Welcome back, fans of Greek and Latin root words as they pertain to the word origins of English vocabulary! I have been busy working on Greek and Latin root words podcasts, and would like to share with you in subsequent posts each week's discoveries. I am a huge devotee of Greek and Latin etymology, which can do wonders for your working vocabulary. For a complete list of these Latin and Greek roots podcasts, check out the archive.
This past fortnight (fortnight means "fourteen night") I've written the following podcasts and blogs, each of which has a beautiful graphic word tree with it. Check them out!
The English prefix sub-"under, below, at the foot of"
In this podcast and blog (otherwise know as a "rootcast") I focus on the following English vocabulary words that contain the prefix "sub-" and its variant spellings:
*submarine*: vehicle which goes 'under' the sea.
*subway*: 'under'ground transportation
*subpar*: of a performance that is 'under' what it should be
*subscribe*: to 'under'write a magazine
*subterranean*: pertaining to 'under' the ground
*suffix*: morpheme fastened 'under' a word
*sufficient*: a doing 'under'
*suffer*: a carrying 'under'
*succor*: a running 'under'
*suggest*: a carrying 'under'
*support*: a carrying 'under'
*surreal*: 'under' reality
The English prefixes "super" and "sur": "over, above"
*Superman*: man 'over' all others
*superstar*: star 'over' all other sports or music stars
*Super Bowl*: football game 'over' all others
*superintendent*: administrator 'over' an entire school system
*supervisor*: one who watches 'over' others
*surname*: name 'over' all in a family
*surface*: layer lying 'over' something
*surpass*: to pass 'over' others
*survey*: look 'over' something
*surcharge*: charge which is 'over' and 'above' a stated fee
*surround*: a wave 'over' something that engulfs it
*superlative*: of carrying 'over' and 'above'
For an clear podcast that explains what morphology and morphemes are (prefixes, suffixes, roots, stems, etc.), check out this podcast on English morphology
I hope that you have enjoyed this week's podcasts, blogs, and beautiful graphic word trees. I'll have two more for you next week! Stay tuned!
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English Vocabulary via Greek and Latin Root Word Origins
- Magister Brunner
- I have long been fascinated by Greek and Roman mythology, and the Greek and Latin roots of English vocabulary words; their infusion within the English language respectively forms the core of cultural literacy and English vocabulary. Learning a vast array of English vocabulary words can help people write more powerfully, speak clearly and confidently, and read with a much deeper appreciation for great literature, not to mention perform well on college and graduate school entrance examinations, such as the SAT and GRE. Other than intense reading itself, there is no better way of learning and, most importantly, remembering English vocabulary words than by learning Greek and Latin root words. My own love for reading and subsequent keen interest in English vocabulary began with the B.A. (hon) degree in English I received from UW Madison, and continued with the M.A. in English I earned from the University of Virginia; I currently teach Latin and Greek and Roman mythology at Tandem Friends School in Charlottesville, VA, farm organically, am Executive Editor of Membean.com, and practice yoga and dhyana on a daily basis (qigong when clement!).
