Greek & Latin roots resource, not curriculum

[MommyThrice]

I know there are plenty of good resources for teaching these roots, but does anyone know of a book I can use like a dictionary to look-up roots? I would love to look these up as I teach spelling. Today we had 'contingent' - I know it means 'with' something, but what? 'Contractor' - with what? 'Decanter' - 'down from, or away from' what? 'Delinquent...' Help! I've had just enough Latin that I can no longer look at words as a whole. I know there are parts that mean something & it's making me crazy.:banghead:

 

MommyThrice

[latinteach]

I know there are plenty of good resources for teaching these roots, but does anyone know of a book I can use like a dictionary to look-up roots? I would love to look these up as I teach spelling. Today we had 'contingent' - I know it means 'with' something, but what? 'Contractor' - with what? 'Decanter' - 'down from, or away from' what? 'Delinquent...' Help! I've had just enough Latin that I can no longer look at words as a whole. I know there are parts that mean something & it's making me crazy.:banghead:

 

A good English dictionary that provides word etymologies will provide you with what you need. Go to the local bookstore, take a look at the variety of dictionaries there and look for one that provides etymological histories of words along with their English meanings. The etymological dictionary is helpful because you can look up the exact English word in question to see its roots.

 

Contingent is from "contingo, contingere, contigi, contactus" meaning "to happen, turn out, come to pass" which itself is related to "tango, tangere, tetigi, tactus" which has a variety of meanings related to the word "touch." Delinquent derives from "linquo, linquere, liqui, lictum" which means "to leave." There is a Latin verb "delinquo" meaning "to leave behind." You might combine this English dictionary with "501 Latin Verbs" or the Big Golden Book of Latin Verbs. "501 Latin Verbs" has 55 Essential Latin verbs highlighted throughout the book showing how these core verbs create a large number of Latin (and hence English) words in combination with Latin prepositions.

Edited April 6, 2009 by latinteach

[plimsoll]

We like the Oxford Universal Dictionary. We got ours used (1953 3rd edition) from Amazon. It's really great for etymology. It show the Latin and Greek roots. The Greek roots are actually in Greek!

 

Also, in many cases, the definitions reflect slightly older usages of the word that more closely correspond to the root meanings. By comparing this with the current definition, we can see how the usages and meanings have evolved, in most cases away from the more literal root-based meanings.

[MommyThrice]

I've been using my big, expensive 1828 Noah Webster dictionary, but it hasn't been that much help. I didn't know there was such a thing as an Etymologic Dictionary, but I'm looking on Amazon now. Great idea. Thanks.

[plimsoll]

I've been using my big, expensive 1828 Noah Webster dictionary, but it hasn't been that much help. I didn't know there was such a thing as an Etymologic Dictionary, but I'm looking on Amazon now. Great idea. Thanks.

 

The Oxford Universal I mentioned is not primarily an "Etymologic Dictionary". It's a just a regular dictionary from an older time when Greek and Latin derivations were more commonly included in dictionaries.

 

Btw, we also like the Webster 1828, not so much for etymology as for its examples of word usage in literary context and quotes.

[Classical Katharine]

Well, the title of the post is the post! I looked up "contingent" to double-check that the etymologies are there, and there was the Latin ancestor, after the word's definition.

[moira]

Check out AvenuesoftheMind.com They have a great way to learn the roots, not a Latin curriculum just a root study that is really effective and fun!

[asta]

I have the "Dictionary of Latin and Greek Origins; A Comprehensive Guide to the Classical Origins of English Words" by Bob and Maxine Moore.

 

Barnes & Noble Books, ISBN 0-7607-2082-7

 

asta