What are "Root Words"? -- A root, or root word is a word which is used to form another word. It is also called a base word. A root does not have a prefix (A letter or group of letters added to the beginning of a word) or a suffix (A letter or group of letters added to the end of a word). Root is the primary lexical unit of a word, and of a word family. For example, pure is a root. By adding prefixes and suffixes, the following words could be made: impure, purity, pureness. Similarly, play and move are root words. By adding prefixes and suffixes, the following words could be made: plays, played, playing, player; moving, movement, moved, movable, mover, movingly. In this book, I have given most common Greek and Latin roots which are used in English language. Sample this: Root Words -- A- AB/ABS-Origin: Latin-Meaning: -way, from, off-Examples: -abate -- to subside; abhor -- to hate - related word: abhorrence; abject -- hopeless; abjure -- to renounce; abnormal -- unusual - related words: abnormally, abnormality; abrasion -- cut or scratch; abroad -- out of the country; abscess -- swelling; abscond -- to run away - related word: absconder; abseil -- to go down a steep cliff; absence -- nonattendance - related words: absent / absentee / absenteeism / absentia / absently; absolute -- complete; absolve -- to forgive; absorb -- to soak up - related words: absorbable / absorbance / absorbed / absorbency / absorbent / absorbing / absorption; abstain -- to give up something for moral reason - related words: abstainer / abstention / abstinence; abstemious -- critical; abstinent -- not having something for moral reason; abstract -- theoretical - related words: abstracted / abstractedly / abstraction / abstractly; abstruse -- difficult to understand; obscure; absurd -- ridiculous - related words: absurdist / absurdity / absurdly; abundance -- plenty - related words: abundant / abundantly ****** ALB -Origin: Latin - Meaning: white - Examples: - albino -- somebody born with no pigment in skin - related word: albinism; albumen -- white of an egg ****** AMBI- Origin: Latin-Meaning: both-Examples: - ambiguous -- double meaning; uncertain; ambidexterity -- ability to use both the left and right hand equally well - related word: ambidextrous; ambivalent -- showing both good and bad feelings ****** ANIM- Origin: Latin- Meaning: breath, life - Examples: -animate -- having life; to make something full of liveliness - related words: animated, animatedly, animation, animato, animator; animateur -- a person who promotes social activities; animism -- the belief that natural objects possesses soul - related words: animist, animistic ****** AQUA- Origin: Latin- Meaning: water- Examples: -aquaculture -- the act of growing of plants in water for food; aqualung -- a device for breathing for divers; aquamarine -- a pale greenish-blue stone or color; aquaplane -- an equipment used in boat; aquarium -- container to kept fish and water plants; aquarobics -- physical exercises that are done in water; aquatic -- growing near water ****** AUD- Origin: Latin- Meaning: hearing- Examples: - audible -- capable of being heard - related words: audibly, audibility; audience -- crowd of listeners; auditorium -- a building for public meetings, etc. ****** Other Root Words - A - Root Word Origin] - Meaning - a Greek] -- not - ab Latin] -- away, off - ablat Latin] -- remove - ablut Latin] -- wash - abort Latin] -- born too soon - abr Greek] -- delicate - abras Latin] -- rub off - abund Latin] -- overflow - aca Greek] -- point; silence - acanth Greek] -- thorn - acar Greek] -- tiny - acceler Latin] -- hasten - ace Greek] -- heal - acer Latin] -- sharp - acerb Latin] -- bitter - acet Latin] -- vinegar - ach Greek] -- pain - achr Greek] -- colorless - acid Latin] -- sour - acm Greek] -- summit - aco Greek] -- relief - acri Latin] -- bitter - acrib Greek] -- exact - acrit Greek] -- confused - acro Greek] -- height, su