Word Stems

List 18

1. atmo

•Definition- Vapor•atmosphere – mass of air around the earth (vapor plus sphere)

2. cardio

•Definition- Heart•cardiology – study of the heart and its diseases

3. cosmo

•Definition- World or Universe

•cosmology – branch of astronomy that deals with the origin and structure of the universe

4. counter

•Definition- against•counterclockwise – in a direction against or opposite of the normal direction of clock hands

5. cranio

•Definition- Skull•craniology – study of the size, shape and proportion of skulls.

6. cyclo

•Definition- circle• encyclopedia – course or circle

of general education that contains information on all branches of knowledge

• Bicycle, recycle, cyclone

7. gno•Definition- know•prognosis ( to know before) as in the prospect of recovery from a disease

•Ignorant, ignore

8. oss

•Definition-bone

•ossify – to make (fy) or change into bone

9. xylo•Definition-wood•xylophagous – feeding on wood

•xylography – the art of making engravings in wood

10. monger

•Definition- seller•warmonger – one who sells or urges war. One who attempts to stir up war

11. sept

•Definition- seven• September – 7th month (9th

month of the Gregorian calendar)

• septuagenerarian – a person who is in their 70’s

12. xeno

•Definition - stranger

•xenophobia – fear of strangers

13. vas

•Definition - vessel•vascular – relating to a channel for the movement of fluids such as blood.

14. fore

•Definition - front•forehead – the front of the head

15. -ish

•Definition- like•snobbish – like a snobb•foolish – like a fool•childish – like a child

16. -less

•Definition - without•hopeless – without hope•meaningless – without

meaning•worthless – without worth•careless – without care

17. baro

•Definition - pressure•barometer – intrument used to measure air pressure

18. ferro

•Definition - iron•ferroconcrete – concrete reinforced with iron rods

19. quasi

•Definition - somewhat•quasi-military – somewhat military

•quasi-public – somewhat public

20. nesia

•Definition - island•Micronesian – native of Micronesia (small island)

21. lepsy

•Definition- attack•narcolepsy – a condition characterized by brief attacks of deep sleep

22. -let

•Definition - little•piglet – a little pig•hamlet – a little village•droplet – a little drop of water

23. nano

•Definition- billionth•nanosecond – one billionth of a second

•nanogram – one billionth of a gram

24. pico

•Definition-trillionth•picogram – one trillionth of a gram

•picosecond – one trillionth of a second

25. ideo

• Definition- Idea• ideogram – picture or

symbol that represents an idea (I love you.)

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