Stem

Meaning

Examples

circum

(around)

circumference

com

(together)

combine

tri

(three)

triangular, triad

aqua

(water)

aquamarine

cise

(cut)

criticize

auto

(self)

autograph

scribe

(write)

inscribe, scribble

olgy

(science)

mythology

neo

(new)

neoclassic

ad

(to)

adhesive

cede

(go)

recede

centri

(center)

concentric, eccentric

anthropo

(man)

anthropomorphic, anthropoid

spec

(look)

spectacles, spectrum

duct

(lead)

reproduction

pend

(hang)

pendant

photo

(light)

photograph, photogenic

penta

(five)

pentagram

vid

(look)

video

ex

(out)

eccentric

poly

(many)

polymorphic

re

(again)

retouch,

phon

(sound)

symphony, cacophony

morph

(shape)

polymorphic

bene

(good)

benefactor

corpse

(body)

corpse

nov

(new)

novice, novel, renovate, innovation

magn

(great)

magnum opus

ver

(true)

cinema verite

pop

(people)

poplular

ism

(doctrine)

Cubism, Pointillism, Expressionism, Modernism

sur

(over)

surface

contra

(against)

contrast,

mar

(sea)

ultramarine

prim

(first)

primary colors, prima donna

luc

(light)

translucent,

soph

(wisdom)

philosophy, sophisticated

trans

(across)

translucent, transfer

polis

(city)

acropolis

dia

(across)

diagonal

acro

(high, point, or tip)

acronym, acropolis

plasto

(molded)

plastic, plaster, plasticity, plasticine

anim

(mind)

animated

nym

(name)

pseudonym, anonymous, acronym

meta

(change)

metamorphosis, metaphor

ultra

(beyond)

ultramarine, ultraviolet

oid

(appearance)

android, anthropoid

apt

(fit)

adapt, adaptation

tact

(touch)

tactile, contact

voc

(voice)

vocal, sotto voce

a

(not)

amorphous, achromatic

caco

(bad)

cacophony

graph

(write)

autograph, photography

lith

(rock)

lithograph, monolith

in

(in or not)

inscribe