la– {the people}: lay (not clerical), laic, laity, layman, Nicholas ●liturgy || 
LL(Ec) : laicus : not priestly Gr laikos laos : the people
lab–1 {to take, to hold}: astrolabe, syllabic, syllabism, syllable ●same as leps–, lept–1 || Gr labon lambanein : to take, to hold
lab–2 {to totter, to slip, to fall}: labefaction, labile ●see also laps– || L lăbare : to totter, to waver, to be about to fall IE *lab– *leb– : to hang, a hanging part
lab–3 {lip}: labellum, labia, labial, labialize, labiate, labiodental, labionasal, labiovelar, labret, labrum || L labia : lip
labor– {work, toil}: collaborate, elaborate, labor, laboratory, laborious || L labor : work, labor, toil, effort 
labōriōsus : laborious
lac– {lac, resin}: lac, lacquer, shellac || Hindi lākh Sans lāksā : lac
lacert– {lizard}: Lacerta, lacertilian ●lizard ●Sp. lagarto → el lagarto → Eng. alligator || L lacerta : lizard
lachrym–, lacrim– {weeping, tears}: lachrymose, lacrimal, lacrimation || L lacrima : a tear lacrimare : to weep
lacrim– ●see lachrym–
lact– {milk}: ablactation, lactase, lactate, lacteal, lactic, lactiferous, lactobacillus, lactoprotein, lactose ●Similac™ ●Sp. leche ●Port. leite ●It. latte ●Fr. lait ●see also galact– || L lac (gen. lactis) : milk IE glak– : milk
lacu– {lake, pool, hole}: lacuna, lacunose, lacustrine ●lagoon ●Sp. lago || L lacūna : cavity, hollow, dip; pool, pond
lad– {to load}: lade, laden, ladle || ME laden OE hladan : to lade, to load
lag– {to lay, to lie}: anlage, lager, vorlage ●Ger. Stalag ●Afrik. laager || Gmc root leg– : to lie lying place, lair, camp
lain– {attendant, steward, keeper}: chamberlain, chaplain, chatelaine || Gmc suffix –ling : one who is connected with; e.g. earthling, underling It –lingo as in camerlingo
lalia– {speech}: echolalia, Eulalia, glossolalia || Gr lalia : speech lalein : to talk, to prattle
lambd– {the Greek letter lambda: Λ}: lambda, lambdacism, lambdoid || Gr lambda : 11th letter of the alphabet Sem as in Heb lāmedh: ל
lamell– {plate, scale, layer}: lamella, lamellibranch, lamellicorn, lamelliform ●diminutive of lamin– || L lāmella, dim. of lāmina : a plate or thin piece of metal or marble
lamin– {plate, sheet, layer}: lamina, laminar, laminate, laminitis ●diminutive form: lamell– || L lāmina : a plate or thin piece of metal or marble
lamp– {to shine}: eclampsia, lamp, lampion ●lantern || L lampas : torch Gr lampein : to shine
lan– {wool}: Lana, lanate, laniferous, lanolin, lanose, lanugo || L lāna : wool
langu–1 {weak, weary, faint}: languid, languish, languor || L languēre : to be faint, weak, languid languor : faintness, weariness
langu–2 ●see lingu–
lap–1 {a fold, flap, or hanging part of a garment}: dewlap, lap (all senses except to lap up a liquid, as a dog, or to make this sound), lapel, lappet, overlap, lapstrake || ME lappe OE læppa : fold or hanging part of a garment, skin
lap–2 {stone}: dilapidate, lapidary, lapillus, lapis lazuli || L lapis (gen. lapidis) : stone lapidārius : of or relating to stones
lapar– {abdomen, abdominal wall}: laparoscope, laparotomy || Gr lapara : flank laparos : weak, thin
laps– {to slip, to fall}: collapse, elapse, infralapsarian, lapse, lapsus, prolapse, relapse ●see also lab–2 || L lapsus : downwards movement, a fall, pp. of lăbare : to totter, to waver, to be about to fall IE *lab– *leb– : to hang, a hanging part
lard– {bacon, lard}: interlard, lard, larder, lardon || L lardum : bacon fat, lard
larg– {large}: enlarge, large, largesse, larghetto, largo || L largus : abundant, plentiful, numerous
lat–1 {to bear, to carry}: ablate, ablative, collate, collation, correlate, dilatory, elate, legislate, oblate, oblation, prelate, prolate, relate, relation, relative, superlative, translate ●see also fer–1 || L –lātus (comb. form), pp. of ferre : to bear, to bring, to carry
lat–2 {wide}: dilatation, dilate, latifundium, latitude, vasodilator || L lātus : broad, wide
lat–3 {lath}: lath, lattice || OHG latta : narrow strip, lath
lateral– {side}: bilateral, collateral, equilateral, ipsilateral, lateral, trilateral, unilateral || L laterālis, gen. of latus : side, flank
latr– {worship}: demonolatry, ecclesiolatry, hagiolatry, heliolatry, iconolatry, idolater, idolatry, latria, Mariolatry, ophiolatry, zoolatry || Gr(Ec) latreia Gr latreia : hired service latreuein to serve, to worship latris : hired servant
laud– {to praise}: laud, laudable, laudatory, magna cum laude, summa cum laude || L laudis, gen. of laus : praise, fame, glory, commendation laudare : to praise, extol, commend
laur– {laurel}: baccalaureate, Laura, laureate, laurel, Laurence (Lawrence), lauric || L laurus : the laurel or bay-tree, sacred to Apollo. Important persons such as poets, triumphant generals, sometimes priests, and ancestral busts were crowned with a wreath of laurel. Metonymous usage of laurel is triumph, victory.
laut– {sound}: ablaut, umlaut || Ger laut : sound
lav– {to wash}: lava, lavabo, lavage, lavatory, lave, lavender, lavish ●latrine, launder ●Sp. lavandería ●same as lot–1, lut–1, luv– || L lavare or lavere (pp. lautum or lotum or lavātum) : to wash, to bathe
lax– {loose, to loosen}: lax, laxative, relax ●same as lay–1, leas–, lys– || L laxus : wide, loose, spacious laxare : to widen, to loosen, to extend, to enlarge, to relieve, to release
lay–1 {to leave behind}: delay, relay ●unrelated: lay (of laity), allay ●same as lax–, leas–, lys– || ME MFr –lais laier to leave, to let L laxus : wide, loose, spacious laxare : to widen, to loosen, to extend, to enlarge, to relieve, to release
lay–2 {to lay}: belay, inlay, lay, layabout, layaway, layer, layoff, layout, layover, overlay ●unrelated: lay (of laity), layette || ME leyen leggen OE lecgan : to make to lie down
leas–, less– {to let go, to loosen}: lease, leash, –less, lessee, lessor, release ●laissez-faire, relish ●unrelated: less ●same as lax–, lay–1, lys– || OFr laissier : to let, to permit L laxare : to widen, to loosen, to extend, to enlarge, to relieve, to release L laxus : wide, loose, spacious
lect–1 {to choose, to collect, to gather}: analects, collect, dialectic, eclectic, elect, intellect, intellectual, neglect, predilection, prelect, recollect, select ●elite ●same as leg–1, lig–1 ●see also lect–2 || L –lectum (comb. form), pp. of legēre : to collect, to pick, to pick out, to choose, to select lectio (gen. lectiōnis) : a selecting, a choosing IE *leĝ– : to gather, to collect. Note: legere : to read & legere : to select are the same word, which has two different meanings in Latin.
lect–2 {speech, to read}: dialect, idiolect, lectern, lection, lector, lecture ●same as leg–2 ●see also lect–1, lex–, log–2 || L lectus, pp. of legere : to read, to read aloud IE *leĝ– : to gather, to collect. Note: legere : to read & legere : to select are the same word, which has two different meanings in Latin.
leg–1 {to choose, to collect, to gather}: elegant, elegit, legion, sacrilege ●same as lig–1 ●see also leg–2 || L legēre : to collect, to pick, to pick out, to choose, to select IE *leĝ– : to gather, to collect. Note: legere : to read & legere : to select are the same word, which has two different meanings in Latin.
leg–2 {word, to read}: illegible, legend, legible, prolegomenon ●see also lect–2, leg–1, lex–, log–2 || L legere : to read IE *leĝ– : to gather, to collect. Note: legere : to read & legere : to select are the same word, which has two different meanings in Latin.
leg–3 {law}: legal, legislate, legislature, legitimate, privilege ●loyal ●see also leg–4 || L lēgis, gen. of lex : law lēgitimus : legitimate, legal
leg–4 {to commission, to charge}: allegation, allege, college, collegial, collegium, delegate, legacy, legate, legation, relegate ●colleague ●see also leg–3 || L lēgare : to ordain, to appoint, to make a deputy, to delegate authority, to commission lēgis, gen of lex : law
lemma–1 {proof, support}: analemma, dilemma, lemma || Gr lēmma : something taken or received, something taken for granted lambanein : to seize, to assume
lemma–2 {husk}: lemma (grass bract), neurilemma, oolemma, plasmalemma, sarcolemma || Gr lemma : husk lepein : to peel
leni– {soft, mild, gentle}: lenient, lenis (compare fortis), lenitive, lenity || L lēnis : smooth, soft, mild, gentle lēnire : to make mild, soothe, relieve, mitigate
lent–1 {tough, resistant, slow}: lentic, lentivirus, lentissimo, lento, relent || L lentus : tough, resistant, slow, lingering, lasting
lent–2 {lentil, lentil-shaped, hence: lens}: lenticel, lenticular, lenticulate, lenticule, lentigo, lentil ●lens || L lentis, gen. of lens : lentil
leo– ●see leon–
leo(n)– {lion}: chameleon, Leo, Leon, Leona, Leonard, Leonids, leonine, leopard ●unrelated: Leopold ●same as lion– || L leo (gen. leonis) Gr leōn (gen. leontos) : lion
lep– {scales}: leper, lepidolite, Lepidoptera, lepidote, leprosy || Gr lepis (gen. lepidos) : a scale lepein : to peel lepros : rough, scaly
lepor– {hare}: leporid, leporine ●leveret || L leporis, gen of lepus : hare
leps– {to take, to seize, seizure}: catalepsy, epilepsy, narcolepsy, nympholepsy, prolepsis, syllepsis ●same as lab–1, lept–1 || Gr –lēpsia : seizure lēpsis : an attack; akin to lambanein : to seize
lept–1 {to take, to seize}: analeptic, cataleptic, epileptic, organoleptic ●same as lab–1, leps– || Gr –leptikos : relating to a seizure lēpsis : an attack –lēpsia : seizure; akin to lambanein : to seize
lept–2 {thin, fine, slender}: leptocephalus, leptodactylous, lepton, leptospirosis || Gr leptos : thin, fine, small lepein : to peel
les– {to injure}: lese majesty (Fr lèse majesté), lesion ●see also lid– || L laesio (gen. laesionis) : an attack, an injury, damage laesum, pp. of laedere : to injure, to damage
less– ●see leas–
leth– {drowsiness, forgetfulness}: lethargy, Lethe ●unrelated: lethal || Gr lēthe : forgetfulness, oblivion lēthargos : forgetful
leuc– ●see leuk–
leuk–, leuc– {white}: leukemia, leukocyte, leukopoiesis ●see also lu– ●compare melan– || Gr leukos : white
lev–1 {left [side]}: levorotation, levulose || L laevus : left (side)
lev–2 {light weight, to lift, to raise}: alleviate, elevate, Levant (from the sun “rising” in the east), levee, lever, leverage, levator, levitation, levity, levy, relevant ●allay, leaven, relevé, relieve ●compare grav–2 || L levis : light (weight) levare : to raise, to lift up; to relieve a person from trouble, to diminish, to lighten (as a load)
levi– {Levi, third son of Jacob and Leah, and the Levite tribe descended from Levi}: Levi, Levite, Levitical, Leviticus || Heb Levi lēwī : joining
lex– {speech, word}: alexia, dyslexia, lexeme, lexicography, lexicology, lexicon, lexis ●see also lect–2, leg–2, log–2 || Gr lexis : word, saying, phrase legein : to speak lexikos : of words IE *leĝ– : to gather, to collect
lia– {to bind}: alliance, liability, liable, liaison, liana, reliable, reliance ●same as lig–2, ly– || ME OFr –lier (comb. form) lier : to bind L ligare : to bind, to tie
lib– {to please, pleasure, desire, lust}: ad libitum (ad-lib), libidinous, libido, quodlibet || L libet, lubet : it pleases libīdo, lubīdo : violent desire, appetite, longing
liber– {free}: liberal, liberate, Liberia, libertarian, libertine, liberty, mare liberum ●same as liver– || L līber : free līberālis : of freedom IE *leudh-ero– : of or belonging to the people, hence: free IE *leudh– : to grow up, to rise
libr–1 {book}: ex libris, librarian, library, libretto ●libel || L liber : book librārium : bookcase
libr–2 {balance}: deliberate, equilibrium, Libra, libration, Librium™ ●level || L lībra : a balance, pair of scales lībrare : to balance, to keep in equilibrium; dēlīberare : to weigh carefully, to consider, to deliberate
lic–1 {to be allowed}: illicit, license, licentious, licit, videlicet (abbr. viz.) || L licēre (pp. licitum) : it is allowed licens (gen. licentis) : that is allowed; licentia : freedom, license
lic–2 {to let go, to leave behind}: corpus delicti, derelict, in flagrante delicto, relic, relict ●reliquary ●same as linqu– || L linquere : to leave, abandon, forsake, depart from dēlinquo (pp. dēlictum) : to fail, esp., to fail in duty, to commit a crime; dērelinquo (pp. dērelictum) : to forsake, desert, abandon; relinquere (pp. relictum) : to leave behind
lic–3 {to allure}: delicacy, delicate, delicatessen, delicious, elicit ●delectable, delectation, delight, dilettante || L –licere (comb. form) lacere : to entice, to allure IE *lek– : to snare, twig
lid–, lis– {to strike}: collide, collision, elide, elision ●see also les– || L –līdere (comb. form) (pp. –līsum) laedere : to injure, to damage
lieu– {place, stead}: lieu, lieutenant, milieu ●see also loc– || OFr lieu L locus : a place
lig–1 {to choose, to collect, to gather}: diligent, eligible, intelligent, negligee, negligent, negligible ●same as lect–1, leg–1 || L –ligere (comb. form) (pp. –lectum) legēre : to collect, to pick, to pick out, to choose, to select
lig–2 {to bind}: colligate, ligament, ligate, ligature, obligate, oblige, religion ●allegiance, league (alliance), liege, legato ●same as lia–, ly– || L ligare : to bind, to tie ligāmentum : bandage
lign– {wood}: gelignite, ligneous, lignify, lignite, pyroligneous || L lignum : wood
lim–1 {boundary}: delimit, limit, limitation, unlimited || L līmes (gen līmitus) : boundary, border, frontier
lim–2 {threshold}: eliminate, limen, liminal, preliminary, sublimate, sublime, subliminal || L līmen (gen. līminus) : threshold, doorway, entrance
lim–3 {mud, slime}: limacine, limicoline, limicolous, limivorous || L līmus : slime, mud līmax (gen. līmacis) : a slug, a snail
limb– {border, edge}: limb (border, edge), limbate, limbic, limbo (indeterminate place), limbus || L limbus (abl. limbo) : edge, border
limn– {lake, pond}: hypolimnion, limnetic, Limnobium, limnology || Gr limnē : marsh, lake
lin– {flax, linen}: crinoline, line (to sew in), linen, liner (sewn-in fabric), lingerie, lining, linnet, linoleum, linseed, linsey-woolsey, lint ●see also line– || L līnum : flax, linen
line– {line}: airline, byline, colinear, delineate, line, lineage, lineal, lineament, linear, linebacker, lineman, liner, lineup, matrilineal, outline, patrilineal, rectilinear, streamline, underline ●align, collimate ●see also lin– || merging of OE line : cord & OFr ligne, both L līnea : linen thread, string, hence: a line drawn līnum : flax, linen, thread
lingu–, langu–2 {tongue, hence: language}: bilingual, language, languet, lingua franca, lingual, linguini, linguistic, metalinguistics, multilingual, sociolinguistics, sublingual, Vermilinguia ●lingo || L lingua : tongue, speech, language • langu– words OFr langue L lingua
linqu– {to let go, to leave behind}: delinquent, relinquish ●same as lic–2 || L linquere : to leave, abandon, forsake, depart from dēlinquo : to fail, esp., to fail in duty, to commit a crime; relinquere : to leave behind
lion– {lion}: dandelion, lion, Lionel, lionize ●same as leon– || OFr lion L leo (gen. leonis) Gr leōn (gen. leontos) : lion
lip– {fat}: glycolipid, lipase, lipid, lipoid, lipolysis, lipoma, lipophilic, lipoprotein, liposuction || Gr lipos : fat
lips–, lipt– {to leave behind, to abandon}: eclipse, ecliptic, ellipse, ellipsis, elliptical || Gr –leipsis : defect, failing leipein : to fall short, to fail, to leave
lipt– ●see lips–
liqu– {liquid}: deliquesce, liquefaction, liquefy, liquescent, liqueur, liquid, liquidambar, liquidate, liquor || L liquidus : fluid, flowing, liquid liquēre : to be liquid līquor : to be fluid, to flow; liquescere : to become fluid, to melt
lis– ●see lid–
lit– {lawsuit, legal proceeding}: ad litem, litigate || L litis, gen. of lis : dispute, lawsuit
lite– {stone}: chrysolite, coprolite, cryolite, ichthyolite, saprolite ●same as lith– || OFr for –lithe Gr lithos : stone
liter– {letter}: alliteration, illiterate, literacy, literal, literary, literate, literature, obliterate, transliterate ●letter ●unrelated: liter (unit of measure) || L littera : letter of the alphabet litterātūra : a writing composed of letters, literature
lith– {stone}: antilithic, eolith, fecalith, gastrolith, Mesolithic, Neolithic, Paleolithic, lithium, lithography, lithology, lithopone, lithotomy, megalith, monolith, phytolith ●same as lite– || Gr lithos : stone
liver– {free}: deliver, deliverance, livery ●same as liber– || OFr livrer : to deliver VL L līberare : to free, to liberate L līber : free
loc– {place}: allocate, collocate, dislocate, in loco parentis, local, locale, locality, localize, locate, locomotion, locomotive, locus, relocate ●see also lieu– || L locus : a place locare : to place, to set locātio (gen. locātionis) : a placing, a setting
locu– {to speak}: allocution, circumlocution, elocution, interlocutor, locution, prolocutor ●same as loqu– || L locūtus, pp of loqui : to speak locūtio (gen. locūtiōnis) : speaking, speech
log–1 {small house, sheltered place}: loge, loggia ●lodge || OFr loge : summer house, arbor
log–2 {speech, word, reason}: analog, analogy, anthology, apologue, apology, bradylogia, catalog, dialogue, epilogue, etymology, eulogy, homologous, ideologue, ideology, logarithm, logic, logistic, logo, logography, logomachy, logorrhea, Logos, logotype, –logy, monologue, neologism, philologist, prologue, syllogism, tautology, travelogue, trilogy ●see also lect–2, leg–2, lex– || Gr logos : word, reckoning, thought legein : to speak, to choose, to read IE *leĝ– : to gather, to collect
long– {long, along}: along, alongside, chaise longue, elongate, furlong, headlong, long, longanimity, longeron, longevity, longitude, longshoreman, oblong, prolong, sidelong ●purloin || ME OE long Gmc root lango–; akin to Ger lang & L longus
lop– {to run, to jump}: elope, gallop, interloper, lope, wallop || Gmc hlaupan, hleapan : to run, to jump
lopho– {crest, tuft}: lophobranch, lophophore || Gr lophos : crest, tuft
loqu– {to speak, speech}: colloquial, colloquy, eloquent, grandiloquence, loquacious, magniloquent, obloquy, res ipsa loquitur, soliloquy, somniloquy, ventriloquist ●same as locu– || L loqui (pp. locūtus) : to speak loquax (gen. loquācis) : talkative, loquacious
lorn– {to lose, having lost}: forlorn, lorn, lovelorn || OE loren, pp. of leosan : to lose
lot–1 {to wash}: lotic, lotion ●same as lav–, lut–1, luv– || L lōtus : a washing ( lautus, pp. of lavare or lavere to wash, to bathe) lōtio (gen. lōtiōnis) : a washing
lot–2 {lot, to divide or distribute by lot}: allot, lot (all senses), lottery, lotto || OE hlot : lot (as cast lots)
lox– {slanting, oblique}: Loxodonta, loxodrome, Loxosceles, Pyrrhuloxia || Gr loxos : slanting
lu– ●see leuk–, luc–, lumin–, lun–, lustr–
luc– {bright, light}: elucidate, lucent, lucerne, lucid, Lucifer, Lucille, Lucite™, Lucius, Lucy, lucubrate, luculent, noctilucent, pellucid, radiolucent, relucent, translucent ●lux (pl. luces) ●see also lu– || L lux (gen. lūcis) : light & lūcēre : to shine
lucr– {gain, riches}: lucrative, lucre, Lucretia, Lucretius || L lucrum : gain, profit, riches lucrari : to gain, to profit lucrātīvus : profitable, lucrative
luct– {to struggle}: ineluctable, reluctance, reluctivity || L luctari : to wrestle, to struggle
lud– {to play, to jest}: allude, collude, delude, elude, interlude, ludic, ludicrous, postlude, prelude ●same as lus– || L lūdēre (pp. lūsum) : to play, to amuse oneself, to delude
lumb– {loins}: lumbago, lumbar, sacrolumbar, thoracolumbar || L lumbus : loin
lumin– {light}: bioluminescence, electroluminescent, illuminate, illuminati, luminance, luminary, luminescence, luminous, noctilucent, thermoluminescence ●lumen ●see also lu– || L lūmen (gen. lūminis) : light lūmināre : window; lūminōsus : full of light, luminous
lun– {the moon}: apolune, circumlunar, cislunar, luna, lunacy, lunar, lunate, lunatic, lunation, lune, lunette, lunular, translunar ●loony ●see also lu– || L lūna : the moon lūnare : to bend into a crescent
lup– {wolf}: lupine, lupulin, Lupus, lupus || L lupus : wolf
lus– {to play, to jest}: allusion, collusion, elusive, illusion, prolusion ●same as lud– || L lūsum, pp. of lūdēre : to play, to amuse oneself, to delude
lustr– {bright}: illustrate, illustrious, luster, lustrous, lustrum ●see also lu– || L lustrare : to make bright, to illuminate
lut–1 {to wash}: ablution, dilute, elute, elutriate ●same as lav–, lot–1, luv– || L –luere (comb. form) (pp. –lūtum) lavare, lavere : to wash, to bathe
lut–2 {clay, mud, dirt, to befoul}: lute (clay), pollute || L lutum : mud, mire, dirt
lute– {yellow}: corpus luteum, lutein, luteous ●unrelated: lute (instrument) || L lūtum : a plant used to make yellow dye
luv– {to wash}: alluvial, alluvion, alluvium, antediluvian, colluvium, diluvial, eluvium, illuvium ●deluge ●same as lav–, lot–1, lut–1 || L –luvium (comb. form) –luere (comb. form) lavare : to wash
lux– {luxury, extravagance, excess}: deluxe, luxe, luxuriant, luxuriate, luxury ●unrelated: lux, luxate || L luxus : luxury, excess, extravagance luxuriare : to be luxuriant, abundant in growth; luxuria : rankness, exuberant growth, excess, prodigality
ly– {to bind}: ally, rally, rely ●alloy ●same as lia–, lig–2 || ME OFr –lier (comb. form) lier : to bind L ligare : to bind, to tie
lyc– {wolf}: lycantrope, lycopod, lycopodium, Lycos™, Lycosidae || Gr lykos : wolf
lyo– ●see lys–
lyr– {lyre, music}: Lyra, lyre, lyric, lyrical, lyricist, lyriform, lyrist || L lyra Gr lyra : lyre
lys–, lyo–, lyt–, lyz– {to undo, to loosen, to release, to dissolve}: analyze, catalytic, dialysis, electrolysis, electrolyte, hydrolyze, lyophilize, lyophobic, lysergic acid diethylamide, lysimeter, lysine, lysis, Lysol™, lysosome, lysozyme, paralysis, pyrolyze, urinalysis ●Apollyon ●same as lax–, lay–1, leas– || Gr lysis : a loosening, a dissolving lyein : to loosen, to dissolve, to release lytos : that which releases or loosens
lyt– ●see lys–
lyz– ●see lys–
* Unattested, hypothesized
† Unknown origin
136 entries found.
Copyright © 2004–07 Daniel M. Short. All Rights Reserved.
