Membean Word Root Of the Day

Prefixes are key morphemes in English vocabulary that begin words. The English prefix *extra-*, which means "outside," appears in a fair number of English vocabulary words, such as *extra*, [*extra*]terrestrial, and [*extra*]ordinary. You can remember that the prefix *extra-* means "outside" from the adjective [*extra*]ordinary, which refers to something which is "outside" or beyond what is usually considered ordinary.

The Latin root word *equ* means "equal." This Latin root is the word origin of a good number of English vocabulary words, including ad[*equ*]ate, [*equ*]ator, and [*equ*]ality. The Latin root word *equ* is easily recalled through the word [*equ*]ation, for both sides of an [*equ*]ation are, by definition, "equal" to one another!

The Latin root word *fid* means "trust." This Latin root is the word origin of a good number of English vocabulary words, including con[*fid*]ent, [*fid*]elity, and per[*fid*]y. The Latin root word *fid* is easily recalled through the popular dog name "Fido," whom his master can "trust" to be ever loyal.

Prefixes are key morphemes in English vocabulary that begin words. A large number of English vocabulary words contain the prefix *dis-*, which means "apart." Examples using this prefix include [*dis*]tant, [*dis*]ease, and [*dis*]qualify. An easy way to remember that the prefix *dis-* means "apart" is through the word [*dis*]order, for items which are [*dis*]ordered are "apart" from being "ordered," hence are not ordered or are in quite the mess.

The prefix *per-*, besides meaning "through," can also act as an intensive prefix, adding emphasis to a given word's root. An intensive prefix can be effectively translated as "thoroughly" or "very" to highlight its emphatic function. For instance, the prefix *per-*, such as in [*per*]fect, means to do something so "thoroughly" that nothing more can be done to it.

The Latin root word *ego* means "I." This Latin root is the word origin of a fair number of English vocabulary words, including *ego* and [*ego*]tistical. The Latin root word *ego* is easily recalled through the English word *ego*--someone with a big *ego* is always thinking about number one, that is, himself, and how great he is.

The Greek root word *ge*, commonly used in the English prefix *geo-*, means "earth." This Greek root is the word origin of a good number of English vocabulary words, including [*ge*]ology, [*ge*]ography, and [*ge*]ometry. The Greek root word *ge* is easily recalled through the English word [*ge*]ology, which is the study of the "earth."

The Latin root word *terr* means "earth, land." This Latin root is the word origin of a good number of English vocabulary words, including [*terr*]ain, [*terr*]arium, and Medi[*terr*]anean. The Latin root word *terr* is easily recalled through the English word [*terr*]ain, for the [*terr*]ain of an area is what the "earth" or "land" is like there.

Prefixes are key morphemes in English vocabulary that begin words. The English prefix *per-*, which means "through," appears in hundreds of English vocabulary words, such as [*per*]ish and [*per*]son. You can remember that the prefix *per-* means "through" via the word [*per*]manent, for something that is [*per*]manent stays intact "through" the years.

The Latin root word *plex* means "weave." This Latin root is the word origin of a good number of English vocabulary words, including com[*plex*]ity, per[*plex*]ed, and googol[*plex*]. The Latin root word *plex* is easily recalled through the word du[*plex*], for a "du[*plex*]" is a single building in which two living spaces have been "woven" together.

The Latin root word *spect* and its variant *spic* both mean "see." These roots are the word origin of a fair number of English vocabulary words, including [*spect*]ator, re[*spect*], au[*spic*]ious and su[*spic*]ion. The root *spect* is easily recalled through the word [*spect*]acles, whose function is giving you the ability to "see," and *spic* is con[*spic*]uous, or easily "seen" through, yes, con[*spic*]uous!

The Latin root word *cred* means "believe." This Latin root is the word origin of a good number of English vocabulary words, including [*cred*]it, [*cred*]o, and [*cred*]entials. The Latin root word *cred* is easily recalled through the English word in[*cred*]ible, for if something in[*cred*]ible happens it can hardly be "believed."

The Greek root word *crat* means "rule," and the English suffix *-cracy* means "rule by." This Greek root and suffix is the word origin of a good number of English vocabulary words, including the familiar terms demo[*crat*] and demo[*cracy*]. The Greek root word *crat* and suffix *-cracy* are easily recalled through these two English words, "demo[*cracy*]" meaning "rule by" the people, and "demo[*crat*]" being someone who specifically supports "rule" by the people.

The Latin root word *flor* means "flower." This Latin root is the word origin of a good number of English vocabulary words, including [*flor*]ist, [*flor*]al, and [*Flor*]ida. The Latin root word *flor* is easily recalled through the word [*flor*]ist, for a "[*flor*]ist" is the person who sells the "flowers" that people buy on major holidays, such as Valentine's Day.

The Latin root word *nov* means "new." This Latin root is the word origin of a good number of English vocabulary words, including [*nov*]el, super[*nov*]a, and re[*nov*]ate. The Latin root word *nov* is easily recalled through the English word [*nov*]el, for a [*nov*]el experience is one that has never happened before and so is "new" to you.