Membean Word Root Of the Day

#86 Name Dropping No More

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Wed, 23 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000

The Latin root word nom means “name.” This root is the word origin of a fair number of English vocabulary words, including nominee and denominator. The root nom is easily recalled through the word nominate, which refers to someone being “named” to run for office.
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#85 A Truly Very Good Root!

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Wed, 16 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000

The Latin root word ver means “truth” or “true.” This root is the word origin of a fair number of English vocabulary words, including verdict and veracity. The root ver is easily recalled through the word very, for when something is very good, it’s “truly” good.
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#84 A-Not An-!

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Fri, 04 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Prefixes are key morphemes in English vocabulary that begin words. The Greek prefix a- and its variant an- mean “not.” An easy way to remember that the prefix a- means “not” is through the word apolitical, which describes a person who is “not” inclined to favor politics. Someone who is anonymous is going around “not” having a name.
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#83 Son: Sounds Great!

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 07:00:00 +0000

The Latin root word son means “sound.” This root is the word origin of a fair number of English vocabulary words, including sonar and sonata. The root son is easily recalled through the word sonic, for a sonic boom makes a deafening “sound.”
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#82 Lev Relieves!

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 07:00:00 +0000

The Latin root word lev means “light in weight.” This root is the word origin of a fair number of English vocabulary words, including elevator and lever. The root lev is easily recalled through the word levitate: to make someone so “light” in weight that she can float above the ground.
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#81 Scribes Write Scripts

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 07:00:00 +0000

The Latin root word scrib and its variant script both mean “write.” These roots are the word origin of a fair number of English vocabulary words, including scribe, describe, postscript, and manuscript. The root scrib is easily recalled through the word scribe, whose job is “writing,” and script, a “written” document.
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#80 Overly Hyper! Whoa!

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Prefixes are key morphemes in English vocabulary that begin words. The prefix hyper- means “over.” Examples using this prefix include hyperventilate and hypersensitive. An easy way to remember that the prefix hyper- means “over” is through the word hyperactive, which describes a person who is “overly” active in some way.
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#79 No Hippo Under Hypo!

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Prefixes are key morphemes in English vocabulary that begin words. The Greek prefix hypo- is an important morpheme of the English language. Examples using this prefix include hypothermia and hypocritical. An easy way to remember that the prefix hypo- means “under” is through the adjective hypodermic, which refers to going “under” the skin, especially when being given a shot.
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#78 Biannual? Biennial?

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 07:00:00 +0000

The Latin root word ann and its variant enn both mean “year.” These roots are the word origin of various English vocabulary words, including anniversary and centennial. The roots ann and enn are easily remembered through the words anniversary, which is the turning of another “year,” and millennium, a period of 1000 “years.”
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#77 Triple Threat

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 07:00:00 +0000

The English prefix tri-, derived from both Greek and Latin, means “three.” Some common English vocabulary words that contain this prefix include triathlon, trio, and triangle. You can easily remember that the prefix tri- means “three” via the word tricycle, which is a bicycle with “three” wheels instead of two that promotes stability for young riders.
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#76 Symply Synsational Together!

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 07:00:00 +0000

The English prefixes syn- along with its variant sym-, derived from Greek, mean “together.” You can remember syn- easily by thinking of synonym, which is a word that goes “together” with another word because it has a similar meaning. You can remember sym- by thinking of symphony, which is a group of instruments making sound “together.”
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#75 Manage Handy "Man"

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 07:00:00 +0000

The Latin root word man means “hand.” This root word is the word origin of a number of English vocabulary words, including manuscript, manufacture, and manicure. An easy way to remember that man means “hand” is through the word manual, an adjective which describes a task done by “hand.”
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#74 Double with Bi- and Di-!

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 07:00:00 +0000

The English prefixes bi-, derived from Latin, and its Greek variant di- both mean “two.” The Latin prefix is far more prevalent in common words, such as bilingual, biceps, and biped; the more technical Greek di- appears in such words as diphthong and dilemma. You can remember bi- easily by thinking of bicycle, which has “two” wheels, and di- by remembering that the “dioxide” of carbon dioxide means that there are “two” oxygen atoms in the molecule CO2.
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#73 Nothing Phony About Phon!

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 07:00:00 +0000

The Greek root word phon means “sound.” This word root is the word origin of a number of English vocabulary words, including microphone, phone, and saxophone. An easy way to remember that phon means “sound” is through the word symphony, which is many instruments making a “sound” together.
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#72 Anticipate Anti-!

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Prefixes are key morphemes in English vocabulary that begin words. The origin of the prefix anti- and its variant ant- is an ancient Greek word which meant “against” or “opposite.” These prefixes appear in numerous English vocabulary words, such as antifreeze, antidote, antonym, and antacid. An easy way to remember that the prefix anti- means “opposite” or “against” is through the word antisocial, for an antisocial person is the “opposite” of being social, or is “against” being so in her everyday conduct.
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#71 Don't Hesitate over Her!

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 07:00:00 +0000

The Latin root word her and its variant hes both mean “stick.” These roots are the word origin of various English vocabulary words, including adhere and adhesive. When glue adheres to paper, it “sticks” to it, for glue is an adhesive which causes things to “stick” together.
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#70 Micro-: Not a "Small" Prefix

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Prefixes are key morphemes in English vocabulary that begin words. The origin of the prefix micro- is an ancient Greek word which meant “small.” This prefix appears in no “small” number of English vocabulary words; microphone, microwave, and micromanager are a few noteworthy examples. An easy way to remember that the prefix micro- means “small” is through the word microscope, an instrument which allows the viewer to see “small” living things.
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#69 Omega, Oh My!

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Prefixes are key morphemes in English vocabulary that begin words. The origin of the prefix mega- is an ancient Greek word which meant “large.” This prefix appears in a somewhat “large” number of “large” English vocabulary words, such as megaphone, megahit, and megabyte. An easy way to remember that the prefix mega- means “large” is through the word megastore, which is simply a store that is very “large” in floor area.
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#68 Poly- Wants Many Crackers!

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Prefixes are key morphemes in English vocabulary that begin words. The origin of the prefix poly- is from an ancient Greek word which meant “many.” This prefix appears in, well, “many” English vocabulary words, such as polysyllabic, polyhedron, and Polynesia. An easy way to remember that the prefix poly- means “many” is through the word polygon, which is a geometric figure, such as a square or pentagon, that has “many” angles.
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#67 A Path Towards Feeling or Disease

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:00:00 +0000

The Greek root word path can mean either “feeling” or “disease.” This word root is the word origin of a number of English vocabulary words, including sympathy, apathy, pathological, and sociopath. An easy way to remember these different meanings is that a sympathetic person “feels” pain with another, whereas a psychopath does twisted things because he has a “diseased” mind.
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#66 Mono a Mono

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 07:00:00 +0000

The prefix mono- and its variant mon-, which both mean “one,” are important prefixes in the English language. For instance, the prefix mono- gave rise to the words monologue and monotonous, whereas we find its variant mon- in words such as monarchy and monk. A monarchy, for instance, is rule by “one,” whereas a monosyllabic word only has “one” syllable.
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#65 One at a Time

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:00:00 +0000

The prefix uni- which means “one” is an important prefix in the English language. For instance, the prefix uni- gave rise to the words unicycle, uniform, and unison. Perhaps the easiest way to remember that uni- means “one” is through the word unicorn, or mythological horse that had “one” horn.
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#64 No Opposition Against Contra

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 07:00:00 +0000

The prefix contra- and its variant counter- mean “opposite” or “against.” For instance, the prefix contra- gave rise to the words contradict and contrast, whereas the variant spelling counter- gave rise to counteract and counterfeit. To contradict someone is to speak “against” what she is saying, whereas a counterclockwise direction is “opposite” of the normal way a clock’s hands usually run.
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#63 Propel Vocab Forward with Pro

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 07:00:00 +0000

The prefix pro- primarily means “forward” but can also mean “for.” Some words that the prefix pro- gave rise to are promise, pro, and promote. When you, for instance, make progress, you are stepping “forward,” whereas if you give the pros in an argument, you are speaking “for” something by stating its advantages.
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#62 Words from Literary History

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Eponyms play a smaller role than Latin and Greek root words in forming English vocabulary, but nevertheless are important for learning the word origins of English vocabulary. An eponym is an English word that is derived from a name, such as that of a person or place. Today we will explore three eponyms derived from the history of literature: serendipity, braggadocio, and bowdlerize.
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#61 Round and Round in Circles

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 07:00:00 +0000

The prefix circum- which means “around” and the Latin root word circ which mean “ring” both are influential in making up English words. For instance, the prefix circum- gave rise to the words circumference and circumstances, whereas the root circ gave rise to circle and circulation. Clearly a circumference is the bearing “around” a circle, whereas a circle itself is in the form of a “ring.”
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#60 Superman Surpasses All Superheroes

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Prefixes are key morphemes in English vocabulary that begin words. The prefix super- and its variant sur- mean “over.” Examples using this prefix include superior, supervise, surname, and surface. An easy way to remember that the prefix super- means “over” is through the comic book hero Superman, who is the man “over” all other men in terms of physical power.
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#59 Undertake the Sub Prefix Subway

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Prefixes are key morphemes in English vocabulary that begin words. The prefix sub-, with its variants which all begin with su-, is a prolific part of the English language. Examples using this prefix include subway, suffer, supply, and suggest. An easy way to remember that the prefix sub- means “under” is through the word submarine, or a vehicle that travels “under” the sea.
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#58 Pedal to the Podiatrist

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 07:00:00 +0000

The Latin root word ped and its Greek counterpart pod both mean “foot.” These roots are the word origin of many English vocabulary words, including pedal centipede, podium, and podiatrist. Humans, for instance, are bipedal because they walk on two “feet,” whereas a tripod is a stand for a camera that has three “feet.”
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#57 Hang On and Weigh In!

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 07:00:00 +0000

The Latin root word pend and its variant pens both mean “hang” or “weigh.” These roots are the word origin of many English vocabulary words, including pend, pendant, suspense, and expensive. An easy way to remember these different meanings is that a pendant “hangs” from your neck, whereas you have to “weigh” out a lot of money if something is expensive.
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#56 Etymology: Word Origins

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 07:00:00 +0000

Etymology is that part of linguistics that studies word origins. English vocabulary words are formed from many different sources, especially Latin and Greek. By determining the origins of the morphemes in English words, one is better able to remember and determine the dictionary definitions of words.
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#55 Intensive Prefixes "E-" and "Ex-"

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 07:00:00 +0000

The prefixes e- and ex-, besides meaning “out,” can also act as intensive prefixes. These prefixes can effectively be translated as “thoroughly” to highlight their intensive function. For instance, the prefix e-, such as in elude, means to “thoroughly” avoid someone, whereas the intensive prefix ex- in exclaim means to “thoroughly” shout out.
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#54 Don't "X" Out "Ex!"

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 07:00:00 +0000

Prefixes are key morphemes in English vocabulary that begin words. The prefix ex-, with its variants e- and ec-, mean “out.” Examples using this prefix include exceed, eject, and eccentric. An easy way to remember that the prefix ex- means “out” is through the word exit, for when you exit a room, you go “out” of it.
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#53 "Magn" the Magnificent

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 07:00:00 +0000

The Latin root word magn means “great.” This root word is the origin of numerous English vocabulary words, including magnificent, magnitude, and magnanimous. An easy way to remember that magn means “great” is through the word magnifying glass, which makes something small “great” in size.
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#52 Inter- Arresting

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 07:00:00 +0000

Prefixes are key morphemes in English vocabulary that begin words. The prefix inter- means “between.” This prefix appears in numerous English vocabulary words, such as Internet, interesting, and interview. An easy way to remember that the prefix inter- means “between” is through the word international, for international competitions occur “between” nations.
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#51 Take the "Trans" Train

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 07:00:00 +0000

Prefixes are key morphemes in English vocabulary. The prefix trans- and its variant tra-, which mean “across,” appear in many English vocabulary words, for example: transmit, transform, and trajectory. Consider the word translation, which is the carrying “across” from one language into another.
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#50 Recapping the Year

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 07:00:00 +0000

Today we’re celebrating our 50th rootcast. Hooray! We’ll re-cap (or “take again”) some of the highlights of Word Root Of The Day rootcasts, and summarize what we’ve learned.
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#49 Don't Shut Down "Clud"

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 07:00:00 +0000

The Latin root word clud and its variants clus and clos all mean “shut.” These roots are the word origin of many English vocabulary words, including exclude, exclusive, and closet. When you include someone, you “shut” him in, thus performing the act of inclusion, thereby closing or “shutting” him into your group.
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#48 Grad Steps on the Gress

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 07:00:00 +0000

The Latin root word grad and its variant gress both mean “step.” These roots are the word origin of many English vocabulary words, including graduate, gradual, aggressive, and egress. When you graduate, you are ready for the next “step” in your education; likewise, when you make a great deal of progress, you have “stepped” forward.
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#47 "Pre-": The Prefix of Prefixes

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 07:00:00 +0000

Prefixes are key morphemes in English vocabulary that begin words. The prefix pre-, which means “before,” appears in numerous English vocabulary words, for example: predict, prevent, and prefix! An easy way to remember that the prefix pre- means “before” is through the word prevent, for when you come “before” something else to stop it from happening, you prevent it.
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#46 Moving the Ced Procession

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 07:00:00 +0000

When studying root words, there are often spelling variants to a primary root word. The root word ced: “go,” for instance, present in the words precede and recede, has variant spellings of cess and ceed. Examples proceeding from these variant spellings, all of which mean “go” as well, are excess and exceed.
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#45 On The Go

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 07:00:00 +0000

The Latin root word ced means “go.” This root is the word origin of many English vocabulary words, including accede, secede, and recede. An easy way to remember this root word is by the word precede, for when one thing precedes another, it “goes” before it.
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#44 Sid Sits with Sed

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 07:00:00 +0000

The Latin root word sid and its variant sed both mean “sit.” These roots are the word origin of many English vocabulary words, including sedative, sediment, president, and reside. For instance, a residence is a place where its residents are able to “sit” back; a sedentary person likes to “sit” around a lot instead of being active.
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#43 The Fascinating Parts of Words

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 07:00:00 +0000

Morphology is the study of how words are put together by using morphemes, which include prefixes, roots, and suffixes. Parsing the different morphemes in a word reveals meaning and part of speech. For instance, the word “invention” includes the prefix in- + the root vent + the suffix -ion, from which is formed the noun “invention.”
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#42 Intense Prefixes

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 07:00:00 +0000

Some prefixes highly emphasize roots of words to which they are attached. These prefixes can effectively be translated as “thoroughly” to highlight their intensive function. For instance, the prefix re-, which can mean “back” or “again,” can also mean “thoroughly,” such as in the word resplendent, or “thoroughly” shining or bright.
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#40 TheRE and Back Again

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 07:00:00 +0000

Prefixes are key morphemes in English vocabulary that begin words. The prefix re-, which means “back” or “again,” appears in hundreds of English vocabulary words, for example: reject, regenerate, and revert. You can remember that the prefix re- means “back” via the word return, or turn “back;” to remember that re- means “again” consider rearrange, or arrange “again.”
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#41 Mal Mauls

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 07:00:00 +0000

The Latin root word mal means “bad” or “evil.” This root is the word origin of many English vocabulary words, including malformed, maltreat, and malice. You can recall that mal means “bad” through malfunction, or a “badly” working part, and that it means “evil” through malice, or intentional “evil” done to another.
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#39 Eponyms from Ancient Greece

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 07:00:00 +0000

Words from which eponyms derive play a smaller role than Latin and Greek root words in forming English vocabulary, but nevertheless are important for learning the word origins of English vocabulary. An eponym is an English word that is derived from a name, such as that of a person or place. Today we will explore three eponyms from the history of ancient Greece: Pyrrhic, spartan, and epicurean.
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#38 Vent No More with Ven

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 07:00:00 +0000

The Latin root word ven and its variant vent both mean “come.” These roots are the word origin of many English vocabulary words, including prevent, invent, venue, and convenient. When you invent something, for instance, you “come” upon it for the first time, whereas a venue is a place to which people “come,” often for an event.
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#37 Hold the Spelling Variants of "Ten" in Mind

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 07:00:00 +0000

When studying root words, there are often spelling variants to a primary root word. The root word ten: “hold,” for instance, present in the words tenant and maintenance, has variant spellings of tin, tain, and tent. Examples containing these variant spellings, all of which mean “hold” as well, are continue, abstain, and tentative.
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#36 Hold a Perfect "Ten"

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 07:00:00 +0000

The Latin root word ten means “hold.” This root is the word origin of many English vocabulary words, including maintenance, tenor, and tenacious. Perhaps the easiest way to remember this root word is through the English noun tenant, for a tenant “holds” the lease of the property where she lives.
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#35 Different Spellings of the Prefix "Con-"

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 07:00:00 +0000

Prefixes often undergo spelling changes depending upon the stem, or main part of the word, to which they are affixed. The prefix con-, for example, can exist in the following forms: co-, col-, com-, and cor-. Examples of words containing such forms include cooperate, collaborate, companion, and correct.
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#34 Thoroughly Together With "Con-"

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 07:00:00 +0000

Prefixes are key morphemes in English vocabulary that begin words. The prefix con-, which means “with” or “thoroughly,” appears in numerous English vocabulary words, for example: connect, consensus, and conclude. An easy way to remember that the prefix con means “with” is through the word connect, or join “with.” A way to remember that it means “thoroughly” is through conclude, or “thoroughly” close a matter.
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#33 Eponyms from Literature

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 07:00:00 +0000

Words from which eponyms derive play a smaller role than Latin and Greek root words in forming English vocabulary, but nevertheless are important for learning the word origins of English vocabulary. An eponym is an English word that is derived from a name, such as that of a person or place. Today we will explore three eponyms from literature: malapropism, stentorian, and Machiavellian.
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#32 Take the Variants of "Cept" into Consideration

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 07:00:00 +0000

When studying root words, there are often numerous variants to a primary root word. The primary root word cept: “taken,” for instance, present in the words concept and inception, has variant spellings of cap, cip, and ceiv. Examples containing these variant spellings, all of which mean “take” as well, are capable, recipient, and receive.
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#31 Accept No Exceptions!

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 07:00:00 +0000

The Latin root word cept means “taken.” This root word gives rise to many English vocabulary words, including deception, concept, and except. Perhaps the easiest way to remember this root word is through the word accept, for when you have accepted something, you have “taken” it towards yourself.
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#30 Different Spellings of the Prefix "In"

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 07:00:00 +0000

Prefixes often undergo spelling changes depending upon the stem to which they are affixed. The prefix in, for example, can exist in the following forms: il, im, in, ir, and ig. Examples of words containing such forms include illegal, imbibe, innate, irregular, and ignoble.
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#29 Plowing the Roots Field with "Tract"or

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 07:00:00 +0000

The Latin root word tract means “drag” or “pull.” This root word gives rise to many English vocabulary words, including attraction, subtract, and contract. Perhaps the easiest way to remember this root word is through the English word tractor, for a tractor’s main function is to “drag” or “pull” heavy equipment.
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#28 Prefixes and the Prefix "In"

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 07:00:00 +0000

Prefixes are key morphemes in English vocabulary. The prefix in, which means “in, on, or not,” appears in numerous English vocabulary words, for example: inject, influx, and insane. Prefixes do tend to have different meanings, which can be divined by context, common sense, and the process of elimination.
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#27 Reverse Versus Obverse

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 07:00:00 +0000

The Latin root word vers means “turned.” This root gives rise to many English vocabulary words, including reverse, version, and conversation. Perhaps the easiest way to remember this root word is through the English word anniversary, a calendrical marker that yet another year has “turned.”
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#26 Quixotic, Gargantuan Leviathan!

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 07:00:00 +0000

Words from which eponyms derive play a smaller role than Latin and Greek root words in forming English vocabulary, but nevertheless are important for learning the word origins of English vocabulary. An eponym is an English word that is derived from a name, such as that of a person or place. Today we will explore the eponyms quixotic, gargantuan, and leviathan.
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#25 Sail into "Port"

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 07:00:00 +0000

The important Latin root word port means ‘carry.’ Some common English words that use this root include import, export, deport, and report. An easy way to remember this word root is through the word portable, which is something that is easily ‘carried’ from one place to another.
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#24 Sensational 'Sens' & 'Sent'

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 07:00:00 +0000

The Latin root sent and its variant form sens mean to ‘feel.’ Some common English words that come from these two roots include sensation, sensible, resent, and consent. Remember that when you sense something you ‘feel’ it, and when you are being sentimental, your ‘feelings’ take precedence over anything else.
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#23 The Final Word

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 07:00:00 +0000

The Latin root word fin means an ‘end,’ as in a ‘boundary’ or ‘limit.’ Some common English vocabulary words that come from this Latin root word include final, finish, and definition. Perhaps the easiest way to remember that this root word means ‘end’ is through the word infinite, since something infinite has no ‘end!’
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#22 Prefix Assimilation: Mangled Letters

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 07:00:00 +0000

Common prefixes like in- and con- sometimes change their form in English words. The prefix roots in combine , collate and corrupt are all con-. Likewise the prefix roots in illegal and irregular are in-. This disguising of prefix roots is called prefix assimilation.
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#21 'Vert' Convert

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 07:00:00 +0000

The Latin root word vert means ‘turn.’ This root gives rise to many English vocabulary words, including vertical, revert, and convert. This root word can keep your word sense right-side up instead of inverting it by ‘turning’ you upside-down.
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#20 Dictionaries Say It All!

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 07:00:00 +0000

The Latin root word dict and its variant dic both mean ‘say.’ Some common English vocabulary words that come from this word root include dictionary, contradict, and dedicate. Perhaps the easiest way in which to remember this root is the word prediction, for a prediction is ‘said’ before something actually happens.
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#19 'Fect': Done to Perfection

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 07:00:00 +0000

The English word root fect comes from a Latin verb meaning ‘make’ or ‘do.’ Some common English words that come from fect include infect, perfect, and defect. A way to perfectly remember fect is that something perfect is so well ‘done’ that it cannot be ‘made’ any better.
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#18 Log In!

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 07:00:00 +0000

The Greek root word log means ‘word,’ and its variant suffix -logy means ‘study (of).’ Some common English words that use this root include biology, mythology, catalog, and prologue. Biology, of course, is the ‘study’ of life, whereas a prologue constitutes the ‘words’ spoken to introduce a poem or novel.
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#17 Living with 'Bio'

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 07:00:00 +0000

The Greek root word bio means ‘life.’ Some common English vocabulary words that come from this root word include biological, biography, and amphibian. One easy word that is helpful in remembering bio is biology, or the study of ‘life.’
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#16 'Fact' the Word Factory

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 07:00:00 +0000

It’s a fact that the Latin root word fact has ‘made’ many words in English; in point of fact, it even means ‘made’ or ‘done.’ Some common English words that come from fact include manufacture, artifact, and satisfaction. A very easy way to remember fact is the original idea behind the word factory, which is a place where products are ‘made.’
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#15 Into the Fold

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 07:00:00 +0000

The English stem plic comes from a Latin root word meaning ‘fold.’ Some common English words that come from this word root include application, multiplication, and replicate. Perhaps the easiest way to remember plic is through the word duplicate, or to ‘fold’ twice, thus making two things.
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#14 Don't make this more dif'fic'ult than it should be.

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 07:00:00 +0000

The Latin root word fic means to ‘make.’ A good number of common English vocabulary words come from this root, including magnificent, difficult, and artificial. One easy word that is helpful in remembering fic is efficient, for efficient people are able to ‘make’ things happen.
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#13 Carry That Lat(te) over Here!

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 07:00:00 +0000

It’s time to consider the relative importance of the Latin word root lat which means to ‘carry.’ Two common English words that come from this root include relationship and legislate. Perhaps you can most relate to this root word, or ‘carry’ yourself back to it, with the word relate itself.
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#12 Dukes of 'Duc'

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 07:00:00 +0000

The Latin root words duc and duct mean to ‘lead.’ Some common English vocabulary words that come from this root word include educate, reduce, produce, and product. Perhaps the best way to remember this root word is to think of someone who is educated, or has been ‘led’ forth into knowledge.
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#11 Carry Me Fer(ry)!

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 07:00:00 +0000

Just like a ferry carries people across the water, so too does the Latin word root fer mean to ‘carry.’ Many different words come from fer, including prefer, refer, and conference. Perhaps the easiest way to help remember this root word is when you transfer money, or ‘carry’ across funds from one bank account to another.
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#10 'Ject' is Not a Word Reject!

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 07:00:00 +0000

The Latin word root ject means ‘throw.’ Many common words are ‘thrown’ about each day which use this root, including eject, reject, object, and projector. Perhaps a pointed way to help remember this word is when you receive an injection, which is a shot ‘thrown’ into your body.
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#9 Graphic Writing

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 07:00:00 +0000

You’ve seen the graph root, which means ‘to write,’ written everywhere. From geography classes to math graph paper to English paragraphs, this root presents itself in many, many forms. Take a look at the graphic of the graph tree, and read on with the writing below!
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#8 Chronos, the God of What?

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 07:00:00 +0000

The day-to-day cycle of time is something we become aware of before we even go to school. Every student should know that chron is the Greek root for ‘time.’ From the chronometer to chronicling our lives, humankind is fascinated by ‘time.’ Let’s take a few minutes and get ‘in sync’ with this root word.
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#7 Mighty Morph

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 07:00:00 +0000

The root word morph comes from a Greek word meaning ‘shape.’ Ever heard of the ‘Mighty Morphin Power Rangers’? When they are ‘morphin’ they are changing ‘shape.’ Let’s stay in good academic ‘shape’ and take a look at the intellectual words that derive from this root.
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#6 Mental Cogs Cognition

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Tue, 31 May 2011 07:00:00 +0000

A Latin word meaning ‘to learn’ gives rise to the English word root cogn. Primarily because of French, the root conn also comes from this root. A readily recognizable word that comes to mind which uses this root, is, well, recognize! What else can we acquaint you with to help you ‘learn’ this root?
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#5 Keep in Word Shape Using Good Verbal Form

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Fri, 27 May 2011 07:00:00 +0000

The root form, which means ‘shape,’ gives us a number of words that are used every day, including reform, information, deformed, and form. To ‘form," for instance, is simply ’to shape,’ whereas to reform is merely to ‘shape again.’ To keep you in verbal “shape,” let’s take a look at the way some other words are formed!
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#4 On a Mission

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Tue, 24 May 2011 07:00:00 +0000

The English root mit comes from a Latin word that means ‘to send.’ Mit also shows up as miss in many words, so be on the lookout! Some common words from this root include emit, mission, and dismiss. So as not to omit any knowledge, we have submitted this post to explain it all.
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#3 Of Popes and Tricky Pipes

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Fri, 20 May 2011 07:00:00 +0000

The root words fall and fals come from a Latin word that means to ‘trick.’ Some common words derived from this root word are false and fault. Watch out for the ‘tricks’ this root can play, for the word faucet (tap) is also derived from this root word, and you’ll probably be surprised to learn why.
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#2 Chop-chop, Cut-cut

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Tue, 17 May 2011 07:00:00 +0000

Cis and its variants cid and -cide come from a Latin root which means both ‘cut’ and ‘kill.’ Some common words derived from this root include decide, decision, and suicide. Perhaps the best way to remember this root is by thinking of scissors — a scissor cuts
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#1 Fascinated by Love?

feedback@membean.com (Membean) — Fri, 13 May 2011 07:00:00 +0000

The root word phil comes from a Greek verb meaning to love. Some common words derived from phil are philosopher, philanthropist, and bibliophile. Note that phil can begin the word as in philosopher, or end it as in bibliophile. But wherever it occurs you can be assured that phil has something to do with love.
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