Latin roots and Latin words

Before Anglo, Saxons and Jutes came to England, Latin roots and Latin words were already present because of Latin usage by old Germanic tribes. Infact, Roman empire had to teach to Germanic tribes some words in latin for functional purposes.

Most words used in church language originate from Latin.

Look at these Latin words used in old English and how they are used now,modern English.

If you carefully look at these words they are terms used in Government, Military,Trading terms, names of the material used. However, scientific terminologies belong to Greek because after renaissance Greek and Latin were language of learning.....................

Click here GREEK WORDS IN PRESENT SCIENTIFIC TERMINOLOGIES

Some Latin words from 16th,17th, 18th century are still alive in the English language.

Latin root words were introduced in Britain during the time when it was under Roman empire.There are many Latin words which were used in old English and are present in English vocabulary.

Mostly Greek numeric words are used in science vocabulary. Learning there (click here) Greek and Latin prefixes will help you to understand most scientific terms.


          LATIN ROOTS----OLD ENGLISH--------------MODERN ENGLISH


Ager-------------------------------Acer--------------------------------Acre


Bestia-----------------------------Beste------------------------------Beast


Caseus----------------------------Ces, Cies-------------------------Cheese


Cista-------------------------------Cist---------------------------------Chest


Gemma---------------------------Gim---------------------------------Gem


Uncia------------------------------Ynce------------------------------Inch


Linea---------------------------------Line-----------------------------Line ( cord)


       LATIN  WORDS------OLD ENGLISH-----------MODERN ENGLISH


Mille ( Passus)-------------------------Mil----------------------------------Mile


Molina--------------------------------Mylen-----------------------------------Mill


Mango----------------------------Mongari-------------------------Monger


Mulus-----------------------------Mul------------------------------Mule


Pulvinus----------------------------Pyle-------------------------------Pillow


Pinus-----------------------------Pin------------------------------Pine


Portus-------------------------Port---------------------------Port


Pundus--------------------------Pound------------------------Pound


Purpureus--------------------Purpure---------------------Purple


Postis-----------------------------Post--------------------------A Post


( Via) Strata------------------- Stroet----------------------- Street


Tabula--------------------------Tabule------------------------Table


Tigula---------------------------Tigule-----------------------Tile


Vallum-------------------------Weal-----------------------Wall


Vinum------------------------------Win---------------------------Wine



Latin in Church Lingo

Roman missionaries brought Christian culture in England in the form of latin words. In addition people from Ireland, in seventh century carried more latin roots of which some have remained permanently in English vocabulary.


LATIN ( Latin Words)----OLD ENGLISH----------MODERN ENGLISH

Abbadem ( Late L)---------Abbud--------------------------Abbot


(e)Biscopus------------------Biscop-------------------------Bishop


Diaconus------------------Doecna-------------------Deacon


Monachus----------------------Munuc----------------------Monk


Monasterium------------------Mynstre-------------------Minster


Nonna--------------------Nunne-----------------------Nun


Presbyter-----------------Preost-------------------Priest


Templum-------------------Templ-------------Temple

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A major portion of Latin words in old English are not exactly influenced from Latin Christianity but, because of revitalization of church life in the tenth century. This change inturn influenced literature and science in that period.


Most of Latin word in old English are alive in a morphed form, but words since 1500 i.e.Modern English period are main direct influences from Latin and remain unchanged:

Sixteenth Century

Exit

Genius, Area,

Fungus

Miser

Circus

Vacuum

Medium

Species

Ignoramus

Vagary


Eighteenth Century


Nucleus

Inertia

Alibi

Ultimatum

Extra

Insomnia

Bonus ( noun)

Via ( preposition)

Deficit


Seventeenth Century

Torpor

Specimen

Arena

Apparatus

Focus

Album

Complex

Minimum

Status

Lens

Pendulum


Nineteenth Century


Opus

Ego

Moratorium

Referendum

Bascillus




Return to word origins

Return to English Vocabulary

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Oxford English Dictionary publishes new word updates and revised word meanings, on March, June,September and December every year. For instance, in March 2012, it added:
bit bucket n. An An imaginary trash location, example, "it fell into the bit bucket" means the data was lost.

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