IXL | Use words as clues to the meanings of Greek and Latin roots

The word diminish contains the root min. What does the root min mean?

shape

measure

bad or evil

small

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question

The word centimeter contains the root cent. What does the root cent mean?

one

ten

measure

one hundred

key idea

A root is a part of a word that has a certain meaning. Words that share the same root often have similar meanings that are related to the meaning of the root. For example:

The root bel means war.

A rebel is a person who rises up in armed opposition to the government.

Belligerence is the tendency to seek out or engage in conflict and hostility.

In the United States, the Antebellum Era refers to the period before the Civil War.

All of these meanings relate to the concept of war.

You can use your knowledge of roots to figure out the meaning of words you haven't seen before. For example:

The root bene means good.

The root fac means do or make.

A benefactor is a person who helps others by contributing money or aid. He or she does good for others.

solution

The word centimeter, like the word century, contains the root cent. These words both have to do with one hundred of something. This tells you that the root cent means one hundred.

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