The Metric System and Latin and Greek Elements
-METER: a unit of linear measurement [French mètre, from Greek metron, measure] -LITER: a unit of liquid measurement [French litre, from obsolete litron, old measure of capacity, from Medieval Latin litra, from Greek litra, a unit of weight, a
pound, a silver coin of Sicily]
-GRAM: a unit of solid measurement [French gramme, from Late Latin gramma, a small unit, from Greek gramma, letter] |
LATIN |
NUMERICAL BASE + |
MEASUREMENT BASE = |
UNIT OF MEASURE |
DECIMETER |
DECI-(ten) |
-METER |
1/10 meter |
CENTILITER |
CENT- (hundred) |
-LITER |
1/100 liter |
MILLIGRAM |
MILLI- (thousand) |
-GRAM |
1/1000 gram |
GREEK |
NUMERICAL BASE + |
MEASUREMENT BASE = |
UNIT OF MEASURE |
DECAMETER |
DECA- (ten) |
-METER |
10 meters |
HECTOLITER |
HECTO- (liter) |
-LITER |
100 liters |
KILOGRAM |
KILO- (thousand) |
-GRAM |
1000 grams |
Monmouth College Monmouth, Illinois
Instructor: Thomas J. Sienkewicz (toms@monm.edu)