Vocabulary
All vocabulary from each unit and lesson can be found here.
Unit 1
Lesson 1
Root | Language of origin | Meaning | Example |
bio | Greek | life | biology |
log(y) | Greek | study of, reason, word | logical |
photo | Greek | light | photograph |
thermo | Greek | heat | thermometer |
gno | Greek | to know | agnostic |
(a)esth | Greek | to feel, to perceive | aesthetic |
macro | Greek | large | macroeconomics |
micro | Greek | small | microscope |
scop | Greek | to see, to look at | stethoscope |
morph | Greek | shape, form | metamorphosis |
poly | Greek | many | polygraph |
olig | Greek | few | oligarchy |
phobia | Greek | fear, fear of | hydrophobia |
graph | Greek | to write | seismograph |
op(s/t) | Greek | to see, vision | optical |
hyper | Greek | over, above, excessive | hyperbole |
hypo | Greek | under, beneath, below | hypothermia |
amphi | Greek | both, double | amphitheatre |
vit(a) | Latin | life | vitality |
omni | Latin | everything, all | omniscient |
aqua | Latin | water | aquarium |
terra | Latin | earth | terrarium |
frug/fruct | Latin | fruit | fructose |
con(i) | Latin | cone | conifer |
mel(l) | Latin | honey | mellifluous |
fer | Latin | to carry, carrier | conference |
multi | Latin | many | multipurpose |
magn(i) | Latin | large | magnitude |
parv(o) | Latin | small | parvovirus |
vidi/visi | Latin | to see | visible |
port(o/a) | Latin | to bring, to carry | transport |
able/ible | Latin | able, capable | ability |
mobl/mobil | Latin | to move | automobile |
pos(t)/posit | Latin | to put, to place | position |
super | Latin | over, above excessive | supercede |
ambi | Latin | both, double | ambiguous |
trans | Latin | across | translucent |
Lesson 2
Root | Language of origin | Meaning | Example |
hypn(o) | Greek | sleep | hypnosis |
cine/kine | Greek | movement | kinetic |
dynam | Greek | power | dynamic |
erg | Greek | energy | ergonomic |
the | Greek | to put, to place | thesis |
meter/metry | Greek | measurement | geometry |
path(o) | Greek | feeling, disease | pathology |
hydr(o) | Greek | water | hydrant |
neur(o) | Greek | nerve | neurosis |
top(o) | Greek | place, location | topology |
spher(e) | Greek | sphere, globe | hemisphere |
trop | Greek | to turn | thermotropism |
cata | Greek | against, very, down | catastrophe |
dia | Greek | through, across | diagonal |
tele | Greek | far, from afar | telepathy |
phon | Greek | sound, voice, speech | phonics |
meta | Greek | with, beyond, after | metastasize |
syn | Greek | together, with | synthesize |
a/an | Greek | not, without | asexual |
anti | Greek | against, opposed to | antitoxin |
somn(i) | Latin | sleep | insomnia |
scrib/script | Latin | to write, written | prescribe |
sens/sent | Latin | to feel, to perceive | sentient |
corp | Latin | body | corporeal |
spir | Latin | breath, to breathe | respirator |
spect | Latin | to look | inspect |
labi(a) | Latin | lips | labial |
dent | Latin | tooth | dentist |
loc | Latin | place | location |
mar | Latin | ocean | marine |
cal(or) | Latin | heat | calorie |
fac(t)/fec(t) | Latin | to make | factory |
tend(e/o) | Latin | to stretch | extend |
vert/vers | Latin | to turn | invert |
a/ab | Latin | down from, away from | abduct |
e/ex | Latin | out of, outside, former | expel |
inter | Latin | between | international |
intra | Latin | within | intramural |
de | Latin | down from, out of | deduce |
circu(m) | Latin | around | circumscribe |
ad* | Latin | to, towards | advance |
sub* | Latin | beneath, below, under | substitute |
con/com* | Latin | with | concur |
in* | Latin | into, inside, on | include |
in* | Latin | not, without | include |
ob* | Latin | against, facing | obtuse |
Lesson 3
Root | Language of origin | Meaning | Example |
pod/pus | Greek | foot | octopus |
derm | Greek | skin | dermatology |
phys | Greek | nature | physical |
zoo | Greek | animal | zoology |
arthr | Greek | joints | arthritis |
botan(e) | Greek | plants, herbs | botany |
sarc | Greek | flesh | sarcophagus |
cyt(e) | Greek | cell | cytology |
ethn(o) | Greek | nation, people, race | ethnic |
gymn | Greek | naked | gymnast |
proto | Greek | first | proton |
sta(s/t) | Greek | to stand | static |
plas(t) | Greek | to make, to form | plastic |
tom(y) | Greek | to cut | anatomy |
ana | Greek | up to, up from | anabolic |
endo | Greek | inside | endoderm |
exo | Greek | outside | exoskeleton |
ec(s) | Greek | out of | ecstasy |
en | Greek | within, into | endemic |
spec(i) | Latin | type, species | species |
gen(e) | Latin | family, clan, type | genetics |
bacter | Latin | rod | bacteria |
verb | Latin | word | verbal |
cut(a) | Latin | skin | cuticle |
scien(t) | Latin | to know | scientist |
sapien(t) | Latin | to be wise | sapience |
audi(t) | Latin | to hear | auditory |
ora(t) | Latin | mouth | oral |
natur(a) | Latin | nature, habit | nature |
pend | Latin | to hang | suspend |
flex/flect | Latin | to bend | inflect |
re | Latin | again | renew |
retro | Latin | backwards | retrograde |
Lesson 4
Root | Language of origin | Meaning | Example |
tax(i/o) | Greek | ordering, arrangement | taxidermy |
nom(y/ics) | Greek | law, method, practice | astronomy |
psych | Greek | mind, soul | psychology |
odon(t) | Greek | tooth | orthodontics |
ot(o) | Greek | ear | otodus |
(h)aem(o) | Greek | blood | haemoglobin |
chrom(o) | Greek | color | chromatic |
(o)ec | Greek | home, dwelling | economics |
mast(o) | Greek | breast, teat | mastectomy |
megal(o) | Greek | large, big | megalodon |
aut(o) | Greek | oneself, one’s own | automatic |
heter(o) | Greek | different, other | heterosexual |
hom(o/eo) | Greek | same, like | homophone |
all(o) | Greek | other | allele |
mon(o) | Greek | one, single | monochrome |
phil(o) | Greek | to love, to like | philosophy |
phag(o) | Greek | to eat | phagocyte |
troph(o) | Greek | to nourish, to feed | autotroph |
eu | Greek | good, well | euphemism |
dys | Greek | bad, disordered | dyslexia |
form | Latin | shape, form | formation |
speci(e) | Latin | appearance, form, quality | specific |
gen(e) | Latin | clan, type, origin | genetics |
mamm(o) | Latin | breast, teat | mammal |
carn(i) | Latin | meat | carnal |
herb(i) | Latin | plant | herbal |
equ(i/a) | Latin | equal, same | equivalent |
vor(a/e) | Latin | to eat | voracious |
dic(t) | Latin | to speak, to say | diction |
contr(o/a) | Latin | against, opposite | controversy |
dis/di/dif | Latin | apart from, separately | divide |
post | Latin | after | postscript |
Lesson 5
Root | Language of origin | Meaning | Example |
leuk/c | Greek | white | leukemia |
erythr(o) | Greek | red | erythrophobia |
melan(o) | Greek | black | melanin |
xanth(o) | Greek | yellow, gold | xanthosis |
chrys(o) | Greek | gold | chrysalis |
phoenic(o) | Greek | crimson, bright red | phoenix |
rhod(o) | Greek | pink, rosy | rhododendron |
glauc/k | Greek | grey, silver | glaucoma |
chlor(o) | Greek | green | chlorophyll |
actin | Greek | ray (like the sun) | actinost |
onco | Greek | mass, bulk | oncologist |
sem(a/o) | Greek | flag, banner | semaphore |
lepid(o) | Greek | scale (as of a fish) | leprosy |
cole(o) | Greek | sheath | coleoptile |
theca | Greek | case | apothecary |
alb | Latin | white | albino |
rub/ruf | Latin | red | rubella |
nigr | Latin | black | nigrescent |
cyan(o) | Latin | blue | cyanide |
flav(o) | Latin | yellow | flavin |
candid(o) | Latin | bright, white | candid |
virid | Latin | green | viridian |
scut(a) | Latin | shield | scute |
squam(a) | Latin | scale (as of a fish) | squamous |
bulb | Latin | onion, onion-like | bulbous |
set(a) | Latin | bristle | setaceous |
flor(a) | Latin | flower | floral |
stri(a) | Latin | groove, stripe | striated |
platy | Greek | flat | platypus |
brachy | Greek | short | brachyodont |
acr(o) | Greek | high, tall | acropolis |
tachy | Greek | fast | tachyon |
brady | Greek | slow | bradylogia |
ambly | Greek | dull | amblyacusia |
carchar | Greek | sharp, jagged | carcharias |
long | Latin | long | elongate |
brev(i) | Latin | short | brevity |
parv(o) | Latin | small | parvovirus |
magn(i/o) | Latin | large | magnitude |
alt(o) | Latin | tall, deep | altitude |
Unit 2
Lesson 6
This lesson also introduced many endings, which are best referenced on the Lesson page.
Root | Language of origin | Meaning | Example |
thea | Greek | to view, to watch | theatrics |
gam(e) | Greek | to marry, to join | monogamy |
lex(i) | Greek | to read | lexicon |
ly(s) | Greek | to dissolve, to loosen | dialysis |
zym(e) | Greek | fermented, leaven | enzyme |
petr/peter | Greek | rock | saltpeter |
rhe(u)/rrh(ea) | Greek | to flow | rheumatism |
rhythm | Greek | regularity, flow | rhythmic |
mol(e) | Latin | weight, heaviness | molar |
dorm/dormit | Latin | to sleep | dormant |
fort/fors | Latin | strong | fortissimo |
simil/sembl | Latin | alike, similar | similarity |
sid/sed | Latin | to sit | sediment |
mo(v/t) | Latin | to move | movement |
capt/cept | Latin | to catch, to get | capture |
curr | Latin | to run | current |
centr | Latin | middle, center | central |
cur | Latin | to care for, to oversee | curator |
serv | Latin | to serve, to save | servant |
ag/act(i) | Latin | to do, to drive, to force | agent |
duc(t) | Latin | to lead | ductile |
Lesson 7
Root | Language of origin | Meaning | Example |
hemi | Greek | half | hemisphere |
mono | Greek | one | monotone |
di(ch) | Greek | two | dichotomy |
tri | Greek | three | tricolor |
tetr(a) | Greek | four | tetrapod |
pent(a) | Greek | five | pentathlon |
hex(a) | Greek | six | hexahedron |
hept(a) | Greek | seven | heptagon |
oct(a) | Greek | eight | octane |
enne(a) | Greek | nine | enneagram |
dec(a) | Greek | ten | decade |
hect(a) | Greek | one hundred | hectacre |
kil(o) | Greek | one thousand | kilobyte |
prot(o) | Greek | first | proton |
deut(er) | Greek | second | deuteragonist |
semi | Latin | half | semicolon |
uni | Latin | one | universe |
du(o) | Latin | two | duality |
bi | Latin | two | binary |
tri | Latin | three | tricolor |
quad/quatr | Latin | four | quadratic |
quinqu | Latin | five | quinqueped |
sex | Latin | six | sexagenarian |
sept | Latin | seven | September |
oct | Latin | eight | October |
nov(em) | Latin | nine | November |
dec(i) | Latin | ten | December |
cent(i) | Latin | one hundred | century |
mill(i) | Latin | one thousand | millipede |
prim(a) | Latin | first | primal |
second/secund | Latin | second | secondary |
terti/tern | Latin | third, third time, thrice | tertiary, ternary |
quart/quatern | Latin | fourth, fourth time, four times | quaternary, quarter |
quint/quin | Latin | fifth, fifth time, five times | quintuplet |
sext | Latin | sixth | sextet |
septim | Latin | seventh | septimal |
octav | Latin | eighth | octave |
non | Latin | ninth | nonagenarian |
decim | Latin | tenth | decimal |
Lesson 8
Root | Language of origin | Meaning | Example |
lith | Greek | stone | monolith |
heli(o) | Greek | sun | heliotrope |
hal | Greek | salt | halite |
(di)dym | Greek | twin | didymous |
iso | Greek | equal | isosceles |
ne(o) | Greek | new | neonatal |
oxy | Greek | sharp, sour | oxygen |
calyp(s/t) | Greek | hidden | Calypso |
gen | Greek | to create, to produce | generate |
phor/pher | Greek | to bear, to carry | metaphor |
ion | Greek | to go | ionic |
apo | Greek | away | apotheosis |
es/eis | Greek | to, towards, into | esoteric |
epi | Greek | on, upon, to | epidemic |
para | Greek | next to, beside, disordered | parasocial |
peri | Greek | around | perimeter |
pro(s) | Greek | in front of, in addition to | prologue |
calc | Latin | limestone | calcium |
val | Latin | strength, capacity, ability | valor |
cut/cuss | Latin | to hit | percussion |
flu | Latin | to flow | fluid |
mon(it) | Latin | to warn, to advise, to suggest | admonish |
extr(a/o) | Latin | outside, beyond | extravagant |
infr(a) | Latin | below | infrastructure |
ultr(a) | Latin | above, exceeding | ultrasonic |
per | Latin | each, through, completely | permeate |
pr(a)e | Latin | before, ahead of | preside |
Lesson 9
Root | Language of origin | Meaning | Example |
aer | Greek | air, gas | aerate |
pyr(o) | Greek | fire | pyromania |
techn(o) | Greek | skill | technology |
onym | Greek | name | homonym |
soph | Greek | wisdom | sophisticated |
arch(ae) | Greek | old, ancient, beginning | archaeology |
pale(o) | Greek | old | paleography |
ont | Greek | being | ontology |
(h)od | Greek | road, way | diode |
quant | Latin | number, count, amount | quantity |
still(a) | Latin | drop (as of liquids) | distill |
anim(a) | Latin | soul, spirit | animate |
nomin/nomen | Latin | name | nominate |
lust(e)r | Latin | light (n.) | luster |
hum(o/i) | Latin | moisture | humid |
nov | Latin | new | renovate |
pract | Latin | to do, to act | practice |
sequ(e) | Latin | to follow | sequence |
mit(t)/mis(s) | Latin | to send | submit |
tract/trah | Latin | to drag | tractor |
vect/veh | Latin | to carry | convection |
ced(e)/cess | Latin | to withdraw, to yield | concede |
Lesson 10
Root | Language of origin | Meaning | Example |
irid/iris | Greek | rainbow, colorful, iris | iridescent |
mer | Greek | part | polymer |
mes | Greek | middle | Mesoamerica |
krypt/crypt | Greek | hidden | krypton |
bar(i/y) | Greek | heavy | barometer |
iod(e) | Greek | violet | iodine |
brom | Greek | stench, stink | bromide |
cycl(o/e) | Greek | circle | bicycle |
mall(e) | Latin | hammer | mallet |
tellu(r/s) | Latin | earth | tellurian |
nucle(us) | Latin | nut, nutshell | nucleus |
radi(o) | Latin | ray (as of the sun) | radiant |
med/mid(i) | Latin | middle | median |
fug(a) | Latin | to flee, to go away from | fugue |
pet(it) | Latin | to seek, to go towards | petition |
gress/grade | Latin | to go, to advance | progress |
Unit 3
Lesson 11
Root | Language of origin | Meaning | Example |
icos(a) | Greek | 20 | icosahedron |
(a)gon | Greek | angle | pentagon |
arithm(o) | Greek | number | arithmetic |
scel(e/o) | Greek | leg | isosceles |
stoich(io) | Greek | element, part | stoichiometry |
iso | Greek | equal | isometric |
gram | Greek | written | telegram |
hedron | Greek | geometric solid with X faces | hexahedron |
orth(o) | Greek | straight, regular | orthodontics |
ster(eo) | Greek | solid, stiff | stereotype |
pto/pit(e) | Greek | to fall | peripiteia |
ball/bol(e/a) | Greek | to throw | hyperbole |
ten(u/e) | Greek | to stretch | tenuous |
math(e) | Greek | to learn | mathematics |
lips(e)/laps(e) | Greek | to fall | relapse |
(h)eur(o) | Greek | to find, to discover | eureka |
Lesson 12
Root | Language of origin | Meaning | Example |
uncia | Latin | one-twelfth (1/12) | uncial |
ord(in) | Latin | arrangement, order | order |
angle/angul | Latin | angle | triangle |
line(a) | Latin | line | linear |
arc(h) | Latin | arch | arch |
sin(e/u) | Latin | curve | sine |
via | Latin | way, road | trivia |
cliv | Latin | slope | proclivity |
mun(er) | Latin | wall, fortification | munitions |
plumb | Latin | lead (metal) | plumbing |
rect/reg | Latin | straight, regular | rectangle |
plan | Latin | flat | plane |
integ(e)r | Latin | whole | integer |
put(e) | Latin | to think | compute |
sec(t) | Latin | to cut | section |
fabr(i) | Latin | to craft | fabric |
tang(e) | Latin | to touch | tangible |
struct | Latin | to build | construct |
fract/frag | Latin | to break | fragile |
monstr | Latin | to show | demonstrate |
tect | Greek | to build | architect |
Lesson 13
Root | Language of origin | Meaning | Example |
galac(t) | Greek | milk | galaxy |
ast(e)r | Greek | star | astronomy |
helio | Greek | sun | helium |
selen(i) | Greek | moon | selenium |
nyct(o) | Greek | night | nyctophobia |
hemer(a) | Greek | day | ephemeral |
eos | Greek | dawn, rosy | eosin |
cosm(o) | Greek | whole, universal | cosmos |
meteor(o) | Greek | lofty, high above | meteoroid |
plan(e) | Greek | wandering | planet |
stell(a) | Latin | star | stellar |
nebul | Latin | mist | nebulous |
sol(a) | Latin | sun | solar |
lun(a) | Latin | moon | lunar |
c(a)elest | Latin | sky, heavens | celestial |
die/a | Latin | day | quotidian |
noct/nox | Latin | night | nocturnal |
vesper | Latin | evening | vespers |
gibb | Latin | hump | gibbon |
orb(it) | Latin | circular | orbital |
grav(i) | Latin | heavy | gravitas |
cresc(e) | Latin | to grow | crescendo |
Lesson 14
Root | Language of origin | Meaning | Example |
character | Greek | stamp, feature | characteristic |
phan/phas | Greek | to show, to appear | phantom |
cra(t/s) | Greek | to mix | crater |
sider(a) | Latin | star | consider |
fin(e/i) | Latin | end, ending | finite |
rota | Latin | wheel | rotate |
exper(i) | Latin | to try, to attempt | experiment |
oper(a) | Latin | work, deed | operation |
celer | Latin | speed | celerity |
labor | Latin | work, labor | collaborate |
metu/i | Latin | fear | meticulous |
sign | Latin | sign, mark, standard | signal |
h(a)er/h(a)es | Latin | to stick | adhesive |
sist | Latin | to stand, to be firm | consist |
tort/torq(u) | Latin | to twist | torque |
tex(t) | Latin | to weave, woven | textile |
fund/found | Latin | to establish, to found | foundation |
volv/volut | Latin | to turn, to spin | revolve |
ven(e/t) | Latin | to come | intervene |
plor | Latin | to call out, to cry out | explore |
ques/quis/quer/quir | Latin | to ask | query |
divi(de, se) | Latin | to split, to divide | division |
Lesson 15
Root | Language of origin | Meaning | Example |
ba(s) | Greek | to step, to walk | basis |
hol(i/o) | Greek | whole, entire | hologram |
trad(it) | Latin | to hand, to hand over | trade |
narr(a/o) | Latin | to tell a story | narration |
mod(e/o) | Latin | now, current, at this time | modern |
intell(i/e) | Latin | to understand | intellect |
col/cult | Latin | to inhabit, to live in | cultural |
civi(l) | Latin | related to citizens | civic |
discipl(e/i) | Latin | student, learning | disciple |
tribut(e/a) | Latin | to gift, to bestow | tribute |
pan(d/s) | Latin | to spread | expand |
rati(o) | Latin | reason, logic | rational |
loqu(i/a) | Latin | to speak, to converse | colloquium |
cis(e) | Latin | to cut | precise |
tens | Latin | to stretch, be stretched | tension |
clud/s(e) | Latin | to close, to shut | exclude |
vern(a) | Latin | domestic, native | vernacular |
Unit 4
Lesson 16
Root | Language of origin | Meaning | Example |
p(a)ed | Greek | child | pedagogy |
ger(o) | Greek | old, old age | gerontology |
iatr(i) | Greek | doctor | pediatrics |
cardi | Greek | heart | cardiac |
carcin | Greek | cancer | carcinoma |
hyster | Greek | womb, uterus | hysteria |
metr | Greek | uterus | endometriosis |
cephal(o) | Greek | head | cephalopod |
neur | Greek | nerve | neuron |
pneumon | Greek | lungs | pneumonia |
alg(es) | Greek | pain | neuralgia |
derm(at) | Greek | skin | dermatology |
nephr | Greek | kidney | nephrology |
ost(eo) | Greek | bone | osteoporosis |
dors | Greek | back (body part) | dorsal |
gastr(o) | Greek | belly, abdomen | gastrointestinal |
enter(o) | Greek | intestines | gastroenteritis |
hep(a) | Greek | liver | hepatitis |
ophthalm | Greek | eyes | ophthalmologist |
ch(e)ir(o) | Greek | hand, wrist | chiropractor |
tars | Greek | ankle, sole of foot | tarsal |
gyn(ec) | Greek | female, feminine | gynecology |
andr(o) | Greek | male, masculine | androgyny |
Lesson 17
Root | Language of origin | Meaning | Example |
clav | Latin | key, collarbone | clavicle |
medic(a) | Latin | doctor | medicine |
cor(d) | Latin | heart | concord |
capit/cipit | Latin | head | capital |
nerv | Latin | nerve | nervous |
pulmon | Latin | lungs | pulmonary |
dol(or) | Latin | pain | dolorous |
cal(or) | Latin | heat | calorie |
rub(or) | Latin | red, redness | rubella |
tum(or) | Latin | swelling, swollen | tumor |
cut | Latin | skin | cuticle |
ren | Latin | kidney | adrenaline |
oss | Latin | bone | ossuary |
ocul | Latin | eyes | oculus |
manu | Latin | hand | manual |
vulner(a) | Latin | wound | vulnerable |
femin(a) | Latin | female, feminine | feminist |
vir(i) | Latin | male, masculine | virtuous |
dexter/dextr | Latin | right (as in direction) | dextrous |
sinister/sinistr | Latin | left (as in direction) | sinister |