What is a rootword?

A root word is the basic form of a word, stripped of any prefixes or suffixes. It's the core meaning of the word, the foundation upon which other words are built.

Here's how it works:

* Root word: "graph"

* Prefix: "auto" (meaning "self")

* Suffix: "-ic" (meaning "relating to")

Combining these elements, we get the word "autographic", meaning "relating to something written by oneself".

Here are some examples of root words and their meanings:

* "port" (carry) - transport, import, export

* "spect" (look) - inspect, prospect, retrospect

* "scrib" (write) - subscribe, describe, inscription

* "struct" (build) - construct, instruct, obstruct

Understanding root words is essential for building vocabulary and understanding word meanings.