Spelling & Vocabulary Enrichment [ 6 ]

6-] Spelling & Vocabulary Enrichment . 

Analyzing Word Parts .

Having an extensive vocabulary helps you to figure out the meaning of new words more quickly and enriches your writing . In addition to context clues , an analysis of a word’s parts may also provide clues to its meaning . Many common word parts have their origins in Latin , Greek and Anglo-Saxon words . If you know what some of those word parts mean , you can often guess the meaning of an unfamiliar word . A word may contain three parts or more .                                                                                                                               

e.g. transferable ; trans [ A Latin prefix meaning ‘across’ or ‘through’ , ‘-fer’ ,  A Latin root meaning ‘to carry’ , ‘-able’ A suffix means ‘able to do’ . It changes the verb ‘transfer’ into an adjective meaning ‘able to be transferred’ .                                                                 

Word Roots .

While prefixes and suffixes can give you hints about a word’s meaning , the word’s root provides the real clue . For example in the word ‘transferable’, the prefix ‘trans’ and the suffix ‘-able’ are attached to the root ‘fer’ and modify its meaning . Sometimes , however , you will encounter words that do not mean what their roots appear to suggest . For             example ‘fervent’ , ‘ferret’ , ‘ferrous’ ,  and ‘ferriswheel’ may look similar , but they have very different origins and meanings . Whenever necessary , check a word’s meaning in a dictionary .                                                                                                                                 

Greek Roots

Root	Meaning	Examples
anthropo	human being	anthropology , anthropoid, philanthropic
aster , astro	star	astronomy , astronomical , asterisk
baro	pressure	barometer , barometric
biblio,bibli	book	bibliographer , bibliomania , biblical
bio	life	biology , biochemistry , biodegradable
chrom	colour	chromatic , chromaticity
chrono	time	chronology , chronometer , chronoscope
cosmo	world , order , universe	cosmology , cosmonaut , cosmopolitan
crac , crat	rule , govern	aristocracy , aristocratic , democrat
dem	people	democracy , demogogue , epidemic
derm	skin	dermatitis , dermatology
ethno	nation	ethnic , ethnocentrism
eu	good , well	euphoria , euphony , euphemism
gam	marriage	monogamy , polygamy , bigamy
geo	earth	geology , geocentric , geodynamics
gno , kno	to know	knowledge , gnostic , agnostic
graph , gram	to write , draw , record	autograph , telegram , paragraph
gymno/ gymn	athletic	gymnastics , gymnasium
hydro	water	hydrogen , hydrodynamics , hydoplane
hypno	sleep	hyposis , hypnotic , hypnotize
hypo	under , below	hypodermic , hypotension , hypothermia
lith	stone	monolith , megalith
logue , logo	idea , word , speech
reason	dialogue , monologue , epilogue , logical
meter	metre , measure	diameter , metric , millimeter
micro	small	microscope , mecroorganism
mim	to copy , imitate	mimic , mime , mimeograph
miso	hatred of	misoneism , misology
mono	one	monologue , monogamy , monograph
mor	fool	moron , moronic
morph	form	pseudomorph , mesomorph , metamorphosis
neur , nerv	nerve	neurology , nervous , neuritis
nym , onym , onom	name	acronym , homonym , onomatopoeia
opt	eye	optic , optical , optician
ortho	straight	orthodontics , orthopedics
pan	all	pangenesis , pangram , pantheism
path	feeling	apathy , sympathy , pathetic
peri	around	perimeter , periscope , periphery
petr	rock	petrify , petroleum , petroglyph
phe	speak , spoken
about	euphemistic , prophet
phil , philo	love	philodendron , philology , philharmonic
phob	fear	phobia , claustrophobia , acrophobia
phon	sound , voice	phonetics , phonics , telephone
photo	light	photography , photoflash , photogenic
pneu	breath	pneumonia , pneumatic
polis , polit	citizen , city , state	metropolis , politician , political
poly	many	polychromatic , polyester
pseudo	false	pseudonym ,pseudosalt, pseudomorph
psych	mind , soul , spirit	psychic , psychology , psychoanalysis
scope	to see	kaleidoscope , telescope , microscope .
soph	wise	philosopher , sophisticated
syn , sym	together	symphony , synthesize
techn	art , skill	technical , technology , technique
tele	at a distance	telescope , telephone , telecommute .
the , them , thet	to place , put	epithet , antithesis , theme
thea , theatr	to see , view	theatre , theatrical , ampitheatre
theo	God	theology , theocracy , theocentric