emerge, immersion

Miles--(soldier) military, militia

Miror--(admire) miracle, admirable, mirror

Mitto--(send) commit, remit, mission

Moneo--(warn) monitor, monition

Mons--(mountain) ultramontane, promontory

Mors--(death) mortal, remorse, mortify

Moveo--(move) motion, motive, motor

Multus--(many) multitude, multiple

Munus--(gift) munificient, remunerate

Muto--(change) mutable, transmute

Narro--(relate) narration, narrate

Nascor--(to be born) nascent, natal, native

Navis--(ship) navy, naval, navigation

Nihil--(nothing) annihilate, nihilist

Noceo--(injure) noxious, innocent, innocuous

Nomen--(name) nominate, cognomen

Norma--(rule) normal, abnormal, enormous

Novus--(new) novel, renovate, novice

Nox--(night) nocturnal, equinox

Nudus--(naked) nude, denude

Nuntio--(declare) announce, denounce

Octo--(eight) octave, octagon, October

Oculus--(eye) ocular

Odi--(hate) odeious, odium

Omnis--(all) omnipotent, omniscience, omnibus

Onus--(burden) onus, onerous, exonerate

Opus--(work) operation, cooperate

Orno--(adorn) adorn, ornament

Oro--(speak) oration, oratory

Ovum--(egg) ovate, oval

Pando--(spread) expand, compass

Pareo--(appear) apparent, apparition

Paro--(prepare) preparation, reparation

Pars--(part) partial, partition, partner

Paseo--(feed) pastor, pasture, repast

Patior--(suffer) patient, passion, passive

Pax--(peace) pacific, pacify

Pecco--(sin) peccable, impeccable

Pecunia--(money) pecuniary, impecunious

Pello--(drive) compel, repel

Pendeo--(hang) pendant, suspend

Pleo--(fill) complete, supplement

Poena--(punishment) subpoena, penal, penance

Pons--(bridge) pontiff, pontoon, pontificate

Porto--(carry) export, report, porter

Primus--(first) primary, primitive

Probo--(prove) probable, approve

Proprius--(one's own) proper, appropriate

Pungo--(prick) puncture, pungent

Puto--(reckon) computer, count

Quaero--(ask) query, require

Quartus--(fouth) quarter, quartet, quart

Radix--(root) radical, eradicate

Rapio--(seize) rape, rapine, rapture

Rego--(rule) regent, regular, rector

Rex--(king) regal, royal

Rideo--(laugh) ridicule, deride, derisive

Rodo--(gnaw) rodent, corrode

Rota--(wheel) rotary, rotate, around

Rumpo--(break) rupture, disrupt, eruption

Rus--(country) rustic

Sacer--(sacred) sacrament, sacrilege

Sanctus--(holy) sanctify, sanctuary, saint

Sanguis--(blood) sanguine

Sanus--(sound) sane, insanity

Sapio--(taste) sapid, insipid

Scio--(know) science, omniscience

Scribo--(write) scribe, scribble, scripture

Senex--(old) senior, senator

Sentio--(feel) sense, sentiment, sensuous

Septem--(seven) septennial, September

Sequor--(follow) sequel, sequence

Servio--(serve) servant, service

Signum--(sign) signal, designate

Socious--(companion) social, socialist, society

Sol--(sun) parasol, solarium

Specio--(see) inspect, spectator

Spero--(hope) desperate, disrepair

Spiro--(breathe) aspire, conspire

Struo--(build) structure, construe

Suadeo--(advise) persuade, dissuade

Sumo--(take) assume, consume

Tango--(touch) contact, tangible, contagion

Tempus--(time) temporal, contemporary

Teneo--(hold) tenacious, tenuous, tenant, tendril

Terminus--(boundary) terminal, terminate, term

Terra--(earth) terrestrial, subterraneum

Terreo--(frighten) terrible, terrify, terror

Timeo--(fear) timidity, timorous

Traho--(draw) tract, contraction

Tumeo--(swell) tumor, tumultuous

Umbra--(shadow) umbrella, umbrage

Unus--(one) unite, union

Urbs--(city) suburbs, urban

Valeo--(strong) valiant, valid, value, invalid

Venio--(come) convene, venture, advent

Verbum--(word) verbal, verbiage

Verto--(turn) convert, versatile

Verus--(true) verity, verify, veracious

Vesis--(garment) vestigial, vest, invest

Video--(see) vision, visit, evident

Vinco--(conquer) victory, convince

Vivo--(live) vivid, surive, revive

Voco--(call) vocal, vocation, revoke

Volo--(will) volition, voluntary, benevolence

Vox--(voice) vocal, vociferous

Vulgus--(common) vulgarity, divulge

Vulnus--(wound) vulnerable