Dedication: 3/15/05

Dedication: 3/15/05
I dedicate this dictionary to my parents George and Marion Greenwald and my friends Orville and Evelyn Brynelson. I especially thank James Steckel, Barbara Zbikowski, Gustavo Betancourt, and Joshua Ellis, colleagues and computer experts extraordinaire, for their invaluable assistance. Kathy Hart and Ann O'Hara, , MUHS librarians, were most helpful in suggesting sources. I further thank Gaylan DuBose, Ed Long, Laura Long, Thomas Reed, Hugh Himwich, Susan Schearer, Gardy Warren, and Kaye Warren for their encouragement and advice. Mrs. Schearer proofed the entire dictionary! My former students and now Classics professors Daniel Curley and Anthony Hollingsworth also deserve mention for their advice, assistance, and friendship. My student Michael Kocorowski encouraged and provoked me into beginning this dictionary. Certamen players Michael Fleisch, James Ruel, Jeff Tudor, and Ryan Thom were inspirations. James Radtke, James Beaudoin, Richard Hallberg, Sylvester Kreilein, and James Wilkinson assisted with words from modern foreign languages. Without the advice of these and many others this dictionary could not have been compiled. Lastly I thank all my colleagues and students at Marquette University High School who have made my teaching career a joy.

Basic sources:

American College Dictionary (ACD)

American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (AHD)

Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology (ODEE)

Oxford English Dictionary (OCD)

Webster’s International Dictionary (eds. 2, 3) (W2, W3)

Liddell and Scott (LS)

Lewis and Short (LS)

Oxford Latin Dictionary (OLD)

Schaffer: Greek Derivative Dictionary, Latin Derivative Dictionary
In addition many other sources were consulted; numerous etymology texts and readers were helpful. Zeno’s Word Frequency guide assisted in determining the relative importance of words. However, all judgments (and errors) are finally mine. Many internet sites added variety. Vobis multas gratias.
James Greenwald
Copyright: 2002, 2005


A

ab: from

a-, ab-, abs-, advance, advanced, advancement, advantage, advantageous, advantageously, avant-garde, disadvantage, disadvantageous, disadvantageously, readvance, van, vanguard, vantage

Examples: avert, abduct, abstain (and numerous others).

Distinguish Greek prefix a- (the alpha privative meaning not or without);

e.g, amoral, atypical.

N.B. This prefix is NOT listed separately in the Reverse Index.
abbatia: abbey 8A abbacy, abbe, abbess, abbey, abbot
abdomen: belly 9C

abdomen, abdominal, abs

aboleo, abolitum: destroy 7F

abolish, abolition, abolitionary, abolitionism, abolitionist

accipiter: hawk 14D

accipiter

acer: sharp; aceo: be sour; acerbus: bitter; acies: battle-line; acuo: sharpen; acutus: sharp 5G

acerb, acerbic, acerbity, acetate, acetic, acetone, acetyl, acetylene, acid, acidic, acidification, acidify, acidity, acidly, acidosis, acidulous, aciduously, acrid, acridity, acrimonious, acrimoniously, acrimony, acrylic, acuity, acumen, acuminate, acumination, acupuncture, acute, acutely, acuteness, acutifoliate, aiguille, antacid, cute, cutely, cuteness, cutesy, cutie, diacetate, diacid, DNA, eager, eagerly, eagerness, eglantine, exacerbate, exacerbation, hyperacidity, niacin, overager, oxyacetylene, vinaigrette, vinegar, vinegarroon, vinegary

-acius: tending to

perspicacious etc. (= Eng. -acious)
-acitas: quality of being inclined to

prespicacity etc. (= Eng. -acity)
-acia: quality of having

obstinacy etc. (= Eng. -acy)

ad: to

ad-, adapt, accept, addition, adept, affect, aggressive, adhere, adit, adjacent, allege, admit, ammunition, announce, adopt, apply, acquire, arrive, assume, attend, adumbrate, advent etc.

Note assimilation: ad + munio becomes ammuntion.

Despite their appearance advance and advantage are not compounds of ad, but rather are a combination of ab and ante (q.v.).

N.B. This prefix is NOT listed separately in the Reverse Index.

N.B. dos-a-dos from French.
adeps: fat 14A

adipose
adulescens (youth): see alo

adulor (1): fawn upon 12B

adulate, adulation, adulatory

aedes (aedis): temple, building; aedificium: building 10D

aedile, edification, edifice, edify, unedifying

aeger: sick 14D

aegrotat

Aegyptus: Egypt: see AiguptoV
Aemilia: Aemilia 10B

Emil, Emily

aemulus: rival 10A

emulate, emulation, emulator, emulous

See also imitor, which may be related.
aequus: level, fair, just; aequo: equal; aequor: sea; iniquus: unjust 2E

adequacy, adequate, adequately, disequilibrium, Ecuador, Equadorian, egalitarian, egalitarianism, equable, equably, equal, equality, equalization, equalize, equalizer, equally, equanimity, equant, equatable, equate, equation, equator, equatorial, equiangular, equidistant, equilateral, equilibrate, equilibrium, equilize, equinoctial, equinomial, equinominal, equinox, equipartition, equipotent, equipotential, equitable, equitably, equity, equivalence, equivalency, equivalent, equivalently, equivocal, equivocate, equivocation, inadequacy, inadequate, inadequately, inequality, inequitable, inequitably, inequity, iniquitous, iniquity, unequal, unequally, unequivocal, unequivocally

aestimo (1): estimate; aes: bronze (LS; OLD doubts); aeneus: brazen; aerarium: treasury 4D

aenarian, aim, aimless, aimlessly, era, esteem, estimable, estimate, estimation, estimator, inestimable, overestimate, underestimate, underestimated, unestimation

Italicized words directly from aes.

aestas: summer; aestus: tide 10A

estivate, estuarine, estuary

aether: upper air: see aiqhr
aevum: age, generation; aetas: age; aeternus: everlasting 3B

age, ageism, ageless, agelong, coeval, eternal, eternalize, eternally, eternity, longevity, medieval, medievalism, medievalist, primeval, sempiternal, teenage, teenager, underaged

ODEE adds tarnation (see damno).
Afer: African; Africa: Africa 5E

Africa, African, Afrikaaner, Afrikaans, afro, Afro-, Afrocentric, Afrocentrism

ager: field; agrestis: rural (cf. agroV) 5E

acre, acreage, agrarian, agrarianism, agribusiness, agricultural, agriculturalist, agriculture, agriculturist, peregrination, peregrine, pilgrim, pilgrimage, wiseacre

See notes on aerie in OED and W3.
agger (rampart): see gero
ago, actus: do, drive (cf. Grk agw: lead, bring), adigo: throw; agito: drive; agmen: line of march; cogito: think; cogo: compel; exigo: drive out; exiguus: small; redigo: drive back -1B

act, actable, action, actionable, activation, activate, activator, active, actively, activism, activist, activity, actor, actress, actual, actuality, actually, actuarily, actuary, actuate, agency, agenda, agent, agile, agility, agitate, agitatedly, agitation, agitato (It), agitator, Agit-Prop, ambagious, ambiguity, ambiguous, ambiguously, anticoagulant, assay, cache, cachet, CIA, circumnavigate, circumnavigation, circumnavigator, coagulant, coagulate, coagulation, coagulative, coagulator, coagulin, coagulometer, coagulum, cogency, cogent, cogently, cogitable, cogitabund, cogitate, cogitation, cogito ergo sum, counteract, counteraction, counteractive, counteragent, crossexamine, crossexamination, disambiguate, disambiguation, enact, enaction, enactment, EPA, essay, essayist, exact, exacter, exactingly, exaction, exactitude, exactly, exactness, exam, examen, examinable, examination, examine, examiner, exigency, exigent, exiguous, expurgate, expurgation, fumigate, fumigation, -gate (for some words), hyper, hyperactive, hyperactivity, immunoassay, inaction, inactivate, inactivator, inactive, inactivity, inexact, inexactitude, inexactly, interact, interaction, interactionism, interactive, interactively, interactivity, interagency, intransigent, litigant, litigate, litigation, litigious, litigiously, litigiousness, mitigate, mitigation, mitigative, mucilage (OED), navigability, navigable, navigate, navigation, navigational, navigator, navvy, nonactivity, nonradioactive, nonreactive, objurgate, objurgation, overactive, overreact, overreaction, photocoagulation, proactive, procoagulant, prodigal,,prodigality, prodigally, psychoactive, purgation, purgative, purgatorial, purgatory, purge, radioactive, radioactivity, react, reactance, reactant, reaction, reactionary, reactivate, reactive, reactor, reagent, redaction, reenact, reenactment, reexamination, reexamine, retroactive, retroactively, squat, squatter, transact, transaction, transactional, transactor, unambiguous, unambiguously, unexamined, unexpurgated, unpurged, unreactive, variegate, variegation, virago,

ODEE adds cache, cachet. W3 accepts cache, hesitates on cachet. OLD says virago from vir + ago; LS says virgo. ODEE and OED derive virago from vir alone.

LS, OLD divide purgo into purus + ago. See purgo. Italicized words are from purgo.

For double underlined words see aio.

aio: say 9E

adage, prodigal, prodigality, prodigally, prodigious, prodigiously, prodigy

OLD says prodigalis, prodigium from either ago or aio. ODEE assigns prodigal to ago and prodigious to either ago or aio. OED assigns prodigal to ago and prodigious to aio.

W3 assigns prodigious and prodigy to aio, prodigal to ago.

ala: wing; ales: winged 9E

aileron, aisle, alar, axil, axillary

alacer: brisk 12B

alacrity, allegretto (It), allegro (It)

Albis: Elbe 12H

Elbe
albus: white 7A

alb, alba, Alban, Albania, Albanian, albarium, albedo, albescent, albifrons, albinism, albino, Albion, album, albumen, albumin, auburn, bedaub, daub

alea: dice: seehleoV
algeo: be cold 5E

algae, algid, algometer, algor, macroalgae, microalgae

-alis: pertaining to

general, genial, manual etc. (= Eng. -al, -eal, -ial)

alius: another; alienus: foreign; aliquis: someone; aliter: elsewhere 7C

alias, alibi, alien, alienable, alienage, alienate, alienation, alienator, alienism, alienist, aliquant, aliquot, et al., et alia, et alii, hidalgo, inalienable, unalienable

alo, al(i)tum: nourish; altus: high, deep; adulescens: youth; alma: nourishing 7C

adolescence, adolescent, adult, adulthood, aliment, alimentary, alimentation, alimentative, alimony, Alma, alma mater, altazimuth, altimeter, altimetry, altiplanation, altiplano, altitude, alto, altocumulus, altostratus, altricial, alum (alumnus), alumna, alumnus, bio-enhanced, coalesce, coalescence, coalescent, coalition, contralto, enhance, enhancement, exalt, exaltation, haughtily, haughtiness, haughty, haut (Fr), hauteur, hawser, nonproliferation, oboe, oboist, palimony, preadolescent, preadult, prole, proletarian, proletatianization, proletariat, proliferate, proliferation, proliferative

OED derives altar from alo; see note under oleo.
Alpes: Alps 9B

Alpine, Alps

altaria (altar): see oleo.
alter: one or the other of two; adulter: illicit lover; alternus: by turns 5C

adulter, adulterant, adulterate, adulteration, adulterer, adulteress, adulterine, adulterous, adultery, alter, alter ego, alterability, alterable, alteration, altercation, alternate, alternately, alternation, alternative, alternatively, alternativity, alternator, altrigenderism, altruism, altruist, altruistic, altruistically, inalterable, subaltern, unadulterated, unalterable, unalterably, unaltered

altus (high, deep): see alo.
alumen: astringent substance 8B

alum (substance), aluminiferous, aluminum, sial

alveus: bathtub 11J

alveary, alveolar, alveolate, alveolus

amarus: bitter 14A

maraschino

ambo: both (cf. amfi) 6D

ambagious, ambi-, ambiance, ambidexterity, ambidextrous, ambience, ambient, ambiguity, ambiguous, ambiguously, ambilateral, ambit, ambition, ambitious, ambitiously, ambivalence, ambivalent, ambivalently, disambiguate, disambiguation, overambitious, unambiguous, unambiguously, unambitious,

Note the changed spelling in anfractuous.

ambulo (1): walk 7C

alley, alleyway, amble, ambulance, ambulant, ambulate, ambulation, ambulator, ambulatory, andante, circumambulate, perambulate, perambulation, perambulator, permabulatory, pram, preamble, somnambulant, somnambulism

amita: (paternal) aunt 5I

aunt, auntie, aunty, great-aunt

amnis: river 13B

amnicolidae

amo (1): love; amicus: friend(ly); amicitia: friendship; amoenus: pleasant; inimicus: enemy 5I

Amanda, amateur, amateurish, amateurishly, amateurism, amative, amatory, amenity, ami (Fr), amiability, amiable, amiably, amicable, amicably, amicus, amiga (Sp), amigo (Sp), amity, amoretto (It), amorous, amorously, amour, Amy, enamor, enemy, enmity, inamorata (It), inimical, Mabel, paramour, pro-am

amplus: large 7C

ample, amplification, amplifier, amplify, amplitude, amply, laser, unamplified

amuletum: charm 12D

amulet
anas: duck 14D

anatine

ancilla: maid 10F

ancilla, ancillary

ancora: anchor, hook: see agkura
angaria: transport wagon 10F

hangar

ango, anctum: choke; anxius: troubled; angina: throat infection 5E

angle, angler, anguish, angular, angularity, angulation, angustifolia, anxiety, anxious, anxiously, equiangular, overanxious, quadrangle, quadrangular, rectangle, rectangular, triangle, triangular, triangulate, triangulation

N.B. Anger and angry are not derived from ango.
anguis: snake; anguilla: eel 14D

anguine

animus: spirit; anima: soul, animadverto: notice; animal: animal 3D

anima, animadversion, animal, animalism, animalistic, animality, animate, animation, animator, animism, animist, animistic, animosity, animus, equanimity, inanimate, magnanimity, magnanimous, magnanimously, pusillanimity, pusillanimous, unanimity, unanimous, unanimously

annus: year

annal, annalist, annalistic, anniversary, anno Domini (AD), annual, annually, annuity, annular, biannual, bicentennial, biennial, biennium, centennial, decennial, interannual, millennial, millenialism, millenialist,, millennium, octennial, per annum, perennial, perennially, quadrennial, quadrennium, quincentennial, quinqennium, semiannual, sesquicentennial, tricentennial, triennial

N.B. Centenary and millenary do not contain the root annus.

N.B. Distinguish decenary, decennary.

-ans: see -ant
ansa: handle 14D

ansa, ansate

anser: goose 13C

anserine, merganser

-ant-: -ing

important etc. (= Eng. -ant)

ante: before; antiquus: old 5I

advance, advancement, advantage, advantageous, advantageously, ancestor, ancestral, ancestry, ancient, anciently, ante, ante bellum, antecede, antecedent, antedate, antediluvian, antefix, antemeridian, antenatal, antepenult, anterior, antic, anticipate, anticipation, anticipative, anticipatory, antiquarian, antiquary, antiquated, antique, antiquity, avant-garde (Fr), disadvantage, disadvantageous, disadvantageously, rampart, readvance, van, vanguard, vantage

antenna (antemna): sailyard 9E

antenna
-antia: quality of -ing

hesitancy, petulance etc. (= Eng. -ance, -ancy)
Antonius: Anthony 6A

Anthony, Antony, Toni, Tony

antrum: cave: see antron

anus: old woman 14D

anile
anus: anus; anulus: ring 7E

anal, anally, annelid, an(n)ular (ring shaped), anus
aperio, apertus: open 8E

aperitif, aperture, Apr., April, overt, overtly, overture, pert, pertly, pertness

LS and OED derive from pario; OLD does not.

See pario, operio.

See OED: malapert.
apex: peak 10C

apex, apical

LS, ph OLD, W3 derive from aptus; OED from verto.
apis: bee 12F

apiary, apicultural, apiculture

appello (1): see pello
aptus: suitable; adipiscor: obtain; aptus: suited 4B

adapt, adaptability, adaptable, adaptation, adapter, adaption, adaptive, adaptor, adept, adeptly, apt, aptitude, aptly, attitude, attitudinal, copula, copulate, copulation, copulative, copulator, copulatory, couple, coupler, couplet, decouple, inept, ineptitude, ineptly, ineptness, lariat, maladaptation, preadapt, thermocouple, uncouple

aqua: water 7C

aqua, aquaculture, aqualung, aquamarine, aquarian, aquarium, Aquarius, aquatic, aquatint, aqueduct, aqueous, aquifer, ewer, nonaquatic, sewage, sewer, sewerage, subaqua, subaqueous

aquila: eagle (OLD ph from aqua) 7C

Aquila, aquiline, eagle, eaglet

arbiter: judge, overseer; arbitror (1): think 7F

arbiter, arbitrage, arbitral, arbitrament, arbitrarily, arbitrariness, arbitrary, arbitrate, arbitration, arbitrator, arbitress

arbor: tree

arbor, arboreal, arboretum, arboriculture

Only Schaeffer associates arbor with herba.


arceo: keep away, ward off; arca: chest; exerceo: train; exercitus: army 5G

arcane, ark, coerce, coercion, coercionary, coercive, coercively, exercisable, exercise, unexercised

arcus: bow 7B

arc, arcade, arch, archer, archery, architrave, archway, arcuate

ardeo: burn 9C

ardent, ardently, ardor, arson, arsonist

arduus: uplifted, high 10F

arduous, arduously

area: yard 6E

area, areola

(h)arena: sand surface of an arena 8C

arena
areo: be dry (OLD: ph related to ardeo) 10A

arid, aridity, semiarid
argentum: silver 8B

Ag, argent, Argentina, argentine, Argentinian

argilla: clay 14D

argillaceous, argillite

arguo: show, prove; argumentum: proof, conclusion 4H

arguable, arguably, argue, argument, argumentation, argumentative, argumentatively, counterargument, unarguable, unarguably

aries: ram 12C

Aries
-aris: pertaining to

nebular etc. (= Eng. -ar)
-arium: place for

bestiary, herbarium etc. (= Eng. -arium, -ary)

arma: (defensive) weapons

alarm, alarmable, alarmingly, alarmism, alarmist, ambry, arm (v), armada, armadillo, armament, armature, armigerous, armistice, armor, armorer, armorial, armory, army, disarm, disarmingly, disarmament, firearm, gendarme, rearm, rearmament, unarmed, yardarm

aro (1): plow 10F

arable

ars: skill; inertia: sloth 3B

art, artefact, artful, artfully, artifact, artifice, artificer, artificial, artificiality, artificially, artillery, artisan, artist, artiste, artistic, artistically, artistry, artless, artlessly, artwork, arty, inartistic, inert, inertia, inertial, inertly

artus: joint 5H

article, articular, articulate, articulation, disarticulation, inarticulate, inarticulately, unarticulated

(h)arundo: reed 14D

arundinaceous

arvum: field 14D

arval
as: copper coin 8C

ace

asinus: donkey 9C

asinine, ass (animal), jackass, jackrabbit

asper: harsh 9D

asperity, exasperate, exasperation

aspis: asp: see aspiV
astrum: star: see asthr
astus: cunning 10E

astute, astutely, astuteness

ater: black; atrox: fierce; atrium: living room 9C

atrabilious, atrium, atrocious, atrociously, atrocity

-atia: quality of having

obstinacy etc. (= Eng. -acy)

-atus: office of

magistrate etc. (= Eng. -ate)

au-: away from (variation of ab- as in aufero)

N.B. No English derivative contains the au- prefix.

audeo: dare 10F

audacious, audaciously, audacity

audio (4): hear; auris: ear 4C

audible, audibility, audibly, audience, audile, audio, audiogram, audiometer, audiovisual, audit, audition, auditor, auditorium, auditory, aural, auricle, auscultate, auscultation, binaural, disobedience, disobedient, disobey, inaudible, inaudibly, monaural, obedience, obedient, obediently, obeisance, obey, ormer, scout, scoutmaster, unobeyed

augeo, auctum: increase; auctoritas: authority; auxilium: help 3A

auction, auctioneer, augment, augmentation, augmentative, Augsburg, august, August, Augusta, Augustan, Augustine, Augustinian, Augustus, author, authoress, authoritarian, authoritarianism, authoritative, authoritatively, authority, authorization, authorize, authorship, auxiliary, bioaugmentation, TVA, unauthorized, Zaragosta

augur (prophet), augurium (prophecy): see avis, gero (But W3 assigns to augeo!)