roots

Roots

Root: the part of the word
that carries its basic meaning.
Prefix: letters added to the
beginning of a word or root
that make a new word.
Suffix: letters added to the
end of a word or root that
make a new word.

The root of a word is the part that indicates its basic
meaning; the root is also sometimes called the stem. Just
as a plant grows from its root, and leaves grow from
stems, many English words have developed through the
addition of prefixes and suffixes to roots.
Many roots are words that have been borrowed from
other languages. The root of the word dormitory is
-dorm-, which comes from the Latin verb meaning to
sleep.

-dorm-: to sleep
A dormitory [noun] is a place where students
sleep.
To be dormant [adjective] means to be inactive.
Dormancy [adverb] is the state of being dormant.

If you can find and define the root of a word that you
do not know, you may be able to a least partly
understand that word.

Some Roots:

-audi-, -audit-: hear, listen to
If you can hear something, it is audible [adjective].
Sometimes students audit [verb] classes; they go
a to class to listen, but don't get grades or credit.
We heard a lecture in the auditorium [noun].

-chron-: time
Peggy has chronic [adjective] back pain; it
comes and goes over time.
A time line lists events chronologically [adverb]
showing when they occured.
Synchronized [verb] actions take place at the
same time.

-corp-: body
A corpse [noun] is a dead body.
People in business often incorporate [verb]: form
a legal body.
Corpulent [adjective] people are fat; they have a
lot of body.

-dict-: to say or make something happen by saying
The judge indicted [verb], formally accused, the
alleged bank-robber.
A dictator's [noun] words make things happen.
The weather in Maine is unpredictable
[adjective]; it is difficult to say what it will be like
in advance.

-plen-, -plenti-: full, or fullness
A plenary [adjective] account is the full story.
When you borrow someone's car, it's polite to
replenish [verb] the gas by filling up the tank.
Plenty [noun] means enough.

Follow this link to Roots 2.

Practice 20 roots not covered on this website with
Practice Activities by Sarah P. Blaize

A dormient - sleeping
- audience is a
comedian's worst
nightmare.

Some Roots
-audi-, -audit- : hear, listen
to
-chron-: time
-corp-: body
-dict- : to say, or make
happen by saying
-dorm- : sleep
-plen-, -plenti-: full or
fullness

A microphone is an
audio device. It helps a
speaker be heard.

Members of the
Peace Corps, a
body of volunteers,
are at the show.

This comedian
knows a plentitude of
jokes; he could
perform for hours
without repeating
himself.

This comedian's
diction - choice of
words - makes him
especially funny.