Table of Contents
Start of Chapter : Increase your vocabulary
Previous : Learn common prefixes and suffixes
Understand the history of words
Many of the words in the English language come from Latin, a language that's thousands of years old. Latin heavily influences the prefixes and suffixes table above. Here are some more examples of words with Latin roots:
| Latin Word |
Meaning |
Examples |
| avis |
bird |
aviary, aviator, aviation |
| cumulare |
to build up |
accumulate, cumulative |
| dens, dentis |
tooth |
denture, dentist |
| flare, flatus |
blow |
deflate, inflate |
| gerere, gestum |
to carry, to bear |
digest, gesture, gestation |
| judex, judicare |
judge |
judge, judicious, prejudice |
| ocare, locus |
to place, place |
allocate, dislocate, local |
| putare |
to think, estimate |
computer, reputation |
| vita |
life |
vitamin, vitality, vital |
Good dictionaries often have information on the origins of each word you look up. Study them and you'll remember the word for longer. You might like to write the history into your word journal as well.
Next : More tips for improving vocabulary
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