Advanced Vocabulary Simplified with Word Roots and Mnemonics

This lesson explores the Latin root "loqui", which means "to speak", and how it forms the basis for various English words. The words discussed have their meanings derived from "loqui" in combination with other prefixes or suffixes.

• Loquacious

  : An adjective meaning "tending to talk a great deal" or "talkative". Derived from "loqui" (to speak) and "-ous" (be full of).

• Eloquent

  : An adjective meaning "expressing oneself readily, clearly, effectively". It is derived from "loqui" (to speak) and "ex-" (out).

• Soliloquy

  : A noun meaning "speaking to oneself, regardless of any hearers". This comes from "loqui" (to speak) and "solus-" (alone).

• Colloquial

  : An adjective meaning "characteristic of informal spoken language or conversation". It is formed from "loqui" (to speak) and "co-" (together).

• Grandiloquence

  : A noun meaning "high-flown style; excessive use of verbal ornamentation". It is derived from "loqui" (to speak) and "grand-" (big).

• Somniloquy

  : A noun meaning "uttering speech while asleep". This comes from "loqui" (to speak) and "somn-" (sleep).

• Obloquy

  : A noun meaning "disgrace, especially that brought about by public condemnation". This is derived from "loqui" (to speak) and "ob-" (against).

• Circumlocution

  : A noun meaning "an indirect way of expressing something". It is formed from "loqui" (to speak) and "circum-" (around).

• Ventriloquist

  : A noun meaning "a performer who projects the voice into a wooden dummy". This comes from "loqui" (to speak) and "ventris-" (belly).

A root that means something very similar to 'loqui',
"logue" comes from the Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to speak" on the notion of "to gather words, to pick out words." 
In this lesson we explore words that share this root.

Core words we will discuss in this lesson: 

• monologue

• dialogue

• eulogy

• prologue

• epilogue

• ideologue

As seen in the word 'circumlocution',
"circum" is word-forming element meaning "around, round about, all around, on all sides," from Latin adverb and preposition circum "around, round about," literally "in a circle".

In this lesson we explore words that share this root.

Core words we will discuss in this lesson: 

• circumspect

• circumnavigate

• circumscribed

• circumvent

• circumfluent

• circumambulate

As with the word 'monologue',
"mono" comes from the greek monos which means "single, alone".

In this lesson we explore words that share this root.

Core words we will discuss in this lesson: 

• monolingual

• monomania

• monotheism

• monogamy

• monotonous

• monopoly

• monochrome

• monolith

As a contrast to the root 'mono',
"poly" means "many, much, multi-, one or more," and comes from Greek polys "much".

In this lesson we explore words that share this root.

Core words we will discuss in this lesson:

• polyglot

• polytheism

• polyamori

• polymorph

• polychrome

• polygamy

As with the word 'somniloquy',
"somn" meaning sleep, is derived from Latin somnus "sleep, slumber".

In this lesson we explore words that share this root.

Core words we will discuss in this lesson:

• somniloquy

• somnolent

• insomnia

• somnambulate

• somniferous

• soporific

As with the word 'magniloquence',
"magna" comes from meg, a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "great."

In this lesson we explore words that share this root.

Core words we will discuss in this lesson:

• magnate

• maestro

• magnum opus

• magnanimity

• megalomania

• magnificient

The contrasting root pair : 'eu' and 'dys' means good and bad, and in some contexts well and unwell, respectively.
They come from Greek eus - "good," eu - "well" and 'dus' - "bad, ill, evil" respectively.

In this lesson we explore words that share this root.

Core words we will discuss in this lesson:

• euthanise

• eugenics

• euphoria

• euphemism

• utopia

• eutrophy

• dysphoria

• dystopia

• dysphemism

• dyslexia

• dysfunciton

• dystrophy

Pater and mater mean father and mother respectively. There are records of similar words used to describe the same concept in various cultures; why this is so, is not really known!

In this lesson we discuss the root 'pater' or 'patri' meaning father.

Core words we will discuss in this lesson: 

• patron

• paternal

• paternity

• compadre

• expatriate

• patricide

• paterfamilias

• patrilineal

"spect" comes from the Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to see." 

In this lesson we explore words that share this root.

Core words we will discuss in this lesson: 

• spectacle

• conspicuous

• introspect

• inspect

• spectator

• perspective

• perspicacious

• perspicacity

• prospect

• retrospect

"scribe" comes from the latin root 'scribere' meaning "to write." 

In this lesson we explore words that share this root.

Core words we will discuss in this lesson: 

• ascribe

• proscribe

• inscribe

• transcribe

• manuscript

• postscript

• scribe

• subscribe

The root 'morph' means "shape or form". 

In this lesson we explore words that share this root.

Core words we will discuss in this lesson: 

• amorphous

• morphology

• anthropomorphic

• metamorphosis

• morph

• morpheme

"fluere" comes from a latin root meaning "to flow." 

In this lesson we explore words that share this root.

Core words we will discuss in this lesson: 

• fluid

• affluent

• confluence

• effluence

• fluency

• mellifluous

• superfluous

• influence

With a latin origin, 'anima' signifies mind, soul or spirit.

In this lesson we explore words that share this root.

Core words we will discuss in this lesson: 

• animation

• inanimate

• animated

• animatronics

• animus

• unanimous

• equanimity

• animadvert

• reanimate

• pusillanimous

"venire" is derived from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to come, to go".

In this lesson we explore words that share this root.

Core words we will discuss in this lesson: 

• intervene

• contravene

• convene

• convent

• covenant

• intervention

• prevent

• venue

A quick recap of the words we learnt in Chapter 2.

"arhcy" has an old latin origin and has the meaning "the rule of" or "form of government".

In this lesson, we explore different systems of governance and the words to describe them.

Core words we will discuss in this lesson: 

• monarchy

• diarchy

• anarchy

• oligarchy

• matriarchy

• patriarchy

• cryptarchy

• plutarchy

"-cracy" is the greek alternative to the root '-archy', which means 'rule' or 'power'/

In this lesson, we explore more systems of governance and the words to describe them.

Core words we will discuss in this lesson: 

• aristocracy

• democracy

• autocracy

• bureaucracy

• adhocracy

• gerontocracy

• meritocracy

In Part 2 of -cracy, we explore some more systems of governance and the words to describe them.

Core words we will discuss in this lesson: 

• neocracy

• plutocracy

• technocracy

• theocracy

• mesocracy

• isocracy

"dict" means to tell or to say. You might recognise this from words such as 'dictate' and 'dictionary';

In this lesson, however, we will explore words that explore the context of 'telling people what to' or to 'exert influence' through the root 'dict'.

Core words we will discuss in this lesson: 

• dictate

• dictator

• contradict

• diction

• benediction

• malediction

• edict

• verdict

'dox' or 'dog' means opinions or beliefs.

In this lesson, we will learn how the root 'dox' interacts with other roots to create words describing opinions and believes and also understand what these words mean in context.

Core words we will discuss in this lesson: 

• dogma

• orthodox

• paradox

• heterodox

• unorthodox

• indoctrinate

In this lesson, we discuss the the roots 'andro' and 'gyn' which mean male and female.

Core words we will discuss in this lesson: 

• androcracy

• android

• androphobia

• misandrist

• androcentric

• androgynous

• misogynist

• gynaecologist

anthrop-, meaning society and humanity, comes from the Greek root anthrōpos "man; human being".

Core words we will discuss in this lesson: 

• anthropology

• anthropogenic

• anthropocentric

• anthropophobia

• misanthrope

• philanthrope

• anthropomorphism

• anthropolatry

Pater and mater mean father and mother respectively. There are records of similar words used to describe the same concept in various cultures; why this is so, is not really known!

In this lesson we discuss the root 'mater' or 'matri' meaning mother.

Core words we will discuss in this lesson: 

• matron

• maternal

• alma mater

• maternity

• matrilineal

• matricide

In this lesson, we explore words that relate to brother (fratri), sister (sorori) and wife (uxor).

Core words we will discuss in this lesson: 

• fraternity

• fraternal

• fratricide

• friar

• fraternise

• sorority

• sororicidal

• surrogate

• sororal

• uxorious

• uxoricide

• uxorial

The polar opposite of 'love', "miso-" means to hate.

Core words we will discuss in this lesson: 

• misanthrope

• misandrist

• misogynist

• misoneism

• misology

• misotheism

In this lesson, we explore the root 'mort' meaning death! 

Core words we will discuss in this lesson: 

• mortal

• mortuary

• morbid

• mordant

• mortify

• immortal

• amortize

• mordacious

• moribund

• post-mortem

The root 'nox' relates to being harmful or causing harm; in this lesson we discuss words that relate to things that are harmful and those that aren't! 

Core words we will discuss in this lesson: 

• noxious

• innocuous

• innocent

• obnoxious

• pernicious

• nocuous

The root '-ten' is quite versatile; it means 'to stretch' or make 'thin'. In this lesson, we look at this root used in different contexts.

Core words we will discuss in this lesson: 

• tenuous

• attenuate

• extenuate

• intone

• baritone

• neoteny

• tenacious

• tensile

• tenor

• tenure

The root 'gen' as in gene and generate, means 'birth' or 'origin'; in this lesson we discuss words that share this root.

Core words we will discuss in this lesson: 

• genesis

• genome

• genealogy

• progeny

• homogenous

• heterogenous

• indigenous

• genre

• engender

• genocide

The root 'sang' means to blood. While some of the words that use this root speak of blood in the literal sense, some take on a more figurative interpretation of the root. Fun fact, sangria, the drink, is called that because it looks like blood! 

Core words we will discuss in this lesson: 

• consanguine

• exsanguinate

• sang-froid

• sanguine

• sanguineous

• sanguinary

We've already discussed matricide, patricide, fratricide, sororicidal and uxoricide. Adding to that list are the following words with the root 'cide' to kill! 

• insecticide

• germicide

• tyrannicide

• homicide

• filicide

• parricide

• regicide

• senicide

The root 'bene' means good or well - in this lesson we discuss ideas that carry this root (and the words that convey them).

Core words we will discuss in this lesson: 

• benediction

• beneficent

• benefactor

• beneficiary

• benevolent

• benign

The root 'mal' is the polar opposite of 'bene' and means 'bad or ill'. Let's look at words that share this root.

Core words we will discuss in this lesson: 

• malignant

• malevolent

• malefactor

• maleficent

• maladroit

• malediction

• malodorous

• malign

• malicious

• malady

The root 'phil', in most cases, means to 'love' something.

Core words we will discuss in this lesson: 

• philanthrope

• philander

• philology

• philomath

• philharmonic

• phillumenist

• philosophy

• philophobia

The root 'equa' means equal; let's explore words that contain the meaning of being equal and unequal.

Core words we will discuss in this lesson: 

• equanimous

• equitable

• inequity

• equipoise

• equivocate

• equinox

The root 'ambi' means both; let's explore words that convey the meaning of 'both'.

Core words we will discuss in this lesson: 

• ambiguous

• ambivalent

• ambidextrous

• ambivert

• ambience

• amphibian

The root 'vert' as in invert and ambivert, means to 'turn'.  In this lesson, we shall explore words with this root in different contexts and usages.

Core words we will discuss in this lesson: 

• introvert

• extrovert

• convert

• controvertible

• incontrovertible

• contravene

• avert

• revert

The root 'tract' as in attract, means 'to move'. While it takes on a literal meaning with some words, the root can also take on a more figurative meaning with many. Let's explore this root in action with the words in this lesson! 

Core words we will discuss in this lesson:

• tractable

• intractable

• traction

• contract

• retract

• protract

• detract

• detractor

The root 'gnos' or 'cogn' means to 'know'. As in the words knowledge, known and unknown. In part 1 of this lesson we discuss some words that share this root.

Core words we will discuss in this lesson:

• knowledge

• agnostic

• cognition

• cognizance

• incognizant

• connoisseur

• diagnose

In part 2 of the lesson -  'gnos' or 'cogn' we discuss some more words that share this root.

Core words we will discuss in this lesson:

• prognosis

• gnosis

• ignoble

• ignorant

• incognito

• reconnaissance

• cognoscente

The root 'sacra' as in sacred, means 'holy'. In this lesson, we will explore this root in action in a variety of words in different contexts! 

Core words we will discuss in this lesson:

• sacred

• consecrate

• execrate

• sacrament

• sacrilege

• sacrosanct

'Placa' from the latin 'placere' means to please or be pleasing. Let's discuss words that are about appeasing and being pleasing.

Core words we will discuss in this lesson:

• placate

• placable

• implacable

• complacent

• placid

• placebo

From etymonline.com:  "disposed to live in flocks" (of animals), from Latin gregarius "pertaining to a flock; of the herd, of the common sort, common," from grex (genitive gregis) "flock, herd," from PIE *gre-g-, reduplicated form of root *ger- "to gather." Of persons, "sociable," first recorded 1789.

Long story short, 'greg' as a root conveys the meaning of 'flocking together' as a group of things or a group of people.

Core words we will discuss in this lesson:

• aggregate

• segregate

• gregarious

• congregate

• agoraphobia

• egregious

From telepathy to apathy, we use a lot of words these days to express emotions and feelings. In this lesson we discuss the root 'pathy' meaning feelings.

Core words we will discuss in this lesson:

• telepathy

• empathy

• sympathy

• apathy

• antipathy

• empath
  

There are many fears that plague the world.
In this lesson we explore some irrational fears and the words that describe them! 

• phobia

• acrophobia

• anthropophobia

• androphobia

• gynophobia

  and more...

In this lesson we discuss words that relate to craze or an obsession about things! 

Words discussed in this lesson include: 

• maniac

• bibliomania

• pyromaniac

• anglomania

• kleptomania

• megalomania

• arithmomania

• egomania

• plutomania

• oligomania

• logomania

• technomania