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WORD
KNOWLEDGE
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Word Origins
Since language affects culture in significant ways, well educated people should know and understand their language. This includes knowing from where words originally came. Nonetheless, you may want to know just why is that?
Well in part, if individuals develop a knowledge of word origins – for example, learning the meanings of common roots and affixes derived from Greek and Latin – they will then be able to apply that knowledge to figure out the meanings of the unfamiliar and complex words they encounter while reading, such as words like: international.
Many Latin words came into the English language directly when monks from Rome brought religious vocabulary to England beginning in the sixth century, and indirectly after England was conquered by France’s Duke of Normandy in 1066 (French was developed from Latin). Moreover, from the Middle Ages onward, many scholarly, scientific, and legal terms were borrowed from Latin.
As a result, a large number of English words and “word parts” can be traced back to Latin. Since breaking down complex words into meaningful parts can provide clues to their definitions, and since knowing the meaning of at least part of a word may be helpful in understanding how the word is being used in context, you should make a point of developing a working knowledge of Latin, and to a lesser extent, Greek, at least in terms of how they relate to modern English.
Word Knowledge - Lesson I
We will begin by defining the term: root.
Note that a root may also be referred to as a root word, base word, or base. A root is the main part (or basic structure) of a word. It is the part of a word that contains the word’s main or principle meaning. You might even say that a root word is a word in its simplest form, without any other word parts added to it.
Of course, educated people do not speak in terms of “word parts.” Instead, they use the term: affix.
An affix is a word part added to the beginning or ending of a word.
There are two types of affixes. A prefix is a word part that is added to the beginning of a word. A suffix is a word part that is added to the end of a word.
When affixes are added to a word, they often change the meaning or use of that word. For example, the words nervous, treacherous, dangerous, and marvelous, all have a root plus the suffix -ous which is pronounced
/ŭs/.
The root words (nerve, treachery, and danger) are all nouns. In each case, adding the suffix -ous, which means “full of,” produces an adjective.
Remember: Adding -ous to the end of a word often changes a noun into an adjective.
Also, make sure you don’t forget that the suffix -ous means “full of.”
Consequently, were you to see a question such as, “What is the meaning of the word ‘dangerous’?” during the administration of a standardized test, the proper response would be . . . “full of danger.”
Word Knowledge - Lesson II
In Lesson I we read that a root word is a word in its simplest form, before any affixes are added to it.
We also learned that a root word contains the main meaning of a word, and that it can be changed by adding prefixes and suffixes.
And finally, we learned that a prefix is a word part added to the beginning of a word, while a suffix is the word part added to the ending of a word.
When the suffix -ed and -ing are added to the root word wrap, the final consonant (p) is doubled.
The suffix -ed tells us that the base word happened in the past, so the word wrapped lets us know that the act of wrapping has already been finished, or is already over and done.
The prefix -un means not. So, since the word protect means to keep something or someone from being harmed or hurt, when we add the prefix -un and the suffix -ed, then the resulting word – unprotected – must mean NOT keeping someone or something from being harmed in the past.
Knowing the meaning of a root word, suffix, and prefix can help you better understand what you are reading.
When adding the suffix -ous to a root word ending with the letter y, the y changes to an i. For example, fury becomes furious, envy becomes envious, and mystery becomes mysterious.
Be sure that you can define each of the following if asked: root, affix, prefix, suffix, -our, -ed, -un. Also, if asked what is our main reason for developing our knowledge of word structure, you should know that it is to help us figure out the meaning of unfamiliar and unknown words we encounter while reading.
Word Knowledge - Lesson III
When the suffix -etic is added to a multi-syllabic word ending with the letter y, you have to change the spelling of the root word.
So then, poetry becomes poetic, energy becomes energetic, and sympathy becomes sympathetic.
Note also that the suffix -etic often changes a noun into an adjective, as did the suffix -ous.
Most words standing with the suffix -ly are adverbs.
As you read previously, a prefix is an affix that is attached at the beginning of a word. The Latin prefix trans- adds the meaning “across” to the root.
For example, in transport, the Latin root is port, which means “to carry.” Thus, transport means “to carry across” or “to take from one place to another.”
In transaction, the noun action means “a thing done.” The addition of the prefix trans- produces a new meaning: an exchange (which is “a thing done across [or between] two or more people”).
And finally, transatlantic has the meaning “across the Atlantic Ocean.”
We already read that the meaning of a root or base word can be changed by adding an affix. So then, the suffix -ic, which means “having to do with” added to the noun atom, changes it into the adjective atomic, which means “having to do with an atom.” Similarly, the word heroic means “having to do with a hero,” and the word scenic means “having to do with a scene.” Note that in all of these words, the suffix -ic changes a noun into an adjective.
Another affix that changes nouns into adjectives is the suffix -al. For example, the noun person becomes the adjective personal. Likewise, the noun music becomes the adjective musical. On the other hand, note how this same suffix (-al) changes the verb survive into a noun: survival – so be careful! Don't get lazy or stop thinking, and . . . never take anything for granted!
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5
6
STANDARDS 1.2 / 1.4 Vocabulary w Level 4
READING COMPREHENSION
REVIEW
Directions: You will be expected to use your knowledge of common roots and affixes derived from Greek and Latin to analyze the meaning of complex words.
However, you cannot use knowledge that you don't have. Therefore, make sure that the following information is committed to memory. (Link to Answer Key)
A root may also be referred to as a _________ ___________,
__________ ____________, or ___________.
The root is _________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
An affix is _________________________________________
___________________________________________________
The two types of affixes are a ___________ and ___________
What does an affix do to the meaning of a word to which it is added?
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
Name: _________________________________________________ Date: ____/____/____
REVIEW (continued)
Directions: Fill in the blanks.
The suffix -ous means ____________________
Adding -ous to a word often changes a _____________ into an
_____________________.
What is the meaning of the word “dangerous?”
_______________________________
When adding the suffix -ous to a root word ending with the
letter y, the ____ changes to an ____.
The suffix -ed shows the base word happened in the ________
The prefix -un means _______________.
The suffix -etic often changes a _______ into an ___________
Most words ending with the suffix -ly are ________________
The prefix trans- adds the meaning ____________ to the root.
The root port means _______________________.
The noun action means _______________________.
The suffix -ic means _________________________________
The suffix -ic often changes a ________ into an ____________
REVIEW (continued)
Directions: Fill in the blanks.
The suffix -al often changes a noun into an ______________
but may change a verb into a _______________.
The noun identifiers are as follows:
1. _________
2. _________
3. _________
4. _________
5. _________
6. _________
7. _________
These root words and affixes have the following meanings:
_________________
auto-
auto-_________________pre-
pre-_________________uni-
uni-_________________mid-
mid-_________________hyper-
hyper-_________________super-
super-_________________re-
re-_________________scope
scope7
8
adjective
noun
noun
Word Knowledge - Lesson IV
The words destination, conversation, information, and plantation, all end with the suffix -ation. This suffix often changes verbs into nouns.
For example, the verb destine becomes the noun destination.The verb converse becomes the noun conversation. The verb inform becomes the noun information. And the verb plant becomes the noun plantation.
The Latin word, invent, means "to come upon" or "to find."
Adding -ed to this route makes it a past tense verb, while adding -ive makes it into an adjective. Adding the suffix -ion changes the verb into a noun.
The suffix -able means "capable of" or "fit for" or "good for."
Many words that end with the suffix -ly are ad verbs. Ad verbs are words that describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
The suffix -ing also changes the function of root words to which is added. For example, the nouns bank and mine are changed into the adjectives banking and mining, while the verbs build and traveled can be changed into the nouns building and traveling.
Adding the prefixes dis-, im, and un- to a root word produces words that aren't antonyms of those reports.
Words ending with -cious
Words ending with -cious
Prefixes, which changes the meanings of words to which they are added, give clues to the meanings of the modified words.
The prefix micro- means small, while the prefix anti- means against.
Adjectives are sometimes formed by adding the ending -y two words. When -y is added to a word ending in -e, the -e is dropped.
The suffix -or means "a person or thing that performs the action of." Adding the suffix to a verb turns it into a noun.
You can think of -or as a noun identifier.
The prefixes in-, im-, and un- all mean not.
The prefixes in-, im-, and un- all mean not.
Recount means to count again.
Untamed means not tamed.
Rewrite means to write again.
Recall means to call again. (Sort of)
The suffix -ly can change a word into an adverb, or as in the case of costly, into an adjective.
Gerunds are verb forms ending with -ing that are used as nouns, as in the sentence "sharing with others is fun."
The suffix-er is commonly used on comparative adjectives. Comparative adjectives are used to make a comparison of two things. For example, Lewis is younger than Janet.
The suffix -est is commonly used on superlative adjectives. Superlative adjectives are used to indicate the highest degree or quality of something. For example, Duane is the youngest boy in the class.
To form a word such as earlier, the wide changes to IE before it in the beginning with E.; maddest: the constant doubles before the ending
The suffix -ness means "the quality or state of being."
Darkness
wilderness
kindness
soreness
The suffix -er may also mean "a person or thing that performs the action of." Adding the suffix to a verb turns it into a noun.
Trapper
settler
owner
rancher
Runner
photographer
babysitter
The suffix -ive means "performs an action."
Executives
locomotives
active
progressive
-logy is a Greek root meaning "study of" or "science of."
Psychology
astrology
meteorology
technology
