Sunday, February 28, 2016

Greek and Latin Roots of English: Atheism



According to the WordReference dictionary, atheism means "the doctrine or belief that there is no God or the existence of a supreme being or beings."

According to the Etymology Dictionary the word atheism was created in France in 1580 and comes from Greek a- "no" + -theos "god".

Other words referring to a- are: Amorphous, Abnormal and Achromatic. Referring to -theos are: Autotheism, Pantheism and Polytheism.

We can see the use of the word atheism in this article.




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Friday, February 26, 2016

Greek and Latin Roots of English: Autism


According to the Oxford dictionary the word autism means "A mental condition, present from early childhood, characterized by great difficulty in communicating and forming relationships with other people and in using language and abstract concepts".

According to the Etymology dictionary the word autism comes from German Autismus, coined in 1912 by Swiss psychiatrist Paul Bleuler (1857-1939). 

Autism comes from the combination form of Greek autos-"self" + -ism suffix of action or of state.

Other words refered to autos- are: Autopsy, autonomy and autophobia. Refering to -ism are: Sexism, tourism and holism.

We can see the use of the word autism in this article.

Noel Solar Muiño. 3ºA. @nooelsm_









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Greek and English Roots of English: Triathlon


According to the Merriam Webster dictionary this word means "a long-distance race that has three parts (such as swimming, bicycling, and running)".


According to the Etymology dictionary the word "Triathlon" was created in 1970 and comes from tri "three" + Greek athlon "contest".

Other words referring to "tri" are: triad, triangle and triacetate. Other words referring to athlon are: decathlon, athletic and pentathlon.

You can see the use of this word in this article.






Roberto Riobó Juega. 3ºA ESO.




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Thursday, February 25, 2016

Greek and Latin Roots of English: Asterisk


According to the WordRefference dictionary, an asterisk is "the figure of a star (*) used to mark a hypothetical or reconstructed form that is not attested in a text or inscription".

According to the Etymology dictionary, asterisk comes from the Late Latin asteriscus, from Greek asterikos "little star", diminutive of aster "star".


Other words referring to aster- are: Asteroid, Asterism and Aster.

You can see the use of the word asterisk in this article.


Written by: Iván de la Fuente 3º ESO A




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