phosphorus
a glowing chemical element
Roots
- phor / pher: carry, bear, or bring across
- phos / phot: light or shining
Other words with the phor / pher root
Phosphorus keeps an old light-bearer image: phos gives light and phor gives bearing or carrying.
The match head contained a small amount of phosphorus.
Phosphorus is a chemical element, but its name carries an older image. Greek Phosphoros was the light-bearer, the morning star. Phos gives light; phor gives bearer.