Building Vocabulary
Skills
Etymology and Word Analysis
What is…
 Vocabulary?
 Latin:
 vocabularium
(list of
words) from
vocabularum
(a word,
name, noun)
What is…
 a word?
 German: from the wort, which means “to speak/say”
 Thus, when we build our vocabulary, we are developing
our list of words. Words are utterances that we speak
that convey a meaning.
Why Vocabulary?
 It is not enough to be able to pronounce a word. We
must be able to comprehend the meaning behind said
words.
 For example:
 Cain committed fratricide due to his jealousy of Abel.
 (fra-tri-cide): the murdering of ones’ own brother.
Etymology
 The key to developing ones’ vocabulary is etymology.

Etymology: The study of the origins of words.

Etym (true sense; origin) + ology (the study of)
 Etymology looks at:

Word Parts (Affixes and Roots)

Word Origins (Latin; Greek; German; etc…)
Word Parts: Prefix
 A prefix is a word part that is
placed at the beginning of a
word.
 Pre (before) + fix (to fasten)
 Other Examples:
 Review
 Interview
 React
 Interact
Word Parts: Prefix
 A prefix changes the meaning of a word
 Examples: construct; reconstruct; deconstruct
 Struct (the root) means to build

Con + struct: to build together/with

Re + con + struct: to build together again

De + con + struct: to build down
Prefix Rules
 A word can have as many as two prefixes; usually one of
them is negative.
 Inaccessible
 In + ac + cess (root) +ible (suffix)

In= not

Ac= to

cess-= go

ible= capable or able to…
 Inaccessible: not able to get to or go toward something.
Prefix Rules
 A prefix can function as a reversal or negation
 In the following sentence, the prefix dis functions as a
reversal:
 Please disconnect the wire.
 The in the next sentence, dis functions as a negation:
 The wire is disconnected.
 What is the difference between the two sentences?
Prefix Rules
 A prefix can function as an
intensifier.

Example:

Confirm: con + firm
(to make more firm)

Obtain: ob + tain (a
stronger version of
attain)
Prefix Rules
 A few prefixes can change
the part of speech of a word.

Examples

Befriend is a verb: be
+ friend (noun)

Enrich is a verb: en +
rich (adjective)

Dethrone is a verb: de
+ throne (noun)
Prefix Rules
 Prefixes can have more than one form:
 The prefixes suc, sud, suf, sug, sum, sup, sus, su, and subter
are all forms of sub which means below/under or come from
underneath/after
 Submarine (under water)
 Succeed (to take from beneath)
 Suppose (to assume from information that is placed
under/hidden; drawing a conclusion from underneath the
foundation of knowledge/information)
Word Parts: Suffix
 A suffix is a word part that is
placed at the end of a word.
 Suff (after) + fix (to fasten)
 Other Examples:
 hopeful
 goodness
 lawful
 happiness
Word Parts: Suffix and
Part of Speech

Noun Suffix Endings


Adjective Suffix Ending
-age: mileage; postage;
damage
Verb Suffix Endings


- able (capable; lovable)

-al (national; natural;
seasonal)
-ship: fellowship; friendship;
sportsmanship



-ate (calculate; meditate;
evaporate)
- ize/ise (memorize;
sympathize; comprise)
Adverb Endings

-ly (nationally; naturally;
swiftly)

- where (somewhere;
anywhere)
Suffix Rules
 A word can have as many as three suffixes
 Example: constitution; constitutional; constitutionality

Root: sti: to stand

Con (prefix) + sti(tu) + tion

Con (prefix) + sti(tu) + tion + al

Con (prefix) + sti(tu) + tion + al + ity
Suffix Rules
Suffixes have meanings
Like
Musical; comical; classical
Fantastic; realistic; Slavic
State of/Condition/Quality
Appointment; retirement
Insistence; patience; inheritence
One who:
Physician; musician; politician
Teacher; barber; carpenter
Artist; pianist; astrologist
Word Parts: Roots
What is the Root?

The root is the main part of a
word. It is the part of the word
which the prefix and suffix are
fastened.


Remember:

pre (before) + fix
(fasten)

suf (after) + fix (fasten)
Think of the roots as the anchor
that carries the basic meaning of
a word.
The root word part is like the root of a
plant. It carries meaning or nutrients to
allow a word to blossom and grow.
Word Parts: Roots
 Cred: to believe
 Incredible:
 In (not) + cred (believe) + ible (able)


Definition: not able to believe
Creditor:
 Cred(it) + or (a person who)

Definition: a person that determines whether you can be
trusted or believed
Word Parts: Roots

Ject: to throw

Reject:

Re (back) + ject (throw):


Project:

Pro (forward) + ject
(throw)


Definition: to throw
back
Definition: to throw
forward
Interject:

Prefix: Inter

Definition: to throw
between
Word Parts: All Together
Word and the National
Origin
 English is the youngest language on the planet; it is a
compilation of tongues of the world. We are often told that
these words are mostly from Latin and Greek; however, most
words can be traced back to Sanskrit, Hebrew, and Egyptian.
 Knowing the origin of words is important because it can lead
you to the basic and most fundamental meaning of a word.
 Words have connotative and denotative meanings (see in slides
later). Having knowledge of both will help you understand
more accurately many of the words with which you already
may be somewhat familiar.
Denotation vs
Connotation
 Denotation:
 This is the literal meaning of a word. It translates as from
the letters/markings. That is, the meaning is from the
original markings (see etymology).
 Connotation:
 This is the shaded/colored meaning. It translates as added
letters/markings
What is the Connotation?
(Positive or Negative)
Stench


Definition: a smell, a scent, an
odor.
Etymology: O.E. stenc; Old
Saxon stanc; Old German stankto emit a smell. Evil odor
meaning applied in 1200 c.
Scent

Definition: what can be smelled.

Etymology: O.F. sentir; Latin
sentire- to feel, perceive, sense,
discern, hear, see