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

The root chron means time. What does the word anachronism mean?

some harmful behavior or byproduct that is legally prohibited

something that appears in the incorrect historical period

something that is unrelated to the subject matter of a discussion

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question

The root min means small. What does the word diminutive mean?

little

friendly

unknown

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 diminutive contains the root min, which means small.

So, the word diminutive means little.

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