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root²

(rt, rt)

v. root·ed, root·ing, roots

v.tr.

1. To turn up by digging with the snout or nose: hogs that rooted up acorns.

2. To cause to appear or be known. Used with out: an investigation that rooted out the source of the problem.

v.intr.

1. To turn over the earth with the snout or nose.

2. To search or rummage for something: rooted around for a pencil in his cluttered office.

[Middle English wroten, from Old English wrōtan.]

rooter n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

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