Find the Word Histories
OBJECTIVE Students will C use the dictionary to find word origins and relate them to the word’s meaning.
GUIDE STUDENTS Read the sample entry for lenient with students. Note that the informa- tion about word history may be at the end of the entry, as shown here, or near the beginning. Ask students how the word soft relates to the meaning of lenient. Possible response: A lenient sentence is relatively easy or short, or what some might call soft. Note that students will not only be finding word histories in this exer- cise but also relating them to the meaning of each word.
PRACTICE
Have students complete the exercise on their own. When they are fin- ished, review each etymology, as well as slight variations in etymology if they used different dictionaries. Then call for volunteers to explain how each word history relates to the word’s meaning.
Word Origins Large dictionaries usually include the etymology, or history, of a word. This is usually done by showing the earlier words and languages the word came from. This information is often enclosed in brackets at the end of an entry.
le•ni•ent /le¯´ ne ¯ ≈nt/ adj. not harsh or strict; merciful. The judge was very lenient in his sentences. [from Latin lenis, soft.]
Many words about the law came into English from Latin. This is because Latin was once an international language shared by church and government officials and scholars.
Find the Word Histories Use a dictionary to find the source of each of these words. Write source words and their meanings. Then write a sentence to explain the connection between the source word and the modern word.
Answers will vary. 1 exonerate
from the Latin ex-, meaning “off” and onus, meaning “burden”: An exonerated person is freed from the burden of being charged with a crime.
2 ultimatum
from the Latin word ultimatus, meaning “last”: An ultimatum is the last statement someone may make before giving up; it can be a final or last warning.
3 alibi
from the Latin words alius, meaning “other” and ubi, meaning “where”: An alibi is used to show someone was somewhere other than at the scene of the crime.
4 mediate
from the Latin word medius, meaning “middle”: To mediate disagreements between two opposing groups, someone puts himself or herself in the middle.
5 constable
from the Latin phrase comes stabuli, meaning “officer of the stable”: A constable is a lower-ranking officer.
196 Law and Order Part 3
Second-Language Learners Word Origin Connections
Words about legal issues lend themselves well to the study of word origins—etymology. Because legal terms in many languages share Latin and Greek roots, legal terms in students’ first languages probably share very close spellings and meanings with English legal terms. Have students list some legal terms from their first language that share common roots and meanings with English legal terms. Have students circle the roots these words have in common.
T196 Unit 9 Law and Order Part 3
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