Imagination
日本語の象形文字と同様に、英語にもその意味をつづりから推測できる単語が多く存在します。
例えば、omni-が付いている「omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient」の形容詞はそれぞれ、
「全能の」
「偏在する」
「全知の」
という意味です。
ラテン語の「omnis」は“all“という意味です。
omni-のように語源に関わるイメージを示す単語の一部をROOT WORDと言います。
スペルの中に上の図のようなROOT WORDが入っている場合、その単語がどんな意味なのかを想像しながら文脈を理解しましょう。
まとめ
こちらの長い単語リストはよく使うROOT WORDの基本を整理したものです。
英語力の中軸であり、一番大切に時間を掛けて暗記すべきものが英単語。
単語を一目で分かる練習をして、ROOT WORDを身に付けていきましょう。
Root |
Meaning |
Examples |
|
ab- |
to move away |
abstract, abstain, aversion |
|
acer, acri- |
bitter |
acrid, acrimony, exacerbate |
|
anti- |
against |
antibacterial, antidote, antithesis, antisocial |
|
art |
skill |
artifact, artisan, artful, articulate, artificial |
|
ast(er)- |
star |
asteroid, astronomy, astronaut |
|
aqu- |
water |
aquarium, aquatic, aqualung |
|
auto- |
self |
automatic, automate, autobiography |
|
audi- |
hear |
audible, audience, auditorium |
|
bene- |
good |
benefit, benign, benefactor |
|
biblio- |
book |
bibliography, bibliophile |
|
bio- |
life |
biography, biology, biodegradable, biosphere |
|
cata |
down, against |
catastrophe, catalog, category, catalyst |
|
centr |
center |
concentrate, central, egocentric, eccentric |
|
cert- |
sure, true |
certain, certificate, disconcerted |
|
chrome- |
color |
monochromatic, phytochrome |
|
chrono- |
time |
chronic, synchronize, chronicle |
|
clar- |
clear |
clarify, declare |
|
clud, clus |
close |
conclude, exclusion, seclude |
|
co- |
with, together |
cooperate, coauthor, coexist, coincidence |
|
com- |
together, common |
community, communication, compare, committee |
|
con- |
with, jointly |
connect, contemporary, consensus, consequence, convince |
|
contra- |
against, opposite |
contradict, contrary, controversy, contrast |
|
dem- |
people |
democracy, demographic, epidemic |
|
dia- |
between, across |
dialogue, diagnosis, diagram, diameter, dialect |
|
doc- |
teach |
document, docile, doctrine |
|
don- |
give |
donation, donor, pardon |
|
dyna- |
power |
dynasty, dynamic, dynamite |
|
extra, extro- |
outside, beyond |
extraordinary, extraterrestrial, extrovert |
|
fug |
flee, escape |
fugitive, refugee |
|
gen- (genus) |
birth, origin, formation |
generation, genealogy, gene, genius, general, genre, genuine, indigenous |
|
geo- |
earth |
geography, geology, geometry |
|
gno- |
to know |
agnostic, acknowledge |
|
graph- |
write |
autograph, graphic, demographic |
|
grad, gress |
step |
progress, aggressive, grade, graduate, ingredient |
|
hab- |
to have |
ability, exhibit, inhabit |
|
hetero- |
different, other |
heterogeneous, heterosexual |
|
hydr- |
water |
dehydrate, hydrant, hydropower |
|
hyper |
excessive |
hyperbole, hyperreal, hypersensitive |
|
imag- |
likeness |
image, imagine |
|
inter- |
between, among, jointly |
international, interact, interview, interesting, interrupt |
|
-ject |
throw |
project, reject, object |
|
jur- |
law |
jury, justice, justify |
|
lab |
work |
collaborate, elaborate, labor |
|
log, logue- |
thought |
logic, apologize, analogy |
|
logos- |
word, study |
astrology, biology, logistics |
|
mal- |
bad, ill, wrong |
malcontent, malaria, malicious |
|
-mand |
to order |
command, demand, mandate |
|
manu- |
hand |
manual, manicure, manipulate |
|
max- |
greatest |
maximum, maximize |
|
narc- |
sleep |
narcotic, narcolepsy |
|
path- |
feel |
empathy, pathetic, apathy |
|
phil- |
love |
philosophy, bibliophile, philanthropy |
|
phon- |
sound |
microphone, phonograph, telephone |
|
pre- |
earlier, before, in front of |
prepare, predict, predestine |
|
prot- |
primitive, first, chief |
prototype, protocol, proton |
|
sci- |
know |
science, conscious, prescience |
|
self- |
of, for, or by itself |
self-discipline, self-respect, selfish |
|
sens- |
to feel |
sensitive, sentient, resent |
|
soph- |
wise |
philosophy, sophisticated, sophism |
|
tele- |
far |
telescope, telepathy, television |
|
terr- |
earth |
terrain, territory, extraterrestrial |
|
vid, vis- |
to see |
video, vivid, invisible |
