Word roots – list 1

  1. a, an – not or without (abyss – without bottom; anhydrous – without water; amoral – without morals; apathy – without feeling)
  1. a – on (afire – on fire; ashore – on the shore; aside – on the side)
  1. acro – high (acrobat – a high walker; acronym – a word formed from the first (capital) letters of each word; acrophobia – fear of heights)
  1. agr – farming (agrarian – relating to the management of land; agribusiness – making money by utilizing the land; agriculture – the management of land)
  1. alg, algia – pain (neuralgia – nerve pain; nostalgia – painful longing for the past; analgesic – drug that helps take away pain)
  1. ambi – both (ambidextrous – both right hands; ambiguous – more than one meaning; ambivalence – conflicting feelings toward a person or subject)
  1. ami, am, amor – love, liking (amiable – easy to get along with; amorous – showing romantic love)
  1. andr – man, male (androgynous – being both male and female; android – resembling a man; misandry – hatred towards men)
  1. anni, enni – year (anniversary – turning of a year; biennial – twice a year OR every two years; millennium – 1,000 years; centennial – 100 years)
  1. ante – before, in front (antediluvian – before the flood; antebellum – before the war; antecede – to come before; antemeridian – before noon)
  1. anthrop – human, man (anthropology – study of man; philanthropy – love to mankind)
  1. anti – old (antique, antiquity, antiquated)
  1. anti – against (antiseptic – against infection; antisocial – against society)
  1. aqu, aqua – water (aquarium – a water container for fish; aquatic – relating to water; aqueduct – a pipeline for water)
  1. aud – hear (auditorium – room for hearing; audible – able to be heard; audiovisual – relating to hearing and seeing)
  1. auto, aut – self (automobile – self moving; autograph – self writing; autocrat – a person who governs with absolute power; autobiography – self life writing)
  1. belli – war (rebellion – fight again; rebel – one who opposes and fights; belligerent – ready to fight)
  1. bene – good (benefactor – person who gives money to a cause; beneficial – producing a good effect; benevolent – showing kindness)
  1. bi – two (bisexual – two sexes; bicycle – two wheels; binoculars – two lenses)
  1. bibl – book (bibliography – a list of books used as sources; bibliophile – book lover; bibliomania – book madness)