capit (head)

head

Spelled capit · caput, stem capit-, 'head'

Latin caput meant head: a captain heads a group, a capital heads a region, and chapters began as little headings.

Words built from it

capital — the city where a region's government is based
Latin caput (head), stem capit- + -alis (relating to) → capitalis (chief) → capital
captain — the leader of a team, ship, or military unit
Latin caput (head) → Late Latin capitaneus (chief) → Old French capitaine → captain
chapter — a main division of a book
Latin caput (head) → capitulum (little head; heading or section) → Old French chapitre → chapter
decapitate — cut off the head of
Latin de- (off) + caput (head), stem capit- → decapitare (behead) → decapitate
capitulate — surrender or give in
Latin caput (head) → capitulum (heading; article) → Medieval Latin capitulare (draw up terms) → capitulate
recapitulate — summarize the main points again
Latin re- (again) + capitulum (heading), from caput (head) → recapitulare (summarize under headings) → recapitulate