Mort-

Meaning: death

Root word: Latin morsmortis

Similar roots: mor- meaning “foolish”, mor- meaning “delay”, mor- meaning “custom”, morb- meaning “disease”, mord- meaning “bite”

Opposite roots:

Derived English Words

Commonly encountered words are in bold.

Amortize: To gradually pay off a debt or reduce the value of an asset over time; originally referred to “putting to death” a liability.

Amortization: The process of gradually paying off a debt over time through regular payments. Each payment typically includes both principal and interest, reducing the total amount owed. Amortization is commonly used in the context of loans, such as mortgages or car loans, and can also refer to the gradual reduction of an intangible asset’s value over time in accounting.

Mortgage: A legal agreement in which a borrower receives funds from a lender to purchase real estate, using the property as collateral. The borrower agrees to repay the loan, typically in monthly installments that include both principal and interest, over a specified term. If the borrower fails to make payments, the lender has the right to take possession of the property through a legal process known as foreclosure.

Antemortem: Occurring before death; often used in medical or forensic contexts to describe conditions or events that happen prior to a person’s death.

Postmortem: Occurring after death; often used in contexts such as autopsies or discussions about events that happen after a person’s death.

Immortal: Not subject to death; living forever or enduring beyond physical existence.

Immortality: The state of being immortal; eternal life or existence beyond death.

Mortal: Subject to death; human or living; also refers to a being that has a finite lifespan.

Mortality: The state of being mortal; the incidence of death within a population.

Mortician: A funeral director; a professional who prepares the dead for burial or cremation.

Mortuary: A place where dead bodies are kept before burial or cremation; related to death or burial practices.

Mortification: A sense of humiliation or shame; also refers to the practice of self-denial or self-discipline, often for religious reasons.

Mortify: To cause someone to feel embarrassed, ashamed, or humiliated. In a broader sense, it can also refer to subduing or restraining bodily desires, often for religious or self-discipline purposes. In historical contexts, it may also refer to causing physical pain or injury, particularly through self-denial or ascetic practices.

Mortiferous: Causing death; deadly or lethal.

Other Uses

Le Morte d’Arthur (meaning “The Death of Arthur”) by Sir Thomas Mallory is a famous version of the story of King Arthur.

Links

List of Greek and Latin roots in English – Wikipedia

Words Derived from Roots

Other Roots Used in These Words

  • ante-
  • post-
  • fer-
  • im-

Comments

Leave a comment