Greek and Latin roots in English_M

Root Meaning in English Origin language Etymology (root origin) English examples
macer- lean Latin macer emaciate, meager
macro- long Greek μακρός (makros) macro, macroeconomics, macron
magn- great, large Latin magnus magnanimous, magnate, magnificent, magnify, magnitude, magnum
maj- greater Latin major, majus majesty, majority, majuscule
mal- bad, wretched Latin malus malediction, malefaction, malevolent, malfeasance, malicious, malignancy, malnourished, malodorous
mamm- breast Latin mamma mammal, mammary gland
man- flow Latin mānāre, manatus emanate, emanationism, immanant, immanation
man- stay Latin manēre, mansus immanence, immanent, manse, permanence, permanent, remanence, remanent
man-, manu- hand Latin manus emancipate, manacle, manage, maneuver, manual, manufacture, manicure, manifest, manuscript
mand-, -mend- order, commit Latin mandāre, mandatus command, commend, commendation, countermand, demand, mandate, mandatory, recommend, remand
mania mental illness Greek μανία (manίā) kleptomania, mania, maniac, pyromania
mar- sea Latin mare, maris marine, maritime
mascul- male, man Latin masculus, masculi emasculate, masculine
mater-, matr- mother Latin mater, matris maternal, maternity, matrimony, matrix, matron
maxim- greatest Latin maximus maximum
mechan- machine or instrument Greek μηχανή (mēkhanē) mechane, mechanics
medi-, -midi- middle Latin medius, mediare media, median, mediate, medieval, mediocre, Mediterranean, medium
mega- great, large, million Greek μέγας (megas) megacycle, megaphone, megalopolis, megaton
mei- less Greek μεῖον (meiōn) meiosis
melan- black, dark Greek μέλας (melas) Melanesia, melanoma
melior- better Latin meliorare "to improve", from melior "better" ameliorate, amelioration, meliorism
mell- honey Latin mel, mellis mellifluous
memor- remember Latin memor commemorate, memoir, memorable, memorial, memorize, memory
mening- membrane Greek μήνιγξ (meninx) meningitis
ment- mind Latin mens, mentis comment, dement, demented, mental, mentality, mention, momento, reminisce, reminiscence
men- month Greek μήν (mēn) menopause
mend- defect, fault Latin mendax "lying, a liar", from menda "defect, fault" amend, amendment, mendacious, mendacity
menstru- monthly Latin menstruus menstrual, menstruation
mensur- measure Latin mensura "measurement" commensurate
mer- part Greek μέρος (meros) polymer
merc- reward, wages, hire Latin merx (genitive mercis) commerce, commercial, market, mercantile, mercenary, merchant, mercy
merg-, mers- dip, plunge Latin mergere emerge, immersion
mes- middle Greek μέσος (mesos) Mesolithic, mesozoic
meter-, metr- measure Greek μέτρον (metron) altimeter, barometer, calorimeter, centimeter, meter, metric, millimeter, thermometer
meta- above, among, beyond Greek μετά (meta) metabolism, metamorphic, metamorphosis, metaphase, metaphor, metaphysics, metastatic, meteor, method
mic- grain Latin mica micelle
micro- small Greek μικρός (mikros) microcosm, microeconomics, micrometer, microphone, microscope, microwave
migr- wander Latin migrare emigrant, immigrant, migrant, migrate, migration
milit- soldier Latin miles, militis military, militia
milli- thousand Latin mille millennium, million
millen- thousand each Latin milleni millenary
mim- repeat Greek μίμος (mimos) mime, mimic
min- jut Latin minere prominent
min- less, smaller Latin minor, minus minority, minuscule, minutiae
mina- lead Latin minare, variant of minari amenable, demeanor, menace, promenade
mir- wonder, amazement Latin miror, mirari, miratus sum admire, miracle, mirror
mis- hate Greek μῖσος (misos) misandry, misogyny
misc-, mixt- mix Latin miscere, mixtus miscellaneous, mixture
miser- unhappy, wretched Latin miser miser, miserable, miserly, misery
mit-, miss- send Latin mittere, missus commit, emit, intermittent, missile, mission, missionary, omit, permit, remit, submit, transmit
mit- thread Greek μίτος (mitos) mitochondrion, mitosis
mne- memory Greek μνήμη (mnēmē) amnesia, mnemonic
mod- measure Latin modus "measure" mode, model, moderate, moderation, moderato, moderator, modern, modest, modicum, modify
mol- grind Latin mola, molere, molitus molar
moll- soft Latin mollis emollient, mollify
mon- one Greek μόνος (monos) monism, monolith, monopoly, monopsony, monotone
mon- warn Latin monere admonish, monitor, monster, monument, premonition, summon
monil- string of beads Latin monile Moniliformida
monstra- show Latin monstrare demonstrate, muster, remonstrate
mont- mountain Latin mons, montis Montana
mor- disposition Latin mos moral, morose
mora- pause, delay Latin morari "to delay", from mora "a pause, delay" demur, moratorium, remora
mord- bite Latin mordere, morsus mordacious, morsel, remorse
moro- foolish, dull Greek μωρός (moros) "foolish, dull" moron, moronic, oxymoron, oxymoronic, sophomore, sophomoric
morph- form, shape Greek μορφή (morphē) amorphous, anthropomorphism, dimorphic, metamorphosis, morpheme, morphology
mort- death Latin mors, mortis immortal, mortal, mortality, mortician, mortuary
mov-, mob-, mot- move, motion Latin movere, motus commotion, emotion, mobile, momentum, motile, motion, motive, motor, move, movement, mutiny, promote, remove
mulg-, muls- milk Latin mulgere emulsion
multi- many, much Latin multus multifold, multilingual, multiple, multiplex, multiply, multitude
mund- world Latin mundus anima mundi, map, mundane
mur- wall Latin murus, muri immured, mural
mus- mouse Greek μῦς (mus) musophobia
mus- thief Latin mus, muris mouse
musc- fly Latin musca, muscae Muscicapidae, Muscidae
mut- change Latin mutare immutable, mutation
my- to shut (the eyes) Latin myein miosis, myopia, myopic, mystery
myri- countless, ten thousand Greek μυρίος (murios) myriad, myriapod
myrmec- ant Greek μύρμηξ (murmēx) myrmecoid, Myrmidons
myth- story Greek μῦθος (muthos) mythic, mythology
myx- slime Greek μύξα (muxa) Myxini
myz- suck Greek μυζάω (muzaō) Myzopoda