LATIN AND GREEK ROOT WORDS
1st Quarter
Diversity and Acceptance of Self and Others
The following root words will be included on the 1st Semester EOC. Root words
were selected to connect to the theme for the quarter. (G) or (L) denotes Greek or
Latin origin.
ESSENTIAL
LIST
ROOT WORD
MEANING
EXAMPLE WORDS
pathos, sympathy, antipathy, empathy,
telepathy,
path (G)
feeling, suffering
init (L)
beginning
mem (L)
mind, remember
sta/stat (L)
stand
auto (G)
logo (G)
self
word, reason,
study
para (G)
beside
sign (L)
mark
flec (L)
flex or bend
signature, signal, design, insignia
flexible, flexor, reflect, deflect, reflex,
inflexibility
junct (L)
join
junction, conjunction, conjunct
EXTENDED LIST
ROOT WORD
imag (L)
cede, ceed (L)
sol (L)
vol (L)
var (L)
initial, initiation
memory, memo, commemoration,
memento, memoir, memorable
statue, static, statutory, stagnant,
autobiography, automobile, automatic,
autograph, autopilot,
zoology, psychology, prologue, epilogue,
dialogue, catalogue, logorrhea, logic
paraphrase, paralegal, paragraph,
parallel
MEANING
likeness
move, go, yield
alone
will, wish
different
Boise Independent School District: Revised 6/04
EXAMPLE WORDS
image, imagery
proceed, precede, succeed
desolute, solitary
malevolent, benevolent
variety, vary
2nd Quarter
Searching for New Literary Voices
The following root words will be included on the 1st Semester EOC. Root words
were selected to connect to the theme for the quarter. (G) or (L) denotes Greek or
Latin origin.
ESSENTIAL
LIST
ROOT WORD
MEANING
ques (L)
ask, seek
ped (L) pod (G)
foot
phon (G)
sound
fac (L)
do, make
miss (L)
send
ambi/amphi (L)
both
cogn (L)
know
gram (G)
letter
narr (L)
to tell
scribe (L)
write
EXAMPLE WORD
question, questionnaire, request, quest,
questionable, inquest
pedal, impede, pedestal, pedestrian,
centipede, tripod, podiatry, antipodes
phonograph, phonetic, symphony,
factory, manufacture, faculty,
amplification, facsimile, factor
remission, permission, remiss,
admission, missile, mission
amphibious, ambidextrous, ambiguous,
amphibian
cognition, recognition, cogniscent,
recognize, metacognition, incognito
grammar, grammatical, telegram,
grammarian
narrate, narrative, narration,
manuscript, scribble, inscribe, describe,
subscribe, prescribe
EXTENDED LIST
ROOT WORD
mens, ment (L)
script (L)
vac (L)
brev (L)
clar (L)
MEANING
mind
write
empty
short
clear
Boise Independent School District: Revised 6/04
EXAMPLE WORDS
demented, mental
manuscript, transcript
vacate, evacuate, vacant
abbreviate, brevity
clarity, declare, clarify
3rd Quarter
Society, Culture, and History Influence Personal Choices
The following root words will be included on the 2nd Semester EOC. Root words
were selected to connect to the theme for the quarter. (G) or (L) denotes Greek or
Latin origin.
ESSENTIAL
LIST
ROOT WORD
MEANING
poli (G)
city
jur, jus, jud (L)
law
crat (G)
rule, strength
dem (G)
people
liber (L)
gen (G)
free
birth, race,
produce
cred (L)
believe
trac, tract (L)
pull
EXAMPLE WORD
metropolis, politics, police, Acropolis,
Indianapolis,
judge, justice, conjure, jurisdiction, jury
juror, judicial, prejudice, judicious,
bureaucrat, Socratic, democrat,
autocracy, democratic
democrat, demography, democracy,
epidemic
liberate, liberty, liberal, liberation,
liberalize, deliverance
genesis, genetics, genealogy, progeny,
generate, indigenous, congenital, genetic
creed, credence, credit, credulous,
credentials, incredible, credible
tractor, traction, abstract, subtract,
retract, detract, protractor,
syn (G)
together
synthesis, synagogue, synonym,
belli (L)
war
rebellion, belligerent, bellicose
EXTENDED LIST
ROOT WORD
man (L)
urb (L)
pop (L)
fug (L)
ver (L)
MEANING
hand
city
people
flee
truth
Boise Independent School District: Revised 6/04
EXAMPLE WORDS
manipulate, manicure,
suburb, urban
population, popular
fugitive, refuge
verdict, veracity
4th Quarter
Knowledge Prepares Us for Exploring and Surviving Our Unknown Future
The following root words will be included on the 2nd Semester EOC. Root words
were selected to connect to the theme for the quarter. (G) or (L) denotes Greek or
Latin origin.
ESSENTIAL
LIST
ROOT WORD
MEANING
terr (L)
earth, land
luc, lum (L)
light
mar (L)
sea
volv (L)
roll
aster (G)
star
hydr (G)
water
mech (G)
machine
scop, scope (G)
see, watch
rupt (L)
break
sci (L)
know
EXAMPLE WORDS
territory, terrestrial, terrain, terrarium,
territorial, terrace
lucid, illumine, luminous, lumen,
luminary, translucent
submarine, mariner, marine, marsh,
maritime
involve, revolve, revolution, evolve
aster, asterisk, asteroid, astrology,
astronaut, astronomy
dehydrate, hydrant, hydraulic,
hydraulics hydrogen, hydrophobia
mechanize, mechanic, mechanical,
telescope, microscope, kaleidoscope,
periscope, stethoscope
erupt, eruption, rupture, abrupt,
disrupt, incorruptible
conscience, science, conscious,
omniscient
EXTENDED LIST
ROOT WORD
aero (G)
photo, phos (G)
phys (G)
vag (L)
turb(L)
MEANING
air
light
nature
wander
confusion
EXAMPLE WORDS
aerobics, aerodynamic
photograph, telephoto
physical, physician
vagrant, vague
disturb, turbulence
RESOURCES:
Write Source 2000, A Guide to Writing, Thinking, and Learning
Reader’s Handbook: A Student Guide for Reading and Learning
Web Dictionary: www.m-w.com
Boise Independent School District: Revised 6/04