Finding antonyms any question-sentence completion, analogy, reading 
	coomprehension-which deals with words and synonyms, contextually or 
	conceptually becomes easy if one knows the etymology of the words. 
	What is etymology? "Etymology is the science dealing with the origin 
	and development of words, actually the study of the true(Greek etymos)
	meaning".
	
	The etymological approach can alone help in increasing the vocabulary 
	of the learner. In etymology the words are reduced to their basic 
	components. The elements of a word are prefix, root, suffix, these 
	elements are called morphene or morph. Some morphs change their meaning 
	and form in particular words. To tackle this one has to learn ability to 
	recognise new words and to avoid guessing their meaning. The etymological 
	approach has to be practised to increaseyour vocbulary. The usage of new 
	words everyday 	will make the learning process through this approach
	effective. Charts on root, prefixes, suffixes and combining forms
	have been included in this article.

	E.g.:
	
	Measurement - Metron is the root in many other words.
	
	Thermometer - an instrument to measure heat therme(heat)+metron(measurement).

	Barometer  - an instrument to measure atmospheric pressure baros (weight)+ metron(measurement).
		      The adjective is barometer.

	Sphygnomanometer- an instrument for measuring blood pressure sphygmos (pulse)+ metron(measurement).

	(I)	Can you recognise roots?


	Root		Meaning		Example		Key 


    1.   bel 	         ------- 	belligerent     (war)


    2.   cord		 -------	record	       (wind, heart)

    3.   vent		 -------	adventure      (come, move,towards)

    4.   tract		 -------	traction       (drag, draw, pull)

    5.   terr, ter       -------        interred       (land)

    6.   rupt		 -------	disrupt	       (break)

    7.   scrib, script   -------	conscript      (write)

    8.   soph		 -------	sophistry      (wisdom)

    9.   volt,volv,volut -------	revolt	       (roll,turn)

    10.  phil,philo	 -------	francophile    (loving)


	(II)	Can you recognise prefixes?


	Prefix		Meaning		Example		Key 


    1.   ab- 	         ------- 	abdicate       (off)

    2.   ambi-		 -------	ambivalent     (both, around)

    3.   cata-		 -------	cataclysm      (twice, double)

    4.   cis-		 -------	cisalpine      (on this side)

    5.   contra-         -------        contravene     (against)

    6.   epi-		 -------	epigram	       (on, over)

    7.   retro-          -------	retrograde     (backwards)

    8.   non-		 -------	nonchalant     (non)

    9.   com-            -------	compatriot     (with, together, throughly)

    10.  hypo-, hyp-     -------	hypotenuse     (loving)




	(III)	Can you recognise combining forms:


	combining forms	Meaning		Example		Key 


    1.   chrome- 	 ------- 	chromosome     (color)

    2.   astro-		 -------	astronomy      (star)

    3.   -algia		 -------	neuralgia      (pain)

    4.   cosmo-		 -------	cosmopolitan   (World, Universe)

    5.   haem            -------        haemoglobin    (blood)

    6.   lign-		 -------	ligncellulose  (wood)

    7.   helio-          -------	heliotrope     (sun)

    8.   crypto-	 -------	cryptogram     (hidden,secret)

    9.   ecto-           -------	ectplasm       (external)

    10.  topo-           -------	toponym        (place)



	(IV)	Can you recognise suffixes:


	suffixs	Meaning		Example		Key 


    1.   -y      	 ------- 	mummy          (smallness)

    2.   -trix		 -------	aviatrix       (female)

    3.   -wise		 -------	taxwise        (manner or direction, refference to)

    4.   -tude		 -------	exactitude     (condition, state of being)

    5.   -fy, -ify       -------        pacify         (making, becoming)

    6.   -ess		 -------	hostess        (female)

    7.   -ling           -------	fledling       (smallness, lesser status)

    8.   -kin    	 -------	bodkin         (small size)

    9.   -acity          -------	audacity       (quality, state of being)

    10.  -ee             -------	liscensee      (recipient of an action)





	Any exam like the Graduate Record Exam(GRE) which deals with verbal ability
    can be dealt with easily if these methods are followed while preparing or answering 
    the test. These tests test the intellectual growth through your verbal ability.
    To improve the verbal ability improving vocabulary is very important. To stop 
    increasing your vocabulary is to stop your intellectual growth. One can increase
    the vocabulary by familiarising unfamiliar words if the following points are 
    followed while learning unfamiliar words:

    1) use the etymological approach to find its meaning.

    2) use it in a content

    3) check your guess in a dictionary

    4) practise the new word by using it in sentences

    5) while practising visualise the word because memory works better on pictures.


        If you set this goal then by conscious effort you can learn several thousand 
    words in a few months. This method of familiarising unfamiliar words not only adds 
    words to your active vocabulary but also integrally develops your knowledge. If you
    follow this method then you are sure to answer all the types of verbal questions
    which deal directly or indirectly with vocabulary.

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