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WORD FORMATION – ROOT
WORD
❖ A root word is a word or word part that can form the basis of
new words through the addition of prefixes and suffixes.
❖ There are four main kinds of word formation: prefixes, suffixes,
conversion and compounds.
❖ Once you pull off any prefixes or suffixes, the root is usually
what remains.
❖ For example, "egotist" has a root word of "ego" plus the suffix
"-ist." "Acting" has the root word "act"; "-ing" is merely the
suffix. In the examples of root words below, we will examine
the basic (root) word as well as its additions.
Root Word That Can Stand Alone
✓ There are some root words that can be used on their own or as
part of other common words in the English language. The
following root words are provided with their meaning.
✓ Example:
a. Act: to move or do (actor, acting, reenact)
b. Arbor: tree (arboreal, arboretum, arborist)
c. Crypt: to hide (apocryphal, cryptic, cryptography)
d. Ego: "I" (egotist, egocentric, egomaniac)
e. Form: shape (conform, formulate, reform)
f. Legal: related to the law (illegal, legalities, paralegal)
g. Norm: typical (abnormal, normality, paranormal)
h. Phobia: fear (arachnophobia, claustrophobia,
hygrophobia)
