拉丁词根(二十二):游、荡与强弱势
一、err:游、错
拉丁词根 err-(游、错)来自动词 errāre(徘徊、走错)。在英语里多为 err-。本义「游荡、偏离」,引申为「错误」。
err- “wander, stray”
- erratic /ɪˈrætɪk/ err- + -atic,游荡的(不固定)→ 不规则的、反复无常的。例: His behaviour has been erratic lately.
- error /ˈerə/ err- + -or,偏离(正确)→ 错误。例: The document contained several spelling errors.
- erroneous /ɪˈrəʊniəs/ err- + -oneous,偏离的 → 错误的。例: The report was based on erroneous data.
- err /ɜː/ err-,走错 → 犯错(多用于 err on the side of caution)。例: It is better to err on the side of caution.
二、vag:荡
拉丁词根 vag-(荡)来自动词 vagārī(漫游、漂泊)。在英语里多为 vag-。本义「游荡、不定」,引申为「模糊、流浪」等。
vag- “wander”
- vague /veɪɡ/ vag- + -ue,游移不定的(界线不清)→ 模糊的、含糊的。例: She gave only a vague description of the man.
- vagrant /ˈveɪɡrənt/ vag- + -rant,游荡的人 → 流浪者。例: The old vagrant slept under the bridge.
- vagabond /ˈvæɡəbɒnd/ vag- + -abond,四处游荡的(人)→ 流浪者、漂泊的。例: He led a vagabond life for many years.
- extravagant /ɪkˈstrævəɡənt/ extra-(外)+ vag- + -ant,游出(常轨)的 → 奢侈的、过分的。例: She was criticized for her extravagant spending.
三、fort:强
拉丁词根 fort-(强)来自形容词 fortis(强壮的)。在英语里多为 fort-。本义「强壮、坚固」,引申为「堡垒、毅力」等。
fort- “strong”
- fortitude /ˈfɔːtɪtjuːd/ fort- + -itude,坚强(的品质)→ 坚韧、刚毅。例: She showed great fortitude during her illness.
- fortify /ˈfɔːtɪfaɪ/ fort- + -ify,使强 → 加固、强化(如 fortify food)。例: The troops fortified their position overnight.
- effort /ˈefət/ ex-(出)+ fort,使出(力量)→ 努力。例: It took a lot of effort to finish the project.
- comfort /ˈkʌmfət/ com-(加强)+ fort,使(内心)强(安心)→ 安慰、舒适。例: Her words gave him comfort in his grief.
四、val:价、强
拉丁词根 val-(价、强)来自动词 valēre(有力量、有价值)。在英语里多为 val-。本义「有力、有价值」,引申为「有效、等价、盛行」等。
val- “strong, worth”
- valid /ˈvælɪd/ val- + -id,有(法律/逻辑)力量的 → 有效的、正当的。例: Your ticket is valid for one month.
- value /ˈvæljuː/ val- + -ue,有价值(的度量)→ 价值;重视。例: The value of the painting has increased.
- prevail /prɪˈveɪl/ pre-(前)+ val,力量在前(占优)→ 盛行、占上风。例: Justice will prevail in the end.
- equivalent /ɪˈkwɪvələnt/ equi-(等)+ val- + -ent,价值相等的 → 等价的、相当的。例: One dollar is roughly equivalent to 7 yuan.
五、debil:弱
拉丁词根 debil-(弱)来自形容词 dēbilis(无力的)。在英语里多为 debil-。本义「虚弱」。
debil- “weak”
- debilitate /dɪˈbɪlɪteɪt/ debil- + -itate,使弱 → 使虚弱、削弱。例: The disease debilitated him for months.
- debility /dɪˈbɪləti/ debil- + -ity,虚弱(状态)→ 衰弱、无力。例: He was suffering from general debility after the operation.
六、grav:重
拉丁词根 grav-(重)来自形容词 gravis(重的、严重的)。在英语里多为 grav-。本义「重」,引申为「严重、庄重、引力」等。
grav- “heavy, serious”
- gravity /ˈɡrævəti/ grav- + -ity,重(力)→ 重力;庄重。例: The gravity of the situation was clear to everyone.
- grave /ɡreɪv/ grav- + -e,重的(严肃的)→ 严重的、庄重的;坟墓(来自另一词源「挖」)。例: This is a matter of grave concern.
- gravitate /ˈɡrævɪteɪt/ grav- + -itate,受重(力)吸引 → 被吸引、倾向。例: People tend to gravitate towards familiar faces.
- aggravate /ˈæɡrəveɪt/ ag-(ad- 向)+ grav- + -ate,使更重 → 加重、激怒。例: Don’t aggravate the situation by shouting.
fort(强)vs val(强·价)
fort- 侧重「体力、坚固」→ fortitude、fortify、effort、comfort。val- 侧重「有效、有价值、占上风」→ valid、value、prevail、equivalent。二者都表「强」,但 fort 偏「硬实力」,val 偏「效力、价值」。
七、小结与下一步
本章介绍了六组词根:err(游、错)→ erratic、error、erroneous、err;vag(荡)→ vague、vagrant、vagabond、extravagant;fort(强)→ fortitude、fortify、effort、comfort;val(价、强)→ valid、value、prevail、equivalent;debil(弱)→ debilitate、debility;grav(重)→ gravity、grave、gravitate、aggravate。下一章我们会学习「等、同、异与时间」:equ、sim/sem、vari、alter、tempor、ann/enn、di。