Connected word reference

English words and connected roots — page 6

Explore 617 selected English words with curated root connections. The interactive app contains the full dictionary.

• patriarch

  The highest form of bishop, in the ancient world having authority over other bishops in the province but now generally as an honorary title; in Roman Catholicism, considered a bishop second only to the Pope in rank.

• patriarchy

  A social system in which the father is head of the household, having authority over women and children, and in which lineage is traced through the male line.

• pedal

  A lever operated by one's foot that is used to control or power a machine or mechanism, such as a bicycle or piano.

• pedestrian

  a person walking rather than traveling in a vehicle

• pediatrics

  The branch of medicine that deals with the treatment of children and adolescents.

• pedometer

  A device, often electronic, that measures the number of steps taken, and thus estimates the distance walked.

• pedophile

  An adult or older adolescent who is sexually attracted to prepubescent children.

• pendant

  a piece of jewelry that hangs from a chain

• pentagram

  The shape of a five-pointed star constructed of five intersecting lines meeting at the vertices, such that a central pentagon and five surrounding isosceles triangles are formed; often with magical connotations; a 5/2 (or 5/3) star polygon.

• perimeter

  The sum of the distance of all the lengths of the sides of an object.

• periscope

  a device for viewing over or around obstacles

• perspective

  a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something

• pharmacy

  a place where medicinal drugs are prepared or sold

• phenomenology

  The study of structures of consciousness as experienced from the first-person point of view.

• phenomenon

  a fact or situation that is observed to exist or happen

• philanthropy

  the desire to promote the welfare of others, shown by generous donations

• philharmonic

  devoted to music (chiefly in the names of orchestras)

• philosophy

  the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence

• phonetic

  Relating to the sounds of spoken language.

• phonograph

  A device that captures sound waves onto an engraved archive; a lathe.

• phonology

  The study of the way sounds function in languages, including accent, intonation, phonemes, stress, and syllable structure, and which sounds are distinctive units within a language; (countable) the way sounds function within a given language; a phonological system.

• photograph

  a picture made using a camera

• photographic

  Pertaining to photographs or photography.

• photography

  The art and technology of producing images on photosensitive surfaces, and its digital counterpart.

• photometry

  The measurement of various aspects of light, especially its intensity.

• photon

  The quantum of light and other electromagnetic energy, regarded as a discrete particle having zero rest mass, no electric charge, and an indefinitely long lifetime. It is a gauge boson.

• photosynthesis

  the process by which plants use sunlight to synthesize food

• phylogeny

  The evolutionary history of groups of organisms, such as species or clades.

• physics

  the science of matter, energy, and their interactions

• physiologic

  Of or pertaining to physiology.

• physiological

  Of, or relating to physiology.

• physiology

  the branch of biology dealing with the functions of living organisms

• physiotherapist

  A therapist who treats physical injury or dysfunction, usually with exercise.

• phytoplankton

  Plankton, especially those small in size, that obtain energy by photosynthesis.

• podiatric

  Of or pertaining to podiatry, the medical specialty concerned with the foot

• podiatry

  Chiropody.

• politics

  the activities associated with the governance of a country or area

• polyamorous

  Having relationships with multiple partners, with the knowledge and consent of all involved; engaging in polyamory.

• polygamy

  The condition of having more than one spouse or marriage partner at one time.

• polyglot

  a person who knows and is able to use several languages

• polygon

  a plane figure with at least three straight sides and angles

• polygraph

  A device which measures and records several physiological variables such as blood pressure, heart rate, respiration and skin conductivity while a series of questions is being posed to a subject, in an attempt to detect deception.

• polyhedron

  A solid figure with many flat faces and straight edges.

• polymer

  A long or larger molecule consisting of a chain or network of many repeating units, formed by chemically bonding together many identical or similar small molecules called monomers. A polymer is formed by polymerization, the joining of many monomer molecules.

• polymorphic

  Relating to polymorphism (any sense), able to have several shapes or forms.

• polymorphism

  The ability to assume different forms or shapes.

• polynomial

  An expression consisting of a sum of a finite number of terms, each term being the product of a constant coefficient and one or more variables raised to a non-negative integer power, such as a_nxⁿ+a_n-1xⁿ⁻¹+...+a_0x⁰.

• polytechnic

  That teaches applied arts, sciences, technology, engineering and other academic subjects.

• polytheism

  The belief in the existence of multiple gods.

• popular

  liked or admired by many people

• portman

  A burgess of a port, especially of one of the Cinque Ports.

• postscript

  An addendum to a letter, added after the author's signature.

• potential

  latent qualities that may be developed

• predict

  to state that a specified event will happen in the future

• prevent

  to keep something from happening

• primary

  of chief importance; first in order

• proceed

  to begin or continue a course of action

• process

  a series of actions taken to achieve an end

• progress

  forward movement toward a destination or goal

• project

  to throw or cast forward; to estimate or forecast

• prologue

  A speech or section used as an introduction, especially to a play or novel.

• promote

  to further the progress of; to raise to a higher position

• prospect

  The region which the eye overlooks at one time; a view; a scene; an outlook.

• protagonist

  the leading character in a drama or story

• proton

  A positively charged subatomic particle forming part of the nucleus of an atom and determining the atomic number of an element, composed of two up quarks and a down quark.

• prototype

  An original form or object which is a basis for other forms or objects (particularly manufactured items), or for its generalizations and models.

• provoke

  to stimulate or give rise to a reaction

• pseudonym

  A fictitious name (more literally, a false name), as those used by writers and movie stars.

• psychiatric

  Of, or relating to, psychiatry.

• psychiatry

  the study and treatment of mental illness

• psychoanalysis

  A family of theories and methods within the field of psychotherapy that work to find connections among patients' unconscious mental processes.

• psychology

  the scientific study of the human mind and its functions

• psychopath

  a person with a chronic mental disorder marked by antisocial behavior

• psychopathy

  A personality disorder characterized by impaired empathy and remorse, and bold, disinhibited, and egocentric traits masked by superficial charm and the outward presence of apparent normality. Violent and criminal offenses may be indicative of this disorder.

• psychosis

  A severe mental disorder, sometimes with physical damage to the brain, marked by a deranged personality and a distorted view of reality.

• pyrite

  The common mineral iron disulfide (FeS₂), of a pale brass-yellow color and brilliant metallic luster, crystallizing in the isometric system.

• pyromaniac

  a person with a compulsive desire to set fire to things

• react

  to respond to something

• recede

  to go or move back or further away

• recipient

  a person who receives something