Parts of Words ACDV B70F - Vocabulary

Word Parts Learning word parts is very useful in building one’s vocabulary. Roots and prefixes come from Greek and Latin words. One Latin or Greek word may provide the clue to a dozen or more English words.

Word Parts Words can be made of combination of different parts called PREFIXES/ROOTS (BASES)/SUFFIXES.

Word Parts Roots, prefixes, and suffixes have their own separate meaning and can be looked up individually in a dictionary. These meanings suggest the overall meanings of the words they compose.

Prefix A PREFIX is a letter or group of letters that come at the beginning of a word. A prefix alters the meaning of a word.

Prefix Adding the prefix un to the word “happy” changes the meaning of “happy” to the opposite of happy. Adding the prefix dis to the adjective “able” which produces the verb “disable.”

Frequent Prefixes in School 1. unable 2. review inedible (impotent, illegal, irresponsible) distrust enlighten (empower) nonsense inside, implant overcome misguided submarine prefix interrupt forewarn derail transfer supersonic semicircle antitrust midterm underfed Analysis: White, Sowell, and Yanagihara 1989 Susan Ebbers 2005

Prefixes: Meaning and Connotation Often Negative dis-, de- non- sub- in- un- mis- mal- anti, contra a- Somewhat Positive pro- co- bene- super- com- be- en-, em- ad- Susan Ebbers 2005

Suffix A SUFFIX is a word part added to the end of the word. When the suffix -ness is placed after the adjective “kind,” the results is the noun “kindness.”

Derivational Suffixes words ending with –tion are often nouns words ending with –ive are often adjectives words ending with –ish are often adjectives words ending with –ity are often nouns Susan Ebbers 2005

Root A ROOT is a basic word to which prefixes and suffixes can be added. It cannot be further separated into parts and is fairly constant in form and meaning. It can be found at the beginning, middle, or end of a word.

Word Parts Be aware that there are times when a group of letters appears to be a prefix, suffix, or root, but it is not. For instance, the prefix anti- means “against” or “opposite of” as in “antisocial.” However, anti- is not a prefix in the work “anticipate” or “antique.”

Word Parts One expert said that ten Latin words and two Greek words are the basis for 2,500 English words. The prefix pseudo which means “false” is at the beginning of 800 words.

Word Parts The root anthrop which means “mankind” is used to begin 112 words. Therefore, studying word parts is an efficient way to improve a person’s word knowledge.

Content-Specific Greek Terms Anatomy and Medical Terms esophagus, thyroid, diagnosis, psoriasis, dyslexia Studies and Sciences biology, seismology, morphology, geochronometry Animals and Plants arachnid, amphibian, chlorophyll, dinosaur, nectar Theatre and the Arts charisma, drama, chorus, muse, symphony, acoustics Susan Ebbers 2005

Greek Roots hydro graph geo pyro polis neuro ortho scope photo therm crat psych chron phobe pseud onym crypt helio logy sphere the, theo Susan Ebbers 2005

Counting in Greek and Latin mono uni di bi du, duo tri tetra quadri penta hexa sept oct nove deca deci cent milli poly multi semi hemi Susan Ebbers 2005

away from + to lead/pull + verb: past tense prefix + root + suffix ab + duct + ed away from + to lead/pull + verb: past tense abducted means ”pulled or lead away from” i.e. The general was abducted by masked gunmen. Concept

Roots Roots can appear more than once, and anywhere in the word. Meaning geology earth study / study of the earth telegraph distance writing / writing that travels far tricycle three wheels asocial not being companionable / not wanting to join others

Steps to Breaking Apart Words Highlight the word root (or roots). What does the word root mean? Look at the remainder of the word: What does the prefix mean? What does the suffix mean?

Look Inside—Look Outside pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis Look inside the word for known word parts: prefixes, roots or combining forms, suffixes. Use the analogy strategy: “I don’t know this word, but I know pneumonia and I know volcano, so by analogy, this word might have something to do with lungs and heat.” Look outside the word at context clues, visuals: The coal miners, coughing and wheezing, suffered from pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis. Susan Ebbers 2005

What do the following words mean? hydro phobia mono gamy eu logy tele pathic sym pathetic photo graph