English Vocabulary Derived from Latin - Page 1

This section of EnhanceMyVocabulary.com is all about learning vocabulary derived from Latin


Sixty percent of the English language comes from Latin. In this section of Enhance My Vocabulary, you'll find many examples of Latin words and the English words derived from them. This is not an exhaustive list but will give you a good feel for the Latin roots of English.

Challenge yourself to think of more English words that may have come from these Latin roots, and then check a dictionary to confirm the derivation. In her memoir, When All the World Was Young, Barbara Holland wrote that Latin was "the scalpel in my hand for dissecting English."

Editor's note: This section would not be possible without the instruction of David L. Rhody, retired high-school Latin teacher.


Latin Word Definition English Derivatives
villa villa, house
villa, village, villager
alta
tall, high, deep
altitude, altimeter, alto
antiqua
antique, old
antique, antiquity, ancient
longa
long
longitude, longevity, long
magna
large, great
magnify, magnificent, magnitude
pictura
picture
picture, picturesque, pictorial
nova
new
novice, novel, novelty, nova, Nova Scotia
terra
land, earth
terrier, terrace, terrestrial, terrain
prima
first
prime, primary, primitive, primeval
sub
under
subway, subterranean, suburban
corna
horn
cornucopia, cornet, clavicorn
est
is
estate, establish, essence
habere
have
have, habit, habitual
casa
small house
casino
via
street
via
parva
small
parval, parvanimity
lata
wide, broad
latitude, lateral, latitudinal
bona
good
bonus, bonanza, bona fide
copia
plenty
copious, cornucopia, copiously
fama
fame
fame, famous, infamous
provincia
province
province, provincial, provincialism
multa
many
multitude, multiple, multiplex
nominare
to name
nominate, nominal, name, nominative
postea
later
postlude, postgraduate, posthumous
non
not
nonfction, nonmetal, nonexistent
in
in
in
aqua
water
aquatics, aquarium, aqueduct, aqueous
agricola
farmer
agriculture
bestia
beast
bestial, bestiality
figura
figure, shape
figure, figurine, figment, figurative
flamma
flame
flame, flamboyant, flambeau
herba
herb
herb, herbivorous, herbage
insula
island
insular, insulate, insularity
lingua
language
language, lingual, linguistics
nauta
sailor
nautical, nautilus
pirata
pirate
pirate, piratical
schola
school
scholar, school, scholastic
alba
white
albino, albinism albumen
amica
friendly
amicable, amicability, amity
beata
happy
beatific, beatify, beatitude
maritima
sea
maritime
mea
me
me, my
mira
strange
miracle, miraculous, mirage
nota
noted
noted, note, notice, notable, noticeable
obscura
dark
obscure, obscured, obscurity
periculosa
dangerous
perilous, peril
propinqua
near to
propinquity
pulchra
beautiful
pulchritude
quieta
quiet
quiet, quietude, disquiet
circum
around
circumstance, circumnavigate, circumspect
filia
daughter
filly, filial


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