S
Root Meaning in English Origin language Etymology (root origin) English examples sacc- bag Greek () sack sacchar- sugar Greek , () disaccharide, heteropolysaccharide, homopolysaccharide, lipooligosaccharide, lipopolysaccharide, monosaccharide, oligosaccharide, pentasaccharide, polysaccharide, saccharin, trisaccharide sacr-, sacred Latin , from (genitive sacri) consecrate, desecrate, sacrament, sacred, sacrosanct sagac- wise Latin , sagacious, sagacity sagitt- arrow Latin sagittal plane, Sagittaria sal- salt Latin , , , , salinity sali-, , salt- jump Latin , assail, assailable, assailant, assailment, assault, assaultive, consilience, desultory, dissilience, dissilient, exult, exultant, exultation, insult, insultation, irresilient, resile, resilement, resilience, resiliency, resilient, result, resultant, salacious, salacity, salience, salient, sally, saltando, saltant, saltation, saltatorial, saltatory, saltigrade, saltire, salto, saltus, sault, sauté, sauteuse, sautille, sautoir, somersault, soubresaut, subsultory, transilience, transilient salic- willow Latin , salicin salping- trumpet Greek () endosalpingiosis, hysterosalpingography, salpiglossis, salpinx salu- health, welfare Latin salubrious, salubrity, salutary, salute salv- save Latin , salvage, salvation, salve san- healthy Latin insane, insanity, sanatorium, sane, sanitarian, sanitarium, sanitary, sanitation, sanity sanc- holy Latin (past participle sanctus) sacrosanct, saint, sanctify, sanction, sanctuary sanguin- blood Latin , consanguinity, sanguinary, sanguine sapi-, taste, wise Latin "to have a taste, be wise", related to "taste, flavor" insipid, insipience, sapient sapon- soap Latin from Frankish , saponification sapphir- a precious stone Greek from Hebrew () sapphire, sapphirine sapr- rotten Greek , (), sapraemia, saprogenic, saprophagous, saprophyte, saprotrophic sarc- flesh Greek () perisarc, sarcasm, sarcastic, sarcocele, sarcoid, sarcoidosis, sarcoma, sarcophagus, Sarcopterygii, sarcosine, sarcosinemia, sarcosome sarc- tailor Latin "tailor", from "to mend" consarcination, sartor, sartorial, sartorius sati- enough Latin asset, sate, satiate, satiety, satisfy, saturate saur- lizard, reptile Greek (), () dinosaur, Saurischia, sauropod sax- rock Latin saxatile, saxicavous, saxicoline, saxifrage, saxifragous scab- scratch Latin scabies scal- ladder, stairs Latin scalar, scale scalen- uneven Greek () scalene, scalene muscles, scalene triangle, scalenohedron scand-, , scans-, climb Latin ascend, ascendency, ascendent, ascension, ascent, condescend, condescendence, condescension, descend, descendent, descension, descent, scansion, transcend, transcendence, transcendent, transcendental scandal- snare Greek (), () scandal, scandalize scap- shaft Greek () scape, scapus scaph- anything hollow, bowl, ship Greek , Scaphirhynchus, scaphoid bone, scaphopod scat- dung Greek () scatemia, scatology, scatoma, scatomancy, scatophagy, scatoscopy sced- scatter Greek (), (), (skedastós), (skedastikós) heteroscedastic, homoscedastic scel- leg, thigh Greek , () isosceles, triskele, triskelion scen- booth, tent Greek () parascenium, proscenium, scene, scenic, scenography scept-, scop- look at, examine, view, observe Greek (), (), , (), (), (skopós) Abroscopus, diascopic, diascopy, endoscope, endoscopic, endoscopy, epidiascope, episcope, episcopic, gastroscopy, kaleidoscope, macroscopic, microscope, microscopic, panendoscopy, periscope, periscopic, scope, scopophobia, skeptic, stereoscopic, stereoscopy, stethoscope, telescope, telescopic, Telescopium schem- plan Greek () schema, schematic, schematism, schematize, scheme schid- (ΣΧΙΔ) split Greek (), (), (), (), diaschisis, diaschisma, schisis, schism, schisma, schismatic, schizocarp, schizogamy, schizogony, schizoid, schizophrenia, schizotrichia sci- shade, shadow Greek (), sciamachy, sciaphobia sci- know Latin conscience, conscious, conscientious, omniscious, omniscient, prescient, science, scienter scind-, sciss- split Latin rescind, scissors scler- hard Greek (), (), () sclera, sclerectomy, scleredema, sclereid, sclerema, sclerenchyma, sclerite, scleritis, scleroderma, sclerophyll, sclerophyllous, sclerosis, sclerotic, sclerotium, sclerotize scolec- worm Greek () scolex scoli- crooked Greek (), scoliokyphosis, scoliosis scombr- mackerel Greek () scombrid, scombroid scop- Greek scot- darkness Greek , scotobiology, scotochromogen, scotogenic, scotograph, scotoma, scotoperiod, scotophase, scotophilia, scotophilic, scotophobe, scotophobia, scotophobic, scotophobotaxis, scotopic, scotoscope, scotosis, scototactic, scototaxis, scototherapy scrib-, script- write Latin , describe, inscribe, manuscript, prescribe, scribble, scribe, script, scripture, subscribe scrupl- uneasiness Latin "sharp stone" scruple, scrupulous, unscrupulous sculp- carve Latin , insculp, resculpt, sculp, sculpsit, sculpt, sculptile, sculptor, sculptress, sculptural, sculpture scut- shield Latin scute scyph- cup Greek () scyphoid, Scyphozoa, scyphus se-, sed- away, apart Latin secede, sedition, seditious, seduce seb- tallow Latin sebaceous, sebum sec-, sect-, seg- cut Latin secant, section, segment sed- settle, calm Latin , sedative sed-, , sess- sit Latin , assiduous, insidious, obsession, possess, preside, president, reside, resident, sedentary, sediment, sedimentary, sedulity, sedulous, session, subside, supersede sedec- sixteen Latin sedecimal seget- in cornfields Latin sei- shake Greek (), (), () aseismic, microseism, microseismic, paleoseismology, seism, seismic, seismogram, seismograph, seismology, seismometer, seismonasty, sistrum, teleseism, teleseismic selen- moon Greek () paraselene, selaphobia, Selene, selenium, selenocentric, selenography, selenology sell- saddle, seat Latin sella turcica sema- sign Greek () aposematic, asemasia, asemia, asemic, pentaseme, polyseme, polysemic, polysemous, polysemy, semantics, semaphore, semasiology, sematic, seme, sememe, semiotic, tetraseme, triseme semi- half Latin semiannual, semicolon, semiconductor, semiconscious, semifinal, seminatural semin- seed Latin , insemination sen- old man Latin , senator, senescent, senile, senility, senior sen- six each Latin senary sent-, sens- feel Latin , assent, consensus, consent, dissent, resent, scent, sensation, sense, sensible, sensitive, sensory, sentence, sentient, sentience, sentiment sep- rot Greek σήψ (), (), σηπτός (sēptós), (), (), σηπία (sēpía) antisepsis, antiseptic, asepsis, aseptic, sepia, sepsis, septic sept- fence, partition, enclosure Latin transept sept- seven Latin septennial septen- seven each Latin septenary septim- seventh Latin septimal, septime septuagen- seventy each Latin septuagenary septuagesim- seventieth Latin septuagesima, septuagesimal septuagint- seventy Latin Septuagint sequ-, secut- follow Latin , from , see also consecutive, consequence, ensue, non sequitur, obsequious, prosecute, pursue, second, sequel, sequence, subsequent ser- silk Greek (), sericin, serigraph ser- sow Latin , disseminate, dissemination, insemination, postseason, preseason, sation, sative, season, seasonable, seasonal, semen, semenuria, seminal, seminar, seminarian, seminary, semination, seminiferous ser- attach, join Latin , assert, assertion, assertive, curviserial, desert, desertion, desertrix, dissert, dissertation, dissertator, exert, exertion, insert, insertion, multiseriate, reassert, reassertion, rectiserial, semidesert, serial, seriate, seriatim, series, sermon, uniseriate ser- whey Latin serac, serosa, serous, subserous ser- late Latin serein, serotine, serotinous, serotiny, soiree serp- crawl, creep Latin , serpent serr- saw, saw-toothed Latin , biserrate, serrate, serration, serrature, serriform, serrulate, sierra, sierran serv- save, protect, serve Latin conserve, deserve, observe, preserve, reserve, servant, service, servile, servitude, subservient sesqui- one and a half Latin sesquialteral, sesquicentennial, sesquipedal, sesquiplicate, sesquitertian set- bristle, hair Latin seta, setose sever- stern, strict, serious Latin asseverate, asseveration, perseverance, perseverant, perseverate, perseveration, perseverative, persevere, severe, severity sex- sexual Latin sexual, sexuality, sex, Sexual Intercourse (abbr. "sex) sex-, se- six Latin semester, sexangle, sexangular, sexavalent, sexennial, sexennium, sexireme, sexivalent, sexpartite, sexradiate, sextain sexagen- sixty each Latin sexagenarian, sexagenary sexagesim- sixtieth Latin Sexagesima, sexagesimal sext- sixth Latin bissextile, bissextus, semisextile, sestet, sestina, Sext, sextain, sextan, sextans, sextant, sextary, sextic, sextile, sextillion, siesta, sixte sibil- hiss Latin , sibilance sicc- dry Latin "to dry", from "dry, thirsty" desiccate, desiccation, sec, siccative sicy- cucumber Greek () Sicyos sider- iron Greek (), siderodromophobia, siderophile sider- star Latin , sidereal sigm- S, s Greek , () sigma, sigmatism, sigmatropic, sigmoid, sigmoidoscopy sign- sign Latin design, designate, insignia, signal, signature, significant sil- quiet or still Latin silence silv-, sylv- forest Latin , silviculture, sylvan, sylvatic simi- ape, monkey Latin simian simil-, simul- likeness, imitating Latin "to emulate", from "alike" assimilate, dissimilate, dissemble, ensemble, resemble, semblance, similar, similarity, simile, similitude, simulacrum, simular, simulate, simulation, simulator, simultaneous, verisimilar, verisimilitude sinap- mustard Greek (), (sināpízein), (sināpismós) sinapine, sinapism singul- one each Latin singular sinistr- left Latin , sinistral sin- China, Chinese Latin sinology, Sinanthropus sinu- (to draw) a line Latin insinuate sinus- hollow, bay Latin sinusoidal siop- silence Greek (), (), (), () aposiopesis, aposiopetic siph- tube Greek () siphon, siphonoglyph sist- cause to stand Latin assist, consist, desist, exist, insist, persist, resist, solstice, subsist sit- food, grain, wheat Greek () ectoparasite, endoparasite, endoparasitoid, epiparasite, hyperparasitism, kleptoparasitism, mesoparasite, parasite, parasitic, parasitism, parasitoid, sitology, syssitia siz- hiss Greek , () smaragd- emerald Greek (), () smaragdine smil- carving knife Greek (), , smilodon soci- group Latin , associate, association, associative, consociate, consociation, consociational, disassociate, disassociation, dissociable, dissocial, dissociate, dissociation, dissociative, interassociation, nonassociative, sociability, sociable, social, sociality, societal, society sol- sun Latin , circumsolar, extrasolar, insolate, insolation, solar, solarium, soliform, soliscence, solstice, subsolar sol- comfort, soothe Latin consolation, console, solace sol- alone, only Latin desolate, desolation, desolatory, saudade, sole, soliloquy, solitaire, solitary, solitude, solitudinarian, solitudinous, solivagous, solo, sullen sole- accustomed Latin "be accustomed" insolence, insolent, obsolescence, obsolescent, obsolete solen- channel, pipe Greek () solenocyte, solenodon, solenogaster, solenoid, Solenopsis solv-, solut- loosen, set free Latin , absolute, absolve, dissolute, dissolve, resolute, resolve, soluble, solute, solution, solve, solvent soma- body Greek () allosome, asomatous, autosome, centrosome, chromosome, decasomy, disomic, disomy, episome, gonosome, heptasomy, heterochromosome, heterodisomic, heterodisomy, hexasomy, isodisomic, isodisomy, macrosomia, metasomatic, metasomatism, microsome, microsomia, monosome, monosomic, monosomy, pentasomic, pentasomy, plasmosome, polysomic, polysomy, pyrosome, somatic, somatomancy, somatoparaphrenia, somatopleure, somatotype, somite, tetrasomic, tetrasomy, trisomic, trisomy somn- sleep Latin insomnia, somnambulist, somnifacient, somniferous, somnific, somniloquy, somnolent somni- dream Latin somnial son- sound Latin absonant, ambisonic, assonance, assonant, assonate, consonance, consonant, consonous, dissonance, dissonant, inconsonance, inconsonant, infrasonic, infrasound, magnisonant, resonance, resonant, resonate, resound, sonance,