The Greek & Latin Roots of English (11 page)
Read The Greek & Latin Roots of English Online
Authors: Tamara M. Green
Tags: #Language Arts & Disciplines, #Linguistics, #General, #Vocabulary, #Etymology
Examples
| Latin Verb | English Meaning | Present Stem | Latin Noun or Adjective | English Derivative |
| sto-stare | stand | sta- | stabulum stabilis | stable (noun) stable (adj.) |
| doceo-docēre | teach | docē- | docilis documentum | docile document |
| specio-specere | look at | spece- | specimen | specimen |
| rigeo-rigēre | stiffen | rigē- | rigor rigidus | rigor rigid |
| vivo-vivere | live | vive- | vividus vivax, vivacis | vivid vivacious |
| veho-vehere | carry, ride | vehe- | vehiculum | vehicle |
| audeo-audēre | dare | audē- | audax, audacis | audacious |
| credo-credere | believe | crede- | credulus credibilis | credulous credible |
| Latin Verb | English Meaning | Present Stem | Latin Noun or Adjective | English Derivative |
| tango-tangere | touch | tange- | tangens, -entis tangibilis | tangent tangible |
| vaco-vacare | be empty | vaca- | vacuus vacans, -antis vacantia | vacuous vacant vacancy |
| tolero-tolerare | bear | tolera- | tolerans, -antis tolerantia | tolerant tolerance |
| ago-agere | do, drive | age- | agens, -entis agentia | agent agency |
| rego-regere | rule | rege- | regens, -entis regentia | regent regency |
| audio-audire | hear | audi- | audientes | audience |
B. Noun- and Adjective-Forming Suffixes with the Perfect Passive Stem of Latin Verbs
3
| Latin Ending | English Meaning | English Derivative Form |
| -or | he who | -or |
| -rix | she who | -rix |
| -ura | act of, result of | -ure |
| -orius; -orium | that which is used for | -ory; -orium |
| -ivus | given to | -ive |
| -io, -ionis | state of, result of, process of | -ion |
| -ilis | capable of being | -ile |
Examples
| Latin Verb | Perfect Stem | Latin Noun or Adjective | English Derivative |
| ago-agere-actum | act- | actor | actor |
| | | activus | active |
| | | actio, actionis | action |
| doceo-docēre-doctum | doct- | doctor | doctor |
| sto-stare-statum | stat- | statura | stature |
| | | statio, stationis | station |
| facio-facere-factum | fact- | factorium | factory |
| | | factio, factionis | faction |
| capio-capere-captum | capt- | captor | captor |
| | | captura | capture |
| | | captivus | captive |
| audio-audire-auditum | audit- | auditorium | auditorium |
| | | auditio, auditionis | audition |
| | | auditor | auditor |
| mitto-mittere-missum | miss- | missio, missionis | mission |
| | | missilis | missile |
| tango-tangere-tactum | tact- | tactilis | tactile |
| video-vidēre-visum | vis- | visibilis | visible |
| | | visio, visionis | vision |
| voco-vocare-vocatum | vocat- | vocatio, vocationis | vocation |
Can You Spell That?
Although knowing the Latin root of an English word often can help you figure out its spelling, unfortunately it doesn't always work. For example, the person who holds a piece of property should be a
tenent
, since its Latin root is
teneo-tenēre
. What is the correct English spelling of this word? Check your dictionary to find out the reason why.
V. VERBAL SUFFIXES
A. The Romans added the verbs
ago, facio
, and
capio
to adjectives and nouns to form new verbs, adjectives, and nouns. The newly formed verbs then had the meaning of to do,
make
, or
take
a certain state.
| Latin Verb | English Meaning | Latin Compound Verb Form | English Derivative Form |
| ago | do, drive | -igo | -igate; -igation |
| facio | make, do | -ficio | -fy; -fic; -ficate |
| capio | take | -cipio | -cipate; -cipation |
Examples
| Latin Adjective or Noun | English Meaning | Compound Latin Verb | English Derivative |
| castus, casti | pure | castigo (make pure) | castigate |
| navis, navis | ship | navigo (drive a ship) | navigation |
| pax, pacis | peace | pacifico 4 (make peaceful) | pacify; pacific |
| pars, partis | part | participo (take part) | participate |
B. By adding the suffix
-sco
to a verb stem, noun, or adjective, Latin indicates the process of beginning or continuing.
Examples
| Latin Root | English Meaning | Latin Compound Form | English Derivative |
| candeo-candere | shine | candesco = begin to shine | candescent |
| | | | candescence |
| seneo-senere | be old | senesco = grow old | senescent |
| | | | senescence |
| quies, quietis | rest | quiesco = become quiet | quiescent |
| | | | quiescence |
VI. VERBAL LEARNED BORROWINGS
5
There are many learned borrowings in English that are derived from Latin verb stems:
| Latin Verb | English Meaning | English Derivative Form | English Meaning |
| caedo-caedere-caesum | kill | -cide | killer, killed |
| facio-facere-factum | make | -fact | made |
| fero-ferre-latum | carry, bear | -fer | carrier |
| voro-vorare-voratum | eat | -vore | eater |
Examples
| Latin Noun | English Meaning | English Derivative Form | English Noun | English Adjective |
| frater, fratris | brother | -cide | fratricide | fratricidal |
| ars, artis | skill | -fact | artifact | artificial |
| conus, coni | cone | -fer | conifer | coniferous |
| caro, carnis | flesh | -vore | carnivore | carnivorous |
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