Quiz-Tree
Question 1
The prefix de- appears in detach. The root -tach comes from a word meaning "to fasten." Which best describes what de- contributes here?
In detach, "de-" carries the meaning "reverse" or "undo" rather than "down." Combined with a root meaning "to fasten," detach means "to undo the fastening" — to remove or separate. "de-" has two related senses: "down" (as in descend) and "reverse/undo" (as in detach, defrost).
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Answer question 1 to unlock
The prefix auto- appears in autocratic. The root -crat- comes from a Greek word meaning "to rule" or "power." What does autocratic most likely mean?
"auto-" means "self." Combined with -crat- (to rule), autocratic means "self-ruling" — exercising absolute, unchecked authority with no accountability to others.
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Answer question 2 to unlock
The prefix eu- appears in euphoria and eulogy. Like bene-, it means "good" or "well" — but eu- comes from Greek while bene- comes from Latin. What does eu- mean?
"eu-" means "good" or "well." It is the Greek counterpart to the Latin "bene-." In euphoria, it combines with a root meaning "to carry" to produce "carrying good feeling." In eulogy, it combines with a root meaning "speech" to produce "a good speech" of praise.
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Answer question 3 to unlock
The prefix eu- appears in euphemism. The root -phemi comes from a Greek word meaning "to speak." What does euphemism most likely mean?
"eu-" means "good" or "well." Combined with -phemi (to speak), euphemism means "speaking well" — using a gentler word or phrase in place of one that might feel blunt, offensive, or uncomfortable.
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Answer question 4 to unlock
The prefix mal- appears in malfunction and malnutrition. What does mal- mean?
"mal-" means "bad," "poorly," or "wrong." In malfunction, it describes something that works badly. In malnutrition, it describes a state of poor nutrition.
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Answer question 5 to unlock
The prefix mal- appears in malevolent. The root -vol- comes from a Latin word meaning "to wish." What does malevolent most likely mean?
"mal-" means "bad" or "evil." Combined with -vol- (to wish), malevolent means "wishing evil" — having or showing a desire to cause harm or suffering to others.
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Answer question 6 to unlock
The prefix bene- appears in benefit and benevolent. What does bene- mean?
"bene-" means "good" or "well." In benefit, it combines with a root meaning "to do," producing "a good thing done." In benevolent, it combines with a root meaning "to wish," producing "wishing well" toward others.
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Answer question 7 to unlock
The prefix de- appears in descend and demote. The root -mote relates to "moving" in rank. How does de- shape the meaning of demote?
"de-" means "down" in this context. In demote, it combines with a root related to movement to describe being moved down to a lower rank or level.
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Answer question 8 to unlock
The word benefactor contains the prefix bene-. The root -fact- comes from a Latin word meaning "to do" or "to make." How does bene- shape the meaning of benefactor?
"bene-" means "good" or "well." In benefactor, it combines with -fact- (to do) to describe someone who does good — typically by providing financial support or other assistance to a cause or person.
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Answer question 9 to unlock
The prefix auto- appears in autobiography. The root -bio- means "life" and -graphy means "writing." How does auto- shape the meaning of autobiography?
"auto-" means "self." In autobiography, it indicates that the life (-bio-) and the writing (-graphy) are both one's own — the author is writing the story of their own life.
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