Vocabulary Builder

Tracing Lexical Lineages

Identify the original language or core meaning from which each highlighted term descended.

#linguistics#etymology#language roots#word history#vocabulary quiz

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Quiz Questions

Answer all questions below and test your knowledge.

1
The word 'quintessential' is built on the Latin 'quinta essentia,' meaning 'fifth element.' What concept did this ancient phrase originally describe?
Question 1
2
The adjective 'gregarious,' meaning sociable, derives from the Latin 'grex,' meaning 'flock' or 'herd.' Which related modern word also shares this root?
Question 2
3
What is the original, now obsolete, meaning of the Greek word 'skholē,' from which the English word 'school' is derived?
Question 3
4
The term 'paraphernalia' originates from a legal context. From which language and what specific circumstance does it come?
Question 4
5
The word 'tawdry' has a specific origin related to a person and a fair. What is its root?
Question 5
6
The verb 'decimate' comes from a severe Roman military discipline. What was the original, specific action?
Question 6
7
The word 'sycophant,' meaning a flatterer, originates from Greek. What is the most literal translation of its original components?
Question 7
8
From which language and primary meaning does the word 'assassin' directly enter European languages?
Question 8
9
The word 'penguin' has a debated but likely Celtic origin. What is the probable original meaning of the Welsh word 'pen gwyn'?
Question 9
10
The term 'serendipity,' meaning a fortunate accident, was coined by an author. From what literary source and place name is it derived?
Question 10

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Tracing Lexical Lineages

Quiz Intelligence

Quiz Questions

The word 'quintessential' is built on the Latin 'quinta essentia,' meaning 'fifth element.' What concept did this ancient phrase originally describe?

The adjective 'gregarious,' meaning sociable, derives from the Latin 'grex,' meaning 'flock' or 'herd.' Which related modern word also shares this root?

What is the original, now obsolete, meaning of the Greek word 'skholē,' from which the English word 'school' is derived?

The term 'paraphernalia' originates from a legal context. From which language and what specific circumstance does it come?

The word 'tawdry' has a specific origin related to a person and a fair. What is its root?

The verb 'decimate' comes from a severe Roman military discipline. What was the original, specific action?

The word 'sycophant,' meaning a flatterer, originates from Greek. What is the most literal translation of its original components?

From which language and primary meaning does the word 'assassin' directly enter European languages?

The word 'penguin' has a debated but likely Celtic origin. What is the probable original meaning of the Welsh word 'pen gwyn'?

The term 'serendipity,' meaning a fortunate accident, was coined by an author. From what literary source and place name is it derived?

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