ROOT WORDS A root is the basic element of a word. It is the foundation on which the meaning of the word is built. Prefixes and suffixes are added to root words to form new words. Example: The root of the word biography is bio. bio = root word that means life biography = a story of a person’s LIFE When you come across a word for which you do not know the meaning, finding the root of that word can help you figure out the word’s meaning. Example: What does the word thermos mean? The root therm means heat. A thermos is a container that keeps a liquid HEATED and warm. While some roots can be words by themselves, others need to be combined with other word elements in order to form a word. Example: Dict is a root word that needs other word elements to make it a word. dict – is a root that means to speak diction – is a word that refers to the manner of how words are used when SPEAKING © Copyright NewPath Learning. All Rights Reserved. Permission is granted for the purchaser to print copies for non-commercial educational purposes only. Visit us at www.NewPathLearning.com.
A word can also contain MORE than one root. The word carnivore contains TWO roots. carnivore carn – a root word that means meat vor – a root word that means to eat carnivore – one who EATS MEAT A lion is a carnivore. Try This! Write the root word from each of the following words: transfer _________________________________ pedestrian _________________________________ coniferous _________________________________ attract _________________________________ matriarchy _________________________________ luminous _________________________________ © Copyright NewPath Learning. All Rights Reserved. Permission is granted for the purchaser to print copies for non-commercial educational purposes only. Visit us at www.NewPathLearning.com.