Latin / Greek roots

This page is designed to help you stay up to date on the Greek and Latin roots that are on your Pumping Iron activities.
OriginRootMeaningExamples
LatinPedfoot or feetCentipede, quadruped, biped, pedestrian, expedition, pedal, pedestal, pedicure
LatinSectto cutbisect, trisect, dissect, insect, insecticide, insectivore, intersection, sectional, C-section
LatinTest / Testione who stands by, a witnessattest, contest, contestant, detest, intestate, protest, protestant, testify, testimony, testament
GreekPressto bear down on or againstoppress, depresssion, impress, compress, pressure, repress, express
GreekNymnamesynonym, antonym, pseudonym, anonymous, acronym, hydronym, mononym, homonym
LatinCur /Currto run or runningconcur, reoccur, occur, current, currency, curriculum, cursive
LatinLiberto freeliberate, liberator, liberation, liberal, liberally, liberty, libertine, libertarian
LatinVis/vidto seevisit, visible, invisible, vision, vista, video, supervisor, revise
LatinVerbwordverbal, verbalize, nonverbal, proverb, verbatim, verbose, adverbs, verbophobia
LatinNumerto count, reckon, or numberalphanumeric, numeral, numerator, numerous, numerophobia, numerology, innumerable, enumerate
GreekSignsign, token, or mark signature, signal, significant, designate, assignment, signify, design, insignia
GreekThermheatthermometer, thermostat, geothermal. thermos, thermal, thermography, hypothermia, hyperthermia
LatinCideto killinsecticide, homicide, matricide, patricide, regicide, herbicide, suicide, genocide, pesticide, infanticide
LatinFlex of flectto bend, curve, or turnflexible, reflex, genuflect, reflect, reflections, inflection, reflector, reflexive, deflect, flexatarian
LatinMort, mori, mordeathmortal, mortician, mortify, mortuary,post mortem, morgue, immortal, immortality mortgage
LatinVert, versto bend or turnconversation, revert, diverse, divert, extrovert, introvert, invert, universe, versatile, anniversary
GreekGraphto write, draw, scratch, recordautograph, biography, autobiography, graphite, bibliography, calligraphy, choreographer, cryptography, graphic, oceanography
LatinPortto carry or bringport, portable, export, import, passport, export, airport, transport, support, report
LatinSpirbreath or to breatherespirator, expire, respiration,conspire, inspire, transpire, conspiracy, respiratory, expiration, aspire
LatinSpecto watch, look, or seespectators, spectacles, spectacular, inspector, respect, circumspect, prospector, perspective, expect, suspect
LatinScrib, scriptto write or recorddescribe, prescription, scribe, scribble, inscribe, description, subscription, post script, transcribe, scripture
LatinDicttp speak, say, or telldictionary, predict, contradict, dictate, diction, dictator, verdict, benediction, valedictorian
LatinTractto pull, draw together, or dragtractor, extract, attract, contract, retract, distract, subtract, protractor, contraction, retractible
LatinFerto bear, carry, produce, or bringferry, fertile, transfer, conifer, infer, refer, reference, defer, different, circumference, referee, suffer
LatinMit, missto send, let goadmit, committee, intermission, mission, permission, admission, missile, missionary, transmit, dismiss
GreekMeterto measurethermometer, pedometer, speedometer, perimeter, barometer, audiometer, altimeter, diameter, magnetometer