Root Words and Their Meanings

Front

act

Back

To do, drive, or perform (e.g., action, actor).

Front

au

Back

Relating to hearing or sound (e.g., audio, audience).

Front

ben

Back

Good or well (e.g., benefit, benevolent).

Front

bio

Back

Life or living (e.g., biology, biography).

Front

camp

Back

Field or plain (e.g., campaign, encamp).

Front

cant, cent

Back

To sing or chant (e.g., cantor, accent).

Front

cede, ceed, cease, cess

Back

To go, yield, or surrender (e.g., recede, succeed, cease, process).

Front

centr

Back

Center (e.g., central, eccentric).

Front

chart, cart

Back

Map or paper (e.g., chart, cartography).

Front

clar

Back

Clear (e.g., clarity, declare).