DIY Homeschooler

New Word-Analysis, or School Etymology of English Derivative Words with Practical Exercises in Spelling, Analyzing, Defining, Synonyms, and the Use of Words by William Swinton is a free download written in 1879 that covers word roots.

The exercises covered include:

• Latin prefixes.
• Latin suffixes.
• Latin derivatives.
• Greek prefixes.
• Greek roots and derivatives.
• Anglo-Saxon roots and derivatives.
• Other miscellaneous derivatives.

Part I covers definitions and rules.

In Part II, Latin prefixes and suffixes are covered. In the exercises that follow, the author presents the element being studies, then covers five words that use that element. Exercises follow each section. For example,

7. AUDl’RE: au’dio, audi’tum, to hear.

Radicals : audi-, and audit-.

1. au’dible: audi + ble = that may be heard.
2. au’dience : audi + ence = literally, the condition of hearing: hence, an assemblage of hearers, an auditory.
3. au’dit : from audit(um) = to hear a statement: hence, to examine accounts.
4. au’ditor : audit + or = one who hears, a hearer.
   Obs. — This word has a secondary meaning, namely: an officer who examines accounts.
5. obe’dient : through, obediens, obedient(is), the present participle of obedire (compounded of ob, towards, and audire): literally, giving ear to: hence, complying with the wishes of another.

EXERCISE.

(1.) “Audible” means that can be heard : what prefix would you affix to it to form a word denoting what can not be heard? — What is the adverb from the adjective “audible”? — Write a sentence containing this word.

(2.) What is meant when you read in history of a king’s giving audience ?

(3.) Write a sentence containing the word “audit.” Model — “The committee which had to audit the accounts of Arnold discovered great frauds.” — How do you spell the past tense of “audit”? — Why is the t not doubled ?

(5.) What is the noun corresponding to the adjective “obedient”? — What is the verb corresponding to these words? — Combine and define dis + obedient.

The information is broken into small, easily digested segments that make it ideal for creating a Word Roots notebook. Writing has a way of committing things to our memories. Secondly, a Word Root notebook will become a valuable source of reference!

New Word-Analysis is a great resource — and it is free!

Free eBook

• Read online
• PDF
• Variety of formats (Kindle, EPUB)

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Additional Resources

Merriam-Webster’s Vocabulary Builder
A more modern option for those interested.

Word Roots
Although students learn more creating their own root notebooks, this workbook from the Critical Thinking Company may be enjoyed by students particularly interested in words!

Orthography ~ Free eBook
Free public domain title that makes word study easy to cover in the seventh- and eighth-grade years.

Lesson Plans

Word Study
8-page download covering Latin roots. Includes a helpful notebooking page.

Greek and Latin Word Roots
Lesson plan from Core Knowledge. Many printables in the Appendix including a helpful graphic organizer to study roots.

Printables

Prefixes and Suffixes
Colorful download from MaxScholar.com.

84 Most Common
Greek and Latin roots.