Root of the Week: CAP

The Latin word “capabilis” means “able to,” especially “able to hold” or “able to contain.” A related word, “capere,” is derived from “capabilis” and means “to grasp,” “to take in,” or “to comprehend.”  The Latin root CAP appears in many English words.

BUT … What about words like “capital,” “decapitate,” and “capitulate”?  These words all contain CAP but they actually derive from a different Latin word, “caput,” which means “head.” We will take up that root in another segment of Root of the Week.

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