拉丁词根(一):驱动、引导与携带
一、act / ag:做、驱动
拉丁词根 ag-(做、驱动)来自动词 agere,在英语里常见两种拼写形式:act-(过去分词词干)和 ag-(有时与辅音同化变成 -ig-)。都表示「做、动、驱动」。
act- / ag- “do, drive”
- act /ækt/ 动词「行动」;名词「行为、法令」——直接来自词根。例:Actions speak louder than words.
- action /ˈækʃn/ act + -ion,名词「行动、行为」。例:We need to take action before it’s too late.
- active /ˈæktɪv/ act + -ive,形容词「主动的、活跃的」——在做、在动。例:She stays active by jogging every morning.
- actor /ˈæktə/ act + -or,名词「行动者」→ 演员。例:He is a famous actor who has won many awards.
- agent /ˈeɪdʒənt/ ag- + -ent,「做某事的人/物」→ 代理人、特工;也可指起作用的东西(如 cleaning agent 清洁剂)。例:My agent handles all my book deals.
- agenda /əˈdʒendə/ 字面「待做之事」→ 议程、日程。例:What’s on the agenda for today’s meeting?
- agile /ˈædʒaɪl/ ag- + -ile(能……的),能迅速动、易动 → 敏捷的。例:Cats are agile and can jump very high.
- react /riˈækt/ re-(回)+ act,往回做、对刺激做出动作 → 反应。例:How did she react when she heard the news?
- transaction /trænˈzækʃn/ trans-(跨)+ act + -ion,在双方之间「做」完 → 交易、办理。例:Each transaction is recorded in the bank statement.
- exact /ɪɡˈzækt/ ex-(出)+ ag-(驱动),把结果「驱赶出来」→ 强求;引申为「精确的」(把误差赶出去)。例:Please tell me the exact time of your arrival.
二、duct / duc:引导
拉丁词根 duc-(引导、带领)来自动词 ducere。在英语里常见 duct-(过去分词 ductus)和 duc-(或 duk-、duz- 等音变)。意思都是「引、带、导」。
duct- / duc- “lead”
- conduct /kənˈdʌkt/ con-(一起)+ duct,引导到一起 → 动词「指挥、进行、传导」;名词 /ˈkɒndʌkt/ 行为、举止。例:The teacher asked us to conduct an experiment in the lab.
- conductor /kənˈdʌktə/ conduct + -or,引导者 → 指挥、导体、售票员。例:The conductor raised his baton and the orchestra began to play.
- produce /prəˈdjuːs/ pro-(向前)+ duc,向前引出来 → 生产、产生;名词 product /ˈprɒdʌkt/ 产品。例:This region produces some of the best wine in the world.
- reduce /rɪˈdjuːs/ re-(回)+ duc,引回、往回带 → 减少、还原。例:We need to reduce our spending if we want to save money.
- introduce /ˌɪntrəˈdjuːs/ intro-(向内)+ duc,引进去 → 介绍、引入。例:Let me introduce you to my colleague from the Tokyo office.
- educate /ˈedʒukeɪt/ e-(出)+ duc + -ate,把能力「引出来」→ 教育。例:Parents want to educate their children in a safe environment.
- deduce /dɪˈdjuːs/ de-(从……往下)+ duc,从前提引导出结论 → 推论、演绎。例:From the clues, we can deduce that he left in a hurry.
- aqueduct /ˈækwɪdʌkt/ aqua-(水)+ duct,引导水的结构 → 水道、渡槽。例:Roman aqueducts carried water for miles into the city.
- viaduct /ˈvaɪədʌkt/ via-(路)+ duct,引导道路的结构 → 高架桥、栈道。例:The train crosses the valley on a long viaduct.
三、port:携带
拉丁词根 port-(携带、运)来自动词 portare,在英语里形式稳定,通常就是 port。本课程第一章已用 export /ɪkˈspɔːt/、import /ɪmˈpɔːt/、portable /ˈpɔːtəbl/ 做过引入,这里再系统列一批常用词。
port- “carry”
- port /pɔːt/ 本义「携带(货物)的地方」→ 港口;计算机里「端口」也是「数据进出的口」。例: Ships loaded with goods arrived at the port at dawn.
- portable /ˈpɔːtəbl/ port + -able,可携带的 → 便携的。例:I bought a portable speaker so I can play music anywhere.
- export /ɪkˈspɔːt/ ex-(出)+ port,运出去 → 出口、输出。例:Japan exports cars and electronics to many countries.
- import /ɪmˈpɔːt/ im-(入)+ port,运进来 → 进口、输入;名词「重要性」来自「把意义带进来」。例:This country imports most of its oil from abroad.
- transport /ˈtrænspɔːt/ trans-(跨)+ port,从一处运到另一处 → 运输。例:Public transport in the city is cheap and convenient.
- report /rɪˈpɔːt/ re-(回)+ port,把信息「带回来」→ 报告、报道。例:The news report said that the storm would arrive tonight.
- support /səˈpɔːt/ sub-(下)+ port,在下面托着、携带 → 支持、支撑。例:Thank you for your support during the difficult time.
- deport /dɪˈpɔːt/ de-(离开)+ port,带离(某国)→ 驱逐出境。例:He was deported after his visa expired.
四、fer:携带、产生
拉丁词根 fer-(携带、承受、产生)来自动词 ferre,是不规则动词,所以词干形式有 fer-、lat-(过去分词)等。在本章我们只关注 fer- 这一形。意思和 port- 接近,都是「带、运」,但 fer- 更常出现在「把抽象东西带过去」(如 refer 把注意力带过去、infer 从前提带出结论)以及「产生、结果」类词里。
fer- “carry, bear”
- transfer /trænsˈfɜː/ trans-(跨)+ fer,从一处带到另一处 → 转移、转换、调任。例:You can transfer money from your phone in seconds.
- refer /rɪˈfɜː/ re-(回)+ fer,把(注意力、问题)带回去、带向某处 → 提及、参考、转交。例:Please refer to page 42 for more details.
- prefer /prɪˈfɜː/ pre-(前)+ fer,把……带到前面 → 更喜欢、宁愿。例:I prefer tea to coffee in the morning.
- offer /ˈɒfə/ of-(ob- 对)+ fer,带到对方面前 → 提供、提议。例:She offered to help me with my homework.
- confer /kənˈfɜː/ con-(一起)+ fer,把意见带到一起 → 协商;confer 也可表示「授予」(把荣誉等带给某人)。例:The committee will confer before announcing the winner.
- infer /ɪnˈfɜː/ in-(入)+ fer,把结论从前提「带进来」→ 推断。例:From his smile, I inferred that he was pleased.
- defer /dɪˈfɜː/ de-(下、往后)+ fer,把(事)带到后面 → 推迟;defer to 表示「听从」即把决定权带给对方。例:We had to defer the meeting until next week.
- fertile /ˈfɜːtaɪl/ fer- + -ile(能……的),能「产生」果实的 → 肥沃的、多产的。例:The fertile soil in this valley grows the best rice.
- differ /ˈdɪfə/ dif-(dis- 分开)+ fer,各自带到不同方向 → 不同、有分歧。例:My opinion differs from yours on this point.
五、mit / miss:送、发
拉丁词根 mit- / miss-(送、发、派)来自动词 mittere。现在时词干是 mit-,过去分词词干是 miss-,所以英语里既有 transmit /trænzˈmɪt/(动词),也有 transmission /trænzˈmɪʃn/(名词)。意思都是「把某物送出去、派出去」。
mit- / miss- “send”
- emit /ɪˈmɪt/ e-(出)+ mit,送出去 → 发出(光、热、声等)。例:The lamp emits a soft glow in the dark.
- omit /əʊˈmɪt/ ob-(对)+ mit,原义「放过、送走」→ 省略、遗漏。例:Don’t omit any names from the list.
- submit /səbˈmɪt/ sub-(下)+ mit,从下面送上去 → 提交、服从。例:You must submit your essay by Friday.
- transmit /trænzˈmɪt/ trans-(跨)+ mit,从这边送到那边 → 传输、传播。例:Radio waves transmit signals over long distances.
- mission /ˈmɪʃn/ miss- + -ion,「被派出去做的事」→ 任务、使命、代表团。例:Their mission is to rescue the trapped miners.
- missile /ˈmɪsaɪl/ miss- + -ile(能……的),能被送出去的东西 → 导弹、投射物。例:The missile was launched from a hidden site.
- dismiss /dɪsˈmɪs/ dis-( away)+ miss,送走、遣散 → 解散、解雇、驳回。例:The manager decided to dismiss the idea as impractical.
- permit /pəˈmɪt/ per-(通过)+ mit,让……通过、送过去 → 允许;名词 permission /pəˈmɪʃn/。例:Smoking is not permitted in this building.
- commit /kəˈmɪt/ com-(一起)+ mit,把(自己或某事)「送交」给某物 → 承诺、犯(罪)、交付。例:He committed himself to finishing the project on time.
- admit /ədˈmɪt/ ad-(向)+ mit,向里送、让进来 → 承认、准许进入。例:She finally admitted that she had made a mistake.
易混辨析:port 与 fer
两者都表示「携带」,但习惯用法不同:port- 多与「具体搬运、港口、运输」相关(export、import、transport、portable、report、support);fer- 多与「抽象转移、参考、偏好、推断」相关(transfer、refer、prefer、infer、confer、differ)。遇到「带、运」义时,若词里有 port 形,多半是「运输、报告、支持」类;若是 fer 形,多为「转移、参考、偏好」类。记住「port = 港口/运输,fer = 转移/参考」可减少混淆。
六、小结与下一步
本章介绍了五组高频拉丁词根:act/ag(做、驱动)→ action、agent、react、transaction、exact;duct/duc(引导)→ conduct、produce、reduce、introduce、educate、deduce;port(携带)→ export、import、transport、report、support、portable;fer(携带、产生)→ transfer、refer、prefer、offer、infer、fertile、differ;mit/miss(送、发)→ emit、submit、transmit、mission、dismiss、permit、commit、admit。掌握这些词根及其常见前缀(ex-、re-、trans-、con-、sub-、dis- 等),再遇到同族生词时就能快速推断大意。下一章我们会学习「看、说、写、听」相关的词根:vid/vis、dict、scrib/script、leg/lect、aud。