ROOT Copy link • ROOT 1. s. PROP., radix: stirps (the root, with the whole of the lower part of a tree). A little root, radicula. To take root, pull up by the roots; Vid: the verb. Figuratively, radix: stirps: causa: semen: fons. [Vid: also, CAUSE, ORIGIN.] In grammar, vocabulum primitivum (grammatical). 2. (itself), v., radicem or radices agere (also IMPROP., Cic., Off., 2, 12, 43), capere or mittere: radicari (only PROP.): in radices exire [radicescere only once, Sen., Ep., 86, fin.] : insidere: inveterascere (figuratively, to become inveterate; the former of something suspected; the latter of a custom or evil). To let anything root itself, favere or alere (figuratively): the tree is deeply rooted, radices arboris altius descenderunt: to be deeply rooted, altissimis radicibus defixum esse: rooted, radicatus: quod radices egit (PROP.): inveteratus: confirmatus: deeply-rooted, penitus defixus (IMPROP.; of faults, etc.): penitus insitus (of an opinion, implanted): there he stood as if rooted in the ground, defixus stabat (†): the Gauls stood as if rooted in the earth by fear, pavor defixerat cum admiratione Gallos. To root out or up, (α) PROP., eradicare: exstirpare: radicitus evellere, extrahere, evellere et extrahere: eruere (dig up): runcare (hoe up weeds). (β) Figuratively, exstirpare: delere: exstinguere: excidere. To root anything up or out thoroughly, alicujus rei radices evellere et extrahere penitus; omnes alicujus rei stirpes ejicere; aliquid funditus tollere. (The words are found in this connection and order.) exstirpare et lunditus tollere (e.g., superstition; the last also of faults, passions, etc.): e natura rerum evellere (annihilate): to root out a nation [Vid: EXTIRPATE]: to root all human feeling out of anybody’s heart, omnem humanitatem ex animo alicujus exstirpare.