Questions and Answers
What is etymology?
The study of word origins
Where do approximately 29% of foreign words in English come from?
France
What is the origin of the word 'blare'?
Middle Dutch
What is the Latin origin of the word 'circle'?
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Which language makes up roughly 6% of the English vocabulary?
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What is the best way to understand how a language works and ease future learning according to the text?
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What is etymology?
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What percentage of foreign words in English have Latin origins?
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What is the origin of the word 'blare'?
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Which language does the word 'circle' have roots in?
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What does the Latin word 'fortis' mean?
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How often does the Oxford English Dictionary add new words and phrases?
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What is the study of word origins called?
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Where do approximately 29% of foreign words in English originate from?
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What is the origin of the word 'blare'?
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What two languages does the word 'circle' have roots in?
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What does the Latin word 'fortis' mean?
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How often does the Oxford English Dictionary add new words and phrases?
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Study Notes
Etymology of English Words
- Many English words are derived from words in other languages, such as Olde English, Latin, and French.
- Etymology is the study of word origins, offering insights into the diverse words in the English language.
Language Origins
- Approximately 29% of foreign words come from France, including words like ambulance, parachute, and sauce.
- Another 29% have Latin origins, such as agenda and data.
- 26% of the English language has Germanic origins, including words like dollar, muffin, and kindergarten.
- The Greek language makes up roughly 6% of the English vocabulary.
Examples of Word Origins
- The word blare originated from the Middle Dutch word blaren, meaning to shout.
- The word Circle is derived from both Latin and Greek, with the Latin word circus meaning circle and the Greek word kirkos meaning ring.
- The word force is from the Latin word fortis, meaning strong.
Learning and Growing Language
- Learning the origin of every new word acquired is essential to understanding how the language works and to ease future learning.
- English is constantly changing and growing, with the Oxford English Dictionary adding around 500 new words and phrases every year.
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