using prefixes, suffixes, root words
TRANSCRIPT
Using Prefixes, Suffixes and Root Words to Improve College Level Vocabulary
Steven Reid
6/15/2013
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Table of Contents Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 2
Overview.............................................................................................................................................................. 3
Word Circle.......................................................................................................................................................... 4
Prefixes Card Sort................................................................................................................................................ 5
Suffixes................................................................................................................................................................. 6
Prefix, Suffix, and Root Worksheet.................................................................................................................... 7
Appendix A – Word Circles ................................................................................................................................. 8
Appendix B – Card Sort..................................................................................................................................... 12
Appendix C – Suffix Worksheet........................................................................................................................ 17
Appendix E – Prefix, Suffix, and Root Worksheet........................................................................................... 20
Appendix F – Prefixes ....................................................................................................................................... 25
Appendix G – Root Words ................................................................................................................................ 29
Appendix H – Suffixes ....................................................................................................................................... 35
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Introduction Often students approach vocabulary acquisition as a “Just Memorize It” type of exercise.
Some student painstakingly waste time dragging out a dictionary when the word could easily be broken apart to discern its meaning, if only the student knew what the individual pieces of the word meant. In this unit, I will show students how to dissect words by exploring the meanings of the prefixes, suffixes and roots that were used to create the word. By taking their knowledge of the pieces, they will be able to gain the understanding of more complicated, college-‐level vocabulary simply by breaking it apart.
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Overview
One of the best methods for teaching the word construction method of vocabulary is through the use of analogies. By using words the students already know, they will be able to build on that knowledge to learn new words. With that in mind, the first part of the lesson will involve Word Circles. These are used to take the new affix or root and pair it with words already in the students’ vocabulary. The Word Circles can be used in discussion each time new affixes or roots are taught.
Prefixes are explored through the use of a Card Sort activity where the students will be asked to look at a set of prefixes and roots and then match them together. The suffix lesson uses matching to begin the process of suffix understanding and expands to look at acquiring meaning based on the root and the suffix combination. Finally, all three pieces are used to define new vocabulary.
These lessons may be expanded by following up with passages taken from literature to allow students to discover more vocabulary that can be dissected using their newfound skills with prefixes, suffixes and roots. Articles from journals, cuttings from novels, stories from newspapers or magazines could all be possible sources for additional work in this area.
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Word Circle Objective: To help students see the connection between the affix or root when used in a word they are familiar with and how it could be used to help define new vocabulary. Materials: Copies of: From Appendix A:
Word Circle (completed copy with root word “man”) handout Large Word Circle handout Small Word Circle handout From Appendices F, G, and H:
Copies of Prefix List, Root List, Suffix List Directions:
1. Discuss with students how to fill out the chart: a. Start with the affix or root to be learned, place it in the center. b. Define the affix or root. c. Fill in as many words as possible using the affix or root. d. Complete the Circle by using a dictionary or the internet to find more words
that use that affix or root. 2. Using the completed copy, discuss how each of the words in the Circle are related to
the definition of the root “man” – “hand. a. Manuscript – a handwritten copy b. Manacles – handcuffs c. Manipulate – to move it by hand, etc.
3. Choose another affix or root and, using the large Word Circle, have the class as a whole complete the circle. Students can call out words that use that affix or root and then how it is related to the definition.
4. Next, you may want to provide you students with a few copies of the pages with 4 small circles on it. They can use these for their personal exploration, or you may want to assign them 4 (or more) affixes or roots and have them complete the Word Circles for each.
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Prefixes Card Sort Objective: To help students see the connection between a prefix and a word. This will help students see which prefix can be attached to which word, and how it affects the meaning. Materials: Copies of the Card Match pages (one set for each student/group) from Appendix B.
It will probably be best to copy these on card stock. This will allow for the cards to stand up to the wear-‐and-‐tear they will experience during multiple uses.
Copies of Prefix List and Root List (from Appendices F and G). Directions:
1. Have students working either alone or in small groups match the prefixes to words on the appropriate card. Students may discover that some prefixes can be attached to more than one card, or that a word may work with multiple prefixes.
2. Have students write down all of the new words they have created and the definition of the new words.
3. You may also have them group: a. All the words that match a particular prefix, b. All the prefixes that match a particular work, and/or c. All prefixes that have similar meaning.
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Suffixes Objective: To allow students to become more familiar with suffix usage, function, and meaning. Materials: Copies of Suffix Worksheet (Appendix C) Copies of Suffix List (Appendix H) Copies of Root List (Appendix G) Directions:
1. Discuss the function of Suffixes when used with roots, such as how words often change their parts of speech when a suffix is added. For example:
a. –ion, changes the verb “act” to the noun “action.” b. –ible, changes the noun “vision” to the adjective “visible.”
2. Suffixes can also be used to modify a word in other ways: a. –ette can be used to “make something smaller, as in “kitchen” to “kitchenette.” b. –ess can be used to show gender, “waiter” to “waitress.” (However, this is falling
out of favor as English moves toward more gender-‐neutral usage.) 3. If desired, the teacher may want to use the Word Circles (from Appendix A) to further
explore the various suffixes from the List. 4. When the teacher feels the students are comfortable with suffix usage, all them to
explore to words by using the Suffix Worksheet.
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Prefix, Suffix, and Root Worksheet Objective: To allow the students to use all the affix and root to find the meaning of college level vocabulary. Materials: Copies of the Prefixes, Suffixes, and Root lists Copies of the “Prefixes, Suffixes, and Root Word Worksheet” from Appendix E. Directions:
1. As the culmination of their work with the word components, have the students use the worksheet to use their newfound skills to define previously unknown words.
2. First have the students deconstruct the word into its parts. 3. Then, but using these parts, have the students create a definition for the word. 4. Finally, using a dictionary, have the students check their created definition with the
actual definition of the word. 5. You may want to have the students work in teams or share their results with the group.
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Appendix A – Word Circles
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Root or Affix
Meaning
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Root or Affix
Meaning
Root or Affix
Meaning
Root or Affix
Meaning
Root or Affix
Meaning
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Root or Affix
Meaning
man
hand
manuscript
manacles
manipulate
emancipate
manual
management
manufacture
maneuver
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Appendix B – Card Sort
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a typical
di section
dis interest
re vive
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in scribe
anti freeze
non sense
post pone
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possible
ex hale
im
mono tone
trans verse
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practice
ir regular
un helpful
sub liminal
mal
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Appendix C – Suffix Worksheet
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DIRECTIONS: Match the root word to the appropriate suffix.
DIRECTIONS: Identify the suffix in each word and use it to define the word.
Suffix Meaning of word Bibliophile Retirement Respondent Theocracy Romanesque Falsify Negligence Civil Homicide Edible
Root Word Suffix sequ ile bio us acid ure tact ive vent logy act el stat ic
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ANSWER KEY DIRECTIONS: Match the root word to the appropriate suffix.
DIRECTIONS: Identify the suffix in each word and use it to define the word.
Suffix Meaning of word Bibliophile -‐phile Someone who loves books Retirement -‐ment A state of being retired Respondent -‐ent One who responds Theocracy -‐cracy government of religion Romanesque -‐esque in the style of romance Falsify -‐ify to make false Negligence -‐ence the act of neglect Civil -‐il like the citizens Homicide -‐cide to kill a human Edible -‐ible able to be eaten
Root Word Suffix sequ ile bio us acid ure tact ive vent logy act el stat ic
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Appendix E – Prefix, Suffix, and Root Worksheet
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DIRECTIONS: Identify any prefixes, suffixes, and/or root words used to create these words, and then use them to create a definition for the word. After completing your definitions, use a dictionary to find the exact definition.
Prefix(es) Root(s) Suffix(es) ambidextrous
My definition
Dictionary definition
Prefix(es) Root(s) Suffix(es) misogynist
My definition
Dictionary definition
Prefix(es) Root(s) Suffix(es) immortal
My definition
Dictionary definition
Prefix(es) Root(s) Suffix(es) photosynthesis
My definition
Dictionary definition
Prefix(es) Root(s) Suffix(es) ambivalence
My definition
Dictionary definition
Prefix(es) Root(s) Suffix(es) amorphous
My definition
Dictionary definition
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Prefix(es) Root(s) Suffix(es) sanctimonious
My definition
Dictionary definition
Prefix(es) Root(s) Suffix(es) nonsectarian
My definition
Dictionary definition
Prefix(es) Root(s) Suffix(es) incontrovertible
My definition
Dictionary definition
Prefix(es) Root(s) Suffix(es) demographic
My definition
Dictionary definition
Prefix(es) Root(s) Suffix(es) heliocentric
My definition
Dictionary definition
Prefix(es) Root(s) Suffix(es) pugilist
My definition
Dictionary definition
Prefix(es) Root(s) Suffix(es) sesquicentennial
My definition
Dictionary definition
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ANSWER KEY
DIRECTIONS: Identify any prefixes, suffixes, and/or root words used to create these words, and then use them to create a definition for the word. After completing your definitions, use a dictionary to find the exact definition.
Prefix(es) Root(s) Suffix(es) ambidextrous ambi-‐ both dexter-‐ right handed -‐ous full of
My definition: Able to use both hands fully Dictionary definition: able to use both hands equally well
Prefix(es) Root(s) Suffix(es) misogynist mis – wrong gyn – women ist – one who
My definition: one who treats women badly
Dictionary definition: a person who hates women
Prefix(es) Root(s) Suffix(es) immortal im-‐ not death-‐ life al – have the quality
My definition: does not have the quality of death
Dictionary definition: one who is not subject to death
Prefix(es) Root(s) Suffix(es) photosynthesis photo-‐ light synth – to create
My definition: creating with light
Dictionary definition: the process green plants use to create carbohydrates by using water, light and carbon dioxide
Prefix(es) Root(s) Suffix(es) ambivalence ambi-‐ val -‐ strength -‐ence state of
My definition: not having any strength (in opinion or belief)
Dictionary definition: uncertainly or fluctuations, especially in beliefs
Prefix(es) Root(s) Suffix(es) amorphous a-‐ not morph-‐ shape -‐ous full of
My definition: not having a shape
Dictionary definition: lacking a definite form
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Prefix(es) Root(s) Suffix(es) sanctimonious sanct-‐ holy -‐ous full of
My definition: being full of holiness
Dictionary definition: having a hypocritical showiness of righteousness
Prefix(es) Root(s) Suffix(es) nonsectarian non-‐not sect-‐religious
My definition: not involving religion
Dictionary definition: not affiliated with a specific religion
Prefix(es) Root(s) Suffix(es) incontrovertible in-‐ not, contro against vert-‐ to turn -‐ible able to
My definition: not able to be turn against
Dictionary definition: not open to question or dispute
Root Root Suffix(es) demographic demo-‐people, graph-‐ to write -‐ic – pertaining to
My definition: something written about a the people
Dictionary definition: social statistics of a human population
Root Root(s) Suffix(es) heliocentric helio-‐ sun cent-‐ center -‐ic – pertaining to
My definition: pertaining to the sun being the center of the universe
Dictionary definition: having the sun as the center
Prefix(es) Root(s) Suffix(es) pugilist pug – to fight ist-‐ one who
My definition: someone who fights
Dictionary definition: a boxer
Prefix(es) Root(s) Suffix(es) sesquicentennial sesqui-‐ 1.5 time cent – 100
My definition: 150 years
Dictionary definition 150th anniversary
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Appendix F – Prefixes
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Prefix Meaning Example Definition a, ab, abs away from absent not present, away abscond to run away ad, a, ac, af to, toward adapt to fit to ag, an, ar, at adhere to stick to an annex to add or join anim life, spirit animate to bring to life ante before antebellum before the war anti against antifreeze a substance that prevents freezing auc, aug increase augment to make greater, to increase aud, aur to hear audience a group of listeners auto self automatic having a self-‐acting or self-‐
regulating mechanism ben, bon, eu good benefit something that promotes
goodness, something helpful euphoric feeling of great happiness bi, bis two bicycle two wheel cycle circum, cir around circumvent to go around com, con, co with, together combine to bring together contra, counter
against contraband items that are against the law to sell or own
de away from, down depart to go away from the opposite of decline to go down dis, dif, di apart dislocate to dislodge dys bad, abnormal dysfunction bad or abnormal function ecto, exo outside exoskeleton an outside covering, or hard shell endo inside endocranial inside the skull epi upon, on top of epicenter the place on the surface above the focus of an earthquake equ, equi equal equalize to make equal ex, e, ef out, from exhale to breathe out eject to throw out extra beyond extraterrestrial beyond the earth hetero other heterogeneous made up of different things homo same homogenize to make the same hyper above hyperactive more active hypo under hypodermic below the skin in, il, ir, im en in, into ingest to take in
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impose to force into
Prefix Meaning Example Definition in, il, ig, ir, im not inactive not active irrelevant not relevant inter between, among interstate between the states intra within intracellular within a cell mal, male bad, ill, wrong malfunction to fail to function properly macro large macroeconomics dealing with large-‐scale
economics, such as within a whole country micro small microscopic too small to be seen with the
naked eye mis wrong, badly misspell to spell something incorrectly mono one, along, single monopoly one owner neo new neolithic new stone age non not, the reverse of nonprofit not for making a profit ob in front, against, in obstruct to block, to hide from sight front of, in the way of omni everywhere omnipotent all powerful per through perceive to become aware of through sight peri around perimeter the outer boundary, the distance
around poly many polygon many sided object post after postpone to do after pre before preview to see before pro forward,
supporting proceed
to go forward promote to raise or move forward proto first prototype first or original model pseudo false pseudonym false name, esp. an author's pen-‐
name re, retro again, back return to come back retroactive operating with regards to a past
event rewrite to write something again se apart seclude to stay apart from others Re, retro half semicircle half a circle sub under, less than submarine underwater
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subpar less than the standard super over, above superimpose to put over something else Prefix Meaning Example Definition syn, sym together, with sympathize to share a feeling with someone tele far telescope seeing or viewing afar trans across transcontinental across the continent ultra beyond ultraviolet light beyond the violet range un, uni one, along, single unilateral having one side un not unhelpful not helpful
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Appendix G – Root Words
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Root Meaning Example Definition act, ag to do, to act agent one who acts as a
representative activity an action agri field agronomy field-‐crop production ambi, amphi both sides amphibian an animal that lives both in
water and on land ambu to walk or move ambulance a vehicle that moves sick or
injured people anthro human anthropology the study of human and their
works apert open aperture an opening bas low basement a room that is low bellu, belli war bellicose prone to or eager to fight bio life biology the study of life cap, capt, cip to take, to hold,
to captive
one who is held cardio heart cardiac pertaining to the heart carn flesh carnage slaughter of people cent hundred,
hundreth century
one hundred years cept, ceive seize receive to take ced, cede, ceed
to go, to give in precede to go before
cess access means of going to chromo color chromatology the science of colors clin to lean or bend inclination to tendency or bent, particularly
of the mind clud, clus, claus
close claustrophobic fear of being closed in or of tight places
cred to believe incredible not believable credit belief or trust curr, curs, cours
to run current now, in progress,
demo people democracy government of the people dent, don’t tooth dentist a doctor who specializes in
teeth derma skin dermatologist doctor who specializes in skin
conditions
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Root
Meaning
Example
Definition
dia through, between, across
diameter distance across a circle
dog, dox thought or idea dogma official beliefs of a religion orthodox customary ideas or practices dic, dict to say dictionary a book explaining words
(sayings) indict to say or make an accusation duc, duct to lead induce to lead to action conduct to lead or guide dyna power dynamic characterized by power and
energy equ equal, even equality equal in social, political rights fac, fact, fic, to make, to do fiction something that is made up fect, fy factory a place to make things affect to make a change fer, ferr to carry, bring defer to carry away referral bring a source of help fiss break apart fissure a narrow opening caused by a
separation of parts flict to strike conflict a clash or collision fort strength effort an earnest or strenuous attempt fract, frag, frai to break fragment broken pieces geo earth geology study of the earth gnos knowledge prognosis a forecast based on current
knowledge grad, gress to go graduate to go out of school progress to go forward graph write graphite a form of carbon used for
writing greg group, herd gregarious enjoying groups of people gyn women gynecology branch of medicine dealing with
women's health helio sun heliotrope a plant that turns toward the
sun hydro water hydraulics the science of the laws of water
and other liquids hypno sleep hypnosis a state of sleep induced by
suggestion
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jac, ject to throw eject to throw out Root Meaning Example Definition loq, log, loc, lix
to talk elocution a person's style of speaking
colloquial ordinary speech, not formal logo a symbol for a word or company luc, lum, lus light, clear illustrious glorious, highly distinguished luminous radiating light magni great, big magnify to enlarge man hand manuscript written by hand meta, mut to change metamorphosis to change form or shape mutate to change mit, mis to send admit to send in missile something sent through the air morph shape metamorphosis to change form or shape narco sleep narcotics drugs that reduce pain or induce
sleep oper to work operate to work, perform, or function ortho straight orthodox right, true, straight opinion pac, plac peace, calm pacifier something that brings or
restores peace or calmness placate to appease or pacify par equal parity equality path feeling empathy to share feelings phon sound phonetics the science or study of speech
sound plic to fold, to bend, complicate to fold together to turn implicate to fold in, to involve pod foot podiatrist a doctor who specializes in foot
problems pon, pos, posit, pose
to place component a part placed together with others
transpose to place across compose to put many parts in one place psycho mind psychology study of the mind pug war, fight pugnacious inclined to quarrel or fight pyro fire pyrometer an instrument for measuring
temperature rupt to break erupt to break out of a pent-‐up state sanct holy sanctuary a sacred or holy place
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Root Meaning Example Definition
scien knowledge conscience inner knowledge of right and wrong
scrib, script to write describe to write (or tell) about transcript a written copy senti feeling sentimental expressing tender emotions or
feelings sequ, secu to follow sequence in following order consecutive one the follows another sesqui one and a half sesquialteral having a ratio of 1.5:1 somn, sop sleep insomniac a person who can't sleep son sound dissonance harsh sound soph wise sophisticated altered by education or
experience spec, spect, to appear, to
look, specimen
an example to look at spic to see aspect one way to see something sta, stat, sist, to stand, or make constant standing with stit, sisto stand status social standing stable steady desist to stand away from tact to touch contact to touch together ten, tent, tain to hold retentive holding maintain to keep or hold up tend, tens, tent
to stretch extend to stretch out
tension stretched out term end, boundary terminal the end terr earth territory a tract of land theo god theology study of religion thermo heat thermometer an instrument for measuring
heat tract to draw attract to draw together contract an agreement that is drawn up val strength or worth valor full of worth ven, vent to come convene to come together ver, vert, vers to turn avert to turn away revert to turn back reverse to turn around
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Root Meaning Example Definition vid, vis to see video the visual part of a broadcast voc, voke to call evoke to call up or produce xen stranger xenophobic fear or hatred of strangers or
foreigners zoo animal zoology the study of animals
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Appendix H – Suffixes
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Suffixes are often used to change a word from one part of speech to another (i.e. changing a verb to a noun). That is including in the "Function" column. Suffix Meaning Function Example Definition able, ible capable of to adj. understandable able to be understood visible able to be seen acious, cous, al
like, having the quality of
to adj. nocturnal vivacious
of the night having the quality of being lively
acy start or quality
to noun privacy the state of being private
ance, ancy, ence
the act of, the state of being
to noun performance truancy
the act of performing the state of being truant
ant, ent, er, or
one who to noun occupant teacher
one who occupies one who teaches
ar, ary connected with, related to
to adj. to noun
ocular beneficiary
related to the eye connected with one who receives benefits
ate, ify, efy, ize, ise,
make to verb customize to make changes that are specific for the user’s needs
verify to make sure something is true cess, cede, ceed, cease
to go, yield to verb concede to yield to the opponent, to give in
ancestor a person who goes (lives) before someone else (the -‐or is what makes this example a noun)
cide∗ to kill to noun insecticide a poison for killing insects cis, cise, cide*
cut to noun or verb
incision a cut made for operating
decide to cut out the other options and pick one
cracy government to noun democracy government by the people dom place or
state of being
to noun freedom state of being free
en to become to verb enlighten becoming wiser ence quality of,
act of to noun existence the act of existing or being
∗ Do not confuse the two definitions of the suffix –cide; however, they are related: to kill or “to cut down.”
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esque remind of to adj picturesque visually appealing (like a picture) Suffix Meaning Function Example Definition ette little to noun cigarette a small cigar ful full of to adj fearful full of fear ic, ac, il, ile of, like,
pertaining to to adj cardiac
infantile pertaining to the heart like an infant
ish having the quality of
to adj fiendish like a fiend
ism the practice of, the support of
to noun patriotism supporting one's country
ist a person who does or makes
to noun dentist artist
a person who works on teeth a person who makes art
ity, ty, y the state of, the character of
to noun unity the state of being one
ive have the nature of
to adj active having the nature of acting or moving
less lacking, without
to adj meaningless without meaning
logy, ology study to noun biology the study of life ment the act of,
the state of to noun retirement the state of being retired
ness the quality of
to adj eagerness the quality of being eager
ory having the nature of, a place of thing for
to noun laboratory a place where work (labor) is done
ous, ose full of to adj venomous full of venom phile one who
loves to noun thermophile an organism that thrives in high
temperatures
phobe one who hates or fears
to noun xenophobe one who hates strangers or foreigners
ship the art or skill of, the ability to
to noun leadership the ability to lead
sion, tion the act or condition of
to noun correction the act of correcting
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some full of, like to adj troublesome full of trouble Suffix Meaning Function Example Definition
tude the state of quality of, the ability to
to noun aptitude the ability to do
y full of, somewhat, somewhat like
to adj musty chilly willowy
having a stale odor somewhat cold like a willow