bac– {rod, staff}: bacillary, bacillus, bacitracin, baculum, debacle, lactobacillus ●imbecile ●see also bactr– || 
L baculus : rod, staff, walking stick
bacc– {berry}: baccate, bacciferous, bacciform, baccivorous || L bacca, baca : berry
bactr– {rod, staff}: aerobacter, bacteria ●unrelated: Bactrian camel ●see also bac– || Gr baktērion, dim. of baktron : staff
bail– {porter, to carry, to keep in custody, to deliver}: bail (all senses except a hoop or support), bailey, bailie, bailiff, bailiwick || ME & OFr : power, control, custody OFr baillier : to keep in custody, to deliver L bāiulo : to carry a burden bāiulus : porter
bald– {bold, brave}: Archibald, Baldwin, Theobald ●Leopold || OHG bald : bold
ball–1 {ball-shaped object}: balloon, ballot || It. palla : ball Langobardic palla : ball
ball–2 {to dance}: ball, ballad, ballade, ballerina, ballet || Fr bal OFr baller : to dance LL ballare Gr ballein : to throw, with the sense of ballizein : to dance, to jump about
balne– {bath}: balneal, balneation, balneology, balneotherapy ●It. bagno, Sp. baño, Fr. bain || L balneum : bath Gr balaneion : bath †
band– {band}: band, bandage, bandeau, bandwidth, bandy, hatband, headband, passband ●bend (heraldry) || Gothic origin
bank–, banqu– {bench, table, moneylender’s table}: bank (all senses), bankroll, bankrupt, banquet, banquette, cutbank, embankment, mountebank ●bench || ME banke MFr banque OIt banca : orig., table, moneylender’s exchange table OHG bank : bench
banqu– ●see bank–
bar–1 {rod, barrier}: bar, barbell, barrage, barrier, barrister, embargo, embarrass || ML barra : bar, barrier
bar–2 {pressure, weight, heavy}: bar (unit of pressure), bariatrics, baric, baritone, barium, baroceptor, barometer, baroscope, isobar, millibar ●same as bary– || Gr baros : weight barys : heavy
bar–3 {son of [in names of Hebraic origin]}: Barabbas, bar mitzvah, Barnabas, Barnaby, Bartholomew ●compare bat–3 || Yiddish Heb-Aram Aram bar : son of
barb– {beard}: barb, Barbados, Barbarossa, barbate, barbel, barbellate, barber, barbet, barbette, barbul, rebarbative ●see also barbit– || L barba : beard
barbar– {foreign}: Barbara, barbarian, barbaric, barbarous, Barbary ●Berber, rhubarb || L barbarus Gr barbaros : foreign, strange
barbit– {barbituric acid}: amobarbital, barbital, barbiturate, barbituric, phenobarbital, secobarbital ●see also barb– || Ger barbitursäure : barbituric acid ModL Usnea barbata : bearded moss L barba : beard
bark– {boat, ship}: bark, barkentine, debark, embark ●barcarole ●Span. embarcadero || OFr barque OIt barca LL barca : small boat
bary– {heavy}: barycenter, baryon, barysphere, barytes ●same as bar–2 || Gr barys : heavy
bas–1 {foot, basis, low, under}: basal, base (foundation), baseball, baseboard, baseless, basement, basic, basis, basset ●Span. bajo ●same as bas–2, basid– || L basis : pedestal, base, foundation
bas–2 {low, mean}: abase, base (mean), bas-relief, bass (music), basso, debase ●same as bas–1 ●compare alt– || L basis : pedestal, base
bas–3 {to go}: anabas, Anabasis ●same as bat–2 || Gr bainein : to go
basid– {basis}: basidiomycete, basidiospore, basidium ●see also bas–1 || ModL Gr basis : basis + ModL dim. suffix –idium
basil– {king}: Basil, basil, basilica, basilisk || L basilius Gr basileus : king 
L basilicus : kingly; basilica the name of a majestic building in Rome and other towns
bast– {plant fiber, to sew with bast, to make, to construct}: bast, baste (to sew), bastille, bastion ●unrelated: bastard, bastinado || ME OE bæst : bast
bat–1 {to beat}: abate, abatis, abattoir, bat, battalion, bate, batter, battery (all senses), battle, battlement, battue, combat, debate, embattled, rebate || VL battere L battuere : to beat
bat–2 {to walk, to go}: acrobat, adiabatic, anabatic, batophobia, hyperbaton, katabatic, stereobate, stylobate ●same as bas–3 || Gr batos : going bainein : to go, to walk
bat–3 {daughter of [in names of Hebraic origin]}: Bathsheba, bat mitzvah ●compare bar–3 || Heb bat : daughter
bath(y)– {deep}: bathometer, bathos, bathypelagic, bathyscaph, bathysphere, bathythermograph ●see also benth– || Gr bathys : deep bathos : depth IE *gwadh– : to plunge into, to sink
batrach– {frog, toad}: batrachian, batrachophagous, batrachotoxin || Gr batrachos : frog †
bear– {to carry}: bear, bearing, forbear, overbearing || ME beren : OE beran
beat– {blessed}: beatific, beatify, beatitude, Beatrice || L beātus happy, blessed, pp. of beare : to make happy, to bless beātitūdo : happiness, blessedness
beau– {beauty}: beau, beau geste, beau monde, beautician, beautiful, beauty, beaux-arts ●see also bell–1 || Fr beau L bellus : pretty, lovely
bell–1 {beautiful}: Annabelle, belladonna, belle, belles-lettres, Bellevue, Campobello, embellish ●Bel-Air, belvedere ●see also beau– || L bellus : pretty, lovely
bell–2 {war}: antebellum, bellicose, belligerent, casus belli, postbellum, rebellion ●duel, rebel, revel || L bellum : war bellicōsus : warlike, bellicose; belligerare : to wage war
bell–3 {bellows}: bellows, belly || OE belwes (pl. of beli) : bellows OE belg : leather bag, purse, bellows
ben–1 {well}: Benedict, benediction, benefactor, benefic–, benefit, benevolent, benign, benison, Bennett, nota bene (abbr. n.b.) ●Fr. bien ●Span. bueno ●comparative form: melior– ●superlative form: optim– ●see also bon– ●compare mal– ●See also Appendix C || L bene : well, in the right or good way, honorably, properly bonus : good IE *dwenē– : well *deu– : to perform, to show favor *dwenos– : useful, working L bonus : good
ben–2 {son of [in names of Hebraic origin]}: Ben-Gurion, Benjamin, Reuben || Heb ben : son of Semitic Ar bin
benefic– {to do well}: benefic, benefice, beneficence, beneficent, beneficial, beneficiary ●comb. of ben–1 + fic– || L beneficium : kindness, benefit, service benefacere : to do well bene : well + facere : to do, to make
benth– {depth of the sea}: benthic, benthos, epibenthos ●see also bathy– || Gr benthos : depth of the sea
benz– {benzene}: Benzedrine™, benzene, benzine, benzocaine, benzoic, benzoin, benzoyl, benzyl || Fr benjoin It benzoino Ar lubān jāwī : benzoin, incense of Java
ber(n)– {a bear}: Bernard, Bernadette, berserk ●Bjorn || OHG bero : bear & ON bera : bear
bert– {bright}: Adelbert, Albert, Bertha, Bertram, Egbert, Englebert, Gilbert, Herbert, Humbert, Robert, Wilbert || OHG beraht : bright, shining
beth– {house [in names of Hebraic origin]}: Beth, Bethany, Bethel, Bethesda, Bethlehem ●unrelated: Elizabeth || Heb beth, bet : house bet : second letter of the Hebrew alphabet: ב beta, second letter of the Greek alphabet: Β alphabet
bi– {two}: bicameral, bicarbonate, bicentennial, biceps, bicuspid, bicycle, biennial, bifocal, bifurcate, bigamy, bilingual, billion, bimonthly, binomial, bipartisan, biped, bisect, bisexual, bivalve ●same as bin– ●see also bis– || L bi– : two
bib– {to drink}: bib (all senses), bibb, bibcock, bibulous, imbibe, winebibber || L bibere : to drink
bibl– {book}: Bible, biblical, bibliography, bibliophile, bibliopole, bibliotheca || Gr biblion : book biblos : papyrus Byblos (now Dschebēl) in Phoenicia were papyrus was grown
bil– {bile}: bile, bilious, bilirubin, biliverdin, phycobilin || L bilis : bile
bill– {document}: bill (document), billboard, billet (position, lodging), billet-doux, billfold ●see also bol–1, bull–1 || ME bille Anglo-L billa : altered ML bulla : sealed document
bin– {two}: binary, binaural, binocular, combination, combine, recombinant ●combo ●same as bi– ●see also bis– || L bi– : two
bi(o)– {life}: amphibian, anabiosis, antibiotic, biochemistry, biofeedback, biography, biology, biomass, biome, bionic, biopsy, biorhythm, biosphere, biota, halobiont, parabiosis, symbiosis ●same as obe– || Gr bios : life & bion : living
bis– {twice, double}: bis, bis in die (b.i.d.), biscotti, biscuit, bissextile, bistort ●see also bi–, bin– || L bis : double
bitumin– {bitumen}: bituminize, bituminous ●bitumen || L bitumen : bitumen †
blanc–, blank– {white}: blanch, Blanche, blancmange, blank, blanket, carte blanche, Casablanca, Mont Blanc ●Sp. blanco ●It. bianco || OFr blanc Frank blank : white, gleaming
blank– ●see blanc–
blast– {germination, bud, sprout, embryo, growth}: blastema, blastocoele, blastocyst, blastoderm, blastogenesis, blastomycete, blastula, diploblast, mesoblast, trophoblast || Gr blastanein : to bud, to spout blastos : sprout
blem– {to throw}: emblem, problem ●unrelated: blemish ●same as bol–2 || contractions with prefixes Gr ballein : to throw
bol–1 {ball}: bola, bolero ●unrelated: bolus ●same as bill–, bull–1 || Sp. bola : ball L bulla : bubble, round object
bol–2 {to throw}: anabolism, diabolical, discobolus, ecbolic, embolus, embolism, hyperbola, hyperbole, metabolism, parabola, symbol ●ballistic, parable ●unrelated: bolus ●Span. Diablo ●same as blem– ●see also parl– || Gr bolē : a stroke ballein : to throw
bon– {good}: bona fide, bonanza, bon appetit, bon-bon, bonhomie, Bon Homme Richard, bonito, bon mot, bonny, bonus, bon voyage, debonair, pro bono publico, summum bonum ●boon, bountiful, bounty ●Ital. bono ●comparative form: melior– ●superlative form: optim– ●see also ben–1 ●compare mal– ●See also Appendix C || L bonus : good noun bonum : good, profit, advantage; bonitās : goodness, excellence IE *dwenos– : working, useful *deu– : to perform, to show favor *dwenē– : well L bonus : good
borea– {north}: aurora borealis, boreal, Boreas, hyperborean ●compare not–2 || LL Gr borea : north wind Boreas : god of the north wind
bos–, bov– {ox, bull, cow}: Bos (cattle genus), boss (calf, cow), Bossy (pet name for a cow), bovid, bovine, Ovibos ●see also bu– || L bōs (gen. bovis) : ox, bullock, cow
bosc– {to feed}: Proboscidea, proboscis || Gr boskein : to feed, to graze
botan– {a plant}: botanica, botanist, botany, ethnobotany || Gr botanē : a plant boskein : to feed
botry– {a bunch of grapes}: botryoidal, botryomycosis, botrytis || Gr botrys : bunch of grapes
bouill– ●see bull–2
bourg– ●see burg–
bov– ●see bos–
brace– {arm}: brace (all senses), bracelet, bracer, bracero, embrace ●same as brachi–, brass– || OFr bracer : to brace, to embrace L brachia, pl. of brachium : arm Gr brachiōn : arm, upper arm
brachi– {arm}: brachial, brachiate, brachiopod, brachium ●same as brace–, brass– || L brāchium : arm Gr brachiōn : arm, upper arm
brachy– {short}: brachycephalic, brachycranial, brachydactylic, brachylogy, brachypterous, brachyuran ●amphibrach ●compare mec–, dolich– || Gr brachys : short
brady– {slow, tardy}: bradycardia, bradykinin, bradylogia ●compare tach–2 || Gr bradys : slow
branchi– {gills}: abranchiate, branchiae, branchiopod, Elasmobranchii, tetrabranchiate ●see also bronch– || Gr branchia : gills
brand– {sword, flame, to burn, to brand, to mark}: brand (all senses), brandish, brandling, brand-new, brandy, firebrand || ME OE brand, brond : flame, torch, sword
brass– {arm}: brassard, brassiere ●unrelated: brass ●same as brace–, brachi– || Fr bras : arm L brachia, pl. of brachium : arm Gr brachiōn : arm, upper arm
brat– {meat}: bratwurst, sauerbraten || OHG brato : meat
brav– {brave, bold}: bravado, brave, bravery, bravissimo, bravo, bravura || It. bravo : brave, bold; orig. wild, savage L barbarus Gr barbaros : foreign, strange
break– {to break}: break, breakable, breakage, breakaway, breakdown, breaker, break-even, breakfast, breakfront, break-in, breakneck, breakout, breakthrough, breakup, breakwater, outbreak, unbreakable ●brake, breach ●Ger. brechen || ME breken OE brecan
brev– {short}: abbreviate, abbreviation, alla breve, breve, brevet, breviary, brevity ●abridge, brief || L brevis : short (spatial), brief (temporal) brevitās : shortness, brevity
brig– {to fight}: brig, brigade, brigadier, brigand, brigantine || OIt brigare : to contend, to struggle briga : strife, quarrel
broc–, broch– {spike, to have projecting points}: brocade, brocatelle, broccoli, broché, brochette, brochure, brocket ●broach, brooch || ML brocca : a spike, a point L broccus : having projecting teeth
broch– ●see broc–
brom– {stench}: bromic acid, bromide, brominate, bromine, bromism, Bromo Seltzer™ || Gr brōmos : stench
bronch– {bronchus}: bronchial, bronchiole, bronchitis, bronchopneumonia, bronchoscope, bronchospasm, bronchus ●see also branchi– || Gr bronchos : windpipe
bront– {thunder}: Brontes, bronteum, brontology, brontosaur, brontothere || ML Gr brontē : thunder
brut– {heavy, dull, stupid, unreasonable}: brut, brutal, brute, Brutus || L brutus : heavy, dull, without feeling or reason, irrational
bry(o)–1 {moss, lichen}: bryology, bryophyte, bryozoan ●see also bryo–2 || Gr bryon : moss, lichen bryein : to sprout
bry(o)–2 {to swell, to grow}: bryony, embryectomy, embryo, embryogenesis, embryology ●see also bryo–1 || Gr bryein : to swell, to grow
bu– {ox, bull, cow}: Bucephalus, bucolic, buffalo (more at buff–2), bugle, bugloss, bulimia, buprestid, butter ●see also bos– || Gr bous : ox
buff–1 {to strike}: blindman’s buff, buffer (impact absorber, intermediary), buffet (to strike) ●unrelated: buffet (meal serving) || ME OFr dim. of buffe : a blow
buff–2 {buffalo skin}: buff (color), buff (enthusiast), buff (nude), buff (to polish), bufflehead ●unrelated: buffet (meal serving) ●part of bu– || Fr buffle It bufalo LL bufalus, var. of bubalus : wild ox Gr boubalos : buffalo, antelope bous : ox, cow
buff–3 {to blow, a gust}: buffoon, rebuff ●unrelated: buffet (meal serving) || It buffare : a gust, a puff probably echoic
bull–1 {ball, bubble, a round object}: bull (papal document), bulla, bullate, bullet, bulletin ●same as bol–1 ●see also bill–, bull–2 || L bulla : bubble, round object
bull–2, bouill– {to bubble up, to boil}: bouillabaise, bouillon, bullion, bully (canned beef), ebullient ●see also bull–1 || L bullire : to bubble up, to boil
buoy– {to float}: buoy, buoyancy, buoyant || ME †
burg–, bourg– {fortified town, town}: bourg, bourgeois, burg, burgess, burgher, burglar, burgomaster, burgrave, Hamburg, Pittsburgh, Strasbourg ●borough ●see also bury– || Frank burg or OHG burg : town, fortified place
burs– {sack, purse}: bursa, bursar, bursary, burse, bursiform, bursitis, disburse, reimburse ●bourse, purse, purser || ML bursa : purse, bag bursārius : treasurer; Gr bursa : skin, wineskin
bury– {defended or fortified town}: Canterbury, Danbury ●see also burg– || OE Frank burg or OHG burg : town, fortified place
but–1 {to drive, to thrust against}: abut, butt (to strike), butte, button, buttress, rebut ●unrelated: but ●same as fut– || ME butten : to drive, to thrust OFr buter Frank botan : to thrust against
but–2 {end, thick end}: butt (end), butt (object of ridicule), butt joint, buttock, debut, debutante || ME but, butte : butt, thick end †
but–3 {bottle, cask}: butler, butt (cask), scuttlebutt || ME butte OFr botte ML butta LL buttis : cask
butter– {butter}: butter, butterball, buttercup, butterfat, butterfingers, butterfish, butterfly, buttermilk, butternut, butterscotch, butterwort, buttery ●same as butyr– || ME butere L butyrum Gr boutyron bous : ox, cow + tyros : cheese
butyr– {butter}: butyraceous, butyraldehyde, butyrate, butyric, butyrin ●same as butter– || L butyrum Gr boutyron bous : ox, cow + tyros : cheese
* Unattested, hypothesized
† Unknown origin
103 entries found.
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