Greek and Latin Roots of English: Odometer

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary of English odometer is an instrument for measuring the distance traveled; for example a odometer you use when running (like in this pic.)

According to the Etymology Online Dictionary odometer it comes from Greek hodos ''way'' + meter (from metron "measure").

Other words with these roots are: meter, telemeter and symmetry (with meter). Or electrode, diode and exodus (with hodos).

Greek and Latin Roots of English: Odometer

Greek and Latin Roots of English: Centrifuge

According to the Merriam-Webster, centrifugue is ''a machine using centrifugal force for separating substances of different densities, for removing , or for simulating gravitational effects''. The girl in the pic seems to be looking for centrifugation ;-)


According to the Etymology Dictionary,centrifugue derives from Greek centr- (center)
and from Latin -fuge (to put to flight).


Another words with the root centr- are: centralize, centralization and centripetal. Other words with the root -fuge are: calcifuge, vermifuge and refuge.

Greek and Latin Roots of English: Centrifuge

Greek and Latin Roots of English: Kleptomania

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary kleptomania is "a persistent neurotic impulse to steal especially without economic motive". Like the woman in the picture.

According to the Etymology Dictionary kleptomania derives from Greek kleptes- "thief" and -mania "compulsion or obsession".

Cleptobiosis has got the same root as kleptomania. Another words with the root klepto- or clepto- are: biblioklept, clepsydra, kleptocracy. Other words with the root -mania are: heroinomania, melomania, erotomania.

Photo: Mark Velasquez

Greek and Latin Roots of English: Kleptomania

Greek and Latin Roots of English: Herbicide

According to Encyclopedia Britannica herbicide is "an agent, usually chemical, for killing or inhibiting the growth of unwanted plants". For example, this quimical herbicide.

Herbicide: derives from Latin herb meaning " green crops, grass"+ bi "life" and -cide" kill, killer".

Other words with the prefix herb- are: herbivore, herbivorous, herbal .Other words with the suffix cide- are: biocide , genocide, homicide.

Greek and Latin Roots of English: Herbicide

Greek and Latin Roots of English: Genocide

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary´s genocide is " the deliberate and sistematic destruction of a racial, political or cultural group". For example in the photo we see a group of jews in a nazi concentration camp .

According to the Etimology Dictionary´s genocide derives from Greek and composed of Greek genos "race, kind" and latín -cide "killer".

Other words with the root gen- are: genesis, genetic and generic. Other words with the root -suffix -cide are: biocide, suicide and infanticide.

Greek and Latin Roots of English: Genocide

Greek and Latin Roots of English: Hydrophobia

According to the WordReference Dictionary hydrophobia is a "extreme or irrational fear of water, especially as a symptom of rabies". The cat in the pic seems to suffer from hydrophobia.

According to the etimology dictionary hydrophobia derives from hydr-, stem of hydros "water" + phobos "dread, fear".

With the root hydr- we have words such as hydroelectricity, hydropower, hydrometer or hydroplane.

With the root -phobia we have words such as zoophobia, photophobia, claustrophobia, or hemophobia.

Greek and Latin Roots of English: Hydrophobia

Greek and Latin Roots of English: Megalith

According to the Word Reference Dictionary, megalith is a "prehistoric monument of huge stones unworked". In the pic you can see Obelix carrying a menhir, a type of megalith.

In the province of La Coruña dolmens abound, especially in areas bordering Lugo and near the coast, near turn of the province of Pontevedra. The Galician megalithic is varied, with great buildings, but there are many small mounds or "mámoas".

According to the wiktionary, the word megalith comes from the Greek, formed from the word mega- (large) and the word -lithos (stone).

Other words with the prefix mega- are: megatherium, megaton or acromegaly. Other words with the root -lithos are: monolith, lithography or lithotripsy.

Greek and Latin Roots of English: Megalith

Greek and Latin Roots of English: Carnivore

According to the dictionary.com carnivore is a flesh-eating mammal of the order Carnivora, comprising the dogs, cats, bears, seals, and weasels or an insectivorous plant. In this pic we can see a she lion eating a piece of flesh.
According to the Etmology Dictionary carnivore derives from Latin carnivorus "flesh eating" from caro "flesh" + vorare "to devour".
Ohter words with caro-: carnival, reincarnation and carnal.With vorare : insectivore, herbivore and omnivore.

Greek and Latin Roots of English: Carnivore

Greek and Latin Roots of English: Cephalopod

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary cephalopod means "marine mollusks including the squids, cuttlefishes, and octopuses that move by expelling water from a tubular siphon under the head and that have a group of muscular usually sucker-bearing arms around the front of the head, highly developed eyes"

According to the Etymology Dictionary cephalopod derives from Greek cephalo-(chephale) means "head" and -pod (podos) means "foot"

Cephalotorax has got the same root as cephalopod. Other words with Cephalo- are: electrocefalogram, microcephalic, hidrocephalic
Other words with the root -pod are: arthropod, gastropod ,tripod.

Greek and Latin Roots of English: Cephalopod