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Word Roots

Decode Greek and Latin building blocks

60 cards~10 minReferences included

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3 chapters · 60 cards
  1. 01
    Scale, place and movement28 cards · ~5 min
  2. 02
    Time, order and number6 cards · ~1 min
  3. 03
    Life, thought and expression26 cards · ~4 min

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01
Prompt: geo- · root or affix meaning
Language & WordsA little curiosity
Meaning · RECALLgeo- · root or affix meaningThink it. Then flip it.
✳ ahamora↻ Tap to reveal
02
Prompt: micro- · root or affix meaning
Language & WordsA little curiosity
Meaning · RECALLmicro- · root or affix meaningThink it. Then flip it.
✳ ahamora↻ Tap to reveal
03
Prompt: macro- · root or affix meaning
Language & WordsA little curiosity
Meaning · RECALLmacro- · root or affix meaningThink it. Then flip it.
✳ ahamora↻ Tap to reveal

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The questions inside.

Open a question to see its answer.
  1. 01geo- · root or affix meaningRECALL
  2. 02micro- · root or affix meaningRECALL
  3. 03macro- · root or affix meaningRECALL
  4. 04tele- · meaningRECALL
  5. 05inter- · root or affix meaningRECALL
  6. 06intra- · root or affix meaningRECALL
  7. 07sub- · root or affix meaningRECALL
  8. 08super- · meaningRECALL
  9. 09-logy · root or affix meaningRECALL
  10. 10-scope · meaningRECALL
  11. 11port · root or affix meaningRECALL
  12. 12rupt · root or affix meaningRECALL
  13. 13aqua- · root or affix meaningRECALL
  14. 14terr- · meaningRECALL
  15. 15Greek root ‘geo’ · meaningRECALL
    Earth.

    Geology, geography, and geometry all keep a trace of the Greek word for Earth.

    Share this card ↗Source: Greek language ↗
  16. 16Greek root ‘tele’ · meaningRECALL
    Far or distant.

    Telephone, telescope, and telegraph all bridge a distance.

    Share this card ↗Source: Telecommunication ↗
  17. 17Greek root ‘phon’ · meaningRECALL
    Sound or voice.

    A microphone takes in sound, while a phonograph records it.

    Share this card ↗Source: Phonetics ↗
  18. 18Greek root ‘micro’ · meaningRECALL
    Small.

    Microscope, microbe, and microclimate all point to a small scale.

    Share this card ↗Source: Greek language ↗
  19. 19Greek root ‘macro’ · meaningRECALL
    Large.

    Macroeconomics looks at systems on a large scale, in contrast with microeconomics.

    Share this card ↗Source: Greek language ↗
  20. 20Latin root ‘aqua’ · meaningRECALL
    Water.

    Aquarium, aqueduct, and aquatic all carry the Latin word for water.

    Share this card ↗Source: Latin ↗
  21. 21Latin root ‘terra’ · meaningRECALL
    Earth or land.

    Terrain and terrestrial describe land or the Earth.

    Share this card ↗Source: Latin ↗
  22. 22Latin root ‘port’ · meaningRECALL
    Carry.

    Transport carries across, import carries in, and export carries out.

    Share this card ↗Source: Latin ↗
  23. 23Latin root ‘form’ · meaningRECALL
    Shape.

    Transform means change shape; uniform means one shape or form.

    Share this card ↗Source: Latin ↗
  24. 24prefix ‘anti-’ · meaningRECALL
    Against or opposed to.

    Antibiotic literally describes something acting against life, specifically microorganisms in modern use.

    Share this card ↗Source: Prefix ↗
  25. 25prefix ‘sub-’ · meaningRECALL
    Under or below.

    Submarine literally travels under the sea.

    Share this card ↗Source: Prefix ↗
  26. 26prefix ‘inter-’ · meaningRECALL
    Between or among.

    International describes relations among nations.

    Share this card ↗Source: Prefix ↗
  27. 27prefix ‘trans-’ · meaningRECALL
    Across or beyond.

    Transatlantic crosses the Atlantic; translate carries meaning across languages.

    Share this card ↗Source: Prefix ↗
  28. 28suffix ‘-scope’ · meaningRECALL
    An instrument for viewing or examining.

    Telescope, microscope, and endoscope all help someone look more closely.

    Share this card ↗Source: Wiktionary: -scope ↗
  29. 29chrono- · root or affix meaningRECALL
  30. 30pre- · root or affix meaningRECALL
  31. 31post- · root or affix meaningRECALL
  32. 32Greek root ‘chron’ · meaningRECALL
    Time.

    Chronology arranges events in time, while a chronometer measures it.

    Share this card ↗Source: Chronology ↗
  33. 33prefix ‘pre-’ · meaningRECALL
    Before.

    Preview comes before viewing; predict comes before saying.

    Share this card ↗Source: Prefix ↗
  34. 34prefix ‘post-’ · meaningRECALL
    After.

    Postwar, postscript, and postgraduate all come after something.

    Share this card ↗Source: Prefix ↗
  35. 35bio- · root or affix meaningRECALL
  36. 36photo- · root or affix meaningRECALL
  37. 37auto- · root or affix meaningRECALL
  38. 38anti- · root or affix meaningRECALL
  39. 39-phobia · root or affix meaningRECALL
  40. 40-graph · meaningRECALL
  41. 41-meter · root or affix meaningRECALL
  42. 42aud- · root or affix meaningRECALL
  43. 43scrib / script · root or affix meaningRECALL
  44. 44dict · meaningRECALL
  45. 45manu- · root or affix meaningRECALL
  46. 46vid / vis · root or affix meaningRECALL
  47. 47cred · root or affix meaningRECALL
  48. 48Greek root ‘bio’ · meaningRECALL
    Life.

    Bio is the life root.

    Share this card ↗Source: Biology ↗
  49. 49Greek root ‘graph’ · meaningRECALL
    Writing or recording.

    Autograph, biography, and photograph each preserve a different kind of record.

    Share this card ↗Source: Wiktionary: -graph ↗
  50. 50Greek root ‘auto’ · meaningRECALL
    Self.

    Autobiography is a life story written by oneself.

    Share this card ↗Source: Greek language ↗
  51. 51Greek root ‘photo’ · meaningRECALL
    Light.

    Photography literally means drawing or writing with light.

    Share this card ↗Source: Photography ↗
  52. 52Latin root ‘luna’ · meaningRECALL
    Moon.

    Lunar describes things connected with the Moon.

    Share this card ↗Source: Latin ↗
  53. 53Latin root ‘sol’ · meaningRECALL
    Sun.

    Solar energy and a solstice both relate to the Sun.

    Share this card ↗Source: Latin ↗
  54. 54Latin root ‘scrib’ or ‘script’ · meaningRECALL
    Write.

    A manuscript is literally something written by hand.

    Share this card ↗Source: Latin ↗
  55. 55Latin root ‘dict’ · meaningRECALL
    Say or speak.

    A dictionary collects words, while a verdict is a thing spoken truly in its Latin roots.

    Share this card ↗Source: Latin ↗
  56. 56Latin root ‘spect’ · meaningRECALL
    Look or see.

    Inspect, spectator, and perspective all connect to seeing.

    Share this card ↗Source: Latin ↗
  57. 57Latin root ‘cred’ · meaningRECALL
    Believe or trust.

    Credible means worthy of belief; a credential is evidence that invites trust.

    Share this card ↗Source: Latin ↗
  58. 58suffix ‘-logy’ in words such as biology · meaningRECALL
    The study of a subject.

    The ending comes through Greek logos and is used for many fields of study.

    Share this card ↗Source: -logy ↗
  59. 59suffix ‘-phobia’ · meaningRECALL
    Fear or aversion.

    In everyday language it can mean a strong fear, while in social contexts it can describe prejudice.

    Share this card ↗Source: Phobia ↗
  60. 60Word roots · explain their usefulness when reading unfamiliar vocabularyRECALL
    They help reveal the meaning of unfamiliar words.

    A root is a clue, not a guarantee: languages borrow, change, and make exceptions.

    Share this card ↗Source: Root (linguistics) ↗

Keep following the thread

See all Language & Words decks →
""Literary Terms55 cards · ~9 min→AaCommonly Confused Words60 cards · ~10 min→✒Where Words Come From66 cards · ~11 min→

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