Building Vocabulary from Word Roots

1. Building Vocabulary from Word Roots Unit 1: Lesson 3 Greek Negating Prefixes: a-, an-

2. a-, an- The Greek Prefixes a-, an mean “not, without.” They usually attach to Greek bases an generate vocabulary that is scientific, technical, or medical in nature.

3. alpha privative • a-, an- are called alpha privative because the initial a- (alpha: the first letter of the Greek alphabet) deprives the base of its meaning. All words beginning with an alpha privative have a strongly negative meaning.

4. a- • This prefix consistently appears as a- when it attaches to a base beginning with a consonant. a + pol, polis, polit (city, citizen) = apolitical (“no” interest in politics) a + morph (shape, form) = amorphous (shapeless or “without” shape)

5. an- • If the base of the word begins with a vowel or the letter h, we add an n to the alpha privative a- to make the word easier to pronounce. an + archien (to rule) = anarchy (“no” ruler) an + onym (word, name) = anonymous (nameless or “not” named) • Without the n, these words would be too hard to pronounce (a-archy, a-onymous)

6. Synonyms with the suffix -less • Some apha privative words can be defined by a synonym that ends in the suffix –less (“without”). anhydrous = waterless anonymous = nameless amorphous = shapeless

7. Do Now! Prefixes a-, an • Explain what it means to be an anonymous donor? How does anonymous mean “not” or “without”? • What is amnesia? How does amnesia mean “Not” or “without”? • Would an atheist declare a belief in God? How does atheist mean “not” or “without”? • Why do doctors give patients anesthesia before an operation? How does anesthesia mean “not” or “without”?

8. Do Now! Prefixes a-, an Use the context clues to determine what each of these a-, an- words has to do with “not” or “without”. • Even though he was asymptomatic, the little boy had chicken pox. • Since he was usually so quiet, his loud response was atypical of him. • People with too few red blood cells are anemic and often tired. • Muscles will atrophy if they are not exercised. • Saying, I don’t care” may indicate an apathetic attitude.

9. Greek Bases • aesthet- feeling, sensation • mnes- memory • theism- belief in God, or gods • onym- word, name • (h)em - blood • troph- feed, grow • path- feel, hurt • tom- cut • arch- rule • byss- bottom • morph- shape • alges- feeling of pain