Word Sums

Learning about the building blocks of words can help you make sense of unfamiliar words.

abil

handy

-able

handy, capable of

abol

destroy, get rid of

abs-

away, from

ab-

away, from

acerb

bitter, sharp, tart

-acious

inclined to, abounding in

-acity

characteristics of

acr

sharp, keen, fierce

act

drive, do

-acy

state of being something

ac

sharp, keen, point

ac-

to, towards

add

attach to, add, give to

-ade

thing or person made by a certain process

-ado

possessing a quality

ad-

to, towards

aesthet

feel, perceive

affect

influenced, strongly moved

af-

to, towards

-age

to do something

-age

state

agog

leading, drawing forth

agon

struggle, contest, conflict

agr

field, country

ag

do, act, drive

ag-

to, towards

alg

pain

all-

other, different

alter

another

alt

high

-al

action, process

al

cause to grow, feed

-al

of or relating to

al-

to, towards

ambi-

both

ambul

walk, go around

amb-

both, around

ami

friend

ampl

large

am

love

ana-

back

-ance

state or condition

-ancy

state

-and

to be ...ed

-ane

of or pertaining to

ang

distress

anim

mind, spirit

ann

year

ante-

before

anthrop

human

antiqu

old

anti-

opposite, against

-ant

being in a state or condition

ant-

opposite, against

anxi

worried

an-

not, without

-an

relating to

an-

to, towards

apo-

away, from

apt

suitable, fit

ap-

to, towards

arbitr

think, judge

arbor

tree

arch

ancient

arch-

chief, principal

arch

rule

arc

chest, coffer

ard

burn, be on fire

-arian

pertaining to

articul

to divide into small joints; speak clearly

art

skill, craft

-ary

person or thing belonging to

-ary

of or relating to

-ar

pertaining to

ar-

to, towards

asper

rough, harsh, roused to anger

aster

star

as-

to, towards

-ate

possessing a certain quality

-ate

to make have a certain quality

-ation

act of doing something

-ation

state or quality of

-atory

of or belonging to

at-

to, towards

aud

hear, listen to

augur

diviner, seer

auth

author

auto-

self, same

au

bird

av

desire, be eager

a-

away, from

a-

not, without

-a

forms a noun

a-

to, towards, at

barr

barrier

bar

barrier

bas

low, short

bas

step

bat

beat, pound

bell

war, fighting

bene-

well

be-

thoroughly

be-

to treat in a certain way

bio

life

bi-

twice

bol

throw

bon

good

brev

short

burs

purse

but

strike, push

cad

fall

cal

beauty

cal

warm, be hot

cand

be of brilliant whiteness

canon

rule, straight rod, standard

cant

sing

can

dog

capit

head

capt

taken, seized

cap

take, seize

carn

meat

car

wagon, cart

cas

fall

cata-

thoroughly

caud

tail

caust

burnt, red hot

caut

beware of

caval

horse

cav

hollow

ced

go, move

ced

yield

ceed

go, move

ceiv

take

celer

swift, speedy

cel

hide

cens

assessed, judged, rated

centr

center

cent

hundred

cent

sing

cept

taken, seized

cern

sift, perceive, decide

cert

compete, strive, contend

cert

sure

cess

go

chart

sheet of paper

chast

pure, without stain

chas

take, seize

chiev

head

chol

bile, gall

chrom

color

chron

time

-cide

killing

cid

fall

ciph

zero

cip

take

circum-

around, about

circ

ring

cis

cut

cit

moved, stirred up

civ

citizen

clair

clear, bright

clam

shout

clar

clear, bright

clav

key

clemenc

mercy, mildness, calmness

-cle

little

clim

sloping region; zone of the Earth; ladder

clin

lean

cliv

slope, hill

clud

shut, close

clus

shut, closed

coc

cook, ripen

cogn

learn, know

col-

with, together

commod

suitable, convenient

commun

common, public, general

com

celebration, fun

com-

thoroughly

com-

with, together

concil

join, win over

cond

hide, put away

congru

come together, agree

conn

learn, know

contra-

opposite, against

con-

thoroughly

con-

with, together

cord

heart

cori

leather

corn

horn, point

corp

body

cor-

thoroughly

cosm

universe

counter-

opposite

coup

buffet, cuff, blow

cover

cover

co-

with, together

crat

rule

cred

believe, trust

crep

burst, crack

cresc

grow, arise, increase

cret

grow

cret

separate

cret

sift, discern, separate

crimin

judgment

crit

judge

croc

hook

cruc

cross

crypt

hidden

cry

shout out in complaint

culp

fault, blame, guilt

cult

grow

cumb

lie down

cum

heap, pile

cup

take, seize

curr

run

curs

ran, hurried

cur

worry, anxiety, attention

cuss

strike

custom

become used to

cus

reason

cycl

circle, wheel

cyn

dog

dat

give

deb

owe, ought

decim

tenth

decor

suitable, graceful, proper

del

destroy, wipe out

demn

loss, penalty, injury

demon

spirit, divine power

dem

people

dens

thick

deris

mocked, made fun of

dextr

right

de

god

de-

off, from

de-

thoroughly

dia-

through, across

dict

say

dic

say

didact

apt at teaching

dif-

apart, not, away from

dign

worthy, deserving

dis-

apart, not

dit

give

divid

separate into parts

divis

separated into parts, divided

di-

apart, not

di

day

di-

thoroughly

di-

two

doc

teach

dol

feel pain, grieve, suffer

domin

master

dom

house

-dom

state of being something

don

gift

dors

back

dot

give

dox

opinion

dracon

dragon, snake, serpent

dramat

play

dress

arrange

dubi

doubt

duct

led

duc

lead

dur

hard, harsh

du-

two

dyn

power

ec

house

ec-

out of, from

-ed

having a particular state

ed

temple, house

-eer

do

effic

bring about, accomplish

ef-

out of, from

ef-

thoroughly

egor

assembly

ego

I

eg

lead

element

beginning

empt

buy

em-

in, on

-ence

state or condition

-ency

state of being something

-endo

doing something

-end

that which is to be ...ed

enn

year

-ent

being in a state or condition

en-

in, on

-en

made of, pertaining

-eous

resembling

epi-

upon, over

ep-

around, near

equi-

equal

equ

equal

erg

work

err

wander, make a mistake

-ery

act or practice

-er

to do something

-escent

becoming; beginning to be

-esce

to do something

ess

be

estim

fix the value of

est

be

es

eat

-ette

lessening

-et

little, diminutive

-eur

one who

-eur

state or quality

eu-

well

ev

time

exempl

example

exig

enforce, demand

exo-

outside

expect

wait for

exper

try, test

extra-

outside

extrem

end, edge

ex-

out of, from

ex-

thoroughly

e-

out of, from

e-

thoroughly

e

used for spelling and pronunciation

fab

talk

facil

easy, easily accomplished

fact

made, done

fac

face, surface

fall

trick, deceive, be in error

famil

household, familiar group

fam

reputation

fan

temple

fatig

weary, tire

fatu

foolish, silly, stupid

fat

speak, talk, say

fav

like, support

feas

make, do

feat

made

febr

fever

fect

make

feit

made, done

felic

happy, lucky

fend

ward off

ferv

boil, be hot

fer

carry, bring, bear

fer

wild

fest

feast, holidays

fet

pregnancy

fict

pretend, invent

fic

make, do

fid

trust, faith

figur

form, shape

fig

shape

fili

daughter, son

fin

end, form a boundary

firm

stable

fiss

split

fit

make, do

fix

fastened, nailed, secured

flagr

burn

flam

flame

flat

blow

flect

bent

flict

struck, struck down

flor

flower

flu

flow, stream, glide

foc

hearth, fireplace

foli

leaf

form

shape

fortun

luck, chance

fort

strong, vigorous, powerful

for

outside

found

pour, pour out, spread out

fract

broken, crushed

frag

break, crush

frequent

repeated, constant

front

forehead, foremost part

fruit

fruit, enjoyment

fug

flee

fulg

shine, flash

-ful

full of, resembling

funct

perform, complete

fund

bottom, depths, basis

fur

rage, be mad

fus

pour

fut

check, restrain

-fy

make, do

geist

spirit

gel

freeze

geni

innate quality, inborn talent

gent

family

gen

born, produced

gen

kind, type, class

germ

bud, embryo

ger

bear, bring, carry

gest

bear carry

ge

earth

gigant

giant

glomerat

gathered into a ball-shaped mass

glori

praise

gloss

tongue, language

glut

swallow, gulp down

gnost

know

gorg

throat

grad

step

gram

line, stroke of a pen, letter

grand

great, lofty, powerful

gran

grain

graph

write

grat

pleasing, welcome

grav

heavy, serious, burdened

greg

flock

gress

step

gubern

steer a ship

gyn

woman

hab

have

herit

successor

her

stick, cling, hold fast

hes

stick

hetero-

other

hibit

hold

hier

holy

hilar

cheerful, merry

hind

back

hod

road, way

homo-

same

hom

human being, man

hort

urge, encourage

hor-

boundary

hor

tremble, dread, shudder

hospit

host, guest

human

of mankind

hum

ground

hyper-

over, above

hypo-

under, below

-iac

of or connected with

-ian

characteristic of

-ia

belonging to

-ia

place

-ible

handy, capable of

-ice

act of

-ice

period

icon

image, statue

-ic

like,of

-ic

one relating to

idio-

own, personal, private

idol

image, likeness, shape

-id

of or relating to

id

same

-ier

that which does something

-ify

make

ign

produce, bring forth

ig

do, act

ig-

not

-ile

tending to do or be something

il-

in, on

il-

not

imag

likeness, idea

imit

copy, resemble

imper

command, provide leadership

impet

impulse, attack

im-

in, on

im-

not

indic

one who shows, forefinger

-ine

of or relating to

ingenu

honest

-ing

a or of a continuous action

insul

island

integr

whole, entire

intellig

understand

inter-

between, within, among

intro-

within

invid

be envious of

in-

against

in-

in, on, into

in-

not

-ion

act, state

-ior

more

-ious

of the nature of

ir

become angry

ir-

not

-ise

to make have a certain quality

-ish

to do something

-ish

of

-ish

verging upon, somewhat

-ism

action or process of doing something

-ism

set of beliefs

-ism

condition

-ism

distinctive trait of language

-ism

name of a certain system

-istic

characterized by

-ist

one who performs an action; believer

-is

forms a noun

-ite

to do something

-ite

of the nature of

itiner

journey

-itious

of the nature of

-itude

state or quality of

-ity

state or quality

it

go

-ive

of or that which does something

-ize

make or treat in a certain way

-i-

connective

i

go

ject

thrown

jet

throw, cast

joc

joke

join

join, attach, form a link

journ

pertaining to the day, daily

judic

judge

jug

yoke

junct

joined, attached

jur

swear, take an oath, law

juven

young, young man

juxta-

next to, beside

kine

moving

labor

work

langu

be sluggish, wilt, lack vigor

later

side

lat

carry

lat

wide

laud

praise

lav

wash

lax

loosen, take one's ease

lect

gathered, chosen

lect

speak, read

leg

bind, choose

leg

gather, read

law

law

-less

lacking

letter

letter of the alphabet; document

lev

light, of little weight

lex

of words

liber

free

lict

left behind, abandoned

lic

it is permitted, one may

lid

strike, harm

lieu

place

lig

tie, bind

limin

doorway, threshold

limit

boundary

-ling

small

lin

line, string, thread

lion

lion

lips

leave

liqu

flow, be liquid

liter

letter of the alphabet

lith

stone

lit

lawsuit

li

tie, bind, link

locut

having spoken

loc

place

-logy

study, science, theory

log

word, study, reason

long

long

loqu

talk, speak

loy

tie, bind, link

luct

struggle, fight against

luc

light, brightness, clarity

lud

play, trick

lumin

light, glow

lustr

illumine, brighten

lus

play, trick

lut

wash

luv

wash, bathe

luxur

excess

-ly

in a particular way or manner

ly

untie

machin

plan, trick, artifice

maci

thin

macro-

large, long

magist

ruler, leader

magn

large, great

major

greater, larger

mal

bad, evil

mand

order

mania

madness, frenzy

mant

cloak

man

hand

man

stay, remain

mass

lump

math

learn, understand

matr

mother

matur

make ripe

maxim

largest

medi

middle, in the middle, in half

medl

blend, mingle, mix

mega-

great, large

melior

better

mel

blend, mingle, mix

mel

song

memor

remembering

mend

fault, defect, lying

mens

act of measuring

ment

mind

-ment

quality, condition

men

threat

merc

trade

merg

plunge

merit

earned, gained, deserved

mers

plunge

meta-

beyond, change

metr

measure

metr

mother

me

pass, proceed

micro-

small

migr

move

mill-

one thousand

mim

imitator, mimic

ministr

serve

min

lean forward, threaten

min

lessen, make smaller

misc

mix

miser

wretched

miss

sent

mis-

hatred

mis

send

mis-

wrong, wrongly

mit

send

mnes

remember

mobil

active, quick

mod

measure, method, manner

moll

soft

mol

grind in a mill

moment

movement

-monious

of or resembling

mono-

one, single

monstrat

showed, pointed out

mon

warn, advise, remind

morph

shape, form

mors

bite

mort

death

mor

custom, habit, manner

mor

die, decay, death

mot

move

mount

mountain

mov

move

multi-

many

mun

gift, public service

mur

delay, stay behind

mur

wall

mut

change, alter

narc

numbness, deadness

narrat

tell

nasc

be born

nat

born

nect

tie, bind

neg

deny, say not

neo-

new

nerv

vigor, determination

-ness

state, quality, condition

neur

nerve

nex

tied, bound

nic

harm, injure

nihil

nothing

nobl

well known, famous

noc

harm

nom

law, custom

nom

name

non-

not

norm

carpenter's square, pattern

not

gotten to know, found out

not

mark, sign

nounc

messenger, message, report

nov

new

null

none

numer

number

nunc

messenger, report

nutr

nourish

obliv

forget

ob-

against, in the way

ob-

thoroughly

ob-

to, toward

oc

eye

oc-

thoroughly

od

song

offic

duty

oint

smear with oil

ol

smell

omin

sign, omen

omni-

all

oner

burden, load

onym

name

-on

forms a noun

oper

work

opin

think, suppose

opt

wish, choose

op

eye

op-

to, towards, against

op

wealth, abundance

oram

sight, view

orb

circle

ord

order, row, series

organ

furnished with organs

orn

decorate

ortho-

right

-ory

place

-ory

of or relating to

-or

one who does something

or

rise, begin

or

speak

-or

state

-ose

full of, having

-osis

state; process; condition

-os

forms a noun

oti

leisure

-ous

full of, having

-ous

possessing the nature of

overt

opened

over-

over, above

oxy

sharp, keen

-o-

connective

pact

fasten, drive in

pac

peace

pall

be pale

palp

stroke, caress, touch

pan-

all

pan

bread

para-

beside, alongside

parl

talk, speak

part

part

par

come to sight

par

equal

par

make, prepare

pass

step, pace

pass

suffer, endure

past

dough, paste

past

feed

path

feeling, disease

patr

father

pecc

stumble, sin

pecuni

money

ped

child

ped

foot

pel

push

pend

hang, weigh

pens

hang, weigh

pen-

almost, nearly

pen

penalty

peri-

around, near, about

person

character

per-

thoroughly

per-

through

pet

seek, attack, go for

phan

cause to appear, show

phas

show

phem

saying, speech

phil

love

phon

voice, sound

phor

a carrying

phras

explain

phyt

plant

pict

paint, portray

pil

pile, pillar

pin

feather

piqu

pierce, prick

pir

attempt, attack

pith

pit, kernel

pit

pity, right conduct

pi

cleanse, make honest

plac

please, suit, be acceptable

plaint

mourn for, beat

plais

please

plant

plant, sprout

plas

form, mold

plat

flat, broad

plaud

applaud, clap

plaus

applaud, strike

plen

full

plet

fill

plex

weave

ple

fill

plic

fold

pli

fold, bend

plor

weep over

ploy

fold

plumb

lead

plus

more

pod

foot

point

point

polit

citizen

poly-

many

pol

axis

pol

smooth, refine, polish

ponder

weigh, consider

pon

put, place

portion

part, share, division

port

carry

port

harbor, port

por

passage

posit

placed, put

possess

have or take control of

postulat

demand

post-

after

pos

pause, temporary halt

pos

put, place

potent

capable, powerful

pot

drink

pound

specify, place

pover

poor

pract

do

preci

worth, price

prec

having prayed or entreated

pred

plunder

pregn

seize hold of

prehend

seize

prehens

seized hold of

press

press

pre-

before, in front

prim

first

prim

press

princip

chief

prior

previous, in front

pris

seize hold of

priv

without, individual

proach

near

prob

prove, test, approve

prol

offspring

prompt

ready

propiti

pleasingly inclined

prop

proper, fitting, one's own

prot-

first

proxim

next, nearest

pro-

before

pro-

forward

prud

foresee

pseud-

false

publ

people

pud

be ashamed

pugn

fight

puls

pushed

punct

pointed, stabbed, pierced

pung

point, pierce, prick

pun

punish

purg

make clean

pur-

thoroughly

putr

rotten, stinking, decaying

put

think, consider

quaint

know, learn

qual

of what kind?

quant

how much

quer

complain, protest

quest

ask, seek

quiesc

rest

quiet

rested, stilled, calmed

quir

seek, strive for

quisit

seek, ask

quit

rest, be still, stay calm

qu

who, what, which

radic

root

rad

ray

ranc

be rotten, stink

rap

snatch, grab, seize

rar

loose-knit, spaced thinly

ras

scrape, scratch

rat

think

rav

snatch, grab, seize

rect

ruled, guided, put right

red-

back, again

reg

rule, guide, direct

remedi

cure

rest

stay put, stand still

retro-

backward

re-

back, again

re

thing

re-

thoroughly

rid

laugh at

rig

stiffness

-rium

place for; thing used for

riv

stream

robor

oak, strength

rod

chew, eat away

rog

ask, request

ros

chew, eat away

rotund

round

rub

red

rud

unskilled, untaught

rupt

burst

rus

reject

-ry

act or practice

sacchar

sugar

sacr

sacred, holy

sag

perceive keenly

sal

health, safety

sal

leap, spring forward, jump

sanct

holy

sanguin

blood

sap

in good taste, wise

sat

enough

sav

in good taste, wise

scend

climb, mount

scen

stage

schem

form, shape, manner

sch

split, division

sci

know

scop

see

scrib

write

script

written

scrut

probe, examine

search

ring, circle

secr

sacred, holy

sect

cut

secut

follow

sed

sit, settle, rest

seem

fitting

sembl

copy

semin

seed

sem

sign

sens

felt, sensed, perceived

sent

be

sent

feel, sense, perceive

sen

old man, elder, old

sequ

follow

seren

clear, untroubled

sert

join

serv

keep, guard, save

serv

wait on, serve

sever

strict, grave

se-

apart

sibil

hiss, whistle

sider

star

sid

sit

sign

mark, seal, sign

simil

like

simul

pretend, copy, imitate

sim

once

sin

curve, fold, hollow

sist

stand

situ

positioned

skept

examine, consider

solut

loosened

solv

loosen

sol

alone

sol

comfort

sol

be in the habit of

sol

sun

sol

whole, firm

somat

body

-some

having a certain quality

somn

sleep

son

sound

soph

wise, clever

sorb

soak up

sort

lot

sourc

rise

spat

distance, area

spect

see, observe, look, watch over

spec

kind, form

spec

see, look at, observe

spers

scatter, besprinkle

sper

hope

spic

see, observe, look, watch over

spir

breathe

spit

see, observe, look, watch over

splend

bright, shining

spond

pledge, promise

spor

seed, a sowing, a scattering

spous

pledged, promised

stant

stand, stand still

stas

standing, standing still

stat

stands

stereo-

solid

stig

mark, brand, tattoo-mark

still

drop

stitut

set up, decided

stor

renew

strat

covering, spread

strict

drawn tight, confined

string

draw tight, tighten, confine

struct

built

stru

build, construct

stup

become dazed, be amazed

suad

make sweet, urge

suav

sweet

sublim

uplifted

sub-

under, from below

suc-

under

suf-

under, from below

sull

soil

sult

leap, spring forward, jump

summ

highest, topmost

sumpt

taken up, put on

sum

take up, put on

super-

over, above

sup-

under

surg

rise

surrect

rise

sur-

over, above

sur-

under

sus-

under

su

follow

sym-

with, together

syn-

with, together

tabl

board, plank

tact

touched

tac

silent, quiet

tail

a cutting

taint

stained, dyed

tain

have, hold

tang

touch, affect

taph

tomb

tax

arrange, put in order

techn

skill, art, craft

tedi

weariness

teg

cover, shield, protect

temper

regulate, modify

tempt

try

temp

time

tend

stretch

tens

stretch, stretch out

tent

stretched, stretched out

tenu

thin

ten

hold

termin

boundary, end, limit

terr

earth, land

terr

frighten

test

witness, proof, indicator

text

weave

them

proposition, idea put forth

therm

heat

thes

put, place

the

god

-tic

relating to a process or state

tim

fear, be afraid

tinct

prick, quench

ting

touch, reach, affect

tin

hold

titul

label, title, description

tol

raise, endure

tom

cut

ton

sound

top

place

torp

be stiff, be numb

torr

burn

tort

twisted, wound, wrapped

tot

whole, entire

tour

circle

toxic

poison

tract

drag, pull

trans-

across, through

treat

drawn

trem

shake, tremble

trepid

alarmed, fearful

tribut

divided, granted, given credit

tric

entangle, make difficulties

trit

rubbed, worn away

tri-

three

troph

nourishment, food

trop

turn, change

trud

thrust, push

trunc

trunk, removed by chopping

trus

thrusted, pushed

tum

swell,disturbance, uproar

turb

confusion, turmoil, disorder

turg

be swollen

tus

beat, blunt, deaden the senses

tut

protect, catch sight of

typ

blow, impression, form

-ty

state; quality

-uble

handy, capable of

-ulent

rich in, full of

ult

beyond

-ul-

little

-ul-

repeated activity

umbr

shadow, shade

-um

forms a noun

und

wave

uni-

one

un-

not, opposite of

-uous

of the nature of

urb

of a city

-ure

shows actions or results

-urnal

active during a given period

-us

forms a noun

us

use

util

useful, practical

vac

be empty

vad

go

vag

wander, roam, rove

val

be strong, be of value

vant

from before

van

empty, illusory

vap

steam, spoiled, flat

vari

different, diverse

var

bent

vast

huge

vas

go, proceed, advance

vect

carried

veh

carry, bring

vel

curtain

vener

worship, revere, honor

veng

get even, revenge

vent

come

ven

come

ven

sale

verb

word

verd

green

verg

move

vers

turned

vert

turn

ver

fear

ver

truth

vestig

footprint

vest

clothing, garments

veter

old, long-standing

vex

annoy

vey

see, look at

vibr

shake, quickly move to and fro

vic

instead of, change

vid

see, take care

view

see, perceive

vig

act, be lively

vil

mean, base

vinc

conquer, win

vindic

avenger, defender, revenge

vin

wine

virt

excellence of character

vir

poison

viscer

entrails, internal organs

visc

birdlime

vis

see, look at, observe

vit

flaw, defect

vit

life

viv

live

vi

road, way, journey

vocat

called, called upon

voc

call

void

empty

vok

call, call upon

volat

fly, move swiftly, speed

volum

book

volut

rolled, wrapped up

volv

roll, wrap up, turn round

vol

wish, want

vor

eat

vot

promise, pledge

vouch

call, call upon

vulg

make common, publish

vuls

pluck, tear up

wan

lessen

-ward

towards a place

wast

desolate, laid waste

writ

write

-y

activity

-y

state or condition

zeal

eager rivalry, fierceness

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