Latin and Greek Roots of English Vocabulary: An Online Manual: Lesson 84 [ann(u)-/enni-]

June 26, 2011

Root

Original Meaning/

Usage Notes

English Derivatives

Vocabulary

(base) 

ann(u)-/enni- [from Latin]

 

(noun)

year

 

 

annals [literally, ‘yearly (books);’ an official year by year record of events.]

anniversary [literally, ‘the turning of the year;’ the recurring annual date of a past event.]

anno domini (AD) [literally, ‘in the year of the Lord;’ identifier of years after the birth of Jesus.]

annuity

perennial [literally, ‘through(out) the year;’ lasting for the whole year or recurring yearly.]

superannuated

 

annuity (noun) [literally, ‘yearly amount;’ annual payment of income, usually at retirement and for life.]

 

superannuated (adjective) [literally, ‘over-yeared;’ useless because of excessive old-age; obsolete.]

 

 

Latin expressions in response to online inquiry

June 25, 2011

Since there is a problem with my online email response system, I am sending this answer to the person (initials “N. R.”) who requested it.   The Latin for “This too shall pass” would be “Etiam hoc trânsîbit” [literally, "Even this will go-by"]. The Latin for “Know your own worth” would be “Nosce suum pretium” [literally, "Come-to-know your-own price/preciousness"]. I hope that this helps.

Latin and Greek Roots of English Vocabulary: An Online Manual: Lesson 83 [al-/alt-]

June 19, 2011

Root

Original Meaning/

Usage Notes

English Derivatives

Vocabulary

(base)

al-/alt- [from Latin]

 

(verb)

to nourish, to nurture

 

 

alimentary

alimony [literally, ‘nourishment;’ a court ordered support paid by a divorced person to his or her former spouse.]

alma mater

altricial [literally, ‘of the nourisher;’ helpless at birth, like newly hatched birds.]

alumnus/alumna [literally, ‘nurtured one;’ graduate of a school.]

to coalesce [literally, ‘to become nurtured together;’ to grow together into a new whole.]

 

alimentary (adjective) [literally, ‘pertaining to a nourishing thing;’ providing nourishment.]

alma mater (noun) [literally, ‘nurturing mother;’ the school from which one has graduated.]

 

 

Latin and Greek Roots of English Vocabulary: An Online Manual: Lesson 82 [-meter/-metry]

June 12, 2011

Root

Original Meaning/

Usage Notes

English Derivatives

Vocabulary

(suffix)

-meter/-metry [from Greek]

 

(verb/noun)

to measure/ measuring/ measurement

 

 

anemometer

audiometer [literally, ‘measuring what I hear;’ a device for measuring a person’s hearing range.]

diameter [literally, ‘a measure through;’ a line segment that passes through the center of a circle and terminates at its circumference.]

geometry [literally, ‘measuring the earth;’ the branch of mathematics that studies and describes the characteristics of points, lines, angles, surfaces, and solids.]

perimeter

sphygmomanometer [literally, ‘measuring a sporadic pulse;’ a device for measuring arterial blood pressure.]

 

anemometer (noun) [literally, ‘measuring the wind;’ a device for measuring wind speed.]

perimeter (noun) [literally, ‘a measure around;’ the bounding line of a plane surface figure.]

 

 

Latin and Greek Roots of English Vocabulary: An Online Manual: Lesson 81 [cad-/cas-/cid-]

June 5, 2011

Root

Original Meaning/

Usage Notes

English Derivatives

Vocabulary

(base)

cad-/cas-/cid- [from Latin]

(verb)

to fall

accident [literally, ‘falling toward or near;’ an unexpected befalling.]

cadence

case [literally, ‘fallen;’ a particular instance of something; in grammar, the change in form of a noun, adjective, or pronoun that indicates its function in a clause.]

decadent

occasion [literally, ‘falling against;’ a happening or event, sometimes significant or celebratory.]

recidivism [literally, ‘falling-backness’ a tendency to relapse into earlier, usually unhealthy, patterns of behavior, as of ex-convicts to return to a life of crime.]

cadence (noun) [literally, ‘a falling;’ the beat or rhythm of music, movement, or speech.]

decadent (adjective) [literally, ‘falling down from;’ indulging in excessive and improper self-gratification.]

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