Word Stems:
Building blocks for language
You will remember
that the Celtic tribes
were conquered by
Romans who spoke
Latin & Greek.
And then centuries later, the
Renaissance caused Latin & Greek
to influence the English language
again.
Latin & Greek also influenced Spanish,
French, and Italian, so when we borrow
from these languages, we are often
also borrowing from Latin or Greek.
Because of the impact of Latin & Greek,
many of our words are made of two or
three fragments of Latin. We sometimes
call these pieces prefixes, suffixes, roots, or
stems.
If you know the Latin & Greek stems, you
can discover the meaning of many words.
For example, sub means under and terr
means land. Knowing this can help you
understand a word like subterranean, which
means underground.
Each time you learn one easy stem, you
have learned an important part of dozens
of English words, so learning stems is
power learning.
You only have to study one small thing in
order to learn parts of dozens of things!
All of our quizzes will be cumulative. You
must prepare yourself to be a disciplined
student, reviewing all lists for all quizzes.
The point is to learn these stems now, and
to know them for the rest of your life.
Word Stems – Lesson One
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Don’t forget to fill in your chart
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The stem
The stem’s definition
At least one example of a word that uses the
stem
SUB = under
Submarine
A submarine goes under the sea.
SUB = under
Submerge
To submerge is to put something under the surface.
SUB = under
Subdue
To subdue is to bring someone under your control.
BI = two
Bicycle
A bicycle has two wheels.
BI = two
Bilingual
Someone who is bilingual can speak two languages.
BI = two
Biannual
A biannual event happens twice a year.
VAC = empty
Vacuum
A vacuum is a space emptied of matter.
(Emptying air out of its chamber is part of how a vacuum you clean
carpets with works)
VAC = empty
Evacuate
During a fire drill, we evacuate the building,
which means we empty the building.
VAC = empty
Vacation
A vacation is a time empty of work.
PRE = before
Predict
To predict is to announce something before it
even happens.
PRE = before
Prepare
If you prepare food, you are getting it ready
before you cook it.
PRE = before
Preschool
A preschool is somewhere you go before you
start school.
SUPER = over
Supervise
To supervise is to watch over people.
SUPER = over
Superior
If one blender is superior, it is over the other
one in quality.
SUPER = over
Supermodel
A supermodel is over a normal model.
UN = not
Unequal
If something is unequal, it is not equal.
UN = not
Unnecessary
If this sign is unnecessary, than it is not
necessary.
UN = not
Untied
If your laces are untied, then they are not
tied.
INTER = between
International
An international agreement is between
nations.
INTER = between
Intermission
An intermission is a break between two parts
of a performance.
INTER = between
Intersection
An intersection is between two streets.
SEMI = half
Semicircle
A semicircle is a half circle.
SEMI = half
Semiformal
A semiformal dance is halfway between
casual and formal.
SEMI = half
Semifinals
If you make the semifinals, you are halfway
to the finals.
DIS = away
Dismiss
To dismiss someone is to send them away.
DIS = away
Distract
To distract someone is to take their attention
away from where it was before.
DIS = away
Disagree
If you disagree with someone, you are moving
away from agreement.
SYM = together
Symmetry
Things that have symmetry are together in
their form or arrangement.
SYM = together
Symphony
A symphony is when many different
instruments or sounds come together as one.
SYM = together
Symposium
A symposium is a gathering where people
come together to discuss a particular topic.
Based on what you learned about stems,
what is most likely the definition of
Interstellar?
C
a.
b.
c.
d.
An exploding planet
A type of radiation
The space between stars
A type of medical device used in surgery
Based on what you learned about stems,
what is most likely the definition of
Sympatric?
B
a.
b.
c.
d.
The process by which caterpillars
become butterflies
Two species of animal that occupy the
same area
A medical technician specializing in xrays
An error in logic
Review
Stem
Bi
Sub
Vac
Pre
Super
meaning
two
under
empty
before
over
Review
Stem
Un
Inter
Semi
Dis
Sym
meaning
not
between
half
away
together
THE END