Membean Rootcasts

The Latin root word *ver* means "truth" or "true." This root is the word origin of a fair number of English vocabulary words, including [*ver*]dict and [*ver*]acity. The root *ver* is easily recalled through the word [*ver*]y, for when something is [*ver*]y good, it's "truly" good.

Prefixes are key morphemes in English vocabulary that begin words. The Greek prefix *a-* and its variant *an-* mean "not." An easy way to remember that the prefix *a-* means "not" is through the word [*a*]political, which describes a person who is "not" inclined to favor politics. Someone who is [*an*]onymous is going around "not" having a name.

The Latin root word *son* means "sound." This root is the word origin of a fair number of English vocabulary words, including [*son*]ar and [*son*]ata. The root *son* is easily recalled through the word [*son*]ic, for a [*son*]ic boom makes a deafening "sound."

The Latin root word *lev* means "light in weight." This root is the word origin of a fair number of English vocabulary words, including e[*lev*]ator and [*lev*]er. The root *lev* is easily recalled through the word [*lev*]itate: to make someone so "light" in weight that she can float above the ground.

The Latin root word *scrib* and its variant *script* both mean "write." These roots are the word origin of a fair number of English vocabulary words, including [*scrib*]e, de[*scrib*]e, post[*script*], and manu[*script*]. The root *scrib* is easily recalled through the word [*scrib*]e, whose job is "writing," and *script*, a "written" document.

Prefixes are key morphemes in English vocabulary that begin words. The prefix *hyper-* means "over." Examples using this prefix include [*hyper*]ventilate and [*hyper*]sensitive. An easy way to remember that the prefix *hyper-* means "over" is through the word [*hyper*]active, which describes a person who is "overly" active in some way.

Prefixes are key morphemes in English vocabulary that begin words. The Greek prefix *hypo-* is an important morpheme of the English language. Examples using this prefix include [*hypo*]thermia and [*hypo*]critical. An easy way to remember that the prefix *hypo-* means "under" is through the adjective [*hypo*]dermic, which refers to going "under" the skin, especially when being given a shot.

The Latin root word *ann* and its variant *enn* both mean "year." These roots are the word origin of various English vocabulary words, including [*ann*]iversary and cent[*enn*]ial. The roots *ann* and *enn* are easily remembered through the words [*ann*]iversary, which is the turning of another "year," and mill[*enn*]ium, a period of 1000 "years."

The English prefix *tri-*, derived from both Greek and Latin, means "three." Some common English vocabulary words that contain this prefix include [*tri*]athlon, [*tri*]o, and [*tri*]angle. You can easily remember that the prefix *tri-* means "three" via the word [*tri*]cycle, which is a bicycle with "three" wheels instead of two that promotes stability for young riders.

The English prefixes *syn-* along with its variant *sym-*, derived from Greek, mean "together." You can remember *syn-* easily by thinking of [*syn*]onym, which is a word that goes "together" with another word because it has a similar meaning. You can remember *sym-* by thinking of [*sym*]phony, which is a group of instruments making sound "together."