
Etymology is the study of the origins, development, and changes in the meanings of words, and it provides us with fascinating insights into the rich and complex history of language.
In this course, we will delve into the fascinating world of etymology, exploring the connections between words, languages, and cultures, and uncovering the hidden stories and surprises behind the words in the English language.
Through engaging lectures, illustrations, and relatable contextual examples, you will gain a deeper understanding of how words have evolved and developed, and how their meanings have changed across different languages and cultures. Whether you're a language enthusiast, a student of linguistics, or simply someone who loves exploring the intricacies of language, this course will unlock the secrets of words and open up a whole new world of linguistic discovery.
Join me on this exciting journey to uncover the hidden treasures of etymology and deepen your appreciation for the power and beauty of words!
- Ajeeth Francis
This lesson explores the Latin root "loqui", which means "to speak", and how it forms the basis for various English words. The words discussed have their meanings derived from "loqui" in combination with other prefixes or suffixes.
Loquacious
: An adjective meaning "tending to talk a great deal" or "talkative". Derived from "loqui" (to speak) and "-ous" (be full of).
Eloquent
: An adjective meaning "expressing oneself readily, clearly, effectively". It is derived from "loqui" (to speak) and "ex-" (out).
Soliloquy
: A noun meaning "speaking to oneself, regardless of any hearers". This comes from "loqui" (to speak) and "solus-" (alone).
Colloquial
: An adjective meaning "characteristic of informal spoken language or conversation". It is formed from "loqui" (to speak) and "co-" (together).
Grandiloquence
: A noun meaning "high-flown style; excessive use of verbal ornamentation". It is derived from "loqui" (to speak) and "grand-" (big).
Somniloquy
: A noun meaning "uttering speech while asleep". This comes from "loqui" (to speak) and "somn-" (sleep).
Obloquy
: A noun meaning "disgrace, especially that brought about by public condemnation". This is derived from "loqui" (to speak) and "ob-" (against).
Circumlocution
: A noun meaning "an indirect way of expressing something". It is formed from "loqui" (to speak) and "circum-" (around).
Ventriloquist
: A noun meaning "a performer who projects the voice into a wooden dummy". This comes from "loqui" (to speak) and "ventris-" (belly).
A root that means something very similar to 'loqui',
"logue" comes from the Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to speak" on the notion of "to gather words, to pick out words."
In this lesson we explore words that share this root.
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
monologue
dialogue
eulogy
prologue
epilogue
ideologue
As seen in the word 'circumlocution',
"circum" is word-forming element meaning "around, round about, all around, on all sides," from Latin adverb and preposition circum "around, round about," literally "in a circle".
In this lesson we explore words that share this root.
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
circumspect
circumnavigate
circumscribed
circumvent
circumfluent
circumambulate
As with the word 'monologue',
"mono" comes from the greek monos which means "single, alone".
In this lesson we explore words that share this root.
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
monolingual
monomania
monotheism
monogamy
monotonous
monopoly
monochrome
monolith
As a contrast to the root 'mono',
"poly" means "many, much, multi-, one or more," and comes from Greek polys "much".
In this lesson we explore words that share this root.
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
polyglot
polytheism
polyamori
polymorph
polychrome
polygamy
As with the word 'somniloquy',
"somn" meaning sleep, is derived from Latin somnus "sleep, slumber".
In this lesson we explore words that share this root.
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
somniloquy
somnolent
insomnia
somnambulate
somniferous
soporific
As with the word 'magniloquence',
"magna" comes from meg, a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "great."
In this lesson we explore words that share this root.
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
magnate
maestro
magnum opus
magnanimity
megalomania
magnificient
The contrasting root pair : 'eu' and 'dys' means good and bad, and in some contexts well and unwell, respectively.
They come from Greek eus - "good," eu - "well" and 'dus' - "bad, ill, evil" respectively.
In this lesson we explore words that share this root.
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
euthanise
eugenics
euphoria
euphemism
utopia
eutrophy
dysphoria
dystopia
dysphemism
dyslexia
dysfunciton
dystrophy
"spect" comes from the Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to see."
In this lesson we explore words that share this root.
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
spectacle
conspicuous
introspect
inspect
spectator
perspective
perspicacious
perspicacity
prospect
retrospect
"scribe" comes from the latin root 'scribere' meaning "to write."
In this lesson we explore words that share this root.
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
ascribe
proscribe
inscribe
transcribe
manuscript
postscript
scribe
subscribe
The root 'morph' means "shape or form".
In this lesson we explore words that share this root.
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
amorphous
morphology
anthropomorphic
metamorphosis
morph
morpheme
"fluere" comes from a latin root meaning "to flow."
In this lesson we explore words that share this root.
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
fluid
affluent
confluence
effluence
fluency
mellifluous
superfluous
influence
With a latin origin, 'anima' signifies mind, soul or spirit.
In this lesson we explore words that share this root.
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
animation
inanimate
animated
animatronics
animus
unanimous
equanimity
animadvert
reanimate
pusillanimous
"venire" is derived from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to come, to go".
In this lesson we explore words that share this root.
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
intervene
contravene
convene
convent
covenant
intervention
prevent
venue
"arhcy" has an old latin origin and has the meaning "the rule of" or "form of government".
In this lesson, we explore different systems of governance and the words to describe them.
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
monarchy
diarchy
anarchy
oligarchy
matriarchy
patriarchy
cryptarchy
plutarchy
"-cracy" is the greek alternative to the root '-archy', which means 'rule' or 'power'/
In this lesson, we explore more systems of governance and the words to describe them.
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
aristocracy
democracy
autocracy
bureaucracy
adhocracy
gerontocracy
meritocracy
In Part 2 of -cracy, we explore some more systems of governance and the words to describe them.
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
neocracy
plutocracy
technocracy
theocracy
mesocracy
isocracy
"dict" means to tell or to say. You might recognise this from words such as 'dictate' and 'dictionary';
In this lesson, however, we will explore words that explore the context of 'telling people what to' or to 'exert influence' through the root 'dict'.
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
dictate
dictator
contradict
diction
benediction
malediction
edict
verdict
'dox' or 'dog' means opinions or beliefs.
In this lesson, we will learn how the root 'dox' interacts with other roots to create words describing opinions and believes and also understand what these words mean in context.
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
dogma
orthodox
paradox
heterodox
unorthodox
indoctrinate
In this lesson, we discuss the the roots 'andro' and 'gyn' which mean male and female.
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
androcracy
android
androphobia
misandrist
androcentric
androgynous
misogynist
gynaecologist
anthrop-, meaning society and humanity, comes from the Greek root anthrōpos "man; human being".
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
anthropology
anthropogenic
anthropocentric
anthropophobia
misanthrope
philanthrope
anthropomorphism
anthropolatry
Pater and mater mean father and mother respectively. There are records of similar words used to describe the same concept in various cultures; why this is so, is not really known!
In this lesson we discuss the root 'mater' or 'matri' meaning mother.
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
matron
maternal
alma mater
maternity
matrilineal
matricide
Pater and mater mean father and mother respectively. There are records of similar words used to describe the same concept in various cultures; why this is so, is not really known!
In this lesson we discuss the root 'pater' or 'patri' meaning father.
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
patron
paternal
paternity
compadre
expatriate
patricide
paterfamilias
patrilineal
In this lesson, we explore words that relate to brother (fratri), sister (sorori) and wife (uxor).
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
fraternity
fraternal
fratricide
friar
fraternise
sorority
sororicidal
surrogate
sororal
uxorious
uxoricide
uxorial
In this lesson, we explore the root 'mort' meaning death!
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
mortal
mortuary
morbid
mordant
mortify
immortal
amortize
mordacious
moribund
post-mortem
The root 'nox' relates to being harmful or causing harm; in this lesson we discuss words that relate to things that are harmful and those that aren't!
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
noxious
innocuous
innocent
obnoxious
pernicious
nocuous
The root '-ten' is quite versatile; it means 'to stretch' or make 'thin'. In this lesson, we look at this root used in different contexts.
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
tenuous
attenuate
extenuate
intone
baritone
neoteny
tenacious
tensile
tenor
tenure
The root 'gen' as in gene and generate, means 'birth' or 'origin'; in this lesson we discuss words that share this root.
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
genesis
genome
genealogy
progeny
homogenous
heterogenous
indigenous
genre
engender
genocide
The root 'sang' means to blood. While some of the words that use this root speak of blood in the literal sense, some take on a more figurative interpretation of the root. Fun fact, sangria, the drink, is called that because it looks like blood!
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
consanguine
exsanguinate
sang-froid
sanguine
sanguineous
sanguinary
We've already discussed matricide, patricide, fratricide, sororicidal and uxoricide. Adding to that list are the following words with the root 'cide' to kill!
insecticide
germicide
tyrannicide
homicide
filicide
parricide
regicide
senicide
The root 'bene' means good or well - in this lesson we discuss ideas that carry this root (and the words that convey them).
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
benediction
beneficent
benefactor
beneficiary
benevolent
benign
The root 'mal' is the polar opposite of 'bene' and means 'bad or ill'. Let's look at words that share this root.
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
malignant
malevolent
malefactor
maleficent
maladroit
malediction
malodorous
malign
malicious
malady
The root 'phil', in most cases, means to 'love' something.
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
philanthrope
philander
philology
philomath
philharmonic
phillumenist
philosophy
philophobia
The polar opposite of 'love', "miso-" means to hate.
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
misanthrope
misandrist
misogynist
misoneism
misology
misotheism
The root 'equa' means equal; let's explore words that contain the meaning of being equal and unequal.
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
equanimous
equitable
inequity
equipoise
equivocate
equinox
The root 'ambi' means both; let's explore words that convey the meaning of 'both'.
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
ambiguous
ambivalent
ambidextrous
ambivert
ambience
amphibian
The root 'vert' as in invert and ambivert, means to 'turn'. In this lesson, we shall explore words with this root in different contexts and usages.
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
introvert
extrovert
convert
controvertible
incontrovertible
contravene
avert
revert
The root 'tract' as in attract, means 'to move'. While it takes on a literal meaning with some words, the root can also take on a more figurative meaning with many. Let's explore this root in action with the words in this lesson!
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
tractable
intractable
traction
contract
retract
protract
detract
detractor
The root 'gnos' or 'cogn' means to 'know'. As in the words knowledge, known and unknown. In part 1 of this lesson we discuss some words that share this root.
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
knowledge
agnostic
cognition
cognizance
incognizant
connoisseur
diagnose
In part 2 of the lesson - 'gnos' or 'cogn' we discuss some more words that share this root.
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
prognosis
gnosis
ignoble
ignorant
incognito
reconnaissance
cognoscente
The root 'sacra' as in sacred, means 'holy'. In this lesson, we will explore this root in action in a variety of words in different contexts!
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
sacred
consecrate
execrate
sacrament
sacrilege
sacrosanct
'Placa' from the latin 'placere' means to please or be pleasing. Let's discuss words that are about appeasing and being pleasing.
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
placate
placable
implacable
complacent
placid
placebo
From etymonline.com: "disposed to live in flocks" (of animals), from Latin gregarius "pertaining to a flock; of the herd, of the common sort, common," from grex (genitive gregis) "flock, herd," from PIE *gre-g-, reduplicated form of root *ger- "to gather." Of persons, "sociable," first recorded 1789.
Long story short, 'greg' as a root conveys the meaning of 'flocking together' as a group of things or a group of people.
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
aggregate
segregate
gregarious
congregate
agoraphobia
egregious
From telepathy to apathy, we use a lot of words these days to express emotions and feelings. In this lesson we discuss the root 'pathy' meaning feelings.
Core words we will discuss in this lesson:
telepathy
empathy
sympathy
apathy
antipathy
empath
There are many fears that plague the world.
In this lesson we explore some irrational fears and the words that describe them!
phobia
acrophobia
anthropophobia
androphobia
gynophobia
and more...
There are many fears that plague the world.
In this lesson we explore some irrational fears and the words that describe them!
phobia
acrophobia
anthropophobia
androphobia
gynophobia
and more...
In this lesson we discuss words that relate to craze or an obsession about things!
Words discussed in this lesson include:
maniac
bibliomania
pyromaniac
anglomania
kleptomania
megalomania
arithmomania
egomania
plutomania
oligomania
logomania
technomania
Decode. Justify. Master.
This interactive tool is designed to help you think like a word detective.
Rather than memorizing definitions, you’ll learn to break down complex GRE-level words using their Latin and Greek roots — just like the test-makers do.
Choose the most likely meaning from 4 options
Justify your choice by identifying word roots
Get instant feedback with:
Correct answer
Etymological breakdown
GRE-style usage example
Whether you’re preparing for the GRE or simply love stretching your vocabulary, this tool sharpens your reasoning and deepens your understanding of how words work.
Looking to supercharge your vocabulary and make words truly stick?
This course is your gateway to mastering over 500 advanced English words—carefully curated to help you succeed in exams like GRE, SAT, SSC, or to simply elevate your communication and fluency.
Why this course stands out:
Rather than memorizing word lists, you’ll learn vocabulary through roots, origins, and word families. Each word is explored for its meaning, connotation, and usage across different contexts—making your learning deep, memorable, and practical.
What learners are saying:
“It helps you understand how words are built. Highly recommended.” – Shreyas D
“Root-based learning makes vocabulary fun and exciting.” – Russell Antoine
“One of the best English courses online.” – Ebikebena Asei
What you’ll gain from this course:
I. 500+ high-value words taught through roots and themes
II. Clear explanation of each root and its related words
III. Real-world context and examples for every word
IV. Usage and connotation explained with sample sentences
V. Chapter-wise quizzes and concept-checking activities
VI. Illustrated downloadable flashcards for review and reference
Bonus Content:
Complete downloadable flashcard pack (PDF)
Pronunciation guide for all course words
“100 Words from Greek Mythology” flashcard pack
This course is perfect for test-takers, professionals, and language enthusiasts who want to learn smarter, retain more, and speak with confidence.