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Latin/Greek/English Etymology > Etymology Terms > Flashcards

Etymology Terms Flashcards

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1
Q

Degeneration

A

meaning of word becomes more contemptible

- monster, rococo, demon

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2
Q

Elevation

A

meaning of word becomes more pleasant

- utopia, angel, progress

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3
Q

Abstract

A

expressing a thought apart from any material or particular object
- beauty, truth, justice

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4
Q

Concrete

A

having a material perceptible existence, specific, tangible

-

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5
Q

Concrete to Abstract

A

word changes from specific to general, without the addition of a suffix
- have guts, have a good ear, suffer a tragedy

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6
Q

Abstract to Concrete

A

word changes from general to specific, without the addition of a suffix
- allowance, generation, ordnance

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7
Q

Hyperbole

A

exaggeration

- overkill, mammoth olives, very unique

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8
Q

Weakening

A

overuse of hyperbole leads to the weakening of a words meaning
- mortify, unique, atom

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9
Q

Changing Concepts

A

change resulting from changes in the understanding of the world around us

  • sanguine (full of blood) - cheerful
  • melancholy (state of black bile) - depression
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10
Q

Euphemism

A

replacing a disagreeable or unpleasant word with one that is less so
- the underprivileged, see someone, fix the cat

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11
Q

Circumlocution

A

indirect or lengthy way of expressing a simple or concrete idea (military)
- neutralize, visit a site, dysfunctional

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12
Q

Folk Etymology

A

mistaken assimilation to another word form which it resembles (laxadaisical from ‘a lack the day’)
- humble pie, female, hangnail

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13
Q

Clip

A

a word that had lost its initial or final part but retains the same general meaning
- lab, prep, memo

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14
Q

Inchoative

A

a word or word unit denoting the beginning of an action state or occurrence (to become, to begin)
- coalesce, acquiesce, effervesce

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15
Q

Acronym

A

abbreviation that spells a pronounceable word

- laser, zip, wasp

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16
Q

Affix

A

a collective term for prefixes, suffixes, infixes

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17
Q

Apheresis

A

elimination of the first letter or syllable of a word

- light < alight

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18
Q

Assimilation

A

adjacent sounds, usually consonants, acquire similar characteristics
- allusion, suffuse, oppress

19
Q

Back Formation

A

creation of simpler forms, removal of an affix

- lase/lasing < laser, orientate, respirate

20
Q

Blend

A

combining two or more parts to create a new word

- affluenza, palimony, hazmat

21
Q

Hybrid

A

a word composed of elements from different languages

- superman (Latin/English), speedometer, off-color

22
Q

Suffix

A

word endings that modify meaning - change part of speech

- adjective, verb, noun endings

23
Q

Base/Root

A

central element of a word which is left after the removal of all affixes

24
Q

Substantive

A

an adjective functioning as a noun

  • the good, the bad, the ugly
  • Christians, the rich, an adolescent
25
Q

Dissimilation

A

similar sounds diverge for easier pronunciation

- lunar, turtle, piety

26
Q

Semantic Change

A

modification of meaning in a word

basic process - similitude > metaphor > new meaning

27
Q

Metaphor

A

implied comparison of two things

- he’s an old goat, a toothless lion

28
Q

Specialization

A

word moves from general to specific

- radish, undertaker, rape

29
Q

Generalization

A

word moves from specific to general

- assassin, comedy, triumph

30
Q

Functional Change

A

word function changes

- wolf down, chicken out, cat around

31
Q

Cognates

A

two or more words in different languages that have the same root
- mother/madre/mere/moeder

32
Q

Derivative

A

a word borrowed from another word or root usually from another language
- rivus (Latin for river bank) > rival

33
Q

Doublets

A

two words of the same language which are derived from the same original word
- banjo/mandolin, hostile/host, dainty/dignity

34
Q

Etymology

A

the study of the real meaning of words

35
Q

Diminutive

A

smaller

- morsel, cubicle, capsule

36
Q

Homonym

A

words pronounced the same with different meaning

- air, heir, err

37
Q

Loan Word

A

a word in one language that has been borrowed from another language and then naturalized
- jihad, autobahn, hors d’ouevre

38
Q

Metathesis

A

brid>bird

39
Q

Onomatopoeia

A

spelled like imitation of sound

- bzzz, splash, zip

40
Q

Participle

A

verb used as an adjective

- signed, sealed, delivered

41
Q

Prefix

A

one or more letters or syllables placed at the beginning of a word to modify it’s meaning
- prefix

42
Q

Reduplication

A

tom-tom, memory, bruhaha

43
Q

Vowel Gradation

A

a change in the internal vowel of the base

- infect, continent, inception

Latin/Greek/English Etymology (12 decks)

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