Set One

Question 1

Enervation

Answer 1

Root: “nerv” (from Latin “nervus” meaning nerve)
Prefix: “e-“ (a variant of “ex-“ meaning out or away)
Suffix: “-ation” (indicating an action or process)
The word “enervation” comes from the Latin “enervare,” which means to weaken or take the strength out of. Here’s how the components work together:

“e-“: The prefix can imply “out of” or “away from.”
“nervus”: Refers to nerve, which is metaphorically associated with strength or vigor.
Thus, “enervare” originally meant to take the nerve or strength out of something, hence weakening it. Over time, this evolved into the English “enervation,” meaning a state of being drained of energy or vitality.

Question 2

Insouciance

Answer 2

Root: souci (from French “souci” meaning care or worry)
Prefix: in- (meaning not)
Suffix: -ance (indicating a state or quality)

Question 3

Funicular

Answer 3

Root: funicul (from Latin “funiculus” meaning small rope or cord)
Prefix: N/A
Suffix: -ar (forming an adjective)

Question 4

Gossamer

Answer 4

Root: “gos” (from Middle English “gos” meaning goose)
Prefix: N/A
Suffix: “amer” (possibly from Middle English “somer” meaning summer)
The term “gossamer” originally referred to a type of fine, filmy substance found in the air in late autumn, which was often seen floating around fields. Here’s how the components relate:

“gos”: The Middle English word for goose.
“amer/somer”: Refers to summer.
The connection comes from an old English phrase “gossamer” or “gossamour,” which was a combination of “gos” (goose) and “somer” (summer). It was believed that this delicate, cobweb-like substance appeared in the fields around St. Martin’s summer, a period of warm weather in late autumn. Additionally, there was a folk belief that the substance was the remnants of geese feathers or associated with goose down, which is also light and delicate.

Therefore, the word “gossamer” evolved to describe something extremely light, delicate, or flimsy, much like the cobwebs seen in late autumn or the fine down of a goose.

Question 5

Solicitously

Answer 5

Root: solicit (from Latin “sollicitus” meaning anxious)
Prefix: N/A
Suffix: -ous (forming an adjective), -ly (forming an adverb)

Question 6

Supine

Answer 6

Root: supin (from Latin “supinus” meaning lying on the back)
Prefix: N/A
Suffix: N/A

Question 7

Hirundine

Answer 7

Root: hirundin (from Latin “hirundo” meaning swallow, the bird)
Prefix: N/A
Suffix: -ine (forming an adjective)

Question 8

Superfluous

Answer 8

Root: flu (from Latin “fluere” meaning to flow)
Prefix: super- (meaning above or beyond)
Suffix: -ous (forming an adjective)

Question 9

Didactically

Answer 9

Root: didact (from Greek “didaktikos” meaning teaching)
Prefix: N/A
Suffix: -ic (forming an adjective), -ally (forming an adverb)

Question 10

Redolent

Answer 10

Root: ol (from Latin “olere” meaning to smell)
Prefix: re- (meaning again or back)
Suffix: -ent (forming an adjective)