Agamemnon's Mask

Greek roots - quiz 1

To Lesson III

 

 

 

Lesson II - Part 3

Types of Greek and Latin Words in English

In last week’s class we learned that Greek and Latin words first started coming into English in large number after the Norman Conquest of 1066.  The Normans spoke a type a old French, which is a Romance language that evolved from Latin.  The Greek words we have came into English through Latin.

There are many roots that have the same meaning, but different forms because they are from either Greek or Latin.  Here are a few.

English

Greek

Latin

away from, not

a- , ab-, abs- = absent, abstain, abnormal

a-, an- = atypical, an

sky

atmo

aero

both

amphi-

ambi-

gold

aur-

chrys-

heart

cardi-

cord-

circle

cycle

circle

two

bi-

di-

teach

dogm-

doct-

out, from

ec-

ex-

woman

gyn-

fem-

water

hydro-

aqua-

with

syn-

con-

book

bibli-

libr-

one, single

mono-

uni-

man

andro, anthro-

masc-

child

ped- paed-

puer-

foot

pod-

ped-

arm, branch

brachio-,

ram-

quick, fast

tachy-

celer-

To Lesson III