GRE_vocabulary_roots | Wandering Wisdom

type

status

date

slug

summary

Prerequisite (Optional)

0.1: Recap on the basics of word roots, prefixes, and suffixes 📚🌳

Main Curriculum (Default)

1.1: Understanding Latin roots - Part 1 🌳🔎 1.2: Understanding Latin roots - Part 2 🌳🔎 1.3: Using Latin roots to decode vocabulary - Practice Session 🧩✨ 1.4: Understanding Greek roots 🌳🔎 1.5: Using Greek roots to decode vocabulary - Practice Session 🧩✨ 1.6: Intensive practice: Mixing Latin and Greek roots 🎯🧩 1.7: Reflect on learning, tackle hard vocabulary, tips and tricks 🤔🎯

Thoughts

Given that our topic is about GRE vocabulary roots, the lesson will focus on understanding the basics of roots and how they play a crucial role in understanding the meanings of complex words. As our communication style is storytelling, the lesson will be woven into an engaging narrative that explores the history and evolution of words. Given the active learning style, we will involve a lot of exercises and interactive sections where we "construct" words and deconstruct them. Emojis will be used to make the lessons more engaging.

Topic: GRE Vocabulary Roots

Ranedeer Tools: None

Let's start with an example: Consider the word "spectator." 🧐 This word comes from the Latin root "spect," meaning to look, and the suffix "ator," indicating a person. So, a "spectator" is a person who looks or watches!

Here's how we can solve it: Step 1: Identify the root: "spect" Step 2: Identify the suffix: "ator" Step 3: Combine the meanings: A person who looks or watches

Main Lesson

To journey back into the past, let's imagine we're archaeologists, digging up the roots of language. These roots aren't literal roots, but foundational pieces of words, pieces that carry meaning and morph into various forms over time and across languages. 🌳🔍

The two main types of roots we'll be encountering in our language dig are Latin and Greek roots. For instance, "bene" is a Latin root meaning "good," and "geo" is a Greek root meaning "earth." Words like "benevolent" (meaning well-wishing) and "geography" (meaning earth description) use these roots. Interesting, isn't it? 😊

Let's now start constructing and deconstructing words actively. Here are some roots: "spect" (look), "ject" (throw), "port" (carry). And here are some suffixes: "or" (a person who), "able" (capable of), "ion" (an action or process). Now, can you construct some words using these roots and suffixes? Take a moment, and let's discuss them! ✨

For this next part of our journey, we will continue with more complex vocabulary. To enhance understanding and memory, we'll construct a narrative around the roots. We will explore the stories behind these roots, using storytelling as a mnemonic device. This method, coupled with active learning through exercises and engagement, will ensure a deeper understanding of the subject.

Topic: GRE Vocabulary Roots - Advanced Vocabulary

Let's start with an example: Consider the word "philanthropy." This word comes from the Greek roots "phil" meaning love, and "anthrop" meaning human. So, "philanthropy" means love for humanity!

Here's how we can solve it: Step 1: Identify the root: "phil" and "anthrop" Step 2: Combine the meanings: Love for humanity

Main Lesson

In our continued exploration as language archaeologists, we'll dig deeper into complex vocabulary. Let's take a closer look at the root "phil," which comes from the Greek word for love. 💕

In addition to "philanthropy," there are many words with this root. For instance, "philosophy," which combines "phil" with "soph," meaning wisdom. So, "philosophy" means love of wisdom. Similarly, "bibliophile," a lover of books, combines "phil" with "biblio," meaning books. 📚💕

Isn't it exciting how roots weave their way through language, creating connections between words that might seem unrelated at first glance? It's like uncovering secret threads that tie language together. 🕵️‍♀️✨

Now, here's another set of roots for you to explore: "graph" (write), "bio" (life), and "tele" (far). Can you think of words that use these roots? How about words that combine two or more of these roots?

Example Problem: Consider the word "autobiography." This word comes from the Greek roots "auto" meaning self, "bio" meaning life, and "graph" meaning write. So, an "autobiography" is a self-written life story!

Here's how we solve it: Step 1: Identify the roots: "auto," "bio," and "graph" Step 2: Combine the meanings: Self-written life story

Now let's test your knowledge. Can you break down the following words using the roots and their meanings? Give them a try:

Simple Familiar

"Microscope" 🧐

"Transport" 🚛

Complex Familiar

"Teleportation" ✨

"Biography" 📖

Complex Unfamiliar

"Spectrograph" 🔬

"Bibliophile" 📚

Remember, the key to mastering vocabulary roots is practice. The more you practice, the more natural it becomes to break down complex words into their roots. This skill will not only aid you in understanding complex vocabulary but also give you an edge in exams like GRE. Keep practicing, and you'll soon become a pro at decoding words! 🌟

Example Problem: Consider the term "astrobiology." This word is derived from the Greek roots "astro" meaning star, "bio" meaning life, and "logy" referring to the study of. Hence, "astrobiology" refers to the study of life in the universe, particularly beyond Earth.

Here's how we solve it: Step 1: Identify the roots: "astro," "bio," and "logy." Step 2: Combine the meanings: The study of life in the universe

It's time to test your comprehension through a set of problems. Break down the following terms using the roots and their meanings:

Simple Familiar

"Biology"

"Geography"

Complex Familiar

"Astronaut"

"Telescope"

Complex Unfamiliar

"Bibliography"

"Psychopathology"

Example Problem: Let's consider the word "psychopathology." This term is derived from the Greek roots "psycho" meaning mind, "patho" meaning disease, and "logy" referring to the study of. Hence, "psychopathology" refers to the study of mental disorders.

Here's how we solve it: Step 1: Identify the roots: "psycho," "patho," and "logy." Step 2: Combine the meanings: The study of mental disorders

Now it's your turn to engage with the following words:

Simple Familiar

"Demography"

"Autonomy"

Complex Familiar

"Philanthropy"

"Bibliotherapy"

Complex Unfamiliar

"Heliocentric"

"Psychometrics"

Remember, the key to deepening your understanding of root words is through systematic learning and practice. As you familiarize yourself with more roots, their meanings, and how they combine to form words, you will improve your ability to decipher complex words, enhancing your vocabulary and comprehension skills. This methodical approach is especially helpful when studying for exams like the GRE.