1. 词根， 前缀， 后缀的数量是如此之多， 有没有办法减少我需要懂的数量? (There are so many roots, prefixes, and suffixes, is there any way to reduce the number of roots that I need to know?)
有。 但您需要懂一个东西：
等价词根组 (equivalent root groups).
(在此处的讨论中， 词根指一个正常词根， 也指前缀， 后缀)
共有三个等价词根组:
1) 辅音同化组 (Consonant Assimilation Group), 2) 尾辅音转换组 (Ending Consonant Conversion Group)，和 3) 元音异化组 (Vowel Dissimilation Group)。
1) 辅音同化组 （Consonant Assimilation Group）
对许多希腊语或拉丁语前缀而言， 为了便于人们发音， 前缀的尾辅音有时会变得跟它所紧接的下一个词根的首辅音一样， 这个变化过程叫辅音同化。
比如说， sym-, sys-, syl-, syn- 其实就是同一个 syn-（它们的意思都是一起， 共同）。 syn- 在 symmetry 中就被同化成 sym-。 其它例子有： sys- (as in system), syl- (as in syllable), 和 syn- (as in synthetic)。
前缀 sym-, sys-, syl-, 和 syn- 组成了一个等价的辅音同化组。 请参见希腊语词根字母顺序列表中的 S 项。
这种同化对拉丁语前缀更是如此： ad-, ac-, af-, ag-, al-, am-, an-, ap-, ar-, as-, at- 其实就是 at- 而已（它们的意思都是向， 靠近， 很（起加强作用））。
前缀 ad-, ac-, af-, ag-, al-, am-, an-, ap-, ar-, as-, 和 at- 组成了一个等价的辅音同化组。请参见拉丁语词根字母顺序列表中的A项。
con-, co-, col-, com-, cor- 都与 con- 相同。 请参见拉丁语词根字母顺序列表中的C项。
in-, il-, im-, ir-, en-, em- 都与 in- 相同。 em- 用于 b 或 p 之前， 例如： em- in embalm, empower; im- 用于 b 或 p 之前， 例如 im- in imbib, import.
ob-, o-, oc-, of-, and op- 都与 op- 相同;
sub-, suc-, suf-, sug-, sum-, sup-, sur-, sus- are 都与 sub- 相同.
2) 尾辅音转换组（Ending Consonant Conversion Group）
一个以 d 结尾的词根很多时候可以被等价地转变成一个以 s 结尾的词根。 这包括：
ced -> cess. ced 和 cess 相同。 请参见拉丁语词根字母顺序列表中的C项。
也包括：
grad, gred -> gress 注： grad, gred 和 gress 相同。
cid -> cis
fod (dig) -> foss (dig)
lapid -> lapis
claud -> claus
clud -> clus
pend -> pens
pand -> pans
cend -> cens
ard -> ars
vert -> vers
vort -> vors
pot (power) -> poss (power)
tort -> tors 注： tort, tors, 和 torq 相同。
trud -> trus
spond -> spons
fid -> fiss
scind -> sciss
spond -> spons
rad -> ras
rod -> ros, rad, ras, rod, ros 和 raz 相同， 意为刮擦, 抓, 咬。
有时候 t 可以被等价地变换为 s， 例如：
opt -> ops
vert -> vers
vort -> vors
tort -> tors, tort, tors, 和 torq 相同
thanat (death 死) -> thanas (death 死)
sept (poison from decay 腐败产生的毒物) -> seps (poison from decay 腐败产生的毒物)
有时候 r 可以被等价地变换成 l 例如： per- -> pel-
inter- -> intel-, 例词有： interscholastic 和 intelligent
前缀ex- 会导致其后紧跟的 s 被去除掉， 例词有 expect：
expect = ex- (out) + spect (s in spect is dropped because it is after ex-. s 在spect中被去除掉了， 因为它紧跟在 ex- 之后 )
另一个例词是：expire 这里 pir 其实是 spir (breath 其意为呼吸)
3) 元音异化组 （Vowel Dissimilation Group）
与辅音同化相反， 对于一个前缀， 若它有尾元音， 且它所紧接的词根是以元音开头， 那么， 尾元音就会变化。
例如希腊语前缀 a-， 和 an- 其实就是 a-， 它们的意思就是不， 没有。 例词有：apathetic； anarchy 。
a- (as in apathetic)； an- (as in anarchy， 这里an-其实就是a-)
在 anarchy 中 的 an- 其实就是a-， 但它被arch 所连接， 所以就异化成an- 。
-ea 被变成 -ia， 例词有nausea， 这里 -ea 其实就是 -ia，其意为病。
有时候词根中的 h 会被省略掉， 比如说 homo- (意为相同) 会变成 omo-. 例词有： anomaly. 在 anomaly中， a- 就等价地被变成了 an- 因为下一个词根是om. 而此处的om, 其实就是homo-， 它里头的 h 被省略掉了。
h 在 hema (blood， 血液) 中 就可以被省略掉: hema -> ema
h 在 haem (blood， 血液) 中 就可以被省略掉: haem -> aem
hema, ema; haem aem 都是同一个意思。
hiero- 与 hier 等价， hier 用于元音之前， 例词有：hierarchy.
mono- 与 mon- 等价， 例词有： monarchy.
重复的元音会被去除掉， 例词有pianist：
pianist = piano (where o is removed, because the next root starts with a vowel i 这里元音 o 就被去除掉了， 因为下个字也是元音i) + -ist
cap 和 cip 相同， 意为： 取。 在复合单词中， 若有前缀，用cip 而不用 cap， 如 incipient.
fac, fic, 和 fect 相同， 意为： 做， 制作， 导致。 在复合单词中， 若有前缀，用fic 或 fect 而不用 fac 如 malefic 和 defect
cad, cid ced 和 ceed (意为落） 道理相同： 如 succeed 的ceed。
请注意：为了方便发音， 元音 o 或 i 经常会被加入到两个词根之间的辅音当中：
1)
o 常被加入到两个希腊语词根中， 例词有：phonograph：
o 被加入到 phon 和 graph 之间: phonograph = phon + o (o does not have meaning, inserted just for easy pronunciation o 没有意义， 只是为了方便发音)+ graph (write, draw, describe, record, carve).
2) i 常被加入到两个拉丁语词根中， 例词有：
nutrient = nutr (nourish) + i (i does not have meaning, inserted just for easy pronunciation i 没有意义， 只是为了方便发音) + -ent (relating to);
另一个例词是： pisciculture:
pisciculture = pisc (fish) + i （i 没有意义， 只是为了方便发音) + cult (cultivate) + -ure (act);
2. 希腊语词根是不是比拉丁语词根要难？ （Is a Greek root more difficult than a Latin root?）
不， 希腊语词根比拉丁语词根要容易些。 希腊语词根在单词中的含义明确， 直接了当， 对理解单词词意， 有如钥匙一般。 拉丁语词根对理解词意， 能起到提示作用。
3. 长的词是不是比短的词更难切分？ （Is a long word more difficult to dissect than a short one?）
不， 长的词经常比短的词更容易切分。
例词: dyschromatopsia
dyschromatopsia 的意思:
difficulty in telling colors apart; color blindness
(Meaning in Chinese characters: 色觉障碍)
Dissection of dyschromatopsia:
dyschromatopsia = dys- (difficult; bad) + chromat (color) + ops (eye; view; sight) + -ia (suffix for noun for illness)
dyschromatopsia = a pathological condition of eye in which the person can not tell colors apart
4. 一个英语单词可以由希腊语或者拉丁语词根衍生而来， 它们之间有没有等价词？ (Words are derived from Greek roots or Latin roots, any example words to show the equivalence between them?)
希腊语词根和拉丁语词根有一些等价词， 其意义相同。
见下例：
希腊语词根衍生词 = 拉丁语词根衍生词
prognosticate = predict
apotheosis = deification
genealogy = pedigree
progeny = descendant
progenitor = ancestor
cephalalgia = headach
diaphanous = transparent
paragon = model
cardiac (of heart) = cordial (warm)
somatic = corporate
hypogeum = vault
odont = dent
georgic = agricultureal
geron = senior
polyglot = multilingual
malediction = imprecation
andr = vir
meta- = trans-
zo = anim
phot-, phos- = luci- (which means light)
pher-, phor- = fer- (which means carry)
5. 表示科学意思的词根有哪些？(How many way or roots to say science or a field of study?)
-logy as in geology 地质学
-nomy as in astronomy 天文学
-ics as in phonics, physics 声学， 物理学
-graphy as in geography 地理学
-metry as in geometry, photometry 几何学， 光度测定学
-istry as in chemistry, dentistry 化学， 牙医学
6. 有哪些词根容易混淆？ (Any roots that are easily confused? )
希腊词根ana-很容易和an-， 混淆起来。 an-其实是来自于a-，碰到元音是就要用an-而不用a-。 ana-的意思其实与an- （或a-） 很不同。
ana- (which means according to, back, upon, again) can be easily confused with an- (which means not, without, same as a-. a- becomes an- when a- is used before a vowel):
ana- as in anathema
Dissection of anathema:
anathema = ana- (according to; back, up, upon, again) + them (put, place) + -a (???)
anathema = things that have been put back
extended further to mean things that have been devoted to evil
extended further to mean a thing that a person damned or accursed (being under curse)
anathema should not be dissected into anathema = an- (not) + athema
希腊词根miso 很容易与mis-混淆。
Greek root miso (which means hate, example word misogamy) is quite confusable with Latin root prefix mis- (which means bad, badly, wrong, wrongly, example word misfortune)
epi-
希腊词根epi- 很容易与apo-混淆。
epi- (a Greek root, which means upon, on) as in ephemeral (lasting a short time) is confusable with apo- (also a Greek root, which means away) as in apostle (send away).
希腊词根di- 很容易与dia-混淆。
di- (two) as in dielectric can be confused with dia- (through) as in diagram.
7. 有哪些英语单词会对希腊语或拉丁语词根的学习造成干扰？ (Any English words that can cause confusion to the study of Greek and Latin roots?)
有些英语单词很容易与希腊词根或拉丁词根混淆起来， 比如说：
1) beat, 2) her, 3) lot, 4) miss, 5) pot, 6) umbrella, 7) can, 8) put, 9) sum, 10) leg, and 11) may.
1)
beat
a) beat in English means to hit or to strike repeatedly, pound, to defeat. beat 在英语中意为敲打, 多次打击，连续猛击, 打败。
b) beat as a Latin root means happy or blessed, 作为拉丁语词根 beat 意为 高兴， 受到祝福， as in 如于
beatific 祝福的；快乐的 中:
beatific = beat (happy; blessed 高兴， 受到祝福) + i (no meaning, just for easy pronunciation 无意思， 只是为便于发音而已， 起连接作用) + -ifc (causing; doing; making 做； 引起);
beatific = making someone happy or blessed or blissful 让某人高兴的， 快乐的
2)
her
a) her in English means pronoun, which is objective case of she. her 于英语中意为代词， 为 she 的宾格。
b) her as a Latin root means to stick, 作为拉丁语词根 her 意为 粘接， as in 如于
adhere 粘接 中:
adhere = ad- (to 要) + her (stick 粘接) + -e (-e does not having meaning, please see -e in the dissection of lucre 无意思， 请见 lucre 的切分);
adhere = to stick fast 粘牢
which does not have anything to do with the objective case of she. adhere与she的宾格her没有联系.
3)
lot
a) lot in English originally means a collection of objects, items； fate or an object used in determining something that happens by chance. 英语中的 lot 意为 大量东西的集合体； 命运， 抽签；
b) lot as a Latin root means wash 作为拉丁语词根 lot 意为 洗， as in 如于
lotion 洗液 中:
lotion = lot (wash 洗) + -ion (condition; state; quality; act 条件； 状态； 性质； 行动);
lotion = an act of washing 洗;
extended further to mean something for washing 引申为用于洗的东西;
extended further to mean a liquid for washing your hand or body, for cosmetic or medicinal use 引申为洗液;
4)
miss
a) miss (mistress) in English means a courtesy title for a girl, it also means fail to hit. 英语中miss是对女孩子的礼貌称呼， 也意为没打着。
b) miss as a Latin root means to send 作为拉丁语词根 miss 意为 派遣， as in 如于
emission 散发:
emission = e- (out of 出来) + miss (send; let go 送) + -ion (process; act 过程);
emission = the act or process of sending out 送出的过程
5)
pot
a) pot in English means (Cookery) a container made of earthenware, glass, or similar material; usually round and deep, often having a handle and lid, used for cooking and other domestic purposes 英语中的 pot 意为用于烹调的瓷容器， 如罐子等。
b) pot as a Latin root means to drink 作为拉丁语词根意为喝 as in 如于 potable
potable 适合于饮用的 中:
Dissection of potable:
potable = pota (drink 喝) + remove 去除 a + -able (able 能);
potable = drinkable 适合于饮用的
6)
umbrella
a)a portable device used for protection against rain, snow, etc, and consisting of a light canopy supported on a collapsible metal frame mounted on a central rod. 雨伞。 So Chinese people like to think that an umbrella is for shielding off rain. 中国人常认为雨伞为避雨用的。 However Latin root 但拉丁语词跟
umbr has nothing to do with rain 跟雨无关.
b) Latin root 拉丁语词根
umbr has nothing to do with rain, but with shade, it literally means shade 跟雨无关， 但与荫有关.
umbrella originally means sunshade, has nothing to do with rain. umbrella 原意是遮太阳荫的伞， 跟雨无关。
7)
can
a) can in English means to be able to, have the power or skill to. 英语中can意为能。
b) This English word 'can' can cause a lot of confusion to the understanding of other English words, such as candidate, candid where 'can' occurs. 此词会对许多英语单词的理解造成干扰， 如candidate （候选人）， candid （坦白； 直率）
candidate has nothing to do with 'can', but with white
candidate =
cand (white, shining white 白) +
-id (relating to 与...有关的) +
-ate (a person who 者);
candidate means an office position seeker in ancient Rome who wore a gown in pure white color 候选人.
8)
put
a) put in English means to place in a place 英语中put意为放。
b) This English word 'put' can cause confusion to the understanding of
other English words, such as computer (a device that can calculate or
process data according to a set of instructions), repute (to consider to
be specified) 此词会对许多英语单词的理解造成干扰， 如 compute (计算）, repute （认为； 名声）
computer has nothing with placing, but with thinking
computer = com-(=-con, together 在一起) +
put (think, reckon 想) +-er (suffix for a person 人)
computer = a person (or a device) that thinks 会想的人或仪器
computer = a device that can calculate or process data with a set
of instructions 计算机
repute has nothing to do with placing
repute = re-(again 再次) +
put (think, reckon 想)
repute = to rethink, to consider 再想； 认为
9)
sum
a) sum in English means the whole amount, usually as a result of adding numbers 英语中sum意为总和
b) This English word 'sum' can cause confusion to the understanding of other English words, such as consume which means to eat or drink up which has nothing to with addition of numbers, and resume which means to begin or take up again after interruption 此词会对其它单词的理解形成干扰， 如： consume （消耗）， resume （再续）
consume = con- (an intensifier 强调) +
sum (to take up 占用) + -e (no meaning 无意思)
consume = to eat up or drink up 吃完， 喝完， 消耗完
resume = re- (again 再次) +
sum (to take up 拾起) + -e (no meaning 无意思)
consume = to begin or take up again after interruption 再续
10)
leg
a) leg in English means a lower limb of an animal to move or support the animal 英语中leg意为腿。
b) This English word 'leg' can cause confusion to the understanding of
other English words, such as legend which means a story handed down from
earlier times 此词会对别的英文单词的理解形成干扰， 如 legend （传奇）
legend =
leg (to read, gather 读； 收集) + -end (suffix for a thing
to be dealt with in a specified way 要用某一方式处理的东西)
legend = a story to be read 要读的故事
legend = a story that is passed down from earlier times 以前流传下来的故事
11)
may
a) may in English means to have permission to 英语中may意为允许
b) This English word 'may' can cause confusion to the understanding of other English words, such as mayhem (intentional injuring or removing of a limb), mayday (an international radiotelephone distress call) 此词会对别的英语单词形成干扰， 如 mayhem
(故意的伤害), mayday (国际遇险无线电呼救信号 )
mayhem has nothing to do with 'may', but with maim. It was originated from Old French mahaigne which means injury
mayhem =
mahaigne (originated from Old French, which means injury 源自法语， 意为伤害)
mayhem = the willful and unlawful infliction of injury upon a person, especially the removing of a limb 故意的伤害
8. 有没有办法自己创造或发明些英语单词？ (Any way to invent an English word yourself?)
有啊。 你可以自己发明或创造英语单词， 若被大众采用的话， 后人就会记住你的名字。
因为希腊语词根很直接了当， 在学了希腊语词根后， 你就可以安全地用它们来发明一些英语单词。
比如说， 鄙人就无耻地发明了如下英语单词：
helianthus (which is the same sunflower)
dystrophy (which is the same as malnutrition)
etymphile (love of word roots)
sinepense (without payment), sinepense = sine- (without) + pense (pay). Note: this word is inspired by sinecure which means a position that gives you income and other benefits without doing real work
geophile (love of farm work)
paleobible (ancient book)
thermophilous (loving heat)
pangnoism (the state or quality of knowing all things)
miscephagous (eating different kinds of food, same as pantophagous)
gurgulous (tending to swallow up something greedily or in large amounts,
this word is inspired by credulous)
It is notable that when scientists are coining a new word, they prefer Greek root (if there is one) to Latin root.
9. 有什么词比较难于切分？(Any words that are difficult to dissect?)
bishop， alley， hypocrite 比较难于切分， 它们的词根隐藏很深。
bishop is found to be very difficult to decipher its constituent roots, because they are well disguised.
Dissection of bishop:
bishop = bi- (bi- is well disguised, bi- is from ebi which is actually from epi-, so bi- is just epi-. Epi- means upon, in addition, or at, here it means upon) + shop (=scope, or skopein, which means look at, examine)
bishop = look upon something
extended further to mean a person who overlooks or oversees something
extended further to mean a high ranking person, an overseer
extended further to mean a high ranking Christian cleric
Alley is found to be the most difficult to dissect:
Dissection of alley:
alley = al- (=at-, which means to) + ley (=ambul, walk);
alley = to walk;
extended further to mean a passage, a lane, or a walk bordered by trees or bushes;
The difficulty lies in deciphering and establishing the relationship between ley and ambul.
Hypocrite though not difficult to dissect, is hard to get at its meaning. Please see the word hypocrite listed under the H entry in alphabetic list of Greek words.
10. 中文有一个高频字 - 的， 请问与其对应的希腊语或拉丁语词根有哪些？ (Chinese language has a high frequency character 的 (which means of in English), any equivalent Greek root or Latin root for it?)
Many roots are equivalent to the character 的 (which means of in English), e.g.
-ic, -ical as in thalassic (of sea) （海的）
-al as in vocal （声音的）
-icious as in malicious （恶毒的）
-ive as in effective （有效的）
-ary as in boundary （边界的）
-ile as in ductile (that can be drawn 易延展的, 易教导的)
-ent (relating to 与...有关的) as in effulgent (radiant and splendid 光辉的, 灿烂的)
11. 如何用希腊语或拉丁语词根说一中文字： 人？ （How to say Chinese word 人 (which means man, human being in English) in Greek root or Latin root? ）
-er as in driver
-or as in visitor
-ist as in pianist
-an as in veteran, artisan
-ate as in potentate (which means a person having great power)
-ary as in secretary (A person employed to handle correspondence, keep files, and do clerical work for another person or an organization 秘书)
anthrop as in anthropoid
12. 中文字有偏旁， 就如英文单词有词根一样。 中文的偏旁 木， 禾 ， 米 ， 足 ， 人 ， 口 ， 手， 用希腊语或拉丁语词根应该怎么说？ (A Chinese character has radicals, as an English word has roots, any equivalence between the radicals such as 木 (wood)， 禾 (deedling, sprout)， 米 (rice)， 足 (foot)， 人 (man)， 口 (mouth)， 手 (hand) and Greek or Latin roots?)
木 (wood) = xyl, xylo- as in xylophone，
禾 (seedling, sprout) = phyt as in neophyte，
米 (rice) = oruza, spor, sperm, or semin，
足 (foot) = pod as in podiatrist，
人 (man) = anthrop as in anthropology，
口 (mouth) = stoma, oro- as in orifice, fiss as in fissure，
手 (hand) = chir as in surgey (where sur is actually chir).
13. 中文成语较难翻译。 有哪些中文成语可以直接对应到由希腊语或拉丁语词根衍生出来的英语单词？ （Chinese idioms are usually difficult to translate. Are there any Chinese idioms that are directly mapped to English words derived from Greek or Latin roots?）
Yes. Some interesting Chinese idioms and their equivalences to words from Greek or Latin are listed below.
轮回转世 = metempsychosis
the transmigration of the soul, esp. the passage of the soul after death into the body of another being, reincarnation
Dissection of metempsychosis:
metempsychosis = met- (same as meta- used before a vowel, beyond, after) + em- (in) + psycho (soul, spirit) + -sis(suffix for loanwords from Greek, used with verb to mean action, process, state, condition, etc., as in thesis)
metempsychosis = the passage of transferring a soul from one body to another
返老还童 = rejuvenescence
renewal of youthfulness
Dissection of rejuvenescence:
rejuvenescence = re- (back) + juven (young) + -escence (becoming);
rejuvenescence = becoming young again
一夫多妻 = polygyny
the state or practice of having two or more wives at the same time
Dissection of polygyny:
polygyny = poly- (multiple) + gyn (woman) + -y (suffix for noun)
polygyny = the state where there are multiple women as wives, said of a marriage state
目中无人 = supercilious:
coolly and patronizingly (in a condescending attitude) haughty
Dissection of supercilious:
supercilious = super- (above; extended further to mean high above) + cili (=cilium, eyelid) + -ious (full of);
supercilious = (of an attitude) having your eyelid high above other;
extended further to mean haughty;
extended further to mean coolly naughty
又臭又长 (指用词）= sesquipedalian
tending to use very long words
Dissection of sesquipedalian:
sesquipedalian = sesqui (one and a half) + ped (foot) + -al (relating to) + i + -an (characteristic of)
sesquipedalian = sequipedalian = tending to use one and half feet long words
千变万化 = pantomorphic
capable of assuming all shapes.
Dissection of pantomorphic:
pantomorphic = panto- (all) + morph (form) + -ic (suffix for an adjective, relating to, of)
pantomorphic = of all forms
pantomorphic = extended further to mean capable of taking on all forms or shapes
梦人呓语 = somniloquy
Dissection of somniloquy:
somniloquy = somn (sleep) + i + loqu (speak, talk) + - (-y, suffix for noun, as in inquiry);
somniloquy = the act of talking while asleep
甜言蜜语 = dulciloquy
Dissection of dulciloquy 切分如下:
dulciloquy = dulc (sweet 甜) + i + loqu (speak 说话) + -y (suffix for noun as in inquiry 名词后缀， 如-y于inquiry（询问）之中)
dulciloquy = a way of speaking that is sweet, mellow 甜言蜜语
14. 怎么用英语说一个中文词： 坏蛋？ （How to say 坏蛋 (an evildoer, or criminal) in English?）
There are many words for 坏蛋: evildoer, criminal, and malefactor. Criminal does not have the connotation of naughtiness; evildoer is just a plain English compound word, it does not show your deep knowledge of Greek or Latin roots; malefactor is the best fit for this Chinese word.
malefactor = 坏蛋
an evildoer or criminal
Dissection of malefactor:
malefactor = mal- (bad, ill, evil) + e + fact (do) + -or (a person);
malefactor = a person who does evil; evildoer or one who commits an offense against the law
15. 怎么用英语说一个中文词： 混蛋？ (How to say 混蛋 (an evildoer, wrongdoer, miscreant, or a knave) in English?)
The original meaning of 混蛋 (an evildoer, wrongdoer, miscreant) has nothing to do with 蛋 (egg). Its original meaning is 混沌 (chaos). It means a person who purposefully mixes right with wrong, a very bad wrongdoer.
The English word that is closest in root meaning to 混蛋 is miscreant:
miscreant = mis- (wrong, bad, wrongly, badly, not) + cre (=cred, credit, believe, trust) + -ant (a person);
miscreant = a person who does not have any good belief
miscreant = a person who breaks the rules of law, a person who behaves badly
miscreant = an extremely bad wrongdoer
16. 为什么要学习英语单词词根？ (Why is it necessary to learn English word roots?)
我们从小学的简单的中文字， 像 木， 禾 ， 米 ， 足 ， 人 ， 口 ， 手， 山 等变成了汉字的偏旁部首， 这些偏旁对我们后来认识新的汉字起到了极大的帮助作用。
我们几乎找不到一个汉字意思与其偏旁意思不符的情况。
照理我们小时候学的简单的英文单词对我们以后认识新的英文单词应该很有帮助才对， 但实际情况为什么不是这样的呢？ 这有以下几个原因：
1） 我们小时候学的简单的英文单词有很多是来自于古英语单词。 很可惜的是， 古英语单词对现代英语单词的贡献却很少。 实际上只有约800个古英文单词变成了现代常用的英语单词。 也就是说， 绝大多数的现今常用的英文单词并不来自于古英语单词。 很少古英语单词的元素变成现代英语单词的元素。 这就是为什么我们小时候学的简单的英文单词对我们以后认识新的英文单词并没有帮助。
实际上， 在中古时期， 下等人说中古英语， 上等人 和 贵族说拉丁语和法语。 比如说， 同样是一个猪字， 下等劳动者说 pig ， 贵族则说pork。 读者应该读过很多小说， 说的是在中古时期， 有很多的贵族女儿或公主外嫁给别的国家王子。 从语言角度看， 这为什么可能？ 因为那时候， 不同国家的贵族全都讲拉丁语， 所以语言上面没有障碍。
法语是拉丁语的后代, 它差点把英语灭绝。
由于历史上英法之间的原因， 至今为止， 一般的法国老百姓的骨子里头认为讲法语要比讲英语高贵。
一些例子： 我们小时候学的简单的英语单词如 beat（打）, lot（某种大量东西的集合体）, her（她的）, miss（丢）, pot（罐）, can（能）， may(可以)，men (人)，son(儿子)，it（它）， 和 umbrella（雨伞）等， 对我们以后学习和理解别的英语单词形成了干扰 （您可以在该网站上搜索一下这些词根， 确证一下, 或
点击这里）。 这很令人恼火。
还有： 我们小时候学的 egg （蛋， 源自中古英语）对我们以后学习，识别别的英语单词并没有帮助； 而 ovum （也是蛋的意思， 其复数为ova， 为拉丁语）对我们以后学习， 识别别的单词却很有帮助， 比如说 oval （椭圆形的， 蛋形的）， ovulate（下蛋）， ovule （胚珠；卵子）， ovulary （ 胚珠的；卵子的） 等。
另一个例子是我们小时候学的 tree （树，源自古英语）对我们以后学习，识别别的英语单词并没有帮助； 而 arbor （也是树的意思, 源自拉丁语）对我们以后学习， 识别别的单词却很有帮助， 比如说 arboreal （树的）， arborescence（树木状；树质）， arboretum （植物园；树木园）， arborist （树艺家；树木栽培家；树木研究者）， arborize（ 使分叉；使成树状） 等。
2） 绝大多数的英语单词都是从别的地方借来的， 英语单词其实就是借词。
下列说明英文单词是从哪里借的词， 及其百分比：
拉丁语 （罗马）： 约29%
诺尔曼语 （法国）： 约29%
日耳曼语 （德国等）： 约26% (有些古英语单词即源于日耳曼语 )
其它 （如希腊语）： 约16%
（参考资料：
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Foreign_language_influences_in_English）
即几乎高达80%的英文单词都是借词。
而其中许多的拉丁语单词是借自希腊语。 一个非常简化了的英文单词产生路径是：
希腊语 -> 拉丁语 -> 法语 -> 英语。
这说明了： 英国人的单词绝大多数都不是产自于自己国家的单词。
中国汉字有偏旁， 相类似地， 英文单词有词根， 前缀， 后缀。
英语单词中的词根决定了一个单词的真正意思及其用法。
这就是为什么需要学习英文单词中的希腊语， 拉丁语词根。 掌握了这些词根， 就如掌握了中文的偏旁部首一样， 起到了举一反三的作用。 掌握了词根， 前缀， 和后缀， 就能让您的英文词汇量呈现爆发性的增长， 并能让您你深刻领会一个单词的真正意思及用法。
17. 为什么在例词的切分中， 有些词根没有给意思， 却给（???）?
我们努力将例词切分正确。 但有些例词， 我们并未能找出它的所有的词根。 (对个别词， 词根学家们也未能就其起源达成一致)。 我们设法将词切分成我们所能认知的前缀， 词根， 和后缀。 若词中有些部分我们不认识， 我们将此部分留在那里， 并在其后加（？？？）作为它的意思。
比如说， 我们将 therapeutics 切分成：
therapeutics = therap (cure, treatment of disease 治疗) + eut (???) + -ics (science, a branch of study 科学) 注： 我们还不知道 eut 是什么意思， 所以我们用 (???) 作为它的意思
therapeutics = a branch of medical science that deals with the treatment of diseases or application of remedies to diseases 治疗学