The Greek & Latin Roots of English (18 page)

Negatives

Odds and Ends

No Wonder I'm Confused

Mastering the orthography of English can be a difficult business because of the various influences on the language over time, and the existence of both homographs and homophones only add to the confusion.

Homographs
are words that have the same written forms but different meanings (and sometimes different pronunciations). They may or may not have the same etymological root.

1. orient
   is derived from
   orior-oriri
   = rise
   morbid
   is derived from
   morbus, morbi
   = sickness
   Check your dictionary for different meanings of these words and how these meanings developed.
   
2. Host
   can mean either a very large army, or a person who greets and entertains you. The former is derived from
   hostis, hostis
   = enemy; the latter from
   hospes, hospitis
   = guest or host.
   Here are a few others to confuse you:
   You are not
   qualified
   , so I will give you only
   qualified
   approval.
   I
   wind
   my watch as I stand in the
   wind
   .
   I hope that my
   will will
   reflect my
   will
   .
   I
   wound
   my watch although I had a terrible
   wound
   .
   

Homophones
are words that sound alike but that are spelled differently (and have different meanings).

Examples

1. I
   threw
   the ball
   through
   the window.
   
2. Don't
   whine
   , he said, as he drank my glass of
   wine
   .
   
3. She
   knows
   where her
   nose
   is.
   

Impress Your Friends

Some words are just fun to know. Here are a couple:
obfuscate
= confuse or bewilder, especially in regard to the truth.

“The governor tends to obfuscate even when asked a direct question.”

obsequious
= overly willing to follow the will or desire of another, especially one's superiors.

“His obsequious behavior toward his boss made everyone think he was her servant.”

NAME _______________________________________________________________________

A. In Exercises 1–29, fill in the blanks with the literal meaning of each italicized word or part of a word. Make sure that your sentences are grammatically correct. If you are not sure of the derivation, check your dictionary.

Example

A
promot
ion
moves
you
in front
; a
demot
ion
moves
you
down
.

1. At a
colloqu
ium, individuals __________ __________ one another.

2. An
extra
terrestrial being come from __________ the earth.

3.
Circumstances
are the events that __________ __________ an event.

4. Your
supervisor
is __________ __________ __________ your work.

5. An
introvert
is an individual who has __________ __________ himself.

6. A
supposit
ion is a statement that is __________ __________ an argument.

Can you figure out a Greek-based word that has exactly the same meaning? __________

7. In American history, “
ante
bellum” usually refers to the period __________ the Civil War.

8. To
intervene
in an argument is to __________ __________ the two sides.

9. If someone grabs you __________ the throat, you may
suf
focate.

10. An
ag
enda is a list of things to be __________.

11. A person who
interfere
s in your business __________ himself __________.

12. When the
onus
of responsibility is placed upon you, it becomes your __________.

13. A
sine
cure is a job __________ real responsibilities or duties.

14. An
obsta
cle __________ __________ you.

15. An aque
duct
__________ water from one place to another.

16. A person who lives in
se
clusion is closed __________ from the world.

17. A
circumlocut
ion is a polite way of __________ __________ an unpleasant topic.

18.
Contra
ry individuals are inclined to go __________ whatever the majority says.

19. A
postscript
is __________ __________ the body of a letter.

20. A
per
meable substance allows other material to pass __________ it.

21. A
per
manent stain is one that will remain __________.

22. An
advert
isement __________ your attention __________ a product.

23. A
deposit
ion is a statement that has been __________ __________ about an event.

24. What does
circa
1920 mean? ___________________

25. I came to work
via
public
transport
ation. In other words I was __________ __________ town __________ city streets.

26. An
agg
ressive person walks __________ you in a hostile manner.

27. I was given a
bonus
because I did __________ job.

28. He lived in
squalor
; his apartment was so __________ I couldn't stand it.

29. He claimed he was a
pauper
, but he certainly didn't live like a __________ man.

B. Fill in the blanks in the following sentences with the literal meaning of the italicized word or part of a word. Make sure that the sentence is grammatically correct.

30. An
amphi
theatre has seats all __________.

31. An
apostate
is an individual who has __________ __________ his faith.

32. A
peri
patetic individual likes to walk __________all the time.

33. When you make a
synthesis
of various ideas, you __________ them __________.

34. An
antidote
is __________ __________ a poison.

35. A
diag
onal line is drawn __________ an angle.

36. An
epi
taph is written __________ a tombstone.