On Derivatives and Etymology

     We talked at length in class about using derivatives to figure out the meanings of unfamiliar Latin words. If you see a Latin word and have no idea what it means, try to think of an English word you know that looks similar to it. (Specifically, the similarity should be the same spelling of the root of the words.)
     An example from class: the Latin word ignis has not yet appeared in your textbooks, but many of you figured out that it translates "fire" by looking at its English derivatves "ignite" and "igneous."
     In class, we talked about using English words to figure out Latin vocabulary. As we accumulate Latin words, you will be able to do the same mental process in reverse - use Latin vocabulary you know to illuminate the meanings of unfamiliar English words. (This is what most people have in mind when they say that studying Latin prepares you for the SAT.)
     As promised, the eargerly-awaited link to the Online Etymology Dictionary is below. Here is how I recommend you use this powerful tool: Whenever you are reading (in English) and you see a word you do not recognize, instead of (or in addition to) looking it up in an ordinary dictionary, look it up in this online dictionary. This way, you will not only learn a new English word, but also expand your Latin vocabulary simultaneously.

Online Etymology Dictionary:

http://www.etymonline.com/

 

     Note that most of the words you look up, if they be of Latin descent, will first give you the French origin, and only afterwards the Latin. Do not fret: you know not only that the entire French language is derived from Latin, but also - as a Latin scholar - that the most emphatic place in any given entry is the last place.