n– {not, no}: an– (not), deny, in– (not), nary, naught, nay, necessary, nefarious, negate (→neg–), neither, nepenthe, nescient, neuter (→neutr–), never, nihilism (→nihil–), nil, nitwit, nix, no, nolo contendere, non–, none, nor, not, nothing, nought, null (→nul–), un–, willy-nilly ●Fr. non ●Ger. nein ●Russ. nyet || 
IE *ne– : not
nano– {one billionth (10−9)}: nanogram, nanometer, nanosecond, nanotechnology || Gr nanos : dwarf
nap– {flat piece of cloth}: napery, napkin, nappe || OFr nappe : cloth, tablecloth L mappa : table napkin Punic
naphth– {naphtha, bitumen}: naphtha, naphthalene, naphthene, naphthol, naphthyl || Gr naphtha : naphtha, bitumen Pers neft : pitch
narc– {numbness, sleep}: narceine, narcoanalysis, narcolepsy, narcosis, narcosynthesis, narcotic || Gr narkē : numbness, stupor
nas–1 {to be born}: nascent, renascent ●renaissance ●same as gn–, nat–1 || L nasci (older form gnasci): to be born
nas–2 {nose}: nasal, nasturtium, postnasal ●see also nos–2 || L nāsus : nose IE *nas‒ : nose
nast– {type of plant growth}: epinasty, hyponasty, nastic || Gr nastos : pressed close nassein : to press, to squeeze close
nat–1 {to be born}: adnate, agnate, au naturel, denature, enate, innate, natal, Natalie, nation, native, nativity, natural, nature, naturopathy, neonatal, postnatal, preternatural, supernatural ●naïve ●same as gn–, nas–1 || L nātus (older form gnatus), pp. of nasci (older form gnasci) : to be born 
nātālis : relating to birth, natal; nātio (gen. nātiōnis) : a being born, birth, tribe related by birth, race, people; nātīvus : born, native, natural; nātūra : birth, nature
nat–2 {to swim}: natant, natatorium, supernatant || L natare : to swim
nathan– {gift}: Jonathan, Nathan, Nathaniel || Heb nāthan : he has given
nau– {ship}: naumachy, nauplius ●see also naus–, naut– || Gr naus : ship IE *nāu(s) : boat
naus– {ship, seasickness, nausea}: ad nauseam, nausea, nauseant, nauseate, nauseous ●see also nau–, naut– || Gr nausia, nautia : seasickness nautēs : sailor naus : ship IE *nāu(s) : boat
naut– {sailor, ship}: aeronautics, Argonaut, astronaut, cosmonaut, nautical, nautiloid, nautilus ●see also nau–, naus–, nav– || L Gr nautēs : sailor, seaman naus : ship IE *nāu(s) : boat
nav– {ship}: circumnavigate, naval, nave, navicular, navigable, navigate, navy ●see also naut– || L nāvis : ship, vessel nāvālis : of ships, naval, nautical; nāvigātio : a sailing, a voyage IE *nāu(s) : boat
neath– {below, down}: beneath, underneath ●nether || OE neothan, neothera : down IE *ni– : down Ger nieder & Du neder : lower
nebul– {cloud}: nebula, nebulize, nebulous ●see also neph– || L nebula : vapor, fog, mist
nec– {death}: internecine ●pernicious ●see also necro– || L necis, gen. of nex : death necare : to kill, to slay; akin to Gr necros : corpse, hence: death IE *nek– : death, corpse
necro– {death}: necrobiosis, necrology, necromancy, necrophagous, necrophilia, Necrophorus, necropolis, necropsy, necrosis, necrotic, necrotizing ●see also nec– || Gr nekros : dead body, corpse; akin to L nex (gen necis) : corpse IE *nek– : death, corpse
nect–, nex– {to bind, to fasten}: adnexa, annectant, annex, connect, disconnect, nexus || L nectere (pp. nexum) : to tie, to bind, to fasten together, to connect nexus : a binding, a tying together, a connection
neg– {denial, negation}: abnegate, negate, negative, neglect, negligee, negligent, negligible, negotiate, renegade, renege ●see also n– || L negare : to say no, to deny neg– : negative prefix neglectum (pp. of neglegere) : to neglect, to disregard; negōtium : absence of leisure, hence: business; abnegare : to deny, to refuse • renegade & renege ML renegare : to deny re– : again + negare : to deny, to refuse IE *ne– : not
negr– {black}: Negrito, negritude, Negro, Negroid, negrophile, negrophobia ●same as nigr–, noir– ●compare alb– || Sp & Port negro : black, black person L niger : black nigrare : to be black †
nema(t)– {thread, threadlike, hence: threadlike worm or parasite}: chromonema, nemathelminth, nematic, nematocyst, nematode, nematology, Nematomorpha, protonema, treponema || Gr nēma (gen. nēmatos) : what is spun, thread IE *sne– or *ne– : to spin, to sew, thread
ne(o)– {new}: misoneism, Neapolis (Naples), Neapolitan, Neocene, neoconservative, neodymium, Neolithic, neologism, neomycin, neon, neonatal, Neo-Nazi, neophyte, neoplasm, neoprene, neoteny, new, renew ●see also nov–1 || Gr neos : young, new
neph– {cloud}: nephanalysis, nepheline, nephelinite, nephelometer, nephology ●see also nebul– || Gr nephos : cloud
nephr– {kidney}: epinephrine, nephrectomy, nephrite, nephritis, nephrology, perinephrium || Gr nephros : kidney
neptun– {the god Neptune}: Neptune, Neptunian, neptunium || L Neptūnus : Neptune, god of the sea; identified with Greek Poseidon
nerv– {nerve}: anorexia nervosa, enervate, nerve, nervous ●see also neur– || L nervus : sinew, tendon
nes– {island}: chersonese, Dodecanese, Indonesia, Melanesia, Micronesia, Peloponnesus, Polynesia || Gr nēsos : island
neur– {nerve}: epineurium, neural, neuralgia, neurasthenia, neurectomy, neurilemma, neuritis, neurology, neuron, neuropath, neuropsychiatry, Neuroptera, neurosis, neurosurgery, neurotic, neurotoxin, psychoneurosis ●see also nerv– || Gr neuron : nerve, tendon
neutr– {neither}: neuter, neutral, neutralize, neutrino, neutron ●see also n– || L neuter : neither ne– : not ( IE *ne– : not) + uter : interrogative: which of the two
nex– ●see nect–
nic– {victory}: Bernice, Eunice, Nicholas ●Nike || Gr Nikē : goddess of victory
nickel– {demon}: nickel, pumpernickel || Ger nickel : goblin, demon Nikolaus : Nicholas
nid– {nest}: nide, nidicolous, nidifugous, nidify, nidus || L nīdus : nest
nigr– {black}: denigrate, Negrito, negritude, Niger, Nigeria, nigrescence, nigrify, nigritude, nigrosine ●same as negr–, noir– || L niger : black nigrare : to be black †
nihil– {nothing}: annihilate, nihil, nihilism ●nil ●see also n– ●compare omni– || L nīhilum, nīlum : nothing ne : not ( IE *ne– : not) + hīlum : a trifle, the least thing
nitr– {nitrogen}: niter, nitrate, nitric, nitride, nitrify, nitrite, nitrocellulose, nitrogen, nitroglycerin, nitrous, trinitrotoluene || L nitrum : natron, natural soda Gr nitron : native soda, natron Heb netr or Egypt ntr
no– {perception, the intellect, the mind}: noetic, noumenon, nous, paranoia || Gr nous, noos : the mind
nobl– {to be known, noble}: ennoble, ignoble, nobility, noble, nobleman, noblesse ●see also not–1 || L nōbilis : well-known, celebrated, renowned, noble
noc–, nox– {harm}: innocent, innocuous, nocent, nociceptive, nocuous, noxious, obnoxious ●unrelated: equinox || L nocens (gen. nocentis) : harmful, injurious, noxious nocēre : to injure, to harm noxa : harm, injury noxius : noxious, harmful
noct– {night}: equinoctial, noctambulism, noctilucent, Noctuidae, nocturn, nocturnal, nocturne ●equinox ●Ger. Nacht ●see also nyct– ●compare di–3 || L noctis, gen. of nox : night nocturnus : nocturnal, nightly
nod– {knot, node}: nodal, node, nodose, nodule, nodus || L nōdus : knot
noir– {black}: bête noire, film noir, noir ●same as negr–, nigr– || Fr noir : black L niger : black nigrare : to be black †
nom–1 {law, system, arrangement}: agronomy, anomie, Antinomian, antinomy, astronomy, autonomic, autonomous, autonomy, binomial, Deuteronomy, economics, economy, ergonomics, gastronomy, metronome, nomogram, nomography, nomological, nomothetic, –nomy, taxonomy || Gr nomos : law, usage, custom nemein : to distribute, to govern IE *nem– : to assign, to allot, to take, to arrange
nom–2, nomen–, nomin– {name}: agnomen, cognomen, denomination, denominator, ignominious, innominate, misnomer, nom de guerre, nom de plume, nomen, nomenclature, nominal, nominate, nominative, nominee, polynomial, praenomen ●noun, pronoun, renown ●Fr. nom ●Sp. nombre ●It. nome ●Ger. name ●see also onom–, onym– || L nōmen (gen. nōminis) : name nōmenclātor : a slave who told his master the names of the persons he met; nōminare : to name, to give a name, to make famous, to nominate for office IE *nomen– (also *nomn–, *onomn–) : name
nomen– ●see nom–2
nomin– ●see nom–2
non– {nine}: nonagenarian, nonagon, none (canonical hour), nones, nonillion, nonuple ●noon ●same as nov–2 || L nōnus : the ninth novem : nine
nor– {north}: Nordic, Norfolk, Norge (Norway), Norman, Normandy, Norse, north, Norton, Norway, Norwich || OE, Du, ON Gmc root nor– : north
norm– {pattern, rule}: abnormal, enormity, enormous, norm, Norma, normal || L norma : a carpenter’s square for measuring right angles, hence: a rule, a standard; poss. Etruscan Gr gnōmōn : carpenter’s square, rule; literally, “one that knows”
nos–1 {disease, sickness}: anthracnose, nosocomial, nosography, nosology, zoonosis || Gr nosos : disease
nos–2 {nose}: nose, nostril ●see also nas–2 || OE nosu Gmc root IE *nas– : nose, nostril
nost– {to return home}: nostalgia, nostology, nostomania || Gr nostos : a return home
nostr– {our}: Cosa Nostra, mare nostrum, Nostratic, nostrum, Pater Noster ●Notre Dame || L noster : our, ours nōs : us
not–1 {to know, to note}: annotate, connotation, denote, nota bene, notable, notarize, notary public, notation, note, notebook, noted, noteworthy, notice, notify, notion, notoriety, notorious, prothonotary ●ignorant, ignore ●see also gno–, nobl– || L notare : to note, to mark, to distinguish, to write nota : mark, token, note, sign noscere (old form gnoscere) : to become acquainted with, to get knowledge of, to recognize, to approve
not–2 {south}: Notogaea, notornis ●compare borea– || Gr notos : south, south wind, rain-bringing wind
noto– {the back}: notochord, notoungulate ●notum || Gr nōton : the back ML notum
nounc– {to call out}: announce, denounce, pronounce, renounce ●same as nunci– || ME –nouncen OFr –noncier L nuntiare : to announce, to give notice nuntius : messenger, announcer, message, news
nouv– {new}: nouveau, nouveau riche, nouvelle cuisine ●same as nov–1 ●see also neo– || Fr nouveau : new L novus : new, fresh, young
nov–1 {new}: innovate, nova, Nova Scotia, novel, novella, novelty, novice, novitiate, Novocain™, renovate, supernova ●same as nouv– ●see also neo– || L novus : new, fresh, young novare : to make new, to renew
nov–2 {nine}: November, novena ●same as non– || L novem : nine ( nōnus : the ninth) November : the ninth month
nox– ●see noc–
nu– {to nod, hence: to hint}: innuendo, numen, numinous, nutant, nutation ●unrelated: nuance || L nūtare : to nod (freq. form of hypothetical verb nūere : to nod) IE *neu– : to nod
nub–, nupt– {to marry, marriage}: connubial, nubile, nuptial || L nūbere (pp. nuptum) : to marry nuptiae : a marriage, a wedding; nūbilis : marriageable. Etymological note: The original meaning of nūbere is to cover, especially with a veil. Hence, of a bride, to marry.
nucl– {core, nucleus}: mononucleosis, nucellus, nuclear, nuclease, nucleic acid, nucleon, nucleoplasm, nucleotide, nucleus, nuclide || L nucleus : the kernel of a nut, a nut, the stone of a fruit dim of nux : nut
nud– {naked}: denude, nude, nudibranch, nudicaul, nudist, nudity || L nūdus : naked, bare nūdare : to make naked, to strip, to lay bare, to uncover
nul– {none, not}: annul, null, nullify, nullity, nulliparous ●see also n– || L nullus : none, not any, not at all ne– : not ( IE *ne– : not) + ullus : any, anyone, anything
num– {coin}: numismatics, nummular, nummulite || L nummus : coin
numer– {number}: alphanumeric, enumerate, denumerable, innumerable, numeral, numerarary, numerate, numerator, numerical, numerology, numero uno, numerous, supernumerary ●number || L numerus : a number, a portion, a part of the whole numerare : to count numerātus : counted out
nunc– {now}: Nunc Dimittis, quidnunc || L nunc : now
nunci– {to call out, to announce, hence: messenger}: annunciate, enunciate, nuncio, pronunciation, renunciation ●same as nounc– || L nuntiare : to announce, to give notice nuntius : messenger, announcer, message, news
nupt– ●see nub–
nur– {to nourish, to nurture, to suckle}: nurse, nursemaid, nursery, nurture ●nourish ●same as nutr– || • nurse OFr norice norrice LL nutricia L nūtricius : that suckles or nourishes L nūtrix (gen. nūtricis) : wet nurse nūtrire : to nourish • nurture OFr norreture LL nutritura, pp. of nūtrire
nutr– {to suckle, to feed, to nourish}: malnutrition, nutrient, nutrition, nutritive ●same as nur– || L nūtrire : to nourish, to suckle, to support, to sustain nūtrix (gen. nūtrīcis) : nurse, foster mother; nūtrimen : nourishment
nyct– {darkness, night}: nyctalopia, nyctitropism, nyctophobia ●see also noct– ●compare hemer– || Gr nyx (gen nyktos) : night
nym– ●see onym–
nymph– {young wife, young woman, spring goddess}: nymph, Nymphaea, nymphalid, nymphet, nympholepsy, nymphomania || L nympha Gr nymphē : young wife, young woman, spring goddess
* Unattested, hypothesized
† Unknown origin
78 entries found.
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