Reference list
How to use this list
This page collects the prefixes, roots, and suffixes from the previous three chapters into a single reference. A word is usually built from three kinds of parts: a prefix added to the front, a root that carries the core meaning, and a suffix added to the end. Combining their meanings - and checking the result against the sentence - lets you work out words you’ve never seen before.
- Note the suffix first. It often signals the part of speech (-ion makes a noun, -ly an adverb), and many suffixes add meaning of their own (-less “lacking,” -cide “killing,” -itis “inflammation”), so keep that meaning when you combine the parts.
- Identify the root (and any prefix), and combine their meanings.
- Check that combined meaning against the sentence the word appears in, and test it against the answer choices. Some parts carry more than one meaning (sol is “alone” in solitary but “sun” in solar; ped is “foot” in pedal but “child” in pediatric), so let the sentence decide which meaning fits.
Example: Decoding an unfamiliar word
Take the word malediction. The suffix -ion marks it as a noun (“act or result of”). The prefix mal- means “bad,” and the root dict means “say” - together, a “bad saying,” or a curse.
Sentence: “The witch muttered a malediction over the well.”
The context (a witch, muttering) confirms the negative, speech-related meaning.
Prefixes
Negation and absence
The prefix a or an means not, without, or toward and the prefix dis means opposite of. The prefix in means not or without and the prefix non means not. The prefix pseudo means false and the prefix un means not.
Numbers
The prefix mono means one and the prefix uni means one. The prefix bi means two and the prefix di means two. The prefix tri means three and the prefix quad means four. The prefix pent means five and the prefix quin means five. The prefix hex means six and the prefix sept means seven. The prefix oct means eight and the prefix deca means ten. The prefix cent means hundred.
Size or quantity
The prefix ambi or amphi means both and the prefix hemi means half. The prefix macro means large and the prefix maxi means large. The prefix mega means very large and the prefix micro means very small. The prefix min means small and the prefix multi means many. The prefix omni means all and the prefix over means too much. The prefix pan means all and the prefix poly means many. The prefix semi means half.
Direction or position
Against
The prefix anti means against and the prefix contra means against.
Around
The prefix circum means around and the prefix peri means around.
Away
The prefix ab means away from and the prefix de means away.
Before
The prefix ante means before and the prefix fore means before. The prefix pre means before.
Toward
The prefix a or an means not, without, or toward and the prefix ad means toward.
Other
The prefix co means together and the prefix em or en means inside. The prefix ex means from or out and the prefix extra means outside. The prefix inter means between and the prefix intra means within. The prefix med means middle and the prefix para means next to. The prefix post means behind or after and the prefix pro means forward or in front. The prefix retro means backward and the prefix se means apart. The prefix sub means below and the prefix super means above. The prefix sur means over and the prefix trans means across.
Time or order
The prefix neo means new and the prefix prot means first. The prefix re means again.
Comparison (similarity or difference)
The prefix hetero means different and the prefix homo means same. The prefix hyper means excessive or more than and the prefix hypo means less than. The prefix sym or syn means together or same.
Condition or quality
The prefix dys means abnormal or difficult and the prefix mal means bad. The prefix mis means bad or wrong.
Roots
Human beings, society, and emotion
The root am means love and the root anthro means human. The root arch means chief and the root auto means self. The root burs means money and the root civ means citizen. The root cred means believe and the root crat means rule. The root culp means blame and the root dem means people. The root dign means worth and the root dog means opinion. The root dol means suffer and the root dub means doubt. The root fal means error and the root fi means faith. The root hap means chance and the root idio means peculiar. The root jur means law and the root lang means tongue. The root lect means select and the root mand means command. The root nom means name and the root pac means peace. The root par means equal and the root pas means feeling. The root ped means foot, and also child, as in pediatric and the root pen means pay. The root phil means love and the root phob means fear. The root plac means please and the root polis means city. The root psych means mind and the root reg means rule. The root sacr means holy and the root sent means feel. The root sol means alone and the root test means witness. The root theo means god and the root urb means city. The root ver means truth.
Body, health, and the senses
The root acou means hear and the root anim means mind or spirit. The root bio means life and the root card means heart. The root carn means flesh and the root corp means body. The root derm means skin and the root dorm means sleep. The root dors means back and the root manu means hand. The root mor means death and the root nox means harm. The root opt means eyes and the root path means disease. The root phon means sound and the root pod means foot. The root san means healthy and the root sen means old. The root somn means sleep and the root spec means look. The root spir means breath and the root tact means touch. The root vi means life and the root vis means see.
Nature
The root aqua means water and the root astro means star. The root chrom means color and the root cosm means universe. The root fum means smoke and the root geo means earth. The root herb means plant and the root hydr means water. The root lum means light and the root photo means light. The root pyr means fire and the root sem means seed. The root sol means sun and the root terr means land. The root therm means heat and the root tox means poison.
Time and change
The root annu means year and the root chron means time. The root cre means grow and the root di means day. The root fin means end and the root gen means birth. The root morph means shape and the root mut means change. The root nat means birth.
Movement, direction, and conflict
The root ambl means go and the root belli means war. The root cap means take and the root ced, ceed, or cess means go or yield. The root celer means speed and the root cis means cut. The root cur means run and the root duc means lead. The root err means wander and the root fer means bring. The root fug means flee and the root grad means step. The root greg means flock and the root it means journey. The root ject means throw and the root lev means lift. The root loc means place and the root mis means send. The root mov means move and the root nau means ship. The root pel means drive and the root pet means seek. The root port means carry and the root prop means near. The root pug means fight and the root sec means follow. The root sta means stand and the root tract means pull. The root tor means twist and the root ven means move towards. The root vert means turn and the root volv means turn.
Language, knowledge, and expression
The root cant means sing and the root cogn means know. The root dict means say and the root doc means teach. The root fab means speak and the root gno means know. The root gram means write and the root lex means word or law. The root log means reason and the root loqu means speak. The root mon means remind or warn and the root que means ask or seek. The root rog means ask and the root sci means know. The root scrib means write and the root voc means calling.
Physical qualities and materials
The root ac means sharp and the root al means other. The root bene means good and the root brev means short. The root centr means center and the root cern means separate. The root caus means burn and the root clo means close. The root cli means lean and the root crypt means hidden. The root dext means right hand or right side and the root dur means hard. The root ferv means boil and the root flu means flow. The root fort means strength or strong and the root grat means pleasing. The root her means stick and the root hol means whole. The root juv means young and the root lav means wash. The root liber means free and the root lig means tie or bind. The root nihil means none and the root null means nothing. The root pend means hang and the root plen means fill or full. The root pot means drink and the root pov means poor. The root punc means point and the root quie means rest. The root rect means straight and the root salv means save. The root sed means settle and the root sua means sweet. The root sum means total and the root ult means last. The root val means strength.
Work, making, and process
The root act means do and the root clam means shout. The root cumb means lie down and the root dele means erase. The root don means give and the root fac means make. The root frac means break and the root fus means pour. The root lab means work and the root laud means praise. The root pon means place and the root strict means tighten. The root struct means build and the root tain means hold. The root tend means stretch and the root vor means eat.
Suffixes
People and roles
The suffix crat means ruler and the suffix ee means person that receives an action. The suffix er means person that does an action and the suffix ess means female person. The suffix ian means skilled person and the suffix ist means person who does or specialist. The suffix ite means a person with a trait and the suffix or means a person.
States and qualities
The suffix able or ible means capable of and the suffix ac means pertaining to. The suffix age means result and the suffix al, an, or ary means relating to. The suffix ate means state or quality of in nouns and adjectives, and to make, cause, or act in verbs and the suffix cy means state of. The suffix dom means realm or physical state and the suffix escence means taking on a quality or becoming. The suffix ful means full of and the suffix hood means condition or group identity. The suffix ic or etic means relating to and the suffix ity means quality of. The suffix ive means having the nature of and the suffix less means lacking. The suffix ly means in a way or characteristic of and the suffix ness means state of being. The suffix ous means having the quality of and the suffix ship means condition or state of being. The suffix some means causing a feeling and the suffix th means state or quality. The suffix tude means state or condition and the suffix y means characterized by or full of.
Actions, processes, and results
The suffix ance means action and the suffix cide means killing. The suffix en means to become and the suffix ify means to make into. The suffix ing means process and the suffix ion means act or result of. The suffix ize means to make or to become and the suffix ment means result or act of. The suffix ure means action or result.
Description and resemblance
The suffix esque means in the style of and the suffix ette means small or diminutive. The suffix ish means resembling or somewhat and the suffix oid means resembling. The suffix ular means resembling and the suffix ward means direction or manner.
Knowledge, science, and language
The suffix cracy means government and the suffix ese means language or nationality. The suffix ism means belief system and the suffix itis means inflammation. The suffix logy means study of and the suffix nomy means rules or system. The suffix osis means disease.
Degree
The suffix est means superlative or most.