How to Guess the Meanings of Words without Using a Dictionary

حدس زدن صحیح معنی کلمات بدون نیاز به دیکشنری به کمک علم ریشه شناسی

(بنا به درخواست دوستان با اندکی تاخیر)

ریشه شناسی یا etymology یکی از زیر مجموعه های علم زبان شناسی است که مبدا و یا ریشه کلمات را مورد بررسی قرار می دهد و ارتباط بین کلمات مشابه را بررسی می کند. در این رشته معانی کلمات در مواردی از زبان لاتین و یا سایر زبان های اروپایی مانند زبان یونانی و اسپانیایی گرفته شده است بنابراین دانستن این مطالب برای زبان آموزان رشته های دیگر نیز می تواند مفید باشد. با مطالعه دقیق این مطالب و بررسی رابطه بین کلمات مشابه شما قادر خواهید بود تا بدون دانستن معنی دقیق یک کلمه و یا حتی بدون استفاده از دیکشنری معانی کلمات جدید را به درستی حدس بزنید. دانستن این روش می تواند در کلیه مهارت های زبانی به ویژه در Reading مفید باشد.

برای مثال فرض کنید می خواهیم معنی کلمه Unpredictable را حدس بزنیم. بعد از مطالعه این مقاله قادر خواهیم بود تا به شیوه زیر عمل کنیم.

ابتدا کلمه فوق را به بخش های زیر تقسیم می کنیم.

Un + pre + dict + able

سپس معنی اجزای کلمه را به کمک ریشه شناسی پیدا می کنیم.

un = notغیر

pre = beforeپیش

dict = speakگفتن

able = an adjective maker suffixقابل

حال می توان این طور نتیجه گرفت که معنی این کلمه غیر قابل پیش گویی و یا غیر قابل پیش بینی باشد. به همین راحتی. به این می گن حدس زدن صحیح و علمی. خوب اگه دوست دارید بدون نیاز به حفظ کردن کلمات و یا استفاده از دیکشنری معانی کلمات جدید را حدس بزنید، این مقاله را حتما چندین بار بخوانید.

توجه کنید این مقاله ارائه کننده بخشی کوچک از این علم است اما سعی شده تا اساسی ترین موضوعات ریشه شناسی در اینجا گنجانده شود. در ضمن دقت کنید که این شیوه جایگزینی کامل برای روش های عمومی یادگیری لغات نیست. این روش در کنار روش های عمومی فراگیری لغات بسیار موثرتر و مفیدتر خواهد بود.

» اگر اشکال و یا اشتباهی در این مقاله مشاهده کردید، لطفا به من اطلاع دهید.

 

How to Guess the Meanings of Words without Using a Dictionary

By the Help of Etymology (Word Roots, Suffixes and Prefixes)

Collected & compiled by Hamid R. Bagheri

Source: http://www.commonmistakes.blogfa.com/

 

Etymology: (noun) [C/ U]: the study of the origin and history of words, or a study of this type relating to one particular word.

This list contains some of the common roots and prefixes that make up the building blocks of numerous English words. Following the table of general roots and prefixes is a table of number prefixes.
 

How Words Work

Many words are made up of a root (or base word) and a prefix. Some words also have a suffix. For example, the root word port means to carry or to bear. Attach the prefix ex, meaning out or out of, and you have the word export, to carry out. Attach the prefix im, meaning in or into and you have import, to carry in. Attach the prefix trans, meaning across, and you have transport, meaning to carry across. Now let's attach the suffix able, meaning able to be, and you have importable, exportable, and transportable.

The very words prefix and suffix are good examples, too. Pre means before and fix means to fasten or attach, so quite literally, a prefix is something attached to the beginning of something else. Suf is a variant of sub, below or under, so a suffix is something fastened underneath something else (in this case, behind the root).

By learning the common roots and prefixes (and a few suffixes) you will be able to discern the meaning of many new words almost immediately. (But do look them up for confirmation.) Take the word abject, for example. If you know that ab means away or down and ject means to throw, you can easily figure out that abject doesn't mean something happy. Rather abject's root meaning of thrown down is quite close to the dictionary defintion of cast down in spirit or sunk into depression.

Note that some modern words are formed by using abbreviated forms of other words. Thus, we see the use of the letter i for Internet in iPhone, iPod, and iTunes, indicating that these items or services work with the Internet. Similarly, the use of e for electronic appears in words such as elearning (and various forms: eLearning, E-Learning, and so on), e-commerce, and e-business. The "e-terms" seem to have been coined before the "i-terms" became popular. And note that most of the "i-terms" are trademarks, while the others are general descriptors: "I'm going to download some iTunes from Apple's e-commerce site because I love e-music." At any rate, these abbreviated forms are not traditional prefixes, but because they are indeed attached to the front of what amounts to root words, they could be considered functional prefixes. 

Enjoy this list, together with the discovery of new words and the secret code behind much of the English language.

General Roots and Prefixes

Root or Prefix	Meaning	Examples
a, an	not, without	atheist, anarchy, anonymous apathy, aphasia, anemia, atypical, anesthesia
ab	away, down, from, off	absent, abduction, aberrant, abstemious, abnormal, abstract, absorb
acro	high, tip, top	acrobat, acrophobia, acronym, acromegaly, acropolis
act	do, move	action, react, transaction, proactive, activity, activation, deactivate
ad	to, toward	admit, addition, advertisement, adherent, admonish, address, adhesive, adept, adjust
alt	high	altitude, altimeter, alto, contralto, altocumulus, exalt
ambul	to walk	ambulatory, amble, ambulance, somnambulist, perambulate, preamble
anima	soul, life	animation, inanimate, animal, anime, equanimity, animism, animus
ante	before	anteroom, antebellum, antedate antecedent, antediluvian
anti, ant	against, opposite	antisocial, antiseptic, antithesis, antibody, antichrist, antinomies, antifreeze, antipathy, antigen, antibiotic, antidote, antifungal, antidepressant
arm	weapon	army, armament, disarm, rearm, armistice, armor, armory, arms
audi	to hear	audience, auditory, audible, auditorium, audiovisual, audition, audiobook
auto	self	automobile, automatic, autograph, autonomous, autoimmune, autopilot, autobiography
be	thoroughly	bedecked, besmirch, besprinkled, begrudge, begrime, belie, bemoan
bell	war	belligerent, antebellum, bellicose, rebel
bene	good, well	benefactor, beneficial, benevolent, benediction, beneficiary, benefit
bi	two	bicycle, bifocals, biceps, billion, binary, bivalve, bimonthly, bigamy, bimetal, biathlete, bicarbonate
bio	life, living	biology, biography, biodiversity, bioavailability, bioflavonoid, biofuel, biohazard, biomass, biorhythm
cede, ceed, cess	to go, to yield	succeed, proceed, precede, recede, secession, exceed, succession, excess
chron	time	chronology, chronic, chronicle, chronometer, anachronism
cide, cis	to kill, to cut	fratricide, suicide, incision, excision, circumcision, precise, concise, precision, homicide, genocide, regicide
circum	around	circumnavigate, circumflex, circumstance, circumcision, circumference, circumorbital, circumlocution, circumvent, circumscribe, circulatory
clud, clus claus	to close	include, exclude, clause, claustrophobia, enclose, exclusive, reclusive, conclude, preclude
con, com	with, together	convene, compress, contemporary, converge, compact, confluence, concatenate, conjoin, combine, convert, compatible, consequence, contract
contra, counter	against, opposite	contradict, counteract, contravene, contrary, counterspy, contrapuntal, contraband, contraception, contrast, controversy, counterfeit, counterclaim, counterargument, counterclaim, counterpoint, counterrevolution
cred	to believe	credo, credible, credence, credit, credential, credulity, incredulous, creed, incredible
commun	to share	commune, community, communism, communicable, communication, commonality, incommunicado
cycl	circle, wheel	bicycle, cyclical, cycle, encliclical, motorcycle, tricycle, cyclone
de	from, down, away	detach, deploy, derange, deodorize, devoid, deflate, degenerate, deice, descend, derail, depress, depart, decompose, destruction
dei, div	God, god	divinity, divine, deity, divination, deify, deism
demo	people	democracy, demagogue, epidemic, demographic
dia	through, across, between	diameter, diagonal, dialogue, dialect, dialectic, diagnosis, diachronic, diagram, diaphragm, dialysis, diarrhea
dict	speak	predict, verdict, malediction, dictionary, dictate, dictum, diction, indict, contradict
dis, dys, dif	away, not, negative	dismiss, differ, disallow, disperse, dissuade, disconnect, dysfunction, disproportion, disrespect, distemper, distaste, disarray, dyslexia
duc, duct	to lead, pull	produce, abduct, product, transducer, viaduct, aqueduct, induct, deduct, reduce, induce
dyn, dyna	power	dynamic, dynamometer, heterodyne, dynamite, dynamo, dynasty
ecto	outside, external	ectomorph, ectoderm, ectoplasm, ectopic, ectothermal
endo	inside, within	endotoxin, endoscope, endogenous
equi	equal	equidistant, equilateral, equilibrium, equinox, equitable, equation, equator
e, ex	out, away, from	emit, expulsion, exhale, exit, express, exclusive, enervate, exceed, explosion
exter, extra	outside of	external, extrinsic, exterior, extraordinary, extrabiblical, extracurricular, extrapolate, extraneous, exterminator, extract, extradite, extraterrestrial, extrasensory, extravagant, extreme
flu, flux	flow	effluence, influence, effluvium, fluctuate, confluence, reflux, influx
flect, flex	to bend	flexible, reflection, deflect, circumflex, inflection, reflex
graph, gram	to write	polygraph, grammar, biography, graphite, telegram, autograph, lithograph, historiography, graphic, electrocardiogram, monogram
hetero	other	heterodox, heterogeneous, he terose…xual, heterodyne
homo	same	homogenized, hom ose…xual, homonym, homophone
hyper	over, above	hyperactive, hypertensive, hyperbolic, hypersensitive, hyperventilate, hyperkinetic, hyperlink, hypertext, hypersonic, hypertrophy
hypo	below, less than	hypotension, hypodermic, hypoglycemia, hypoallergenic, hypothermia, hypothesis
in, im	not	inviolate, innocuous, intractable, innocent, impregnable, impossible
infra	beneath	infrared, infrastructure, infrasonic
inter, intro	between	international, intercept, intermission, interoffice, internal, intermittent, introvert, introduce
intra	within, into	intranet, intracranial, intravenous, intramural, intramuscular, intraocular
jac, ject	to throw	reject, eject, project, trajectory, interject, dejected, inject, ejaculate
log, logo, loc. loq	word, speech, speak	monologue, dialogue, locution, colloquial, elocution, soliloquy, ventriloquist, apology, doxology, epilogue, logic, eulogy, loquacious
mal	bad, badly	malformation, maladjusted, dismal, malady, malcontent, malfeasance, maleficent, malevolent, malice, malaria, malfunction, malignant
mega	great, million	megaphone, megalomaniac, megabyte, megalopolis
meso	middle	mesomorph, mesoamerica, mesosphere
meta	beyond, change	metaphor, metamorphosis, metabolism, metahistorical, metainformation, metacognitive
meter	measure	perimeter, micrometer, ammeter, multimeter, altimeter, geometry, kilometer
micro	small	microscope, microprocessor, microfiche, micrometer, micrograph
mis	bad, badly	misinform, misinterpret, mispronounce, misnomer, mistake, misogynist, mistrial, misadventure, misanthrope, misread
mit, miss	to send	transmit, permit, missile, missionary, remit, admit, missive, mission
morph	shape	polymorphic, morpheme, amorphous, metamorphosis, morphology, morphing
multi	many	multitude, multipartite, multiply, multipurpose, multicolored, multimedia, multinational
neo	new	neologism, neonate, neoclassic, neophyte
non	not	nonferrous, nonabrasive, nondescript, nonfat, nonfiction, nonprofit, nonsense, nonentity
omni	all	omnipotent, omnivorous, omniscient, omnibus, omnirange, omnipresent
pan	all, whole, general, completely	pantheism, pandemic, panacea, panoply, pan-American, panchromatic, pandemonium, panorama
para	beside	paraprofessional, paramedic, paraphrase, parachute, paralegal, parallel, comparison
per	through, intensive	permit, perspire, perforate, persuade, perceive, perfect, permit, perform
peri	around	periscope, perimeter, perigee, periodontal
phon	sound	telephone, phonics, phonograph, phonetic, homophone, microphone
phot	light	photograph, photosynthesis, photon
poly	many	polytheist, polygon, polygamy, polymorphous
port	to carry	porter, portable, report, transportation, deport, import, export
re	back, again	report, realign, retract, revise, regain, reflect, rename, restate, recombine, recalculate, redo
retro	backwards	retrorocket, retrospect, retrogression, retroactive
sanct	holy	sanctify, sanctuary, sanction, sanctimonious, sacrosanct
scrib, script	to write	inscription, prescribe, proscribe, manuscript, conscript, scribble, scribe
sect, sec	cut	intersect, transect, dissect, secant, section
semi	half	semifinal, semiconscious, semiannual, semimonthly, semicircle
spect	to look	inspect, spectator, circumspect, retrospect, prospect, spectacle
sub	under, below	submerge, submarine, substandard, subnormal, subvert, subdivision, submersible, submit
super, supra	above	superior, suprarenal, superscript, supernatural, supercede, superficial, superhero, superimpose
syn	together	synthesis, synchronous, syndicate, synergy, snyopsis, syncretism
tele	distance, from afar	television, telephone, telegraph, telemetry, telepathy
theo, the	God	theology, theist, polytheist, pantheism, atheist, monotheist, theophany
therm, thermo	heat	thermal, thermometer, thermocouple, thermodynamic, thermoelectric
tract	to drag, draw	attract, tractor, traction, extract, retract, protract, detract, subtract, contract, intractable
trans	across	transoceanic, transmit, transport, transducer, transit, intransitive
un	not	uncooked, unharmed, unintended, unhappy, unenlightened, unremarkable
veh, vect, vey	to carry	vector, vehicle, convection, vehement, convey, conveyance, conveyor
vert, vers	to turn	convert, revert, advertise, versatile, vertigo, invert, reversion, extravert, introvert
ven, vent	to come	convention, prevent, intervention, convent, Advent, invent, inventory
verm	worm	vermin, vermicelli, vermiculite, vermicide, vermiform, vermilion
vita	life	vital, vitality, vitamins, revitalize
vol	to will	benevolent, volition, voluntary, malevolent
vita	life	vital, vitality, vitamins, revitalize
agon	to struggle	agony, protagonist, antagonist, agony, agonize,
alg	pain	neuralgia, analgesic, nostalgic,
alter	other	alternative, alternator, alteration, altercation,  alternate,
am	friend	amiable, amorous, amity, enamored, paramour, amicable
ambi	both	ambidextrous, ambivalent, ambiguous, ambient
anim	alive	animated, animal, inanimate, animator, anime, animation, reanimate
anthrop	mankind	anthropology, anthropomorphic,  philanthrophy, misanthranthropology, anthropomorphic,  philanthrophy, misanthropy
eu	good, well	euphoria, eulogy, euphemism, eugenics, eucalyptus, eukaryote, eurythmics, euthanasia
fore	before, front	forecast, forefather, foretaste, forehead, foreman, foreboding, forecastle, forearm, forebear, foreclose, foredoom, forego, forefoot, foreground, forehand, foreknowledge, foremost, foreordain, forerunner, foresee, foreshoren, foretell
ortho	straight	orthodontics, orthodox, orthopedic, orthoscopic, orthostatic
post	after	postscript, postconsumer, postdoctoral, posterior, postimpact, postfeminism, postgraduate, posthumous, postimpressionism, postlude, postmodernism, postpone, postproduction
pre	before, in front of	prefix, predict, prelude, predetermined, preamplifier, predestination, prebiotic, preclude, predate, predisposed, preempt, preference, prefigure, prefrontal, preheat, prehistory, presell, presumptuous, prevent, previous, pretext, pretentious, pretend
pro	forward	propel, proceed, produce, promote, project, proclaim, procession, profess, proffer, professor, proficient, profile, profound, profuse, progenitor, progress, prolapse, prolegomenon, prolific, prologue, prolong, pronation, pronounce, propellant, prophesy, prophecy, proponent, prorate, proscribe, prosecute, prospect, protect, protest, provide, provoke
proto	first, earliest	prototype, protoplasm, protohistory, protocol, protogalaxy, proton, prototypical, protozoa
quasi	approximately, resembling, to some degree	quasiperiodical, quasiparticle, quasi-governmental, quasi-scientific, quasi-judicial, quasi-stellar, quasi-public
ultra	beyond, extremely	ultraviolet, ultrasonic, ultramarine, ultrafine, ultrasensitive, ultrawide, ultrapure, ultraquiet
under	beneath, below, too little	undercoat, underwear, underestimate, underbid, underexpose, undercut, underclassmen, undernourished, underground, undersized, underhand, underlay, undermine, underneath,  underpass, underpowered, underline, understand, undertake, undertone, undertow, undervalue, underwrite

 

Suffixes

 

Suffix	Meaning	Examples
able, ible	able to be, capable of being	pourable, drinkable, readable, washable, curable, visible, flexible, collectible
ance, ancy	state of, process of	performance, reliance, defiance, radiance, acceptance, ascendancy, discrepancy, infancy
ator	one who does [the verb]	terminator, culminator, agitator, instigator, generator, incubator, accelerator, invigorator, elevator
dom	condition, office, state	kingdom, freedom, wisdom, sheikdom, fiefdom, sheikdom
ee	one who receives	payee, mortgagee, employee, appointee, abductee, examinee, referee, refugee
er, or	one who does [the verb]	driver, hiker, reader, manager, polisher, speaker, counselor, author, creator, director, sculptor
ful	filled with	frightful, delightful, wonderful, cupful, wakeful, bashful, bountiful, beautiful, cheerful, colorful, dreadful, fateful
ify	to make into	purify, deify, simplify, clarify, petrify, reify, exemplify, pacify
ification	process of making into	purification, deification, simplifiction, clarification, petrification
ish	the nature of, resembling	Cornish, Irish, bookish, freakish, foolish, boorish, selfish, sluggish, priggish
ism	doctrine, system, characteristic quality	capitalism, heroism, optimism, skepticism, realism, patriotism, communism, idealism, conservatism
ist	one who performs; an adherent of an ism	tympanist, cellist, idealist, communist, realist, moralist, pharamacist, pragmatist
ize	to make into	rationalize, normalize, realize, capitalize, sterilize, dramatize, utilize, colorize
ization	the process of making into	rationalization, normalization, realization, capitalization, dramatization
less	without, lacking	loveless, fearless, worthless, nameless, baseless, bottomless, effortless, friendless, noiseless, harmless

 

I do hope you’ve found it useful.

GOOD LUCK

با تشکر بسیار از استاد عزیزم آقای دکتر البرزی که با بیان شیوای خود در کلاس های ریشه شناسی برای همه ما ایجاد انگیزه و علاقه نمودند تا با بعدی جدید از زبان انگلیسی آشنا شویم. امیدوارم ایشان همیشه تندرست باشند. از شما ممنونم استاد.