星期六, 4月 30, 2011

英文學習經驗分享

The following was posted in http://cheed.nus.edu.sg/~kunlin/notebook/topic/experince.htm
I need to quote it here because some web browser does not recognize it as the traditional Chinese encoding.

小笨霖英文學習經驗分享



         我的爸媽沒有把我生在美國,從小他們也沒送我去雙語幼稚園,當然也沒有花大筆的錢讓我去出國遊學,所以我的學習英文旅程就和大多數的人一樣地平凡:國中高中時為了英語的分數而苦惱,大學時為了看不懂原文書而煩惱。大學畢業後,又要為了托福、GRE 的成績而費心去準備。一路走來,雖然學習英文花去了許多寶貴的青春,但它卻也是我最好的朋友。因為有了好的英文底子,我才能順利考上好的高中、擠進大學窄門。甚至在準備出國留學申請國外的研究所時,英文托福的成績也是扮演著一個關鍵性的角色。謹把學習英文一路走來十數年的心路歷程,和各位讀者作一個分享。

為分數打拚        在國中高中時代,英文學習最重要的目標就是要把聯考考好。這時候你不用去管自己的英文聽力好不好,美語會話流不流利,因為不論你的英文再怎麼好,但考試卻考不出實力,那又有什麼用呢?所以會有 許多仁人志士會懷抱著崇高的理想,想在高中時代就要把 ICRT 從頭到尾聽到懂,不然就是幻想要把 TIME 雜誌上的每一篇文章都讀過,這種人傻勁是有的,但卻沒有方法,這樣子很容易成為殘酷現實下的犧牲品。在求學階段你沒有太多的時間可以浪費,作任何事情都一定要以效率為最高指導原則,所以讀英文要有方法,有計劃。
        國中時的英文很簡單,連課本都是統一的,你只要把課本裡的每一個章節都搞明白,拼高分的人再去買本參考書來作一作,你的英文成績就不會有太大的問題。高中生則不太一樣,光讀課本是不夠的,一定要多方涉獵才行。我常以過來人的身份跟親朋好友大力推薦幾本一定要唸的英文書,首先就字彙方面,可以讀讀學習出版社的 Vocabulary Fundamental 這本書。有些人喜歡背字典,但我覺得這樣子很容易失去興趣,而且你不知道哪些字比較常用,這等於是在浪費時間。這本書的特色是它會挑出最常用的字彙,加上詳細的例句解說,從Fundamental 開始,到 Vocabulary 5000 甚至 Vocabulary 10000,如此循序漸近,學習效果最佳。第二本是狄克生片語,雖然這本老掉牙的書內容許多都已經過時,許多片語美國人也不太常用,但它卻是大多數學校的指定用書之一,而且許多片語在考試裡也常見,所以也是非讀不可。再來是要自己選一本文法書,由於以前我們學校用的那本實在不怎麼樣,連我們英文老師都常氣得太罵這是官商勾結。所以各位可以自己找一本比較淺顯易懂的文法書來看看,這對自己是很有幫助的。高三時要為聯考全力衝次,這時可以按月閱讀「常春滕解析英語」,這本書你一輩子就是高三這一年讀它最好,太早讀了覺得太難,太晚讀了就覺得它沒用,因為它本來就是一本為大學聯考而出的雜誌。
        如果你翻開大學聯考英文試題一看,你會驚訝地發現造句和作文加起來佔了相當大的比例。這部份許多人都沒有特別去準備,其實要準備很簡單,就是要背幾篇好的英文作文,雖說文章要多讀沒錯,但要你下筆時你很快就會發現自己懂的單字片語萬萬千,就是找不出一個合適的句子。背得東西在精不在多,我們暫時以十篇為目標,但這十篇當中的每一篇你都要能背得滾瓜爛熟。要多熟呢?就跟你背「床前明月光,疑是地上霜」那麼熟。聯考考得不只是你的知識,更重要的是你的反應和速度,所以熟練與否,在這時就會扮演了一個很重要的因素。我一直到今天都還保持著這樣子背書的習慣,有時論文寫不好,我就會先去背一篇別人寫過的論文,而且我會逐字逐句地背,雖然背書是件苦差事,但我卻樂在其中,因為我知道它對我的英文寫作大有幫助。

原文書恐懼症        如果你通過了生存考驗的第一關,如願以償地成為一個新鮮人,再來你很可能就要面對學習英文的第二道關卡原文書恐懼症,這也只能怪中國人的科技不比美國發達,迫使我們要去學習他們的語言。其實原文書比一般的新聞英語都要好懂的多,因為原文書裡有許多專門的術語,這些術語在你專業的領域上會一再地出現,因此通常是第一次讀的時候會比較困難,再來就會漸入佳境了。這是一個很好學習閱讀英文的機會,大家非萬不得已時千萬不要去買中文版的翻譯書,雖然我以前在大學的時候,有時候期中考火燒屁股了,不得不趕快去買一本中文翻譯本來看,但有時候只會越看越迷糊。無論如何這段陣痛期一定要撐過去,因為你不可能運氣一直那麼好,永遠找得到中文版的翻譯書。
        要使自己早日克服原文書恐懼症,就一定要有良好的讀書方法。看原文書時最好是能先整段看一遍,先大概掌握內容大約在講些什麼,不必拘泥於一些不懂的單字。此外,雖然勤查字典是個很好的習慣,但在讀原文書時最好不要一邊看書一邊查字典,這樣子很容易就會迷失在文章和單字之間。那如果如果單字太多怎麼辦?我自己倒是有個不錯的小秘方,就是你可以先把整段瀏覽過一遍,看到不會的單字就全部把它寫在一張紙上,等整段看完之後,再用電子字典一次把所有的單字的意思都查出來,最後再重新看一遍整遍在講些什麼,這樣子就可以很有效率地讀原文教科書。


記憶理論
        溫故而知新也是個很重要的工作,平時辛辛苦苦查出來的單字我都會保留著,沒事或是等車的時候就可以拿出來看一看。以前我常聽別人抱怨背過的東西很容易會忘,特別是在背英文單字的時候。其實誰背東西不會忘呢?除非你是愛因斯坦再世,不然任誰都會忘東忘西的。但對我而言,背過的東西會忘這件事從不會困擾我,因為我很相信所謂的記憶理論。記憶理論是這麼說的,當你第一次背一樣東西的時候,很可能一天後就忘了百分之八十。但是當你再背第二次的時候,可能一個星期後才會忘掉百分之八十。當第三次去背它時,記憶的有效期限就會延長為一個月,再來就是一年,以此類推。換句話說,一樣東西如果你能背個十遍,在你有生之年,它都會是屬於你的。
        很多人也許不相信我的說法,它覺得就算它背個一百遍也記不住。問題徵結在哪裡?背十遍不是指一次背十遍,而是要把這十次分開來。例如你今天背了二十個單字,第二天時你就自己回想一下,昨天背過的單字有哪些記得的,哪些是不記得的。如果是記得的單字基本上你就不用再去理它,這就跟有些美女你看過一眼之後,你這輩子就再也不會忘記一樣。忘記的單字就要重新背過,隔一天再試看看,重新把已經記得的單字剔除,留下忘掉的部份再度加強關照一下。你說這樣子搞個十次,還有哪個單字你會記不住的?如果沒有那麼多時間分好幾天背,你可以用我的方法,先把所有的單字背一遍,然後默寫一遍,看看漏了哪些單字或是哪些單字拼錯了,再把這些字背一遍,如此重覆幾次就可以把所有的單字給記住了。這樣子的記憶法不但可以用在背英文上面,更棒的是也可以用在任何需要背的科目上面,因為它可以逐次分析你所最需要加強的單元或章節。很多人讀書或是背單字都喜歡從頭一遍又一遍地唸,我就很不喜歡這樣,因為這樣子到最後你會發覺熟的總是一二三章,而通常這也是最不重要的部份。


充實再充實        許多人的英文實力都是在大學聯考那天達到人生的最高峰,之後就開始一路走下坡,這是很可惜的。其實大學四年是一個人充實自己英文實力的最好時機,因為你終於擺脫了聯考的魔爪,可以真正學一些有用的英文了!但是很多人想則想矣,但卻像無頭蒼蠅一樣漫無目標,今天聽 ICRT,明天看 China Post,他以為學英文像看金庸的武俠小說一樣,看過一遍之後都是它的。其實英文學習要特別強調複習的工作,如果要我看三本英文雜誌,我倒不如把同一本雜誌看三遍,這就如同談戀愛一樣,你不能每個女孩子都去認識,把自己的精力和時間都分散掉了,到頭來別人永遠只會把你當普通朋友。談戀愛一定要重點攻擊,把自己所有的心思放在一個女孩身上,這樣子成功的機會才大。學英文的道理也是一樣,最忌貪多無厭。另外,找一份好的英語教材也是很重要的,但貴的不一定是好的,時下有許多有理想有抱負的年輕人,花了大筆的金錢去買昂貴的英語教材或是參加英語俱樂部,這有點不可思議,就會如果有老外要學中文,你會建議他去買一套幾萬塊的中文教學錄影帶嗎?我想不會吧!學中文最好的教材其實就是我們的國小國中的國文課本,這去書局買幾十塊錢就有了,但這應該也是最權威的教材了吧!同理可證,如果真的想學好道地的英文,其實可以透過管道購買在美國學校使用的教科書,或是市面上通行的「大家說英語」或是「空中英語教室」都是不錯的教材。而這時候的目標,除了要繼續加強自己的閱讀能力之外,還要加強自己的聽力,英文廣播沒事多聽,Discovery 頻道沒事多看,這都是很好加強聽力的方法。總之學習英文無捷徑,大家不要迷信昂貴的教材或英語俱樂部,唯有靠自己不斷地努力才是提升自己英文能力的最佳保證。


邁向留學之路        每個人想要充實自己的原因可能都不盡相同,或許有些人也許是想要找一份好一點的工作,或許有些人想要交個老美當朋友,但我努力學習英文的主要原因,則是希望將來有一天能夠出國留學。想當年好不容易拿到一張大學文憑,後來又順利取得了一個碩士學位,但不知為什麼總覺少了點什麼東西,總想出來喝點洋墨水,順便看看自己學過的幾句破英文能不能真正派上用場。可是大家都知道,想要出國留學,還要 GRE 和托福這兩隻魔獸點頭同意才行。GRE 是一個蠻類似智力測驗的考試,它分為語文、數學和分析三部份。通常數學的部份很簡單,幾乎都是國中的數學,要考個滿分並不是太困難,所以這部份我不是很擔心。但是語文和分析部份,說真的不是因為我笨,而是英語太差,連題目都看不懂,所以一開始考出來的成績都很難看。大家都說唯一加強的辦法就是要多背單字,所以為了出國留學大夢,我只好拼了,那時可真是日以繼夜,早背晚也背,簡直就把背單字當成了三餐,因為我很清楚,想要申請要國外好的學校,還要擊敗大陸學生拿到全額獎學金,這是唯一的道理。當時就是這樣子背了四個月的單字,剛好背完了兩本 GRE 字彙,我覺得我從國中到大學加起來所背的單字總和可能也沒有準備 GRE 時所背的單字來的多,但總算皇天不負苦心人,讓我考了一個不錯的成績,後來也順利申請到全額的獎學金。這時候的英文學習也是沒有什麼樂趣可言的,但成果卻是豐碩的,卻因為這樣子紮實努力的結果,自此以後,我發覺以單字艱深著稱的 TIME 雜誌對我而言再也不是「有字天書」了,這倒是我當初所始料未及的。
        補托福的經驗相較於 GRE 就有趣多了,這時候一方面己經考過 GRE,基本上單字的量已經足夠,所以學習起來就輕鬆多了。補托福主要就要練練自己的聽力,順便複習一下還停留在高中程度的文法,再看看幾篇有趣的短文,托福大約就是這樣。不過聽力的進展是很緩慢的,如果平常沒有聽英文廣播的習慣,這時候可是會很吃力的,只能靠多聽托福錄音帶來緊急加強一下。一般國外的學校並不會太重視托福成續,只要你能達到一個門檻就可以了,如果達不到這個門檻,其實還有很多補救的方法,例如先去就讀語文學校,也就是所謂的條件式入學,或是到了美國之後再參加英文能力鑑定也可以。雖然許多人視托福考試為畏途,但我覺得只要你提早準備,又先通過 GRE 考試,托福考試應該不會是個太大的障礙才對。


服役時全力衝刺        現在的社會誘惑太多,網路美食女朋友,樣樣都會使你無法專心閱讀的工作。但當兵二年就提供了我一個唸書的絕佳環境,在那樣與世隔絕的環境裡,唸書是唯一的享受也是我最大的快樂。不知道在多少個戰情室的夜裡,多少個在下基地的曠野中,多少個留守的假期,我是一個人在那裡獨自和我的英文雜誌奮戰。有許多人抱持著混過二年就等於賺到二年的心態,試想一個人一生中有多少個像這樣子寶貴的二年?所以我很慶幸自已可是紮紮實實地唸了二年英文,一點也沒有白白浪費掉。通常我的計劃是這樣的,每個月都要唸一本英文版的讀者文摘和一本解讀時代美語雜誌,當然這是不隨便讀讀而已,我可是每本雜誌至少要看三遍,而且每個單字我都要背。而且這時候我不但要學習單字文法,更重要是我對自己還有一樣期許,就是要開始去熟悉美國的文化,當然這唯有靠閱讀像 TIME 及讀者文摘這樣重量級的雜誌才有辦法,而且這二本雜誌市面上都有販售中文解說版,(例如 TIME 有解讀時代美語雜誌,讀者文摘有說文解字),讓我學習起來更是事半功倍。這時候我學到的一些典型的例子包括了 baby boom,或是 politically correct,像這些用法,不單是它字面上的含意,更重要的是它背後的歷史故事,這時候我已經不單是以能讀得懂整篇文章為榮,更重要的是要能咀嚼出隱藏隻字片語其中的幽默風趣。我想這唯有靠大量的閱讀和不斷地努力才能達成目標,而我也很慶幸在我退伍的那一天,我終於完成了這個目標。

留學生活
首次踏上美國的國土,感覺上就像是一個排演了十多年的話劇終於要正式登台演出一樣,讓我感到十分興奮。不可否認的,想要學好一種語言,最好的方法就是讓你整天置身在那樣的環境中。雖然一開始四處碰壁,老美講的都聽不懂,心裡的挫折感實在是很大。不過我痛定思痛,發覺其實他們的口語用法都十分簡單,對我而言既沒有生字也沒有文法,為何我會聽不懂呢?追根究底,也不過是因為這樣子的用法我們沒聽過而已。像是去麥當勞用餐,他們都會問你 "Here or to go?" 相信大多數的人第一次聽都會楞在那裡。其實把戲說穿了一點都不值錢,就是:「這裡吃還是外帶?」的意思。但是我也漸漸體會到口語英文的重要性,而這些絕不是我看 TIME 還是讀者文摘可以學到的。有鑑於此,我就開始自己作筆記,整理出我常聽到的一些口語英文,並加上淺顯易懂的中文解釋。慢慢地這成為我的一項興趣,之後我又把這些口語化的英文放上個人網頁,讓更多的人能夠分享我的成果。最近,我也計劃把個人的拙作「小笨霖英語筆記本」集結出書,但這也是我當初所使料未及的一項成就。也許我這項吃力不討好的工作可以幫助一些人,或許不能,但我覺得我自己從這樣子收集整理的工作中學到很多,不單單是學到了這些口語的用法,更重要的是在請教老美的過程之中,讓我結識到許多的美國友人,他們使我真正融入美國的生活之中,也使的我的生活更加地多采多姿,到現在我才真正體會到,能夠把英語學好,真是一件很美好的事。

By  小笨霖 4.7.2000 ; 於美國 Atlanta, GA.

Selection of Latin roots



Below is a selection of Latin roots that should help you win at Scrabble, ace Grad School Boards, and look like an erudite poser at cocktail parties.



Latin Root(s)
Definition(s)
Example(s) of Root(s)
acerbus, acris, acuere sharp, to sharpen, needle, bitter acerbate, acupuncture, acuity, acrimony
aequare to make equal, even equivocate, adequate, equilibrium
aevum agecoeval, medieval
ager, agri, agro fieldagrestic, agronomy
agere, actum, agitare to act, to doagility, react, agitate
alius other, else alias, alienate
alter other altercation, adulterate
altus high altimeter, exaltation, alto
ambulare to walk, to go preamble, ambulatory
amare, amor, amatum, amicus to love, love, friendamateur, amiable, enamored
anima life, soul, breath, mind animosity, inanimate, unanimous
annus year biennial, centennial, annual
apparere to come forth, be visible apparent, appearance, apparitor
aptare, aptus, apere to fit, suitable aptitude, adaptable, ineptitude
aqua water aqueous, aquarelle
arbiter judge arbitration, arbitrary
arbor tree arboretum, arboreal
ardere to burnarduous, ardor
artis art artifice, artifact, artisan
audire to hear audit, audible
augere to increase augmentation, augur, august
avis bird avionics, aviation, aviary, avian
beatus blessed, happy beatific, beatitude
bellare, bellum to wage war, war rebellious, bellicose
bene well benevolence, beneficent
bonus, bon good bonanza, bonny, bon voyage
brevis short, brief abbreviate, breviary
cadere fall recidivism, cascade, cadaver, decadent
caedere, cide to cut, kill incision, pesticide
canere, cantare, cantus to sing recant, chant, cantata
capere, captum, cip, cept to take, hold, contain capacious, incipient, intercept participate, capable, captive, conceive, precept
caput, capitis head cape, chapter, biceps, capital
carnis flesh carnal, carnival, incarnate, carnivore
cavare, cavus to make hollow cavernous, cavity, excavate
cedere, cessum to go, withdraw, move concession, recede, access
centrum center eccentric, concentric, concentrate
centum, centi hundred, tenth, ten percent, centimeter, centurion
cernere, certus to see as being different, to sift, distinguish discern, secret, certitude
civis, civilis citizen, community civic, city, civility
clamare, clamor to shout, cry out acclaim, clear, to make clear reclamation clarare, clarus, clarify, clarity, declaration, claret
claudere, clausum to shut, close recluse, cloister, enclosure, conclusion
clemens mild, merciful clemency, inclement
clinare to lean, slope clinometer, incline
colare to strain, filter portcullis, percolate, colander
colere, cultus to till, care, cultivate cultivation, culture, cult
coquere, coctum to cook, to mature precocious, concoction, cook
cor, cordis heart courage, cordial, accord
corium skin, hide excoriate
corona crown corona, coronation, coronary
corpus body corporation, corporeal
credere, credens to believe, trust credentials, credit, incredible
crescere, cretum to grow crescendo, concretism, accretion, increase
crimen crime, offense criminology, incriminate
cruciare, crux, crucis to torture, cross excruciating, crusade, cruzeiro
culpare to blame, fault culpable, exculpate
cumulare to heap up cumulative, accumulate
curare, cura, curatus to take care of, concern curate, curious, manicure
currere, cursus, cour to run, go occur, precursor, concur, course
dens, dentis tooth denture, endodontia, dentifrice
deus, dei god deify, deity, deism
dexter, dextro right, right hand ambidextrous, dextrorotation
dicere, dictare to speak, say abdicate, indict
dignus worthy, fitting, suitable condign, dignitary
dirigere, directus to direct dirge, dirigible, address-- -- -- -- --see "regere" below
docere, doctum to teach document, docent, doctrine
dominuslord, master danger, domineer
domus a dwelling, home domesticity, major-domo
donare, do to give, to forgive condone, donation, donor
dormire, dorm to sleep dormouse, dormitory
ducere, ductum to lead, take, bring abduct, seduction, conducive, duke, education
durare, durus to harden, hard obdurate, duress
errare, erratum to wander, go astray aberration, err, erratic
fabula story confabulate, fable, fabulous
facere, factum, fect, fic to make, to do manufacture, sufficient, facsimile
fallere to deceive, disappoint fallacious, infallible, fail
ferre, latum to bear, to carry relate, confer, referendum
ferrum iron ferrotype, ferric, ferrous
fervere to boil, glow, rage fervor, effervescent
fidere, fidelis, fides to trust, believe, faith perfidy, fiduciary, confidant
filius, filia son, daughter (respectively) filial, affiliation
finire, finis, fin to end, to limit infinity, finite, confinement
firmare to make firm, strengthen affirm, confirmation, firmament
figare, fixus to fasten, attach fixative, crucifix, suffix
flare, flatus blow deflate, inflation
flectere, flexus to bend flexible, deflection, inflection
fluere, fluxum, fluctus to flow confluence, fluid, effluvium, influx, flume
foedus, fed league confederacy, federation
fortis strong fort, comfort, fortify, force
frangere, fractum to break fraction, frangible, infringement
frater brother fraternal, fraternize
fugere, fugitum to flee centrifugal, fugue
fumus smoke fumitory, fumarole
fundere, fusum to pour refund, diffuse, profound
generare, genus1birth, origin, race, species, kind, to beget, producegenerous, generic, gentle, genre, engender, generation
gerere, gestum to carry, to bear belligerent, gesture, digest, gestation
glomerare to form into a ball conglomeration, glomerulus
gnoscere, cognoscere, gnarus, cognitumto know incognito, cognition, ignorant, gnostic
gradi, gressus, gradus to step, to walk, a degree progress, graduate, centigrade
granum, grani seed, kernel granary, granule
gratia, gratusagreeable, favor, thankscongratulate, gratitude, grace
gravare, gravisto weigh down, heavyaggravate, gravamen, gravid, grief
grex, gregis, gregarflock, herd, to gather into a flocksegregate, congregation gregarious
habere, habitumto have, holdhabit, inhibit
haerereto stickcoherence, adhere
herbagrass, herbherbivorous, herbaceous
hilarare, hilaristo gladden, merryhilarious, exhilarate
homomanhomicidal, hominize
horrereto shudder, terriblehorrendous, abhor
hospesguest, hosthospice, hostage, hostess
ire, itum, itineristo go, journey, walkitinerant, transit, initiate
jacere, ject, jactum2to lie, cast oneself down, to throwreject, adjacent, eject
jicere2to throw between interjection
judex, judicarejudgejudicious, prejudice, judge
jungere, junctumto joinconjugal, junction, joint
jus, juris, jurarelaw, right, to swearjurisprudence, abjure, perjury, juror, injury, justify
juvenisyoungrejuvenate, juvenescent
laborareto workcollaborate, elaborate, laboratory
lacto, lactmilklacteal, lactose
lapisstonelapis lazuli, lapidate
latussidelateral, bilateral, collateral
laudare, laudatumto praise, glorylaudable, allow
lavareto washlavender, laver, lavish, lavabo
laxareto loosen, widenrelax, laxity
legere, lectum3to read, choose, gatherelegant, elite, collect, dialect, legend, select, election,neglect
lex, legis, legalis3lawprivelege, illegitimate, legislature, lex non scripta, legal
liberbooklibel, libretto
liberfreelibertine, deliberate, liberal
ligareto bindallegiance, ally, oblige, ligature
linguatongue, languagelinguistics, lingual, language
litteraletterobliterate, literature, letter, literati
locare, locusto place, placedislocate, allocate, local
loqui, locutusspeak, talksoliloquy, loquacious, circumlocution
lucere, lux, lucis, lumento shine, lighttranslucent, Lucifer, luminous
ludere, lusum, ludusto play, to mockillusion, interlude, ludicrous
lunamoonlunate, lunatic, lunation, lunula
magnus, magnagreatmagnanimous, Magna Carta
malus, malbad, evil, wrongmalevolent, malfeasance, grand mal
mandare, mandoto order, to commandmandate, commandment, mandarin
manus, mani, manhandemancipate, manifest, manumit
mareseamariner, aquamarine, mare
matermotheralma mater, maternity
mecarito trade, buymerchant, market
medius, mediomiddlemedieval, intermediary
mensmindmention, mentation
migrareto move from one place to anothermigratory, emigrant
militareto serve as soldiersdemilitarize, militia
millethousandmillennium, millivolt
minimus, minorleast, smallminimal, minimize, minute
mirare, miror, mirarito look at, to wonder at miracle, mirage, admiral
mittere, missumto send, let, goemissary, remit, admittance, commissary
monere, monitusto warnmonitor, admonition
morbusdiseasemorbid, morbilli
mordere, morsunto bitemorsel, remorse, mordacious
morismanners, customsmorality, mores
mors, mortis, morideather, to diepost-mortem, mortgage, mortmain
movere, motusto movelocomotive, motion, motor
multusmuch, manymultiply, multimedia
mutare, mutatumto changemolt, mutation
nascor, natusto bear, to bornnative, prenatal, nature, renaissance
negare, negatusto denynegation, abnegate
nihilnothingannihilate, nil
nocereto harm, injureinnocent, innocuous, obnoxious
nominare, nomen, noministo name, namenominate, misnomer, nomenclature
normarulenormative, enormity
notareto mark, notenotation, notary, connotation
novusnewrenovate, novice, nova
nox, noctnightequinox, noctuid
nullusnoneannul, nullifidian
numerusnumberenumerate, supernumerary, numerology
nuntiare, nuntiusto report, tell, messengernuncio, renounce
oculuseyemonocle, binocular
opus, operariwork, to workmagnum opus, opera, operative
parare, par, parito make equal, equaldisparate, parity, peer
passus, patisufferpatient, passive
paterfatherpaternoster, patronize
pax, pacispeacepacific, appease
pedis, pesfootexpedition, pedicel
pellere, pulsusto drive, drivencompel, expel, propellant, pulsate
pendere, pensare, pendulusto weigh, hang, weightimpending, compendium, appendage, expenditure
petereto rush at, seekimpetuous, petulant, petition
placare, placidus, placereto soother, gentle, to pleaseplacate, implacable, placebo, please
plaudere, plauseumto clap, applaudplaudit, implode
plenusfullplenipotentiary, replenish, plenty
plere, pletumto fillexpletive, replete
plicare, plicatum, plicit, plyto foldreply, implicate, complicate, explicate, plait
plus, plurismorepluriaxial, plurality, surplus
ponere, positumto placeposition, opposite, depot
populuspeoplepopularity, populace
portare, portto carryportage, export
portioshare, portionapportion, proportion
potens, potentispowerfulpotentate, potentiometer
prehendere, prehensumto seize, take holdapprentice, reprehensible
pressuspressed downdepress, oppress, impress
pretiare, precto valuedepreciation, precious, price
primus, primatisfirstprimordial, prima facie
privareseparate, peculiarprivilege, deprive
probare, probatumto prove, testprobation, prove
proximusnearestapproximate, proximity
pugil, pugnareboxer, to fightrepugnant, pugilist
*
purgare


to clean purge, purgatory, expurgation
putare to think, estimate computer, reputation
quaerere, quaesitus to ask, seek exquisite, inquisition, conquer, quest
radiusrayradiation, radian
radixrootradicle, radical, eradicate
rapereto seizerapture, surreptitious, usurp, ravish
ratusfixed by calculationreason, ration
regere, rectus4 right, to make straighterect, rectitude, rectus
regere, rex, regis4 to rule, kingregency, regal, corrigible, regimen, direct, rule, regular
ridere, risumto laughderision, redicule
rogare, rogatumto askarrogance, rogation, interrogate
rotare, rotatus, rotato turn, wheel, turnedrotation, rotary, rotor
rumpere, ruptusto break, brokenrupture, interrupt
sacer, sacrare5holy, to make holyconsecrate, sacrifice, sacrarium
sagax, sagacis, saparewise, to taste, knowsage, sagacious, sapient
salsaltsalimeter, saline
salire, saltumto leap, jumpsally, saltatory, resile, result
salvareto savesave, salvation, salvage
sanctus5holysanctity, sanctuary, sacrosanct
sanguisbloodsangria, sanguine, consanguinity
sanitas, sanatoriushealth, healthysanitation, sanitarium
satis, satiareenough, to fill fullsated, insatiable, satisfaction
scandereto climbascend, descendant, ascension
scire, sciensto know, knowingomniscient, science
scribere, scriptto write, the thing writtendescribe, subscription, scribe
secare, sectto cutintersection, secateurs
sedere, sessto sitsediment, sedan, session, president
seminare, semento sow, seedseminal, disseminate, seminary
sentire, sensumto feel, perceiveconsent, sensible, sentient
sepsisputrefaction, poisonseptic, septicemia, aseptic
sequens, sequito follow, followingprosecute, second, sequential, pursue, non sequitur
signare, signumto mark outassignation, consignment
similare, simulareto make like, to feignsimilar, facsimile, simulation, assimilate
socius, sociarecompanion, to joinsocial, society, association
solsunsolar, solstice
solare, solusto make lonely, alonesolo, solitary
solvere, solutumto loosesolvent, dissolute, soluble
somnussleepsomnolent, somniloquy
sonussounddissonance, unison, sonorous
sors, sortislot, a sharesort, consortium
specere, spectum, spicto look at, seeperspicacity, specify, spectacle, retrospect, prospect, perspective
spirareto breathespirit, aspirator, expire, inspiration, respiration, aspire
spondere, sponsusto pledge, promisespouse, correspondence
stare, stet, statto standstable, establish, statue, superstition, distant
stellare, stellato shine, starconstellation, stelliferous
stringere, strictumbind, draw tightastringent, constriction, strict
struere, structusbuild, arrange, pile upmisconstrue, instruct, instrument
surgere, surrectionto rise, riseninsurgency, resurrection
tangere, tactusto touchtangent, tactual
tegere, tectusto cover, coveredintegument, detection, protect
temperare, tempustimetense, contemporize, temper
tendere, tentto stretch, strain, thinpretentious, tenuous, contend, tend, tense
tenere, tainto holdpertain, abstinence, tenacious, tenant
tentare, tentto touch, trytentacle, tentatively
terminuslimit, end, boundarydetermine, terminator
terraearthterra firma, terrace
torquere, tortumto twist, twistedcontortionist, extort, torsion, torque
tradereto deliverextradite, tradition, treason
trahere, tractto draw, drawnsubtract, tractable, protract
tribuere, tributus, tribusto assign, allot, paytributary, attribute, distribute
trudere, trususto thrust, thrustintrusion, protrusile
toxicare, toxicumto smear with poisontoxic, toxoplasmosis, toxicology
tumereto swelltumescence, tumult, contumelious
turbare, turbato disturbperturb, turbid
unus, unioneunion, unipetalous
urbs, urbanuscityexurb, urbanologist
vacare, vacuusto be empty, emptyvacuity, vacuous, evacuate
vagarito wanderextravagant, vagaries
valere, validumto be strong, to have worthvalor, valid, evaluate
velle, volenswish, willingvolition, velleity
verbumwordproverb, verbatim
venire, ventumto comerevenue, convention, advent, contravene
vertere, versumto turn, change, inclinevertigo, verse, introvert, versatile, anniversary
verus
TRUE
verily, verify, very
vestireto dressvestment, divest, investiture
viawaypervious, viaticum
videre, visumsee, look, provideprovident, visible, supervise
vincereto overcome, conquerinvincible, convince, victor
violare, violatusto violateviolation, inviolate
virmantriumvirate, virago
vitalifevitality, vitamin
vivere, vitato live, liferevive, viviparous, vonvivial
vocare, vocatum, voxto call, voicevociferous, convocation, irrevocable, revoke
volvere, volutumturninvolve, revolt, devolve
vorareto devourvoracious, carnivore, omnivorous