Sample Notes: Greek Words With Greek Roots
Greek Words With Greek Roots – AS/A Level English Language Notes
1. Overview of Greek Influence on English
- Greek has contributed heavily to English vocabulary, especially in:
- Science
- Mathematics
- Medicine
- Philosophy
- Arts
- Many Greek words entered English through Latin or directly via academic writing.
2. Common Greek Roots and Their Meanings
| Greek Root | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| auto | self | autobiography, automobile |
| bio | life | biology, biography |
| chrono | time | chronology, synchronize |
| demo | people | democracy, demography |
| geo | earth | geography, geology |
| graph / gram | write / record | autograph, telegram, diagram |
| logos / logy | word / study | dialogue, biology, theology |
| phon / phono | sound | phonetics, telephone, symphony |
| photo | light | photograph, photosynthesis |
| psyche | mind / soul | psychology, psychiatry |
| scope | see / view | microscope, telescope, periscope |
| tele | far | television, telephone, telepathy |
| therm | heat | thermometer, thermal, thermostat |
| micro | small | microscope, microbe, microeconomics |
| macro | large | macroeconomics, macronutrient |
| hydro | water | hydroelectric, hydration, hydrology |
| neo | new | neologism, neonatal, neoclassical |
| pathos / path | feeling / suffering | sympathy, empathy, pathology |
| technē | art / skill | technology, technique, technical |
3. Word Formation Using Greek Roots
- Combining Forms: Many Greek roots combine easily with other morphemes:
- Telephone = tele (far) + phone (sound)
- Autograph = auto (self) + graph (write)
- Scientific Coinages: Many scientific terms are pure Greek constructions:
- e.g., heterozygous (hetero = different, zygous = pair)
4. Fields with Heavy Greek Influence
Science
- Biology, Chemistry, Physics use:
- atom (atomos = indivisible), cell (kella), energy (energeia)
Medicine
- Cardiology (kardia = heart)
- Dermatology (derma = skin)
- Neurology (neuron = nerve)
Mathematics
- Geometry (geo = earth, metron = measure)
- Arithmetic (arithmos = number)
Philosophy
- Ethics (ethos = character)
- Metaphysics (meta = beyond, physics = nature)
Technology
- Computer terminology like algorithm (via Arabic, but traced back to Greek influence)
- Telecommunication (tele = distant, communis = sharing)
5. Greek Prefixes and Suffixes
| Prefix / Suffix | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| anti- | against | antibiotic, antidote |
| hyper- | over / excessive | hyperactive, hypertension |
| hypo- | under / below | hypothermia, hypoallergenic |
| mono- | one / single | monologue, monogamy |
| poly- | many | polygon, polytheism |
| -logy | study of | biology, geology |
| -phobia | fear of | arachnophobia, claustrophobia |
| -phile | love of | bibliophile, technophile |
| -scope | instrument for viewing | microscope, horoscope |
6. Greek vs Latin Roots in English
| Aspect | Greek Roots | Latin Roots |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Use | Very common in technical terms | Used in law, government, religion |
| Construction | More compound words with clear roots | More prefix-root-suffix based |
| Examples | biology, microscope, thermodynamics | contract, dictionary, corporal |
7. Importance in English Language Analysis
- Lexical Analysis: Recognizing roots helps in breaking down complex words.
- Etymology: Provides insight into word origins and shifts in meaning.
- Contextual Use: Greek-derived terms often suggest a formal, academic tone.
- Synonym Nuance: Greek-origin words often carry precision (e.g., “hydration” vs. “drinking”).
8. Typical Exam Question Applications
- Commenting on register and formality
- Tracing the origin of scientific lexis
- Analyzing semantic fields
- Comparing affixation and compounding
- Language change and neologism creation (e.g., tech terms)