拉丁词根(二十五):拉、伸、扭与转
一、tort:扭
拉丁词根 tort-(扭)来自动词 torquēre 的完成词干 tortus(被扭的)。在英语里多为 tort-。本义「扭曲」,引申为「折磨、歪曲」等。
tort- “twist”
- torture /ˈtɔːtʃə/ tort- + -ure,扭曲(身体/精神)→ 折磨、酷刑。例: The prisoners were subjected to torture.
- distort /dɪˈstɔːt/ dis-( apart)+ tort,扭开(变形)→ 扭曲、歪曲。例: The media distorted his words.
- contort /kənˈtɔːt/ con-(一起)+ tort,扭在一起 → 扭歪、使变形。例: His face contorted with pain.
- tortuous /ˈtɔːtʃuəs/ tort- + -uous,扭来扭去的 → 曲折的、拐弯抹角的。例: The path led through tortuous mountain roads.
二、torq:扭
拉丁词根 torq-(扭)来自动词 torquēre(扭、拧)。与 tort- 同源(tort 为其完成词干)。在英语里多为 torq-。本义「扭」,见于 extort、torque 等。
torq- “twist” (same root as tort)
- extort /ɪkˈstɔːt/ ex-(出)+ torq-(tort),扭出来(强取)→ 勒索、逼取。例: He was accused of trying to extort money from the victim.
- torque /tɔːk/ torq- + -ue,扭(的力)→ 扭矩、转矩(物理)。例: The engine produces high torque at low speeds.
三、vers / vert:转
拉丁词根 vers- / vert-(转)来自动词 vertere(转动)。在英语里多为 vers- 或 vert-。本义「转动」,引申为「转换、颠倒、转向」等。
vers- / vert- “turn”
- convert /kənˈvɜːt/ con-(加强)+ vert,一起转(变)→ 转换、皈依。例: They converted the old factory into flats.
- reverse /rɪˈvɜːs/ re-(回)+ vers- + -e,转回去 → 颠倒、反转。例: The decision was later reversed.
- versatile /ˈvɜːsətaɪl/ vers- + -atile,能转(多面)的 → 多才多艺的、多用途的。例: She is a versatile actress who can play any role.
- divert /daɪˈvɜːt/ di-(dis- 分开)+ vert,转开 → 使转向、转移注意力。例: Traffic was diverted around the accident.
- advertise /ˈædvətaɪz/ ad-(向)+ vert- + -ise,转向(注意)→ 做广告。ad- + vert → 注意,后引申为广告。例: They advertise their products on television.
四、volv:滚(复习)
第十九章已介绍 volv- / volut-(滚、转)来自拉丁 volvere(滚)。此处与「转」类词根一并复习:revolve、involve、evolution 等。
volv- / volut- “roll” (review, see Ch.19)
- revolve /rɪˈvɒlv/ re-(回)+ volv-,滚回去 → 旋转、围绕。例: The discussion revolved around funding.
- involve /ɪnˈvɒlv/ in-(入)+ volv-,卷进去 → 卷入、涉及。例: The job involves a lot of travel.
- evolution /ˌiːvəˈluːʃn/ e-(出)+ volut- + -ion,展开(发展)→ 进化、演变。例: The theory of evolution changed science forever.
五、rot:轮、转
拉丁词根 rot-(轮、转)来自名词 rota(轮子)。在英语里多为 rot-。本义「轮子、旋转」。
rot- “wheel, turn”
- rotate /rəʊˈteɪt/ rot- + -ate,像轮子一样转 → 旋转、轮流。例: The Earth rotates on its axis.
- rotation /rəʊˈteɪʃn/ rotate + -ion,旋转(的状态)→ 旋转、轮流。例: Crop rotation helps maintain soil quality.
- rotor /ˈrəʊtə/ rot- + -or,转动的部件 → 转子、旋翼。例: The helicopter’s rotor was damaged in the crash.
六、turb:搅
拉丁词根 turb-(搅)来自名词 turba(骚乱)、动词 turbāre(搅乱)。在英语里多为 turb-。本义「搅动、混乱」,引申为「打扰、动荡」等。
turb- “stir, disorder”
- disturb /dɪˈstɜːb/ dis-(加强)+ turb,搅乱 → 打扰、扰乱。例: Sorry to disturb you, but there’s a phone call.
- turbulence /ˈtɜːbjələns/ turb- + -ulence,搅动(的状态)→ 动荡、湍流。例: The flight was bumpy due to turbulence.
- perturb /pəˈtɜːb/ per-(彻底)+ turb,彻底搅乱 → 使不安、扰乱。例: The news perturbed him greatly.
vers/vert vs volv vs rot
vers/vert(vertere 转)侧重「转向、转换」→ convert、reverse、divert。volv(volvere 滚)侧重「卷、滚、卷入」→ revolve、involve、evolution。rot(rota 轮)侧重「像轮子一样旋转」→ rotate、rotation、rotor。三者都含「转」义,但 vers 偏方向变化,volv 偏滚动/卷入,rot 偏圆周旋转。
七、小结与下一步
本章介绍了六组词根:tort(扭)→ torture、distort、contort、tortuous;torq(扭)→ extort、torque;vers/vert(转)→ convert、reverse、versatile、divert、advertise;volv(滚)→ revolve、involve、evolution;rot(轮、转)→ rotate、rotation、rotor;turb(搅)→ disturb、turbulence、perturb。下一章我们会学习「数、部分与整体」:numer、part、tot、integr、singul、plur。