English Words from Latin and Greek Elements [2 ed.] 0816508992, 9780816508990

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Englishd wor s from Latin and Greek elements DONALD M AYERS SECONDEDITION Revised and Expanded by

THOMASD.WORTHEN withthe assistanceof

R.L.CHERRY

The University of Arizona Press Tucson

About the Authors Donald M, Ayers received both his B.A. and M.A. in classics from Stanford University and his doctorate in classics &ro, Princeton. One of his special concerns was the classical background of the en,8lishvocabulaly and the value of a knowledge of this in vocabulary building for both technical and general studies. He taught classics at Vanderbilt Univers.ity before joining the Classica Department at the University of Arizona in 1951, He wu 1llso a graduate of Navy Japanese Language School (Boulder, Cc!olllCIO)and was on active duty with the U.S. Naval Reserve for three years. He published several articles on technical terminology in addition to his bOC)l: Bioscientific Terminology, published by the University of Arizona Prtss in 1972. Owing to Dr. Ayers's untimely death in 1969, the revision of this book became incumbent upon Thomas D. Wortlae11. who received his M.A. and Ph.D. in classics from the University of Washington and bas been teaching classics at the University of Arizona since 19(55. R.L. Cherry is the author of the Instructor's Manual that accompanies this textbook.

NOm Words used in this text that the authors have r-e$On to believe constitute trade nameshave beendesignated as such. However, neithetthe presencenor absence of such designation should be regarded as affectins the legal status of any trademark. TifE UNIVERSITYOF ARIZONAPRESS Copyright O 1986 The Arizona Boru>iof RegenlS All righlS reserved This bookwas set in 10112CompugraphicTimes RolllllJI. @)This bookis printedon acid-free. archival-qualitypaper. Manufacmred in theU.S.A. 08070605

12Jil09

Library of Congress Cataloging in PublicationData

Ayers, Donald M. English words fromLatin and Greek clemenlS. Includes index. Summary: Presents an overview of the development of the Englishlanguage and examine.sthe formation of words especially from Greek and Latin roots. Also discussesdefinitions and usage. I. English language--Foreignelements--Latin. 2. English f.)')guagc-Foreignelements-GRek. 3. English !anguage--RoolS.4. English language--Wordfoniation. 5. Vocabulary.(I. English language-Foreign e!emenls--Latin. 2. English languaJ:le--J:;-ooign elcmenlS•-Gteek. 3. Ensii&h Janguage--Roots. 4. Vocabulary.) J. WOrihen, Thomas D. ]I. ChcfryR.L. W. Title. PE!582.L3A9 1986 422'.48 85-28919

JSBN-13:978-0-8165-0899-0(paper: acid-free paper) - ISBN-JO:0-8165-0899-2

This revised edition is dedicated to Esther Ayers and Mary wonhen

CONTENTS

xi

l'1rfocc to the Second Edition

l'rnm the Preface to the First Edition Al·knowledgments IIIM1kson the Study of Words

xiv xvii xviii

1111,10-lndo-European Language Chart l111nkluction: The Inda-European Family of Languages

The Development of the English Vocabulary

xxii

1 6

PARTI: WORD ELEMENTSFROMLATIN l.r1111on I:

The Dictionary

16

I .l'NNOD ll:

Definition

26

Latin Bases

27 35

'"'"Non m:

Assimilation of Prefixes Prefixes

37

Abbreviations and Acronyms Back Formations, Apheresis, and Aphesis

40 42 46

Prefixes

48

Combinations of Bases

52

Numerals

54

l,a1H0nVll:

Hybrids

57

L,e180nVill:

Suffixes Adjective-forming Suffixes

60 61

L1111on IX:

Word Analysis: Etymological Definition Adjective-forming Suffixes Dissimilation and Other Sound Changes Adjective-forming Suffixes

65

l.11•1100

N:

Prefixes Lc1.111mn V:

l.cmwnVI:

LIHonX:

vii

67

70 72

CO~'I'ENTS •

viii • CONTENTS

Lesson XI:

Semantic Change

Lcs,ou XII;

Mjectivc-tOrming Suffix.es Specrn!ization and Generalization o: MeauiJlg Adj cc1iv«-forrning Suffi=•

Lessen XIII:

Function.ol Ch•ngo Adjcctive-forrnine; Suffix~•

Lesson XlV:

Deg=ton

md Elevation of Meaning

Noun-foiming Suffix.ea Lesson XV:

Change from Abstract to Concrete, and Vice versa Noun-fu,rniHJ! Suffixes

Les

~

NORTH

IRANIAN Dialectsof Oas.sica1Greece

~IC

Old Danish

=-Middle English:::::::::::::: EAST

Singhalese (and othen)

EngliMI-Old

Frision----Old

Frisian

Dvkh.,Old IM