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Prefixes often undergo spelling changes depending upon the stem, or main part of the word, to which they are affixed. The prefix con-, for example, can exist in the following forms: co-, col-, com-, and cor-. Examples of words containing such forms include cooperate, collaborate, companion, and correct.
Read morePrefixes are key morphemes in English vocabulary that begin words. The prefix con-, which means “with” or “thoroughly,” appears in numerous English vocabulary words, for example: connect, consensus, and conclude. An easy way to remember that the prefix con means “with” is through the word connect, or join “with.” A way to remember that it means “thoroughly” is through conclude, or “thoroughly” close a matter.
Read moreWords from which eponyms derive play a smaller role than Latin and Greek root words in forming English vocabulary, but nevertheless are important for learning the word origins of English vocabulary. An eponym is an English word that is derived from a name, such as that of a person or place. Today we will explore three eponyms from literature: malapropism, stentorian, and Machiavellian.
Read moreWhen studying root words, there are often numerous variants to a primary root word. The primary root word cept: “taken,” for instance, present in the words concept and inception, has variant spellings of cap, cip, and ceiv. Examples containing these variant spellings, all of which mean “take” as well, are capable, recipient, and receive.
Read moreThe Latin root word cept means “taken.” This root word gives rise to many English vocabulary words, including deception, concept, and except. Perhaps the easiest way to remember this root word is through the word accept, for when you have accepted something, you have “taken” it towards yourself.
Read morePrefixes often undergo spelling changes depending upon the stem to which they are affixed. The prefix in, for example, can exist in the following forms: il, im, in, ir, and ig. Examples of words containing such forms include illegal, imbibe, innate, irregular, and ignoble.
Read moreThe Latin root word tract means “drag” or “pull.” This root word gives rise to many English vocabulary words, including attraction, subtract, and contract. Perhaps the easiest way to remember this root word is through the English word tractor, for a tractor’s main function is to “drag” or “pull” heavy equipment.
Read morePrefixes are key morphemes in English vocabulary. The prefix in, which means “in, on, or not,” appears in numerous English vocabulary words, for example: inject, influx, and insane. Prefixes do tend to have different meanings, which can be divined by context, common sense, and the process of elimination.
Read moreThe Latin root word vers means “turned.” This root gives rise to many English vocabulary words, including reverse, version, and conversation. Perhaps the easiest way to remember this root word is through the English word anniversary, a calendrical marker that yet another year has “turned.”
Read moreWords from which eponyms derive play a smaller role than Latin and Greek root words in forming English vocabulary, but nevertheless are important for learning the word origins of English vocabulary. An eponym is an English word that is derived from a name, such as that of a person or place. Today we will explore the eponyms quixotic, gargantuan, and leviathan.
Read moreThe important Latin root word port means ‘carry.’ Some common English words that use this root include import, export, deport, and report. An easy way to remember this word root is through the word portable, which is something that is easily ‘carried’ from one place to another.
Read moreThe Latin root sent and its variant form sens mean to ‘feel.’ Some common English words that come from these two roots include sensation, sensible, resent, and consent. Remember that when you sense something you ‘feel’ it, and when you are being sentimental, your ‘feelings’ take precedence over anything else.
Read moreThe Latin root word fin means an ‘end,’ as in a ‘boundary’ or ‘limit.’ Some common English vocabulary words that come from this Latin root word include final, finish, and definition. Perhaps the easiest way to remember that this root word means ‘end’ is through the word infinite, since something infinite has no ‘end!’
Read moreCommon prefixes like in- and con- sometimes change their form in English words. The prefix roots in combine , collate and corrupt are all con-. Likewise the prefix roots in illegal and irregular are in-. This disguising of prefix roots is called prefix assimilation.
Read moreThe Latin root word vert means ‘turn.’ This root gives rise to many English vocabulary words, including vertical, revert, and convert. This root word can keep your word sense right-side up instead of inverting it by ‘turning’ you upside-down.
Read moreThe Latin root word dict and its variant dic both mean ‘say.’ Some common English vocabulary words that come from this word root include dictionary, contradict, and dedicate. Perhaps the easiest way in which to remember this root is the word prediction, for a prediction is ‘said’ before something actually happens.
Read moreThe English word root fect comes from a Latin verb meaning ‘make’ or ‘do.’ Some common English words that come from fect include infect, perfect, and defect. A way to perfectly remember fect is that something perfect is so well ‘done’ that it cannot be ‘made’ any better.
Read moreThe Greek root word log means ‘word,’ and its variant suffix -logy means ‘study (of).’ Some common English words that use this root include biology, mythology, catalog, and prologue. Biology, of course, is the ‘study’ of life, whereas a prologue constitutes the ‘words’ spoken to introduce a poem or novel.
Read moreThe Greek root word bio means ‘life.’ Some common English vocabulary words that come from this root word include biological, biography, and amphibian. One easy word that is helpful in remembering bio is biology, or the study of ‘life.’
Read moreIt’s a fact that the Latin root word fact has ‘made’ many words in English; in point of fact, it even means ‘made’ or ‘done.’ Some common English words that come from fact include manufacture, artifact, and satisfaction. A very easy way to remember fact is the original idea behind the word factory, which is a place where products are ‘made.’
Read moreThe English stem plic comes from a Latin root word meaning ‘fold.’ Some common English words that come from this word root include application, multiplication, and replicate. Perhaps the easiest way to remember plic is through the word duplicate, or to ‘fold’ twice, thus making two things.
Read moreThe Latin root word fic means to ‘make.’ A good number of common English vocabulary words come from this root, including magnificent, difficult, and artificial. One easy word that is helpful in remembering fic is efficient, for efficient people are able to ‘make’ things happen.
Read moreIt’s time to consider the relative importance of the Latin word root lat which means to ‘carry.’ Two common English words that come from this root include relationship and legislate. Perhaps you can most relate to this root word, or ‘carry’ yourself back to it, with the word relate itself.
Read moreThe Latin root words duc and duct mean to ‘lead.’ Some common English vocabulary words that come from this root word include educate, reduce, produce, and product. Perhaps the best way to remember this root word is to think of someone who is educated, or has been ‘led’ forth into knowledge.
Read moreJust like a ferry carries people across the water, so too does the Latin word root fer mean to ‘carry.’ Many different words come from fer, including prefer, refer, and conference. Perhaps the easiest way to help remember this root word is when you transfer money, or ‘carry’ across funds from one bank account to another.
Read moreThe Latin word root ject means ‘throw.’ Many common words are ‘thrown’ about each day which use this root, including eject, reject, object, and projector. Perhaps a pointed way to help remember this word is when you receive an injection, which is a shot ‘thrown’ into your body.
Read moreYou’ve seen the graph root, which means ‘to write,’ written everywhere. From geography classes to math graph paper to English paragraphs, this root presents itself in many, many forms. Take a look at the graphic of the graph tree, and read on with the writing below!
Read moreThe day-to-day cycle of time is something we become aware of before we even go to school. Every student should know that chron is the Greek root for ‘time.’ From the chronometer to chronicling our lives, humankind is fascinated by ‘time.’ Let’s take a few minutes and get ‘in sync’ with this root word.
Read moreThe root word morph comes from a Greek word meaning ‘shape.’ Ever heard of the ‘Mighty Morphin Power Rangers’? When they are ‘morphin’ they are changing ‘shape.’ Let’s stay in good academic ‘shape’ and take a look at the intellectual words that derive from this root.
Read moreA Latin word meaning ‘to learn’ gives rise to the English word root cogn. Primarily because of French, the root conn also comes from this root. A readily recognizable word that comes to mind which uses this root, is, well, recognize! What else can we acquaint you with to help you ‘learn’ this root?
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