ENGLISH ROOT-WORDS AND DERIVATIVES.

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The native force of English was such that it came to be a highly developed language, possessing a copious vocabulary and a rich literature in prose and verse. Indeed, the English quite surpassed their Norman conquerors in learning and literary culture. It is this English that lies at the foundation of the English of to-day, and some attention may well be given to old English root-words.

Ac, an oak, gives us oak, acorn, Acton.


Bac-an, to bake: baker, baxter (female baker), batch.

Ban-a, a slayer: bane, baneful, henbane.

Beat-an, to stroke: beat, bat, battle, beetle, batter.

Beorg-an, to shelter: bury, burrow, burgh, harbour, harbinger.

Ber-an, to bear: bear, birth, bairn, breed, brood, bier, barrow, brother, bird.

Bet-an, to make good: better, best, boot (to boot).

Bind-an, to bind: band, bond, bondage, bundle.

Bit, to bite: bit, beetle, bait, bitter.

Blaw-an, to puff: bladder, blain, blast, blister, blot, bloat.

Blow-an, to blossom: blow, bloom, blossom, blade.

Brec-an, to break: break, breakers, brake, bracken, breach.

Breow-an, brew, brewer, broth, bread.

Bug-an, to bend: bow, elbow, bough, bight.

Byrn-an, to burn: burn, brown, brimstone, brand, brandy, brindled.

Catt, a cat: catkin, kitten, caterpillar, caterwaul.

Ceapi-an, to buy: cheap, cheapen, chap, chaffer, Chapman.

Cen-an, to produce: kin, kindred, kind, kindle.

Ceow-an, to chew: chew, cheek, cud.

Cleow-an, to split: cleave, cleaver, cleft, clover (split grass).

Clifi-an, to stick to: clip, cleave (together).

Cnaw-an, to know: ken, know, knowledge.

Cnot-ta, a knot: knot, knit, net.

Cunn-an, to know, be able: can, con, cunning, uncouth.

Cweth-an, to say: quoth, bequeath, bequest.

Cwic, alive: quick, quicken, quickset, quicksilver.


DÆ-an, to divide: deal, dole, dale, dell.

Dem-an, to judge: deem, doom, doomsday, king-dom.

Deor, dear, dearth, darling, endear.

Don, to act: do, don, doff, deed.

Drag-an, to draw: drag, draw, dray, draft, drain, dredge, draggle, drawl.

Drif-an, to push: drive, drove, drift, adrift.

Drinc-an, to soak: drink, drench.

Drip-an, to drip: drip, drop, droop, dribble, driblet.

Dryge, dry: dry, drought, drugs (dried plants).


Far-an, to go: far, fare, welfare, ferry, ford.

Feower, four: farthing, firkin, fourteen, fortnight, forty.

Fleog-an, to flee: fly, flight, flea, fledged.

Fleot-an, to float: float, fleet, afloat, flotsam.

Fod-a, food, feed: food, fodder, foster, father, forage.

Fon, [P.P. gefangen], to catch: fang, finger, new fangled.

Freon, to love: friend, friendship.


Gal-an, to sing: gale, yell, nightingale.

Gang-an, to go: gang, gangway, ago.

Gnag-an, to bite: gnaw, gnat, nag (to tease).

Graf-an, to dig, cut: grave, engrave, graft, groove, carve.

Grip-an, to seize: grip, gripe, grasp, grab, grope.

Gyrd-an, to surround: gird, girdle, garden, yard, vineyard.


HÆl-an, to heal: hale, holy, hallow, health, hail, whole, wholesome, wassail.

Hebb-an, to raise: heave, heaven, heavy, (heave-offering).

Hlaf, bread, loaf: loaf, lord (hlaford, loaf-keeper), lady (hloefdige = loaf-kneader).


Licg-an, to lie: lie, lay, layer, lair, outlay.

Loda, guide: lead, lodestar, lodestone.


Mag-an, to be able: may, main, might, mighty.

Maw-an, to cut: mow, math, aftermath, mead, meadow (mown spot).

Mon-a, moon: month, moon, (moonshiner).


Nasu, nose: nose, nasal, nostril, nozzle.


Penn-an, to shut up: pen, pin, pound, impound.

Pic, point: pike, peak, picket, pike (a fish), peck, pecker.


Reaf, clothing, spoil: rob, robber, reave, bereave, reever, robe.


Sceap-an, to form: shape, ship, scape (landscape).

Sceot-an, to throw: shoot, shot, shut, sheet, shutter, shuttle, scud.

Scer-an, to cut: shear, share, shire, scar, scare, score, sharp, short, shirt, skirt, shred, scrip, scrap.

Scuf-an, to push: shove, shovel, shuffle, scruffle, sheaf, scoop.

Sitt-an, to sit: sit, set, seat, settle.

Sle-an, to strike: slay, slaughter, slog, sledge.

Slip-an, to slip: slop, slipper, sleeve.

Snic-an, to crawl: sneak, snake, snail.

Stede, place: stead, instead, homestead, steady, steadfast.

Stici-an, to stick: stick, stitch, stake, stock, stockade, stock-still.

Stig-an, to climb: stair, stile, stirrup, sty.

Styr-an, to direct: steer, stern, steerage.

Sweri-an, to declare: swear, answer (and-, against), forswear.


TÆc-an, to teach: teach, teacher, token, taught.

Tell-an, to account: tell, tale, talk, toll, teller.

Teon, to draw: tow, tug.

ThÆc, roof: thatch, deck.

Tred-an, to walk: tread, treadle, trade, tradesman.

Truwa, good faith: true, truth, troth, betroth.

Twa, two: twain, twelve, twenty, twig, twine, twist.


Wana, lacking: wan, wane, want, wanton.

Wef-an, to weave: weaver, web, woof.

Waru, defense: war, wary, aware, ward, guard, guardian.

Wit-an, to know: wit, wise, wisdom, wistful, witness.

Wraest-an, to wrest: wrest, wrestle, wrist.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

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