Unlocking the Meaning of Words

1. Unlocking the Meaning of Words Analysis of Word Structure

2. Keys for unlocking word meaning: Using word parts (syllables) to determine meaning: • Roots-the base part of words • Prefixes-beginning syllables • Suffixes-ending syllables ROOT SUFFIX PREFIX

3. 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

4. For example, look at the following roots to get a hint at the meaning of a word. Meaning of bibliography biblio + graphy book writing Webster Dictionary definition: classification of books and other works.

5. Another example: Meaning of hydrology hydr + ology waterstudy of Webster Dictionary definition: science dealing with the properties of water

6. One more. . . Meaning of credible cred + ible to believe able to Webster Dictionary definition: believable;.worthy of belief or confidence; trustworthy

7. 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 Useful and common roots from which to build: Can you think of any words that use these roots? Check Appendix 1 in your text.

8. Practice Unlocking Meaning • Will the proper credentials get one back stage at a rock concert? • A chronometer does what? • Do you enjoy reading a person’s biography? • Is your country ruled by an autocracy or a democracy? • Is a pinwheel chromatic? • Two sides of an isosceles triangle are what?

9. 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 cycle tri open way un sub ex- wife

10. Look at the words that can be formed by adding prefixesto the root mit,which means to send. + mit withoutsending +mit across sending + mit Between sending pertaining to O Trans Inter +ent

11. Note how the prefix changes the meaning of the word when added to the root: Unlock the meaning of incredible. in +cred + ible not to believe able to Webster Dictionary definition: unbelievable; hard to believe

12. 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 Common and Useful Prefixes to know: Can you think of any words that use these prefixes?

13. Unlock meaning using prefixes • If the root meter means to measure, what does diameter mean? • If your behavior was atypical, what type of behavior would you have demonstrated? • A “triclops” has how many eyes? • If you bisect something, how many pieces do you cut it into? • When someone gives a eulogy, what kind of words are spoken?

14. Suffixes basically mean the following: A Noun... • A “state/condition/quality of” (a noun) • Endings –ence, -ance, -ity, -ment, -ness, -tion, -sion, -ion show a condition dependencestate of depending resemblancecondition of resembling maturitystate of maturing retirementstate of retiring isolationcondition of isolating

15. 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

16. Suffixes mean A Verb... • To make (a verb) • Endings –ate, -ify, -ize, -en mean “to make” automateto make automatic liquifyto make liquid finalize to make final weaken to make weak

17. Suffixes mean An Adjective... • 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

18. Suffixes also create a part of speech: When added to the end of a word, suffix changes the part of speech. Example: Please-verb I pleasemy parents. Add –ure Pleasure is better than pain. Add –ant The pleasantsong soothed the crying child.

19. In Summary. . . --a verb please --a noun ant ure add a suffix add a suffix-now an adjective

20. 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

21. Putting the puzzle pieces together: Self + Writing = Time + Study of = Not + Able to + Carry + Across = One + that pulls = Earth + Study = Far + Seeing = Join + With =

22. Taking the pieces apart • Intervention = + • Audiology = + • Infidelity = + • Hydraulic pertains to what? • Spectator = + • Compel = +

23. Answers: • Intervention = Between + Come [to come between] • Audiology = Study of +Hearing • Infidelity = Not + Faithful • Hydraulic pertains to what? water • Spectator = One who sees • Compel = With + Push [to drive/push with]

24. 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 incrediblyunhealthful 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.

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

26. Knowing word parts is just another tool to improve your comprehension. Add these to your toolbox!