words with the root word thesis in it

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Words containing thesis

Found 106 words containing thesis . Check our Scrabble Word Finder , Wordle solver , Words With Friends cheat dictionary , and WordHub word solver to find words that contain thesis. Or use our Unscramble word solver to find your best possible play! Related: Words that end in thesis

• Words With Friends

22 letter words containing thesis

• retrospondylolis thesis

20 letter words containing thesis

• prespondylolis thesis

19 letter words containing thesis

• epikeratopros thesis

17 letter words containing thesis

• spondylolis thesis
• spondylolys thesis
• photosyn thesis ing
• counterhypo thesis

16 letter words containing thesis

• amorphosyn thesis
• electrosyn thesis
• perineosyn thesis
• keratopros thesis
• mechanosyn thesis
• photosyn thesis ed
• photosyn thesis es

15 letter words containing thesis

• nucleosyn thesis
• psychosyn thesis
• orthopros thesis
• morphosyn thesis
• anterolis thesis
• thermosyn thesis
• photosyn thesis e

14 letter words containing thesis

• photosyn thesis
• chemosyn thesis
• narcosyn thesis
• osteosyn thesis
• antimeta thesis
• somataes thesis
• retrolis thesis
• sacrolis thesis
• synovior thesis
• hierolis thesis
• endopros thesis
• paren thesis ing

13 letter words containing thesis

• parasyn thesis
• biopros thesis
• polysyn thesis
• tomosyn thesis
• autosyn thesis
• exopros thesis
• metasyn thesis
• paren thesis ed
• paren thesis es
• hypo thesis ing
• hypo thesis ers
• velosyn thesis

12 letter words containing thesis

• biosyn thesis
• synaes thesis
• somaes thesis
• coenes thesis
• kinaes thesis
• isosyn thesis
• parere thesis
• chemes thesis
• ecosyn thesis
• amyoes thesis
• paren thesis e
• hypo thesis ts
• hypo thesis ed
• hypo thesis er
• hypo thesis es
• syn thesis ing
• syn thesis ers

11 letter words containing thesis

• paren thesis
• kines thesis
• syn thesis ts
• resyn thesis
• somes thesis
• synan thesis
• syn thesis er
• hypo thesis e
• cenes thesis
• anaes thesis
• alges thesis
• allen thesis
• apopa thesis
• hypo thesis t
• myoes thesis
• syn thesis es
• syn thesis ed

10 letter words containing thesis

• hypo thesis
• anti thesis
• pros thesis
• meta thesis
• epen thesis
• es thesis es
• syn thesis t
• syn thesis e
• exan thesis
• anes thesis
• para thesis
• apos thesis
• enan thesis
• cyto thesis
• tele thesis

9 letter words containing thesis

8 letter words containing thesis.

• 7-letter words
• Words that start with a
• Words with the letter z
• Words that start with l
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• Words that start with u
• Words containing thesi
• Words containing thesise
• Words containing thesisi
• Words containing thesist
• Words containing thesit
• Words containing thesiu
• Words containing thesiz
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Words that contain thesis.

• anaesthesis
• antimetathesis
• biosynthesis
• cenesthesis
• chemosynthesis
• coenaesthesis
• coenesthesis
• counterhypothesis
• hypothesise
• hypothesised
• hypothesiser
• hypothesisers
• hypothesises
• hypothesising
• hypothesist
• hypothesists
• kinaesthesis
• kinesthesis
• metathesise
• metathesised
• metathesises
• metathesising
• narcosynthesis
• nucleosynthesis
• parasynthesis
• parenthesis
• parenthesise
• parenthesised
• parenthesises
• parenthesising
• photosynthesis
• photosynthesise
• polysynthesis
• polysynthesism
• polysynthesisms
• psychosynthesis
• radiesthesist
• radiesthesists
• resynthesis
• resynthesise
• resynthesised
• resynthesises
• resynthesising
• somaesthesis
• somaesthesises
• somesthesis
• somesthesises
• synaesthesis
• synanthesis
• synthesisation
• synthesisations
• synthesised
• synthesiser
• synthesisers
• synthesises
• synthesising
• synthesists

Following links for words that contain THESIS

Words Containing: THESIS

Best scoring words with t h e s i s, 6 letter words.

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9 letter words, 10 letter words, 11 letter words, 12 letter words, 13 letter words, 14 letter words, 15 letter words, 17 letter words, 18 letter words, 19 letter words, 22 letter words, 23 letter words, 26 letter words, 37 letter words, 55 letter words.

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Words With Thesis In Them | 17 Scrabble Words With Thesis

Thesis is a playable Scrabble Word!

• Highest scoring words with Thesis
• 11-letter words with Thesis
• 10-letter words with Thesis
• 9-letter words with Thesis
• 8-letter words with Thesis
• 6-letter words with Thesis
• FAQs about words with Thesis

The highest scoring words with Thesis

Want to go straight to the words that will get you the best score? Here are all the highest scoring words with thesis, not including the 50-point bonus if they use seven letters.

17 Scrabble words that contain Thesis

11 letter words with thesis.

• kinesthesis 18
• parenthesis 16
• resynthesis 17
• synthesists 17

10 Letter Words With Thesis

• antithesis 13
• epenthesis 15
• esthesises 13
• hypothesis 21
• metathesis 15
• prosthesis 15
• synthesist 16

9 Letter Words With Thesis

• diathesis 13
• prothesis 14
• synthesis 15

8 Letter Words With Thesis

• anthesis 11
• esthesis 11

6 Letter Words With Thesis

Faq on words containing thesis, what are the best scrabble words with thesis.

The highest scoring Scrabble word containing Thesis is Hypothesis, which is worth at least 21 points without any bonuses. The next best word with Thesis is kinesthesis, which is worth 18 points. Other high score words with Thesis are prosthesis (15), metathesis (15), parenthesis (16), resynthesis (17), synthesists (17), synthesist (16), and synthesis (15).

How many words contain Thesis?

There are 17 words that contaih Thesis in the Scrabble dictionary. Of those 4 are 11 letter words, 7 are 10 letter words, 3 are 9 letter words, 2 are 8 letter words, and 1 is a 6 letter word.

• 1.1 Etymology
• 1.2 Pronunciation
• 1.3.1 Derived terms
• 1.3.2 Related terms
• 1.3.3 Translations
• 1.4 References
• 1.5 Further reading
• 1.6 Anagrams
• 2.1 Etymology
• 2.2 Pronunciation
• 3.1 Etymology
• 3.2 Pronunciation
• 3.3.1 Declension
• 3.3.2 Descendants
• 3.4 References

English [ edit ]

Etymology [ edit ].

From Late Middle English thesis ( “ lowering of the voice ” ) [1] and also borrowed directly from its etymon Latin thesis ( “ proposition, thesis; lowering of the voice ” ) , from Ancient Greek θέσῐς ( thésis , “ arrangement, placement, setting; conclusion, position, thesis; lowering of the voice ” ) , from τῐ́θημῐ ( títhēmi , “ to place, put, set; to put down in writing; to consider as, regard ” ) [2] [3] (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁- ( “ to do; to place, put ” ) ) + -σῐς ( -sis , suffix forming abstract nouns or nouns of action, process, or result ) . The English word is a doublet of deed .

Sense 1.1 (“proposition or statement supported by arguments”) is adopted from antithesis . [2] Sense 1.4 (“initial stage of reasoning”) was first used by the German philosopher Johann Gottlieb Fichte (1762–1814), and later applied to the dialectical method of his countryman, the philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770–1831).

The plural form theses is borrowed from Latin thesēs , from Ancient Greek θέσεις ( théseis ) .

Pronunciation [ edit ]

• ( Received Pronunciation ) IPA ( key ) : /ˈθiːsɪs/ , ( archaic ) /ˈθɛsɪs/
• ( General American ) IPA ( key ) : /ˈθisɪs/
• Rhymes: -iːsɪs
• Hyphenation: the‧sis
• ( Received Pronunciation ) IPA ( key ) : /ˈθiːsiːz/
• ( General American ) IPA ( key ) : /ˈθisiz/
• Rhymes: -iːsiːz
• Hyphenation: the‧ses

Noun [ edit ]

thesis ( plural theses )

• ( rhetoric ) A proposition or statement supported by arguments .
• 1766 , [ Oliver Goldsmith ], “The Conclusion”, in The Vicar of Wakefield:   [ … ] , volume II, Salisbury, Wiltshire: [ … ] B. Collins, for F [ rancis ] Newbery ,   [ … ] , →OCLC ; reprinted London: Elliot Stock , 1885 , →OCLC , pages 218–219 : I told them of the grave, becoming, and ſublime deportment they ſhould aſſume upon this myſtical occaſion, and read them two homilies and a theſis of my own compoſing, in order to prepare them.
• ( mathematics , computer science ) A conjecture , especially one too vague to be formally stated or verified but useful as a working convention.
• ( logic ) An affirmation , or distinction from a supposition or hypothesis .
• ( philosophy ) In the dialectical method of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel : the initial stage of reasoning where a formal statement of a point is developed ; this is followed by antithesis and synthesis .
• ( music , prosody , originally ) The action of lowering the hand or bringing down the foot when indicating a rhythm ; hence, an accented part of a measure of music or verse indicated by this action; an ictus , a stress . Antonym: arsis
• ( music , prosody , with a reversal of meaning ) A depression of the voice when pronouncing a syllables of a word ; hence, the unstressed part of the metrical foot of a verse upon which such a depression falls , or an unaccented musical note .

Derived terms [ edit ]

• all but thesis
• bachelor's thesis
• Church-Turing thesis
• conflict thesis
• doctoral thesis
• graduate thesis
• Habakkuk thesis
• master's thesis
• Merton thesis
• private language thesis
• thesis defense
• thesis film
• thesis statement

Related terms [ edit ]

Translations [ edit ], references [ edit ].

• ^ “ thē̆sis, n. ”, in MED Online , Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan , 2007.
• ^ “ thesis, n. ”, in Lexico , Dictionary.com ; Oxford University Press , 2019–2022.

Further reading [ edit ]

• “ thesis ”, in The Century Dictionary   [ … ] , New York, N.Y.: The Century Co. , 1911, →OCLC .
• “ thesis ”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary , Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam , 1913, →OCLC .

Anagrams [ edit ]

• Heists , Sethis , heists , shiest , shites , sithes , thises

Dutch [ edit ]

From Latin thesis , from Ancient Greek θέσις ( thésis , “ a proposition, a statement, a thing laid down, thesis in rhetoric, thesis in prosody ” ) .

thesis   f ( plural theses or thesissen , diminutive thesisje   n )

• Dated form of these . Synonyms: dissertatie , proefschrift , scriptie

Latin [ edit ]

From Ancient Greek θέσις ( thésis , “ a proposition, a statement, a thing laid down, thesis in rhetoric, thesis in prosody ” ) .

• ( Classical ) IPA ( key ) : /ˈtʰe.sis/ , [ˈt̪ʰɛs̠ɪs̠]
• ( modern Italianate Ecclesiastical ) IPA ( key ) : /ˈte.sis/ , [ˈt̪ɛːs̬is]

thesis   f ( genitive thesis ) ; third declension

Declension [ edit ]

Descendants [ edit ].

• → Dutch: thesis
• → Armenian: թեզ ( tʿez )
• → Dutch: these
• → Persian: تز ( tez )
• → Romanian: teză
• → Turkish: tez
• Galician: tese
• Italian: tesi
• English: thesis
• Portuguese: tese
• Spanish: tesis
• “ thesis ”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary , Oxford: Clarendon Press
• thesis in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français , Hachette.

• English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
• English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *dʰeh₁-
• English terms inherited from Middle English
• English terms derived from Middle English
• English terms borrowed from Latin
• English terms derived from Latin
• English terms derived from Ancient Greek
• English doublets
• English 2-syllable words
• English terms with IPA pronunciation
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• English nouns with irregular plurals
• en:Rhetoric
• English terms with quotations
• en:Mathematics
• en:Computer science
• en:Philosophy
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• Dutch terms derived from Ancient Greek
• Dutch terms with audio links
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• Dutch nouns
• Dutch nouns with Latin plurals
• Dutch nouns with plural in -en
• Dutch feminine nouns
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• Latin terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
• Latin terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *dʰeh₁-
• Latin terms borrowed from Ancient Greek
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Definition of thesis

Did you know.

In high school, college, or graduate school, students often have to write a thesis on a topic in their major field of study. In many fields, a final thesis is the biggest challenge involved in getting a master's degree, and the same is true for students studying for a Ph.D. (a Ph.D. thesis is often called a dissertation ). But a thesis may also be an idea; so in the course of the paper the student may put forth several theses (notice the plural form) and attempt to prove them.

Examples of thesis in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'thesis.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

in sense 3, Middle English, lowering of the voice, from Late Latin & Greek; Late Latin, from Greek, downbeat, more important part of a foot, literally, act of laying down; in other senses, Latin, from Greek, literally, act of laying down, from tithenai to put, lay down — more at do

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a(1)

Dictionary Entries Near thesis

the sins of the fathers are visited upon the children

thesis novel

Cite this Entry

“Thesis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thesis. Accessed 13 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of thesis, more from merriam-webster on thesis.

Nglish: Translation of thesis for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of thesis for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about thesis

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a proposition stated or put forward for consideration, especially one to be discussed and proved or to be maintained against objections: He vigorously defended his thesis on the causes of war.

a subject for a composition or essay.

a dissertation on a particular subject in which one has done original research, as one presented by a candidate for a diploma or degree.

Music . the downward stroke in conducting; downbeat. : Compare arsis (def. 1) .

a part of a metrical foot that does not bear the ictus or stress.

(less commonly) the part of a metrical foot that bears the ictus. : Compare arsis (def. 2) .

Philosophy . See under Hegelian dialectic .

Origin of thesis

Word story for thesis, other words for thesis, words that may be confused with thesis.

• 1. antithesis , synthesis , thesis
• 2. dissertation , thesis

Words Nearby thesis

• shit will hit the fan, the
• shoe is on the other foot, the
• short end of the stick, the
• The show must go on
• thesis play
• thesis statement
• Sketch Book, The
• Skin of Our Teeth, The
• sky's the limit, the

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use thesis in a sentence

“The Saudis have been proving the thesis of the film — they do in fact have an army,” said Thor Halvorssen, founder and chief executive of the nonprofit Human Rights Foundation, which funded the movie.

It’s a hypothesis that Bush pursued in her master’s thesis , and last year she began attending virtual Goth parties in a final round of field work before defending her doctoral thesis later this year.

While this partnership was planned prior to the coronavirus outbreak, co-founder Jordana Kier said the pandemic instantly proved out the expansion thesis .

They’ve had to defend that thesis for a very, very long time in front of a variety of different customers and different people.

Over the past decade, In-Q-Tel has been one of the most active investors in the commercial space sector, with a broad investment thesis that touches many aspects of the sector.

In “Back Home,” Gil also revisits the nostalgia for the South explored in his Johns Hopkins thesis , “Circle of Stone.”

At least father and son were in alignment on this central thesis : acting “gay”—bad; being thought of as gay—bad.

Her doctoral thesis , says Ramin Takloo at the University of Illinois, was simply outstanding.

Marshall McLuhan long ago argued the now accepted thesis that different mediums have different influences on thinking.

He wrote his Master's thesis  on the underrepresentation of young people in Congress.

And indeed for most young men a college thesis is but an exercise for sharpening the wits, rarely dangerous in its later effects.

It will be for the reader to determine whether the main thesis of the book has gained or lost by the new evidence.

But the word thesis , when applied to Systems, does not mean the 'position' of single notes, but of groups of notes.

This conclusion, it need hardly be said, is in entire agreement with the main thesis of the preceding pages.

Sundry outlying Indians, with ammunition to waste, took belly and knee rests and strengthened the thesis to the contrary.

British Dictionary definitions for thesis

/ ( ˈθiːsɪs ) /

a dissertation resulting from original research, esp when submitted by a candidate for a degree or diploma

a doctrine maintained or promoted in argument

a subject for a discussion or essay

an unproved statement, esp one put forward as a premise in an argument

music the downbeat of a bar, as indicated in conducting

(in classical prosody) the syllable or part of a metrical foot not receiving the ictus : Compare arsis

philosophy the first stage in the Hegelian dialectic, that is challenged by the antithesis

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for thesis

The central idea in a piece of writing, sometimes contained in a topic sentence .

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Dictionary Definition of 'thesis'

A statement or theory that is put forward as a premise to be maintained or proved. "The thesis was published in an academic journal and received widespread recognition."

Detailed Meaning of 'thesis'

The thesis is typically a central idea or argument that is developed and presented in a written work, such as a dissertation or research paper. In higher education, a thesis is often a requirement for a graduate degree, such as a Master's or a PhD. The thesis is usually written under the supervision of a thesis advisor or mentor, and it presents original research or an original interpretation of existing research on a specific topic. The main purpose of a thesis is to contribute new knowledge and understanding to the field of study. It must be based on a rigorous research, the results must be presented in a logical and coherent manner and it must be written in a scholarly manner. Additionally, the thesis should demonstrate the student's ability to conduct independent research, to critically evaluate the existing literature, and to communicate their ideas effectively.

History and Etymology of 'thesis'

The noun 'thesis' has its etymological roots in ancient Greek. It is derived from the Greek word 'θέσις' (thésis), which means 'a setting down' or 'a position.' In the context of ancient Greece, 'thesis' was used to refer to a proposition or statement that was put forward as the basis of an argument or discussion. It represented a foundational idea or premise that was to be maintained or proved through reasoning and evidence. As the term entered the English language, it retained this fundamental sense and is now commonly used to describe a statement or theory that serves as the central point of an argument or research project. It embodies the concept of a position or assertion that is presented for examination and verification. Therefore, the etymology of 'thesis' underscores its use as a noun to denote a statement or theory set forth as a premise to be upheld or substantiated.

Examples of 'thesis' in a Sentence

1. She defended her thesis before a panel of expert examiners. 2. The conference featured presentations on a wide range of academic theses. 3. His groundbreaking thesis reshaped the field of quantum physics. 4. The thesis statement should encapsulate the main argument of your essay. 5. The thesis explored the intersection of art, culture, and identity in society. 6. The professor praised the student's thesis for its originality and depth. 7. His thesis explored the intersection of psychology and literature. 8. The defense of her thesis was a nerve-wracking but rewarding experience. 9. The thesis statement succinctly summarized the main argument of the paper. 10. The committee members engaged in a lively debate about the merits of the thesis. 11. The thesis proposed a new framework for understanding economic inequality. 12. After hours of editing, her thesis was finally ready for submission. 13. The library had an extensive collection of theses from various academic fields. 14. He was awarded a scholarship for his outstanding thesis on urban planning. 15. The thesis challenged existing theories and presented a fresh perspective. 16. The thesis project required extensive fieldwork and data analysis. 17. Her thesis was published in a reputable journal, gaining widespread recognition. 18. The thesis defense was attended by faculty members, peers, and family. 19. The thesis examined the historical context of the Renaissance art movement. 20. The graduate student presented her thesis findings at an international conference. 21. The thesis highlighted the need for further research in the field of genetics. 22. The thesis concluded with a call to action for policy changes in healthcare. 23. The advisor provided valuable guidance throughout the thesis writing process. 24. The thesis was a culmination of years of research and academic dedication.

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Definition of thesis noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

• Students must submit a thesis on an agreed subject within four years.
• He presented this thesis for his PhD.
• a thesis for a master's degree
• He's doing a doctoral thesis on the early works of Shostakovich.
• Many departments require their students to do a thesis defense.
• She completed an MSc by thesis.
• her thesis adviser at MIT
• in a/​the thesis
• thesis about

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Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

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the-; them-, themat-, thes-, thet-

(latin: placing, setting; to place, to put).

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Root Words | Definition, List & Examples

Published on 13 September 2023 by Kassiani Nikolopoulou .

A root word is the most basic form of a word that cannot be further divided into meaningful segments. Root words are used to form new words by adding letters at the beginning (i.e., a prefix) and/or the end (i.e., a suffix).

For example, the word “unfaithful” is made up of these different parts:

prefix        root word     suffix

By adding a suffix and/or a prefix to a root word like “faith”, we can make other words such as “faithful”, “faithfully”, “unfaithful”, and “unfaithfully”. These words are linked both in terms of spelling and meaning and are called a word family .

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Table of contents

What are root words, example root words, latin root words (free downloadable list), greek root words (free downloadable list), worksheet: root words, frequently asked questions about root words.

A root word is the fundamental unit of a word. A root word has nothing added at the beginning or the end. While some root words are standalone words in English, others need a prefix (like “anti-” or “un-”) and/or a suffix (like “-able” or “-ist”) to create a meaningful word.

For example, “cede” is a root word for other words like “recede” or “precedent”, but it is also a word on its own (meaning “to give up”). On the other hand, the root word “struct” does not constitute an understandable word in itself and other letters need to be added for it to make sense (e.g, “instructor”, “destruction”, “structural”).

Many words are created from Latin or Greek root words and usually cannot function as standalone words in English. For example, “chrono” comes from Greek and is the root of words like “chronology”, “synchronise”, and “chronic”, but it’s not a separate word in English.

Learning about root words can help you work out the meaning of new or longer words. When you know how to decode unknown words by identifying their root words and affixes (i.e., the prefix or suffix attached to them), you can navigate more complex or specialised texts. For example, many root words derived from Latin and Greek are common in math and science terminology, like “centi” (“hundred”) or “geo” (“earth”).

• When added at the beginning of the word, they are called prefixes . Common prefixes include: “an-” (“without”), anti- (“against”), “hyper-” (“over”), “non-” (“lack of”), “pre-” (“before”), and “post-” (“after”).
• When added at the end of the word, they are called suffixes . Common suffixes include: “-acy” (“state or quality”), “-able/-ible” (“capable of”), “-al” (“pertaining to”), “-ic/-ical” (“having the form”), and “-less” (“without”).

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Some root words can be used independently, while others need to be combined with a prefix (i.e., letters at the beginning), a suffix (i.e., letters at the end) or another root word (e.g., -logue) to form a standalone word.

Root words vs. base words

The terms root words and base words are often used interchangeably. However, they are not exactly the same. While root words cannot always be used as standalone words in English, base words can be used on their own or combined with other words or letters to create complex words.

For example, “code” is a base word that can be used independently or to create other words like “barcode”, “decode”, or “codify”. On the other hand, the root word “aud” (which comes from Latin) cannot be used by itself and has to be combined with other letters to form words like “auditorium”, “audition”, and “audible”. Because many root words are of Latin or Greek origin, they don’t make sense as independent words in English.

Sometimes, root words and base words overlap. For example, the word “act” is a root word of Latin origin, but also a standalone word in English. By adding a prefix or suffix, we get new words like “reaction”, “exact”, and “actor”. In this case, “act” is both a root word and a base word.

Below is a list containing common Latin root words, their meaning, and examples of words based on each root. You can also download this list in the format of your choice below.

Download PDF list Download Google Docs list

Below is a list containing common Greek root words, their meaning, and examples of words based on each root. You can also download this list in the format of your choice below.

Base words can stand alone, but can also be combined with other letters to create new words.

Want to test your understanding of root words? Try the worksheet below. In each sentence, see if you can identify the root word(s) of the highlighted word.

• Answers & explanation
• The hotel lost our reservation, and the receptionist was really unhelpful .
• We came to a unanimous decision that more staff is needed during peak hours.
• ANOVA is an abbreviation of “Analysis of Variance”.
• My father is agnostic when it comes to religious matters.
• One of the three aqueducts supplying water to the Los Angeles area is from the Colorado River.
• The root word is help . The word “unhelpful” is made of three parts: “un-” (prefix), ”help” (root word), and “ful” (suffix).
• The root word is anim . The word “unanimous” is made of two parts: “unus” (meaning “one” in Latin) and “animus” (meaning “spirit” or “mind” in Latin).
• The root word is brev . The word “abbreviation” comes from Latin “ad” (prefix meaning “to”) and “breviare” (“shorten”), from brevis (“short”).
• The root word is gnost . The word “agnostic” is made of three parts: “a” (prefix meaning “not” or “without”), “gnost” (root word meaning “to know” in Greek) and “ic” (suffix).
• This word contains two Latin root words: aqua (“water”) and duct (“to lead”).

Although there is no particular rule for finding the root of a word, one way to do this is to check if the word has any affixes (suffix and/or prefix) added to it.

For example, the word “hyperactive” has the prefix “hyper-” (meaning “over”) and the suffix “-ive” (meaning “having the nature of”). If we remove the affixes, we get the root word (“act”).

The root word “dorm” means “sleep” in Latin. So words with this root word will have a meaning related to sleep. For example, the words “dormant,” “dormitory,” and “dormouse” all come from the same root word.

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dissertation (n.)

1610s, "discussion, debate" (a sense now obsolete), from Late Latin dissertationem (nominative dissertatio ) "discourse," noun of action from past-participle stem of Latin dissertare "debate, argue, examine, harangue," frequentative of disserere "discuss, examine," from dis- "apart" (see dis- ) + serere "to join together, put in a row, arrange (words)," from PIE root *ser- (2) "to line up."

Sense of "formal, written treatise" is from 1650s. Meaning "research paper required as a final project for a Ph.D or other doctoral degree" is attested by 1877 in reference to continental universities; it was in use in the U.S. by 1890. Related: Dissertational . There is no regular verb to go with it: Dissert (1620s, from French disserter , from Latin dissertare ) is obsolete, and dissertate (1766) is marked "Unusual" in OED.

Entries linking to dissertation

word-forming element of Latin origin meaning 1. "lack of, not" (as in dishonest ); 2. "opposite of, do the opposite of" (as in disallow ); 3. "apart, away" (as in discard ), from Old French des- or directly from Latin dis- "apart, asunder, in a different direction, between," figuratively "not, un-," also "exceedingly, utterly." Assimilated as dif- before -f- and to di- before most voiced consonants.

The Latin prefix is from PIE *dis- "apart, asunder" (source also of Old English te- , Old Saxon ti- , Old High German ze- , German zer- ). The PIE root is a secondary form of *dwis- and thus is related to Latin bis "twice" (originally *dvis ) and to duo , on notion of "two ways, in twain" (hence "apart, asunder").

In classical Latin, dis- paralleled de- and had much the same meaning, but in Late Latin dis- came to be the favored form and this passed into Old French as des- , the form used for compound words formed in Old French, where it increasingly had a privative sense ("not"). In English, many of these words eventually were altered back to dis- , while in French many have been altered back to de- . The usual confusion prevails.

As a living prefix in English, it reverses or negatives what it is affixed to. Sometimes, as in Italian, it is reduced to s- (as in spend , splay , sport , sdain for disdain , and the surnames Spencer and Spence ).

Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to line up."

It forms all or part of: assert ; assertion ; assort ; consort ; desert (v.) "to leave one's duty;" desertion ; dissertation ; ensorcell ; exert ; exsert ; insert ; seriatim ; seriation ; series ; sermon ; serried ; sorcerer ; sorcery ; sort .

It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit sarat- "thread;" Greek eirein "to fasten together in rows;" Latin serere "to join, link, bind together," series "row, chain, series, sequence, succession;" Gothic sarwa (plural) "armor, arms;" Old Norse sörve "necklace of stringed pearls;" Old Irish sernaid "he joins together;" Welsh ystret "a row."

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Learning about the building blocks of words can help you make sense of unfamiliar words.

handy, capable of

destroy, get rid of

bitter, sharp, tart

inclined to, abounding in

characteristics of

sharp, keen, fierce

state of being something

sharp, keen, point

to, towards

attach to, add, give to

thing or person made by a certain process

possessing a quality

feel, perceive

influenced, strongly moved

to do something

leading, drawing forth

struggle, contest, conflict

field, country

do, act, drive

other, different

action, process

cause to grow, feed

of or relating to

walk, go around

both, around

state or condition

to be ...ed

of or pertaining to

mind, spirit

opposite, against

being in a state or condition

not, without

relating to

suitable, fit

think, judge

chief, principal

chest, coffer

burn, be on fire

pertaining to

to divide into small joints; speak clearly

skill, craft

person or thing belonging to

rough, harsh, roused to anger

possessing a certain quality

to make have a certain quality

act of doing something

state or quality of

of or belonging to

hear, listen to

diviner, seer

desire, be eager

forms a noun

to, towards, at

beat, pound

war, fighting

to treat in a certain way

strike, push

warm, be hot

be of brilliant whiteness

rule, straight rod, standard

taken, seized

take, seize

wagon, cart

burnt, red hot

swift, speedy

assessed, judged, rated

sift, perceive, decide

compete, strive, contend

sheet of paper

pure, without stain

around, about

moved, stirred up

clear, bright

mercy, mildness, calmness

sloping region; zone of the Earth; ladder

slope, hill

shut, close

shut, closed

cook, ripen

learn, know

with, together

suitable, convenient

common, public, general

celebration, fun

join, win over

hide, put away

come together, agree

horn, point

buffet, cuff, blow

believe, trust

burst, crack

grow, arise, increase

sift, discern, separate

shout out in complaint

fault, blame, guilt

ran, hurried

worry, anxiety, attention

become used to

circle, wheel

suitable, graceful, proper

destroy, wipe out

loss, penalty, injury

spirit, divine power

mocked, made fun of

through, across

apt at teaching

apart, not, away from

worthy, deserving

separate into parts

separated into parts, divided

feel pain, grieve, suffer

dragon, snake, serpent

hard, harsh

out of, from

having a particular state

temple, house

bring about, accomplish

doing something

that which is to be ...ed

made of, pertaining

around, near

wander, make a mistake

act or practice

becoming; beginning to be

fix the value of

little, diminutive

state or quality

enforce, demand

used for spelling and pronunciation

easy, easily accomplished

face, surface

trick, deceive, be in error

household, familiar group

weary, tire

foolish, silly, stupid

speak, talk, say

like, support

happy, lucky

boil, be hot

carry, bring, bear

feast, holidays

pretend, invent

trust, faith

form, shape

daughter, son

end, form a boundary

fastened, nailed, secured

struck, struck down

flow, stream, glide

hearth, fireplace

luck, chance

strong, vigorous, powerful

pour, pour out, spread out

broken, crushed

break, crush

repeated, constant

forehead, foremost part

fruit, enjoyment

shine, flash

full of, resembling

perform, complete

bottom, depths, basis

rage, be mad

check, restrain

innate quality, inborn talent

born, produced

kind, type, class

bud, embryo

bear, bring, carry

gathered into a ball-shaped mass

tongue, language

swallow, gulp down

line, stroke of a pen, letter

great, lofty, powerful

pleasing, welcome

heavy, serious, burdened

steer a ship

stick, cling, hold fast

cheerful, merry

human being, man

urge, encourage

tremble, dread, shudder

host, guest

over, above

under, below

of or connected with

characteristic of

belonging to

image, statue

one relating to

own, personal, private

image, likeness, shape

that which does something

produce, bring forth

tending to do or be something

likeness, idea

copy, resemble

command, provide leadership

impulse, attack

one who shows, forefinger

a or of a continuous action

whole, entire

between, within, among

be envious of

in, on, into

of the nature of

become angry

verging upon, somewhat

action or process of doing something

set of beliefs

distinctive trait of language

name of a certain system

characterized by

one who performs an action; believer

of or that which does something

make or treat in a certain way

throw, cast

join, attach, form a link

pertaining to the day, daily

joined, attached

swear, take an oath, law

young, young man

next to, beside

be sluggish, wilt, lack vigor

loosen, take one's ease

gathered, chosen

speak, read

bind, choose

gather, read

letter of the alphabet; document

light, of little weight

left behind, abandoned

it is permitted, one may

strike, harm

doorway, threshold

line, string, thread

flow, be liquid

letter of the alphabet

tie, bind, link

having spoken

study, science, theory

word, study, reason

talk, speak

struggle, fight against

light, brightness, clarity

play, trick

light, glow

illumine, brighten

wash, bathe

in a particular way or manner

plan, trick, artifice

large, long

ruler, leader

large, great

greater, larger

madness, frenzy

stay, remain

learn, understand

middle, in the middle, in half

blend, mingle, mix

great, large

remembering

fault, defect, lying

act of measuring

quality, condition

earned, gained, deserved

beyond, change

pass, proceed

one thousand

imitator, mimic

lean forward, threaten

lessen, make smaller

wrong, wrongly

active, quick

measure, method, manner

grind in a mill

of or resembling

one, single

showed, pointed out

warn, advise, remind

shape, form

custom, habit, manner

die, decay, death

gift, public service

delay, stay behind

change, alter

numbness, deadness

deny, say not

vigor, determination

state, quality, condition

tied, bound

harm, injure

well known, famous

law, custom

carpenter's square, pattern

gotten to know, found out

messenger, message, report

messenger, report

against, in the way

smear with oil

burden, load

think, suppose

wish, choose

to, towards, against

wealth, abundance

sight, view

order, row, series

furnished with organs

one who does something

rise, begin

full of, having

state; process; condition

possessing the nature of

sharp, keen

fasten, drive in

stroke, caress, touch

beside, alongside

come to sight

make, prepare

suffer, endure

dough, paste

feeling, disease

stumble, sin

hang, weigh

almost, nearly

around, near, about

seek, attack, go for

cause to appear, show

saying, speech

voice, sound

paint, portray

pile, pillar

pierce, prick

attempt, attack

pit, kernel

pity, right conduct

cleanse, make honest

please, suit, be acceptable

mourn for, beat

plant, sprout

flat, broad

applaud, clap

applaud, strike

smooth, refine, polish

weigh, consider

part, share, division

harbor, port

placed, put

have or take control of

pause, temporary halt

capable, powerful

specify, place

worth, price

having prayed or entreated

seize hold of

seized hold of

before, in front

previous, in front

without, individual

prove, test, approve

pleasingly inclined

proper, fitting, one's own

next, nearest

pointed, stabbed, pierced

point, pierce, prick

rotten, stinking, decaying

think, consider

know, learn

of what kind?

complain, protest

rested, stilled, calmed

seek, strive for

rest, be still, stay calm

who, what, which

be rotten, stink

snatch, grab, seize

loose-knit, spaced thinly

scrape, scratch

ruled, guided, put right

back, again

rule, guide, direct

stay put, stand still

place for; thing used for

oak, strength

chew, eat away

ask, request

unskilled, untaught

sacred, holy

perceive keenly

health, safety

leap, spring forward, jump

in good taste, wise

climb, mount

form, shape, manner

split, division

probe, examine

ring, circle

sit, settle, rest

felt, sensed, perceived

feel, sense, perceive

old man, elder, old

clear, untroubled

keep, guard, save

wait on, serve

strict, grave

hiss, whistle

mark, seal, sign

pretend, copy, imitate

curve, fold, hollow

examine, consider

be in the habit of

whole, firm

having a certain quality

wise, clever

distance, area

see, observe, look, watch over

see, look at, observe

scatter, besprinkle

bright, shining

pledge, promise

seed, a sowing, a scattering

pledged, promised

stand, stand still

standing, standing still

mark, brand, tattoo-mark

set up, decided

covering, spread

drawn tight, confined

draw tight, tighten, confine

build, construct

become dazed, be amazed

make sweet, urge

under, from below

highest, topmost

taken up, put on

take up, put on

board, plank

silent, quiet

stained, dyed

touch, affect

arrange, put in order

skill, art, craft

cover, shield, protect

regulate, modify

stretch, stretch out

stretched, stretched out

boundary, end, limit

earth, land

witness, proof, indicator

proposition, idea put forth

relating to a process or state

fear, be afraid

prick, quench

touch, reach, affect

label, title, description

raise, endure

be stiff, be numb

twisted, wound, wrapped

across, through

shake, tremble

alarmed, fearful

divided, granted, given credit

entangle, make difficulties

rubbed, worn away

nourishment, food

turn, change

thrust, push

trunk, removed by chopping

thrusted, pushed

swell,disturbance, uproar

confusion, turmoil, disorder

beat, blunt, deaden the senses

protect, catch sight of

blow, impression, form

state; quality

rich in, full of

repeated activity

shadow, shade

not, opposite of

shows actions or results

active during a given period

useful, practical

wander, roam, rove

be strong, be of value

from before

empty, illusory

steam, spoiled, flat

different, diverse

go, proceed, advance

carry, bring

worship, revere, honor

get even, revenge

clothing, garments

old, long-standing

see, look at

shake, quickly move to and fro

instead of, change

see, take care

see, perceive

act, be lively

conquer, win

avenger, defender, revenge

excellence of character

entrails, internal organs

flaw, defect

road, way, journey

called, called upon

call, call upon

fly, move swiftly, speed

rolled, wrapped up

roll, wrap up, turn round

promise, pledge

make common, publish

pluck, tear up

towards a place

desolate, laid waste

eager rivalry, fierceness

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• Language rules

Root Words | Definition, List & Examples

Published on September 13, 2023 by Kassiani Nikolopoulou .

A root word is the most basic form of a word that cannot be further divided into meaningful segments. Root words are used to form new words by adding letters at the beginning (i.e., a prefix) and/or the end (i.e., a suffix).

For example, the word “unfaithful” is made up of these different parts:

prefix        root word     suffix

By adding a suffix and/or a prefix to a root word like “faith,” we can make other words such as “faithful,” “faithfully,” “unfaithful,” and “unfaithfully . ” These words are linked both in terms of spelling and meaning and are called a word family .

Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text

Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes

Table of contents

What are root words, example root words, latin root words (free downloadable list), greek root words (free downloadable list), worksheet: root words, frequently asked questions about root words.

A root word is the fundamental unit of a word. A root word has nothing added at the beginning or the end. While some root words are standalone words in English, others need a prefix (like “anti-” or “un-”) and/or a suffix (like “-able” or “-ist”) to create a meaningful word.

For example, “cede” is a root word for other words like “recede” or “precedent,” but it is also a word on its own (meaning “to give up”). On the other hand, the root word “struct” does not constitute an understandable word in itself and other letters need to be added for it to make sense (e.g, “instructor,” “destruction,” “structural”).

Many words are created from Latin or Greek root words and usually cannot function as standalone words in English. For example, “chrono” comes from Greek and is the root of words like “chronology,” “synchronize,” and “chronic,” but it’s not a separate word in English.

Learning about root words can help you work out the meaning of new or longer words. When you know how to decode unknown words by identifying their root words and affixes (i.e., the prefix or suffix attached to them), you can navigate more complex or specialized texts. For example, many root words derived from Latin and Greek are common in math and science terminology, like “centi” (“hundred”) or “geo” (“earth”).

• When added at the beginning of the word, they are called prefixes . Common prefixes include: “an-” (“without”), anti- (“against”), “hyper-” (“over”), “non-” (“lack of”), “pre-” (“before”), and “post-” (“after”).
• When added at the end of the word, they are called suffixes . Common suffixes include: “-acy” (“state or quality”), “-able/-ible” (“capable of”), “-al” (“pertaining to”), “-ic/-ical” (“having the form”), and “-less” (“without”).

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Some root words can be used independently, while others need to be combined with a prefix (i.e., letters at the beginning), a suffix (i.e., letters at the end) or another root word (e.g., -logue) to form a standalone word.

Root words vs. base words

The terms root words and base words are often used interchangeably. However, they are not exactly the same. While root words cannot always be used as standalone words in English, base words can be used on their own or combined with other words or letters to create complex words.

For example, “code” is a base word that can be used independently or to create other words like “barcode,” “decode,” or “codify.” On the other hand, the root word “aud” (which comes from Latin) cannot be used by itself and has to be combined with other letters to form words like “auditorium,” “audition,” and “audible.” Because many root words are of Latin or Greek origin, they don’t make sense as independent words in English.

Sometimes, root words and base words overlap. For example, the word “act” is a root word of Latin origin, but also a standalone word in English. By adding a prefix or suffix, we get new words like “reaction,” “exact,” and “actor.” In this case, “act” is both a root word and a base word.

Below is a list containing common Latin root words, their meaning, and examples of words based on each root. You can also download this list in the format of your choice below.

Download PDF list Download Google Docs list

Below is a list containing common Greek root words, their meaning, and examples of words based on each root. You can also download this list in the format of your choice below.

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Base words can stand alone, but can also be combined with other letters to create new words.

Want to test your understanding of root words? Try the worksheet below. In each sentence, see if you can identify the root word(s) of the highlighted word.

• Answers & explanation
• The hotel lost our reservation, and the receptionist was really unhelpful .
• We came to a unanimous decision that more staff is needed during peak hours.
• ANOVA is an abbreviation of “Analysis of Variance”.
• My father is agnostic when it comes to religious matters.
• One of the three aqueducts supplying water to the Los Angeles area is from the Colorado River.
• The root word is help . The word “unhelpful” is made of three parts: “un-” (prefix), ”help” (root word), and “ful” (suffix).
• The root word is anim . The word “unanimous” is made of two parts: “unus” (meaning “one” in Latin) and “animus” (meaning “spirit” or “mind” in Latin).
• The root word is brev . The word “abbreviation” comes from Latin “ad” (prefix meaning “to”) and “breviare” (“shorten”), from brevis (“short”).
• The root word is gnost . The word “agnostic” is made of three parts: “a” (prefix meaning “not” or “without”), “gnost” (root word meaning “to know” in Greek) and “ic” (suffix).
• This word contains two Latin root words: aqua (“water”) and duct (“to lead”).

Although there is no particular rule for finding the root of a word, one way to do this is to check if the word has any affixes (suffix and/or prefix) added to it.

For example, the word “hyperactive” has the prefix “hyper-” (meaning “over”) and the suffix “-ive” (meaning “having the nature of”). If we remove the affixes, we get the root word (“act”).

The root word “dorm” means “sleep” in Latin. So words with this root word will have a meaning related to sleep. For example, the words “dormant,” “dormitory,” and “dormouse” all come from the same root word.

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Root Words – Definition, Types & List With Examples

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Root words are like the secret ingredients in a recipe for language. Just a few basic ingredients can create various dishes, these words are the building blocks that make up countless other words. By getting to know them, we unlock a world of new words and meanings, much like discovering new flavors in cooking. Understanding them is crucial for students to enhance their vocabulary and grasp language rules effectively.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• 1 Root words in a nutshell
• 2 Definition: Root words
• 3 Examples of root words
• 4 Types of root words
• 5 Base words vs. root words
• 7 Benefits of learning root words

Root words in a nutshell

Root words are the simplest, most basic form of words in a language, serving as the foundation from which other words are built by adding affixes . They encapsulate the essential meaning of a word and are key to understanding and expanding your vocabulary.

Definition: Root words

Root words are the basic, core units of meaning in a language from which other words are formed, derived from Latin, Greek, and other languages. Roots are the base part of words from which other words grow, usually through the addition of prefixes (beginnings) and suffixes (endings). They carry the core meaning of the word and cannot be broken down any further. Additionally, they function as a type of morpheme (small part of a word) with a distinct meaning.

For example, in the word “unhappy,” “ happy ” is the root, which means a state of joy or contentment, and “un” is a prefix added to indicate the opposite. Roots can be standalone words or not stand on their own. Understanding these words can help you decipher unfamiliar words, with the same roots, also called word families, and enhance one’s grasp of the language.

Examples of root words

These examples of root words show the basis for many words in the English language, illustrating how understanding them can significantly expand your vocabulary and make sense of unfamiliar words.

Types of root words

Root words are primarily categorized based on their origin, with the most common types being those derived from Latin and Greek languages. These diverse roots highlight the complexity and richness of the language, demonstrating how it has evolved over centuries to incorporate and adapt words from across the globe. Here’s a closer look at these types:

Latin root words

Many English words derive from Latin, the language of Ancient Rome. Latin roots form the basis for numerous words, especially in academic, legal, and scientific terminology.

Example: “Scrib/Scrip”

The Latin root “scrib” means “write,” leading English words like “de scrib e,” or “manu scrip t.”

Common Latin roots

Common roots derived from Latin include the following:

To help you dive deeper into the world of Latin roots and see how they shape the English language, we’ve put together a handy list for you to download. This list shows Latin roots, their meanings, and sample words that are derived from them.

Greek root words

Greek roots have significantly influenced the English language, especially in the fields of science, medicine, philosophy, and arts. These roots words form the foundation of a multitude of English words, offering insights into their definitions .

Example: “Graph-”

The Greek root word “ graph -“ which means “write” or “drawing,” leading English words like “auto graph ,” or “ graph ite.”

Common Greek roots

Some common Greek roots are illustrated below:

Similar to the Latin root download list we offered earlier, we’ve also prepared a comprehensive guide focusing on Greek roots. This list shows common Greek roots with their meaning, along with derived words.

Hybrid roots

Some of these words are formed from a combination of roots from different languages, often Latin and Greek. These hybrid words are particularly common in scientific and technical vocabularies.

Example: “Television”

• Tele-: This prefix comes from the Greek and means “far.” It is commonly used in English to denote distance or operating over a distance, as seen in words like “ tele phone” (sound from far away).
• -vision: This part of the word comes from the Latin “visio,” meaning “sight.” It is derived from “videre,” the Latin verb “to see.” This root is found in many English words related to seeing, such as “ vis ual,” or “ vis it.”

Anglo Saxon roots

English, with its rich linguistic history, includes many words that are derived directly from Old English roots, forming the backbone of the everyday language. These root words are foundational and often denote basic concepts, objects, or actions.

Example: “Friend” 

A friend is a person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically one exclusive of family relations. Other words derived from this root are “ friend ship,” or “ friend ly.”

Slavic roots

Though less common, Slavic roots have entered English through direct borrowing or via other European languages. These roots are often found in words related to specific cultural concepts, foods, or political terms.

Example: “Robota”

“Robot” comes from the Czech and Polish word “robota,” meaning forced labor, introduced into English through a play in the early 20th century. A derived word is, i.e., “ robot .”

Semitic roots

English has absorbed some Semitic roots, particularly from Hebrew and Arabic, through religious, scientific, and mathematical contexts.

Example: “Al-kuhl”

An example is “ alcohol ,” which comes from the Arabic “ al-kuhl ,” referring to a finely provided, and by extension, the essence or spirit of something.

Root words that can standalone

Root words that can stand alone as independent words are also known as free morphemes . These are complete words with distinct meanings, and can also serve as the base for creating more complex words through the addition of prefixes and suffixes.

Base words vs. root words

Root words and base words are oftentimes used interchangeably, even though they are not exactly the same. They function as the fundamental units of a word, to which prefixes and suffixes can be added to create new words. Root words stand on their own with clear meaning and are often used as the starting point for word information in English. Unlike root words, which may not always stand alone as coherent words in modern usage, base words are always standalone words with complete meanings.

Base word : “ play ”

With suffix : “ play ful”

With prefix : “re play ”

Here are some further examples of base words:

Affixes are elements added to the base of a word to modify its meaning or create a new word. They play a crucial role in the morphology of a language, which is the study of the form and structure of words. Affixes can be categorized into prefixes, suffixes, and infixes.

A prefix is a type of affix which is placed before the base form of a word to modify its meaning or create a new word. Prefixes can alter the meaning of the root word in various ways, such as by negating it, indicating repetition, or describing a relationship. Unlike suffixes, which can change the part of speech of a word, prefixes typically do not alter the word class but modify the word’s semantic meaning.

• Re- (again)
• Dis- (not, opposite of)
• Pre- (before)
• Mis- (wrongly)
• Over- (too much)

Common Latin prefixes

Latin prefixes are widespread in English and contribute to the richness of the language. Below, you’ll encounter some common Latin prefixes:

Common Greek prefixes

Greek prefixes, like their Latin counterparts, play a significant role in English, particularly in medical, technical, and scientific technology. Below, you will find some examples.

Another type of affix, the suffix, is a letter or a group of letters added to the end of a word to alter its meaning or form a new word. It oftentimes alters its grammatical function, such as changing a verb to a noun, a noun to an adjective , and so on. Further, they can indicate tense, part of speech , and plurality.

• Noun suffixes: -tion, -ment
•  Adjective suffixes: -able, -ful
•  Verb suffixes: -ize, -ate
•  Adverb suffixes: -ly

Common Latin suffixes

In the table below, we have put together some common Latin suffixes for you, since they play a crucial role in academic writing .

Common Greek suffixes

Greek suffixes, much like Latin ones, have had a profound impact on the English language, especially in the realms of science, astrology, or medicine.

An infix is inserted into the middle of a word and are relatively rare in English but are found in other languages with specific grammatical or phonological functions. This is not a part of formal English grammar but rather an example of informal, expressive language.

“abso- bloody -lutely”

Benefits of learning root words

Learning root words is not just about expanding vocabulary; it’s a tool for unlocking the richness of language, enhancing cognitive skills, and opening doors to greater academic, professional, and personal growth. These words could elevate the expression and composition of your thesis , academic paper, or dissertation .

Vocabulary expansion

Root words serve as the foundation for several other words and by understanding them, you can unlock the meaning of numerous derivatives. This knowledge increases your vocabulary without the need to memorize each word individually and helps to prevent repetition and redundancy  in your writing.

Critical thinking

Analyzing words to identify their roots actively encourages critical thinking and sharpens analytical skills. It transforms passive reading and listening into active linguistic investigation, fostering a more profound engagement with language.

Spelling & pronunciation

Learning the origin of words is crucial when it comes to spelling and pronunciation , particularly those that are complex or less familiar. Understanding the components of a word provides clues to its correct pronunciation and helps to avoid spelling mistakes .

What is the difference between a traditional and a modern root?

Traditional roots come from ancient languages like Latin and Greek, while modern roots are based on newer words and concepts.

What are examples of root words?

• Aqua – (Latin for “water”): Aqua rium, aqua plane
• Bio – (Greek for “life”): Bio logy, bio degradable
• Chron – (Greek for “time”): Chron ological, syn chron ize

Do all words have a root?

No, not all words possess a root. Many words are basic or original forms that do not derive from a root. This includes simple nouns , verbs , adjectives , and adverbs , that cannot be broken down any further into smaller meaningful units.

What are common Latin roots?

Common Latin roots include:

• Aqua- ( Auqa rium)
• Dict- (Pre dict )
• Vis- ( Vis ion)
• Port- (Re port )
• Scrib- (De scrib e)

What are common Greek roots?

Common Greek roots include the following:

• Anthropo- ( Anthropo logy)
• Bio- ( Bio logy)
• Geo- ( Geo logy)
• Phon- (Tele phon e)
• Photo- ( Photo graphy)

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Watch This Airport Karen Meet Her Match During a Spirit Airlines Confrontation

This spirit airline employee gets the last words with a passenger – and they're not nice..

You know the feeling: You arrive at the airport nearly two hours early only to end up dashing to your gate like an Olympic sprinter minutes before your flight because the person in front of you in the security line just doesn’t want to part with that 5-ounce shampoo bottle in their carry-on.

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All of that stress makes airports natural hotbeds for tension, which is probably why there have been way too many viral videos of airport conflicts to count. Remember this one at the Spirit Airlines counter in Fort Lauderdale after flights were cancelled?

This week, a passenger captured another tense encounter between a Spirit Airlines employee and a passenger at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. And while it wasn’t nearly as violent, the video, posted by @sightssoundsflavors , has received over 8 million views to date.

It’s unclear what started the confrontation between the two women, but in the clip, a visibly annoyed airline employee asks a passenger for her boarding pass in a not so nice way. When the passenger complies, the employee is seen furiously writing down information from her ticket. The Spirit employee then encourages other passengers to walk around her, saying, “She’s not going anywhere.”

But then, the frustrated passenger appears to have had enough.

“I will not miss my flight because of you,” she is heard saying in the clip.

The passenger tries to move ahead in the line, only to be blocked by the Spirit employee. The employee writes a little more and then storms off leaving the passenger with a few parting words: “F*ck you too,” she says as she walks off.

It’s not unreasonable to assume the passenger was the first to drop the F-word, which would naturally set anyone off. But the narrator of the video says he believes the employee took the situation too far. He accused her of being on a power trip, hoping to make the passenger think she was going to miss her flight. And some in the comments agreed.

“I don’t know the situation, but when you’re working, you can never lose it like this, even though you want to,” someone posted.

We don’t know whether or not the passenger was allowed to board her flight or if she had any further encounters with airline staff. But we do know that if you ever find yourself flying Spirit Airlines through Fort Lauderdale, make sure you pack your patience.

13 slang words Gen Zers are using in 2024 and what they really mean

• Just like the generations before them, Gen Z uses an extensive list of slang words.
• "Bussin'," "ick," and "mid" are popular among Gen Zers.
• Social media helps slang spread rapidly, but proper credit is often lost along the way.

Just like fashion, slang goes in and out of style.

Think about it: When was the last time you heard anyone say "YOLO," "da bomb," or "tubular" unironically?

Social media has made it even harder to keep up with the trends, as anyone and everyone can share and adopt others' use of language.

John Baugh , a linguist at Washington University in St. Louis, told Business Insider last year, "Even though slang has always existed, the emergence of social media has created a situation where the potential for slang virality has increased."

While this can be an exciting opportunity for people to connect and bond over language, one major issue is appropriation. Many of the slang words attributed to Gen Z — defined by the Pew Research Center as anyone born between 1997 and 2012 — were created by members of marginalized communities, most notably Black and LGBTQ+ communities, which often aren't credited for their contributions.

The language is shared online in circles of people who understand its nuance, and it's later appropriated by those who don't know where it came from or fully understand how to use it. And it's easy for those who created it to see when it's being used incorrectly.

Brands or publications trying to attract attention from Gen Z, therefore, need to take care when using slang — at best, they could make a cringey mistake; at worst, they could offend people.

Gen Z values authenticity more than older generations did. Chad Kessler, who was then the global brand president at American Eagle, told BI in 2019, "Gen Z wants to support and participate in brands that they believe in and that reflect them."

He added: "They are loyal to brands that they feel understand them and reflect their values."

As slang continues to evolve daily in person and on the internet, all these words and phrases are subject to their respective ends, when they're axed from public use and deemed "uncool."

But at least for now, here are 13 slang terms Gen Z is using in 2024 and what they mean.

If you're told to do something "for the plot," it means to do it for the experience.

Saying "for the plot" is a fun way for Gen Z to encourage each other to do the crazy, fun things that make storytelling fun when you're older.

Urban Dictionary defines "for the plot" as "the conscious decision to see yourself as the main character of the story that is your life," adding: "You maintain the outlook that every moment — good or bad — is merely a plot point for your larger narrative."

Whether you swipe right on Tinder or go out spontaneously on a Tuesday night, it's all about the plot.

Still popular from 2023, someone with "rizz" has charisma.

It's true, Gen Z has an affinity for abbreviations.

A person with "rizz" is confident, charming, and generally successful in romantic endeavors.

An "ick" is a turnoff.

Ah, the ick . The term first gained widespread popularity years ago after the "Love Island" contestant Olivia Attwood (now Olivia Attwood Dack) used it during season three, but "the ick" remains a staple in Gen Z's vocabulary.

If someone gives you "the ick," it means they've turned you off, either through their actions or behaviors or something they said.

BI reported "icks" could come from actions as small as using the "wrong" emoji in conversation to as large as treating a service-industry worker poorly.

It's all about personal preference.

If someone lives "rent-free" in your mind, you think about them a lot.

They're taking up so much space in your mind that they might as well be paying rent.

Though often associated with specific people like a crush or celebrity, the phrase can also apply to events. For example, someone may say "Beychella" (Beyoncé's iconic 2018 Coachella performance) lives rent-free in their mind.

"Mother" is a popular term of endearment for female celebrities that originated in LGBTQ+ communities.

The New York Times reported last year that the term came from the Black and Latino LGBTQ+ ballroom scene, "a queer subculture in which members are organized into so-called houses often led by a 'mother.'"

"Mother" is a woman deserving of your respect who's had a profound influence on your life.

But who is "mother" depends on whom you ask. For some, it's Diana Ross. For others, it's Rihanna. The internet would argue it's also Reneé Rapp, Mariah Carey, Lana Del Rey — the list goes on.

Michaela Jaé Rodriguez played a house mother in the groundbreaking series "Pose" and told The New York Times that "anyone should be able to use a term that is trending" but that it's important to know where it came from.

"The boundaries are knowing where it came from, always letting the world know where the culture came from," she added.

If a person "ate," they executed something flawlessly.

Often associated with fashion and beauty, saying someone "ate" is a way of expressing they look amazing and did a great job.

Look at almost any picture of Zendaya on the red carpet , and it'd be correct to say, "She ate."

"Left no crumbs" is a continuation of "ate" that's used as additional emphasis.

If you hear "she ate," you may often hear "and left no crumbs" immediately after.

The additional phrase helps emphasize how perfect the person's execution was, though it can be used on its own, too.

For example, " Blake Lively ate and left no crumbs at the 2022 Met Gala ." That means she executed the theme perfectly — everything from her dress to her glam to the presentation on the red carpet was flawless.

"Bussin'" or "buss" means it's very good.

Often used to describe food, "bussin'" is a word that originated in the Black community and means extremely good or delicious, per Merriam-Webster .

So if your kid says dinner tonight was "bussin'," just know you did a great job.

Something is "mid" if it falls short of expectations.

Whether it's a dress on the red carpet, a new TV show, or a pasta recipe, something that's "mid" is mediocre.

BI reported that Kaley Cuoco's 2024 Critics Choice Awards gown missed the mark , so it could also be described as mid.

Another way to say focus is "lock in."

You can "lock in" on an assignment, cleaning your apartment, or even a video game.

"Let him cook" means don't stop him from doing his thing.

While NC State ultimately lost to Purdue in the Final Four, DJ Burns Jr. was a standout in the 2024 March Madness tournament.

His coaches clearly saw how impactful his performance was in their tournament run and decided to "let him cook," upping his average minutes from 24.8 a game in the regular season to 28.2 in their five games of the tournament, per ESPN .

Why call yourself delusional when you can say "delulu"?

As we've already established, Gen Z loves abbreviations.

"Delulu" simply means delusional.

Rapp, a 24-year-old Gen Zer, famously told the "Today" show last year that what gave her confidence was delusion. She followed up on her comments in Gem Magazine this year, saying, "It's so interesting because I feel like delusion is cute now. Delusion is becoming slay. It's very funny and silly."

"It's just a weird, innate belief in myself," Rapp added, "and a real hunger to do something that I love so much. So I think delusion is like my little BFF. It's got me where I am right now."

As the kids say, delulu is the solulu.

(Delusion is the solution).

"Sus" is short for suspicious.

"Love Is Blind" fans know that Sarah Ann Bick's and Jeramey Lutinski's behavior on season six was sus.

Like Chelsea Blackwell said in the reunion, who really stays out talking to someone — who's not their fiancé — until 5 a.m.? And can you really trust someone who lies about their location even after they've shared it? Didn't think so.

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