50 Common Word Roots For the GRE Flashcards
a-
without
Examples: amoral, amorphous, asexual
ambi-
both sides
Examples: ambidextrous, ambivalent
ante-
Before or in front
Examples: antecedent, antedate
Anti-
Against
Examples: Antihero, antipathy, antisocial
Aqu/aqua-
Water
Examples: aquatic, aqueous, aquarium, aqueduct
Bene-
Good
Examples: benefit, benediction, benevolent
Bi-
Two
Examples: bifurcate, biannual, bisect, biracial
Bio-
Life
Examples: biology, biography, biome
Cede/Ceed
Go or yield
Examples: precede, exceed, recede
Circum-
Around
Examples: circumscribe, circumnavigate, circumvent, circumcise
Contra-
Against or opposite
Examples: contradiction, contraception, controversy
Cycl-
Circle
Examples: Bicycle, Cyclical
De-
Reduce or remove
Examples: deescalate, defenestrate, decelerate
Di/dis-
Apart or away
Examples: digress, disappear, diverge
-dict-
Speak or say
Examples: edict, dictation, dictator, prediction, contradiction
-dox
Belief
Examples: orthodox, paradox, heterodox
Du/duo-
Two
Examples: dual, duology, duochrome
Em/en-
Into/In
Examples: embrace, enclose, encircle
Esce-
Becoming
Examples: coalesce, adolescence, obsolescent, tumescent
Ex-
Out or way
Examples: exit, exhale, extirpate, exile
Extra/o-
Beyond or outside
Examples: extraordinary, extraterrestrial, extrovert
-fid/e-
Faith
Examples: bonafide, fidelity, confide
-fore-
Before, previously, earlier
Example: forestall, before, forebear, forebode, forecast
-gram-
Writing, letters
Examples: diagram, grammar, epigram, telegram
-graph-
Writing, records
Examples: stenography, autograph, graphics
Hetero-
Different
Examples: heterosexual, heterozygous, heterogeneous, heterodox
Homo-
Same
Examples: homogenous, homosexual, homologous
Hyper-
Excessive
Examples: hyperactive, hyperbole
Hypo-
Under, Below
Examples: hypothermia, hypocrite, hypoglycemic
Inter-
Between
Examples: intercede, interlude
Intra/o-
Inside, within
Examples: introvert, intramural, intravenous
Junct
Joining
Examples: juncture, conjunction, disjunct
-less
Without
Examples: listless, aimless, heartless
-logy
The study of
Examples: Biology, psychology, geology
mal,male
Bad, evil
Examples: malediction, malice
Mis-
Bad, incorrect
Examples: misprint, misbehave, misstep
-ness
State of being
Examples: likeness, greatness
Non-
Not, without
Examples: nonfiction, nonresident
Ob-
Against or before
Examples: obdurate, obfuscate
Omni-
All, everything
Examples: omnipotent, omniscient, omnivorous
Pedi/e-
Foot
Examples: pedestrian, pedicure
Phil-
Love or affinity
Examples: bibliophile, philanthropy
Pre-
Before or earlier
Examples: pretest, preamble
Pro-
Before or forward
Examples: proceed, prologue
Re-
Again, backwards
Examples: reaction, rebound, reuse
Sub-
Under or lower
Examples: submarine, subprime
Temp-
Time
Examples: temporal, contemporary, temporarily
Tort-
Twist
Examples: tortuous, contortion
Trans-
Across or beyond
Examples: transnational, transit
Un-
Not or opposite
Examples: unimpressive, unwanted, unwarranted