Ancient Greek word root · Body & Health

somat-: body

somat- is an Ancient Greek root meaning “body”. Learn its variants and explore 6 connected words.

Meaning and variants

Meaning: body

Root forms: somat-, -some

Source word: σῶμα — body (both that of people and animals)

Word family and examples

• chromosome

  A linear arrangement of condensed DNA and associated proteins (such as chaperone proteins) which contains the genetic material (genome) of an organism.

• gruesome

  Repellently frightful and shocking; ghastly, horrific.

• fearsome

  frightening, especially in appearance.

• winsome

  Charming, engaging, winning; inspiring approval and trust, especially if in an innocent manner.

• buxom

  Having a full, voluptuous figure, especially possessing large breasts.

• irksome

  Marked by irritation or annoyance; disagreeable; troublesome by reason of long continuance or repetition

Root connections help with vocabulary recall. They are not a complete etymological history, and a spelling match alone does not prove a relationship.

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