Thursday, November 16, 2006

Greek/Latin Roots

a-, an-
(Greek: a prefix meaning: no, absence of, without, lack of, not)


These prefixes are normally used with elements of Greek origin, a- is used before consonants and an- is used before vowels. It affects the meanings of hundreds of words.

abacterial
Free of bacteria; without bacteria.

abaptism
Taboulic, abulic

abarognosis
1. Loss of ability to appreciate the weight of objects held in the hand, or to differentiate objects of different weights.
2. Loss of the sense of weight; unaware of weight.
3. When the primary senses are intact, caused by a lesion of the contralateral parietal lobe.

abasia
The inability to walk due to a limitation or absence of muscular coordination; not able to walk.

abiogenesis: [ab" ee oh JEN uh sis, ay" bigh oh JEN uh sis]
1. The origin of living things from things inanimate; i.e., life coming from non-living material.
2. Spontaneous generation; the concept that life can slimply arise spontaneously from non-living matter by natural processes without the intervention of supernatural powers.





Grammatical Articles a, an
(confusion exists about usage of "a" and "an" in front of other words)


The Inconsistent Articles "a" and "an"
Everyone who has a desire to improve his/her English skills should strive to develop fluency and accuracy by having access to information that presents a better understanding of the many confusing words that exist in English. Learning about confusing words is essential to better communication.


The proper use of "a" and "an"
There is an article on the proper use of "a" and "an" in just about every usage book ever written, although apparently few native speakers of English have any difficulty with them; in fact rarely does anyone think about them in speech.If there is any difficulty, it is to be found in writing. The basic rules are as follows: Use "a" before a consonant sound; use "an" before a vowel sound. Before a letter or an acronym or before numerals, choose "a" or "an" according to the way the letter or numeral is pronounced: an FDA directive, a United Nations' resolution, a $50.00 bill.
As we might expect, actual usage is more complex than the simple rules tend to lead us to expect. Here are some of the things that actual usage shows:In line with the basic rule, before words with an initial consonant sound, "a" is the usual application in speech and writing.
Before "h" in an unstressed or weakly stressed syllable, "a" and "an" are both used in writing (an historic, a historic) but an is more usual in speech, whether the "h" is pronounced or not. This variation exists as a result of historical development; in unstressed and weakly stressed syllables, "h" was formerly not pronounced in many words as it is currently pronounced by many people. A few words; such as, historic and (especially in England) hotel, are in transition, and may be found with either a or an. Apparently, people may now choose the article that suits their personal pronunciation preferences with several h words. Occasionally in modern writing and speech and regularly in the King James Version of the Bible, an is used before "h" in a stressed syllable, as in an hundred. Again, we have the same historical change: many more words were pronounced with a silent initial "h" in the past than are in the present. A few words; such as, heir, hour, and honest, generally have silent "h"; some others, like herb or humble are pronounced both ways. Use a or an according to your personal pronunciation preferences.
Before words beginning with a consonant sound but an orthographic vowel, an is sometimes used in speech and writing (an unique and such an one). This use is less frequent now than in the past.Before words with an initial vowel sound, an is usual in speech and writing. This is in line with the basic rule.


abjure (ab JOOR)
1. To renounce, reject, or give up rights or allegiance on oath: "The man said he would abjure his citizenship if his country continued with its policies of war instead of negotiating peaceful solutions to international problems."
2. To repudiate, renounce or recant publicly; disclaim: "He abjured his life of bad eating and drinking habits."

ability (uh BIL i tee)
1. The power or capacity to do or to act physically, mentally, legally, morally, financially, etc.
2. The competence in an activity or occupation because of one's skill, training, or other qualification: "He had the ability to learn languages easily."
3. A particular gift for doing something well; abilities, talents; special skills or aptitudes: "Learning mathematics seems to be beyond his abilities."

ablution (ab LYOO shuhn)
1. A washing of one’s body; washing, bathing, cleaning, bath, lavation: "Because of the heat, he felt the need for a daily ablution."
2. A washing or cleansing as a religious ceremony of purification; ceremonial washing, ritualistic washing: "After ablutions in the river, the holy man contiued on his journey."

absolution (ab" suh LOO shuhn)
1. A freeing from sin, guilt, or blame; or a declaration that frees a person from guilt or punishment for sin: "The priest gave absolution to church members which always makes the parishioners feel a great deal better."
2. Release from a duty or promise; discharge: "The soldier obtained absolution from the charges made by a fellow soldier."

abuse (uh BYOOZ)
1. To use wrongly or improperly; misuse, harm; maltreatment, injure: "Qaeda Militants (terrorists) must stop abusing hostages."
2. To assail with abusive words; revile, vilify, disparage: "The old shrew abused everyone in a loud voice."
3. A corrupt practice or activity; unfair use, improper use: "Too many politicians tend to abuse their positions with dishonest practices."





abacus
(Hebrew > Greek > Latin > Middle English: dust)


The source of our word abacus, the Greek word abax, is thought to come from Hebrew 'abaq, "dust", although the details of such a transmission are obscure. In postbiblical usage 'abaq meant "sand used as a writing surface". The Greek word abax has as one of its senses "a board sprinkled with sand or dust for drawing geometric diagrams." The difference in form between the Middle English word abacus and its Greek source abax is explained by the fact that Middle English actually borrowed Latin abacus, which came from the Greek genitive form (abakos) of abax.

abacus (s); abaci (pl)
1. A manual computing device consisting of a frame holding parallel rods strung with movable counters.
2. In architecture, a slab on the top of the capital of a column.





abdomino-, abdomin-, abdomen-
(Latin: belly, venter [the use of "stomach" is considered incorrect for this element])


abdomen
That portion of the body which lies between the lower thorax (chest) and the pelvis; or "the region of the trunk below the diaphragm, containing the largest cavity in the body". Also called belly (popular), venter, and stomach (incorrect). Derived from abdo, abdere, "to hide", and so probably originally referred to the "hidden part of the body".

abdominal, abdominally
Pertaining to the abdomen.
A stomach ache has been defined as an abominable pain in the abdominal area.
—Anonymous
"The stomach (which is in the abdominal area) is lined with thirty-five million glands that produce about three quarts (2.85 liters) of gastric juices daily. Hydrochloric acid makes up roughly five percent of these juices and, together with other acids and various enzymes, constantly works to digest food particles."
—Neil McAleer in his The Body Almanac

abdominalgia
Pain in the abdomen; a belly ache.

abdominoanterior
With the abdomen forward [denoting a position of the fetus in utero].

abdominocentesis
Paracentesis (surgical puncture of the abdominal wall cavity for the aspiration [removal by suction] of peritoneal fluid); i.e., puncturing of the abdomen with a hollow needle or trocar, usually for the purpose of withdrawing fluid.





-ability
(Latin: a suffix )


Just a few examples out of hundres of words presented as the noun forms of -able; forming nouns of quality from, or corresponding to, adjectives in -able; the quality in an agent that makes an action possible. The suffix -ible has related meanings.


absorbability
The state or quality of being absorbable; capability of being absorbed.

accountability
1. The state of being accountable, liable, or answerable.
2. Responsibility to someone or for some activity.
3. In education: a policy of holding schools and teachers accountable for students' academic progress by linking such progress with funding for salaries, maintenance, etc.

achievability
The state or condition of being achievable.

affability, affableness
The quality of being affable; readiness to converse or be addressed; especially, by inferiors or equals; courteousness, civility, openness of manner.

applicability
Relevance by virtue of being applicable to the matter at hand.





-able
(Latin: a suffix; capable of, able to, can do)


A suffix that forms adjectives. The suffix -ible has related meanings; expressing ability, capacity, fitness; capable of, fit for, able to be done, can be done, inclined to, tending to, given to.


abominable
A bad omen; nasty and disgusting; vile; loathsome.

acidifiable
Capable of being converted into, or of combining so as to form, an acid.

acquaintable
Easy to be acquainted with; affable.

affable
Easy of conversation or address; civil and courteous in receiving and responding to the conversation or address of others; especially, inferiors or equals; accostable, courteous, complaisant, benign.

amiable
1. Friendly and agreeable in feeling and disposition; showing good will; good-natured and likeable.
2. Cordial; sociable; congenial; such as, "an amiable gathering".





Ablutions or Bathing, Historical Perspectives
(Latin: abluere, to wash away)


Ablutions from the Past to the Present
In a leading public health textbook of 1908, W.T. Sedgwick noted that because personal hygiene is a means to control infectious diseases, “the absence of dirt is not merely an esthetic adornment.” He added that cleanliness is “doubtless an acquired taste.” Sedgwick’s comment came at a time of transition, when personal hygiene wasn’t a widespread habit.
Through great periods of European and much of U.S. history, clieanliness was inconvenient, religiously restricted, or just plain out of fashion. Living unwashed were saints, the masses, and monarchs alike. In response to the debauchery of Roman baths, the early Christian church frequently discouraged cleanliness. “To those that are well, and especially to the young,” Saint Benedict in the sixth century commanded, “bathing shall seldom be permitted.”
Saint Francis of Assisi considered an unwashed body a stinking badge of piety. Queen Isabella of Castile boasted that she had had only two baths in her life—at birth and before her marriage.
Colonial America’s leaders deemed bathing impure, since it promoted nudity, which could only lead to promiscuity. Laws in Pennsylvania and Virginia either banned or limited bathing. For a time in Philadelphia, anyone who bathed more than once a month faced jail.


Bathing facilities often were not available
The English of that era really couldn’t bathe even if they wanted to, notes V. W. Greene, a professor of epidemiology at the Ben Gurion Medical School in Beersheva, Israel. “There was no running water, streams were cold and polluted, heating fuel was expensive, and soap was hard to get or heavily taxed. There just weren’t facilities for personal hygiene. Cleanliness wasn’t a part of the folk culture.” Through much of the 19th century, adds Greene, Europeans and Americans lived in wretched filth, and many died young of associated diseases.
Archaeological evidence suggests 5,000-year-old bathing facilities in Gaza. Soaplike material found in clay jars of Babylonian origin has been dated to about 2800 B.C. Before the time of Abraham in Middle Eastern desert climes, custom dictated that hosts offer washing water to guests to clean their feet. One of the first known bathtubs comes from Minoan Crete that was found in the palace at Knossos and is dated about 1700 B.C. The palace plumbing system had terra-cotta pipes that were jointed and cemented together and were tapered at one end to give water a shooting action to prevent the buildup of clogging sediment. Their technology put Minoans in the hydrological vanguard.





abluto-, ablut-
(Latin: washing; especially as a ritual; cleansing)


From Latin ab- and luere, "to wash" which is related to lavare, "to wash".


abluent
1. Serving to cleanse.
2. A cleansing agent; a detergent.

ablution
1. A cleansing of the body, especially in a religious ceremony.
2. The liquid used in such a washing.

ablutionary
1. Of or pertaining to washing the body, or parts of it.
2. Cleansing the body by washing; especially, ritual washing of the hands, etc.

ablutions
This may refer to the practice of removing sins, diseases or earthly defilements through the use of ritual washing, or the practice of using ritual washing as one part of a ceremony to remove sin or disease.

ablutomania
1. An obsessional preoccupation with cleanliness, washing, or bathing, often accompanied by compulsive rituals.
2. An obsessive-compulsive disorder is very often seen in a condition; such as, obsessive-compulsive psychoneurosis.
3. A morbid impulse to wash or to bathe, or an incessant preoccupation with thought of frequent hand-washing, or bathing; often seen as an obsessive-compulsive disorder.





-ably, a suffix;
(able manner, capably)


In an able manner, or capably; forming adverbs corresponding to adjectives in -able.


amiably
Friendly and agreeable in disposition; good-natured and likeable.

durably
Capable of withstanding wear or decay.

laudably
Deserving praise.

probably
1. In all likelihood; very likely.
2. With considerable certainty; without much doubt.3. Easy to believe on the basis of available evidence.

veritably
True, unquestionable.





abort-, aborti-
(Latin: miscarry, pass away, perish by an untimely birth)


abort, aborted, aborting
1. To give birth before the fetus is viable; have a miscarriage; to fail to be completed.
2. To cut short because of some failure in equipment: "To abort a flight because of radio failure."
3. Originally, "to set" or "to disappear" (as the sun). Composed of ab-, "from" and oriri- "to arise"; the part of the sky, or the world, in which the sun rises; the East.

aborticide
The killing of a fetus during an abortion.

abortifacient
A drug or device that causes an abortion or kills the fetus before birth.


abortion, abortional
1. Expulsion of a fetus from the womb before it is viable; however, medical personnel will also use this term for a miscarriage, which is involuntary, calling it a "spontaneous abortion".
2. Induced termination of pregnancy before the fetus is capable of independent survival.
3. Anything that fails to develop, progress, or mature; such as, a design, project, or a badly developed plan, etc.
4. To miscarry, to disappear.
5. Etymology: ab-, "from, away from" and oriri, "to come into being, to rise, to be born".


abortionist
1. One who believes and promotes the practice of abortion. 2. One who makes a business of inducing illegal abortions





aboulo-, aboul-, abulo-, abul-
(Greek: irresolution, indecision, loss or defect of the ability to make decisions)


aboulia, abulia
1. Loss or impairment of the ability to perform voluntary actions or to make decisions.2. Loss of will-power, as a mental disorder.3. Reduction in speech, movement, thought, and emotional reaction; a common result of bilateral frontal lobe disease.

aboulias, abulias
Loss or impairment of the ability to make decisions or act independently.

aboulic, abulic
Relating to or suffering from aboulia/abulia.

aboulomania, abulomania
A mental disorder in which there is a loss of will-power.

abulia, abulic
1. Absence of willpower or wishpower; the term implies that the subject has a desire to do something but the desire is without power or energy.
2. A disorder marked by the partial or total inability to make decisions.

Posted by ChelseaTaylor_Delgado @ 8:34 PM