Morphemes A-F
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© Leon Przybyla III
© Leon Przybyla III
arch /ark/ = [from >Greek, meaning: leader, ruler, chief
- archangel /ark ein' dzel/ = [chief angel] (Michael)
- archenemy /ark en' e mi:/ = [chief enemy]
- matriarch /mei' tri: ark/ = [mother leader]
- patriarch /pei' tri: ark/ = [father leader]
- monarchy /ma' nar ki:/ = [one ruler]
- diarchy /dai' ar ki:/ = [two rulers]
- triarchy /trai' ar ki:/ = [three rulers]
- tretrarchy /tre' trar ki:/ = [four rulers]
- oligarchy /a' li gar ki:/ = [few rulers]
a /ei/ = [from >Greek origin, meaning: no/not]
- amorphous /ei mor fLs/ = [a = no, morph = shape, ous = ]
- amoral /ei mor al/ = [no morals] adj.
- anarchy /aen ar ki:/ = [an = no, arch = leader, y = condition]
ab /aeb/ = [from >Latin origin, meaning: from]
- abandon = [ab + andon = walk] to walk away from
- abdicate = [ab + dicate = say] to say I will go away from; resign
- abduct = [ab + duct = carry] to carry away from
- abject = [ab + ject = throw] to be down (depressed)
- aborigine = [ab + original = first] from the first people of a place
- abrupt = [ab + rupt = tear, break] sudden
- absent = [ab + sent = be, exist] away from (not) existing
- absolute = [ab + solute = loose] away from (not) loose; sure
- absolve = [ab + solve = loosen] to make not loose; to make sure
- absorb = [ab + sorb = suck] to suck (sth) up
- abstain = [ab + stain = hold, have] to refrain from; to not have
- abstract = [ab + stract = pull] to pull from/ out of
ad /aed/ = [from >Latin origin, meaning: to (toward)]
- addict [ad + dict (say)] to make someone surrender to (sth)
- address [ad + dress (arrange)] to speak to an audience
- adhere [ad + here (stick)] to stick to (sth)
- ad hoc [ad + hoc (this)] to/for this
- ad infinitum [ad + infinitum (infinity)] to infinity
- ad initium [ad + initium (beginning)] to the beginning
- ad interim [ad + interim (middle)] to the middle
- adjacent [ad + jacent (lie)] to lie next to
- adjourn [ad + journ (journey)] to make a journey home from a business mtg.
- admire [ad + mire (wonder, astonish)] to be astonished at
- admit [ad + mit (send)] to send in
- admonish [ad + monish (warm)]
- advance [ab (from) + vance (ante,before)] from before
- advent [ad + vent (come)] the coming
- Adventist [ad + vent + ist (person)] person who looks for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ
- adventure [ad + vent + ure (n.)] exciting event
- adverb [ad + verb] to the verb
- advise [ad + vise (counsel)] to give counsel
aqua = [from Latin, meaning: water]
Examples:
- aquamarine [aqua + marine (sea)] = color of the sea
- aquarium = [aqua + rium (place)] = a glass container, which fish are kept in
- Aquarius = [aqua + rius (carrier)] the eleventh sign of the Zodiac: The Water Carrier
- Aquatic = living in or near water
- aqueduct [aqua + duct (conduit)] = A human-made water-way
- aqueous = of water
blanc [from >Latin blanco, meaning: white]
- blank = in English "blank" doesn't mean "white"; it means "clean" (when referring to a surface) For example,
- blank paper, blank wall, blank canvas, blank chalk board, blank white board
- blanket = probably originally a white sheet (for a bed), but now it means any covering for a bed
- carte blanche /cart blanf/ [from >French: carte (card) + blanche (white), meaning: "white card"] in English carte blanche is used as and adverb. For example,
- Full power was given carte blanche to control his affairs.
cele = [from >Latin, meaning: sky, heaven]
- celestial = of the sky, of heaven
- celeste = "heaven" (woman's name)
cine /sine/ = [from >Latin, but originally from >Greek kinesis, meaning: movement]
- cinema = movie
- cinemactor = movie star (male)
- cinemactress = movie star (female)
- cinema fan = one who likes to see movies (in the theater)
- cinematic = [cine + mat (place) + ic (a.)] of movies, or of the movie theater
- cinematics = [cine + mat + ics (science)] the science of cinematography
- cinematography = [cine + mat + graph (picture) + y (study)] the art, science, and study of movie-making
- cinematographer = one who makes movies, director
- cinephile = [cine + phile (lover)] movie-lover
circulo = [from >Latin, meaning: circle]
- circle
- circuit = electronic circle
- circular = (adj.)
- circulate = to send around in a circular direction
- circumcise = [circum + cise (cut)] to cut the foreskin of the penis
- circumference = distance around a circle
- circumscribe = to describe all aspects of limits clearly
- circumspect = [circum + spect (look)] look all around
- circumstance = situation all around
- circumvent = [circum + vent (come)] to avoid (come around)
- circus = show in a circle-shaped tent
- cyclo = [from >Greek, meaning: circle]
- Cyclops = monster with one circular eye in the middle of it's forehead
- bicycle = two-wheeled vehicle
- tricycle = three-wheeled vehicle
- unicycle = one-wheeled vehicle
- cycle = circular event
- cyclic = (adj.)
citi = [from >Latin, meaning: city]
- citizen = member of a city or state
- city
civil = [from >Latin, meaning: of a city, i.e., having rule and order]
- civic = (a.) of a city
- civil = having rule and order
- civilian = member of a city or state, which is NOT a member of the military (opp. soldier)
- civility = rule and order
- civilize = make having rule and order
- civilization = place having rule and order
- civility = action without fighting, without war
- civil servant = anyone who works for the government of a city or state
co = [from >Latin, meaning: 2 people together]
- coact = act together (2 people)
- coauthor = author together (2 people)
- cocreate = create together (2 people)
- coedit = edit together (2 people)
- coinvent = invent together (2 people)
- coproduce = produce together (2 people)
- etc.
con = [from >Latin, meaning: together (two or more)]
- concur = [con + cur (happen)] to happen together (at same time)
- condemn = [con + demn (damn)] to damn sb.(all together, with one mind)
- confound = [con + ?] to perplex, baffle, stupefy
- congratulate = [con + gratulate (?)] to express words of praise for an achievement
- conjugate = [con + jugate (join, v.)] to join together
- conjunction = [con + junction (joining, n.)] the joining of things together
- consent = [con + sent (feel)] to agree; to give permission
- constitute = [con + stitute (set up)] to set up together
- contact = [con + tact (touch)] to touch (v.t.) together
- convene = [con + vene (come)] to come together (in a big group) (v.i.)
contra = [from >Latin, meaning: counter, against]
- contraband = [contra + band (decree)] = illegal goods
- contraception = [contra + ception (reception)] literally = against reception, but specifically against reception of sperm (to egg)
- contradict = [contra + dict (say)] to say the opposite of what sb else says
- contraposition = [contra + position (stance)] against another's stance
- contrary = against, opposite
- contrast = to see the differences
com = [variation of "con", together]
Examples:
- combat [com + battere (fight)] to fight a battle against sth
- combine [com + bini (two)] to put things together
- command [com + mandare (mandate)] to mandate; to order
- commend [com + mandare (mandate)] to praise highly (formal word)
- comment [com + mens (mind)] to speak one's mind
- commerce [com + merc (merchandise)] the buying and selling of mechandise
- commission [com + mission (errand)] an errand (formal word)
- commit [com + mittere (send)] to promise
- compact [com + pangere (fasten)] to make tight, and smaller
- companion [com + panis (bread)] one who eats "bread" with another; partner
- compartment [com + part + ment] one of many small containers for storage
- compassion [com + pati (feeling)] the ability to feel for others
- compel [com + pellere (drive; force)] to drive/force sb to do sth
- compensate [com + pensare (weigh)] to weigh (the money) for work done
- complain [com + plangere (lament)] to lament verbally
- complete [com + plenus (full)] to be full, whole
- compose [com + ponere (put)] to put sth together to make sth else
crux (or) cruci~ = [from Latin, meaning: cross = form of torture and capital punishment]
Examples:
- crux (krLks) = short for crux interpretum or crux philosophorum, meaning: the cross of interpreters or the cross of philosophers. (This word is used in formal essays and speeches).
- crucifix (kru:sifiks) = (1) the device used to torture and terminate life, used in Roman times. (2) a small model of the original crucifix, used by Christians as an icon of worship
- crucifixion (kru:sifikfLn) = the process of nailing a person on the cross for a torturous death.
- excruciating (a.) = extremely painful, as being nailed to a cross
curre~ = [from Latin, meaing: run]similar to couri~ [from French, meaning: run]
Examples:
- courier [French: runner] a person who runs errands
- current [Latin: running] English1(n.): "running" water; English2(a.): "running", i.e., happening, e.g., "current affairs"
- course [French: running] English1: a road for running; English2: a way of doing sth, e.g. a "course of action"
- intercourse [inter (between) + course] English1: any kind of social interaction; English2: sex
- discourse [dis (separately) + course] Latin: running to and fro; English: communication
cyclo~ = [from Greek kuklos, meaning: circle]
Examples:
- cycle = recurrent period of time or recurrent events
- cyclone = circular storm
- encyclopedia = [en (in) + cyclo + pedia (pedagogy)] reference book on multifarious topics
- Cyclops = Greek monster with one circular eye
- bicycle = vehicle with two wheels
- tricycle = vehicle with three wheels
- motorcycle = vehicle with two wheels and a motor
- cyclo = vehicle with three wheels and a carriage on the front for passengers
de = [from Latin, meaning: down]
Examples:
- debility [de + ability] weakness
- depend [de + pend (hang)] lit. hang down, but in English: to be resultant or contingent upon..
- depose [de + ponere (put)] to put sb down from office
- deposit [de + ponere (put)] to put sth down
- depress [de + press] 1) to press sth down, 2) to make sb feel down
- descend [de + scandere (climb)] to climb down; to come/go down
- decry [de + cry] to "cry down" sth; i.e., to cry out in order to put a concept or idea down
- defame [de + fame] to make sb's fame "go down"; i.e., to lessen one's fame
- defeat [de + facere (make)] to make one's opponent "go down"; to conquer one's opponent
- degenerate [de + generare (produce)] to cease producing, and begin to fall into decay
- defy [de + fidus (faith)] to "put down" one's faith/allegiance
- degrade [de + grade (level,rank)] 1) v.t., to lower the rank of sb/sth; 2) v.i., to lose quality
- deplane [de + airplane] to get down off of an airplane
- detain [de + tenere (hold)] to hold sb down; to keep sb in custody
demos = [of Greek origin, meaning: people]
Examples:
- democracy [demos + cracy (rule,gov't)] government of the people, for the people, by the people
- demography [demos + graph (picture)] the science that measures the different kinds of people in a specific area
- demographics = the composition of peoples in a given area
- demographer = the person who measures the demographics of a given area
dermo = [of Greek origin, meaning: skin]
Examples:
- dermis = skin
- epidermis = [epi (top) + dermo] = top layer of skin
- dermatology = [dermo + logos (word, study)] the study of the skin
- dermatologist = [dermo + logos + ist (person)] person, who has studied the skin; skin expert
- dermatitis = [dermo + itis (inflammation)] inflammation of the skin
dia = [of Greek origin, meaning: two, apart, divided]
Examples:
- diagnosis [dia + gnosis (knowledge)] the doctor's knowledge of a patient's condition
- diagonal [dia + gonia (angle)] across from two angles
- dialect [dia + lect (speak)] a subordinate method of speaking a language; divided from the standard speech
- dialogue [dia + logos (word)] a two-person conversation
- diameter [dia + meter (measure)] the measure of the distance across a circle, the line of which divides the circle into two parts.
- diaper [dia + aspros (white)] two white cloths worn on a baby's bottom.
- diarrhea [dia + rhein (flow)] the liquid flow of feces; a liquidy bowel movement
dis = [of Latin origin, meaning: two, apart, divided, asunder, separate (a.), (similar to Greek dia]
Examples:
- different [dis + fer (bear, carry) + ent (a.)] bearing (carrying) separate qualities from each other
- difficult [dis + facilis (easy)] not easy
- diligent [dis + ligere (concern about pain)] doing sth without concern for pain, hard-working
- direct [dis + rect (straight)] straight between two points
- divide [dis + videre (separate (v.))] to separate into two parts
- disable
- disappear
- disappoint
- disaster
- discard
- discern
- discharge
- discourse
- discriminate
- disease
- disembowel
- disfigure
- disgust
- dishearten
- dishonest
- dishonor
- etc.
dom = [Old English origin, meaning: "domain" > probably from Greek: dome, meaning "home"]
Examples:
- Freedom = the domain of being free
- Wisdom = the domain of being wise
- Christendom = the domain of Christianity
- Dukedom = the territory of a duke
- Kingdom = the territory of a king
- martyrdom = the domain of being a martyr
Examples:
- officialdom = the domain of officiality
- theatredom = the domain of the theatre (Br.) theater (Am.)
ex~ = [of Latin origin, meaning: out]
Examples:
- edict [ex + dictare (say, speak)] to speak out a rule; (n.) a spoken rule
- education [ex + duct (carry) + ate (v.) + ion (n.)] to bring ("carry") knowledge out of one's mind and giving it to pupils.
- egregious [ex + greg (group) ious (a.)] clearly, far out of the normal happenings; flagrant; wanton
- egress [ex + gress (step)] (v.) to step out of (used metaphorically to mean someone is "steps" out of a topic of convesation.
- elect [ex + lect (choose)] (v.) to choose one out of many; (n.) the best of the best
- emit [ex + mittere (send)] to send out sth
- enunciate [ex + nunciate (announce)] to speak out very, very clearly
- erect [ex + rect (straight)] (v.) to make sth stand out/up straight; (a.) straight
- eject [ex + ject (throw)] (v.) to throw sth out
- eloquent [ex + loqui (speak, locution)] (a.) speaking very well
- elude [ex + luz (light) idate (make, do)] (v.) to go out of the light.... escape from~
- emanate [ex + manare (flow)] to come out of...
- emancipate [ex + manus (hand) capare (capture) {mancipium = slavery}] to put sb out of slavery
- exact [ex + act (do, perform)] (v.) to demand sth by force; (a.) precise, accurate
- exalt [ex + altus (high)] (v.) to take sb out of the multitude and put him/her up high
- example [ex + samples] one sample out of many
- excavate [ex + cavare (make a cave)] to dig sth out of the ground
- exceed [ex + cedere (go)] to go beyond one's expectations (used metaphorically)
- excel [ex + cellere (rise)] to rise beyond one's expectations (used metaphorically)
- except [ex + capere (take)] not including ~
- exclaim [ex + claim (declare)] to declare loudly out of one's mouth
- exclude [ex + claudere (shut)] to shut sb or sth out
- excommunicate [ex + com (together) + municate (share)] to send someone outside a group or organization, and forbid him/her from sharing any property or union with the group
- excrement [ex + crete (sift) + ment (n.)] the material that comes out of an organism, especially feces.
- execute [ex + sequi (follow)] (v.t.) to follow a plan, or an order
~fer = [of Latin origin, meaning: to bear, to produce, to carry]
Examples:
- confer [con (together) + fer] to bestow/give some abstract thing to another person
- conifer [conus (cone) + fer] a cone-bearing tree
- defer [de (down) + fer] to delay
- infer [in (inside) + fer] to guess the "produced" meaning "in" some phrase or sentence.
- Lucifer [luz (light) + fer] light bearer
- refer [re (back) + fer] to "carry" a discussion back to a previous point
fin = [of Latin origin, meaning: end]
Examples:
- final /fai nal/ = last, of the end
- finality /fai nae li ti:/ = the condition of being last
- finally /fai nal li:/ = lastly
- finish /fi nif / = n. end; v. to do until the end
- finite /fai nait/ = a. having an end
- infinite /in fi nit/ = a. having no end, without end