Chapter V · Notes on the Growth of English Words.

1. ROOTS; INFLUENCE OF IMITATION ON LANGUAGE.—The question of the origin of language is an extremely interesting one, which has been long and keenly discussed. But it is one on which the opinions of the learned are not agreed, and we cannot dwell upon it here. There is an established fact, however, which is of the highest interest and importance: most of the words of the great family of Indo-European languages can be traced to a few hundred roots; and these roots are common to the whole family. It is the greatest achievement of philological science to have clearly established this fact. How these roots have originated, is a more uncertain inquiry: in fact, is just the question of the origin of language presented in another form. It is the theory of some that words have arisen from the imitation of natural sounds; the names of animals, for instance, being imitations of the sounds they utter. Though this has been ridiculed under the nickname of the bow-wow theory, there seems to be some truth in it: at anyrate no one will deny that in the English, as in all other languages, a great many words exist which are imitative of natural sounds. Among such words the following may be mentioned: Babble, boom, chatter, chirp, clang, clatter, clink, crash, croak, cuckoo, fizz, giggle, gurgle, hiss, howl, hum, hush, murmur, quack, scream, shriek, squeal, thud, thump, thwack, twang, whack, wheeze, whirr, whizz.

Of course these words were not all originally English. Clang and murmur, for instance, are Latin words; but they also are of imitative origin.

2. HYBRIDS.—A hybrid is a word composed of a mixture of foreign and native elements. Sometimes an English word has a Latin ending; sometimes a Latin word has an English ending. All such words are called hybrids. One of the most interesting of the earliest hybrids in English was the word bondage, which is said to have been introduced in the year 1303. The word bond comes to us from the Icelandic or Norwegian word bondi, which means farmer or tiller of the soil. Farmers in Norway are to this day called bonders. The suffix age is Latin; but it has come to us through Norman-French. The full Latin ending is atĭcum, which, in France, in the course of generations, was compressed into age. There are other hybrids with this ending, such as tillage (which has pushed out the pure English tilth), cartage, stowage, and others.—The ending able, which comes to us from Latin, combines very easily with words which are purely English. Thus we have lovable, biddable, laughable, breakable, and others.—The Latin ending osus means full of. Thus, vinum is wine, and vinosus is full of wine. This ōsus becomes in English ous; and we find this Latin suffix added to words which are purely English. Thus we have wondrous from wonder, and ravenous from raven. We have also righteous, which was originally rightwîs, and the change into righteous was a corruption of the spelling.—Dis is a Latin prefix, and it is added to English words. Thus we have dislike and disown. We have also dishearten, an old word, in which the prefix dis contradicts the suffix en (which means to put or make).—Re, another Latin prefix, unites with purely English words, and we find renew, reopen, rebuild, reclothe, and others.—French words with English prefixes are also found. Thus we have besiege; the word siege, a seat, being French. To besiege means to take a seat in front of a town, with your mind made up not to go till you have taken it.—Latin words with English endings are found in useful, useless, usefulness, uselessness, and others. English words with Latin or French endings are not uncommon. Thus we have goddess, forbearance, hindrance, oddity, and others. In old-fashioned English, and even in Wordsworth, who died in 1850, we find such curious formations as oddments, needments, eggments (eggings on or incitements), and a few others.

3. WORDS DISGUISED IN FORM OR IN MEANING.

Abase, to bring or make low. From a Low Latin word bassus, low.

Abate, to beat down. Low Lat. abbattĕre.

Adder, O. E. nadder. The n has dropped from the noun, owing to the mistaken notion that it belonged to the article. Compare umpire for numpire (non par—that is, not equal), orange for norange (Pers. náranj), apron for napron. The dropping of the n is probably owing to the prefixing of an and mine.

Adrift, on or in the drift. From the verb drive. Compare give, gift; shrive, shrift.

Alligator is Spanish el lagarto, the lizard (par excellence), from Lat. lacerta, a lizard.

Aloft, on-loft, in the lift (air). Northern Eng. or ‘Scotch’ lift, the air.

Anon, on or in-one (instant). The phrase then ones has become the nonce.

Atonement, at-one-ment, bringing into one, reconciliation. In alone and atone the numeral one has its true sound.

Babble, to keep saying ba, ba.

Balloon, a large ball (Fr.). The oon is augmentative.

Ballot, a little ball (Fr.). The ot is diminutive.

Bank, a bench on which money is laid out.

Batch, the quantity of bread baked at one time. Compare wake, watch.

Bird, one of a brood (formerly brid). Compare three, third; burn, brand; work, wright. In all these the r changes its place.

Bran-new, that is, brand-new, burnt-new, as if newly from the fire.

Breakfast, a breaking of a fast. Compare Fr. déjeûner, from jeûne.

Brick, a piece broken off.

Brimstone, that is, burn-stone, from brennan, to burn. Compare brindled. The r is a letter which is easily moved. Compare three and third; burn and brown; etc.

Brood, something bred.

Butcher, O. Fr. bocher, a slaughterer of he-goats. From O. Fr. boc, a goat, not from bouche, mouth. Boc is allied to the Eng. buck.

Butler = bottler—that is, keeper of the bottles. From Nor. Fr. butuille, a bottle.

Buxom, pliable; from bugan, to bend, which gives bight and bout.

Carouse, Ger. gar aus, right out. Used of drinking a bumper.

Caterpillar = hairy cat. From O. Fr. chate, she-cat; pelouse, from Lat. pilosus, hairy. Compare Woolly-bear.

Causeway, corrupted from Fr. chaussée, a raised way.

Club, a society clumped together. Connected with clump.

Constable, from comes stabuli, count of the stable.

Coop, anything hollow, like a cup.

Cope, a covering, a cap.

Costermonger = costard-monger—that is, apple-seller, costard being a kind of apple.

Country-dance, a corruption of French contre-danse, a dance in which each dancer stands opposite his partner.

Coward, a bob-tailed hare. Through O. Fr., from Lat. cauda, a tail.

Coxcomb, a corruption of cock’s comb.

Daisy—that is, day’s-eye, so called from its sun-like appearance, or because it closes its flower at night, and opens it again in the morning.

Dandelion, a corruption of French dent-de-lion, tooth of the lion.

Dirge, from dirige (= direct), the first word in the passage beginning Ps. v. 8, sung in the office for the dead.

Disease, want of ease; pain.

Drawing-room; originally with-drawing room—that is, a room for retiring to after dinner.

Easel, from Dutch ezel, a little ass.

Etiquette, originally a ticket on which the forms to be observed on particular occasions at court were inscribed.

Fare, originally a going or travelling, hence the price paid for such.

Farthing, the fourth part, hence the fourth of a penny.

Ferry, places for faring, or travelling across a stream.

Ford, places for faring, or travelling across a stream.

Frontispiece, that which is seen in the front. Low Lat. frontispicium, from specio, I see. Not connected with piece.

Gad-fly, the goading or stinging fly.

Gaffer = gramfer, West of England for grandfather.

Gammer = grammer, West of England for grandmother. Compare O. E. gomman and gommer, for good man and good mother.

Gospel, God-spell (news of God, that is, life of Christ); commonly explained, however, as good-spell (good story), as if a translation of Gr. eu-anggelion, from eu, well, and anggelia, a message.

Grocer, should be grosser, from O. Fr. grossier, a wholesale dealer, a dealer en gros—that is, in the large. In older Eng., grocers were called spicers. Compare the Fr. épiciers.

Groove, something graven, or hollowed out.

Haft, the handle or part of anything which we have or hold in the hand.

Hamper, Low Lat. hanaperium, a large vessel for keeping cups, from Low Lat. hanapus, a drinking-cup.

Handicraft, craft or trade performed by the hand. Compare priestcraft, witchcraft.

Handle, (v.) to touch with the hand; (n.) the part held in the hand.

Handsel, money given in hand (hand, and sellan, to give).

Hanker, to allow the mind to hang on or long for a thing. Compare hank of wool.

Harbinger, one who goes forward to provide a harbour or place of safety for an army (O. E. here, an army; beorgan, to protect).

Hatch, to produce in a heck, a northern English word, meaning a hay-rack; a frame made of cross bars of wood; a hen-coop. Compare bake and batch; wake and watch.

Hatchment, the coat of arms put up over a house, the master of which has lately died; a corruption of achievement.

Hawthorn, the hedge thorn. A.S. haga, a hedge or inclosure.

Heaven, that which is heaved, or lifted up above our heads.

Heavy, that which requires much heaving to lift.

Hinder, to put or keep behind.

Homestead, the stead or place of a home; a farm inclosure. Stead, A.S. stede, occurs in instead, steadfast, and steady. Cf. also roadstead, a place where ships ride at anchor.

Husband, the master of a house. Short for house-band. The band is present participle of a word meaning ‘to dwell.’

Hussy, short for housewife. Compare bos’n for boatswain.

Icicle = ice-gicel. The termination is not to be confounded with the diminutive ending -icle, which is of Latin origin. Gicel = a small piece of ice, and is therefore redundant.

Intoxicate, to drug or poison. From a Low Latin verb to poison, from Greek toxon, an arrow, because arrows were frequently dipped in poison.

Island, water-land (O. E. ea, water, and land). The s is intrusive, and due to a confusion with isle, which is from Lat. insula, an island. Milton always spells it iland.

Jaw (old spelling, chaw), from chew, therefore = that which chews.

Jerusalem artichoke, It. girasole; Lat. gyrus (Gr. gyros), a circle, and sol, the sun. The artichoke is a kind of sunflower. Jerusalem is a corruption; like sparrow-grass for asparagus.

Kickshaws, a corruption of French quelques choses.

Kindness, the feeling that is natural to those of the same kin or family.

Lanthorn, Lat. lanterna. No connection with horn.

Ledge, a place on which things may be laid. From the verb lay.

Likewise, in like wise or manner.

Line, to cover with linen on the inside.

Linen, cloth made from lint or flax.

Liquorice, Gr. glukurrhiza = sweet root; from glukus, sweet, and rhiza, a root.

Meadow, place where grass is mown or cut down. Compare math and aftermath.

Morris-dance = Moorish dance.

Naught, no-whit, nothing.

Ness, a promontory or headland. A doublet of naze, and probably connected with nose. It occurs frequently in place-names along the shores of the North Sea, as in Sheerness, Caithness, the Naze.

Nonce, in ‘for the nonce’ = for the once, for the one occasion; M. E. for then ones. The n belongs to the article, and represents the m of the dative of the article, namely tham. Compare a newt, for an ewt; nuncle for mine uncle; a nickname for an eke-name; a nugget or ningot for an ingot.

Nostrils, corrupted form of nose-thirles, nose-holes. (Thirl is connected with thrill, drill, etc.)

Notwithstanding, not withstanding—that is, not standing against. The with has in this word the old sense of against.

Nurse, one who nourishes (Fr. nourrice).

Nutmeg = musk-nut. M. E. note-muge, O. Fr. muge, musk. Lat. muscus.

Offal, waste, part of anything, refuse. Literally ‘what falls off.’

Offing, the sea far off from the land. Compare off-scouring; offset; offshoot; and offspring.

Onset, a setting or rushing on or upon.

Orchard = wort-yard, wort or herb-yard, or garden.

Ostrich, through O. Fr. ostruche, from Lat. avis struthio, ostrich bird; Gr. struthion, an ostrich.

Outlaw, one out of the protection of the law.

Pastime, that which serves to pass away the time.

Pea-jacket, Dutch pije, a rough woollen coat. ‘Jacket’ is redundant. Not connected with pea.

Peal of bells, Fr. appel, a call with drum or trumpet.

Penthouse, O. E. pentice, Fr. appentis, Lat. appendicium. Not connected with house. A corruption like Bird-cage Walk for Bocage, (shrubbery) walk.

Pickaxe, O. Fr. pikois. No connection with axe.

Poach, originally to put into the pouch or pocket. Cf. to bag, to Pocket, sack and satchel.

Pocket, a little poke or pouch.

Porpoise, the hog fish, from Lat. porcus, a pig, and piscis, a fish.

Proxy, contracted from an obsolete procuracy, a taking care of for another.

Quicklime, lime in a quick or active state. Compare the phrase, ‘the quick and the dead.’ Cf. also quicksand = sand easily moved, quicksilver, a fluid metal which is very mobile.

Rhyme, properly rime = number, confused with rhythm = flow.

Rubbish, that which is rubbed off; waste matter.

Scent (for sent), from Lat. sentio, I feel.

Sexton, Fr. sacristain, sacristan.

Shamefaced, is shamefast—that is, shamefixed.

Sheaf, a quantity of things, especially the stalks of grain, shoved together and bound.

Sheriff, a shire-reeve, the governor of a shire or county.

Ship, something scooped or dug out, and therefore hollow. Compare skipper, where the hard k reappears.

Somerset, a corruption of O. Fr. soubresault, from Lat. supra and saltus, a leaping over.

Sorry, sore in mind.

Soup, that which is supped.

Splice, to split in order to join.

Squirrel, Fr. écureuil, Gr. skiouros = bushy or shadow tail. From Gr. skia, shade, and oura, a tail.

Starboard, the steering side of a ship—that is, the right hand side to one looking toward the bow.

Stew, to put into a stove to be cooked.

Stirrup, put for sty-rope; A.S. stig-rap, a mounting rope. From the same root are stair, sty, stile, and stag.

Straight, stretched out, tight.

Strong, with the muscles strung up. Compare wrong from wring.

Sweetheart, from sweet and heart, an expression as old as Chaucer.

Tackle, things to be taken hold of.

Tale, that which is told, what is counted. So also teller (in a bank).

Thorough, passing through, or to the end.

Thread, that which is thrown or twisted.

Treacle, Lat. theriaca, Gr. thēriakē, viper’s flesh; therion (a wild beast), a name often given to the viper. Originally an antidote to the viper’s bite. Milton speaks of ‘the treacle of sound doctrine.’

Twist, to twine or wind two threads together. (Compare twine, twirl, twiddle, etc.)

Verdigris, Fr. verd-de-grise, Lat. viride æris, green of brass. Not connected with grease.

Walrus = whale horse, O. E. hwæl, whale; hors, horse. The r has shifted its place, as in three, third; turn, trundle, etc.

Whole, hole, O. E. hael. The w is redundant; just as it is in the pronunciation of one. It does not appear in heal, health, etc.

Wiseacre, a corruption of the Ger. weiss sager, a wise-sayer or soothsayer, or prophet.

4. WORDS THAT HAVE CHANGED THEIR MEANING.

Artillery, great weapons of war; was once used to include crossbows, bows, etc., before gunpowder was invented, 1 Sam. xx. 40: ‘And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city.’

Blackguard, a name originally applied to the lowest kitchen servants from the dirty work they had to do.

Bombast, originally cotton-wadding, affected language.

Boor, originally a peasant or tiller of the soil. In South Africa a farmer is called a boer.

Brat meant originally a rag or clout, especially a child’s bib or apron; hence, in contempt, a child. Mandeville speaks of ‘Abraham’s brats.’

Carriage once meant baggage. Acts, xxi. 15: ‘And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem.’

Censure once meant opinion or judgment. Shakspeare, As You Like It, IV. i. 7: ‘Betray themselves to every modern censure.’

Charity, once love, now almsgiving. 1 Cor. xiii. 3: ‘And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.’

Cheat originally meant to seize upon anything which was escheated or forfeited.

Churl, a countryman or farmer.

Conceit, originally a thought or notion. ‘Dan Chaucer was a conceited clerk’—that is, a learned man full of new inventions or thoughts (conceits).

Cunning, originally knowing, clever, skilled in a craft or trade. The Bible speaks of ‘cunning workmen.’

Demure, originally of good manners, now staid, grave.

Disaster, an unkindly star (Gr. astēr, a star); a term from the old astrology.

Fond once meant foolish.

Gazette, a small newspaper, originally a small coin. The newspaper was so named because a gazetta was paid for it.

Gossip (sib, or related, in God), originally a sponsor in baptism. Gossip is the kind of talk that goes on between people who are connected with a family. Compare Fr. commère and commèrage.

Heathen, an unbeliever, originally a dweller on a heath. Compare pagan, a dweller in a pagus, or country canton.

Idiot, from Gr. idiōtēs, a private person. It afterwards meant a person who kept himself aloof from public business and politics; a person despised by the Athenians.

Imp, formerly used in a good sense, meaning scion or offspring. Now a demon of mischief.

Impertinent, not relating or belonging to the matter in hand.

Influence, a flowing down from the stars; originally a term in astrology.

Kind, originally born; hence natural, and so loving.

Knave, originally a boy or servant. Sir John Mandeville speaks of Mohammed as a ‘poure knave.’

Miser sometimes means merely a wretched creature. Spenser, Faerie Queene, II. i. 8:

Officious, sometimes used in a good sense, obliging, serviceable. Shakspeare, Tit. And. V. ii. 202:

Ostler = hosteller, properly the keeper of a hostelry or hotel; now applied to the horse-groom.

Pagan, from paganus, a dweller in a canton, a countryman or villager; hence a heathen or unbeliever. Christianity was first preached in the large cities.

Painful, originally painstaking. ‘Rev. J. Flavel was a painful preacher.’

Polite, from Lat. polītus, polished.

Prevent (to), originally to go before (præ and venio). ‘Prevent us, O Lord, in all our goings.’

Silly, the adj. originally happy, blessed; whence it came to mean innocent, simple, foolish.

Sycophant (Gr.), originally a fig-shower; a person who informed the police regarding the smuggling of figs into Athens.

Tawdry was applied originally to goods bought at St Audrey’s fair (St Audrey = St Ethelreda).

Varlet once meant a serving-man. Valet is a doublet of varlet. (From vassaletus, an inferior vassal.)

Villain, a farm-servant, a peasant; from Lat. villanus, a servant on a villa or farm.

5. WORDS DERIVED FROM THE NAMES OF PERSONS.

Amazon, the name of a nation of warlike women, who were said to cut off their right breasts that they might use the bow. (From Gr. a, without, and mazos, the breast.)

Argosy, from Argo, the name of a famous ship in which the Greek warrior Jason sailed to seek the golden fleece, which was at Colchis, on the eastern shore of the Black Sea.

August was named so in honour of the Roman Emperor Augustus (Cæsar).

Brougham, after Lord Brougham, a famous English lawyer and politician.

Cravat, named from the Croats (Crabats), the people of Croatia, in Austria, from whom we derived the custom of wearing cravats.

Dahlia, from Dahl, a Swede, who introduced the flower into Europe.

Dunce, from Duns Scotus (d. 1308), the great schoolman whose name was used as a term of reproach by his opponents, the followers of the learned Thomas Aquinas.

Filbert, from St. Philibert, whose anniversary falls in the nutting season.

Friday, from Freya, the wife of Odin; one of the Saxon goddesses.

Galvanism, from Galvani of Bologna, who discovered it. He died in 1798.

Herculean, very powerful; from Hercules, one of the Greek demigods, who was very strong.

Jacobite, one of those who were favourable to the Stuarts; from Jacobus II., the Latin name for James II.

January, from Janus, the god with two heads, who opened the year.

Jeremiad, a sorrowful story; from Jeremiah, who wrote the Lamentations.

Jovial, cheerful; from Jove, the king of the ancient gods.

July, from Julius Cæsar, the great Roman statesman and general.

Macadamise, to pave a road with small cubical stones; from Macadam, who invented this method of making roads. He died 1836.

March, from Mars, the Roman god of war.

Martial, from Mars, the Roman god of war.

Mausoleum, a magnificent tomb; from Mausolus, a king of Caria, in Asia Minor, whose widow erected a splendid tomb to his memory.

Mercury, quicksilver; from Mercury, the light-footed messenger of the gods who dwelt on Olympus.

Panic, from Pan, the god of shepherds, who often appeared to them suddenly and terrified them.

Petrel, a sea-bird; from Peter, who is said to have walked upon the waters.

Philippic, a speech full of strongly passionate language; from Philip, king of Macedon, against whom Demosthenes delivered some fiery speeches of this kind.

Saturday, from Sæter, one of the old Saxon gods.

Saturnine, grave, severe; from Saturn, the father of the Roman gods.

Stentorian, very loud; from Stentor, the name of a Greek herald, who is mentioned by Homer, and who had a very loud voice.

Tantalise, from Tantalus, who is said to have been always thirsty and up to his chin in water, which went out of his reach whenever he tried to drink.

Thursday, from Thor, the Saxon god of thunder.

Tuesday, from Tiew, the Saxon god of war.

Wednesday, the day of Woden or Odin, the Saxon god of war. The es is the old possessive form.

6. WORDS DERIVED FROM NAMES OF PLACES.

Academy, a school; from Academia, the name of the gymnasium where Plato, the Greek philosopher, taught his pupils.

Attic, an upper room; from Gr. Attikos, Athenian. In Athens the houses are said to have been built with a low upper story.

Bayonet, a kind of dagger, from Bayonne, in France.

Bedlam, a lunatic asylum; from Bethlehem, a monastery in London, which was afterwards used as a madhouse.

Calico, a kind of cotton cloth; from Calicut, in India.

Cambric, fine linen; from Cambray, in French Flanders.

Canary, a bird, and a kind of wine; from Canary Islands, whence these things were brought.

Canter, from Canterbury. The pilgrims to this shrine are said to have ridden at an easy pace.

Cashmere, Cassimere, or Kerseymere, a rich kind of woollen cloth; from Cashmere, a province among the Himalayas, in the north of India, noted for the manufacture of fine woollen fabrics.

Cherry, from Cerăsus, on the Black Sea, whence the fruit was introduced into Europe.

Copper, a metal; from Cyprus, an island in the eastern part of the Mediterranean.

Currant, from Corinth, in Greece, where these small dried grapes were first produced.

Damson, Damask, from Damascus, in Syria.

Dollar, from St Joachim’s Thal or valley, in Bohemia. These coins were first made there about 1518, and were called thalers or talers: whence dollars.

Florin, a coin; from Florence, in Italy.

Gin, an alcoholic liquor; from Geneva, in Switzerland. (Gin, a trap, is an abbreviation of engine.)

Guinea, a coin worth twenty-one shillings; from Guinea (or Gold Coast) in Africa, whence the gold of which these coins were first made was brought.

Gypsy, from Egypt, whence these people were supposed to have come. They really came from India.

Holland, a kind of linen cloth; Hollands, a kind of gin; from Holland.

Indigo, from India.

Jersey, a woollen jacket; from Jersey, one of the Channel Islands.

Magnesia, Magnet, from Magnesia, a town in Asia Minor.

Mantua, a lady’s gown; from Mantua, in Italy.

Meander, to wind about; from Mæander, a river in Asia Minor, which had a very winding course.

Milliner, from Milan, in Italy.

Morocco, leather prepared in a certain way; from Morocco, in North Africa.

Nankeen, a kind of cotton cloth; from Nankin, in China.

Port, a dark red wine; from Oporto, in Portugal, whence great quantities of it are shipped.

Sherry, a light-coloured wine; from Xeres, in Spain.

Spaniel, a kind of dog; from Spain.

Turkey, a large domestic fowl; from Turkey, whence the bird was supposed to have come.

Worsted, woollen yarn; from Worsted, the name of a village near Norwich.

7. ENGLISH (OR TEUTONIC) ROOTS.

Ac, an oak; acorn, Acton [oak-town], Uckfield.

Æcer, a field; acre, God’s acre [the churchyard].

Æsc, an ash; ash, Ascot, Ashby.

Æthele, noble; Atheling, Ethelbert, Ethelrede [noble in rede or counsel].

Bacan, to bake; bake, baker, baxter [a woman baker], batch.

Bana, a slayer; bane, henbane, baneful.

Beám, a tree, or anything in a straight line; beam, sunbeam.

Beorgan, to save or shelter; bury, burgh, harbour, harbinger.

Bigan or beogan, to bend; bow, elbow, buxom.

Bindan, to bind; bind, band, bundle, bond, bandage.

Blówan, to blossom; blow, bloom.

Brecan, to break; break, breakers, breakfast.

Cáld or ceald, cold; cold, chill.

Ceápian, to buy; chapman, Cheapside, cheap, Chippenham, Copenhagen [= Merchants’ Haven].

Cunnan, to know, to be able; can, con, cunning.

Cwellan, to slay; quell.

Cwic, alive; quick, quicksand.

Cyning, a king; king, Kingston.

Dragan, to drag; drag, draw, dray, draught, dredge, draggle.

Drypan, to drop; drop, drip, dribble.

Eáge, an eye; eye, eyebright, daisy [= day’s eye].

Erian, to plough; ear.

Faran, to go; fare, ferry, wayfarer, fieldfare, ford.

Fleógan, to flee; flee, fly, flight, fledge.

Fleótan, to float; float, fleet.

Fod, food; feed, fodder, foster [= foodster].

Gangan, to go; go, gang, gait, gangway.

Geard, an inclosure; yard, orchard, vineyard.

Gód, good; good, goodwife.

Grafan, to dig; grave, engraver, groove, grove.

Hál, sound; hale, heal, healthy, whole, wholesome.

Healdan, to hold; hold, holding, behold.

Here, an army; harbour, herring, harbinger [a person sent on before to provide quarters for a here or army].

Hláf, a loaf; lady, lord, Lammas (loaf-mass).

Hús, a house; house, housewife.

Lædan, to lead; loadstone, loadstar.

Læt, late; late, latter, last, later, belate.

Lang, long; long, length, along, linger.

Lif, life; life, alive.

Mere, a lake; mere, Windermere, marsh.

Móna, the moon; moon, month.

Nosu, or nasu, a nose; nose, the Naze, Ness, nostril, Sheerness.

Rædan, to read; read, rede, riddle.

Reáfian, to rob; rob, bereave, rover.

Scíran, to cut; shear, share, shire, shore, short, skirt, ploughshare.

Settan, to place; sittan, to sit; sit, set, seat, settle.

Spell, a message; gospel [= good spell].

Stede, a place; homestead, bedstead.

Stelan, to steal; steal, stealth.

Stow, a place; Chepstow, bestow.

Tellan, to reckon; tell, tale, tell-tale.

Thyrel, a hole; thrill, nostril, drill.

Tredan, to tread; tread, treadle.

Wácian, to watch; wake, watch.

Ward, a looker at or guard; ward, warden, weir.

Witan, to know; wit, witness, wisdom, wistful.

Wyrcan, to work; work, wright.

Wyrt, an herb; wort, wart, orchard [wort-yard].

8. LATIN ROOTS.

Acer, sharp; acrid, acrimony, vinegar [= sharp wine].

Acidus, sour; acid, acidity.

Ædes, a house; edifice, edify.

Æquus, equal; equality, equator, adequate, iniquity, equanimity.

Æstimo, I value; estimation, estimate, esteem.

Ager, a field; agriculture, peregrinate.

Agger, a heap; exaggerate.

Ago, I do; act, agile, agency, cogent.

Alacer, cheerful; alacrity.

Alo, I nourish; aliment, alimony.

Alter, the other of two; alternation, subaltern.

Altus, high; altitude, exalt.

Ambulo, I walk; amble, perambulator.

Amo, I love; amity, amorous, inimical.

Anima, the soul; animation, inanimate.

Animus, the mind; magnanimity.

Annus, a circle or year; annual, perennial.

Aperio, I open; aperient, April [the opening month, the month of spring when the buds open out].

Appello, I call; appeal, appellation.

Aptus, fit; apt, aptitude.

Aqua, water; aqueduct, aquatic, aqueous.

Arbiter, a judge; arbitration, arbitrary.

Arbor, a tree; arboraceous, arbour.

Ardeo, I burn; ardent, arson.

Arduus, steep [with the idea of difficulty of attainment]; arduous.

Arma, weapons; arms, armistice, disarm, army.

Aro, I plough; arable.

Ars (art-is), art; artificial, inertia, artisan.

Artus, a joint; articulate, article.

Audio, I hear; audience, audible.

Augeo, I increase: augment, auctioneer.

Avis, a bird; aviary.

Barba, a beard; barber, barbel, barb.

Bellum, war; bellicose, belligerent, rebellious.

Bibo, I drink; imbibe, winebibber.

Bis, twice; biscuit, bissextile.

Bonus, good; benevolent, bounty.

Brevis, short; brevity, abbreviate, brief.

Cado (cas-um), I fall; casual, accident.

Cædo (cæs-um), I cut or kill; precise, excision, decide.

Campus, a plain; camp, encamp.

Candeo, I shine; candidus, white, incandescent, candidate.

Cano, I sing; canticle, chant, incantation.

Capio (capt-um), I take; captive, accept, reception.

Caput, the head; capital, captain.

Caro (carn-is), flesh; carnal, carnival, carnivorous.

Castus, pure; chastity, castigate, chastise.

Causa, a cause; accuse, causation.

Caveo (caut-um), I take care; caution, cautious.

Cavus, hollow; cavity, cave, excavate.

Cedo (cess-um), I yield; cede, accede, proceed. I go; procession, ancestor.

Centum, a hundred; century, centurion.

Cerno (cret-um), I notice or discern; discern, decretal, discretion.

Cingo (cinct-um), I gird; cincture, succinct.

Cito, I rouse; excite, citation.

Civis, a citizen; civic, civil, city.

Clamo, I shout; clamour, proclamation, reclaim.

Clarus, clear; clarify, declare, clarion.

Claudo (claus-um), I shut; close, exclude, seclusion.

Clivus, a slope; declivity.

Colo (cult-um), I till; cultivate, arboriculture.

Copia, plenty; copious, cornucopia.

Coquo (coct-um), I boil; decoction, biscuit.

Cor (cord-is), the heart; courage, cordial, discord.

Corpus (corpor-is), the body; corpse, corps, incorporate.

Credo, I believe; credibility, credence, miscreant.

Creo, I create; create, creation, creature, recreation.

Cresco (cret-um), I grow; crescent, increment.

Crimen, a charge; crime, criminate.

Crux (cruc-is), a cross; crucial, crucifix.

Cubo, I lie down; incubate, recumbent.

Culpa, a fault; culpable, exculpate, culprit.

Cura, care; sinecure, curate, secure, accurate.

Curro (curs-um), I run; cursory, course, recur, occur.

Decem, ten; decimal, December.

Dens (dent-is), a tooth; dentist, dental, indent.

Deus, a god; deity, deify, divine.

Dexter, right hand; dexterous.

Dico (dict-um), I say; verdict, dictation, dictionary, indictment.

Dies, a day; diary, meridian.

Dignus, worthy; dignity, indignant.

Do (dat-um), I give; donor, add [= ad-do, I give to], data.

Doceo (doct-um), I teach; docile, doctor.

Dominus, a lord; dominant, dominion, dame.

Domus, a house; domicile, domestic.

Dormio, I sleep; dormitory, dormant.

Duco (duct-um), I lead; induct, education, duke, produce.

Duo, two; dual, duel, (double), duplex.

Durus, hard; durable, obdurate, duration.

Emo (empt-um), I buy; redeem, exemption.

Eo (it-um), I go; exit, transit, circuit, ambition.

Equus, a horse; equine, equestrian.

Erro, I wander; error, aberration.

Esse, to be; essential, essence.

Facies, the face; facial, facet, superficial.

Facilis, easy; facile, facility, difficult.

Facio (fact-um), I make; manufacture, factor, faction.

Fallo (fals-um), I deceive; false, infallible, fallacious.

Fama, a report; fame, defame, infamy.

Fans (fant-is), speaking; infant [= a non-speaker].

Felix (felīc-is), happy; felicity, infelicity.

Fero, I bear or carry; infer, reference, difference.

Ferrum, iron; ferruginous.

Ferveo, I boil; fervent, effervesce, ferment.

Fido, I trust; confide, infidel, perfidy, diffident.

Filius, a son; filial, affiliation.

Filum, a thread; file, defile, profile.

Finis, an end; final, infinite, confine.

Firmus, firm; infirm, affirm.

Flecto, I bend; flexible, inflection.

Flos (flōr-is), a flower; floral, Flora, floriculture.

Fluo (fluct-um), I flow; fluent, flux, refluent, fluid.

Forma, a form; form, formal, reform, conformity.

Fortis, strong; fortify, fortitude, fortress.

Frango (fract-um), I break; fragile, fragmentary, infraction.

Frater, a brother; fraternal, fratricide.

Frons (front-is), the forehead; frontispiece, frontal, frontier.

Fruor (fruct-us), I enjoy; fruit, fructify, fruition.

Fugio, I flee; fugitive, refugee, subterfuge.

Fundo (fus-um), I pour; fusible, diffusion, foundry.

Fundus, the bottom; foundation, profound.

Furor, madness; furious, fury.

Gelu, frost; gelid, jelly, congeal.

Gens (gent-is), a nation; gentile, genteel, gentle, congenial.

Genus (genĕr-is), a kind; general, genus.

Gero (gest-um), I bear or carry; gesture, suggestion.

Gradior (gress-us), I go; gradus, a step; degrade, progress, degree.

Grandis, great; grand, aggrandise.

Gratia, favour; gratiæ, thanks; gratitude, ingratiate, gratis.

Gravis, heavy; gravitate, gravity, (grief).

Grex (greg-is), a flock; gregarious, egregious.

Habeo, I have; habit, able, exhibit, prohibition.

Hæreo (hæs-um), I stick; adhere, cohesion.

Homo, a man; homicide, human.

Hospes (hospit-is), a guest; hospital, hostel, hotel.

Hostis, an enemy; host, hostile.

Humus, the ground; posthumous, exhume.

Ignis, fire; ignite, igneous.

Impero, I command; imperial, emperor, empire.

Insula, an island; isle, insular, peninsula, insulate. [Island is not connected with this root. It was in older English spelled iland.]

Iter (itiner-is), a journey; itinerant.

Jacio (jact-um), I throw; adjective, project, injection.

Judex (judĭc-is); (adjudge), judicial.

Jungo (junct-um), I join; junction, conjoin, juncture.

Jus (jur-is), law, right; justice, jurisdiction, jury.

Labor (laps-us), I glide; lapse, collapse.

Lædo (læs-um), I injure; collision, lesion.

Lapis (lapĭd-is), a stone; lapidary.

Latus, broad; latitude.

Laus (laud-is), praise; laud, laudable.

Lego (lect-um), I gather or read; college, collect, prelection, lecture.

Lĕvis, light; levity, alleviate, relief.

Lex (lēg-is), law; legal, legislate.

Liber, free; liberal, liberty.

Libra, a balance; deliberate.

Ligo, I bind; ligament, religion.

Limes (limit-is), a boundary; limit.

Linquo (lict-um), I leave; relinquish, relict, relics.

Litera, a letter; literature, literary, letters, obliterate.

Locus, a place; location, dislocate.

Longus, long; elongate, longitude.

Loquor (locūt-us), I speak; loquacious, eloquent, elocution.

Ludo (lus-um), I play; ludicrous, allusion.

Lumen (lumin-is), light; illuminate, luminous.

Luna, the moon; Luna, sublunary, lunacy.

Luo, I wash; ablution, dilute.

Lux (luc-is), light; lucid, pellucid.

Magister, a master; magistrate, master.

Magnus, great; magnificent, magniloquent, magnify.

Malus, bad; malady, malice, maltreat.

Maneo (mans-um), I remain; mansion, permanent.

Manus, the hand; manufacture, manual, manuscript.

Mare, the sea; marine, mariner.

Mater, a mother; maternal, matricide.

Maturus, ripe; mature, maturity.

Medeor, I heal; medicine, remedy.

Medius, the middle; medial, immediate, Mediterranean.

Memini, I remember; memor, mindful; memorable, commemorate, memento, immemorial.

Mens (ment-is), the mind; mental, comment.

Mereo (merit-um), I deserve; merit, meretricious.

Mergo (mers-um), I dip; submerge, immersion.

Merx (merc-is), goods; merchant, commerce, mercantile.

Miles (milĭt-is), a soldier; military, militant, militia.

Mille, a thousand; mile, million.

Miror, I admire; admire, miracle, mirage.

Misceo, I mix; miscellaneous, promiscuous.

Mitto (miss-um), I send; mission, missile, remittance.

Mŏdus, a measure; modify, mood, accommodate.

Mollis, soft; mollify, emollient.

Moneo (monĭt-um), I advise; admonition, monitor.

Mons (mont-is), a mountain; mountain, promontory.

Monstro, I point out; demonstrate.

Mors (mort-is), death; mortify, mortal.

Moveo (mot-um), I move; motion, movable, move.

Multus, many; multiplex, multitude.

Munus (munĕr-is), a gift; remunerate, munificent.

Muto, I change; mutable, immutable, transmute.

Nascor (nat-us), to be born; nascent, natal, nativity.

Navis, a ship; navigate, naval, navy.

Necto (nex-us), I tie; connect, nexus, annex.

Nego, I deny; negative, negation.

Noceo, I hurt; noxious, innocuous, innocent.

Nomen (nomĭn-is), a name; nominal, nomination, cognomen.

Nosco (not-um), I know or mark; note, notation.

Novus, new; novel, novitiate, innovation.

Nox (noct-is), night; nocturnal, equinoctial.

Nudus, naked; nude, denudation.

Numero, I number; enumerate, numeration.

Nuntio, I announce; nuncio, annunciation, pronounce.

Nutrio, I nourish; nutriment, nurse.

Octo, eight; octave, octagon, October.

Oculus, the eye; oculist.

Odor, smell; odour, redolent.

Omnis, all; omnipotent, omniscient.

Onus (onĕr-is), a burden; onerous.

Opus (opĕr-is), a work; operate, operation.

Ordo (ordĭn-is), order; ordinal, ordinary.

Oro, I pray; oration, inexorable, peroration.

Os (ōr-is), the mouth; oral, adore.

Os (Oss-is), bone; ossify, ossification.

Pando (pans-um or pass-um), I spread; expand, expanse, compass.

Pango (pact-um), I fix; compact, impinge.

Panis, bread; pantry, pannier, company.

Par, equal; (pair), par, parity.

Pareo, I appear; apparent, apparition.

Paro (parat-um), I prepare; prepare, repair, apparatus.

Pars (part-is), a part; partition, particle.

Pasco (past-um), I feed; repast, pastor.

Pater, a father; paternal, patricide.

Patior (pass-us), I suffer; impatient, passion.

Pauper, poor; pauper, poverty.

Pax (pāc-is), peace; pacify, pacific.

Pello (puls-um), I drive; repel, expel, expulsion.

Pendeo (pens-um), I hang; dependent, suspend.

Pendo, I weigh out, hence, I pay; expend, recompense.

Pes (pĕd-is), the foot; impede, pedestrian, biped.

Peto (petīt-um), I seek; petition, petulant.

Pingo (pict-um), I paint; picture, pigment.

Placeo, I please; placid, complacent.

Planus, level; plane, plain, plan.

Plaudo (plaus-um), I clap the hands; applause, (explode).

Plecto (plex-um), I weave; complex, perplex.

Pleo (plēt-um), I fill; complete, completion, repletion.

Plĭco, I fold; complicate, reply.

Plus (plūr-is), more; plurality, surplus.

Pœna, punishment; penalty, repent.

Pondus (pondĕr-is), weight; ponderous, pound.

Pono (posĭt-um), I place; disposition, exposition, imposition.

Pons (pont-is), a bridge; pontiff, transpontine.

Popŭlus, the people; populace, popular.

Porto, I carry; export, deportation, report.

Possum, I am able; potens, able; possible, potency, potentate, impotent.

Poto, I drink; potion, poison, potable.

Prĕcor, I pray; precarious, imprecation.

Prehendo, I take; apprehend, comprehension, apprentice.

Premo (press-um), I press; compress, print.

Pretium, a price; precious, appreciate, prize.

Primus, first; prime, primitive, primrose.

Prīvo, I separate; deprive, privateer, private.

Probo, I try or prove; probable, prove, reproof.

Proprius, one’s own; property, appropriation.

Pugna, a fight; pugnacious, repugnant.

Pungo (punct-um), I prick; pungent, poignant, punctual.

Puto, I cut or think; amputate, compute, reputation.

Quæro (quæsīt-um), I seek; quest, inquiry, inquisition.

Quatuor, four; quadrilateral, square, quarry, quart, quadrant.

Quies (quiēt-is), rest; acquiesce, quiet, requite.

Radius, a ray; radiant, irradiate, (ray).

Radix (radic-is), a root; radical, eradicate.

Rapio (rapt-um), I seize; rapture, rapine, surreptitious.

Ratio, reason; rational, ration, reason.

Rego (rect-um), I rule; regiment, regal, regulate, rector, rectify.

Res (re-i), a thing; real, reality, republican.

Rex (reg-is), a king; regal, interregnum, royal.

Rideo (rīs-um), I laugh; deride, derision.

Rivus, a brook; river, rival.

Rodo (ros-um), I gnaw; erosion, corrode.

Rogo, I ask; derogatory, interrogation, arrogate.

Rota, a wheel; rote, rotation, rotund, round.

Rumpo (rupt-um), I break; rupture, disruption, irruption, eruption.

Rus (rūr-is), the country; rural, rustic.

Sacer, sacred; desecrate, sacrilege.

Sal, salt; saline, salary [= salt-money].

Salio (salt-um), I leap; sally, assail, assault, insult, salmon [= the leaping fish], salient.

Salus (salūt-is), health; salvus, safe; salutary, salubrious, salvation.

Sanctus, holy; sanctify, saint

Sanguis (sanguin-is), blood; sanguinary.

Sano (sanāt-um), I cure; sanitary, sane, insane.

Sapio, I taste or am wise; sapient, insipid, savour.

Scando (scans-um), I climb; scala, a ladder; scan, scale, ascension, descend.

Scio, I know; science, scientific, conscience, omniscient.

Scribo (script-um), I write; scribe, scripture, manuscript, describe.

Seco (sect-um), I cut; dissect, insect, segment, section.

Sedeo (sess-um), I set; sediment, subside, residence.

Senex, an old man; senile, senior, senate, senator.

Sentio (sens-us), I feel or perceive; sense, sentimental.

Septem, seven; septennial, September.

Sequor (secūt-us), I follow; sequel, consecutive, consequent.

Servio, I serve; servant, service, servitor.

Servo, I preserve; reserve, conservative, conservatory.

Signum, a mark; sign, signify, designation.

Simĭlis, like; dissimilar, similitude, resemble, dissemble.

Sisto, I stop; insist, consistency.

Solus, alone; solitary, sole.

Solvo (solūt-um), I loose; absolute, resolve, solution, resolution.

Somnus, sleep; somnolent, somnambulist.

Specio (spect-um) I see; aspect, retrospect, specious.

Spero, I hope; despair, desperate.

Spiro, I breathe; spiral, aspire, inspiration, conspiracy.

Spondeo (spons-um), I promise; respond, sponsor, (spouse).

Statuo, I set up; sto (stat-um), to stand; statute, statue, institute, restitution, extant, substance.

Stella, a star; stellar, constellation.

Stringo (strict-um), I bind; stringent, stricture, constrain.

Struo (struct-um), I build; structure, (construe, destroy), destruction.

Suadeo (suas-um), I persuade; persuasion, dissuade.

Sumo (sumpt-um), I take; resume, consumption.

Surgo (surrect-um), I arise; insurgent, resurrection.

Taceo, I am silent; tacit, taciturn.

Tango (tact-um), I touch; intangible, contact, contagious.

Tego (tect-um), I cover; integument, detect.

Tempus (tempŏr-is), time; temporal, tense.

Tendo (tens-um), I stretch; extend, intension, tent, tense.

Teneo (tent-um), I hold; contain, tenacious, retentive.

Terminus, an end or boundary; term, terminus, determine.

Tero (trīt-um), I rub; contrition, trite, detritus.

Terra, the earth; subterranean, Mediterranean.

Terreo, I frighten; terror, terrify.

Testis, a witness; testator, testify, contest.

Texo (text-um), I weave; texture, context, textile.

Timeo, I fear; timid, intimidation.

Tono, I thunder; astonish, detonate.

Torqueo (tort-um), I twist; torture, torsion.

Traho (tract-um), I draw; contractile.

Tribuo, I give; tribute, contribution.

Tribus, a tribe; tribe, tribune, tribunal.

Trudo (trus-um), I thrust; extrusion, intrude.

Turba, a crowd; turbid, turbulent.

Umbra, a shadow; umbrage, adumbration.

Unda, a wave; undulate, inundation.

Unguo (unct-um), I anoint; unguent, unctuous, ointment.

Unus, one; unity, union.

Urbs, a city; urban, suburb.

Utor (us-us), I use; use, utensil, usury.

Vacca, a cow; vaccinate.

Valeo, I am strong; valour, valiant, prevail.

Vanus, empty; vain, vanish, vanity.

Vas (vās-is), a vessel; vase, vascular, vessel.

Veho (vect-um), I carry; vehicle, convey.

Vello (vuls-um), I pluck; convulsion.

Venio (vent-um), I come; venture, advent.

Ver, the spring; verdant, vernal, verdure.

Verbum, a word; verb, verbal, verbose, proverb.

Verto (vers-um), I turn; controvert, aversion.

Verus, true; verdict, veracious, verity.

Vestis, a garment; invest, vesture.

Vetus (vetĕr-is), old; veteran.

Via, a way; deviate, previous.

Video (vĭs-um), I see; vision, provident.

Vinco (vict-um), I overcome; victor, victory, convince.

Vir, a man; virtue, virile.

Vita, life; vital, vitality.

Vitium, a fault; vitiate, vicious, vice.

Vivo (vict-um), I live; survive, victuals.

Voco, I call; vox (vōc-is), the voice; voice, convocation, revoke, vociferate.

Volo, I fly; volatile, volley.

Volo, I wish; involuntary, volition, benevolence, malevolence.

Volvo (volūt-um), I roll; involution, evolve, volume.

Voveo (vot-um), I vow; vow, devote.

Vulgus, the common people; vulgar, divulge.

Vulnus (vulnĕr-is), a wound; vulnerable.

9. GREEK ROOTS.

Ago, I lead; pedagogue, synagogue.

Agōn, a contest; agony, antagonist.

Allos, another; allopathy, allegory.

Anggelos, a messenger; angel, evangelist.

Anthrōpos, a man; misanthrope, philanthropy.

Archo, I begin or rule; monarch, archaic [= early]; archbishop, archdeacon.

Arctos, a bear; Arctic, Antarctic, Arcturus.

Arithmos, number; arithmetic.

Aster or astron, a star; astronomy, astrology, asteroid, disaster.

Atmos, vapour; atmosphere.

Autos, self; autocrat, autograph.

Ballo, I throw; symbol.

Bapto, I dip; baptise, baptist.

Baros, weight; barometer.

Biblos, a book; Bible, bibliomania.

Bios, life; biography, biology.

Cheir, the hand; surgeon [older form, chirurgeon].

Chrio, I anoint; Christ, chrism.

Cholē, bile; melancholy.

Chronos, time; chronology, chronic, chronicle.

Daktŭlos, a finger; dactyl, pterodactyl, date—the fruit.

Deka, ten; decagon, decalogue.

Dēmos, the people; democrat, endemic, epidemic.

Dokeo, to think; doxa and dogma, an opinion; doxology, orthodox, heterodox, dogma, dogmatic.

Drao, I do; drama, dramatic.

Dunămis, power; dynamics.

Eidos, form; kaleidoscope.

Eikon, an image: iconoclast.

Electron, amber; electricity.

Ergon, a work; surgeon [= chirurgeon], energy.

Eu, well; eucharist, euphony, evangelist.

Gamos, marriage; bigamy, monogamist, misogamy.

Gē, the earth; geography, geometry, geology.

Gennao, I produce; genesis, genealogy, hydrogen, oxygen.

Grapho, I write; gramma, a letter; graphic, grammar, telegraph, biography, diagram.

Haima, blood; hæmorrhage, hæmorrhoid.

Haireo, I take away; heresy, heretic.

Helios, the sun; helioscope, heliotype.

Hemi, half; hemisphere.

Hieros, sacred; hierarchy, hieroglyphic.

Hippos, a horse; hippopotamus, hippodrome.

Hŏdos, a way; method, period, exodus.

Hŏmos, the same; homœopathy, homogeneous.

Hudor, water; hydraulic, hydrophobia.

Ichthus, a fish; ichthyology.

Idios, one’s own; idiom, idiot, idiosyncrasy.

Isos, equal; isochronous, isobaric (of equal weight).

Kalos, beautiful; caligraphy, calotype.

Kephalē, the head; hydrocephalus.

Klino, I bend; climax, climate.

Kosmos, order; cosmogony, cosmography, cosmetic.

Krino, I judge; critic, criterion, hypocrite.

Kuklos, a circle; cycle, cycloid, cyclone.

Kuon, a dog; cynic, cynicism.

Lĕgo, I say or choose; eclectic, lexicon.

Lithos, a stone; lithograph, aerolite.

Lŏgos, a word, speech; logic, dialogue, geology.

Luo, I loosen; dialysis, analysis.

Metron, a measure; metronome, diameter, thermometer, barometer.

Mŏnos, alone; monastery, monogram, monosyllable.

Morphē, shape; amorphous, dimorphous, metamorphic.

Naus, a ship; nautical.

Nekros, a dead body; necropolis, necromancy.

Nŏmos, a law; autonomous, astronomy, Deuteronomy.

Oikos, a house; economy, economical.

Onŏma, a name; anonymous, synonymous, patronymic.

Optŏmai, I see; optics, synoptical.

Orthos, right; orthodoxy, orthography.

Pais (paid-os), a boy; pedagogue [lit. a boy-leader].

Pan, all; pantheist, panoply, pantomime.

Pathos, feeling; pathetic, sympathy.

Pente, five; pentagon, pentateuch, Pentecost.

Phainŏmai, I appear; phantasy, phantom, fantastic, fancy.

Phero, I bear; periphery, phosphorus [= the light-bearer].

Phileo, I love; philosophy, Philadelphia.

Phōs (phōt-os), light; photometer, photograph.

Phusis, nature; physics, physiology, physician.

Planao, I cause to wander; planet.

Poieo, I make; poet, poetic, pharmacopœia.

Polis, a city; Constantinople, metropolis.

Polus, many; polytheist, Polynesia, polyanthus.

Pous (pŏd-os), a foot; antipodes.

Pur, fire; pyrotechnic, pyre.

Rheo, I flow; rhetoric, catarrh, rheumatic.

Skŏpeo, I see; microscope, telescope, spectroscope, bishop [from episkopos, an overseer].

Sophia, wisdom; sophist, philosophy.

Stello, I send; apostle, epistle.

Stratos, an army; strategy, strategic.

Strĕpho, I turn; catastrophe.

Technē, an art; technical.

Tĕlē, distant; telegraph, telescope, telephone, telegram.

Temno, I cut; anatomy, lithotomy.

Tetra, four; tetrachord, tetrarch.

Theāomai, I see, behold; theatre, theory.

Theos, a god; theist, enthusiast, theology.

Thermē, heat; thermal, thermometer, isotherm.

Tithēmi, I place; thēsis, a placing; synthesis, hypothesis.

Treis, three; triangle, trigonometry, trilobite.

Trĕpo, I turn; trophy, tropic.

Tupos, the impress of a seal; type, stereotype.

Zōon, an animal; zoology, zodiac.

10. THE BRANCHING OF WORDS FROM LATIN STEMS.

Ag-o (act-um), I do.—Act, that which is done; active, engaged in doing; action, a doing; enact, to make an act, to establish as law; enactment; transaction, the doing of a thing thoroughly; react, to do again.

Apt-us, fitted.—Apt, fit: aptitude, fitness; adapt, to fit to; adaptability, capability of being fitted to; adaptation, a fitting to; adept, one who is fitted for doing things.

Ced-o, I go.—Accede, to go to, hence to agree to; access, a going to, hence an approach or entrance; accessory, going to or aiding; concede, to go away from, to give up; concession, the act of giving up; exceed, to go out of; excess, that which goes out or beyond; excessive, going beyond; intercede, to go in between, hence to act as a peacemaker; intercessory, going in between; precede, to go before; procession, a going forth, or that which goes forth; recede, to go back; recess, a space which goes back; succeed, to come from under, hence to follow in order; success, the act of succeeding; successor, one who follows; successively, following in order.

Cor (cord-is), the heart.—Cordial, hearty; cordiality, heartiness; concord, state of being of the same heart, harmony; discord, want of heart or agreement; discordant; record, to call back to the heart or mind; recorder, one who keeps records or registers; courage (through Fr.), heart—that is, bravery; encourage, to put heart in; discourage, to take heart from; discouragement.

Cur-a, care.—Cure (verb and noun); curable, that may be cured; cureless, without cure; curate, one who has the cure (or care) of souls; curator, one who has care of anything; curative, tending to cure; curious, full of care, anxious; curiosity; accurate, done with care, hence without error; procure, to take care of; procurator, one who takes care of; secure, free from care; security, state of being free from care; sinecure, an office without care.

Curr-o, I run.—Current, that which runs; currency, a running, the money which runs in a country; concur, to run together, hence to agree; incur, to run into; occur, to run in the way of; recur, to run back; course (through Fr.), the track on which anything runs; courser, a runner; recourse, a running back, a going to for aid; intercourse, a running between; precursor, one who runs before; courier (Fr.), one who runs; corridor (Spanish), a passage or gallery running along.

Do (dat-um, what is given), I give.—Add, to give to; addition, act of giving to; condition, state in which things are put together, or exist; conditionally; edit, to give forth or out; edition, what is given out; editor, one who gives out; date, the time given in a letter.

Duc-o, I lead.—Duke, a leader; ducal, pertaining to a leader; ductile, that which may be led or drawn out; ductility, the quality of being ductile; educate, to lead out; education; conduct (verb and noun), to lead together; induce, to lead into; produce, to lead forth; reduce, to lead back; seduce, to lead out of the right path.

Dur-us, hard.—During, lasting (but now used as a preposition); dure, to last; duration; durable; durability; durableness; endure, to be hard, firm, or lasting; obdurate, hardened against.

Fac-io, I do, or I make.—Fact, a deed; factor, a maker; affect, to act upon; affection; affected; affectation, acting upon one’s self; defect, a want; effect, something thoroughly done; effective; perfect, to make thoroughly; perfection, state of being thoroughly made; imperfect, not thoroughly made.

Fer-o, I carry.—Confer, to come together for council; conference; defer, to bear one’s self down or yield to the wishes of another; deference; differ, to carry asunder, hence to disagree; different; differently; difference; offer, to carry in the way of; prefer, to carry before, hence to esteem more than another; preference; refer, to carry back; suffer, to bear up, hence to undergo; transfer, to carry across.

Firm-us, strong.—Firm, strong; firmness; firmly; confirm, to make more strong; confirmation; affirm, to declare strongly; infirm, not strong; infirmity, state of being infirm, hence disease; infirmary, a place for the infirm; firmament, that which is firm, the place supposed to be fixed above the earth.

Form-a, shape.—Form, shape; formal, according to form; informal, not according to form; formality; formally; formative, giving form; formula, a little form; conform, to make of the same form with; deform, to alter or injure the form of; inform, to put into form or shape, educate, instruct; information; misinform, to give wrong knowledge to; perform, to form thoroughly; reform, to form again; reformation; transform, to change the form of.

Grati-a, favour.—Grace (through Fr.); graceful, full of the power to win favour; gracefulness; gracefully; gracious, full of grace; disgrace, state of being out of grace or favour; grateful, thankful for favour; ingratitude; ingrate, an ungrateful person; gratify, to please; gratuitous, by favour and without price; gratitude; agree (Fr.).

Habe-o, I have.—Habit, the having one’s self in a certain condition; habitual; habitable, that may be inhabited; habitat, the place which a plant or an animal inhabits; habitation, place where one dwells or inhabits; exhibit, to hold out to view; inhibit, to hold in or keep back; inhibition; inhabit, to be in the habit of living in; prohibit, to hold before one, hence to check.

Jac-io (jact-um), I throw.—Eject, to throw out; ejectment, a throwing out; ejection, the act of throwing out; ejaculate, to throw out (a sound); ejaculation; abject, thrown down; adjective, that which is thrown to or added to; conjecture, a throwing together of chances, or a guess; deject, to throw down; inject, to throw into; interjection, a throwing into the middle of; project (verb and noun), to throw forward; subject (verb and noun), to throw under; reject, to throw back.

Jung-o (junct-us, joined), I join.—Join (through Fr.); joint, a place where things are joined; joiner, one who joins; juncture, a joining; conjoin (Fr.), to join together; conjuncture, a joining together; disjoin (Fr.), to separate; adjunct, something joined to; conjunction, that which joins together.

Leg-o (lect-um), I gather or read.—Collect’, to gather together; col’-lect, what is gathered together; collection; collector; elect, to gather out from; election; elector; select, to choose apart, to pick out; legend, that which should be read; legible, that which may be read.

Mitt-o (miss-um), I send.—Admit; commit, to send together with, to intrust to; commitment, a sending together; commission, a sending with authority; emit, to send out; emission, a sending out; omit, to send away, to leave out; omission, the act of leaving out; permit; permission; remit, to send back; transmit, to send through.

Norm-a, a rule.—Normal, according to rule; normally; enormous, great, beyond rule; enormity; abnormal, away from rule.

Nosc-o (not-um), I know or mark.—Note, something by which a thing may be known, hence a mark; noted, known; notable, deserving to be known; noble (Fr.); notify, to make known; notorious, too well known; notice, a warning to know; noticeable, likely to be observed or known.

Ord-o (ordin-is), arrangement.—Order; ordain, to arrange or put in order; ordinal, that which shows arrangement; ordination, the act of arranging; ordinary, according to the common arrangement; extraordinary, out of the common arrangement; disorder, want of arrangement; orderly, properly arranged.

Pars (part-is), a part.—Part; particle, a small part; tripartite, divided into three parts; partition, that which divides into parts; partial, relating to a part only; apart, parted from; depart, to part from; impart, to give part to.

Pell-o (puls-um), I drive.—Compel, to drive together; compulsion, the act of driving together; dispel, to drive asunder; expel, to drive out; expulsion; impel, to drive forward (or into); impulse; propel, to drive forward; repel, to drive back; repulse.

Pend-o (pens-um), I hang.—Append, to hang to; appendage, something hung on to; depend, to hang down from; dependant, one who hangs from another; independent, not hanging from another; independence, the state of not hanging from another; pendant, that which hangs; suspend, to hang under; suspense, state of hanging [under].

Pon-o (posit-um), I place.—Post, something placed, and hence the place in which it stands; position, state of being placed, hence place; composition, a placing together; opposition, a placing in the way of; proposition, a placing before.

Port-o, I carry.—Porter, one who carries; export, to carry out of a country; import, to carry into a country; report, to carry back, to repeat; report, what is carried back or repeated; reporter; support, to bear up from under; transport, to carry across; transportation.

Prem-o (press-um), I press.—Press; compress, to press together; compression, the act of pressing together; depress, to press down; express, to press out, hence to utter or say; impress’, to press into (as of a seal); im’press, the mark left by anything impressed; repress, to press back; suppress, to press under.

Rect-us, right.—Rectify, to make right; rectitude, state of being right; correct, to put right; corrector; correction, a putting right.

Reg-o (rect-um), I rule.—Regal, pertaining to a king or ruler; rector, one who rules (in the church); rectory, the house in which the rector lives.

Rump-o (rupt-um), I break.—Abrupt, broken off; rupture, a breaking; corrupt, to break thoroughly, to break in pieces; corrupt (adj.) broken in pieces; corruptible, that which may be corrupted; irruption, a breaking into; eruption, a breaking out; disruption, a breaking asunder.

Scrib-o (script-um), I write.—Scribe, one who writes; describe, to write down; inscribe, to write upon; inscription; subscribe, to write under; subscription; scripture, that which is written.

Sed-eo (sess-um), I sit.—Sedentary, in the habit of sitting; preside, to sit before others, hence to be in authority; assiduous, sitting close to (work); subside, to sit under, hence to settle; session, a sitting.

Serv-o (servat-um), I keep.—Conserve, to keep together; conservatory, a place for keeping things together; observe, to keep in the way of (the eyes), hence to keep in view; observatory, a place for observing (the stars); reserve, to keep back; reserve, what is kept back.

Spec-io (spect-um), I look.—Aspect, look; spectator, one who looks at; speculum, a looking-glass; suspicion, a looking under.

Statu-o (statut-um), I set up.—Statue, something set up; statute, a law set up.

Tang-o (tact-um), I touch.—Tangent, a line which touches; tangible, which may be touched; tactile, that which can touch; contact, touching; tact, the art of knowing as it were by mere touch.

Tend-o (tent-um or tens-um), I stretch.—Distend, to stretch asunder; extend, to stretch out; extent, the amount a thing stretches; tense, stretched; tent, something which is stretched.

Ten-eo (tent-um), I hold.—Tenant, one who holds (a house or land); tenacious, holding much or firmly; contain, to hold together; detain, to hold down, hence to hinder; retain, to hold back; retentive, holding back or keeping.

Trah-o (tract-um), I draw.—Attract, to draw to; contract, to draw together; traction, the act of drawing; subtract, to draw from under, hence to take away; subtrahend, that which has to be taken away; contraction, a drawing together.

Ut-or (us-us), I use.—Use; abuse, to use away from its proper purpose; peruse, to use thoroughly, hence to read through; usury, money paid for the use of money; utensil, something to be used; utility, usefulness.

Veh-o (vect-um), I carry.—Vehicle, that in which goods are carried; convey, to carry together; conveyance, that in which goods are carried together.

Ven-io (vent-um), I come.—Convene, originally to come together, afterwards to summon; convention; advent, a coming to; intervene, to come in between; contravene, to come against, hence to oppose; circumvent, to come round; intervention, the act of coming in between.

Vert-o (vers-um), I turn.—Convert, to turn together; conversion, the act of turning together; advert, to turn towards; divorce, to turn asunder; invert, to turn into; inversion, the act of turning into; reverse, to turn back; verse, a kind of composition in which the writer turns back from the end of the line.

Vid-eo (vis-um), I see.—Visitor, one who sees; vision, what is seen; visual, pertaining to seeing; visible, what may be seen; provide, to see before; providence, a seeing beforehand; prudence (Fr.), another form of providence.

Voc-o (vocat-um), I call.—Convoke, to call together; convocation, a meeting which has been called together; revoke, to call back; vocal, calling—that is, having a voice; voice, that by which one calls; vociferate.

Volv-o (volut-um), I roll.—Convolution, a rolling together; revolve, to roll round; involve, to roll into.

11. THE BRANCHING OF WORDS FROM ENGLISH STEMS.

Bac-an, to bake.—Bake; baker; baxter (bakester), a woman who bakes; batch, what is baked.

Beat-an, to strike.—Bat, an instrument to strike a ball with; beetle, an instrument to beat clothes with.

Ber-an, to carry.—Bearer; burden; barrow, that on which something is borne; bier, that on which a corpse is borne; forbear, to bear forth or off, hence to abstain; overbear, to bear over, to overpower.

Brec-an, to break.—Break, an instrument for breaking the speed of a train; breach, a break in a wall; brook, a stream which breaks from the ground.

Brinn-an, to burn.—Burn; brown is the burnt colour; brand, a mark made by burning; brandy, a drink made by burning wine; brunt, the burning or hottest part of a fight; brimstone, burning stone (a name for sulphur); brindled, striped with brown; bran new [=brand new].

Drag-an, to pull.—Drag; draw, another form of drag; dray, a kind of cart which is drawn along; draught, what is drawn; draft, a cheque drawn on a banker; drain, a ditch for drawing off water; drawl, to keep drawing out one’s words.

Far-an, to go.—Far, that which requires much going to reach; farewell, go well! fieldfare, a bird which goes in the fields; thoroughfare, a place where people go through; ford, a place in a river where one can go across on foot; ferry, a place in a river where one can go over in a boat; fare, the money paid for going.

Hæl, sound.—Hale; heal, to make hale; health, state of being sound or hale; healthy; healthful; holy, spiritually hale; hail, be hale! or be healthy! whole, in a state of being hale (the w is intrusive); wholesome, what tends to make hale.

Lig, lie.—Lie, to lie down; lay, to make to lie; lair, the place where a wild beast lies; law, what lies or is in due order; low, what is (lying) down.

Maw-an, to mow.—Mower; math, the grass that is mowed; aftermath, the grass that is mowed after the first crop; mead, a place where grass is mowed; meadow, a small mead.

Met-an, to meet.—Mote, a meeting (an old word now found only in wardmote and folkmote); meet.

Reaf-ian, to take away.—Reave; bereave; reef, what is taken in in a sail; rifle, to plunder or take away; robber, a person who takes away what does not belong to him.

Sceot-an, to throw.—Shoot, to throw out (by means of a gun or otherwise); shut, to throw to (the door); shoot, a branch thrown out by a tree; shot, what is thrown out (by a gun or otherwise); shout, to throw out of the mouth; shuttle, an instrument thrown by a weaver; sheet, what is thrown over (a bed); shutter, what is thrown to, to guard a window.

Sit-an, to sit.—Sit; set, to make to sit; beset, to set about; onset, a setting on; overset, to turn over; upset; setter, a kind of dog; settle, a kind of seat; settle, to set or fix; settler; settlement; seat, the place where one sits.

Treow-an, believe.—Trow, to believe; true, what should be believed; truth; truthful; truthfully; truism; trust; intrust; trustee; trusty; trustworthy; troth.

Wac-an, to wake.—Wake; awake; awaken; wakeful; wakefulness; watch; watchful; watchfulness.