Use etymologies to determine the meanings of words

Key Notes:

Definition of Etymology:

• Explain that etymology is the study of the origin and history of words, including how their form and meaning have changed over time.

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Understanding Prefixes, Suffixes, and Roots:

• Introduce the concept that many English words are derived from Greek and Latin roots, prefixes, and suffixes.
• Examples:
  • “Tele-” (Greek for “far”) in words like “television” or “telephone.”
  • “Bio-” (Greek for “life”) in words like “biology” or “biography.”

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Identifying Common Word Origins:

• Discuss common prefixes, suffixes, and roots and how they contribute to the meaning of words.
• Encourage students to recognize patterns in words to decipher unfamiliar vocabulary.

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Using Etymology in Context:

• Provide examples where understanding the etymology of a word helps in comprehending its meaning in context.
• Example: Understanding that “bene-” (Latin for “good”) in “benefit” helps understand its positive association.

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Historical and Cultural Insights:

• Explore how studying etymology can provide insights into historical and cultural contexts.
• Example: Words related to science often have roots in Latin or Greek due to the historical contributions of these cultures to science and philosophy.

Let’s practice!