vac– {empty}: evacuate, vacancy, vacant, vacate, vacation, vacuole, vacuous, vacuum ●see also van–1, vast–, void– ●compare plen– || 
L vacuus (neut. vacuum) : empty, void, free from, without, worthless, useless, vain
vacc– {cow}: vaccine, vaccinia ●Span. vaca ●Fr. vache || L vacca : cow †
vad– {to go}: evade, invade, pervade, Quo Vadis, vade mecum ●same as vas–1 ●compare ven–1 || L vādere : to go, to rush, to hasten
vag– {to wander}: divagate, extravagant, extravaganza, vagabond, vagary, vague, vagus, vasovagus || L vagus : wandering 
vagari : to wander to, to ramble
vagin– {sheath}: evaginate, invaginate, vagina, vaginismus || L vagina : sheath, scabbard
vail– {to be strong, to be worth}: avail, available, countervail, prevail ●same as val–1, vale– || ME –vailen (comb. form) OFr valoir : to be worth L valēre : to be strong, vigorous, in good health; to have force, to prevail
val–1 {strength, worth, value}: ad valorem, ambivalent, convalesce, covalence, devaluate, equivalent, evaluate, invalid, invaluable, prevalent, valence, Valentine, Valerie, valetudinarian, valiant, valid, validate, valor, valuable, value ●same as vail–, vale– || L valēre : to be strong, vigorous, in good health; to have force, to prevail
val–2 {warriors slain in battle}: Valhalla, Valkyrie || ON valr : warriors slain in battle
vale– {to be strong, to be well, hence: farewell}: vale, valediction, valedictorian ●same as vail–, val–1 || L vale : farewell imper. of valēre : to be well; to have force, to be strong
van–1 {empty}: evanescent, vanish, vanity ●vain, vaunt ●see also vac–, vast–, void– || L vānus : empty, void, vain, worthless, meaningless, ostentatious, boastful vānitās : emptiness, vanity, boasting
van–2 {forward, front}: advance, advantage, avant-garde, van [short for vanguard], vanguard, vantage point ●vamp [shoe part] ●Ital. avanti ●Fr. avant || OFr avant : before & avancer : to go forward L ab– (prefix) : from, away from + ante : before, in front
vap– {steam, vapor}: evaporate, vapor, vaporize ●Ital. vaporetto || L vapor : vapor, steam; akin to vapidus : spoiled, flat, vapid
var– {to bend}: vara, varus ●see also varic–1 || L vārus : knock-kneed, crooked, bent
vari– {difference}: variable, variance, variant, variation, varicolored, variegated, varietal, various, vary || L varius : manifold, various, diverse variare : to vary, to variegate, to diversify; varietas : variety, diversity
varic–1 {to spread apart, to straddle}: divaricate, prevaricate ●see also var– || L vāricare : to stand with the feet apart, to straddle vāricus : straddling vārus : knock-kneed, crooked
varic–2 {varicose vein}: varicocele, varicose, varicosis, varicotomy ●varix || L varicis, gen. of varix : varicose vein
vas–1 {to go}: evasive, invasion, pervasive ●same as vad– || L vāsum, pp. of vādere : to go, to rush, to hasten
vas–2 {vessel}: cardiovascular, vascular, vasculum, vas deferens, vase, vasectomy, vasoconstrictor, vasodilator || L vās : vessel, receptacle dim. vasculum : small vessel
vast– {empty}: devastate, vast ●waste ●see also vac–, van–1, void– || L vastus : empty, waste, deserted, desolate vastare : to lay waste, to devastate
vatic– {prophet}: vatic, Vatican, vaticinal, vaticinate || L vātes : prophet, soothsayer vāticinari : to prophesy
vect– {to carry}: advection, convection, evective, invective, vector ●inveigh, vehicle || L vectum, pp. of vehere : to carry, to convey vector : carrier, bearer; vectio : a carrying, a conveyance; vehiculum : a conveyance
veget– {lively, to enliven, to grow}: vegetable, vegetal, vegetarian, vegetate, vegetation ●see also vigil–, vigor– || L vegetāre : to enliven vegetus : lively, vigorous, fresh vegere : to stir up, to quicken
veill– {to be awake, to watch}: reveille, surveillance ●same as vigil– || Fr veiller L vigilare (prp. vigilans) : to be awake, to keep watch vigil : wakeful, watchful
vel–1 {veil, covering}: revelation, velamen, velar, velate, velum ●reveal, veil || L vēla (neut. pl. of vēlum) : covering, awning, curtain, sail vēlāmen : covering, garment IE *weg– : to weave, textile
vel–2 {shaggy hair}: Velcro™, velour, velouté, velure, velutinous, velvet || L villus : shaggy hair villosus : shaggy, hairy
vel–3 {calf, calfskin}: vellum ●veal ●see also vitell– || OFr veel L vitulus : bull calf (dim. vitellus : little calf)
veloc– {speed, rapidity}: veloce, velocipede, velocity ●velodrome || L vēlōcis, gen. of vēlox : swift, rapid vēlōcitās : quickness, rapidity
velop– {to wrap}: develop, envelop, envelope || OFr voluper, voloper : to wrap † possibly of Celtic origin
ven–1 {to come}: avenue, contravene, convene, convenient, coven, covenant, intervene, parvenu, prevenient, provenance, provenience, revenant, revenue, souvenir, supervene, venire facias, venue ●“veni, vidi, vici” ●unrelated: provender ●same as vent–1 @compare vad– || L venire : to come
ven–2 {love}: venerable, venerate, venereal, venery, venial, Venus || L venus (gen. veneris) : love venia : grace, favor
ven–3 {poison, drug}: antivenin, venin, venom || OFr venim (var. of venen) L venenum : drug, poison, love potion
ven–4, vend– {to sell, to be for sale}: venal, vend, vendee, vendition, vendor, vendue || L vēnum : to be sold & vendere vēnum + dare : to give for sale
ven–5 {to hunt [for game]}: venatic, venison || L vēnaticus : of hunting vēnātus : hunting, the chase vēnor : to hunt vēnātio : the hunt
ven–6 {vein}: intravenous, vena cava, venipuncture, venous || L vēna : vein
vend– ●see ven–4
venge– {revenge}: avenge, revenge, vengeance, vengeful ●revanchism ●same as vindic– || OFr venger : to avenge L vindicare
vent–1 {to come}: advent, adventitious, adventure, circumvent, convent, convention, conventional, event, eventually, eventuate, invent, invention, inventory, peradventure, prevent, subvention ●same as ven–1 || L ventum, pp. of venire : to come
vent–2 {wind}: vent, ventage, ventail, ventifact, ventilate || L ventus : wind ventilare : to wave, to fan, to brandish in the air
ventr– {abdomen}: venter, ventral, ventricle, ventricose, ventriloquist || L venter (gen. ventris) : the belly, the stomach
ver–1 {truth}: aver, cinéma vérité, in vino veritas, Vera, veracity, verdict, veridical, verify, verily, verisimilitude, veritable, Veronica, very || L vērus : true, real, genuine, just, reasonable vēritās : truthfulness & vērum : the truth, reality
ver–2 ●see rever–
ver–3 ●see sever–2
verb– {word}: adverb, proverb, verb, verbal, verbalize, verbatim, verbiage, verbigeration, verbose, verbum sat sapienti est ●unrelated: verbena || L verb : word verbōsus : wordy, verbose
verd– {green}: biliverdin, Cape Verde, Mesa Verde, paloverde, verdant, verdigris, verdure ●Vermont ●same as vir–3 || OFr verd : green VL virdis L viridis : green virīre : to be green
verg– {to bend, to turn}: converge, diverge, verge (to tend or incline) || L vergere : to turn, to bend, to be inclined
verm– {worm}: vermicelli, vermicide, vermicular, vermiculite, vermiform, vermifuge, Vermilinguia, vermilion, vermin ●varmint || OFr vermine L vermis : worm dim. vermiculus : small worm, grub
vern– {springtime}: Laverne, vernal, vernation, Vernon ●compare estiv–, hibern– || L vernālis : belonging to spring vernus : of spring, spring-like vēr : spring
vers– {to turn}: adversary, adverse, adversity, animadversion, anniversary, anteversion, averse, aversion, controversy, conversant, conversation, converse, conversion, divers, diverse, diversify, diversion, inverse, obverse, perverse, perversion, retroversion, reverse, reversion, subversion, subversive, tergiversate, transverse, traverse, universal, universe, university, versatile, verse, version, verso, versus, vice versa ●varsity ●same as vert– ●compare rect– || L versus : a turning versum, pp of vertere : to turn, to turn around freq. verso (or vorso) : to turn about often, to twist round; versātilis : turning round, revolving
vert– {to turn}: advert, advertise, avert, controvert, convert, convertible, divert, divertissement, evert, extrovert, inadvertent, incontrovertible, introvert, invert, invertebrate, obvert, pervert, revert, subvert, vertebra, vertebrate, vertex, vertical, vertiginous, vertigo ●divorce, vortex ●same as vers– || L vertere : to turn, to turn around (pp. versum) vertex (or vortex) : a whirl, the crown of the head; vertīgo : a turning around, a whirling
vesic– {bladder}: vesica, vesical, vesicant, vesicle, vesicular || L vēsīca : bladder, bladder-like object dim. vēsīcula : a small bladder
vesp– {wasp}: vespiary, vespid, vespine ●It. vespa || L vespa : wasp
vesper– {evening}: vesper, vesperal, Vespers, vespertilionid, vespertine || L vesper : evening vespertīnus : of evening
vest– {clothing}: divest, divestiture, invest, investiture, transvestite, travesty, vest, vested, vestment, vestry ●unrelated: vestibule || L vestis : garment, covering, blanket
vesta– {Vesta, Roman goddess of the hearth}: Vesta, vestal || L Vesta : goddess of the hearth and domestic life
vestig– {footprint, trace}: investigate, vestige, vestigial || L vestīgium : footprint, track, trace vestīgare : to track, to trace
veter– {old}: inveterate, veteran ●unrelated: veterinary || L veteris, gen. of vetus : old, ancient veterānus : old, veteran
vexill– {a standard, a flag}: vexillary, vexillate, vexillology, vexillum || L vexillum : a standard, a flag dim. of vēlum : veil, covering, awning, curtain IE *weg– : to weave, textile
vi–1 {road, path, way}: deviate, devious, impervious, obviate, obvious, pervious, previous, trivial, via, Via Appia, Via Dolorosa, viaduct ●same as voy–1 || L via : way, road, highway, way (figuratively)
vi–2 {life}: viable, viand ●Fr. vie ●same as vit–, viv– || Fr vie L vīta : life vīvere (pp. victum) : to live, to be alive IE *gwei–, *gweiə– : to live
vi–3 {to invite, to challenge}: invite, vie || L invītare : to invite OFr envier : to invite, to vie in games ME aphetic vien : to vie
vibr– {to shake, to vibrate}: vibraculum, vibrant, vibraphone, vibrate, vibrato, vibrio, vibrissa || L vibrare (prp. vibrans) : to cause vibration, to shake, to tremble, to vibrate
vic–1 {fault, offense}: vice (evil), vicious ●vitiate || ME vice OFr L vitium : fault, defect, blemish vitiare : to injure, to damage vitiōsus : faulty, defective, bad, morally corrupt, wicked
vic–2 {change, to substitute}: vicar, vicariate, vicarious, vice (instead of), vice admiral, vice president, viceregal, viceroy, vice versa, vicissitude ●viscount || L vice vicis : change, interchange, alternate vīcārius : taking another’s place, substituted, vicarious; vicissitudō : change, alteration
vic–3 {twenty}: vicenary, vicennial || L vīciēs : twenty times vīginti : twenty
vicin– {neighbor}: vicinage, vicinal, vicinity || L vīcīnus : near, neighboring ( vīcus : district or quarter of a town, village, hamlet) vīcīnitās : neighborhood, vicinity
vict– {to conquer}: convict, conviction, evict, victor, Victor, Victoria, victorious, victory ●unrelated: victim ●same as vinc– || L victum, pp. of vinco : to conquer, to vanquish victor : victor, conqueror; victōria : victory
vid– {to see}: evidence, evident, invidious, Montevideo, provide, providence, quod vide (abbr. q.v.), videlicet (abbr. viz.), video, vidicon “veni, vidi, vici” ●belvedere ●same as view–, vis–, voy–2 || L vidēre (pp. vīsum, 1st pers. sing. video) : to see, to perceive
view– {to see}: interview, preview, purview, review, view, viewpoint ●déjà vu, revue ●same as vid–, vis–, voy–2 || ME vewe OFr veue veoir : to see L vidēre : to see
vigil– {alert, lively, watchful}: vigil, vigilant, vigilante ●same as veill– ●see also veget–, vigor– || L vigilare (prp. vigilans) : to be awake, to keep watch vigil : wakeful, watchful
vigor– {vigor, force, energy}: invigorate, vigor, vigoroso, vigorous ●ravigote ●see also veget–, veill–, vigil– || L vigor : vigor, energy vigēre : to be vigorous, to thrive, to flourish
vil– {cheap, worthless, base}: revile, vile, vilify, vilipend || L vīlis : cheap, worth little
vill–1 {country house, farm}: villa, village, villain, villainy, villein, –ville (suffix for town names) || L villa : country house, estate, farm
vill–2 {shaggy hair, fleece, wool}: microvillus, villiform, villous, villus || L villus : shaggy hair
vin–1, vint– {vine, wine}: in vino veritas, vinaigrette, vine, vinegar, vineyard, viniculture, Vinland, vin rosé, vintage, vintner, vinyl ●vignette ●Ital., Sp. vino ●Fr. vin ●Ger. Wein || L vīnum : wine vīnea : vineyard; vīnētum : vinyard; vīnitor : vinedresser
vin–2 {friend}: Alvin, Irvin, Marvin, Melvin, Mervin ●same as win– || OHG wini : friend
vinc– {to conquer}: convince, evince, in hoc signo vinces, invincible, province, Vincent, vincible ●vanquish, “veni, vidi, vici” ●same as vict– || L vincere (pp. victum) : to conquer, to vanquish
vindic– {revenge}: vindicate, vindictive ●vendetta ●part of dic–1 ●same as venge– || L vindicare : to lay a legal claim vim † + dīcere : to speak
vint– ●see vin–1
viol–1 {force}: inviolable, inviolate, violate, violent ●unrelated: violet || L violare : to use violence, to violate, to injure ( violentus : violent, furious) vis : force, power, strength
viol–2 {a family of stringed instruments}: viol, viola, violin, violoncello (hence: cello), violone ●unrelated: violet || It viol OProv viula : viol
vir–1 {man, male}: triumvirate, virago, virile, virtue, virtuoso, virtuous || L vir : man, male adult person virilis : manly, male; virtus : manliness, worth, virtue
vir–2 {poison}: viral, viricide, virion, virology, virulent, virus || L vīrus : slimy liquid, poison, venom vīrulentus : poisonous
vir–3 {green}: vireo, virescence, viridescent, viridian ●same as verd– || L viridis : green virīre : to be green
virg– {green twig, rod, stick}: virga, virgate, virgulate, virgule ●verge (edge, brink) ●unrelated: Virgil, virgin || L virga : green twig, rod, stick dim. virgula : little twig, small rod
vis– {to see}: advise, improvise, invisible, provision, proviso, revise, supervise, television, visa, visage, vis-à-vis, visible, vision, visit, visor, vista, visual ●advice ●same as vid–, view–, voy–2 || L visum, pp. of vidēre : to see vīsio (gen. vīsiōnis) : a seeing, view; vīsere : to look at carefully, to contemplate vīsitare : to see often, to visit
visc– {birdlime, sticky substance}: viscid, viscometer, viscose, viscosity, viscous || L viscum : mistletoe, birdlime made from mistletoe berries
viscer– {internal body organs, intestines}: eviscerate, viscera, visceral, visceromotor || L visceris, gen. of viscus (pl. viscera) : internal organs of the body
vit– {life}: curriculum vitae, La Dolce Vita, revitalize, vital, vitality, vitamin ●victual ●same as vi–2, viv– || L vīta : life vīvere (pp. victum) : to live, to be alive victus : manner of life, means of life, food victuālis : pertaining to food IE *gwei–, *gweiə– : to live
vitell– {egg yolk}: vitellin, vitelline, vitellus ●see also vel–3 || L vitellus : egg yolk; orig. a little calf, as a term of endearment; dim. of vitulus : bull-calf
vitr– {glass}: vitreous, vitrescent, vitrify, vitriol, vitriolic, in vitro || L vitrum : glass vitreus : made of glass LL vitreolus : glassy ML vitriolum : vitriol (from its glassy appearance)
viv– {to live, living, lively}: bon vivant, convivial, modus vivendi, redivivus, revive, survive, viva!, vivace, vivacious, Vivian, vivid, vivify, viviparous, vivisection ●same as vi–2, vit– || L vīvere : to live, to be alive vīvus : alive; vīvidus : full of life, animated; vīvax (gen. vīvācis) : brisk, lively IE *gwei–, *gweiə– : to live
voc– {voice, to call, to summon}: advocate, agent provocateur, avocation, convocation, equivocal, equivocate, evocative, invocation, irrevocable, provocative, sotto voce, vocable, vocabulary, vocal, vocation, vocative, vociferous ●voice, vowel ●same as vok–, vouch–, vox– || L vōcis, gen. of vox : voice vōcālis : vocal; vocare : to call, to summon vocātio : a summoning, a calling; vocābulum : a name, an appellation
void– {empty}: avoid, devoid, void ●see also vac–, van–1, vast– || ME voide OFr vuide VL vocitus for L vocīvus, var. of vacīvus : empty vacare : to be empty, void
vok– {to call, to summon}: evoke, invoke, provoke, revoke ●same as voc–, vouch–, vox– || ME –voken (comb. form) MFr –voquer L vocare : to call, to summon
vol–1 {to fly}: volant, Volare, volatile, vole (card games), volitation, volley, volleyball || L volare : to fly volātilis : winged, flying, fleeting, transitory
vol–2 {to will, to wish}: benevolent, Deo Volente, involuntary, malevolent, volition, voluntary, volunteer || L volo : I wish voluntās : wish, will, inclination voluntāris : voluntary
volcan–, vulcan– {Vulcan, god of fire}: volcanic, volcano, volcanology, vulcanian, vulcanism, vulcanize, vulcanology || L Volcānus, Vulcānus : Vulcan, Roman god of fire and metalworking
volt–1 {volt, unit of electromotive force; after Alessandro Volta}: photovoltaic, volt, voltage, voltaic, voltmeter ●see also Appendix F || Alessandro Volta (1745–1827), Italian physicist who worked with electricity
volt–2 ●see volv–
volu– ●see volv–
volv–, volt–2, volu– {to turn, to roll}: convolution, demivolt, devolution, devolve, evolution, evolve, intervolve, involucre, involute, involve, revolution, revolve, volte-face, voluble, volume, voluminous, Volvo™ ●vault, vulva || L volvere (1st pers. sing. volvo, pp. volūtum) : to roll, to wind, to turn around volūmen : a roll, hence: a scroll, a book; volūbilis : rolling, revolving, changeable
vor– {to devour}: carnivorous, herbivore, omnivorous, voracious ●devour || L vorare : to eat greedily, to devour vorax (gen. vorācis) : gluttonous, voracious
vot– {to speak solemnly, to vow}: devote, devotion, votary, vote, votive ●devout || L vōtum, pp. of vovēre : to vow, to promise vōtīvus : relating to a vow, votive; vōtum : a vow
vouch– {to speak, to call}: vouch, voucher, vouchsafe ●same as voc–, vok–, vox– || ME vouchen OFr vocher L vocare : to call, to summon vox : voice
vox– {voice}: Audiovox™, Magnavox™, vox populi ●same as voc–, vok–, vouch– || L vox : voice, a call vocare : to call, to summon
voy–1, vey–1 {road, way}: convey, conveyor, convoy, envoy, voyage ●invoice ●same as vi–1 || OFr stem –voier : travel VL –viare L via : road, way, journey • voyage OFr veiage LL viaticum : journey LL viaticum viaticus via)
voy–2, vey–2 {to see}: clairvoyance, purvey, survey, voyeur ●envy, voila! ●same as vid–, view–, vis– || OFr voir or veirer : to see L vidēre : to see, to perceive
vulcan– ●see volcan–
vulg– {common, ordinary, public}: divulge, vulgar, Vulgate || L vulgāris vulgus, volgus : the common people, the masses, the public vulgo : to make common, to make public, to spread
vulner– {wound, injury}: vulnerable, vulnerary || L vulnerare : to wound, to injure vulnus : a wound
vuls– {to pluck, to pull}: avulse, convulse, evulsion, revulsion || L vulsum, pp. of vellere : to pluck, to pull
* Unattested, hypothesized
† Unknown origin
112 entries found.
Copyright © 2004–07 Daniel M. Short. All Rights Reserved.
