Greek and Latin roots in English_L

Root Meaning in English Origin language Etymology (root origin) English examples
lab-, laps- slide, slip Latin labi, lapsus elapse, relapse
labi- lip Latin labia, labiae bilabial, labial
labor- work Latin labor collaboration, elaboration
lacer- tear Latin lacer laceration
lacrim- cry, tears Latin lacrima lacrimal, lacrimous
lact- milk Latin lac, lactis, lactare lactate, lactation, lactose
lamin- layer, slice Latin lamina laminate, lamination
lamp- torch Greek λαμπάς (lampas) lamp
lapid- stone Latin lapis, lapidis dilapidate, lapidary
larg- large Latin largus enlargement, large, largesse, largo
larv- ghost, mask Latin larva larva, larvae, larval
lat- broad, wide Latin latus latitude
later- side Latin latus, lateris bilateral
laud-, laus- praise Latin laudare "to praise" laud, laudanum, laudable, laudation, summa cum laude
lav- wash Latin lavare launder, laundry, lava, lavation, lavatory, lave, lavender, lavish, lotion
lax- not tense Latin laxus, laxare laxative, relaxation
lecith- egg yolk Greek λέκιθος (lekithos) lecithin
led-, les- hurt Latin laedere, laesus lesion
leg-, lect- read, gather Latin legere collect, diligence, election, intelligence, lectern, lecture, legend, legible, legion, lesson, neglect, religion, sacrilege, select
leg- law Latin lex, legis, legare legal, legislate, legislation, legislative, legislator, legislature, legitimate, legitimize, privilege
leg- send Latin legare (from legis) delegate, league, legacy, legato, relegate
lei- smooth Greek λεῖος (leios) leiomyoma
lekan- dish, pot Greek λεκάνη (lekanē) lekane
leni- gentle Latin lenis, lenire leniency
leon- lion Latin leo, leonis Leo, leonine, Leopold
lep- flake, scale Greek λέπειν, λεπίς, λεπίδος (lepis, lepidos) Lepidoptera
lepsi- grasp, seize Greek λῆψις (lēpsis) epilepsy
leuc-, leuk- white Greek λευκός (leukos) leucocyte
lev- lift, light, raise Latin levare "lighten, raise", from levis "light" (in weight) alleviate, elevate, elevator, leaven, lever, leverage, levitation, levity, levy, relieve
liber-, liver- free Latin liber, liberare deliver, deliverance, libel, liberal, liberalize, liberate, liberation, libertine, liberty
libr- book Latin liber, libri librarian, library
lig- bind Latin ligare, ligatus ligament, ligature
limac- slug Latin limax, limacis limacoid, limacon
limpa- clear, water Latin limpa "water" limpid
line- line Latin linea line, linearity
lingu- language, tongue Latin lingua bilingual, linguistic
linqu-, lict- leave Latin linquere, lictus relict, relinquish
lip- fat Greek λίπος (lipos) lipolysis
liq- flow Latin liquere deliquesce, liquefy, liqueur, liquid, liquor, prolix
lit- prayer, supplication Greek λιτή (lite) litany
liter- letter Latin littera alliteration, illiterate, literacy, literal, literary, literature, obliterate
lith- stone Greek λίθος (lithos) lithic, lithosphere, megalith, Mesolithic, monolith, Neolithic, Paleolithic
loc- place Latin locus, locare allocate, local, locality, locate, location, locomotion, locus
log-, -logy word, reason, speech, though Greek λόγος (logos), λογία (logia) analogy, anthology, apology, biology, dialogue doxology, ecology, epilogue, etymology, eulogy, geology, ideologue, logarithm, logic, logogram, meteorology, monologue, morphological, neologism, neurology, philology, prologue, psychology, tautology, terminology, theology, toxicology, trilogy, zoology
long- long Latin longus elongate, longitude
loqu-, locut- speak Latin loqui allocution, circumlocution, colloquial, colloquy, elocution, eloquent, eloquence, grandiloquent, interlocution, loquacious, loquacity, magniloquent, obloquy, soliloquy
luc- bright, light Latin lux (genitive lucis), lucere elucidate, lucid, Lucifer (bearer of light), lucubrate, noctilucent, pellucid, translucent
lud-, lus- play Latin ludere, lusus allude, collude, delude, elude, elusive, elusory, illude, illusion, ludicrous, lusory, prelude
lumin- light Latin luminare, from lumen illumination, luminary, luminous
lu-, luv-, lut- wash Latin luere (see also diluere, fluere and pluere) ablution, alluvium, colluvium, diluvium, elute, elution, elluviation, eluvium, illuviation, illuvium, pollution
lun- moon Latin luna luna, lunar, lunatic
lysi-, lyti- dissolving Greek λύσις (lusis) analysis, analytic, cytolysis, hydrolysis, lysigeny