Greek Root: Geometry

by Marsha Anema
(Castle Rock, CO USA)

Dear Latin Teacher,

The prefix GEO means earth. So, in the word Geometry does it mean measure the earth?

Thanks, Marsha

Dear Marsha,

You are right exactly. The Greek root geo means earth. It occurs in words such as geography and geothermal. The Greek root metron means measure. So the suffix -metry denotes the process of measuring.

See the English derivatives chronometry (the measure of time) and symmetry (having the same size and form).

Thanks for asking a Latin Teacher!

Sincerely,

John

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