拉丁词根(十四):光、夜、手与足
一、luc / lum:光
拉丁词根 luc- / lum-(光)来自名词 lūx(光)、lūmen(光)。在英语里多为 luc- 或 lum-。本义「光、照亮」,引申为「阐明、清晰」等。
luc- / lum- “light”
- luminous /ˈluːmɪnəs/ lum- + -inous,发光的 → 发亮的、明亮的。例: The watch has a luminous dial so you can see it in the dark.
- lucid /ˈluːsɪd/ luc- + -id,像光一样清晰的 → 清晰的、神志清醒的。例: She gave a lucid explanation of the problem.
- illuminate /ɪˈluːmɪneɪt/ il-(in- 加强)+ lum + -inate,使有光 → 照亮、阐明。例: Street lamps illuminate the road at night.
- illustrate /ˈɪləstreɪt/ il- + lustr(lum 变体)+ -ate,用光/图「照」清楚 → 说明、插图。例: The diagram illustrates how the system works.
- translucent /trænsˈluːsnt/ trans-(穿过)+ luc + -ent,光能穿过的 → 半透明的。例: The curtains are made of translucent fabric.
二、nox / noct:夜
拉丁词根 nox- / noct-(夜)来自名词 nox(夜)。在英语里多为 noct-。本义「夜晚」,与 nocturnal、nocturne 相关。
nox- / noct- “night”
- nocturnal /nɒkˈtɜːnl/ noct- + -urnal,与夜有关的 → 夜间的、夜行性的。例: Owls are nocturnal birds that hunt at night.
- nocturne /ˈnɒktɜːn/ noct- + -urne,夜(曲)→ 夜曲(音乐体裁)。例: Chopin wrote many famous nocturnes.
- equinox /ˈiːkwɪnɒks/ equi-(等)+ nox,日夜等长 → 春分或秋分。例: The equinox occurs twice a year, in March and September.
三、manu:手
拉丁词根 manu-(手)来自名词 manus。在英语里多为 manu-。本义「手」,引申为「手工、操作、手稿」等。
manu- “hand”
- manual /ˈmænjuəl/ manu- + -al,用手(操作)的 → 手动的;手册(手边可查)。例: Please read the manual before using the machine.
- manipulate /məˈnɪpjuleɪt/ manu- + -pil-(满把)+ -ate,用手摆弄 → 操纵、操控。例: He was accused of trying to manipulate the results.
- manicure /ˈmænɪkjʊə/ manu- + cure(照料),照料手 → 修指甲。例: She had a manicure before the wedding.
- manuscript /ˈmænjuskrɪpt/ manu- + script(写),手写的 → 手稿。(第四章已学 script)例: The author sent her manuscript to the publisher.
- manufacture /ˌmænjuˈfæktʃə/ manu- + fact(做),用手做 → 制造。(第十章已学 fact)例: The company manufactures electronic components.
- emancipate /ɪˈmænsɪpeɪt/ e-(出)+ manu- + cap(拿)+ -ate,从(别人)手中拿出 → 解放。例: The slaves were emancipated after the war.
四、ped:足
拉丁词根 ped-(足)来自名词 pēs。在英语里多为 ped-。本义「脚」,引申为「踏板、步行、阻碍(脚被缠住)」等。注意:与表示「儿童」的 Greek ped-(如 pedagogy)同形不同源。
ped- “foot”
- pedal /ˈpedl/ ped- + -al,用脚踩的 → 踏板。例: Press the pedal to slow down the car.
- pedestrian /pəˈdestriən/ ped- + -estrian,用脚走的人 → 行人。例: Pedestrians must use the crossing.
- expedite /ˈekspɪdaɪt/ ex-(出)+ ped + -ite,把脚解脱出来 → 加快、促进。例: We need to expedite the delivery of the goods.
- impede /ɪmˈpiːd/ im-(in- 入)+ ped,脚被缠住 → 阻碍。例: Heavy snow impeded traffic on the motorway.
- peddle /ˈpedl/ 与 ped 相关,原指「背着走卖」→ 叫卖、兜售。例: He peddled his wares in the market.
- biped /ˈbaɪped/ bi-(双)+ ped,两足的 → 两足动物(如人)。例: Humans are bipeds.
ped:足 vs 儿童
拉丁 ped-(足)出现在 pedal、pedestrian、expedite、impede 等。希腊词根 ped-(儿童,如 paidos)则出现在 pedagogy(教育学)、pediatric(儿科的)等。两者拼写相同、词源不同,可根据词义区分:与「脚、行走、阻碍」相关多为拉丁 ped;与「儿童、教育」相关多为希腊 ped。
五、小结与下一步
本章介绍了四组拉丁词根:luc/lum(光)→ luminous、lucid、illuminate、illustrate、translucent;nox/noct(夜)→ nocturnal、nocturne、equinox;manu(手)→ manual、manipulate、manicure、manuscript、manufacture、emancipate;ped(足)→ pedal、pedestrian、expedite、impede、peddle、biped。大纲中的 ambul(行)已在第八章学习。下一章我们会学习「心、智与法」:cor/cord、ment、jur/jus、leg/lex、lit。