Posted in: languages

Word Roots: I & J

I – Iota, arm

  • in/im (否定), incorrect, impossible, inactive, irregular, infamous
  • in/im (使): impel (im+pul), [motivate], incite, intone, inspire (in+spir),  [breast/breath], irritate (ir+rit+ate)
  • 点: ice, ink, inch, idea, item, issue, initial, iterate
  • 人:I, in, ill, idol, idiot, idle, 
  • importune: beg persistently and urgently
  • importunity
  • importunate= im + port (harbor, port) + un + ate [opportunity]
    persistent, especially to the point of annoyance or intrusion.
    “importunate creditors”
  • implacable
  • placable: easily calmed; gentle and forgiving.
    “he was placable in his animosities and affectionate in his family”
  • impassive:
    not feeling or showing emotion.

    “impassive passersby ignore the performers”

    passive: accepting or allowing what happens or what others do, without active response or resistance.
    “the women were portrayed as passive victims”
  • impudence
    the quality of being impudent; impertinence.
    “his arrogance and impudence had offended many”
  • impunity
    exemption from punishment or freedom from the injurious consequences of an action.
    “the impunity enjoyed by military officers implicated in civilian killings”
  • impervious
    not allowing fluid to pass through.

    “an impervious layer of basaltic clay”

    unable to be affected by.
    “he worked, apparently impervious to the heat”
  • immutable
  • impecunious
    having little or no money.
    “a titled but impecunious family”
  • impeccable
    (of behavior, performance, or appearance) in accordance with the highest standards of propriety; faultless.
    “a man of impeccable character”
  • imprecation = im + prec + ation 
    a spoken curse.
    “she hurled her imprecations at anyone who might be listening”
  • impregnable = im + preg + nable = not + take + able
    (of a fortified position) unable to be captured or broken into.

    “an impregnable wall of solid sandstone”

    unable to be defeated or destroyed; unassailable.
    “the case against Hastings would have been almost impregnable”
  • imperturbable
    unable to be upset or excited; calm.
    “an imperturbable tranquility”
  • immaculate
    free from flaws or mistakes; perfect.
    “an immaculate safety record”
  • impromptu
  • implausible
  • imperceptible
  • impenetrable
  • impasse
    a situation in which no progress is possible, especially because of disagreement; a deadlock.
    “the current political impasse”
  • impertinent
  • improvise 
  • immanent = im + man + ent
  • impugn: challenge, call into question
  • imbroglio: complicated situation
  • impinge: impact
  • imbibe: drink
  • impute: attribute
  • superimpose
  • impending
  • impediment: hindrance
  • impassioned
  • imminent = im + min + ent
  • imprimatur
  • immerse
  • implore
  • reimburse
  • impulsive
  • impoverished
  • implicit
  • imposition: impose 
  • impact

 

  • intransigent = in + trans (across) + i + gent = stubborn
  • inconspicuous = in + con + spic (see) + uous 
  • intractable = in + tract (pull) + able = difficult or impossible (problems, situations, or people)
  • indiscreet = in + dis + creet (cret – sift, discern, separate)
  • innocuous = not likely to offend or harm anyone
  • inimitable = in + imitable 
  • insipid = dull, boring
  • ineluctable = impossible to avoid or escape
  • inexorable = (of a process) is impossible to stop once it has begun. 
  • incontrovertible = in + contro + vert + ible
  • indelible = in + del (delete ) + ible = impossible to erase 
  • incognito = in + cogn (know) + ito 
  • indefatigable = in + de + fatig (tired) + able
  • inimical = unfriendly
  • interminable = in + termin (finish, end) + able
  • ineffable = something that is so impressive and beautiful that you cannot describe it in words. 
  • intestate = in + t + estate = die without a will 
  • incongruous 
  • ingrate = in + grat (welcome, pleasing) + e
  • indolent = lazy
  • indict = in + dict (to say, to write) 
  • insurrection = in + surrection 
  • inured = if you are inured to something unpleasant you have become so used to it that it no longer affects you. 
  • inhibit = (prohibit) prevent from doing something
  • indemnify = in + demn (condemn) + i + fy 
  • injunction = a court order that prevents someone from doing something
  • inordinate 
  • inveigh = criticize
  • invective = verbally abusing
  • incipient = in + cip (take) 
  • inception = in + cept (taken, seized) 
  • incisive = in + cis (cut) = (of an idea or thought) – concise
  • disinter
  • ingratiate
  • incumbent =
    necessary for (someone) as a duty or responsibility.
    “it is incumbent on all decent people to concentrate on destroying this evil”
    (of an official or regime) currently holding office.
  • ingress = in + gress (go)
  • insinuation = in + sinu (curve) + ation
    1. suggest or hint (something bad or reprehensible) in an indirect and unpleasant way.
    “he was insinuating that I had no self-control”
    2. slide (oneself or a thing) slowly and smoothly into a position.
    “the bugs insinuate themselves between one’s skin and clothes”
  • intone = in + tone (pitch)
    say or recite with little rise and fall of the pitch of the voice.
    “he intoned a short Latin prayer”
  • inveterate = in + veter (old) + ate
    having a particular habit, activity, or interest that is long-established and unlikely to change.
    “he was an inveterate gambler”
  • inundate = in +und (flow, wave) + ate
  • 1.overwhelm (someone) with things or people to be dealt with.
    “we’ve been inundated with complaints from listeners”
    2. flood
  • indoctrinate
  • induce 
  • inductive (deductive) 
  • incursion = in + curs + ion = unpleasant intrusion
  • incendiary = combustible 
  • insidious
  • inculcate = in + cul (culture) + cate 
  • incarcerate = put sb. in jail
  • inebriated = an inebriated person has had too much alcohol. 
  • ignore = ig + nore (know)
  • ignorant
  • ignominy = ig + nomi (name) + ny
    public shame or disgrace.
    “the ignominy of being imprisoned”
  • ignominious
  • ignoramus = an ignorant person
  • ignoble = ig + noble 
  • 1. not honorable in character or purpose.
    “ignoble feelings of intense jealousy”
    2. of humble origin or social status.
  • navigate
  • navigator
  • intransigent = in + trans + ig + ent 
  • intransigence
  • ambiguous = amb + ig + uous 
  • ambiguity
  • mitigate = mit + ig + ate
  • unmitigated
  • litigate = lit (lawsuit) + ig + ate
  • litigious 
  • litigation
  • allege = al + lege (lit = lawsuit)
    claim or assert that someone has done something illegal or wrong, typically without proof that this is the case.
    “he alleged that he had been assaulted”
  • castigate = cast + ig + ate = criticize or punish
  • castigation
  • exiguous
    very small in size or amount.
    “my exiguous musical resources”
  • exigency
  • prodigal = prod + ig + al
    1. spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant.
    “prodigal habits die hard”
    2. having or giving something on a lavish scale.
    “the dessert was crunchy with brown sugar and prodigal with whipped cream”
  • prodigality
  • illegal, illegitimate, illicit, unlawful
  • Illicit means not allowed by law or custom. It’s illegal to kill endangered elephants, but many poachers still engage in the Illicit ivory trade. Illicit usually refers to something that is not morally proper or acceptable.
  • However, there are some differences in the meaning among the words. Illegal refers most specifically to violations of statutes or codified rules: illegal seizure of property. Illegitimate means lacking legal or traditional rights: illegitimate use of privileged information.
  • illegible = unreadable
  • illiteracy
  • illiberal = intolerant
  • illogical
  • illiquid = (of assets) not easy to be converted into cash
  • illimitable
  • illaudable
  • illuminate = il + lumin (light, glow) : light up
  • illumination
  • illustrious = il + lustr (illumine, brighten) : eminent, well-known
  • disillusion
  • illusion = il + lus (play, trick) + ion 
  • illusory: not real
  • irrelevant
  • irresolute
  • irrevocable
  • irreversible
  • irrefutable
  • irresistible
  • irreproachable
  • irreparable
  • irremediable
  • irretrievable
  • irrational
  • irregular
  • irreal: spoken
  • irreconcilable 
  • irate
  • irascible
  • ireful
  • ire

icon (image, statue): iconoclast, 

imag (likeness, idea): 

imit (copy, resemble): imitate

indic (one who shows, forefinger): index, indicate, contraindicate. 

insul (island): insulate, isolate, insular, peninsula, insulin, islet, isle, island

intellig (understand): intelligentsia, 

itiner (journey): itinerary, itinerant

 

idio- (own, personal, private): idiom, idiocy, idiomatic, idiosyncratic, idiosyncrasy

idol (image, likeness, shape): idyll, idyllic, idolatrous, idolatry

id (same): identify

imper (command, provide leadership): empire, emperor, imperial, imperious, imperative, 

impet (impulse, attach 一触即发):  impetus, impetuous, impetigo

 

 

ject (thrown): reject, deject, inject, object, abject, conjecture, project, subject, interject, trajectory, projectile

jet (throw, cast): jetliner, jet, jettison, jetsam

join (join, attach, form a link): rejoin, adjoin, subjoin, conjoin, enjoin

junct (joined, attached): junta, adjunct, conjunct, injunction, disjunct, junction, subjective

judic (judge, one who gives an opinion) 偏袒: judge, prejudice, judicious, adjudicate, judicial, judicatory, judicator, judiciary

jur (swear, take an oath, law): jury, juridical, juror, jurisprudence, injure, injury, injurious, perjure, perjury, conjure, abjure, adjure, jurisdiction, objurgate, 

juxta- (next to, beside): jostle, juxtapose

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