| Root | In English | Origin Language | Etymology (Root Origin) | English Examples
|
| ab-, a-, abs-
| away
| Latin
| ab "away"
| abnormal, abrasion, abstract, aversion
|
| ac-, acu-
| sharp or pointed
| Latin
| acutus past participle of acuere "to sharpen", from acus "needle"
| acid, acupunture
|
| acr-, acro-
| height, summit, tip
| Greek
| Greek ἄκρος ákros "high", "extreme"
| acrophobia, acrobat, acronym, acromegalia
|
| ad-, a-, ac-, af-, ag-, al-, ap-, ar-, as-, at-
| movement to or toward; in addition to
| Latin
| ad "to", "toward"
| adapt, affect, ascend, accept
|
| adip- | fat | Latin | adeps, adipis "fat" | adipose
|
| aer-, aero-
| air, atmosphere
| Greek
| aer "air"
| aeronautics, aerosol
|
| aesth-et
| feeling, sensation
| Greek
| aisthētikos "of sense perception" from αἰσθάνεσθαι aisthanesthai "to perceive"
| aesthetics
|
| agr-, agri-
| field
| Greek and Latin
| from Greek ἀγρός agros and Latin ager, agr- "field"
| agriculture, pilgrim
|
| amat-, amor-
| love, loved
| Latin
| amor "love" from amāre "to love"
| amateur, amorous
|
| ambi-
| both, on both sides
| Latin
| ambi "on both sides", from Greek ἀμφί amphi, "on both sides"
| ambidextrous, ambivalent
|
| amic-, -imic- | friend | Latin | amicus | amicable, inimical
|
| amphi-
| around, about, both, on both sides of, both kinds
| Greek
| amphi "on both sides"
| amphibian, amphibolic
|
| ampl- | ample | Latin | amplus | amplification
|
| an-, a- | not, without | Greek | Greek ἀν-/ἀ- "not" | anhydrous, atypical
|
| ana-, an-
| again, against, back, up
| Greek
| from Greek prefix ana- "again", "against"
| anabaptist, anaphylaxis, anode
|
| anima- | breath | Latin | anima "breath" | animal, animation
|
| ann-, -enn-
| year, yearly
| Latin
| annus "year"
| anniversary, annual, millennium
|
| ant-, anti-
| against, opposed to, preventive
| Greek
| ἀντί anti "against"
| antibiotic, antipodes
|
| ante-, anti-
| before, in front of, prior to
| Latin
| Latin ante "before", "against"
| antediluvian, antebellum, anticipate
|
| anth-, antho-
| flower
| Greek
| ἄνθος anthos "flower"
| anther, anthology
|
| anthropo-, anthro-
| human
| Greek
| anthropos "man"
| anthropology, anthropomorphic
|
| aqu- | water | Latin | aqua | aquamarine, aquarium, aqueduct
|
| ar- | plow, till | Latin | arare | arable
|
| ar- | be dry | Latin | arere, "be dry or parched" | arid
|
| arche-, archi-
| ruler
| Greek
| ἀρχή arche "rule" (in compounds: ἀρχε-, ἀρχι-)
| archangel, archetype
|
| archaeo-, archeo-
| ancient
| Greek
| ἀρχαῖος arkhaios "ancient" from arkhē "beginning"
| archaeology or archeology, archaic
|
| arct-, arcto-
| Relating to the North Pole or the region near it; relating to cold; used as the scientific name of some bear species, e.g. Ursus arctos horribilis
| Greek
| ἄρκτος arktos "bear"
| Arctic Ocean
|
| argent- | silver | Latin | argentum "silver" | argent, Argentina
|
| arthr-, arthro-
| joint
| Greek
| arthron "joint"
| arthritis, arthropod
|
| astr-, astro-
| star, star-shaped
| Greek
| astron "star"
| astronomy
|
| athl-
| prize
| Greek
| ἄθλος athlos "contest, feat"
| athlete
|
| aud-, audi-
| hearing, listening, sound
| Latin
| audire "to hear"
| auditorium, auditory
|
| aug-, auct-
| grow, increase
| Latin
| augēre "to increase"
| augmentation
|
| aur-
| relating to gold, or gold-colored
| Latin
| aurum "gold"
| aureole, aure
|
| auri- | Relating to the ear | Latin | auris "ear" | auricle
|
| aut- , auto-
| self; directed from within
| Greek
| αὐτός (autos) "self", "same"
| automobile, autonomy
|
| avi- | bird | Latin | avis "bird" | aviary, aviation
|
| axi- | axis | Latin | axis "axis" | axisymmetry
|
| axio- | merit | Greek | Greek ἄξιος (axios) "worth" | axiology
|
