gage– {pledge, surety}: dégagé, disengage, engage, engagé, gage (pledge), mortgage || 
ME OFr gage : pledge
gain– {against, opposite}: again, against, gainsay || OE gegn : direct, facing, opposite; akin to Ger gegen : opposite, against
gal– {merriment, to make merry, to rejoice}: gala, gallant, regale || Fr or It : to make merry, to rejoice †
galact–, galaxy– {milk}: galactagogue, galactic, galaxy ●see also lact– || Gr galaktikos : milky gala (gen. galaktos) : milk IE glak– : milk
galaxy– ●see galact–
gall–1 {an ancient type of ship}: galleass, galleon, galley, galliot || ult. Gr galaia : a kind of ship galeos : shark galeē : weasel (referring to its speed)
gall–2 {France}: Gallic, gallium, Gallophile || L Gallus : a Gaul Galli : the Gallic peoples of Gaul
galli– {hen, cock}: Galliformes, gallinaceous, gallinule, gallium || L gallus : cock, rooster 
gallīna : hen
gam– {marriage, union}: allogamy, bigamy, endogamy, exogamy, gamete, gamogenesis, misogamy, monogamous, polygamy || Gr gamos : marriage
gamb– {leg, to leap}: gamb, gambado, gambit, gambol, gambrel || dial. Fr gambe (Fr jambe) ML gamba : leg Gr kampē : a turn, bend
gar–1 {to watch over, to protect}: garment, garnish, garnishee, garniture, garret, garrison ●see also war–, ward– || OFr garnir : to furnish, to protect
gar–2 {spear}: Edgar, garfish, garlic, Gary ●Oscar, gore (to pierce) ●see also ger–2 || OE gar : spear
gar–3 {sharp}: alegar, vinegar, vinegarroon ●see also ac– || OFr aigre : sour L ācris, gen. of ācer : sharp, cutting IE *ak– : sharp
garg– {throat}: gargle, gargoyle ●same as gurg– || OFr gargouille : throat, waterspout echoic base
gastr– {stomach}: gastric, gastritis, gastrointestinal, gastrolith, gastronome, gastronomic, gastropod || Gr gastēr : stomach
gel– {to freeze}: congelation, gel, gelatin, gelid, gelignite, regelation ●congeal, jelly || L gelo : to freeze gelidus : icy cold, freezing
gemin– {twins}: geminate, Gemini, trigeminal || L geminus : twin, double geminare : to double, to repeat
gen–1 {to give birth, to be born}: antigen, carcinogen, congenial, congenital, degenerate, engender, erogenous, Eugene, eugenics, gene, generate, generation, generator, generous, genesis, genetic, genial, –genic, genie, genital, genitive, genius, genuine, hallucinogen, hydrogen, indigenous, ingenious, ingénue, ingenuity, ingenuous, nitrogen, orogeny, oxygen, palingenesis, pathogenic, phosgene, photogenic, primogenitor, primogeniture, progenitor, progeny ●same as gen–2 ●see also germ–, gn– || L gignere ( geno) (pp. genitum) : to beget, to bear, to bring forth genus (gen. generis) : birth, descent, origin, race, family, kind, class • also Gr –genēs : born; genea : race, descent; genos : race, family, kind; all gignesthai : to be born, to become
gen–2 {born into a family, hence: type, family, kind}: gendarme, gender, genealogy, general, generic, genocide, genre, gens, genteel, gentile, gentle, gentleman, genus, heterogeneous, homogeneous, homogenize, homogenous, miscegenation, sui generis ●same as gen–1 ●see also germ–, gn– || L gignere ( geno) (pp. genitum) : to beget, to bear, to bring forth genus (gen. generis) : birth, descent, origin, race, family, kind, class • also Gr –genēs : born; genea : race, descent; genos : race, family, kind; all gignesthai : to be born, to become
gen–3, gint– {times ten}: nonagenarian, octogenarian, quinquegenarian, septuagenarian, Septuagint, sexagenary || L suffix –ginta : times ten n. suffix times-tenth, e.g. seventieth
genu– {knee}: genu, genuflect ●by some accounts, genuine belongs here || L genu : knee
ge(o)– {planet Earth}: apogee, epigeal, geode, geodesic, geodetic, geography, geology, geometry, geophysics, geopolitics, George, Georgia, georgic, geothermal, hypogeal, perigee || Gr geō– gaia : the earth Gaea, Gaia : a goddess, the personification of the earth
ger–1 {to carry}: exaggerate, gerund ●same as gest– || L gerere (pp. gestum) : to carry, to bear
ger–2 {spear}: Gerald, Gerard, Germany, Gertrude, Roger ●see also gar–2 || OHG ger : spear
germ– {germ, bud, sprout, embryo, hence: born, related}: germ, Germain, –german (as in cousin-german), germane, germicide, germinal, germinate ●see also gen–1, gen–2, gn– || L germānus : having the same parents, genuine germen : embryo, bud, sprout
ger(ont)– {old age}: ageratum, geriatric, Geritol™, gerontocracy, gerontology, progeria || Gr gēron (stem geront–) : old man
gest– {to carry}: beau geste, congest, digest, egest, gestation, gesticulate, gesture, ingest, suggest ●register ●same as ger–1 || L gestum, pp. of gerere : to carry, to bear
get– {to take}: beget, forget, get || ME geten ON geta : to get, to beget
ghast– {ghost}: aghast, ghastly ●Ger. Geist || OE gæstan : to frighten gast : ghost; akin to OHG Geist : ghost
giga– {giant, one billion}: giga– (10⁹), gigahertz, gigantesque, gigantic, gigantism, Gigantomachy, gigaton ●giant || Gr gigas (gen. gigantos) : giant L Gigās (gen. Gigantis) : in Greek and Roman mythology, a race of giants, sons of the Earth and Tartarus
gint– ●see gen–3
gir– {to spin}: autogiro, girasol ●same as gyr– || It girare : to turn LL gyrare gyrus : circle Gr gyros : circle
gird–, girt– {to enclose, to encircle}: gird, girder, girdle, girt, girth || ME girden, girten : to enclose, to encircle
girt– ●see gird–
gl– {to shine, to gleam, joyful}: glabrous, glad, glade, glance (ore), glare, glass, glaze, glazier, gleam, glean, glee, glimmer, glimpse, glint, glisten, glitter, gloaming, gloat, gloom, glossy, glow, glum || all ult. IE *ghel– : to shine
glabr– {smooth, bald}: glabrate, glabrous ●glabella (dim. form) || L glaber : bald, smooth
glac– {ice}: glacé, glacial, glaciate, glacier, glaciology, glacis || L glaciēs : ice glaciare : to freeze; glaciālis : icy
gladi– {sword}: gladiate, gladiator, gladiolus || L gladius : sword gladiātor : gladiator
glauc– {to gleam}: glaucoma, glauconite, glaucous || Gr glaukos : bright blue, bluish gray, gleaming
gliss– {to slide, to glide}: glissade, glissando || Fr glisser : to slide, to glide Frank
glob– {sphere}: glob, globe, globetrotter, globular, globule, globulin, hemoglobin || L globus : ball, globe, sphere; akin to glomus : ball, sphere
glomer– {ball}: agglomerate, conglomerate, glomerate, glomerule || L glomus (gen. glomeris) : ball, sphere; akin to globus : ball, sphere
glori– {glory}: inglorious, gloria, Gloria, Gloria in Excelsis Deo, Gloria Patri, glorify, gloriole, glorious; glory || L glōria : fame, renown, glory
gloss– {tongue}: gloss (words), glossa, glossary, glossitis, glossolalia, xenoglossia ●see also glott– || L glossa Gr glōssa : tongue, language IE *glōgh : thorn, point
glott– {tongue}: epiglottis, glottal, glottis, glottochronology ●polyglot ●see also gloss– || ModL Gr glōttis glōtta : Attic variant of glōssa : tongue, language IE *glōgh : thorn, point
gluc– {sweet, sugar}: glucagon, gluconate, gluconic, glucose, glucoside ●see also glyc– || Gr glykys : sweet; akin to glykeros : sweet
glut– {to swallow}: deglutition, glut, glutton || L glūtire, gluttire : to swallow, to gulp down glūto, glutto : glutton
glutin– {glue}: agglutinate, glutinous ●glue, gluten || L glūten (gen. glūtinis) : glue
glyc– {sugar, sweet}: glycerin, glycerol, glycol, hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, nitroglycerin ●see also gluc– || Gr glykeros : sweet; akin to glykys : sweet
glyph– {carving}: anaglyph, glyph, glyphography, hieroglyphic, petroglyph, solenoglyph ●same as glypt– || Gr glyphē : a carving glyphein : to carve, to cut
glypt– {carving}: glyptic, glyptograph, glyptodont ●same as glyph– || Gr glyptos : carved glyphein : to carve, to cut
gn– {to give birth, to be born}: benign, benignant, Cognātarium, cognate, impregnate, malign, malignant, pregnant ●unrelated: impregnable ●same as nas–1, nat–1 ●see also gen–1, gen–2 || L gnatus, pp. of gnasci, older form of nasci (pp nātus) : to be born
gnath– {jaw}: gnathic, gnathite, opisthognathous, orthognathous, prognathous || Gr gnathos : jaw
gn(o)– {to know}: agnosia, agnostic, diagnosis, gnome, gnomon, –gnomy, gnostic, ignoramus, ignorant, ignore, prognosis, prognosticate, prosopagnosia, physiognomy ●see also not–1 || Gr gignōskein : to know gnōsis : knowledge; gnōmōn : one who knows IE *gno– : to know, knowledge
god– {god}: god, goddess, godfather, Godfrey, godhead, godly, godsend, godspeed, Godwin || OE god; akin to Ger gott & Goth guth
gon–1 {angle, corner}: agonic, amblygonite, diagonal, goniometer, hexagon, orthogonal, pentagon, polygon, trigonometry || Gr –gōnon gōnia : angle
gon–2 {reproductive system}: gonad, gonidium, gonococcus, gonophore, gonorrhea, oogonium, schizogony, sporogony || Gr gonos, gonē : procreation, offspring, semen, seed
gor– ●see agor–
gorg– {whirlpool, eddy, abyss, narrow pass, windpipe, throat, neck, decoration for the neck, beautiful}: disgorge, engorge, gorge (all senses), gorgeous, gorgerin, gorget ●see also gurg– || ME OFr gorge LL gurga : throat, narrow pass, for L gurges : whirlpool, eddy, abyss
gos– {goose}: goshawk, gosling, gossamer || ME gose OE gos; akin to Du & Ger gans : goose, ON gas
govern– {to govern, to guide}: govern, governess, governance, government, governor ●see also cyber– || OFr gouverner L gubernare : to steer a ship, to be at the helm, to guide Gr kybernan : to steer, to govern
grad– {step}: aggrade, centigrade, degrade, digitigrade, gradation, grade, gradient, gradual, graduate, plantigrade, retrograde, saltigrade ●same as gress– || L gradūs : step, degree, stage, rank gradi (pp. gressus) : to step, to walk IE *ghredh– : to walk, to go
gram– {writing}: anagram, cardiogram, cryptogram, diagram, electroencephalogram, epigram, grammar, grammatical, gramophone, monogram, program, telegram, Tetragrammaton ●same as graph– || LL gramma : small weight Gr gramma : what is written, small weight graphein : to write
gramin– {grass}: gramineous, graminivorous || L gramen : grass
gran– {seed, grain}: granary, grange, graniferous, granite, granivorous, granola, granular, granulate, granuloma, pomegranate ●filigree, garner ●see also grenad– || L grānum : seed, grain
grand– {great, large, larger, older}: aggrandize, grand, grandchild, grand duke, grandee, grandeur, grandiflora, grandiloquent, grandiose, grand jury, grand mal, grandparent, grandstand, Rio Grande ●compare petit– || ME graunt : OFr grand, grant L grandis : full-grown, great, large
grap– {hook, to harvest with a hook}: grape, grapnel, grapple || OFr grape : bunch of grapes graper : to gather with a hook Frank krappo : a hook
graph– {to write}: agrapha, autograph, biography, cacography, calligraphy, cryptography, epigraph, geography, graph, graphic, graphite, graphology, lithography, paragraph, phonograph, photograph, telegraph, topography, typographical ●graffiti ●same as gram– || Gr –graphos (comb. form) graphein : to write graphē : writing, drawing graphikos : that can write or draw L graphicus : concerned with drawing
grat– {pleasing, thankful, welcome}: congratulate, grateful, gratify, gratis, gratitude, gratuitous, gratuity, ingrate, ingratiate, persona non grata ●agree, grace ●Span. gracias || L gratus : pleasing, welcome, agreeable grātia : that which is pleasing, favor, thankfulness; grātiōsus : favored, beloved
grav–1 {to dig}: engrave, grave (tomb), graven, gravure, rotogravure ●Ger. graben || ME graven OE grafan : to dig, to bury; akin to Ger graben : to dig
grav–2 {heavy}: aggravate, grave (accent mark), grave (serious), grave (slow, as in music), gravid, gravitas, gravitate, gravitation, gravity (force), gravity (seriousness), myasthenia gravis ●aggrieve, grief, grieve ●compare lev–2 || L gravis : heavy, weighty, burdened IE *gwer– : heavy
grav–3 {gravel, sand}: grave (to clean the hull of a ship), gravel || OFr grave (Fr grève) : beach, coarse sand (ships were originally cleaned by dragging them up on the beach)
greg– {to gather, a flock}: aggregate, congregate, congregation, egregious, gregarious, segregate || L gregis (gen. of grex) : herd, flock, drove gregārius : belonging to a herd or flock
grenad– {pomegranate}: Grenada, grenade, grenadier, grenadine, Grenadines ●garnet ●see also gran– || OFr pome grenate : apple with seeds pome : apple + grenate : having many seeds L mālum granatum : apple with seeds : pomegranate granatus : seedy granum : seed
gress– {to step}: aggression, congress, degression, digress, egress, gressorial, ingress, introgress, progress, regress, retrogress, transgress ●degree ●same as grad– || L gressus, pp. of gradi : to step, to walk IE *ghredh– : to walk, to go
griff– {a fabulous monster}: griffin, hippogriff || ME griffon OFr grifoun OHG or It grifo L gryphus, earlier gryps Gr gryps : griffin grypos : hooked, curved
gris–, griz– {gray}: ambergris, éminence grise, grisaille, griseous, grisette, grizzled, grizzly ●unrelated: grisly, grist, gristle, verdigris || Fr gris : gray ML griseus Gmc
griz– ●see gris–
gros(s)– {thick, large}: engross, grosbeak, grosgrain, gross ●grocer || LL grossus : thick
grot– {grotto}: grotesque, grotto ●see also crypt– || It grotta ML grupta VL crupta for L crypta : crypt Gr kryptos : hidden kryptein : to hide
gru– ●see congru–
guard– {to watch over, to protect}: guard, guardant, guardhouse, guardian, vanguard ●avant-garde ●see also ward–2 || ME garde OFr garder : to protect Gmc wardon
guerr– {war}: guerrilla, nom de guerre || Sp guerra, Fr guerre, or It guerra : war Frank
guid–, guy– {guide, to lead}: guide, guidance, guidon, guy (stay), guy (fellow), Guy ●Ital. Guido || OFr guider It guida : leader, guide Goth
guin– {white}: Guinevere (Jennifer), penguin ●Gwendolyn || Welsh gwen, gwyn : white Celt
guise– {appearance, manner}: disguise, guise || OFr guise : manner, appearance, way OHG wisa
gurg– {throat, gorge}: gurgitation, ingurgitate, regurgitate ●see also gorg– || LL gurgitare : to flood L gurges (gen. gurgitus) : whirlpool, eddy, abyss
gust– {taste}: de gustibus non est disputandum, disgust, gustatory, gusto || L gustus : taste gustare (1st pers. sing gusto) : to taste, to take a little of IE *gus-tu– *geus– : to choose, to taste
gutt– {drop}: gutta, guttate, gutter, guttersnipe || L gutta : a drop
guy– ●see guid–
gymn– {naked, a place to exercise naked}: gymnasium, gymnast, gymnastics, gymnosophist, gymnosperm ●compare angio– || Gr gymnos : naked
gyn– {woman}: androgynous, epigynous, gynarchy, gynecology, hypogynous, misogynist, perigynous, polygyny ●compare andr– || Gr gynē (stem gynaiko–) : woman
gyps– {gypsum, chalk}: gypseous, gypsiferous, gypsophila, gypsum ●unrelated: Gypsy || L gypsum : gypsum Gr gypsos : chalk, gypsum
gyr– {to spin}: gyral, gyrate, gyre, gyro, gyrocompass, gyroscope, spirogyra ●same as gir– || Gr gyros : circle L gyrus : circle
* Unattested, hypothesized
† Unknown origin
94 entries found.
Copyright © 2004–07 Daniel M. Short. All Rights Reserved.
