Greek Suffixes Vocabulary

doctrine, belief, practice

“capitalism, optimism, criticism”

Origin: Greek `-ismos` meaning `practice, doctrine`

one who practices or believes

“artist, scientist, optimist”

Origin: Greek `-istes` meaning `one who`

to make, to become

“organize, realize, modernize”

Origin: Greek `-izein` meaning `to make`

study of, science

“biology, psychology, geology”

Origin: Greek `-logia` meaning `study of`

fear of

“claustrophobia, arachnophobia, xenophobia”

Origin: Greek `-phobia` from `phobos` meaning `fear`

lover of

“bibliophile, Anglophile, audiophile”

Origin: Greek `-philos` meaning `loving`

instrument for viewing

“microscope, telescope, stethoscope”

Origin: Greek `-skopos` meaning `watcher`

something written, instrument

“photograph, telegraph, autograph”

Origin: Greek `-graphos` meaning `written`

measuring device

“thermometer, barometer, speedometer”

Origin: Greek `-metron` meaning `measure`

rule by, government

“democracy, aristocracy, bureaucracy”

Origin: Greek `-kratia` meaning `rule, power`

obsession, madness

“pyromania, kleptomania, megalomania”

Origin: Greek `-mania` meaning `madness`

feeling, suffering, disease

“sympathy, apathy, telepathy”

Origin: Greek `-patheia` meaning `suffering`

law, system of laws

“astronomy, economy, taxonomy”

Origin: Greek `-nomia` meaning `law`

form, shape

“polymorph, anthropomorph, isomorph”

Origin: Greek `-morphos` meaning `form`

resembling, like

“asteroid, humanoid, paranoid”

Origin: Greek `-oeides` meaning `like, resembling`

condition, process

“hypnosis, neurosis, metamorphosis”

Origin: Greek `-osis` meaning `condition`

pertaining to

“comic, athletic, dramatic”

Origin: Greek `-ikos` meaning `pertaining to`

rule, government

“monarchy, anarchy, oligarchy”

Origin: Greek `-arkhia` meaning `rule`

angle

“pentagon, hexagon, polygon”

Origin: Greek `-gonos` meaning `angled`

base, face

“polyhedron, tetrahedron, octahedron”

Origin: Greek `-hedra` meaning `seat, base`