Set Ten Flashcards
Aspic
Root: “aspic” comes from the French word aspic, which originally referred to a type of dish. The root is believed to be derived from the Latin aspis, meaning “snake” (specifically an asp), likely due to the dish’s smooth, glossy appearance resembling a snake’s skin.
Prefix: None
Suffix: None
Historical Context: Aspic is a savoury gelatine made from meat stock, traditionally used to encase meats or seafood. The culinary use of gelatine dates back to the Middle Ages, but it became particularly popular in French cuisine in the 19th century.
Subsidence
Root: “sid” from Latin sidere, meaning “to settle.”
Prefix: “sub-“ from Latin, meaning “under” or “below.”
Suffix: “-ence” is a noun-forming suffix indicating a state or condition.
Historical Context: Subsidence refers to the gradual caving in or sinking of an area of land. This phenomenon has been studied in geology and civil engineering, particularly concerning mining activities and the extraction of underground resources.
Metatarsal
Root: “tarsal” from the Greek tarsos, meaning “flat surface” or “ankle.”
Prefix: “meta-“ from Greek, meaning “beyond” or “after.”
Suffix: None
Historical Context: The term metatarsal refers to the long bones in the foot located between the tarsal bones and the phalanges of the toes. The word combines the Greek prefix “meta-“ to signify their position beyond the tarsal bones.
Pejorative
Root: “pejor” from Latin peior, meaning “worse.”
Prefix: None
Suffix: “-ative” is an adjective-forming suffix.
Historical Context: Pejorative words are those that express disapproval or contempt. The use of language to convey social and cultural attitudes has been a subject of linguistic study, highlighting how words can evolve negative connotations over time.
Concurrently
Root: “curr” from Latin currere, meaning “to run.”
Prefix: “con-“ from Latin, meaning “together” or “with.”
Suffix: “-ly” is an adverb-forming suffix.
Historical Context: The concept of concurrency is significant in fields like computer science and engineering, referring to processes occurring at the same time. The term is also used more generally to describe simultaneous events.
Balefully
Root: “bale” from Old English bealu, meaning “harm” or “evil.”
Prefix: None
Suffix: “-fully” is an adverb-forming suffix that modifies adjectives.
Historical Context: The term balefully is often used in literature to describe a menacing or threatening manner, emphasizing the historical and cultural associations of evil and malice.
Deglutition
Root: “glut” from Latin glutire, meaning “to swallow.”
Prefix: “de-“ from Latin, indicating reversal or removal.
Suffix: “-ition” is a noun-forming suffix.
Historical Context: Deglutition refers to the act of swallowing. It is a process studied in anatomy and physiology, highlighting the complexity of human bodily functions. The term has been in use since at least the 17th century.
Fortuitous
Root: “fortu” from Latin fortuitus, meaning “happening by chance.”
Prefix: None
Suffix: “-ous” is an adjective-forming suffix.
Historical Context: Originally, “fortuitous” meant something that happened by chance, without any connotation of luck. Over time, it has evolved to imply a fortunate or lucky event, demonstrating how word meanings can shift culturally.
Debutante
Root: “debut” from French début, meaning “a first appearance.”
Prefix: None
Suffix: “-ante” is a suffix indicating an agent or participant.
Historical Context: A debutante is a young woman making her formal entry into society, traditionally in a debutante ball. This custom has roots in European aristocracy and was intended to introduce young women to eligible bachelors.
Paradigm
Historical Context: The term paradigm is often used in science and philosophy to describe a framework of thought or model. It gained prominence with Thomas Kuhn’s “The Structure of Scientific Revolutions,” where he discussed paradigm shifts in scientific theory.
