Latin Tips and Lessons

Don

Latin DONARE, DONATUM, “to give”, DONUM, “gift” 

1. Donor - n. One who gives something 

-syn. contributor 

2. Condone - v. To support; to give approval to 

-con, “strongly,” + donum = give

Dit

Latin DARE, DATUM, “to give”

1. Editorial - adj. Expressing opinions or bias 

-L. e, “out of,” + datum = given out, published 

2. Nontraditional - adj. Going against the accepted pattern or style 

Hab/Hib

Latin HABERE, HABITUM, “to have, hold”, HABITARE, HABITATUM “to have a home, to dwell”

1. Cohabitation - n. Living together; coexistence 

-L. co, “together,” + habitare = dwelling together 

2. Exhibit - v. To show; to display 

-L. ex, “out,” + habitum = to hold out 

Cept/Cip/Ceive 

Latin CAPERE, CAPTUM, “to take, seize”

1. Intercept - v. To catch or block 

-L. inter, “between,” + captum = take between 

-syn. cut off / -ant. release 

2. Participant - n. One who takes part in

-L. partis, “part,” + capere = take part

-ant. spectator 

3. Conceive - v. To come up with, imagine 

-L. con, “strongly,” + capere = to strongly take 

4. Deceptive - adj. Intending to mislead or trick 

-L. de, “away,” + captum = take away 

-syn. false / -ant. genuine

5. Exceptional - adj. Standing out from others 

-L. ex, “out of,” + captum = take out of 

-syn. unique / -ant. ordinary, common 

6. Anticipate - v. To expect beforehand 

-L. anti, “before,” + capere = to take before 

Thes/Thet 

Greek THESIS, “placing”, THETOS, “having been placed” 

1. Synthesize - v. To combine; to blend 

-G. syn, “together,” + thesis = placing together 

-syn. integrate / -ant. analyze 

2. Parenthetical - adj. Explaining the main idea or topic 

-G. par, “beside,” + en, “in,”+ thetos = placed in beside 

-syn. incidental / -ant. relevant 

3. Hypothesis - n. Idea proposed as true; theory 

Stan/Stat

Latin STARE, STATUS, “to stand, stand something up”

1. Instantaneous - adj. Happening immediately 

-L. in, “on,” + stare = standing on 

2. Reinstate - v. To bring back into existence or authority 

-L. re, “back,” + in, “in,” + status = to stand (someone) back in 

-syn. restore 

3. Inconstant - adj. Not lasting; not steady 

-L. in, “not,” + con, “very, firmly,” + status = not standing firmly 

Pos/Pon

Latin PONERE, POSITUM, “tol place, to put” 

1. Composure - n. Control over expression and action 

-L. com, “together,” + positum = put together, staying together 

-syn. poise / -ant. agitation; worry 

2. Exponential - adj. Steadily increasing 

-L. ex, “out of,” + ponere = to place out of 

3. Imposition - n. An unwelcome demand; a burden 

-L. in, “on, onto,” + positum = putting onto 

-syn. bother 

4. Repository - n. A place designated for storage 

Word: dēsīderō

Word: patria

Word: prope 

Ig/Ag/Act/Eg

Latin AGERE, ACTUM “do, drive, act”

1. Prodigal - adj. Wasting money or resources 

-L. pro, “forth,” + agere = drive forth, drive away (money) 

-syn. wasteful / -ant. thrifty 

2. Agitate - v. [1] To publicly demand; petition for, [2] To move vigorously or violently; to upset 

3. Enact - v. To make legal or official 

-L. en, “in,” + actum = driven into (law)

-syn. decree / -ant. repeal 

4. Reactionary - adj. Strongly opposed to change; conservative 

-L. re, “back,” + actum = driving back 

5. Agile - adj. Able to move quickly and lightly 

-syn. nimble / -ant. stiff

6. Allege - v. To put forth as true; claim 

-L. ad, “toward,” + litis, “lawsuit,” + agere = to drive towards a lawsuit 

Vig

Latin VIGERE, “be lively, be energetic” 

1. Vigorous - adj. Done with power, force or energy 

-syn. robust, spirited / -ant. lethargic, lazy 

2. Invigorate - v. To fill with strength and energy 

Erg/Urg

Greek ERGON, “work”

1. Surgical - adj. Very precise; clear and accurate 

-G. kheir, “hand,” + ergon = hand-work

2. Energetic - adj. Active and lively 

-G. en, “in,” + ergon = into work

-syn. active / -ant. lazy 

3. Ergonomic - adj. Intended to decrease discomfort and maximize work 

Word: natō

Word: circum 

Word:  īnsula 

Word: nāvigō