When I taught grammar to my high school students, I really struggled to try to make it interesting, which, frankly, it usually wasn’t to anyone other than geeks like me who find that stuff engaging (and even I have my limits). So one of the things I did to combat complete and utter boredom was […]
latin
Latin #9
Root:  ANIM Meaning: spirit, life, soul, mind Words: inanimate (adj) (in- = not): not or without life One of my sons has this fun habit of suddenly falling on the floor in an inanimate position, in attempt to get me to freak out. The thing is, I know he’s a frequent prankster, and he’s done […]
Latin #6
Latin root #6: NOMEN, NOMIN Meaning: name Words: 1. nom de plume (n) (plume = feather, as in feather pen): the pen name of a writer I, Christine, have given myself the nom de plume of An Island Mom. I like to imagine trumpets sounding when this is said aloud. This makes me feel like […]
Latin #5
Latin root #5: TERRA Meaning: land, earth Words: Terra cotta (n) (cocta = cooked or baked): cooked earth, a ceramic made of clay I’ve been sitting here staring at my computer for a full 12 minutes trying to think of something funny, interesting, profound, or even just plain stupid to say about terra cotta, and […]
Latin #4
Latin root #4: VER Meaning: truth Words: 1. Veracious (adj) (-acious = having quality of): quality of being truthful, honest Sometimes, it would be nice if my sons were slightly less veracious in nature. My eldest recently told me, “Mom, I seriously doubt starving people would want your casserole.†He was so totally right, incidentally, […]
Latin #3
Latin root #3: TANG, TACT, TIG Meaning: touch Words: 1. Tangible (adj) (-ible = able, having power): capable of being touched, touchable The tangible effects of living at the beach include sand in your fingernails, your hair, your teeth (oh, yes), and just about everywhere. Of course, if you regularly do this for fun, what […]