ROOT WORDS
Roots form the
base of different words and help give them meaning. Sometimes a root is an entire word, such as
act, but other times, it is only part of a word, such as
deca.
Affixes can be added to a root to form new words and change their meanings.
Many words in English use Greek and / or Latin roots. Understanding the meanings of these different roots can help you decipher the meaning of new and unfamiliar words.
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mis / mit — Latin roots that mean to send
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• transmit, permit, intermittent, dismiss, submissive, compromise
transmit
The prefix trans means across.
The root mit means to send.
Based on the root and affix, the word transmit likely has a meaning similar to to send across.
Cell phone towers transmit signals so that people can have service and connect to one another.
Cell phone towers send across signals so that people can have service and connect to one another.
|
gram / graph — Greek roots that mean write or draw
|
• cardiogram, diagram, grammar, autograph, paragraph, biography
The prefix auto means self.
The root graph means write or draw.
Based on the root and affix, the word autograph likely has a meaning similar to written or drawn by a person him or herself.
A celebrity's signature is known as his or her autograph.
A celebrity's signature is something written by him or herself.
NOTE: Using roots and affixes to determine the general meanings of unfamiliar words can be helpful, but it is not always exactly accurate.
An apology is an expression of regret for wrongdoing. However, the meanings of apo (away/without) and logos (speech), which form the word, do not make this meaning clear.
Be careful when relying on roots and affixes to determine meaning!
Below is a list of some more common Greek and Latin roots used in everyday words. It is only a small fraction of all the possible Greek and Latin roots.
| Root |
Meaning |
Example Word |
| dict |
speech |
diction (style of speaking) |
| duc |
lead |
educate (to lead forward) |
| geo |
Earth |
geology (the study of Earth) |
| bene |
well |
beneficial (good or helpful) |
| pede |
feet |
centipede (an insect with many feet) |
| phon |
sound |
microphone (an instrument that makes small sounds bigger) |
| port |
carry |
export (to sell across a country) |
| man |
hand |
manufacture (made by hand) |
| vac |
empty |
vacant (characterized by emptiness) |
| scrib/script |
write |
scribble (to write quickly) |
| jur/jus |
law/justice |
juror (a person who is helps decide a trial) |
6th Grade Reading - Greek & Latin Roots Lesson