Classics 22: Etymology

Lesson 12

LATIN COMPARATIVE
 ENGLISH MEANING
 LATIN SUPERLATIVE
 ENGLISH MEANING
melior ameliorate
 better
 optimus -ist -al -m, ate, -ize
 best
pejor/peior pejorative pejorate
 worse
 pessimus
 worst
major/magis (adv.) magistrate
 larger, more
 maximus
 largest, most
minor, minus (neuter)
smaller, less
 minimus
 smallest, least
plus, plur-
 more
 plurimus
 most
superior
 higher
 supremus, summus
 highest
inferior
 lower
 infimus
 lowest
exterior
 outer
 extremus
 outermost
interior
 inner
 intimus intimate
 innermost
ulterior
 further
 ultimus
 furthest, last
propior
 nearer
 proximus
 nearest
prior
former
 primus
 first
junior
 younger
senior
 older
anterior
 farther forward
posterior
 farther backward

#
 Cardinal Latin #
 Ordinal Latin #
 Sample English Derivatives
1/12
 unc-

uncial, ounce, inch
1/2
 demi-, semi-
 demigod, demitasse, semiconscious, semifinal
1
un-
 prim-, princip-
 unicorn, primary, principal, principle
1 1/2
 sesqui-
sesquicentennial, sesquipedalian
2
 du-
 secund-
 second, duet, dual
3
tre(s), tri- terti-
 treble, tertiary, tricorn, triangle
4
quadr-
 quart-
 quadrilateral, quadruped, quart
5
 quinque
 quint-
 quinquereme, quintessence
6
 sex
 sext-
 sexpartite, sextant
7
 septem
 septim-
 September, septimanarian
8
 octo
 octav-
 October, octave
9
 novem
 non-
 November, nones
10
 decem
 decim-
 December, decimate
12
 duodecim
 duodec-
 duodecimal, dozen
20
 viginti
 vigesim-
 vigentennial, vigesimation
30
 triginta
 trigesim-
 trigental, trigesimal
40
 quadraginta
 quadragesim-
 quarantine, quadragesimal
50
quinquaginta
 quinquagesim-
 quinquagenarian, Quinquagesima
60
sexaginta
 sexgesim-
 sexgenarian, Sexagesima
70
 septuaginta
 septuagesim-
 Septuagint, Septuagesima
80
 octoginta
 octogesim-
 octogenarian, octogesimal
90
 nonaginta
 nonagesim-
 nonagenarian, nonagesimal
100
centum
 centesim-
 cent, centime, centesimate
1000
 mille
 millesim-
 mile, millennium, millesimal


Numerical Adverbs: semel "once," bis "twice," ter "thrice," quater "four times," etc.

Distributives: singuli "one at a time," bini "two at a time," trini "three at a time," quaterni "four at a time," etc.

Multiplicatives: simplex "onefold," duplex "twofold," triplex "threefold," quadruplex "fourfold," etc.

Roman Numerals:
#
 Roman
Numeral
 Latin
1
 I
 unus, -a, -um
2
 II
 duo, duae, duo
3
 III
 tres, tria
4
 IIII or IV
 quattuor
5
 V
 quinque
6
 VI
 sex
7
 VII
 septem
8
 VIII
 octo
9
 VIIII or IX
 novem
10
 X
 decem
11
 XI
 undecim
12
 XII
 duodecim
13
 XIII
 tredecim
20
 XX
 viginta
40
 XL
 quadraginta
50
 L
60
 LX
90
 XC
100
 C
400
 CCCC
500
 D
900
 CM
1000
 M
1492
 MCCCCXCII
1984
 MCMLXXXIV
2010
 MMX
25000
 _____
XXV

EXERCISES
  1. Distinguish between the following pairs of words:
    millennium
    millimeter
    		 biannual
    biennial
    		 millinery
    millenary
    		 intimate
    intimidate
    optimist
    optometrist
    		 plural
    pleural
    		quadruped
    quadrupled
    		 dis-sect   in-sect (cf. entomology)
    bi-sect
  2. Analyze and define:
    novemlobate
    		 primrose
    		 majesty
    		 quadrangle
    primogeniture
    		 trinity
    		 unite
    		 plurality
    tercentenary
    		 senile
    		 inch
    		 majority
    approximate
    		 octane
    		 trident
    		 ultimatum
    ameliorate
    		 onion union
    		 prince
    		 centigrade
    sexpartite
    		 tierce
    		 trefoil
    		 dimidiate
    decempedate
    		 septet
    		 quadrant
    		 semicolon
  3. Create English words whose etymologies mean the following. Be sure you know their actual English meanings as well.
    better
    		 foolish-ness
    		 to (make) heavy toward
    		 to tenth
    above carry adj.
    		 they're the worst
    		 they're the best
    		 70-er
    make toward the nearest
    		 100
    		 fifth being
    		 larger-ness
    worse
    		 bearing many
    		 ready together adj.
    		 out of guilt verb
    ten-foot-ed
    		 three horn
    		 the least
    		 nearest adj.
    act of walking toward
    		 highest person
    		 one's own-ness
    		 smaller-ness