Summary: Studying prefixes and suffixes can help boost vocabulary, as can studying root words, like bio, which means "life." Once you know a lot of prefixes, root (or base) words, and suffixes, you not only understand language, but you also know how to spell even better than before.
So, you've been studiously acquainting yourself with suffixes and prefixes over the last few weeks. Good for you! You can already see how your vocabulary is growing. Now for the coup d'état: Study root words, or base words, to know all the various common parts of almost any word.
Bio is a good example of a root word, although it is often listed as a prefix, as well. In and of itself, it means "biography or biographical sketch." (For example, recently I mentioned in a blog post that my bio says I've always had a passion for language. In this case, I was referring to the written biography, or life story of my career history, that I give potential corporate clients.) But as a prefix, it simply means "life."
Think of such words as biology, biotechnology, or even antibiotic or autobiographical. If you've been studying your prefix and suffix lists, you can define them all! And you can also spell them quite easily when you hear them said, as well. (Hint: Learning the definitions and spellings of suffixes and prefixes is a great way to boost your spelling capabilities, too.)
Play this matching game by Quia and see if you can pair up the prefixes and suffixes with their definitions. Then study root words on your own—and share the resources you discover here! (Here's one more hint: Homeschooling websites are terrific for this type of study.)
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Showing posts with label suffix. Show all posts
Showing posts with label suffix. Show all posts
Oct 5, 2009
Sep 21, 2009
WORD OF THE WEEK: Sooo Out of Fashion!
Today's Word of the Week is dedicated to my cousin Nicole Parkinson, who's just begun her senior year of college and already dreading the vocabulary portion of the GRE, or graduate school exam. It comes directly from a list of commonly used words in the exam. I selected it because even I am not entirely familiar with this word—at least not enough to have ever used it in a sentence.
Antediluvian (AN-ti-di-LOO-vee-an) is an adjective that literally means "before the flood." It's used to describe something old, out-dated, archaic, antique (as in, "That antediluvian car you're driving could probably qualify for the Cash for Clunkers program!"). Ante is a prefix meaning before, while diluvium (also the root word for deluge) means flood. Both root parts of this word come from the original Latin, and were adopted into the English language as early as the 1640s, according to language records. Put together, the word references that unrecorded era in human development before the Ice Age, or before the Great Flood of the Bible.
Studying prefixes is a great way to learn more, naturally, about language and to automatically enhance your vocabulary. (*Ahem* Pay attention, Nicole!) Experts recommend learning several prefixes and suffixes, rather than attempting to blythely memorize word lists and meanings prior to major tests like the GRE; then, in the event that a word that wasn't on your predetermined list shows up on the test, you're more likely to be able to intuit its meaning.
Even younger children who are struggling to learn vocab words at school can learn 2 new words per week by studying one suffix and one prefix that week, then putting them together with a word they already know. Understanding word parts can help even pupils with learning disabilities—of all ages—grow their word power.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Antediluvian (AN-ti-di-LOO-vee-an) is an adjective that literally means "before the flood." It's used to describe something old, out-dated, archaic, antique (as in, "That antediluvian car you're driving could probably qualify for the Cash for Clunkers program!"). Ante is a prefix meaning before, while diluvium (also the root word for deluge) means flood. Both root parts of this word come from the original Latin, and were adopted into the English language as early as the 1640s, according to language records. Put together, the word references that unrecorded era in human development before the Ice Age, or before the Great Flood of the Bible.
Studying prefixes is a great way to learn more, naturally, about language and to automatically enhance your vocabulary. (*Ahem* Pay attention, Nicole!) Experts recommend learning several prefixes and suffixes, rather than attempting to blythely memorize word lists and meanings prior to major tests like the GRE; then, in the event that a word that wasn't on your predetermined list shows up on the test, you're more likely to be able to intuit its meaning.
Even younger children who are struggling to learn vocab words at school can learn 2 new words per week by studying one suffix and one prefix that week, then putting them together with a word they already know. Understanding word parts can help even pupils with learning disabilities—of all ages—grow their word power.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
