Root Words

DictDictDictionaryDictionary

DictatorDictator

DictumDictum

PredictPredict

ContradictContradict

AddictAddict

VerdictVerdict

AbdicateAbdicate

VindicateVindicate

Dict – speechDict – speech

Dictum – a formal speech or Dictum – a formal speech or statementstatement

Abdicate – to say you Abdicate – to say you renounce, give up powerrenounce, give up power

PortPortPortablePortable

PortalPortal

TransportTransport

ExportExport

ImportImport

ImportantImportant

DeportDeport

ReportReport

SupportSupport

Port – to carryPort – to carry

Deport – to expel from a place Deport – to expel from a place or countryor country

Export – to send outExport – to send out

Ced, CeedCed, CeedPrecedePrecede

IntercedeIntercede

ConcedeConcede

RecedeRecede

PrecedentPrecedent

ProceedProceed

SucceedSucceed

ExceedExceed

UnprecedentedUnprecedented

Ced, ceed – to go; to yieldCed, ceed – to go; to yield

Precedent – a previous example Precedent – a previous example or case used to justify a or case used to justify a present or future ideapresent or future idea

Concede – to go along with or Concede – to go along with or yield to the opposite yield to the opposite side/other personside/other person

Spect, spicSpect, spicSpectacleSpectacle

SpectacularSpectacular

InspectInspect

PerspectivePerspective

RetrospectRetrospect

SuspectSuspect

RespectRespect

ConspicuousConspicuous

DespicableDespicable

Spect, spic – to lookSpect, spic – to look

Retrospect – to look Retrospect – to look backwards; in the pastbackwards; in the past

Conspicuous – easy to notice; Conspicuous – easy to notice; obvious to seeobvious to see

Ceive, ceptCeive, ceptAcceptAccept

ConceptionConception

DeceptionDeception

ExceptionalExceptional

InterceptionInterception

PerceptivePerceptive

PreconceivePreconceive

DeceiveDeceive

ReceiveReceive

Ceive, Cept – take, holdCeive, Cept – take, hold

Interception – the act of taking Interception – the act of taking or stopping secretly or or stopping secretly or suddenlysuddenly

Deceive – to cause to take as Deceive – to cause to take as falsefalse

GamGamBigamistBigamist

BigamyBigamy

MonogamyMonogamy

MonogamistMonogamist

PolygamyPolygamy

PolygamistPolygamist

MisogamistMisogamist

MisogamyMisogamy

AllogamyAllogamy

Gam - marriageGam - marriage

Polygamist – a person who has Polygamist – a person who has more than one spouse at a more than one spouse at a time and all involved know time and all involved know about the arrangementabout the arrangement

Bigamist – a person who Bigamist – a person who marries one person while still marries one person while still married to another personmarried to another person

Ambi, amphiAmbi, amphiAmbitiousAmbitious

AmbiguousAmbiguous

AmbidextrousAmbidextrous

AmbivalentAmbivalent

AmbivertAmbivert

AmbienceAmbience

AmphibianAmphibian

AmphitheaterAmphitheater

AmphoraAmphora

Ambi, amphi – around, bothAmbi, amphi – around, both

Ambiguous – having more Ambiguous – having more than one possible meaningthan one possible meaning

Ambivalent – having both/ Ambivalent – having both/ conflicting feelingsconflicting feelings

CivCivCivilCivil

CivilizeCivilize

CivilianCivilian

CivilizationCivilization

UncivilUncivil

UncivilizedUncivilized

CivicCivic

Civ – human beings; societyCiv – human beings; society

Civic – pertaining to society/ Civic – pertaining to society/ citizenscitizens

Uncivilized – not considered to Uncivilized – not considered to be culturally, socially, or be culturally, socially, or morally acceptablemorally acceptable

Vert, verg, verVert, verg, verDivertDivert

AversionAversion

ConvertConvert

InvertInvert

InadvertentlyInadvertently

DivergentDivergent

VersionVersion

AdversityAdversity

VerseVerse

vert, vers – to turnvert, vers – to turn

Inadvertently – to unknowingly Inadvertently – to unknowingly or not intentionally turn your or not intentionally turn your mind towards or away from mind towards or away from somethingsomething

Divert – to turn away or aside Divert – to turn away or aside from a course, thought, or from a course, thought, or actionaction

Equ, egalEqu, egalEqualEqual

EquivalentEquivalent

EquilibriumEquilibrium

EquitableEquitable

EquatorEquator

AdequateAdequate

EgalitarianEgalitarian

LegalLegal

Equi, egal - equalEqui, egal - equal

Equitable – having or Equitable – having or exhibiting fairnessexhibiting fairness

Egalitarian - asserting, Egalitarian - asserting, resulting from, or resulting from, or characterized by belief in characterized by belief in the equality of all peoplethe equality of all people

torttortContortContort

ExtortionExtortion

TortureTorture

DistortDistort

RetortRetort

TorqueTorque

TorturousTorturous

TortTort

ContortionistContortionist

Tort – to twistTort – to twist

Extortion – the act of twisting a Extortion – the act of twisting a person or the truth to obtain person or the truth to obtain something positivesomething positive

Retort – to twist someone’s Retort – to twist someone’s words back upon them as in words back upon them as in a reply to an insulta reply to an insult

jud, jur, jusjud, jur, jus JuryJury

JurisdictionJurisdiction

ConjureConjure

PerjuryPerjury

AbjureAbjure

JusticeJustice

JustificationJustification

JudgeJudge

PrejudicePrejudice

Jud, jur, jus – to take an oath/ Jud, jur, jus – to take an oath/ legally boundlegally bound

Jurisdiction – The right or Jurisdiction – The right or power to administer justicepower to administer justice

Perjury – the voluntary Perjury – the voluntary violation of an oathviolation of an oath

Scend, scentScend, scentJuryJury

JurisdictionJurisdiction

ConjureConjure

PerjuryPerjury

AbjureAbjure

JusticeJustice

JustificationJustification

JudgeJudge

PrejudicePrejudice

Jud, jur, jus – to take an oath/ Jud, jur, jus – to take an oath/ legally boundlegally bound

Jurisdiction – The right or Jurisdiction – The right or power to administer justicepower to administer justice

Perjury – the voluntary Perjury – the voluntary violation of an oathviolation of an oath

AutoAutoDictionaryDictionary

DictatorDictator

DictumDictum

PredictPredict

ContradictContradict

AddictAddict

VerdictVerdict

AbdicateAbdicate

ValedictorianValedictorian

Dict – speechDict – speech

Dictum – a formal speech or Dictum – a formal speech or statementstatement

Abdicate – to say you Abdicate – to say you renounce, give up powerrenounce, give up power

pathpath EmpathyEmpathy

SympathySympathy

ApatheticApathetic

PathosPathos

PathologyPathology

AntipathyAntipathy

PatheticPathetic

PsychopathPsychopath

Path – feeling, emotionPath – feeling, emotion

Apathetic – indifferent; without Apathetic – indifferent; without feelingfeeling

Pathetic – arousing feelings of Pathetic – arousing feelings of pitypity

fidfidConfidenceConfidence

InfidelityInfidelity

AffidavitAffidavit

ConfideConfide

ConfidentialConfidential

FidoFido

DiffidentDiffident

Bona fideBona fide

Fid – faithFid – faith

Infidelity – unfaithful; Infidelity – unfaithful; especially in marriageespecially in marriage

Diffident – not having faith in Diffident – not having faith in oneselfoneself

benebene BenefitBenefit

BenevolentBenevolent

BenignBenign

BenedictionBenediction

BenefactorBenefactor

BeneficeBenefice

BeneficiaryBeneficiary

BenevolenceBenevolence

Bene – well, goodBene – well, good

Benevolent – inclined to do Benevolent – inclined to do good/well towards othersgood/well towards others

Beneficiary – one who receives Beneficiary – one who receives benefits from an insurance benefits from an insurance policy or willpolicy or will

bellbellBelligerentBelligerent

RebellionRebellion

RebelliousRebellious

BellicoseBellicose

AntebellumAntebellum

BellowBellow

Bell – warBell – war

Belligerent – hostile, warlikeBelligerent – hostile, warlike

Bellicose – eager or quick to Bellicose – eager or quick to quarrel or fightquarrel or fight

Grad, gressGrad, gressAggressionAggression

DigressDigress

ProgressProgress

RegressiveRegressive

TransgressTransgress

DegradeDegrade

GraduateGraduate

Gradual Gradual

BiodegradableBiodegradable

Grad, gress – to move or goGrad, gress – to move or go

Biodegradable – anything that Biodegradable – anything that can be absorbed back into can be absorbed back into the environmentthe environment

Regress – the act of going Regress – the act of going backwards to a previous backwards to a previous statestate

pug, punpug, punPunishPunish

PunchPunch

PugnaciousPugnacious

ImpugnImpugn

InexpugnableInexpugnable

PunPun

RepugnanceRepugnance

PunditPundit

Pug, pun – hit; strikePug, pun – hit; strike

Pundit– critic (giving Pundit– critic (giving punishments or decrees punishments or decrees through words)through words)

Inexpugnable – not easily Inexpugnable – not easily overcome by forceovercome by force