Appendix:Ancient Greek words with English derivatives

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This is a list of Ancient Greek words with derivatives in English (and other modern languages).

Contents


[edit] Ancient Greek Words with Modern Derivatives

The Citation form shown is the form most commonly shown in dictionaries, but this form is often unrepresentative of the word as used to form a compound word, hence the Root form is also shown.

The "classical" transliteration as described above is used for both the Citation form and the Root form.

The Greek words are shown in polytonic orthography, in other words showing the breathings and the fuller range of accents, as used in Ancient Greek.

[edit] Α

(h)a

Citation form Root form Meaning English Derivative
ἀ- a- ἀ- a- without, not adiabatic, agnostic, ahistorical, amoral, anaemia, anaesthesia, anhydrous, anonymous, apathy, asymmetric, asymptote, atrophic
ἄβυσσος abussos ἄβυσσ- abyss- bottomless abyss, abyssal
ἀγγείον angeion ἄγγειο- angio- vessel angiosperm, angiocardiography
ἄγγελος angelos ἄγγελ- angel- messenger archangel, evangelist
ἄγω agein ἄγω- agō- to drive, lead pedagogue, anagoge, mystagogue
ἅγιος hagios ἁγιο- hagio- holy hagiography
ἄγκυρα ankyra ἄγκυρ- anchor- anchor anchoring, anchorage
ἀγορά agora ἀγορ- agor- marketplace agoraphobia
ἀγρός agros ἀγρο- agro- tilled land agrobiology, agronomics, agriculture, agrology
ἀγωνία agōnia ἀγωνι- agōn- agony agonize, antagonistic, agony
ἀήρ aēr ἀέρο- aero-
air-
air aerodynamics, anaerobic
airplane
αθλητής athlētēs αθλητ- athlet- contestant in the games athlete, athletics
αἳμα haima αἳμ- em-
hem-
blood anemia, anemic, hemophilia, hemorrhage
αἰσθητικός aisthētikos αἰσθη- aisthē- to perceive aesthetic, anaesthesia
Ἀκαδημία Akadēmia Ἀκαδημ- akadēm- the school where Plato taught,
the field of Academos
academy, academic
ἄκανθος akanthos ἄκανθ- akanth- thorn plant acanthous, acanthocephala
ἀκάρι akari ἀκαρ- akar- a kind of mite acarid, acariasis
ἀκμή akmē ἀκ- ac- highest point acme, acrid
ἀκόλουθος akoluthos ἀκόλουθ- akoluth- follower anacoluthon
ἀκούω akouein ἀκουστικ- acoustic- to hear acoustics, acoustic nerve
ἄκρον akron ἀκρο- acro- edge, topmost acronym, acrobat
ἀκτίς aktis ἀκτινo- aktino- ray actinometer, actinozoa, actinium
ἀλέξω alexein ἀλεξ- alex- to ward off Alexander, alexipharmic
ἀλληγορέω allēgorein ἀλληγορ- allēgor- to interpret allegorically allegory
ἄλληλον allēlon ἀλληλο- allēlo- of one another allelomorph, parallelogram
ἄλλος allos ἀλλο- allo-
alle-
other, different allotropy, allocholesterol
allergy
ἅλς hals ἁλ- hal- salt halogen
ἄλφα alpha ἄλφα- alpha- alpha alphanumeric
ἀλώπηξ alōpēx ἀλωπ- alop- fox alopecia
ἀμαύρωσις amaurōsis ἀμαυρω- amauro- blacken amaurosis fugax
ἀμβλύς amblus ἀμβλυ- ambly- dim amblyopia, amblygonite
ἄμβροτος ambrotos ἀμβρο- ambro- immortal ambrosia, ambrotype
ἄμβων ambōn ἀμβω- ambo- raised edge ambo
ἀμμωνιακός ammōniakos ἀμμονια- ammōnia- from Ammōn ammonia, ammoniacal
ἀμνησία amnēsia ἀμνησ- amnēs- oblivion amnesia, amnesty
ἀμνός amnos ἀμν- amn- lamb amnion, amniotic
ἀμοιβή amoebē ἀμοιβή- amoeb- change amoeba, amoebic
ἄμορφος amorphos ἄμορφ- amorph- shapeless amorphous, amorphism
ἄμυλον amylon ἄμυλ- amyl- starch amyl, amyl alcohol
ἀμφιβάλλω amphiballein ἀμφιβo- amphibo- to throw on either side, to doubt amphibole, amphibology
ἀμφί amphi ἀμφι- amphi- on both sides amphibious, amphioxus
ἀμφίβολος amphibolos ἀμφιβολ- amphibol- doubtful amphibole, amphibolite
ἀμφιθέατρον amphitheatron ἀμφιθέατ- amphitheat- theater amphitheater, amphitheatric
Ἀμφικτυονία Amphiktyonia ἀμφικτυονι- amphiktyoni- theater Amphictyony, amphictyonic
Ἀμφορεύς amphoreus Ἀμφορ- amphor- bearer amphora
ἀμφότερος amphoteros ἀμφότερ- amphoter- each of two amphoteric
ἀνά ana ἀνα- ana- again, backward, upward anabolism, anachronism, anaplasia
ἀναθεματίζω anathematizein ἀναθεμα- anathema- ban, curse, or excommunication anathema, anathematize
ἀνάκλισις anaklisis ἀνακλει- anakli- to lean back anaclitism, anaclisis
ἀναλέγω analegein ἀναλε- anale- to gather analects
ἀναληπτικός analeptikos ἀναληπτ- analept- restorative analemma, analeptic
ἀνάλογος analogos ἀνάλογ- analog- proportionate analog, analogy
ἀναλύω analuein ἀνάλυ- analy- to loosen, to simplify analysis, analytical
ἄναρθρος anarthros ἀναρθρ- anarthr- not articulated anarthria, anarthrous
ἄναρχος anarkhos ἀναρχ- anarch- without a ruler anarchy, anarchism
ἀνατολή anatolē ἀνατολ- anatol- East Anatolia, Anatolian
ἀνατομία anatomia ἀνατομι- anatomi- dissection anatomical, anatomist
ἀνατρέπω anatrepein ἀνατρεπ- anatrep- to reverse anatropous
ἀναχρονισμός anachronismos ἀναχρονισ- anachronis- wrong time reference anachronistic, anachronism
ἄνεμος anemos ἄνεμο- anemo- wind anemometer, anemone
ἀνήρ anēr ἀνδρ- andr- man (male human) androgen, android
ἄνθος anthos ἀνθο- antho- flower anthology, chrysanthemum
ἄνθρωπος anthrōpos ἀνθρωπο- anthrōpo- human being anthropology, anthropomorphism
ἀνιέναι anienai ἀνι- ani- to go up anion
ἄνισος anisos ἀνισο- aniso- unequal, dissimilar anisotropic, anisometric, anisometropia
ἄνοδος anodos ἄνοδ- anod- way up anode, anodising
ἀντί anti ἀντι- anti- opposite, counter antidote, antimatter, antiaircraft
ἀντιτίθημι antitithenai ἀντιθ- antith- to oppose antithesis, antithetical
ἀντίφωνος antiphonos ἀντιφων- antiphon- sounding in answer antiphon, anthem
ἄντρον antron ἀντρ- antr- cave, cavity antrum
ἀντωνυμω antōnymein ἀντωνυμ- antonym- to have an opposite denomination antonym, antonymous
ἀνώμαλος anōmalos ἀνώμαλ- anōmal- uneven anomaly
ἀνώνυμος anōnumos ἀνόνυμ- anonym- nameless anonymity, anonymous
ἄξιος axios ἀξιο- axio- worthy axiology, axiom
ἄξων axōn ἀξο- axo-
axi-
axis axoneme , axoplasm, axisymmetric
ἀόριστος aoristos ἀοριστ- aorist- indefinite aoristic, aorist
ἀορτή aortē ἀορτ- aort- the great artery aortic, aorta
ἀπάτη apatē ἀπατ- apat- deceit apatite, apatosaurus
ἁπλούς haplous ἁπλο- haplo- single haploid, haplodiploid
ἀπό apo ἀπο- apo- away from apology, apostrophe, apocrypha
ἀπόγειον apogeion ἀπογει- apogei- far from the earth apogee, apogean
ἀποκαλύπτω apokaluptein ἀποκαλυπ- apocalyp- to reveal apocalypse
ἀποκόπτω apokoptein ἀποκoπ- apokop- to cut apocopation, apocopate
ἀπολογία apologia ἀπολογ- apolog- apology apology, apologize, apologue
ἀπόμιξις apomixis ἀπομιξ- apomix- without mixing apomixis, apomictic
ἀποπλήσω apoplēssein ἀποπλη- apople- to cripple by a stroke apoplexy, apoplectic
ἀποστάτης apostatēs ἀποστατ- apostat- defector apostate, apostasy
ἀποστέλλω apostellein ἀποστ- apost- to send apostle, apostolic
ἀράχνη arakhnē ἀραχνη arakhnē- spider arachnid
ἄργιλλος argillos ἀργιλ- argil- clay argillite, argillaceous
Ἂρης Arēs ἀρεο- areo- planet Mars areocentric, areology
ἀριθμός arithmos ἀριθμ- arithm- number arithmetic, logarithm
ἄριστος aristos ἀριστο- arist- best aristocracy
ἁρμονία harmonia ἁρμονι- armoni- agreement, harmony harmony, enharmonic
ἁρρυθμία arrhuthmia ἁρρυθμ- arrythm- lack of rhythm arrhythmia, arrhythmic
ἀρχαῖος arkhaios ἀρχαιο- arkhaio- ancient archaeology, archetype
ἀρχή arche ἀρχη- archi- chief, authority archbishop, anarchy
ἀρχιτέκτων arkhitektōn ἀρχιτεκτ- architect- chief builder architecture, architect
ἄρωμα arōma ἀρωμα- aroma- spice aroma, aromatic compounds
ἀσθένεια astheneia ἀσθεν- asthen- weakness asthenia, asthenopia
ἀσπάραγος aspharagos ἀσπαραγ- asparag- asparagus asparagine acid
ἀσπίς aspis ἀσπ- asp- shield asp
ἄσθμα asthma ἀσθμα- asthma- asthma asthmatic
ἄσυλον asulon ἀσυλ- asyl- sanctuary asylum
ἀσφυξία asphuxia ἀσφυξ- asphyx- stopping of the pulse asphyxiant
ἀστήρ astēr ἀστερ- aster- star asteroid, asterisk
ἄστρον astron ἀστρο- astro- constellation astrology, astronaut
ἀτμόσφαιρα atmosphaera ἀτμοσφαιρ- atmospher- vapor + sphere atmosphere, atmospheric
Ἄτλας Atlas ἀτλα- atla- name of a Titan atlas, Atlantic
ἄτομος atomos ἀτομ- atom- un + cut atomic, atomizer
αὐθεντικός authentikos αὐθεντικ- authentic- original authentication, authentic
αὐστηρός austēros αὐστηρ- auster- harsh, bitter austerity
αὐταρχία autarchia αὐταρχ- autarch- absolute governing autarchy, autarchic
αὐτάρκεια autarkia αὐτάρκ- autark- self-sufficiency autarky
αὐξάνω auxanein αὐξ- aux- to increase auxin, auxesis,
αὐτός autos αὐτο- auto- self (reflexive pronoun) autonomy, automatic
ἀφαιρέω aphairein ἀφαιρ- apher- take away apheresis, hemaphairesis
ἁψίς hapsis ἁψ- aps- arch apse, apsidal

[edit] Β

b

Citation form Root form Meaning English Derivative
βάρβαρος barbaros βαρβαρο- barbaro- stranger, non-Greek barbarian
βαρύς barus βαρυ- baru- heavy baritone
βίος bios βιο- bio- life biology
βραχύς brachus βραχυ- brachu- short brachycephalic

[edit] Γ

g

Citation form Root form Meaning English Derivative
γαῖα, γῆ gaia, gē γεα- gea- earth geology, Gaia, geometry
γάμος gamos γαμ- gam- marriage polygamy, gamete
γέννησις genesis γέν- gen- to give birth, beget genetic
γιγνώσκω gignōskein γνῶ- gnō-
gnē-
to know diagnostic, agnostic
γίγας gigas γιγ- giga- huge, enormous Giga- (prefix) as in gigabyte, gigantic
γράφω graphein γραφ- graph- to write graphics, geography
γυνή gunē γυναικ- gunaik- woman polygyny, gynecology misogynist

[edit] Δ

d

Citation form Root form Meaning English Derivative
δῆμος dēmos δημο- dēmo- district, its inhabitants, commoners democracy, demographic
δόξα doxa δοξ- dox- opinion orthodox, paradox
δράσις drasis δρασ- dras- action drastic, anadrastic

[edit] Ε

(h)e

Citation form Root form Meaning English Derivative
εἰκών eikon εἰκών icon icon, picture, painting icon, iconicity, iconoclast
ἕλιξ helix ἑλικ- helic- helix helix, helicopter, helicity
ἑπτά hepta ἑπτα- hepta- seven heptarchy, heptagon, heptameter
εὖ eu εύ- eu- well eulogy, euphoria

[edit] Ζ

z

Citation form Root form Meaning English Derivative
ζῷον zōōon ζωο- zōo- animal zoology

[edit] Η

(h)ē

Citation form Root form Meaning English Derivative
ἡγεμών hēgemōn ἡγεμον- hēgemon- leader hegemony
ἥλιος hēlios ἡλιο- hēlio- sun helion, heliotropic, heliocentric
ἠώς ēōs ἠο- ēo- dawn eocene

[edit] Θ

th

Citation form Root form Meaning English Derivative
θεός theos θε- the- a god theology, atheism
θερμός thermos θερμ- therm- hot isotherm, thermoelectric, Thermos (brand of vacuum flask))

[edit] Ι

(h)i

Citation form Root form Meaning English Derivative
ἰατρός iatros ἰατρο- iatro- physician psychiatrist
ἴδιος idios ἰδι- idi- one’s own, private idiolect, idiom
ἱερός hieros ἱερο- hiero- sacred hierarchy, hieroglyph
ἰχθύς ikhthus ἰχθυ- ikhthu- fish ichthyology, ikhthus

[edit] Κ

k, c

Citation form Root form Meaning English Derivative
κακός kakos κακο- kako- bad cacophony
κλέπτω klepto κλεπτ- klept- to steal kleptocracy, kleptomaniac
κλῶνος klōnos κακο- klōn- branch, twig clone, cloning
κόσμος kosmos κοσμ- kosm- order, the universe, jewell cosmography, cosmetic
κράτος kratos κρατ- krat- power, rule autocrat, democracy, bureaucracy

[edit] Λ

l

Citation form Root form Meaning English Derivative
λίθος lithos λιθο- litho- stone lithography, neolithic
λόγος logos λογο- logo- thought, word theology, logic

[edit] Μ

m

Citation form Root form Meaning English Derivative
μακρός makros μακρο- makro- long macron, macrobiotic
μέγας megas μεγ- mega- big, large Mega- (prefix), as in megabyte
μέλας melas μελαν- melan- pigmented, black, ink Melanesia
μέταλλον metallon μεταλλ- metal- metal medal, metalloid
μικρός mikros μικρο- mikro- small microscope
μνῆστις mnēstis μνη- mne- memory amnesia, amnesty
μόνος monos μονο- mono- alone, solitary, forsaken monotony, monolog
Μοῦσα Mousa μουσ- mous- a patron goddess of the arts music, museum

[edit] Ν

n

Citation form Root form Meaning English Derivative
ναυτικός nautikos ναυτ- naut- sailor, ship nautical, astronaut
νέος neos νεο- neo- new, young neon, neologism

[edit] Ξ

x

Citation form Root form Meaning English Derivative
ξένος xenos ξενο- xeno- strange, stranger, guest xenophobia
ξύλον xulon ξυλ- xul- wood xylophone, xylem

[edit] Ο

(h)o

Citation form Root form Meaning English Derivative
οἶνος oinos οῒνο- oeno- wine oenomel
ὁδός hodos ὁδο- hodo- road hodometer, odometer
ὀλίγος oligos ὀλιγο- oligo- few, little oligarchy
ὅμοιος homoios ὁμοιο- homoio- similar homeopathy
ὀξύς oxus ὀξυ- oxu- sharp, acid, sour oxygen
ὀρθός orthos ὀρθ- orth- straight, correct, normal orthography

[edit] Π

p

Citation form Root form Meaning English Derivative
πάθος pathos παθ- path- suffering, disease pathology, telepathy
παιδεία paideia παιδεια- paideia- education, culture encyclopaedia
παῖς pais παιδ- paid- boy, child paediatrician, pedophilia
πᾶς pas παν, πανσο;- pan-, panto- all, complete pantheism, pantomime
πατήρ pater πατρ- patr- father patriarch
περί peri περι- peri around perimeter
πόλος polοs πολ- pol- axis, sky North Pole, polarize
πολύς polus πολυ- polu- many, much Polynesia, polytonic
πρόγραμμα programma πρόγραμμ- programm- program/schedule programmer, multiprogramming

[edit] Ρ

r(h)

Citation form Root form Meaning English Derivative
ῥεύμα rheuma ῥεύμ- rheum- a flowing, rheum rheumatism, rheum
ῥίς rhis ῥιν- rhin- nose rhinoceros, rhinoplasty

[edit] Σ

s

Citation form Root form Meaning English Derivative
σαῦρος sauros σαυρο- sauro- lizard dinosaur
σκοπός skopos σκοπ- skop- observer telescope
σοφία sophia σοφια- sophia- knowledge, wisdom philosophy, sophistry

[edit] Τ

t

Citation form Root form Meaning English Derivative
τῆλε tēle τηλε- tēle- distant telephone, telepathy
τόξον toxon τοξ- tox- archer’s bow, poison toxin

[edit] Υ

(h)u, (h)y

Citation form Root form Meaning English Derivative
ὕδωρ hudor ὑδρο- hudro- water hydrodynamics, hydrolysis
ὕπνος hupnos ὑπνο- hupno- sleep hypnotism

[edit] Φ

ph

Citation form Root form Meaning English Derivative
φιλία
φίλος
philia,
philos
φιλια-
φιλο
-
philia-,
philo-
friendship
friend
Philadelphia, philosophy,
zoophilia
φόβος phobos φοβο- phobo- irrational fear
fear
phobia, CryophobiaPhobos,
φυτόν phuton φυτο- phuto- plant neophyte
φωνή phōnē φωνη- phōnē- voice telephone, phonograph

[edit] Χ

kh, ch

Citation form Root form Meaning English Derivative
χαίτη khaitē χαιτη- khaitē- loose, flowing hair polychaete
χρόνος khronos χρον- khrono- time chronology, chronometer

[edit] Ψ

ps

Citation form Root form Meaning English Derivative
ψυχή psukhē ψυχη- psukhē- spirit, mind, soul psychology

[edit] Ω

(h)ō

Citation form Root form Meaning English Derivative
ᾠόν ōon ὠο- ōo- egg oocyte, oology
ὥρα hōra ὡρα- hōra- season, hour horoscope

[edit] Transliteration

There are considerable differences between the various transliterations used to represent the Greek alphabet in English. The table in the sidebar shows:

  • the "traditional" transliteration, in other words that used in Latin, representing classical Greek: this is the form in which most Greek words have made their way into English
  • a "classical" transliteration, commonly used to represent more accurately the pronunciation of Ancient Greek
  • the "modern" transliteration often used for Modern Greek — see Transliteration of Greek into English for some variations.

Greek had no letter h: a rough breathing over an initial vowel or diphthong – ἁ ἑ ἡ ἱ ὁ ὑ ὡ – indicates that the word was pronounced with an initial h, and a smooth breathingἀ ἐ ἠ ἰ ὀ ὐ ὠ – indicates the absence of an h, but this has since disappeared in speech, and Modern Greek omits the breathings. An initial upsilon (υ) always had the rough breathing – – hence hy is very common at the start of words derived from Greek, but no (or very few) such words start with y.

The letter rho (ρ) at the start of a word always had the rough breathing – – and is transliterated rh. If a rho occurred doubled within a word, the first ρ always had the smooth breathing and the second the rough breathing – ῤῥ – leading to the transiliteration rrh.

For a fuller discussion of these matters, see Greek alphabet.

Note: the distinction between the rough and smooth breathings as shown above may not be very clear on certain browsers.

[edit] Transliteration table

Greek Traditional Classical Modern
Α α a a a
Β β b b v
Γ γ g g gh, y
Δ δ d d dh
Ε ε e e e
Ζ ζ z z, zd z
Η η e ē i
Θ θ th th th
Ι ι i i i
Κ κ c k k
Λ λ l l l
Μ μ m m m
Ν ν n n n
Ξ ξ x x x
Ο ο o o o
Π π p p p
Ρ ρ r r r
Σ σ ς s s s
Τ τ t t t
Υ υ y u i
Φ φ ph ph ph, f
Χ χ ch kh kh
Ψ ψ ps ps ps
Ω ω o ō o
αι ae, e ai e, ai
αυ au au af, av
ει i ei i
ευ eu eu ef, ev
γγ ng ng ng
γξ nx nx nx
γκ nc nk g, ng
γχ nch nkh nkh
μπ mp mp b, mb
ντ nt nt d, nd
οι oe, e oi i
ου u ou ou, u


[edit] See also

[edit] External links