GRE Root List: A Flashcards
not, without
a/an
one who believes the existence of God is not provable
agnostic
-a/an
neither moral nor immoral; having no relation to morality
anomaly
-a/an
of unknown authorship or origin
anonymous
-a/an
lack of interest or emotion
apathy
-a/an
one who does not believe in God
atheist
-a/an
the wasting away of body tissue
atrophy
-a/an
not typical
atypical
-a/an
off, away from, apart, down
ab
to renounce or relinquish a throne
abdicate
-ab
to take away by force
abduct
-ab
to hate, detest
abhor
-ab
cast down; degraded
abject
-ab
deviating from a standard
abnormal
-ab
to do away with, make void
abolish
-ab
forbearance from any indulgence of appetite
abstinence
-ab
conceived apart from concrete realities, specific objects, or actual instances
abstract
-ab
hard to understand; secret, hidden
abstruse
-ab
capable of, worthy of
able/ible
able to be changed
changeable
-able/ible
capable of being burned; easily inflamed
combustible
-able/ible
impossible to be avoided; certain to happen
inevitable
-able/ible
suitable for being presented
presentable
-able/ible
sharp, bitter, sour
ac/acr
sour or astringent in taste; harsh in temper
acerbic
-ac/acr
something that is sharp, sour, or ill-natured
acid
-ac/acr
caustic, stinging, or bitter in nature
acrimonious
-ac/acr
mental sharpness; quickness of wit
acumen
-ac/acr
sharp at the end; ending in a point
acute
-ac/acr
to increase bitterness or violence; aggravate
exacerbate
-ac/acr
hearing
acou
pertaining to hearing; sound made through mechanical, not electronic, means
acoustic
-acou
to do, to drive, to force, to lead
act/ag
quick and well-coordinated in movement; active, lively
agile
-act/ag
to move or force into violent, irregular action
agitate
-act/ag
a teacher
pedagogue
-act/ag
wastefully or recklessly extravagant
prodigal
-act/ag
a gathering or congregation of Jews for the purpose of religious worship
synagogue
-act/ag
to, toward, near
ad
to yield to a demand; to enter office
accede
-ad
adjust or modify fittingly
adapt
-ad
to give oneself over, as to a habit or pursuit
addict
-ad
to direct a speech or written statement to
address
-ad
to stick fast; cleave; cling
adhere
-ad
near, close, or contiguous; adjoining
adjacent
-ad
to be close or in contact with
adjoin
-ad
to regard with wonder, pleasure, and approval
admire
-ad
to plead in favor of
advocate
-ad
to draw either by physical force or by an appeal to emotions or senses
attract
-ad
other, another
al/ali/alter
an assumed name; another name
alias
-al/ali/alter
the defense by an accused person that he was verifiably elsewhere at the time of the crime with which he is charged
alibi
-al/ali/alter
one born in another country; a foreigner
alien
-al/ali/alter
figurative treatment of one subject under the guise of another
allegory
-al/ali/alter
the second self; a substitute or deputy
alter ego
-al/ali/alter
a possible choice
alternative
-al/ali/alter
a person unselfishly concerned for the welfare of others
altruist
-al/ali/alter
love
am
a person who engages in an activity for pleasure rather than financial or professional gain
amatuer
-am
of or pertaining to lovers or lovemaking
amatory
-am
having or showing agreeable personal qualities
amiable
-am
characterized by exhibiting good will
amicable
-am
friendship; peaceful harmony
amity
-am
inclined to love, esp. sexual love
amorous
-am
inflamed with love; charmed; captivated
enamored
-am
a female lover
inamorata
-am
both, on both sides, around
ambi/amphi
able to use both hands equally well
ambidextrous
-ambi/amphi
moving around freely; circulating
ambient
-ambi/amphi
open to various interpretations
ambiguous
-ambi/amphi
any cold-blooded vertebrate, the larva of which is aquatic and the adult of which is terrestrial; a person or thing having a twofold nature
amphibian
-ambi/amphi
to go, to walk
ambl/ambul
a vehicle equipped for carrying sick people (from a phrase meaning “walking hospital”)
ambulance
-ambl/ambul
of, pertaining to, or capable of walking
ambulatory
-ambl/ambul
one who makes a tour of inspection on foot; a baby stroller
perambulator
-ambl/ambul
an introductory statement (originally: to walk in front)
preamble
-ambl/ambul
of the life, mind, soul, breath
anim
a living being
animal
-anim
a feeling of ill will or enmity
animosity
-anim
mental or emotional stability, especially under tension
equanimity
-anim
generous in forgiving an insult or injury
magnanimous
-anim
of one mind; in complete accord
unanimous
-anim
year
annui/enni
a record of events, esp. a yearly record
annals
-annui/enni
the yearly recurrence of the date of a past event
anniversary
-annui/enni
of, for, or pertaining to a year; yearly
annual
-annui/enni
a specified income payable at stated intervals
annuity
-annui/enni
lasting for an indefinite amount of time
perennial
-annui/enni
before
ant/ante
before the war (especially the American Civil War)
antebellum
-ant/ante
existing, being, or going before
antecedent
-ant/ante
precede in time
antedate
-ant/ante
belonging to the period before the biblical flood; very old or old-fashioned
antediluvian
-ant/ante
placed before
anterior
-ant/ante
man, human
anthro/andr
any substance that promotes masculine characteristics
androgen
-anthro/andr
being both male and female
androgynous
-anthro/andr
a robot; a mechanical man
android
-anthro/andr
regarding humanity as the central fact of the universe
anthropocentric
-anthro/andr
the science that deals with the origins of humankind
anthropology
-anthro/andr
one who hates humans or humanity
misanthrope
-anthro/andr
one who carries on flirtations
philanderer
-anthro/andr
against, opposite
anti
a protein naturally existing in blood serum that reacts to overcome an antigen
antibody
-anti
a remedy for counteracting the effects of poison, disease, etc.
antidote
-anti
aversion
antipathy
-anti
on the opposite side of the globe
antipodal
-anti
free from germs; particularly clean or neat
antiseptic
-anti
away
apo
revelation; discovery; disclosure
apocalypse
-apo
of doubtful authorship or authenticity
apocryphal
-apo
the highest or most distant point
apogee
-apo
an expression of one’s regret or sorrow for having wronged another
apology
-apo
a total desertion of one’s religion, principles, party, cause, etc.
apostasy
-apo
one of the 12 disciples sent forth by Jesus to preach the Gospel
apostle
-apo
water
aqua/aque
a bluish-green color
aquamarine
-aqua/aque
a tank for keeping fish and other underwater creatures
aquarium
-aqua/aque
having to do with water
aquatic
-aqua/aque
a channel for transporting water
aqueduct
-aqua/aque
underwater
subaqueous
-aqua/aque
chief, principal, ruler
arch/archi/archy
a state or society without government or law
anarchy
-arch/archi/archy
chief enemy
archenemy
-arch/archi/archy
the devisor, maker, or planner of anything
architect
-arch/archi/archy
a government in which the supreme power is lodged in a sovereign
monarchy
-arch/archi/archy
a state or society ruled by a select group
oligarchy
-arch/archi/archy
to burn
ard
burning; fierce; passionate
ardent
-ard
flame; passion
ardor
-ard
the crime of setting property on fire
arson
-ard
self
auto
an absolute ruler
autocrat
-auto
self-moving or self-acting
automatic
-auto
independence or freedom
autonomy
-auto
