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

BOOK: The Greek & Latin Roots of English
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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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