IELTS – ROOTS
Root
Power I
Latin and Greek Roots
One of the quickest and
most effective ways to improve your vocabulary is by learning to recognize the
most common Latin and Greek roots, since any one of them can help you define a number
of English words.
Whenever you come upon an
unfamiliar word, first check to see if it has a recognizable root.
If you know that the Latin
root "ami,"
for example, means like or love, you can easily figure out that
"amiable" means pleasant, friendly and "amorous"
means loving.
Even if you cannot define
a word exactly, recognizing the root will still give you a general idea of the word's
meaning.
Remembering that the Greek
root "geo"
means earth would certainly help you define "geophysics" as the
physics of the earth, but it also might help you figure out that "geocentric"
has to do with the center of the earth or with the earth as a center.
Begin by studying the
following lists of common Latin and Greek roots and representative words.
Common Latin Roots
Root
Meaning Example Definition
ag act agent
representative
cad, cas fall cadence rhythmic flow
cap, cept take, hold receptacle
container
ced, cess go recessive tending to go
back
cid, cis kill, cut incision cut,
gash
clud, clus shut seclusion separation
from others
cred believe credible
believable
cur(r), curs run concur agree (i.e., run
together)
fer bear odoriferous
yielding an odor
her, hes cling adhere cling, stick
ject throw projection
jutting out, protrusion
leg, lect read legible easily
readable
pel(l), puls drive repulse repel (i.e.,
drive back)
pon, posit put postpone defer
port carry portable
movable
rupt break abrupt
sudden, quick
scrib, script write
inscription engraving, writing
sect cut dissect cut
apart
sent, sens feel sensitive tender
sequ, secut follow sequel result
spect look prospect
outlook, expectation
sta, stat stand stable fixed, firm
tang, tact touch tactile tangible
termin end terminate abolish,
end
tract pull, draw tractor
vehicle that pulls
ven, vent come convene assemble (i.e.,
come together)
vert, vers turn invert overturn
vid, vis see provident having
foresight
vinc, vict conquer invincible
unconquerable
volv, volut roll, turn evolve develop
Applying Roots
Each of the following
phrases contains an italicized word. Based on the meaning of the root, select
the closest synonym. Circle your response.
1. a captive animal
a. confined b. wild c. charming d.
domestic
2. an inverted glass
a. broken b. upside-down c. returned d. drunk from
3. an abrupt stop
a. slow b. bad c. sudden d. harmful
4. a disappointing sequel
a. television show b. beginning c. movie d.
follow-up
5. terminate the relationship
a. doubt b. intensify c. begin d. finish
6. an incredible story
a. outlandish b. unbelievable c. foolish d. upsetting
7. a recessive trait
a. dominant b. receding c. hurtful d. missing
8. illegible writing
a. unreadable b. graceful c. distinct d. large
9. a thorough dissection
a. cutting apart b. conference c. discussion d.
putting together
10. an unstable relationship
a. new b. unsteady c.
one-sided d. unreliable
11. an odoriferous cheese
a. commonplace b. brightly colored c. malodorous d. faded
12. an invincible warrior
a. huge b. foreign c. defeated d. unbeatable
13. the advent of summer
a. departure b. middle c. arrival d. complaint
14. a provident move
a. prosperous b. injudicious c. prudent d. hurtful
15. the top-secret projectile
a. missile b. project c. plan d. meeting
True/False
In the space provided,
write T if the definition of the numbered word is true or F if it is false.
T
or F
1. adhere cling _____
2. cadaver cavort _____
3. evolve develop _____
4. incision cut _____
5. concurrent disjointed _____
6. recluse vivacious person _____
7. inscription story _____
8. agent deputy _____
9. tactile tangible _____
10. repulse repel _____
Common
Greek Roots
Root Meaning Example Definition
aster, star
asterisk star-shaped
astro mark chrom
color
chromatic pertaining to
color chron, time
synchronize occur chrono
simultaneously
cosmo world cosmopolitan citizen of the world
dem people democracy government
by the people
meter measure thermometer instrument
that measures temperature
onym name, word pseudonym a
fictitious name
path feeling
apathy absence of feeling
phob fear
claustrophobia fear of enclosed places
phon sound
cacophony harsh, discordant sound
psycho mind
psychology science of the mind
soph wisdom
sophistry subtle, tricky reasoning
True/False
In the space provided,
write T if the definition of the numbered word is true or F if it is false.
T or F
1. epidemic plague _____
2. homonym same-sounding name _____
3. claustrophobia fear of dogs _____
4. cacophony dissonance _____
5. apathy enthusiasm _____
6. accelerometer instrument for measuring acceleration
_____
7. synchronize squabble _____
8. cosmopolitan international _____
9. sophism specious argument _____
10. chromatic crisp _____
Applying
Greek Roots
Based on
the meaning of its root, define each of the following words. If in doubt, check
the suggested answers.
1.
asteroid ______________________________________________
2.
chromatics ______________________________________________
3. cosmos
______________________________________________
4.
anonymous ______________________________________________
5.
Anglophobia ______________________________________________
6.
cosmography ______________________________________________
7.
synchronous ______________________________________________
8.
pathetic ______________________________________________
9.
pedometer ______________________________________________
10.
democracy ______________________________________________
11. phonograph
______________________________________________
12.
demographics ______________________________________________
13.
psychotic ______________________________________________
14.
sophisticated ______________________________________________
15. cognition
______________________________________________
