Vocab 1 + Vocab 2 (Roots) Flashcards
a- (an- before vowels or h) (ἀ-)
PREFIX
‘not’, ‘without’
* atheist, anaesthetic (inducing a lack
of sensation)
amphi-, ampho- (ἀμφί)
PREFIX
‘both’, ‘on both sides of’, ‘around’
* amphibious, amphitheatre
ana- (ἄνα)
PREFIX
‘up’, ‘back’, ‘again’
* analysis, anatomy, anachronism
ant(i)- (ἀντί)
PREFIX
‘against’, ‘opposite’
* antidote, antagonist, antarctic
ap(o)- (ἄπο)
PREFIX
‘from’, ‘off’, ‘away’
* apology, apostle, apheliotropism (the
habit in plants of bending away from
the light)
cat(a)- (κατά)
PREFIX
‘down’, ‘against’, ‘according to’
* catalyst, catastrophe, category,
catholic (universal, i.e. ‘in respect of
the whole’)
di(a)- (διά)
PREFIX
‘through’, ‘across’, ‘between’, ‘apart’
* diameter, diagnosis, diocese
NOTE: not to be confused with DI- ‘twice’ of List 4
or the Latin prefix dis-/di- ‘apart’ of List 6.
dys- (δυσ-)
PREFIX
‘bad’, ‘disordered’, ‘difficult’
* dysentery, dystrophy
es-, eis- (εἰς)
PREFIX
‘inward’, ‘into’
* esoteric, esodic (or eisodic)
ec- (ex- before vowels or h) (ἐκ, ἐξ)
PREFIX
‘out’, ‘out of’, ‘outside’
* exodus, exodontist
NOTE: not to be confused with the root EC ‘house’
below.
en- (em-, el- depending on letter it
connects with) (ἐν)
PREFIX
‘in’, ‘into’, ‘inward’
* energy, embryo, emphatic
enanti- (= en- + anti-) (ἐναντι-)
PREFIX
‘opposite’
* enantiopathy (the treatment of
disease by contraries), enantiobiosis
(the condition in which associated
organisms are antagonistic to each
other)
end(o)-, ent(o)- (ἔνδον, ἐντός)
PREFIX
‘within’, ‘inner’
* endocrine, entophyte, endarteritis,
entoptic
ep(i)- (ἐπί)
PREFIX
‘upon’, ‘on’, ‘to’, ‘in addition to’
* epidemic, epidermis, epitaph
eu- (εὖ)
PREFIX
‘well’, ‘good’, ‘normal’
* eugenics, eulogy
exo-, ecto- (ἐξο- , ἐκτός)
PREFIX
‘outside’, ‘external’
* exoskeleton, ectoparasite
hyper- (ὑπέρ)
PREFIX
‘over’, ‘excessive’, ‘more than normal’
* hypercritical, hypertension
hyp(o)- (ὑπό)
PREFIX
‘under’, ‘below normal’, ‘slightly’
* hypodermic, hypothesis, hyphen,
hypaesthesia
met(a)- (μετά)
PREFIX
‘after’, ‘change’, ‘transfer’
* metamorphosis, metencephalon
par(a)- (παρά)
PREFIX
‘beside’, ‘resembling’, ‘disordered’
* parasite, paratyphoid, parenthesis,
paramedical
peri- (περί)
PREFIX
‘around’, ‘near’
* periscope, perimeter
pro- (πρό)
PREFIX
‘before’, ‘in front of’, ‘forward’
* program, prologue, prostate
pros- (πρός)
PREFIX
‘toward’, ‘in addition’, ‘fronting’
* proselyte, prosthetic, prosencephalon
syn- (sym-, syl-, sy-, sys- depending on
letter it connects with) (σύν)
PREFIX
‘with’, ‘together’
* synthetic, symphony, systole,
synonym
-al (-alis)
SUFFIX
‘pertaining to’, ‘like’, ‘belonging to’,
‘having the character of’
* Biological
NOTE: this is technically derived from a Latin
adjective ending, though Latin used it to form
adjectives out of Greek words.
-an, -ian (-anus)
SUFFIX
‘pertaining to’, ‘like’, ‘one connected with’
* Amphibian, protozoan, theologian
NOTE: Same deal as with -al above.
-ous, -ious (-osus)
SUFFIX
‘full of’, ‘having’, ‘pertaining to’, ‘like’
* Amphibious, synonymous,
homogeneous
NOTE: Same deal as with -al above.
-ic, -tic, (-ac after -i) (-ικος)
SUFFIX
‘pertaining to’, ‘like’
* Gastric, static, cardiac
-ics, -tics (-ικος)
SUFFIX
‘art, science or study of’
* Physics, genetics, pediatrics =
-oid, -ode (-ωδης, -οειδης)
SUFFIX
‘like’, ‘having the shape of’
* Spheroid, adenoid, nematode,
phyllode
-genous, -genic (GEN- + -ous/-ic)
COMPOUND SUFFIX
‘producing’, ‘produced’
* photogenic, endogenous, cytogenous
NOTE: the root GEN- is Latin, and will be learned in Unit 10.
-oecious (OEC- + -ious)
COMPOUND SUFFIX
‘having a house or dwelling’
* monoecious (having male and female sex organs in the same individual), androdioecious
(having perfect and staminate flowers on different plants)
-philous, -philic (PHIL- + -ous/-ic)
COMPOUND SUFFIX
‘loving’, ‘thriving in’
* necrophilic, anemophilous
ACOU-, (ACU-) (ἀκούω)
‘to hear’
* ACOU-smat-a-GNO-sis; inability to
recognize spoken words;
* an-ACU-sia, complete deafness
AESTHE-, (ESTHE-) (αἴσθημα)
‘to feel’, ‘to perceive’
* syn-AESTHE-sia, a secondary
sensation accompanying an actual
perception;
* ACANTH-AESTHE-sia, a sensation
as of pricking with a needle
ALG- (ἄλγος)
‘pain’ (-algesia, ‘sense of pain’)
* an-ALG-esic, a drug acting to relieve
pain;
* nost-ALG-ia, a sentimental longing
or wistful affection for a period in
the past
AMBLY- (ἀμβλύς)
‘dull’
* AMBLY-CEPHAL-idae, a genus of
broad-headed, nonpoisonous snakes,
bluntheads;
* AMBLY-ACU-sia
ANTH- (ἄνθος)
‘flower’
* ANTHO-philous, attracted by
flowers, feeding on flowers;
* ex-ANTH-ema, an eruption on the
skin
ARTHR- (ἄρθρον)
‘joint’, ‘speech sound’, ‘articulation’
* dys-ARTHR-ia, impairment of
speech articulation
BI- (βίος)
‘life’
* sym-BIO-sis, living together for
mutual benefit
NOTE: Not to be confused with the homonymous
Latin root BI- ‘two’ of List 10.
BALL-, BOL-, BLE- (βάλλω)
‘to throw’, ‘to put’
* BALL-ist-ics;
* sym-BOL;
* em-BOL-ism, destruction of a blood
vessel by foreign matter lodged in it;
* em-BOLO-LAL-ia, insertion of
meaningless words into speech
BRADY- (βραδύς)
‘slow’
* BRADY-LEX-ia, slowness in
reading;
* BRADY-CARD-ia, slowness of the
heart
BUL- (BOUL-) (βούλομαι)
‘will’, ‘volition’
* a-BUL-ia, loss of ability to make
decisions
NOTE: Not to be confused with the similar Latin root
BULL- ‘bubble’ of List 7
CARDI- (καρδιά)
‘heart’
* MYO-CARDI-al, pertaining to the
muscular tissue of the heart
CEPHAL- (κεγαλή)
‘head’ (enCEPHAL-, ‘brain’)
* CEPHALO-POD;
* pros-ENCEPHAL-on, forebrain or
anterior brain vesicle of the embryo;
* met-ENCEPHAL-on
CHONDR-, CHONDRI- (χόνδρος)
‘cartilage’, ‘granule’ (orig, ‘groat (hulled
grain) of wheat’)
* peri-CHONDRI-um; fibrous
connective tissue covering cartilage
CHROM-, CHROMAT-, CHRO- (χρῶμα,
χρώματα)
‘colour’
* meta-CHRO-sis, the change or play
of colours seen in the squid,
chameleon, etc.
CRYPT- (κυπτός)
‘hidden’
* CRYPT; CRYPTO-GRAPH-y;
* CRYPT-ic;
* CRYPTO-PHYTE, a plant the
produces buds underground or
underwater;
* CRYPT-ORCH-ism; condition
wherein the testes do not descend
DACTYL- (δάκτυλος)
‘finger’, ‘toe’
* DACTYLO-lysis, a tropical disease
in which a toe is slowly and spontaneously amputated by a
fibrous ring
DE-; DESM- (δέω; δεσμός)
‘to bind’; ‘binding’, ‘ligament’
* amphi-DESM-ic, furnished with a
double ligament;
* syn-DESMO-logy, the study of
ligaments;
* syn-DE-sis, state of being bound
together
NOTE: not to be confused with the Latin prefix deof List 6.
DEM- (δῆμος)
‘people’, ‘country’
* apo-DEMI-ALG-ia, morbid dislike
of home life and a desire to wander;
* epi-DEM-ic, occurring widely within
a certain geographic area;
* ec-DEM-ic, of foreign origin, opp. of
en-DEM-ic
DERM- (δέρμα)
‘skin’
* PODO-DERM a hoof’s dermal layer;
* the DERM-is lays between the epiDERM-is and the subcutaneous
tissues
DROM- (δρόμος)
‘running’, ‘course’
* syn-DROME, symptoms that occur
together and characterize a particular
disease;
* a-DROM-ia; failure of impulse
conduction in muscles or nerves
ENTER- (ἔντερον)
‘intestine’
* an-ENTER-ous, having no
alimentary tract;
* MY-ENTER-ic, relating to the
muscular coat of the intestine;
* dys-ENTER-y
ERG- (ἔργον)
‘work’
* endo-ERG-ic; relating to the
absorption of heat, endothermic;
* ADREN-ERG-ic, activated by
adrenaline
GAM- (γάμος)
‘marriage’, ‘union’
* a-GAMO-GENE-sis, asexual
reproduction;
* GAM-ete, a sexual cell capable of
uniting with another to form a new
individual, such as sperms and eggs
GE- (γῆ)
‘earth’
* amphi-GE-an; living around the
world;
* GEO-CARP-y, ripening of fruits
underground (peanuts, for instance)
GEN(E), GON- (γίγνομαι –⟩ ἑγενόμην;
γένος; γονή)
‘to be produced’, ‘to produce’; ‘seed’
* GENE-sis;
* eu-GEN-ics (i.e. ‘producing well’);
* COCCO-GONE, a reproductive cell
in certain algae;
* GON-ad, an organ that produces
gametes; a testis or ovary
NOTE: not to be confused with the Latin roots
GEN(U)- ‘knee’ and GEN- ‘produce’ of List 10
GER-, GERONT- (γέρων, γέροντος)
‘old person’, ‘old age’
* GERONTO-phobia, morbid fear of
old age;
* GER-ODONT-ia, dentistry for the
aged;
* GERONTO-logy
NOTE: not to be confused with the Latin root GER-
‘carry’ of List 7.
GNATH- (γνάθος)
‘jaw’
* dys-GNATH-ic, pertaining to
improperly developed jaws;
* GNATHO-THECA, the horny outer
covering of a bird’s lower jaw
GNO- (γνώμα; γιγνώσκω)
‘to know’
* BAR-a-GNO-sis; loss of perception
of weight;
* AUTO-TOP-a-GNO-sia, loss of
ability to orient parts of one’s own
body
GRAPH-, GRAM- (γράφω; γράμμα)
‘to write’; ‘thing written’
* DROMO-GRAPH, instrument for
registering the velocity of blood
current
HEPAT-, HEPAR- (ἥπαρ, ἥπατος)
‘liver’
* HEPAR-in, a substance or mixture of
substances occurring in liver and
other tissues having the property of
prolonging the clotting time of
blood;
* HEPAT-itis, inflammation of the
liver
HOD-, OD- (ὁδός)
‘road’, ‘way’
* HODO-phobia, fear of travel;
* UR-OD-eum, a tract for carrying
urine
KINE- (CINE-) (κινέω)
‘to move’
* a-KIN-AESTHE-sia, loss of muscle
sense or sense of movement;
* eu-KINE-sia; normal power of
movement;
* TELE-KINE-sis; the alleged ability
to move objects without touching
them
LEX- (λέξις)
‘to read’
* BRADY-LEX-ia, abnormal slowness
in reading;
* dys-LEX-ia, impairment of the
ability to read
LECITH- (λέκιθος)
‘yolk’
* CENTRO-LECITH-al, having the
yolk aggregated in the centre;
* LECITH-in describes a group of
yellow-brown fatty substances first
isolated in egg yolks
MNE- (μνῆμα; μιμνῄσκω)
‘to remember’
* a-MNE-sia, loss of memory;
* ACOU-st-a-MNE-sia, inability to
remember sound;
* AUTO-ana-MNE-sia; history related
by the patient
MORPH- (μορφόω)
‘form’
* meta-MORPHO-sis; changing form;
* PHYLLO-MORPHO-sis; variation
of leaves in different seasons
MY-, MYS-, MYOS- (μῦς, μυός)
‘muscle’
* MYO-CHROME, any muscle
pigment;
* MY-ENTER-ic;
* MYO-CARDI-al
NEPHR- (νεφρός)
‘kidney’
* peri-NEPHR-ium, the connective or
adipose tissue surrounding a kidney