Use etymologies to determine the meanings of words

Key Notes:

What is Etymology?

• Etymology is the study of the history and origin of words.

• It explains where a word came from and how its meaning has changed over time.

• By looking at Greek, Latin, Old English, French, or other roots, we can figure out what unfamiliar words mean.

Why Study Etymology?

Understanding etymology can help you:

• Improve Vocabulary: By knowing where words come from, you can more easily understand and remember their meanings.
• Decode Unfamiliar Words: When you encounter a new word, recognizing its root or origin can give you clues to its meaning.
• Enhance Reading Comprehension: A deeper understanding of words allows for a more nuanced understanding of texts.
• Appreciate Language: Etymology reveals the fascinating history of language and how words have evolved over time.

Common Word Roots and Their Meanings

Root	Origin	Meaning	Examples
bio	Greek	life	biology, biography
geo	Greek	earth	geography, geology
aqua	Latin	water	aquarium, aqueduct
dict	Latin	speak/say	predict, dictionary
scrib/script	Latin	write	describe, manuscript
tele	Greek	far/distance	telephone, television
chrono	Greek	time	chronological, synchronize

Steps to Use Etymology to Find Word Meanings

• Look at the root (main part of the word).
• Check prefixes and suffixes (extra parts before or after the root).
• Combine the parts to guess the meaning.
• Confirm with a dictionary.

Common Word Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes

Root Words:	Prefixes:	Suffixes:
(carry): important, portable, export (write): describe, inscribe, manuscript (look): inspect, spectator, perspective (draw/pull): attract, contract, distract (call): vocal, provoke, advocate	(before): preview, pretest, prepare (not): unhappy, undo, unseen (again): review, return, redo (apart/not): disagree, disappear, dislike (in/not): inside, import, impossible	(how): quickly, sadly, happily (state of): happiness, sadness, kindness (act of): creation, expansion, tension (able to): readable, visible, capable

Examples of Etymology in Action

• Astronomy: Comes from the Greek words (star) and (law/arrangement). So, astronomy is the study of the laws and arrangement of stars.
• Telephone: Comes from the Greek words (far) and (sound/voice). A telephone carries sound from far away.
• Biology: Comes from the Greek words (life) and (study of). Biology is the study of life.
• Audience: From Latin (to hear). The audience are those who hear something.

Tips for Using Etymology

• Look for Root Words: When you encounter a new word, try to identify any familiar root words within it.
• Consider Prefixes and Suffixes: Pay attention to prefixes and suffixes, as they often provide clues to a word’s meaning.
• Use a Dictionary: Etymological dictionaries (like the Online Etymology Dictionary) can be valuable resources for tracing word origins.
• Make Connections: Try to connect the original meaning of a word to its modern usage.
• Practice Regularly: The more you explore etymology, the better you’ll become at recognizing word origins and understanding their meanings.

📝 Worksheet 1: Identify the Roots

Directions: Match each word to its root meaning.

1. Biology
2. Aquatic
3. Geography
4. Predict
5. Chronological

Roots to choose from:
a) Time
b) Life
c) Speak
d) Earth
e) Water

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📝 Worksheet 2: Break Down the Word

Directions: Break each word into prefix + root + suffix and determine the meaning.

1. Telephone = tele () + phone () = __________
2. Manuscript = manu () + script () = __________
3. Microscope = micro () + scope () = __________
4. Autograph = auto () + graph () = __________
5. Dictator = dict () + or () = __________

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📝 Worksheet 3: Apply Etymology

Directions: Use etymology to guess the meaning of each word. Write your answer.

1. Aquarium → aqua () + rium () = __________
2. Geology → geo () + logy () = __________
3. Biography → bio () + graphy () = __________
4. Microscope → micro () + scope () = __________
5. Autobiography → auto () + bio () + graphy (____) = __________

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✅ Answer Key

Worksheet 1:

1 → b (Life)
2 → e (Water)
3 → d (Earth)
4 → c (Speak)
5 → a (Time)

Worksheet 2:

1. Telephone = tele (far) + phone (sound) = sound from far away
2. Manuscript = manu (hand) + script (write) = handwritten text
3. Microscope = micro (small) + scope (see) = tool to see small things
4. Autograph = auto (self) + graph (write) = a person’s own signature
5. Dictator = dict (speak) + or (person) = a person who commands

Worksheet 3:

1. Aquarium = aqua (water) + rium (place) = a place for water animals
2. Geology = geo (earth) + logy (study) = study of the earth
3. Biography = bio (life) + graphy (writing) = writing about a life
4. Microscope = micro (small) + scope (see) = instrument for viewing small things
5. Autobiography = auto (self) + bio (life) + graphy (writing) = writing about one’s own life

Summary

By understanding etymology, students can unlock the hidden meanings within words and gain a deeper appreciation for the English language. Exploring word origins is a valuable tool for vocabulary building, reading comprehension, and overall language proficiency.

Let’s practice!