Word Origins and Meanings Quiz

Word Origins and Meanings

• Anglo (English): referring to someone who is English, or a love of England (e.g., Anglophile – one who loves England, Anglophobe – one who dislikes England).
• ist (Greek): suffix indicating one who does something or is a specialist in something.
• saur (Greek): relating to a lizard/reptile, especially a dinosaur.
• pithec (Greek): refers to apes or primates.
• calli (Greek): relating to beautiful writing or artistic expression.
• austro (Latin): related to south, or to the south of a geographical area.
• cephalo (Greek): relating to the head.
• chiro (Greek): relating to the hand.
• caust (Greek): relating to burning or fire.
• terr (Latin): relating to the earth or land. A geographical area e.g., extraterrestrial (outside the earth).
• cata (Greek): down, from a higher position, or something that moves or falls downward.
• jur (Latin): relating to law, oaths, or legal matters.
• flu (Latin): relating to movement, flowing, or streams.
• here (Latin): relating to staying or sticking to something, or relating to adhering or staying in place.
• pos (Latin): relating to placing or positioning something/someone.
• mund (Latin): relating to the world or worldly things.
• cracy (Greek): relating to rule, power, or government.
• mania (Greek): an obsession or an extreme enthusiasm for something.
• ize (Greek): an action or transformation.
• antho (Greek): relating to flowers or plants.
• algia (Greek): relating to pain.
• somn (Latin): relating to sleep.
• quadr (Latin): relating to the number four.
• err (Latin): relating to mistakes, being wrong, or wandering.
• sine (Latin): without.

Language of Origin

• Many words come from Greek and Latin.
• Some words originate from Anglo-Saxon.