Three Latin roots do a great deal of work in English. vert (also spelled vers) means turn, as in reverse. ject means throw, as in reject. tract means pull or draw, as in tractor and attract. Put a prefix in front, and each root turns, throws or pulls in a new direction.
Key idea
vert, vers = turn. ject = throw. tract = pull, draw. Find the root, then ask where the prefix sends it: a- away, ad- toward, sub- under, de- down, inter- between, con- together, pro- forward, in- not.
Each memory hook below acts out the parts. Say them out loud (de-JECT-ed: thrown down), look at the picture, then check the meaning against the sentences. The parts are a clue; the sentence has the last word.
The ten words
The roots at work
Common mistake
adverse (harmful: adverse effects) is not averse (unwilling: averse to risk). inadvertent means accidental, not careless on purpose.
| word | parts | literally | means today |
|---|---|---|---|
| avert | a- + vert | turn away | prevent; look away |
| adverse | ad- + vers | turned against | harmful, unfavorable |
| versatile | vers | turning easily | good at many things |
| inadvertent | in- + ad- + vert | not turning (your mind) toward | accidental |
| subvert | sub- + vert | turn from below | secretly overturn |
| conjecture | con- + ject | throw together | a guess |
| dejected | de- + ject | thrown down | sad, discouraged |
| interject | inter- + ject | throw between | break in with a remark |
| intractable | in- + tract + -able | not able to be handled | hard to manage |
| protracted | pro- + tract | drawn forward, drawn out | dragged on too long |
Two easy slips. Adverse describes conditions and effects (adverse weather, adverse side effects); averse describes a person who dislikes something (averse to risk). And an inadvertent mistake is an accident, not a choice: it happens without meaning to, often because attention was elsewhere.