An Introduction to Etymology

Etymology is the study of the origin and history of words. Students should be familiar with the origin and history of words, especially those words which we use on a regular basis. An etymological word study will discuss the origin of a word while also discussing how that word's meaning has changed over time.

Greek and Latin root words, in addition to prefixes and suffixes, once learned, will help students master new vocabulary words. This is YOUR first step toward expanding your vocabulary, which will inevitably improve your writing ability. If you scored a 1, 2, or 3 on your TAKS Written Composition (Essay on ELA or Exit Level), it is in your best interest to start a Vocabulary Document.

As you read essays, novels, short stories, literary nonfiction, and/or informational texts, please consider the work's publication date. For instance, if you are reading a Shakespearean sonnet, the intended defition of a given word may differ greatly in meaning to how the word is used today.

Here are a few resources to help students:

Online Etymology Dictionary
Wordia: Word Clips, Definitions, and Videos
Merriam-Webster Online
Educational Dictionary - Thesaurus
Dictionary.com

Please click on the posted links, explore each website, and identify definitions for the following words:

1. -ade (suffix) - record ALL meanings and provide one example for each definition
2. pre- (prefix) - record all meanings and provide two examples for each definition
3. Kafkaesque - record two meanings and provide one example for each definition
4. peace - record two meanings and provide one example for each definition
5. rabid - record two meanings and provide one example for both definitions
6. alas - record one definition and use it in a sentence
7. 'tis - record one definition and use it in a sentence
8. -tomy (suffix) - record two definitions and provide three word examples
9. advent - record two definitions/meanings and use each meaning in a separate sentence
10. jealous - record two definitions and word origin

Next:

1. Choose ten random words from the Online Etymology Dictionary
2. Write the entire definition for each word chosen (you may not copy/paste)
3. Create illustrated note cards for each word, associating images with meaning

Important Note:

Please put your answers in a Word document, email the document to me, and leave a two-sentence comment after this post, discussing what you learned about reference tools (dictionaries, etc.) and etymology. How can word study help your writing and reading comprehension?