The most used 25 words in English appear to make up about one-third of all printed material in English, and the first 100 words make up about half of all written English. (WP, "Most common words in English")
The most used words are generally simple and short. The, be, to, of, and, a, in, that, have, I may be the most frequent ones. Short and simple . . .
Other and less frequent words are longer, but they may consist of building-blocks. Building-blocks of words are prefixes, roots, and suffixes. Prefixes are word elements in front of words, roots in the middle, and suffixes are at the back. The meanings given here, are not conclusive, but central. Further information can be found in large dictionares, which can also supply added meanings.
Knowledge of how words are built up, and how the meanings of some words have grown and branched out throughout centuries, can help us understand them and improve our verbal competence, and helps expressing ourselves - maybe.
- In the tables that follows, G stands for Greek, L for Latin, and F for French.
- Some of the prefixes have more variants than shown.
- The main focus of the tables are basic meaning(s).
To communcate well and tell of reality or essential aspects of it by fit words is no small attainment. In such a process a scientific discipline or field of study may arrive at its own jargon of enlarged or narrowed (specialised) meanings. Yet central meanings of most words may be found in dictionaries too, not just larger textbooks.
There may be over a million words in the English language, but not all of them are current. Knowledge of the most frequent words can help very much, as those words form a basic vocabulary. As mentioned above, about 100 words make up 50% of the words that are used in daily conversation.
Detecting "common factors" in words and getting to their central meanings can assist understanding of what many foreign words mean; it can put you on the track and help you remember and process the word better, hopefully.
Terms that are not stale and do not delay the main message, may help to carry essential meanings through (cf. Cutts 2013).
Words and assertions may be awkward, get biased, unfortunate,
tendentious, or wrong due to lack of sensible mastery of language. Where distorted and not nuanced and fair senses are followed by distortions are bluntly repeated, things could get worse.
Learning is helped by learning words at heart, maybe according to rules of
successful study. Repetitions help learning, and getting to what is called overlearning, is
a rater important point in combatting forgetting. Technicalities may not replace great interest. But interest may grow through proficient study, including study of dear terms, so taht "Appetite may come while eating" too.
Learning lessons well involves overlearning them, which may help in the long run. If
you can take a friend or three into it, you may question one another in much friendly
competition as an aid too.
~ೞ⬯ೞ~
| Prefix | Meaning | Example |
| a-, an- (G) | without, not | anaeorobic |
| ab-, abs- (L) | away, from, apart | absent |
| ad-, ac-, af (L) | to, towards | advent, advance |
| aero- | air | aeroplane, acronaut |
| amb-, ambi- (G) | both, around | ambiguous |
| amphi- (G) | both, around | amphitheatre |
| ante- (L) | before | antenatal |
| anti- (G) | against | antidote, antitoxic |
| apo- | away from | apostasy |
| arch- (G) | chief, most important | archbishop,
archcriminal |
| auto- (G) | self | automatic, autocrat |
| be- | about, make | belittle, beguile, beset |
| bene- (L) | well, good | benefactor |
| bi- (G) | two | biennial, bicycle |
| centi-, cente- (L) | hundred | centigrade,
centenary |
| circum- (L) | around | circumference, circumambient |
| co, coll, com-, cor- | together | companion |
| con-, (L) | with, | collect, co-operate |
| contra- (L) | against, counter | contradict,
contraceptive |
| de- (F) | down | denude, decentralise |
| deca-, deci (G) | ten | decade, decagon |
| demi- (L) | half | demigod |
| dia-(G) | through, between | diameter |
| dis- (L) | not, opposite to | dislike, disagree |
| duo- (G) | two | duologue, duplex |
| dys- | bad, difficult, ill, hard | dysfunction |
| e-, ex- | out of | exhale, excavate |
| ec- (L) | out of | eccentric |
| en-in-, em-, im-, (L; G) (F) | into, not | enrage, inability, embolden, emulate, impress |
| equi- | equally | equipoise |
| epi- (G) | upon, at, in addition, besides, attached to, over,
outer,
after | epidemic, epidermis |
| extra- (L) | outside, beyond | extra-terrestrial |
| for-, fore- (E) | before | foresee |
| hemi- (G) | half | hemisphere |
| homo- (L) | same | homonym |
| hyper- (G) | above, beyond, excessively,
excessive | hyperintelligent, hyperfunction |
| il- (im-, ir-) | not, non- | illogical |
| in, im, (un) (L, G, F) | not | imperfect,
inaccessible |
| inter- (L) | among, between | interrupt,
interstellar |
| intra-, intro- (L) | in, into, inward, within, during, between
layers of (inside) | intramural, introjection, introvert |
| iso (G) | equal, same, | isobaric, isosceles |
| mal- (L) | bad, badly, abnormal(lly),
inadequate(ly) | malfunction, malformed, malnourished |
| meta- (G) | after, beyond, more comprehensive, transcending, more highly organized, change (etc) | metabolism, metaphysical, metastudy, metastasis |
| mis- | wrongly | misfit, mislead |
| mono (G) | one, single, alone | monody, monophonic,
monocular |
| multi- (L) | many | multipurpose, multimillion |
| non- | not | nonsense, nonpareil |
| ob-, oc-, of-, op (L) | in the way, against , opposite, in the way
of resistance | object, obstacle, opposite, |
| over- | above, | overhear, overcharge |
| para- (G) | aside, beyond | parable, paradox |
| per- (L) | through, throughout, thoroughly | peruse,
perennial, peradventure |
| peri- (G) | around, about | perimeter, pericardium |
| poly- (G) | many | polygamy, polytechnic |
| post- (L) | after | postscript, postnatal, P.M (post
meridiam, i.e., after noon) |
| pre- (L) | before | prehistoric, pre-war |
| prime-, primo- (L) | first, important, of highest authority, of the
highest grade, primary | primary, Prime-Minister |
| pro- (L) | in front of, favouring, before, earlier than, prior to,
rudimentary, forward, front, in front of | professor, prologue |
| quadri- (L) | four | quaddennial, quadrangi |
| re- (L) | again, back | reappear, recivilise |
| retro- (L) | backward | retrograde, re |
| se- | aside | secede |
| self- | oneself, itself, of oneself or itself, by oneself or itself
(etc)
| self-knowledge, self-adjustment |
| semi- (G) | half | semicircle, semidetached |
| sub- (L) | under | submarine, subterranean |
| super- (L) | above, over | superfluous, superior |
| syl- | with, together | syllogism |
| syn-, sym (G) | together | sympathy, synchronise |
| tele- (G) | far, far off, distant | telegram,
telepathy |
| ter- (L) | three times | tercentenary |
| tetra- (G) | four | tetrahedron, tetralogy |
| trans- (L) | across, through | transatlantic,
translate |
| tri- (L; G) | three | triangle, tripartite |
| ultra- (L) | beyond (in space, range, limits, what's ordinary
etc.) | ultramarine, ultra-violet |
| un- (im) (L, G, F) | not | unbroken, unbotton,
unable |
| under- | below | underfed, underling |
| uni- (L) | one | unicellular, uniform |
| vice- (L) | in place of | viceroy, Vice-President |
~ೞ⬯ೞ~
In the table, 'fr.' means 'from'.
| Root | Meaning | Example |
| aer | air | aerate, aeroplane |
| am (fr. amare) | love | amorous, amateur, amiable |
| ann (fr. annus) | year | annual, anniversary |
| aud, (fr. audire) | hear | auditorium, audit |
| bio | life | biography |
| cap (fr. capire) | take | captive |
| cap (fr. caput) | head | capital, per capita,
decapitate |
| chron | time | chronology, chronic |
| cor | heart | cordial |
| corp | body | corporation |
| de | god | deify, diety |
| dic, diet | say, speak | dictate |
| duc, (fr. ducere) | lead | aqueduct, duke, ductile |
| ego | I | egotism |
| equi | equal | equidistant |
| fac, fic, (fr. facere) | make, do | manufacture,
efficient |
| frat | brother | fraternity |
| geo | earth | geology |
| graph | write | calligraphy, graphology, telegraph |
| loc (fr. locus) | place | location, local |
| loqu, loc (fr. loqui) | speak | eloquence,
circumlocution |
| luc, (fr. lux) | light | elucidate |
| man (fr. manus) | hand | manuscript, manipulate |
| mit, miss (fr. mittere) | send | admit, permission |
| mort. (fr. mors) | death | immortal |
| omni | all | omnipotent, omnibus |
| pat (fr. pater) father | paternal, suffering,
feeling | sympathy, pathology |
| ped, (fr. pes) | foot | impede, millipede, pedal |
| photo | light | photography |
| phobia, phobe | fear | hydrophobe, xenophobia |
| pneum | air, breath, spirit | pneumonia |
| pos, posit | place | deposit, position |
| pot, poss, poten (fr. ponerte) | be able | potential,
possible |
| quaerere | ask, question, seek | inquiry, query |
| rog. (fr. rogare) | ask | interrogate |
| scrib, scrip, (fr. scribere) | write | scribble, script,
inscribe |
| sent, sens, (fr. sentire) | feel | sensitive,
sentient |
| sol | alone | soloist, isolate |
| soph | wise | philosopher |
| spect, (fr. spicere) | look | introspective,
inspect |
| spir, spirate) | breathe | inspiration |
| therm, (fr. thermos) | warm | thermometer |
| ten, (fr. tendere) | stretch | extend, tense |
| ten, (fr. tenere) | hold | tenant |
| utilis | useful | utility |
| ven, vent (fr. venire) | come, arrive | advent,
convenient |
| vert, vers, (fr. vertere) | turn | revert, adverse |
| vid, vis (fr. videre) | see | supervisor, vision,
provident |
~ೞ⬯ೞ~
A suffix is a unit (it may be just one letter too) you add to the end of another word or
root so as to alter its meaning or create a new word. Usually,
suffixes can't stand on their own as words. Knowledge of suffixes tends to help
the student. On this page you find suffixes employed in common English.
| Suffix | Meaning | Example |
| -able, -ible (L) | able of, fit for | durable,
comprehensible |
| -acy (L; G) | state or quality of | accuracy |
| -age (L) | action or state of | breakage |
| -al, ial (L) | relating to | abdominal |
| -an (ane, ian) (L) | the nature of | Grecian,
African |
| -ance, ence | quality or action of | insurance,
corpulence |
| -ant (L) | forming adjectives of quality, nouns, signifying a
personal agent or something producing an effect | defiant, servant |
| -stable (L) | See -able, -ible | |
| -arium, -orium (L) | place for | aquarium,
auditorium |
| -ary (L) | place for, dealing with | seminary,
dictionary |
| -ate (L) | cause to be, office of | animate,
magistrate |
| -ation, -ition (L) | action or state of | condition,
dilapidation |
| -cle, -icle (L) | diminutive | icicle |
| -dom (E) | condition or control | kingdom |
| -en (E) | small | mitten |
| -en (E) | quality | golden, broken |
| -er (E) | belonging to | farmer, New Yorker |
| -ess (E) | feminine suffix | hostess waitress |
| -et, -ette (L) | small | puppet, marionette |
| -ferous (L) | producing | coniferous |
| -ful (E) | full of | colourful, beautiful |
| -fy, -ify (L) | make | satisfy, fortify |
| -hood (E) | state or condition of | boyhood,
childhood |
| -ian (L) | practitioners or inhabitants | musician,
Parisian |
| -ion (L) | condition or action of | persuasion |
| -ic (G) | relating to | historic |
| -id(e) (L) | a quality | acid |
| -ine (G; L) | a compound | chlorine |
| -is (L) | names of classes, names of places | bacteria,
America |
| -ish (E) | a similarity or relationships | peevish, childish, greenish |
| -ism (G) | quality or doctrine of | realism,
socialism |
| -itis (L) | inflammation of (medical) | bronchitis |
| -ist (G) | one who practices | chemist, pessimist |
| -ity, -ety, ty (L) | state or quality of | loyalty |
| -ive (L) | nature of | creative, receptive |
| -ize, -ise (G) | make, practise, act like | modernize,
advertise |
| -less (E) | lacking | fearless, faceless |
| -logy (G) | indicating a branch of knowledge | biology,
psychology |
| -lent (L) | fulness | violent |
| -ly (E) | having the quality of | softly, quickly |
| -ment (L) | act or condition of | resentment |
| -metry, -meter (G) | measurement | gasometer,
geometry |
| -mony | resulting condition | testimony |
| -oid (G) | resembling | ovoid |
| -or | a state or action, a person who, or thing | error,
governor, victor, generator |
| -ous, -ose (L) | full of | murderous, anxious, officious,
morose |
| - osis | process or condition of | metamorphosis |
| -some | like | gladsome |
| -tude (L) | quality or degree of | altitude,
gratitude |
| -ward (E) | direction | backward, outward |
| -y (E) | condition | difficulty |
"Biology can be filled with words that sometimes seem incomprehensible. By "dissecting" these words into discrete units, even the most complex terms can be understood."
◦Biology
suffixes
|
