Latin and Greek roots and affixes

 Examples  Archetype = original  Archbishop = chief bishop  Archeology = study of first people or ancient times (1) arch- means chief; first

 Examples  Bedaub = smear all over  Befuddle = to confuse totally  Beguile = totally charm or even deceive (2) be- means over; thoroughly

 Examples  Bicycle = two-wheeled fun  Biennial = every two years  Bicameral = two groups/houses (like in Congress) (3) Bi means two

 Examples  Catastrophe = disaster  Cataract = waterfall  Catapult = to hurl (throw down) (4) cata- means down

 Examples  Circumnavigate = travel all the way around the world  Circumspect = cautious (looking around)  Circumscribe = to limit (place a circle around) (5) circum- means around

 Examples  Combine = put together with  Communicate = talk with  Conference = meeting (6) com-/con- means with; together

 Examples  Coeditor = editor with another  Collateral = connected with  Collate = to put together (7) co-/col- means with; together

 Examples  Correlate = to match up with  Corroborate = to confirm; to verify (8) Cor- means with; together

 Examples  Contravene = conflict with  Controversy = argument or dispute  Contradictory = disagreeing with (9) Contra-/contro- means against

 Examples  Demigod = partly a god  Demitasse = small cup (10) Demi- means partly; half

 Examples  Dichotomy = split into two parts  Dilemma = choice between two bad alternatives (11) Di- means two

 Examples  Diameter = distance across the center of a circle  Diagonal = distance across a figure  Diagram = a drawn model (12) Dia- means across

 Examples  Discord = not in harmony  Differ = to disagree  Disparity = not being equal; having a difference (13) Dis-/dif- means not; apart

 Examples  Dysfunctional = operate incorrectly  Dyslexia = faulty ability to read  Dyspepsia = indigestion (14) Dys- means faulty; bad

 Examples  Exit = to leave  Expel = to drive out  Extirpate = to root out  Eject = to throw out (15) Ex-/e- means out

 Examples  Extracurricular = beyond the curriculum  Extraterritorial = beyond a nation’s boundaries  Extrovert = a person mostly interested in other people and things (16) Extra-/extro- means beyond;outside

(17) Hyper- means above; excessively  Examples  Hyperbole = exaggeration  Hyperventilate = breathe very quickly

(18) Hypo- means beneath; lower  Examples  Hypoglycemia = low blood sugar  Hypothyroid = low-functioning  Hypodermic = beneath your skin

(19) in-/im- means not  Examples  Inefficient = not efficient or productive  Inarticulate = can’t speak understandably  Impeccable = not wrecked up; perfect

(20) il-/ir- means not  Examples  Illegible = not readable  Irrelevant = doesn’t matter  Irrevocable = can’t change it or “call it back”

(21) inter- means between; among  Examples  Intervene = come between  International = between countries  Interjection = a comment thrown in

(22) in-/im-/il-/ir- means in; on; upon; among  Examples  Invite = to call in  Illustration = something that makes things clear  Impression = have an effect upon someone’s opinion  Irradiate = to shine upon

(23) intra-/intro- means within  Examples  Intramural = within a school  Introvert = person who turns within himself

(24) macro- means large; long  Examples  Macrobiotic = prolonging life  Macrocosm = the entire universe or “the big picture”

(25) mega- means great; million  Examples  Megalomania = delusions of grandeur/greatness  Megaton = explosive force of a million tons of TNT  Megaphone = makes your voice really loud