Word Roots
2 roots • 8 wordsDUC/DUCT
Root Meaning:
DUC/DUCT, from the Latin verb ducere, “to lead,” shows up regularly in English. Duke means basically “leader.” The Italian dictator Mussolini was known simply as Il Duce, “the leader.” But such words as produce and reduce also contain the root, even though their meanings show it less clearly.
Etymology:
Latin
4 words derived from this root
Words from this root:
conducive
/kənˈduː.sɪv/
Definition:
Tending to promote, encourage, or assist; helpful.
Example:
She found the atmosphere in the quiet café conducive to study and even to creative thinking.
Explanation:
Something conducive “leads to” a desirable result. A cozy living room may be conducive to relaxed conversation, just as a boardroom may be conducive to more intense discussions. Notice that *conducive* is almost always followed by *to.*
deduction
/diˈdʌk.ʃən/
Definition:
(1) Subtraction. (2) The reaching of a conclusion by reasoning.
Example:
Foretelling the future by deduction based on a political or economic theory has proved to be extremely difficult.
Explanation:
To *deduct* is simply to subtract. A tax deduction is a subtraction from your taxable income allowed by the government for certain expenses, which will result in your paying lower taxes.
induce
/ɪnˈduːs/
Definition:
(1) Persuade, influence. (2) Bring about.
Example:
To induce him to make the call we had to promise we wouldn't do it again.
Explanation:
Inducing is usually gentle persuasion; you may, for instance, induce a friend to go to a concert, or induce a child to stop crying.
seduction
/siˈdʌk.ʃən/
Definition:
(1) Temptation to sin, especially temptation to sexual intercourse. (2) Attraction or charm.
Example:
The company began its campaign of seduction of the smaller firm by inviting its top management to a series of weekends at expensive resorts.
Explanation:
*Seduction,* with its prefix *se-,* “aside,” means basically “lead aside or astray.” In Hawthorne's novel *The Scarlet Letter,* Hester Prynne is forced to wear a large scarlet A, for “adulteress,” after it is revealed that she's been *seduced* by the Reverend Dimmesdale.
SEQU
Root Meaning:
SEQU comes from the Latin verb sequi, meaning “to follow.” A sequel follows the original novel, film, or television show.
Etymology:
Latin
4 words derived from this root
Words from this root:
sequential
/sɪˈkwen.ʃəl/
Definition:
(1) Arranged in order or in a series. (2) Following in a series.
Example:
In writing the history of the revolution, his challenge was to put all the events of those fateful days in proper sequential order.
Explanation:
Things in *sequence,* or regular order, are arranged *sequentially.* Most novels and films move sequentially, but some use techniques such as flashbacks that interrupt the movement forward in time.
subsequent
/ˈsʌb.sɪ.kwənt/
Definition:
Following in time, order, or place; later.
Example:
Through all her subsequent love affairs, she never stopped thinking about the man who got away.
Explanation:
The prefix *sub-* normally means “below,” and the *sub-* in *subsequent* seems to imply that everything after the first is somehow inferior.
consequential
/ˌkɒn.sɪˈkwen.ʃəl/
Definition:
(1) Resulting. (2) Important.
Example:
None of our discussions thus far has been very consequential; next week's meeting will be the important one.
Explanation:
Something consequential follows or comes along with something else. The “resulting” meaning of *consequential* is usually seen in legal writing. But normally *consequential* means “significant” or “important,” and it's especially used for events that will produce large *consequences*, or results.
non sequitur
/ˌnɒn ˈsek.wɪ.tər/
Definition:
A statement that does not follow logically from anything previously said.
Example:
Rattled by the question, his mind went blank, and he blurted out a non sequitur that fetched a few laughs from members of the audience.
Explanation:
*Non sequitur* is actually a complete sentence in Latin, meaning “It does not follow”—that is, something said or written doesn't logically follow what came before it.