Use etymologies to determine the meanings of words

Topic: Use Etymologies to Determine the Meaning of Words by Delta publications

Key Notes:

What is Etymology?

Etymology is the study of the origin and history of words. By understanding where words come from, we can often decipher their meanings, even if we’ve never seen them before. Think of it as being a word detective! Many English words have roots in ancient languages like Greek and Latin. Learning these roots, prefixes, and suffixes can greatly expand your vocabulary and improve your reading comprehension.

Why Study Word Origins?

Understanding etymology provides several benefits:

  • Vocabulary Expansion: Learn more words and their nuances.
  • Improved Reading Comprehension: Better understand complex texts.
  • Enhanced Spelling: Recognize patterns and spell words correctly.
  • Critical Thinking: Develop analytical skills by breaking down words.
  • Academic Success: Perform better on tests and in your overall studies.
Breaking Down Words: Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes

Most words can be broken down into three basic parts:

  • Root: The core meaning of the word.
  • Prefix: Added to the beginning of a word to modify its meaning.
  • Suffix: Added to the end of a word to modify its meaning or grammatical function.

Let’s look at some examples:

Word: Incredible

Prefix: in- (not)
Root: cred- (believe)
Suffix: -ible (able to be)
Meaning: Not believable		Word: Biology

Root: bio- (life)
Suffix: -logy (study of)
Meaning: The study of life
Word: Transport

Prefix: trans- (across)
Root: port- (carry)
Meaning: To carry across		Word: Predictable

Prefix: pre- (before)
Root: dict- (say)
Suffix: -able (able to be)
Meaning: Able to be said before; foreseeable
Common Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes

Here are some common roots, prefixes, and suffixes to get you started:

Common Roots:Common Prefixes:Common Suffixes:
Aqua/Hydro (water)

Aud (hear)

Bio (life)

Cred (believe)

Dict (say)

Geo (earth)

Graph (write)

Log (study, word)

Meter (measure)

Port (carry)

Spect (look)

Tele (far)

Therm (heat)

Vid/Vis (see)		a-/an- (not, without

anti- (against)

bi- (two)

co-/com-/con- (with, together)

de- (down, away)

dis- (not, opposite)

ex- (out, former)

in-/im-/il-/ir- (not)

inter- (between)

mis- (wrong)

pre- (before)

re- (again)

sub- (under)

trans- (across)

un- (not)		-able/-ible (able to be)

-er/-or (one who)

-ism (belief, doctrine)

-ist (one who believes)

-ity/-ty (state of)

-less (without)

-logy (study of)

-ment (action, result)

-ness (state of)

-ous/-ious (full of)

-tion/-sion (state of, act of)
Tips for Using Etymology
  • Look for familiar parts: Start by identifying any roots, prefixes, or suffixes you already know.
  • Consider the context: The surrounding words can often provide clues to the meaning of an unfamiliar word.
  • Use a dictionary: If you’re still unsure, consult a dictionary and pay attention to the etymology section.
  • Practice, practice, practice! The more you work with etymology, the better you’ll become at recognizing word parts and understanding their meanings.
Summary

By understanding etymology – the origin and history of words – you can unlock a deeper understanding of vocabulary, improve reading comprehension, and enhance your critical thinking skills. Breaking down words into their roots, prefixes, and suffixes is a powerful tool for deciphering meaning, and regular practice will make you a word detective in no time!

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