Latin and Greek Roots of English Vocabulary: An Online Manual: Lesson 71 [aqu(a)-]
March 27, 2011
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Root
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Original Meaning/ Usage Notes |
English Derivatives
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Vocabulary
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| (base)
aqu(a)- [from Latin] |
(noun) water |
aqualung [literally, ‘water lung;’ an artificial underwater breathing device.] aquanaut aquarium [literally, ‘place for water creatures;’ a water-filled container as an artificial environment for aquatic creatures.] aquatic [literally, ‘pertaining to water.’] aqueduct [literally, ‘leading water;’ a channel for moving water from a remote location to a nearby location.] aqueous |
aquanaut (noun) [literally, ‘water sailor;’ someone trained to survive and work in an underwater environment.]
aqueous (adjective) [literally, ‘watery.’] |
Latin and Greek Roots of English Vocabulary: An Online Manual: Lesson 70 [-ose/-iose (-ous/-ious/-eous)]
March 20, 2011
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Root
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Original Meaning/ Usage Notes |
English Derivatives
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Vocabulary
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| (suffix)
-ose/-iose [-ous/-ious/ -eous] [from Latin] |
(suffix) full (of) |
comatose [literally, ‘full of deep sleep;’ in an unconscious or deeply lethargic state.] famous [literally, ‘full of fame;’ well known.] otiose populous righteous [literally, ‘full of what is right;’ ethically or morally justified, full of virtue.] various [literally, ‘full of the varied;’ having diversity, variegated; multifarious.] |
otiose (adjective) [literally, ‘full of leisure;’ lazy.]
populous (adjective) [literally, ‘full of a people;’ containing many persons or residents.] |
Latin and Greek Roots of English Vocabulary: An Online Manual: Lesson 69 [sed-/sess- (sid-)]
March 13, 2011
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Root
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Original Meaning/ Usage Notes |
English Derivatives
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Vocabulary
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sed-/sess- [sid-] [from Latin] |
(verb) to sit |
resident
sedentary [literally, ‘characterized by sitting;’ characterized by a lack of motion or by sitting to do one’s usual work.] sediment [literally, ‘state of sitting down;’ matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid.] session [literally, ‘a sitting;’ the term of a formal meeting or assembly.] subsidiary to supersede [literally, ‘to sit over;’ to supplant, especially to replace something or someone inferior.] |
resident (noun) [literally, ‘sitting back;’ someone living in a particular place either permanently or for a long time.]
subsidiary (adjective) [literally, ‘sitting under;’ subordinate or secondary or auxiliary.] |
Latin and Greek Roots of English Vocabulary: An Online Manual: Lesson 68 [fid-/fidel-]
March 6, 2011
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Root
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Original Meaning/ Usage Notes |
English Derivatives
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Vocabulary
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| (base)
fid-/fidel- [from Latin] |
(noun/adjective) faith, trust/faithful, trusty |
affidavit bona fide [literally, ‘by means of good faith;’ certified as authentic.] confidence [literally, ‘trusting together with;’ a feeling of positive certainty about a person or thing.] fideism [literally, ‘faithism;’ a belief dependent on faith alone, not on reason.] fidelity [literally, ‘faithfulness;’ loyalty to persons or principles.] infidel |
affidavit (noun) [literally, ‘he or she has pledged faith;’ a written statement made under oath before an authorized legal officer.]
infidel (noun) [literally, ‘faithless (person);’ an unbeliever with respect to a religion, especially Christianity or Islam.] |
On Greek myths for children
March 4, 2011
Because my email response system is malfunctioning at the moment, this is a response to Heather, who sent me a query through my contact form requesting a good introduction to Greek mythology for her nine-year-old child:
Although this is listed as for four- to eight-year-olds, a nine-year-old would still find it worthwhile: Greek Gods and Goddesses (Dover Coloring Book). Here is my review of it from amazon.
This book is part of what I have elsewhere called a treasure trove of a coloring book series from Dover. I purchased it for my grandson (eight, going on nine), but I have many of the volumes in the series for myself. The illustrations are attractive and challenging. However, most important, the information conveyed about Greek mythology is more accurate than that found even in some of the most popular handbooks of Greek mythology (Edith Hamilton and her ilk). It is an admirable way to lead a child into the joys of the preeminent book of Greek mythology, Robert Graves, The Greek Myths.
One could also use Padraic Colum’s A Children’s Homer as a useful preparation for Graves’s book, which is hands down the single best book of Greek myths for all ages, although for a nine- to twelve-year-old, it may require parental assistance.
