VERBS
to EAT
Octopus, podiatrist, and tripod contain a root meaning this.
FOOT
Cacophony and Kakos, the villain who stole the cattle of Geryon from Hercules, come from the Greek adjective kakos, meaning this.
BAD
Cynicism and cynosure are from the name of this animal.
DOG
Xenophobia and the xenomorph in Ridley Scott’s movies both come from a root meaning this.
ALIEN, STRANGER, FOREIGNER
The meaning of the verb in teichoskopeia, kinetoscope, and telescope.
to EXAMINE or WATCH
The meaning of the root shared by cephalopods and anencephaly.
HEAD
Kallipolis and calligraphy use the Greek root kalos, meaning this.
BEAUTIFUL
The names Hippocrates, Hippias, and Philip all contain the root meaning this animal.
HORSE
Esoteric and esophagus both include a prepositional prefix meaning this.
INSIDE/INTO
The meaning of the verb in tachometer, odometer, and kilometer.
to MEASURE
Its the meaning of the root shared by the genus name of the blue whale, balaenoptera, and the family name of bats, cheiroptera.
Glycerin and hypoglycemia come from an adjective meaning this.
SWEET
Aigospotami and the aegis wielded by Zeus both come from the name of this animal.
GOAT
Endotherms, endometrium, and endoscopy all use a preposition with this meaning.
INSIDE, WITHIN
to DISSOLVE (UNDO, UNSCREW!)
The meaning of the common root in gastronomy and gastropod.
STOMACH/BELLY
Tachycardia and tachometer come from the Greek word tachys, meaning this.
FAST, SWIFT
Boustrophedon means writing that alternates direction, like this animal when it’s plowing.
OX/BULL
Dystrophy and dysmorphia mean that, yes, things can grow or have a shape, but only in this way.
The meaning of the verbal root in cetotaph and epitaph.
to BURY
The meaning of the root behind hysteria and hysterectomy.
WOMB/UTERUS
Kenosis and cenotaph come from the adjective kenos, meaning this.
EMPTY
Lycanthropy is when a human being turns into one of these animals.
WOLF
The epiglottis and an epitaph are found in this position relative to their noun-roots (tongue and tomb).
UPON, ABOVE