Membean Rootcasts

The Latin root word *spect* and its variant *spic* both mean "see." These roots are the word origin of a fair number of English vocabulary words, including [*spect*]ator, re[*spect*], au[*spic*]ious and su[*spic*]ion. The root *spect* is easily recalled through the word [*spect*]acles, whose function is giving you the ability to "see," and *spic* is con[*spic*]uous, or easily "seen" through, yes, con[*spic*]uous!

The Latin root word *cred* means "believe." This Latin root is the word origin of a good number of English vocabulary words, including [*cred*]it, [*cred*]o, and [*cred*]entials. The Latin root word *cred* is easily recalled through the English word in[*cred*]ible, for if something in[*cred*]ible happens it can hardly be "believed."

The Greek root word *crat* means "rule," and the English suffix *-cracy* means "rule by." This Greek root and suffix is the word origin of a good number of English vocabulary words, including the familiar terms demo[*crat*] and demo[*cracy*]. The Greek root word *crat* and suffix *-cracy* are easily recalled through these two English words, "demo[*cracy*]" meaning "rule by" the people, and "demo[*crat*]" being someone who specifically supports "rule" by the people.

The Latin root word *flor* means "flower." This Latin root is the word origin of a good number of English vocabulary words, including [*flor*]ist, [*flor*]al, and [*Flor*]ida. The Latin root word *flor* is easily recalled through the word [*flor*]ist, for a "[*flor*]ist" is the person who sells the "flowers" that people buy on major holidays, such as Valentine's Day.

The Latin root word *nov* means "new." This Latin root is the word origin of a good number of English vocabulary words, including [*nov*]el, super[*nov*]a, and re[*nov*]ate. The Latin root word *nov* is easily recalled through the English word [*nov*]el, for a [*nov*]el experience is one that has never happened before and so is "new" to you.

The Latin root word *flu* means "flow." This Latin root is the word origin of a good number of English vocabulary words, including *flu*, in[*flu*]ence, and [*flu*]id. The Latin root word *flu* is easily recalled through the English word [*flu*]id, for a [*flu*]id is a state of matter which, if not contained, "flows."

The Latin root word *mort* means "death." This Latin root is the word origin of a good number of English vocabulary words, including [*mort*]gage, [*mort*]uary, and im[*mort*]al. The Latin root word *mort* is easily recalled through the word [*mort*]al, for a "[*mort*]al" is someone whom "death" will claim one day.

Prefixes are key morphemes in English vocabulary that begin words. The English prefix *non-*, which means "not," appears in hundreds of English vocabulary words, such as [*non*]sense, [*non*]fat, and [*non*]returnable. You can remember that the prefix *non-* means "not" via the word [*non*]poisonous, for a substance that is [*non*]poisonous is "not" poisonous.

The Latin root word *verb* means "word." This Latin root is the word origin of a good number of English vocabulary words, including *verb*, ad[*verb*], and pro[*verb*]. The Latin root word *verb* is easily recalled through the English word *verb*, for a *verb* is simply a "word" which tells what's going on in a sentence, usually an action of some sort.

Prefixes are key morphemes in English vocabulary that begin words. The English prefix *ab-*, which means "away," appears in many English vocabulary words, such as [*ab*]sent, [*ab*]duct, and [*ab*]solute." You can remember that the prefix *ab-* means "away" via the word [*ab*]sent, for someone who is [*ab*]sent is "away" from a place, such as school or work.