Grammar tips

Vocabulary Meanings through Prefixes & Suffixes

 Sometimes you may come across a strange word in English that you don´t know how to define. What can you do? Follow these easy steps.

Strange word: ANTIDISESTABLISHMENTARIANISM

Step 1

Break the word down into its prefixes and suffixes and identify the base root word.

• ANTI – DIS – ESTABLISH – MENT – ARIAN – ISM

Step 2 

Define the Prefixes and Suffixes.

• ANTI – to be against something.
• DIS – to take away one’s expectation/deconstruct.
• MENT – makes the word into a noun, referring to a type of organization.
• ARIAN – make the word into a personal noun, referring to a person or profession.
• ISM – makes the word into a noun, referring to a philosophy.

Step 3 

Put all of the definitions together and determine its general meaning.

• Meaning: the philosophy (ISM) of a person (ARIAN) who is against (ANTI) the deconstruction (DIS) of an organization (MENT) that establishes (BASE ROOT WORD) something.

Step 4 

Overall meaning.

• Archaic meaning: “opposition to the disestablishment of the Church of England”;
• Modern meaning: ANTI-ANARCHY.

It’s a challenge, but the strategy works. Try it with other words in the English language!

And stay tuned for more fun grammar tips in future CACD English Newsletters!