70+ List of Latin Root Words: Use These to Improve Your Vocabulary

means “water”

• ☆aquarium, a tank for keeping water animals
• ☆aquatic, living or growing in water
• ☆aqueduct, a channel for carrying water
• ☆aquamarine, a pale blue-green color or gem

means “hear, listen”

• ☆audible, able to be heard
• ☆audience, a group of listeners or viewers
• ☆auditorium, a hall for listening to performances
• ☆audition, a trial performance

means “good, well”

• ☆benefit, an advantage or good result
• ☆benevolent, kind and generous
• ☆benefactor, a person who gives help or money
• ☆benediction, the utterance of a blessing

means “bad, evil”

• ☆malice, the desire to harm others
• ☆malignant, harmful; likely to spread and worsen
• ☆malfunction, a failure to work correctly
• ☆malevolent, wishing harm to others

means “say, speak”

• ☆predict, to say what will happen in advance
• ☆contradict, to say the opposite
• ☆dictionary, a reference of words and meanings
• ☆verdict, a decision spoken by a jury

means “lead”

• ☆conduct, to lead or direct
• ☆produce, to bring forth or make
• ☆aqueduct, a channel that leads water
• ☆educate, to lead someone to knowledge

means “carry, bear”

• ☆transfer, to carry from one place to another
• ☆refer, to direct attention to a source
• ☆conifer, a cone-bearing tree
• ☆prefer, to like one thing more than another

means “shape”

• ☆transform, to change the shape or nature of
• ☆uniform, always the same in form
• ☆conform, to match an accepted form
• ☆reform, to change into an improved form

means “break”

• ☆fragment, a small broken-off piece
• ☆fragile, easily broken
• ☆fracture, a break, especially in bone
• ☆fraction, a part broken off from a whole

means “throw”

• ☆reject, to throw back or refuse
• ☆inject, to force fluid in
• ☆project, to throw or cast forward
• ☆eject, to throw out forcefully

means “join”

• ☆junction, a point where things join
• ☆conjunction, a word that joins clauses
• ☆injunction, a court order to do or stop something
• ☆juncture, a critical joining point in time

means “place”

• ☆location, a particular place
• ☆local, relating to a nearby place
• ☆dislocate, to move out of place
• ☆relocate, to move to a new place

means “light”

• ☆lucid, clear and easy to understand
• ☆translucent, letting light pass through partly
• ☆illuminate, to light up
• ☆elucidate, to make clear; explain

means “hand”

• ☆manual, done by hand
• ☆manufacture, to make goods (originally by hand)
• ☆manuscript, a document written by hand
• ☆manicure, cosmetic care of the hands

means “mother”

• ☆maternal, relating to a mother
• ☆maternity, the state of being a mother
• ☆matriarch, a female head of a family
• ☆matrimony, the state of marriage

means “father”

• ☆paternal, relating to a father
• ☆patriarch, a male head of a family or tribe
• ☆patriot, a person who loves their homeland
• ☆patron, a person who supports or protects

means “send”

• ☆transmit, to send across
• ☆submit, to send in or yield
• ☆emit, to send out
• ☆omit, to leave out

means “send”

• ☆mission, a task someone is sent to do
• ☆dismiss, to send away
• ☆missile, an object sent through the air as a weapon
• ☆permission, consent that lets something be sent or done

means “death”

• ☆mortal, subject to death
• ☆immortal, living forever
• ☆mortuary, a place where bodies are kept
• ☆mortician, an undertaker

means “born, birth”

• ☆native, belonging to a place by birth
• ☆natal, relating to birth
• ☆prenatal, before birth
• ☆innate, present from birth; inborn

means “name”

• ☆nominate, to name as a candidate
• ☆nominal, in name only
• ☆nomenclature, a system of names
• ☆misnomer, a wrong or unsuitable name

means “drive, push”

• ☆expel, to drive out
• ☆propel, to drive forward
• ☆impulse, a sudden driving urge
• ☆compel, to force or drive to act

means “hang, weigh”

• ☆pendant, a hanging ornament
• ☆suspend, to hang or halt temporarily
• ☆pendulum, a weight swinging from a fixed point
• ☆depend, to rely on; hang upon

means “carry”

• ☆transport, to carry from place to place
• ☆portable, able to be carried
• ☆export, to carry goods out to sell abroad
• ☆import, to carry goods in from abroad

means “put, place”

• ☆position, the place where something is put
• ☆compose, to put together
• ☆deposit, to put down or store
• ☆expose, to put out into view

means “break, burst”

• ☆rupture, a break or burst
• ☆erupt, to burst out
• ☆interrupt, to break into or stop
• ☆disrupt, to break apart or throw into disorder

means “write”

• ☆describe, to write or tell about
• ☆prescribe, to write out a directive, as for medicine
• ☆subscribe, to sign up by writing one's name
• ☆scribble, to write hastily or carelessly

means “written”

• ☆manuscript, a handwritten document
• ☆transcript, a written copy
• ☆scripture, sacred writings
• ☆postscript, a note written after a letter's signature

means “cut”

• ☆dissect, to cut apart for study
• ☆intersect, to cut across each other
• ☆bisect, to cut into two parts
• ☆section, a cut-off part of a whole

means “feel”

• ☆sensation, a physical feeling
• ☆sensitive, quick to feel or respond
• ☆sensory, relating to the senses
• ☆consensus, general agreement or shared feeling

means “look, see”

• ☆inspect, to look at closely
• ☆spectator, a person who watches
• ☆spectacle, a striking sight
• ☆respect, to look at with regard (literally 'look back at')

means “build”

• ☆construct, to build
• ☆structure, something built or arranged
• ☆instruct, to teach; build up knowledge
• ☆destruction, the act of tearing down

means “touch”

• ☆contact, the state of touching
• ☆tactile, relating to the sense of touch
• ☆intact, whole and untouched
• ☆tangible, able to be touched or felt

means “pull, draw”

• ☆attract, to pull toward
• ☆extract, to pull out
• ☆tractor, a vehicle that pulls loads
• ☆distract, to pull attention away

means “come”

• ☆invent, to create; come upon something new
• ☆prevent, to stop from coming or happening
• ☆convene, to come together
• ☆event, something that comes to pass

means “turn”

• ☆convert, to turn into something else
• ☆reverse, to turn the other way
• ☆introvert, a person turned inward
• ☆divert, to turn aside

means “see”

• ☆vision, the sense of sight
• ☆visible, able to be seen
• ☆revise, to look at again and improve
• ☆supervise, to oversee

means “call, voice”

• ☆vocal, relating to the voice
• ☆vocation, a calling or occupation
• ☆advocate, a person who speaks for a cause
• ☆provoke, to call forth a reaction

means “walk”

• ☆ambulance, a vehicle for the sick or injured
• ☆amble, to walk at a slow, easy pace
• ☆ambulatory, able to walk about
• ☆somnambulist, a sleepwalker

means “take, seize”

• ☆capture, to take by force
• ☆captive, a person taken and held
• ☆caption, a heading that captures a picture's meaning
• ☆captivate, to seize the attention of

means “take, receive”

• ☆accept, to take or receive willingly
• ☆intercept, to take or stop on the way
• ☆concept, an idea taken in the mind
• ☆reception, the act of receiving

means “go, yield”

• ☆precede, to go before
• ☆recede, to go back
• ☆concede, to yield or give in
• ☆secede, to formally withdraw

means “go, yield”

• ☆process, a series of steps that go forward
• ☆access, a means of going in
• ☆recess, a break; a going back
• ☆procession, a group moving forward in order

means “believe, trust”

• ☆credit, trust that allows delayed payment
• ☆incredible, too hard to believe
• ☆credential, proof that earns trust
• ☆creed, a statement of beliefs

means “run”

• ☆cursor, a moving marker on a screen
• ☆excursion, a short trip or run out
• ☆precursor, something that runs ahead of another
• ☆cursive, flowing, running handwriting

means “hard, lasting”

• ☆durable, able to last a long time
• ☆endure, to last or bear hardship
• ☆duration, the time something lasts
• ☆obdurate, stubbornly hardened

means “faith, trust”

• ☆fidelity, faithfulness
• ☆confide, to trust with a secret
• ☆confident, sure and trusting in oneself
• ☆infidel, one without the accepted faith

means “flow”

• ☆fluent, flowing smoothly, as in speech
• ☆fluid, a substance that flows
• ☆influence, a power that flows into and affects
• ☆affluent, wealthy; flowing with abundance

means “step, go”

• ☆gradual, moving in small steps
• ☆graduate, to advance a step, as in finishing study
• ☆degrade, to lower a step in rank or quality
• ☆gradient, a rate of step-by-step change

means “step, go”

• ☆progress, a step forward
• ☆regress, to step backward
• ☆digress, to step away from the topic
• ☆aggressive, prone to stepping toward attack

means “flock, herd, group”

• ☆congregate, to gather into a group
• ☆gregarious, fond of company; sociable
• ☆segregate, to separate from the group
• ☆aggregate, a total gathered together

means “judge, law”

• ☆judge, one who decides in a court of law
• ☆judicial, relating to courts and judges
• ☆prejudice, a judgment formed beforehand
• ☆adjudicate, to make a formal judgment

means “choose, gather, read”

• ☆collect, to gather together
• ☆select, to choose carefully
• ☆lecture, a spoken reading or talk
• ☆neglect, to fail to gather or attend to

means “free”

• ☆liberty, freedom
• ☆liberal, open-minded; favoring freedom
• ☆liberate, to set free
• ☆libertine, a person unrestrained by morals

means “speak”

• ☆eloquent, speaking fluently and persuasively
• ☆loquacious, very talkative
• ☆colloquial, used in ordinary speech
• ☆soliloquy, a speech made alone, thinking aloud

means “great, large”

• ☆magnify, to make appear larger
• ☆magnificent, grand and impressive
• ☆magnitude, great size or importance
• ☆magnanimous, generous and great-spirited

means “mindful, remember”

• ☆memory, the power to recall the past
• ☆memorial, something that keeps a memory alive
• ☆memorize, to commit to memory
• ☆commemorate, to honor the memory of

means “small, less”

• ☆minimum, the smallest amount
• ☆minor, lesser in size or importance
• ☆diminish, to make smaller
• ☆minuscule, extremely small

means “move”

• ☆motion, the act of moving
• ☆promote, to move forward or upward
• ☆motor, a machine that produces motion
• ☆commotion, a noisy disturbance

means “number”

• ☆numeral, a symbol for a number
• ☆numerous, many in number
• ☆enumerate, to count off one by one
• ☆innumerable, too many to count

means “all, every”

• ☆omnipotent, having all power
• ☆omniscient, knowing everything
• ☆omnivore, an eater of all kinds of food
• ☆omnipresent, present everywhere

means “peace”

• ☆pacify, to bring peace or calm
• ☆pacific, peaceful
• ☆pacifist, one who opposes war
• ☆pact, a peace agreement

means “fill, full”

• ☆complete, having all parts; fully filled
• ☆deplete, to use up; empty out
• ☆replete, filled or well-supplied
• ☆supplement, something added to fill a gap

means “straight, right, rule”

• ☆correct, free from error; set right
• ☆direct, going straight; to guide
• ☆rectangle, a four-sided figure with right angles
• ☆erect, upright; to build straight up

means “know”

• ☆science, systematic knowledge of the world
• ☆conscience, inner knowledge of right and wrong
• ☆conscious, aware; knowing
• ☆prescient, knowing things before they happen

means “sit, settle”

• ☆sediment, matter that settles to the bottom
• ☆sedentary, characterized by much sitting
• ☆reside, to settle or live in a place
• ☆subside, to settle down; become less

means “follow”

• ☆sequence, an order in which things follow
• ☆consequence, a result that follows
• ☆sequel, a work that follows an earlier one
• ☆subsequent, coming after; following

means “keep, save, serve”

• ☆preserve, to keep safe from harm
• ☆conserve, to keep and use carefully
• ☆reserve, to keep back for later
• ☆observe, to watch and keep in mind

means “alone”

• ☆solo, performed alone
• ☆solitude, the state of being alone
• ☆solitary, existing or living alone
• ☆desolate, deserted and lonely

means “sound”

• ☆sonic, relating to sound
• ☆resonate, to sound and vibrate
• ☆unison, sounding as one
• ☆dissonance, a harsh clash of sounds

means “breathe”

• ☆respire, to breathe
• ☆inspire, to breathe in ideas or feeling
• ☆expire, to breathe out; to end
• ☆conspire, to plot together (literally 'breathe together')

means “time”

• ☆temporary, lasting only a short time
• ☆contemporary, belonging to the same time
• ☆temporal, relating to time
• ☆extemporaneous, done on the spur of the moment

means “hold, keep”

• ☆retain, to keep or hold
• ☆tenant, one who holds rented property
• ☆tenacious, holding on firmly
• ☆tenure, the holding of an office or land

means “earth, land”

• ☆terrain, a stretch of land
• ☆territory, an area of land under control
• ☆terrestrial, relating to the earth or land
• ☆subterranean, existing under the earth

means “twist”

• ☆distort, to twist out of shape
• ☆contort, to twist violently
• ☆torture, the twisting of body or mind in pain
• ☆retort, a sharp reply twisted back

means “empty”

• ☆vacant, empty; not occupied
• ☆vacuum, a space empty of matter
• ☆evacuate, to empty or clear out
• ☆vacation, a break that empties the schedule

means “truth”

• ☆verify, to prove to be true
• ☆veracity, truthfulness
• ☆verdict, a true statement given by a jury
• ☆aver, to state as true

means “live, life”

• ☆vivid, lively and vibrant
• ☆revive, to bring back to life
• ☆survive, to remain alive
• ☆vivacious, full of life and energy

means “will, wish”

• ☆voluntary, done of one's own will
• ☆volition, the power of choosing
• ☆benevolent, wishing to do good
• ☆malevolent, wishing to do harm

means “eat, devour”

• ☆carnivore, a meat-eating animal
• ☆herbivore, a plant-eating animal
• ☆voracious, eager to devour; greedy
• ☆omnivore, an eater of all kinds of food

means “body”

• ☆corporation, a legal body of people acting as one
• ☆corpse, a dead body
• ☆corporal, relating to the body
• ☆incorporate, to combine into one body

means “heart”

• ☆cordial, warm and heartfelt
• ☆accord, agreement of hearts or minds
• ☆discord, a lack of harmony
• ☆concord, harmony; agreement

means “head”

• ☆capital, the chief or head city
• ☆captain, the head of a team or ship
• ☆decapitate, to cut off the head
• ☆capitulate, to surrender on stated heads or terms

means “year”

• ☆annual, happening once a year
• ☆anniversary, the yearly return of a date
• ☆biennial, happening every two years
• ☆millennium, a period of a thousand years

means “war”

• ☆rebel, one who wages war against authority
• ☆belligerent, hostile and aggressive
• ☆bellicose, eager to fight
• ☆antebellum, before a war

means “cut, kill”

• ☆incision, a surgical cut
• ☆homicide, the killing of a person
• ☆concise, brief; cut short
• ☆precise, exact; sharply cut

means “close, shut”

• ☆include, to shut in; contain
• ☆exclude, to shut out
• ☆seclude, to shut away from others
• ☆conclude, to close or bring to an end

means “equal, even”

• ☆equal, the same in amount or value
• ☆equator, the line dividing the earth into equal halves
• ☆equivalent, equal in value or meaning
• ☆equilibrium, a state of balance

means “bend”

• ☆reflect, to bend back, as light
• ☆deflect, to bend or turn aside
• ☆inflection, a bend or change in the voice
• ☆genuflect, to bend the knee in respect

means “side”

• ☆lateral, relating to the side
• ☆bilateral, having two sides
• ☆unilateral, involving only one side
• ☆collateral, side by side; additional security

means “law”

• ☆legal, permitted by law
• ☆legislate, to make laws
• ☆legitimate, lawful; genuine
• ☆delegate, one sent with lawful authority

means “new”

• ☆novel, new and unusual
• ☆novice, a beginner
• ☆innovate, to introduce something new
• ☆renovate, to make new again

means “fold”

• ☆complicate, to fold together; make complex
• ☆duplicate, to make a double or copy
• ☆replicate, to copy exactly
• ☆implicate, to fold in; involve

means “holy, sacred”

• ☆sanctify, to make holy
• ☆sanctuary, a holy or safe place
• ☆sanction, official approval or penalty
• ☆sacrosanct, regarded as too sacred to touch

means “like, similar”

• ☆similar, alike but not identical
• ☆simulate, to imitate or make like
• ☆assimilate, to absorb and make similar
• ☆simile, a comparison using 'like' or 'as'

means “city”

• ☆urban, relating to a city
• ☆suburb, an outer part of a city
• ☆urbane, smoothly polite; city-mannered
• ☆suburban, relating to the suburbs

means “foot”

• ☆pedal, a lever pushed by the foot
• ☆pedestrian, a person traveling on foot
• ☆pedestal, the base or foot of a column
• ☆centipede, a creature with many legs

means “tongue, language”

• ☆language, a system of words and speech
• ☆linguist, a person skilled in languages
• ☆bilingual, speaking two languages
• ☆linguistics, the study of language

means “rule, king”

• ☆regal, relating to a king; majestic
• ☆regulate, to control by rule
• ☆regime, a system of rule
• ☆regent, one who rules for a monarch

means “young”

• ☆juvenile, youthful; not yet adult
• ☆rejuvenate, to make young again
• ☆juvenescence, the state of being youthful
• ☆junior, younger; of lower rank

means “master, lord”

• ☆dominate, to rule over
• ☆dominion, control or ruling power
• ☆predominant, having the greatest power
• ☆domain, an area under one's control

means “sun”

• ☆solar, relating to the sun
• ☆parasol, a light sunshade
• ☆solstice, when the sun reaches its highest or lowest point
• ☆solarium, a sunny room

means “pleasing, thankful”

• ☆gratitude, thankfulness
• ☆grateful, feeling thanks
• ☆gratify, to please or satisfy
• ☆ingratiate, to gain favor by pleasing

means “cry out, shout”

• ☆exclaim, to cry out suddenly
• ☆proclaim, to announce publicly
• ☆clamor, a loud outcry
• ☆acclaim, loud, enthusiastic approval

means “care”

• ☆cure, to restore to health; care for
• ☆curator, a person who cares for a collection
• ☆accurate, done with care; exact
• ☆secure, free from care or danger; safe

means “know”

• ☆recognize, to know again
• ☆cognition, the process of knowing
• ☆cognizant, aware; having knowledge
• ☆incognito, with one's identity unknown

means “make, do”

• ☆factory, a place where goods are made
• ☆manufacture, to make goods on a large scale
• ☆benefactor, one who does good for others
• ☆faction, a group formed to do or push an aim