Morphology Patterns
Understand how English (GB) words are built from prefixes, roots, and suffixes. Learn the meaning of common word parts and expand your vocabulary.
Prefixes
Word parts added before the root
Old English origin, denotes negation.
Old English reflexive pronoun functioning as a prefix.
Latin origin, meaning 'as if, somewhat', adverbial prefix.
Latin origin, intensifier
Greek origin, meaning 'false' or 'not genuine'. Negation.
Germanic origin, intensifying prefix
Greek origin, negation
Latin origin, meaning 'half' or 'partly'. Prefix indicating partiality.
Greek origin, intensifier
Greek origin, meaning 'electricity', combining form.
Showing 12 of 50 patterns
Roots
Core meaning-bearing word parts
Greek origin, meaning 'form', relates to shape or structure.
Latin intellectus, faculty of reasoning
Greek origin, meaning 'light'.
Latin origin, core meaning of understanding
Old English origin, denoting courage or feeling.
Latin origin, to depict.
From Greek 'therapeia' (healing, attendance). Core meaning relating to healing.
Latin origin (*natio*), meaning 'birth, race, people'.
Old English origin, relating to thought.
Latin origin, core meaning of relative size
Greek origin, meaning 'nature, natural science', combining form
Latin origin (*praesentare*), meaning 'to make present'
Showing 12 of 50 patterns
Suffixes
Word parts added after the root
Greek origin, adverbial suffix.
Old English origin, derivational suffix forming a noun of quality.
Germanic origin, progressive/gerundive aspect marker.
Latin origin. Noun-forming suffix denoting an action or process.
English suffix, progressive/gerundive, indicates ongoing action.
Latin origin (*ad-* + *-alis*), forms an adverb.
Greek origin (via French), act of making/becoming
Latin/Old English, capability + state/quality.
Latin origin (*-icalis*), forms an adjective.
From Latin '-icus'. Adjectival suffix.
Past tense marker, Germanic origin.
Showing 12 of 50 patterns