TERRA = “earth, land”

Latin terra, terræ n.f.

Spelling Hints

Notice that most of these words have the same two r's of terra, which are often followed by the a as well. Then note well which of these words are exceptions, such as territory (with an i), inter (with only one r), and terrestrial (with an e).

Level One

[dict] terrain the land and its forms

[dict] terrarium like an aquarium for land animals

[dict] territory a region of land

Level Two

[dict] extraterrestrial [EXTRA] from outside (or beyond) the earth

[dict] inter [IN²] to place into the ground, that is, to bury (notice only one r, but stress on the second syllable)

[dict] Mediterranean [MEDI] in the middle of the land

[dict] subterranean [SUB] under the ground

[dict] terra cotta [COCT] a hard, baked clay (via Italian)

[dict] terra firma [FIRM] solid ground (as opposed to being on a boat or in an airplane)

[dict] terrace originally, a raised level of land; now refers also to a patio or a stepped slope

[dict] terraform [FORM] to make like the earth (in shape or appearance); used of extraterrestrial planets

[dict] terrestrial belonging to the earth

[dict] terrier a hunting dog bred to be low to the ground

Level Three

[dict] fluvioterrestrial [FLUV] inhabiting rivers and the surrounding land

[dict] parterre the portion of the main floor of a theater underneath the balcony (from French, for "on the ground")

[dict] terraqueous [AQUA] consisting of land and water

[dict] terreplein [PLEN] a raised area filled with earth (or a top platform) used as a gun mount (via French)

Derivatives in Latinate Languages

es: tierra

fr: terre

it: terra

pt: terra

Classical Roots of English Home Page

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