Dictionary Of Word Roots [Paperback]

Donald Borror (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0874840538 | ISBN-13: 978-0874840537 | Publication Date: September 1, 1960 | Edition: 1

One of the outstanding problems of the biologist, whether he be beginning student or specialists, is that of understanding technical terms. The best way to understand and remember technical terms is to understand first their component parts, or roots. This dictionary has been designed primarily to meet the needs of the beginning student, the medical student, and the taxonomist, but it should be of value to all biologists.

Product Details

• Paperback: 134 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages; 1 edition (September 1, 1960)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0874840538
• ISBN-13: 978-0874840537
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,503 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #3 in Books > Education & Reference > Dictionaries & Thesauruses > Science

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Greek to Me, December 8, 2004

By 

Jeremy W. Forstadt (Pawtucket, RI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dictionary Of Word Roots (Paperback)

I have owned Donald J. Borror's DICTIONARY OF WORD ROOTS AND COMBINING FORMS for at least 20 years and would never dream of parting with it. Though I consult it only rarely, it can be immensely helpful when one wishes to delve into the meaning of obscure words, particularly of the scientific or bio-medical sort.

This dictionary is comprised mainly of an alphabetical listing of Greek and Latin roots, though commonly used roots and combining forms from other languages are included as well. There are also useful chapters on the formulation of scientific names, the transliteration of Greek words, and on common combining forms. This last chapter (the one on common combining forms) is particularly useful if your goal is to create new descriptive words as it is conveniently subdivided into descriptive categories (color, size, shape, animal structures, etc.).

I would have to admit that the DICTIONARY OF WORD ROOTS AND COMBINING FORMS would not be near the top of any list of writer's "essential" references, but I do not mean to imply by this that it is not worth owning. On the contrary, I believe that this happy little dictionary is highly useful-though specialized-and should be included in any complete writer's library.

Jeremy W. Forstadt

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I wore out my first copy, and am now wearing out my second copy!, March 7, 2006

By 

Susan Warren "Science Rocks!" (La Habra, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dictionary Of Word Roots (Paperback)

My father, a PhD, bought this book for me at the beginning of my freshman year as a Biology major. I used that book all through college in my science classes, and in my writing classes. I have been a Biology teacher for 17 years, and my original book has fallen apart from use. I still keep it, as I treasure this gift from my father. I have a second copy and use it with my students frequently. I am considering buying a third copy, as I know that soon it will be difficult to find another. It is a 'must have' for all science majors as well as science teachers!

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Should be on the shelf of all students of biology, January 27, 2005

By 

Walter H. Sakai (Thousand Oaks, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dictionary Of Word Roots (Paperback)

I am a biology professor, and I required this text of all of my majors students until it went out of print. I now tell my students to hunt copies down on Amazon, ebay, or used book stores.
I am a great fan of learning the Latin and Greek roots of words to remembering the meaning of words. My students have a greater appreciation for the tongue-twisting words that we find in biology.