Word Roots Reference Chart
Comparative Lexicon Linguistic Roots • Part 1 of 2
Word Roots Reference Chart
Etymological origins, Romance language translations (Spanish & French), and semantic synonyms
Name:
Date:
Guide to Columns:
Latin / French Origin Spanish (ES) French (FR) Germanic / Norse
| Word & POS | Etymological Origin | Spanish (ES) | French (FR) | Synonyms |
|---|
| manners noun (plural) | | | | |
| Old French • maniere | | | | |
From Vulgar Latin *manaria, from Latin manuarius ("of the hand"), from manus ("hand"). Original sense: "a customary way of handling things."
| los modales las maneras | les manières la politesse |
etiquette decorum courtesy propriety protocol
|
| to be raised phrasal v. (passive) |
Old Norse • reisa
From Proto-Germanic *raizijaną ("to cause to rise"), causative of *rīsaną ("to rise"). Combined with Old English passive auxiliary bēon ("to be").
| ser criado/a crecer | être élevé(e) grandir |
brought up reared nurtured fostered parented
|
| courteous adjective |
Old French • curteis / cortois
From cort ("court"), from Latin cors / cohors ("enclosed courtyard; imperial retinue"). Literally denotes conduct worthy of a royal court.
| cortés educado/a | courtois(e) poli(e) |
polite respectful gracious civil well-mannered
|
| treat verb |
Old French • traitier
From Latin tractāre ("to drag about, handle, deal with, manage"), frequentative of trahere ("to draw, pull"). Cognate with traction and tractor.
| tratar atender | traiter soigner |
handle deal with act toward manage care for
|
| respect verb |
Latin • respectāre / respicere
Formed from re- ("back, again") + specere ("to look at, observe"). Literally: "to look back at, regard with esteem, heed."
| respetar estimar | respecter estimer |
esteem honor revere value heed
|
Etymological Insight: Courtly & Visual Roots Notice how courteous stems from the royal court (feudal codes of conduct), while respect shares the root specere ("to look") with words like spectator, inspect, and retrospect. Both Spanish and French preserve these direct Latinate stems.
Comparative Lexicon Linguistic Roots • Part 2 of 2
Word Roots Reference Chart
Etymological origins, Romance language translations (Spanish & French), and semantic synonyms
Terms 6 – 11
Cross-Language Reference
| Word & POS | Etymological Origin | Spanish (ES) | French (FR) | Synonyms |
|---|
| appreciate verb | | | | |
| Late Latin • appretiāre | | | | |
From ad- ("to") + pretium ("price, value"). Originally: "to set a price on; recognize true value."
| apreciar agradecer, valorar | apprécier reconnaître |
value cherish acknowledge treasure
|
| behaviour noun |
Middle English • behavour
From Old English behabban ("to restrain, hold oneself") from be- + habban ("to hold"), patterned on Anglo-Norman demeanour.
| el comportamiento la conducta | le comportement la conduite |
conduct demeanor actions deportment
|
| conduct verb |
Latin • condūcere
From com- ("together") + dūcere ("to lead, guide"). Literal sense: "to guide together; manage one's actions."
| conducir comportarse, dirigir | conduire se comporter, mener |
behave manage direct guide
|
| document noun |
Latin • documentum
From docēre ("to teach, show") + suffix -mentum. Originally: "a lesson, evidence, or proof," later written evidence.
| el documento el escrito, el acta | le document l'écrit, le dossier |
record text file paper
|
| likely adj. / adv. |
Old Norse • glíkligr
From líkr ("similar, having the same body") + suffix -ligr. Cognate with Old English ġelīclīc ("probable, credible").
| probable verosímil | probable vraisemblable |
probable plausible expected credible
|
| confusing adjective |
Latin • confundere / confūsus
From com- ("together") + fundere ("to pour"). Original meaning: "poured together or mixed so distinct boundaries are lost."
| confuso/a desconcertante | déroutant(e) confus(e) |
perplexing baffling disorienting ambiguous
|
Latinate vs. Germanic Stems
English blends two primary streams: words of Latin/French pedigree (courteous, respect, appreciate, conduct, document, treat, confusing) share direct cognates in Spanish and French, whereas Germanic/Norse terms (raised, likely, behaviour) rely on distinct Romance stems.
Linguistic Morphemes to Remember
• fundere ("to pour") → confuse, diffuse, refund
• dūcere ("to lead") → conduct, deduce, produce
• pretium ("price/worth") → appreciate, precious, price
• docēre ("to teach") → document, doctor, doctrine
Synonym Precision Worksheet
Vocabulary Practice Synonym Precision • Page 1 of 2
Synonym Precision Worksheet
Identify, substitute, and analyze the contextual nuances of synonyms for our target vocabulary.
Name:
Date:
Part 1: Synonym Identification
For each vocabulary word, circle the letter of the closest synonym, then write a second valid synonym in the blank space provided.
1. manners (n. pl.)
Second Synonym:
[A] impulse
[B] etiquette
[C] intuition
[D] friction
2. to be raised (phr. v.)
Second Synonym:
[A] brought up
[B] held back
[C] stood down
[D] pulled apart
3. courteous (adj.)
Second Synonym:
[A] blunt
[B] inquisitive
[C] gracious
[D] boastful
4. treat (v.)
Second Synonym:
[A] ignore
[B] handle
[C] surrender
[D] provoke
5. respect (v.)
Second Synonym:
[A] dispute
[B] revere
[C] imitate
[D] supervise
Part 2: Contextual Replacement
Replace the bold word in each sentence with an accurate synonym from the chart that maintains proper grammar and elevated register.
6. The committee members truly appreciate the immense dedication shown by the volunteer team.
Best Synonym Replacement: (e.g., cherish, value, acknowledge)
7. Student leaders must conduct themselves with professionalism during the international summit.
Best Synonym Replacement: (e.g., behave, comport, carry)
8. The archivist carefully sealed the historical document inside a climate-controlled glass case.
Best Synonym Replacement: (e.g., record, manuscript, dossier)
Word Roots & Synonyms • Grade 8–12 Lexicon Continued on Page 2 →
Vocabulary Practice Synonym Precision • Page 2 of 2
Synonym Precision Worksheet
Sections 2 – 4
Part 2 (Continued): Contextual Replacement
9. The biology researcher tracked the nocturnal behaviour of the wolves over six months.
Best Synonym Replacement: (e.g., actions, conduct, patterns)
10. Given the dark storm clouds gathering on the horizon, rain is likely before dusk.
Synonym Precision Answer Key
Teacher Resource Answer Key • Page 1 of 2
Synonym Precision Answer Key
Complete solutions, acceptable alternates, and evaluation guidelines for classroom grading.
Grading Guide Total Available: 25 pts
Part 1: Synonym Identification (10 pts total • 2 pts each)
1 pt for correct letter choice; 1 pt for any valid second synonym from the chart.
1. manners (n. pl.) Correct: [B] etiquette
Accepted Second Synonyms: decorum, courtesy, protocol, politeness, propriety, civility.
2. to be raised (phr. v.) Correct: [A] brought up
Accepted Second Synonyms: reared, nurtured, fostered, parented, cared for, educated.
3. courteous (adj.) Correct: [C] gracious
Accepted Second Synonyms: polite, respectful, civil, well-mannered, chivalrous, considerate.
4. treat (v.) Correct: [B] handle
Accepted Second Synonyms: deal with, manage, address, care for, act toward, behave toward.
5. respect (v.) Correct: [B] revere
Accepted Second Synonyms: honor, esteem, value, admire, regard, heed, venerate.
Part 2: Contextual Replacement (Items 6–8 • 1 pt each)
Award 1 pt if the synonym fits grammatically and maintains an appropriate academic tone.
6. Target: appreciate → "The committee members truly value / cherish / acknowledge / prize the immense dedication..."
Teacher Note: Value or acknowledge is ideal in an institutional context.
7. Target: conduct (v.) → "Student leaders must behave / comport / carry themselves with professionalism..."
Teacher Note: Must preserve reflexive grammar ("behave themselves").
8. Target: document (n.) → "...sealed the historical record / manuscript / text / dossier inside a glass case."
Teacher Note: Record or manuscript best reflects physical preservation.
Teacher Key • Word Roots & Synonyms Continued on Page 2 →
Teacher Resource Answer Key • Page 2 of 2
Synonym Precision Answer Key
Sections 2 – 4
Part 2 (Continued): Items 9 – 11 (1 pt each)
9. Target: behaviour → "...tracked the nocturnal actions / conduct / patterns of the wolves over six months."
