Unlocking the Meaning of Words

Analysis of Word Structure

Keys for unlocking word meaning:

Using word parts (syllables) to determine meaning:

Roots-the base part of wordsPrefixes-beginning syllablesSuffixes-ending syllables

ROOTPREFIX

SUFFIX

Roots

Function:– Base of numerous words– Can unlock meaning of many words by

knowing meaning of the base (root)– Prefixes and suffixes attach to the root to

change its meaning

For example, look at the following roots to get a hint at the meaning of a word.

Meaning of bibliography

biblio + graphy bookbook writingwriting

Webster Dictionary definition: Webster Dictionary definition: classification of books classification of books and other works.and other works.

Another example:

Meaning of hydrology

hydr + ology water study of

Webster Dictionary definition: Webster Dictionary definition: science dealing with the properties of water

One more. . .

Meaning of Meaning of crediblecredible

cred + iblecred + ibleto believeto believe able to able to

Webster Dictionary definition: Webster Dictionary definition: believable;believable;..worthy of belief or confidence; worthy of belief or confidence; trustworthytrustworthy

Useful and common roots from which to build:

aud~ hear auto~ self biblio~ book bio~ life ced, ceed, cess~ go chrom~ color chron~ time crat (crac)~ power, rule cred~ belief dem~ people derm~ skin duc(t)~ lead, bring, take fer~ carry fid~ belief, faith flect, flex~ bend frag~ break gen~ beginning graph~ write homo- same hydr~ water

iso~ same, equal ject junct~ join log~ word, study manu (man, mani)~ make, do metr, meter~ measure micro-~ small mit (miss)~ send, put, fasten mor, mort~ death onym~ name port~ carry psych~ mind scop~ see spec, spic, spect~ look, see strict~ bind tom (tomy)~ cut tract~ pull ven, vent~ come, go ver~ turn vid~ see voc~ voice, call zo~ animal

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Chec

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Appendix

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Practice Unlocking Meaning

1. Will the proper credentials get one back stage at a rock concert?

2. A chronometer does what?

3. Do you enjoy reading a person’s biography?

4. Is your country ruled by an autocracy or a democracy?

5. Is a pinwheel chromatic?

6. Two sides of an isosceles triangle are what?

Prefixes

Function– Create opposite meaning of base word

(root)– Show number– Show location– Invent new words

Must be followed by a root; can not stand alone

openun

cycle tri waysub

wifeex-

+ mitmit withoutwithout sendingsending

++ mitmitacross across sendingsending

+ + mitmit Between Between sending sending pertaining topertaining to

Look at the words that can be formed by adding prefixesprefixes to the root mit,mit, which means to sendto send.

O

Trans

Inter

+ent

Note how the prefix changes the meaning of the word when added to the root:

Unlock the meaning of Unlock the meaning of inincredible.credible.

in +in + cred + iblecred + iblenot not to believeto believe able to able to

Webster Dictionary definition: Webster Dictionary definition: ununbelievable; believable; hard to believehard to believe

Common and Useful Prefixes to know:

A~ without, from Ante~ before Anti~ against Bene~ good Bi~ two Circum~ around Com (con)~ with De~ from Dia~ through Dys~ bad, ill E~ out, out of En, em~ in Eu~ good Hemi~ half Hyper~ over Hypo~ under In (im)~ in, into

Inter-between Intra-within Mal-bad Multi-many Non~ not Peri~ around Poly~ many Pre~before Pro~ for, before Re~ back Sub~under Super~ over Syn (sym)~ with Tele~ far, distant Trans~ across Tri~ three Uni~ one

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Unlock meaning using Unlock meaning using prefixesprefixes

1.1.If the root If the root metermeter means to measure, what means to measure, what does does diameter diameter mean?mean?

2.2.If your behavior was If your behavior was atypicalatypical, , what type of what type of behavior would you have demonstrated?behavior would you have demonstrated?

3.3.A A “triclops” “triclops” has how many eyes?has how many eyes?

4.4.If you If you bisectbisect something, how many pieces something, how many pieces do you cut it into?do you cut it into?

5.5.When someone gives a When someone gives a eulogyeulogy, what kind , what kind of words are spoken?of words are spoken?

Suffixes basically mean the following:

A “state/condition/quality of” (a noun)– Endings –ence, -ance, -ity, -ment, -ness, -tion, -sion, -ion

show a condition

dependenceence state of depending

resembllanceance condition of resembling

maturityity state of maturing

retirementment state of retiring

isolationtion condition of isolating

Suffixes identify a person

Suffix endings identify a person (a noun)– Endings –er, -or, -ist mean “one who”

writer one who writes

educator one who educates

typist one who types

Suffixes mean

To make (a verb)– Endings –ate, -ify, -ize, -en mean “to make”

automate to make automatic

liquify to make liquid

finalize to make final

weaken to make weak

Suffixes mean

Full of the “base word” (an adjective)– Endings of –ful, -ous, -ate, -y mean “full of”

beautiful full of beauty

joyous full of joy

fortunate full of fortune

seedy full of seeds

Suffixes also create a part of speech:

When added to the end of a word, suffix changes the part of speech.

Example:Example: PleasePlease -verb

I pleaseplease my parents. Add –ure–ure

PleasPleasureure is better than pain.Add –ant–ant

The pleaspleasantant song soothed the crying child.

In Summary. . .

Answers:Answers:

Self + Writing = Autograph Time + Study of = Chronology Not + Able to + Carry + Across =

Untransportable One + that pulls = Tractor Earth + Study = Geology Far + Seeing = Telescope Join + With = Conjunction

Putting the puzzle pieces together:

Self + Writing =

Time + Study of =

Not + Able to + Carry + Across =

One + that pulls =

Earth + Study =

Far + Seeing =

Join + With =

Taking the pieces apart

Intervention = Intervention = ++ Audiology = Audiology = + + Infidelity = Infidelity = + + Hydraulic pertains to what?Hydraulic pertains to what? Spectator = Spectator = + + Compel = Compel = + +

Answers:

Intervention = Intervention = Between + Come Between + Come [[to to come between]come between]

Audiology = Audiology = Study of +HearingStudy of +Hearing Infidelity = Infidelity = Not + FaithfulNot + Faithful Hydraulic pertains to what? Hydraulic pertains to what? waterwater Spectator = Spectator = One who seesOne who sees Compel = Compel = With + Push [With + Push [to drive/push to drive/push

with]with]

Identify affixes and tell how they affect meaning of the word.

The Garbage Problem – Improper garbage disposal can cause contamination of subterranean water sources. Relocating garbage dumps doesn’t necessarily solve this incredibly unhealthful problem. Laws preceding the discovery of this problem were predictably relaxed in terms of garbage disposal. Since the discovery, authorities have proceeded to toughen these laws and have injected funds into reevaluating ongoing practices. Interjection of environmental organizations has helped to convince an incredulous public of the depth of the problem and the need to recycle. Some garbage dumps have receded in size, but most have increased as the unbelievable amount of garbage produced continues to multiply unnecessarily.

The Garbage Problem – Improper (not proper)(not proper) garbage disposal (put out)(put out) can cause contamination of subterranean (under earth)(under earth) water sources. Relocating (locate again)(locate again) garbage dumps doesn’t necessarily solve this incredibly (not able to believe)(not able to believe) unhealthful (not full of health)(not full of health) problem. Laws preceding (before going)(before going) the discovery of this problem were predictably (able to say before)(able to say before) relaxed in terms of garbage disposal. Since the discovery, authorities have proceeded (going forward)(going forward) to toughen these laws and have injected (joined in)(joined in) funds into reevaluating (evaluate (evaluate again)again) ongoing practices. Interjection (join between)(join between) of environmental organizations has helped to convince an incredulous (pertaining to no (pertaining to no belief)belief) public of the depth of the problem and the need to recycle (cycle (cycle again)again).. Some garbage dumps have receded (gone back)(gone back) in size, but most have increased as the unbelievable (not able to believe)(not able to believe) amount of garbage produced continues to multiply unnecessarily ((not necessary)not necessary)

Knowing word parts is just another tool to improve your

comprehension.

Add these to your toolbox!