stat

stands

Quick Summary

The Latin root stat and its variant stit mean “stand.” This Latin root is the word origin of a large number of English vocabulary words, including state, statue, constitution and superstition. The root stat is easily recalled via the word stationary or “standing” still, whereas stit can be recalled via institute, to make something like an organization “stand” by creating it.

"Stat" Stands at the Ready!

The Latin root stat and variant stit mean “stand.” Today we will put you in a state of readiness, enabling you to “stand” prepared when the roots stat and stit make an appearance!

What is your station in life, that is, where do you “stand?” Is your status or “standing” in society high, low, or in the middle? Is your physical stature such that you “stand” tall above others? Is your societal “standing” so high that one day a statue, or image that “stands” erect, will be made so that others can remember that you once “stood” so tall? Imagine such a permanent statement of how things “stand” for you!

What is your current state of health, that is, where does it “stand?” Are you so healthy that you are ecstatic, “standing” outside of normal feelings so as to be very happy? Or are you forced to remain stationary, unable to move but only “stand” still? If your health is not so good, hopefully a doctor is not too distant or “standing” far away to take care of you!

A variant of the root stat is stit, formed so because a word with stit is sometimes easier to say than a word with stat. For instance, it is much easier to say “constitution” than “constatution,” and better to say “superstition” than “superstation”! Speaking of the former, a person’s constitution is how the well-being of her body “stands,” that is, how well her immune system keeps her healthy. A nation’s constitution, such as the US Constitution, is the setting forth of how a nation will “stand” as to its laws and structure of its government. A nation’s constitution helps to keep the nation and its people from becoming destitute, or “standing” from being in good shape, including financially. And if indeed something bad does happen, the written constitution hopefully provides restitution so that the nation or individual can “stand” strong again. Superstition is a “standing” above the belief in normal, everyday, tangible things, and instead having a belief in the reality of supernatural powers, not the basis of a good government.

Now that we have instituted the roots stat and stit as part of your roots knowledge, you will no longer misstate the meanings of words with those roots in them!

  1. station: one’s “standing” or place where one “stands”
  2. status: one’s “standing” socially
  3. stature: how tall one “stands,” or one’s societal “standing”
  4. statue: a “standing” image
  5. statement: saying how something “stands”
  6. state: where something “stands”
  7. ecstatic: a “standing” outside of normal feelings
  8. stationary: a “standing” still
  9. distant: a “standing” far from
  10. constitution: condition of how something “stands” together
  11. constitution: a document that delineates how a nation will “stand” as to its structure and laws
  12. destitute: a “standing” from financial health
  13. superstition: of “standing” above belief in everyday things
  14. institute: to make “stand”
  15. misstate: to say how something “stands” incorrectly

Usage

  • statutory

    Something statutory, such as the power given to a governor or president, is created, established, and controlled by rules and laws; hence, it has the full force of the law behind it and must be followed.

  • apostate

    An apostate has abandoned their religious faith, political party, or devotional cause.

  • ecstatic

    When you are ecstatic about something, you are overjoyed or extremely happy about it.

  • reinstate

    When you reinstate someone, you give back their job or position that they lost; this word also refers to restoring to use something that was no longer being used.

  • staid

    If you are staid, you are set in your ways; consequently, you are settled, serious, law-abiding, conservative, and traditional—and perhaps even a tad dull.

  • stature

    A person's stature in society is their social standing; this level of importance is determined by their position in life or their character.

  • obstacle

    An obstacle is something that gets in your way or stops you from doing something.

  • stationary

    A stationary object is still, fixed, or not moving at all.

  • substitute

    A substitute takes the place of someone or something for a short period of time.

  • contrast

    A contrast between two things shows how those things are different from one another.

  • state

    The state of something is how it stands, what shape it is in, or how it is right now.

  • statement

    A statement is something that someone says or writes, often to give out information.

  • unstable

    Something unstable, such as a building or government, is not strong and has problems; therefore, it can change suddenly for the worse or fail in some way.

  • estate

    everything you own

  • instate

    To set, place, or establish, as in a rank, office, or condition; to install; to invest; as, to instate a person in greatness or in favor.

  • interstate

    involving and relating to the mutual relations of states especially of the United States

  • misstatement

    a statement that contains a mistake

  • overstated

    represented as greater than is true or reasonable

  • stateliness

    an elaborate manner of doing something

  • stately

    impressive in appearance

  • static

    not in physical motion

  • station

    assign to a station

  • stationery

    paper cut to an appropriate size for writing letters

  • statistician

    a mathematician who specializes in statistics

  • statistics

    a branch of applied mathematics concerned with the collection and interpretation of quantitative data and the use of probability theory to estimate population parameters

  • statue

    a sculpture representing a human or animal

  • statuesque

    of size and dignity suggestive of a statue

  • status

    the relative position or standing of things or especially persons in a society

  • statute

    enacted by a legislative body

  • thermostat

    control the temperature with a thermostat

Differentiated vocabulary for your students is just a click away.