ENV02 — Word Roots & One Word Substitution
📚 Chapter ENV02 · CDS Grammar Level
CDS Level
📌 Why This Chapter Matters: CDS devotes 4–6 questions per paper to vocabulary — synonyms, antonyms, one word substitution, and word meaning in context. Knowing word roots lets you decode unfamiliar words from first principles, so you can answer questions even when you haven’t seen the word before. One Word Substitutions are tested directly — and 80% of the tested words come from a predictable set that repeats across years. Both sections here are built from confirmed CDS PYQs 2020–2025.
PART A — WORD ROOTS
How roots work: Every English word has a root (the core meaning-unit), which may be preceded by a prefix (changes or adds to meaning) and followed by a suffix (changes the part of speech). Knowing a root unlocks a whole family of words.
Example: chron (Greek: time) → chronic, chronology, synchronise, anachronism, chronicle
If CDS asks the synonym of “anachronism” and you know chron = time, you know it relates to something out of its time period.
💡 CDS Root Strategy: You don’t need to know the full etymology. You need to recognise the root in an unfamiliar word and eliminate wrong options. Roots in Greek dominate science and abstract vocabulary. Roots in Latin dominate everyday English and action vocabulary. Prefixes modify meaning direction (positive/negative/time/place). Suffixes change the word’s part of speech.
A1 Greek Roots — Life, Time, Mind & Knowledge
▶ Greek Roots — Most Tested in CDS
bio
life
biologybiographyantibioticbiodiversitysymbiosisbiochemical
chron
time
chroniclechronologysynchroniseanachronismchronicanachronous
geo
earth
geographygeologygeometrygeopoliticsapogeogeothermal
graph/gram
write / record
graphologyparagraphtelegrammonogramautographcalligraphy
log/logue
word / reason / study
monologueepilogueprologuedialogueanalogytautology
psych
mind / soul
psychologypsychiatrypsychosispsychicpsychoanalysismetapsychics
phil
love / fondness
philanthropybibliophilephilologyphilatelyanglophiletheophil
phob
fear
xenophobiaclaustrophobiahydrophobiaacrophobiaagoraphobiaxenophobe
phon
sound / voice
microphonesymphonyhomophonecacophonyeuphonypolyphony
path
feeling / disease / suffering
empathysympathyantipathyapathytelepathypathology
therm
heat
thermometerthermostathypothermiageothermalthermalexothermic
dem
people
democracyepidemicpandemicdemographydemagogueendemic
auto
self
autobiographyautocracyautonomousautomaticautopsyautocrat
onym
name / word
synonymantonympseudonymanonymoushomonymeponymous
cosm/astro
universe / star
cosmologycosmopolitanmicrocosmastronomyastrologyastronaut
crat/arch
rule / power
democratautocratbureaucratmonarcholigarchyarchetype
A2 Latin Roots — Action, Body & Quality
▶ Latin Roots — Most Tested in CDS
vit/viv
life / alive
vitalvitalityreviveconvivialvivaciousvividvivisection
mort/mor
death
mortuarymortalmortalityimmortalpostmortemmorbid
dict
say / speak
predictcontradictedictdictatorindictmentbenediction
scrib/script
write
prescribedescribesubscribemanuscriptinscriptionpostscript
port
carry
importexporttransportdeportreportportable
mit/miss
send
emitsubmittransmitpermitmissionomit
rupt
break
disruptcorrupteruptinterruptbankruptabrupt
duc/duct
lead
conductproduceinducereduceseduceductile
spec/spect
see / look
inspectrespectspectacleretrospectcircumspectprospect
fid
faith / trust
fidelityconfidentinfidelbonafidediffident
bene/bon
good / well
benefactorbenevolentbeneficiarybonanzabenedictionbenign
mal
bad / evil
malicemaliciousmalfunctionmalnutritionmaltreatmalady
cred
believe / trust
credibilitycredentialincredulousaccreditedcredulousdiscredit
ver/veri
truth
verifyveritableveracityverdictinverifiableverbatim
cap/capit
head / take / seize
capitalcapitulatedecapitatecapturecapacitypercapita
corp
body
corporalcorporationcorpseincorporatecorpulentcorpus
A3 Prefixes — Direction, Number & Negation
▶ Number Prefixes
mono/uni
one
monopolymonologueunilateraluniformmonotheismunison
bi/di
two
bilateralbilingualbicentenarydilemmadialoguebifocal
poly/multi
many
polyglotpolygamypolytheismmultilateralmulticulturalpolygon
omni/pan
all
omnipotentomniscientomnipresentpandemicpanoramapantheism
▶ Time / Place Prefixes
pre/ante
before
precedepredictantecedentantedatedprematureprelude
post/ex
after / out of
posthumouspostmortemexpatriateexilepostscriptexcommunicate
inter/intra
between / within
internationalinterveneintranetintramuscularinterruptintrastate
trans/circum
across / around
transparenttransgresscircumspectcircumventcircumstancetransform
▶ Negation Prefixes
in/im/un/dis
not / opposite of
inaudibleinevitableimmortalunambiguousdishonestinfallible
mis/counter
wrongly / against
misanthropemisogynistcounterfeitcounterpartmisogamistmisnomer
A4 Key Suffixes — How They Change Word Class
Q1. (CDS 2025-I) Choose the word closest in meaning to “ANACHRONISM”:
- (a) An old tradition
- (b) Something out of its proper time
- (c) A medical condition
- (d) A form of government
Answer: (b) Root analysis: ana (against / back) + chron (time) + ism (state/condition) = a condition of being against or out of proper time. An anachronism is something that belongs to a different time period — a historical error of placement in time.
Q2. (CDS 2024-II) The word “POSTHUMOUS” means:
- (a) Awarded during one’s lifetime
- (b) After death
- (c) A form of punishment
- (d) An official announcement
Answer: (b) Root: post (after) + hum (from humus = earth/ground, where bodies are buried) + ous (adjective suffix). Posthumous = occurring after death. A posthumous award is given after the recipient has died.
Q3. (CDS 2024-I) Which word means “ruling by a few people”?
- (a) Democracy
- (b) Autocracy
- (c) Oligarchy
- (d) Plutocracy
Answer: (c) Oligarchy
Root: olig (Greek: few) + archy (rule). Oligarchy = rule by a few. Compare: democracy (demos = people), autocracy (auto = self/one person), plutocracy (pluto = wealth — rule by the wealthy).
Q4. (CDS 2023-II) “CIRCUMSPECT” most nearly means:
- (a) Direct and confident
- (b) Wary and careful in all directions
- (c) Surrounded by obstacles
- (d) Short-sighted
Answer: (b) Root: circum (around) + spect (look/see). Circumspect = looking around in all directions before acting; hence, cautious and careful. Compare: inspect (look into), retrospect (look back), prospect (look forward).
Q5. (CDS 2025-II) “CREDULOUS” describes a person who:
- (a) Is highly critical
- (b) Believes things too easily
- (c) Refuses to trust anyone
- (d) Has great confidence
Answer: (b) Root: cred (believe) + ulous (tending to). Credulous = tending to believe too easily; gullible. Contrast: incredulous (in + cred = not believing; deeply sceptical). Credible = worthy of belief.
Q. Distinguish using roots: empathy, sympathy, antipathy, apathy
All share root path = feeling. The prefix reveals the relationship:
empathy = em (into) + path → feeling INTO another person’s emotions; understanding from inside
sympathy = sym (together/with) + path → feeling WITH someone; sharing their sorrow
antipathy = anti (against) + path → feeling AGAINST; strong dislike
apathy = a (without) + path → WITHOUT feeling; complete indifference
CDS pattern: “The soldiers showed utter ___ towards the enemy’s suffering” → antipathy (against-feeling = dislike). “Despite the hardship, the officer showed ___ for his troops” → empathy.
Q. Distinguish using roots: benevolent, malevolent, magnanimous, pusillanimous
benevolent = bene (good) + vol (wish/will) → wishing good for others; kind and generous
malevolent = mal (bad) + vol (wish/will) → wishing harm to others; evil-minded
magnanimous = magn (great/large) + anim (spirit/soul) → great-spirited; generous in forgiving
pusillanimous = pusill (very small) + anim (spirit) → small-spirited; cowardly, timid
CDS pattern: Antonym of “magnanimous” → pusillanimous (small-spirited = petty/cowardly).
PART B — ONE WORD SUBSTITUTION
📌 How to use this section: Each entry shows the one word, its definition, and where relevant, the root breakdown so you can remember it through meaning, not just memory. Words are grouped by theme — the same way CDS questions cluster them. PYQs are woven in throughout.
B1 People by Character, Behaviour & Attitude
misanthrope
One who hates or distrusts all human beings
mis (hate) + anthrop (human)
philanthropist
One who loves and helps humanity through charitable acts
phil (love) + anthrop (human)
misogynist
One who hates women
mis (hate) + gyn (woman)
misogamist
One who hates the institution of marriage
mis (hate) + gam (marriage)
altruist
One who selflessly works for the welfare of others
alter (other) — placing others first
egotist / narcissist
One who is excessively self-centred and self-admiring
ego (self) / Narcissus (Greek myth)
stoic
One who endures pain or hardship without showing emotion
Stoicism (Greek philosophy of endurance)
cynic
One who believes people act only from selfish motives; sneering disbeliever
kynikos (dog-like) — Greek philosophy
sycophant
One who flatters powerful people to gain personal advantage; a flatterer
syko + phainein (fig-showing) — historical Greek informer
prodigal
One who spends money recklessly and wastefully
prodigus (lavish) — Latin
recluse / hermit
One who lives in solitude, away from society
recludere (shut away) — Latin
hypochondriac
One who always imagines themselves to be ill
hypo (under) + chondros (cartilage — old belief: emotions in ribs)
insomniac
One who suffers from inability to sleep
in (not) + somnus (sleep)
somnambulist
One who walks in sleep; a sleepwalker
somnus (sleep) + ambul (walk)
chauvinist
One who is excessively patriotic or believes one group is superior
Nicolas Chauvin — French soldier famous for blind patriotism
pedant
One who makes excessive display of learning or attaches great importance to rules
pedagogue (teacher) — one who over-teaches
B2 People by Hobby, Expertise & Lifestyle
polyglot
One who knows and uses many languages
poly (many) + glot (tongue/language)
bibliophile
One who loves and collects books
biblio (book) + phil (love)
philatelist
One who collects postage stamps
phil (love) + ateleia (exemption from tax — postage)
numismatist
One who collects and studies coins and currency
numisma (coin) — Latin/Greek
connoisseur
One who is an expert judge of art, wine, food, or other matters of taste
connaître (to know) — French
epicure / gourmet
One with refined taste in food and drink; a lover of fine dining
Epicurus (Greek philosopher who valued pleasure)
prodigy
One (especially a child) with exceptional abilities or talents
prodigium (marvel/omen) — Latin
novice / neophyte
One who is new to a skill, profession, or belief; a beginner
novus (new) — Latin / neo (new) + phyte (plant/growth)
itinerant
One who travels from place to place, especially for work
itinerari (to travel) — Latin
contemporary
One who lives or works in the same period as another
con (together) + tempor (time)
Q6. (CDS 2025-I) One who collects stamps is called a:
- (a) Numismatist
- (b) Philatelist
- (c) Bibliophile
- (d) Connoisseur
Answer: (b) Philatelist
Stamp collector = philatelist. (a) Numismatist = coin collector. (c) Bibliophile = book lover. (d) Connoisseur = expert judge of fine things. The root phil (love) links philatelist with philophile — someone who loves postage/stamps.
Q7. (CDS 2024-II) “A person who hates human beings” is called:
- (a) Misogynist
- (b) Philanthropist
- (c) Misanthrope
- (d) Altruist
Answer: (c) Misanthrope
mis (hate) + anthrop (human) = hater of humanity. (a) Misogynist = hater of women (gyn = woman). (b) Philanthropist = lover of humanity (phil = love). (d) Altruist = selfless helper of others (alter = other). All four share the theme of attitudes toward humans — perfect for CDS contrast questions.
B3 Places — Buildings & Locations
mortuary
A place where dead bodies are kept before burial or cremation
mort (death) — Latin
crematorium
A place where dead bodies are cremated (burned)
cremare (burn) — Latin
sanatorium
An establishment for the long-term care of patients with chronic illness
sanare (heal) — Latin
infirmary
A small hospital or medical room, especially in a school or institution
infirm (weak/sick) — Latin
asylum
A place of refuge and safety; historically an institution for the mentally ill
asylon (refuge) — Greek
orphanage
A place where orphans (children without parents) are cared for
orphanos (bereaved) — Greek
abattoir
A slaughterhouse; a place where animals are killed for food
abattre (knock down) — French
aviary
A large cage or enclosure for keeping birds
avis (bird) — Latin
apiary
A place where bees are kept; a collection of beehives
apis (bee) — Latin
arsenal
A collection of weapons or a place where they are stored
dar as-sina'a (house of industry) — Arabic origin
archives
A place where historical documents and records are kept
arche (government/beginning) — Greek
observatory
A building with telescopes for observing stars and space
observare (watch) — Latin
monastery / convent
A place where monks / nuns live in religious community
monachos (alone) — Greek / conventus (assembly) — Latin
mint
A place where coins are manufactured by government authority
moneta (money) — Latin (Juno Moneta, Roman goddess)
B4 Government Systems & Political Terms
democracy
Government by the people through elected representatives
demos (people) + cracy (rule)
autocracy
Government by a single person with absolute power
auto (self/alone) + cracy (rule)
oligarchy
Government by a small, select group of people
oligos (few) + archy (rule)
plutocracy
Government by the wealthy; rule by the rich
ploutos (wealth) + cracy (rule)
theocracy
Government by divine authority or by religious leaders
theos (god) + cracy (rule)
anarchy
Absence of government; state of lawlessness and disorder
an (without) + archy (rule)
bureaucracy
Government by departments staffed with officials following fixed rules
bureau (office) + cracy (rule)
meritocracy
System where advancement is based on ability and achievement, not birth
meritus (deserved) + cracy (rule)
gerontocracy
Government or rule by old people
geron (old man) + cracy (rule)
ochlocracy
Government by mob rule; rule of the masses without law
ochlos (mob/crowd) + cracy (rule)
B5 Speeches, Writing & Literary Terms
eulogy
A speech or piece of writing that praises someone highly, esp. at their funeral
eu (good/well) + logos (word/speech)
elegy
A mournful poem or song lamenting someone’s death
elegeia (lament) — Greek
panegyric
A speech or text giving extravagant public praise; a tribute
panegyris (public assembly) — Greek
epitaph
An inscription on a tombstone or monument; words in memory of a dead person
epi (upon) + taphos (tomb)
soliloquy
A speech made to oneself when alone (as in a play)
solus (alone) + loqui (to speak)
monologue
A long speech by one person in a conversation or performance
mono (one) + logue (speech)
epilogue
A section at the end of a book or play that comments on or concludes the work
epi (after/upon) + logue (word/speech)
prologue
An introduction or preface to a book, play, or other work
pro (before) + logue (word/speech)
plagiarism
The practice of taking another’s work or ideas and presenting them as one’s own
plagiarius (kidnapper) — Latin
pseudonym
A false name used by an author or person; a pen name
pseudo (false) + onym (name)
anonymous
Written or done by an unknown person; without any name acknowledged
an (without) + onym (name) + ous
anthology
A published collection of poems, stories, or other writings by various authors
anthos (flower) + logia (collection) — a bouquet of writings
bibliography
A list of books and articles used in the preparation of a work
biblio (book) + graph (write)
obituary
A notice of a person’s death, usually with a brief biography
obitus (death/departure) — Latin
extempore
Spoken or done without preparation; impromptu
ex (out of) + tempore (time) — Latin
tautology
Saying the same thing twice in different words; needless repetition
tauto (same) + logy (word)
B6 States, Conditions & Special Situations
nostalgia
Sentimental longing for the past; a wistful desire to return to former times
nostos (return home) + algos (pain) — homesickness
amnesia
A medical condition involving partial or total loss of memory
a (without) + mnesia (memory)
euthanasia
The painless killing of a person suffering from an incurable illness; mercy killing
eu (good/easy) + thanatos (death)
autopsy
A post-mortem examination to discover cause of death
auto (self) + opsis (seeing) — seeing for oneself
posthumous
Occurring or published after the death of the originator
post (after) + humus (ground/burial)
incognito
Having one’s true identity concealed; in disguise
in (not) + cognitus (known) — Italian/Latin
propaganda
Information spread to promote a particular cause or point of view, often biased
propagare (spread) — Latin
blasphemy
The action of speaking about God or sacred things in a disrespectful way
blaptein (injure) + pheme (speech) — Greek
infallible
Incapable of making mistakes or being wrong; never failing
in (not) + fallere (deceive/err) — Latin
inevitable
Certain to happen; unable to be avoided
in (not) + evitare (avoid) — Latin
ambiguous
Open to more than one interpretation; not clear or definite
ambi (both ways) + agere (act/drive)
ambivalent
Having mixed or contradictory feelings about something
ambi (both) + valere (be strong) — two equal pulls
B7 Phobias & Manias — Fear and Obsession
claustrophobia
Intense fear of enclosed or confined spaces
claustrum (enclosed space) + phobia (fear)
agoraphobia
Fear of open or public spaces; fear of leaving safe environments
agora (open marketplace) + phobia (fear)
xenophobia
Fear or dislike of people from other countries or cultures
xenos (stranger/foreigner) + phobia (fear)
hydrophobia
Fear of water; also the technical term for rabies
hydro (water) + phobia (fear)
acrophobia
Fear of heights
akron (peak/height) + phobia (fear)
pyromania
Obsessive desire to start fires
pyro (fire) + mania (obsession)
kleptomania
Uncontrollable urge to steal things regardless of need
klepto (steal) + mania (obsession)
megalomania
Obsession with having power; delusions of greatness
megalo (large/great) + mania (obsession)
Q8. (CDS 2025-II) “Government by a group of wealthy people” is called:
- (a) Theocracy
- (b) Oligarchy
- (c) Plutocracy
- (d) Bureaucracy
Answer: (c) Plutocracy
ploutos (wealth) + cracy (rule) = rule by the wealthy. (b) Oligarchy = rule by a few (oligos = few) — not specifically the wealthy. (a) Theocracy = rule by religious authority. (d) Bureaucracy = rule by departments/officials. CDS often gives four “-cracy” words together to test this precise distinction.
Q9. (CDS 2024-I) A speech delivered in praise of a person who has just died is called:
- (a) Obituary
- (b) Elegy
- (c) Eulogy
- (d) Epitaph
Answer: (c) Eulogy
eu (good) + logos (word) = a speech of good words about someone. (a) Obituary = written death notice with brief biography. (b) Elegy = a mournful poem lamenting death. (d) Epitaph = inscription on a tombstone. The key distinction: eulogy = speech at funeral; elegy = written poem; obituary = newspaper notice; epitaph = carved on tomb.
Q10. (CDS 2023-I) “The act of mercy killing” is called:
- (a) Autopsy
- (b) Euthanasia
- (c) Amnesia
- (d) Homicide
Answer: (b) Euthanasia
eu (good/easy) + thanatos (death) = an easy/good death; the painless killing of a terminally ill person. (a) Autopsy = post-mortem examination. (c) Amnesia = memory loss. (d) Homicide = killing of a human being (homo = human + cide = kill).
Q11. (CDS 2025-I) A person who walks in sleep is called:
- (a) Insomniac
- (b) Somnambulist
- (c) Hypochondriac
- (d) Narcissist
Answer: (b) Somnambulist
somnus (sleep) + ambul (walk) = one who walks during sleep. (a) Insomniac = one who cannot sleep. (c) Hypochondriac = one who imagines being ill. (d) Narcissist = one excessively in love with themselves. The root ambul appears in ambulance, ambulatory (able to walk).
Q12. (CDS 2024-II) “A person speaking or performing without any preparation” is said to speak:
- (a) In soliloquy
- (b) Extempore
- (c) Tautology
- (d) Anonymously
Answer: (b) Extempore
ex (out of) + tempore (time) = out of the moment; without prior preparation. (a) Soliloquy = speaking to oneself (alone). (c) Tautology = needless repetition of meaning. (d) Anonymously = without revealing one’s name. Extempore is used for speeches, debates, and discussions done without notes or preparation.
Q. Distinguish: eulogy / elegy / panegyric / epitaph / obituary — all relate to death or praise. Fill in the correct word: “The general delivered a moving ___ at the fallen soldier’s funeral ceremony.”
Answer: eulogy — a spoken tribute delivered at or after a funeral.
elegy = a written/sung lament; a poem mourning death (not a speech)
panegyric = extravagant public praise in speech or writing (not necessarily at a funeral)
epitaph = carved or written words on a gravestone (not a speech)
obituary = printed death notice in a newspaper (not spoken)
CDS trick: All four seem similar but the context (spoken at funeral vs written vs on stone) separates them.
Q. Distinguish: omnipotent / omniscient / omnipresent / infallible — fill in the correct one: “The ___ deity was believed to know all things.”
Answer: omniscient
omnipotent = all-powerful (potent = power)
omniscient = all-knowing (scient = knowing) ← correct here
omnipresent = present everywhere (present = being there)
infallible = never making mistakes (fallere = err) — different: about being error-free, not about knowledge
All four are commonly confused in CDS because they all sound like divine attributes. The root suffix is the key.
📋 Quick Reference — Roots & OWS
Greek Roots — Key
- bio = life; chron = time; geo = earth
- psych = mind; phil = love; phob = fear
- phon = sound; path = feeling; auto = self
- dem = people; onym = name; crat = rule
Latin Roots — Key
- mort = death; vit/viv = life
- dict = say; port = carry; rupt = break
- cred = believe; ver = truth; bene = good
- mal = bad; fid = faith; spec = see
Key Prefixes
- mono/uni = one; bi/di = two; poly/multi = many
- pre/ante = before; post = after; inter = between
- omni/pan = all; auto = self; mis = hate/wrong
- in/un/dis/mal = not/bad; circum = around
People — OWS
- polyglot = many languages; bibliophile = book lover
- misanthrope = hates humans; philanthropist = loves humans
- somnambulist = sleepwalker; insomniac = cannot sleep
- sycophant = flatterer; pedant = over-precise
Government — OWS
- democracy = people; autocracy = one person
- oligarchy = few; plutocracy = wealthy
- theocracy = god/religion; anarchy = no rule
- meritocracy = ability; gerontocracy = old people
Speech / Writing — OWS
- eulogy = funeral speech of praise
- elegy = mournful poem; epitaph = tomb inscription
- soliloquy = speech to oneself; extempore = impromptu
- plagiarism = copying others; pseudonym = false name
Places — OWS
- mortuary = bodies kept; crematorium = bodies burned
- abattoir = slaughterhouse; aviary = birds; apiary = bees
- arsenal = weapons; archives = documents; mint = coins
- sanatorium = chronic illness; asylum = refuge/mentally ill
States / Conditions
- nostalgia = longing for past; amnesia = memory loss
- euthanasia = mercy killing; autopsy = post-mortem exam
- posthumous = after death; incognito = in disguise
- infallible = never wrong; inevitable = cannot be avoided
Phobias & Manias
- claustrophobia = enclosed spaces; agoraphobia = open spaces
- xenophobia = foreigners; acrophobia = heights
- pyromania = fire obsession; kleptomania = stealing
- megalomania = delusions of grandeur
⚠ Root Decoding Strategy
- Find the prefix → direction/negation
- Find the root → core meaning
- Find the suffix → part of speech
- Put together → approximate meaning without memorising
⚠ CDS-Specific Confusion Pairs
- eulogy (speech) vs elegy (poem)
- empathy (feel into) vs sympathy (feel with)
- omniscient (knows all) vs omnipotent (all-powerful)
- misanthrope (hates humans) vs misogynist (hates women)
⚠ Suffix Quick Decode
- -ology = study of; -ism = belief/practice
- -phile = lover of; -phobia = fear of
- -cracy = rule by; -cide = killing of
- -mania = obsession; -nym = name