Determine the meanings of Greek and Latin roots

Key Notes :

Understanding Roots:

• Definition: A root is the base part of a word that carries its primary meaning. Greek and Latin roots are often used to form new words in English.

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Common Greek Roots:

• “Bio” (Greek): Means “life.” Examples: biography (story of someone’s life), biology (study of living things).
• “Graph” (Greek): Means “write” or “draw.” Examples: autograph (signature), telegraph (writing from afar).
• “Tele” (Greek): Means “far off.” Examples: telephone (sound from afar), television (seeing from afar).

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Common Latin Roots:

• “Spect” (Latin): Means “look” or “see.” Examples: spectacle (a great show to see), inspect (to look closely).
• “Port” (Latin): Means “carry.” Examples: transport (to carry across), import (to bring in).
• “Sub” (Latin): Means “under” or “below.” Examples: submarine (under the sea), subtract (take away).

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Using Roots to Determine Meanings:

• Identify the Root: Break down the word into its root and any prefixes or suffixes.
• Understand the Root Meaning: Use the meaning of the root to help guess the meaning of the whole word.
• Combine Meanings: Consider the prefix or suffix to fully understand the word’s meaning.

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Practice Examples:

• “Microscope”:
  • Root: “Micro” (Greek) = “small”
  • Suffix: “-scope” (Greek) = “instrument for viewing”
  • Meaning: An instrument for viewing small things.
• “Transport”:
  • Root: “Port” (Latin) = “carry”
  • Prefix: “Trans-” (Latin) = “across”
  • Meaning: To carry across.

Let’s practice!