Part 14 (1/2)

23. LIT'ERA, _a letter_.

Radical: LITER-.

1. LIT'ERAL: liter + al = relating to the letter of a thing; that is, exact to the letter.

2. LIT'ERARY: liter + ary = pertaining to _letters_ or learning.

3. OBLITERATE: ob + liter + ate = to cause letters to be rubbed out: hence, to rub out, in general.

4. LIT'ERATURE: through Lat. n. _literatura_ = the collective body of literary works.

5. ILLIT'ERATE: il (for _in_, not) + liter + ate = of the nature of one who does not know his letters.

EXERCISE.

(1.) Define what is meant by a ”_literal_ translation.”

(2.) Give a synonymous expression for a ”literary man.”--Compose a sentence containing the terms ”literary society.”

(3.) Give a synonym of ”obliterate” in its literal meaning. _Ans._ To _erase_.--If we should speak of _obliterating_ the memory of a wrong, would the word be used in its primary or its derivative sense?

(4.) ”When we speak of English ”literature” what is meant?--Can you mention a great poem in Greek ”literature”?--Compose a sentence containing the word ”literature.”

(5.) Give a synonym of ”illiterate.” _Ans. Unlearned_.--What is the opposite of ”illiterate”? _Ans. Learned_.

24. MORS, mortis, _death_.

Radical: MORT-.

1. MOR'TAL: mort + a = relating to death.

2. MOR'TIFY: mort + ify = literally, to cause to die: hence, (1) to destroy vital functions; (2) to humble.

3. IMMOR'TALIZE: im (for _in_, not) + mort + al + ize = to make not subject to death: hence, to perpetuate.

EXERCISE.

(1.) What does Shakespeare mean by the expression to ”shuffle off this _mortal_ coil”?--Combine and define mortal + ity.--What is the opposite of ”mortal”?--Give a synonym. _Ans. Deathless_.

(2.) State the two meanings of ”mortify.”--What noun is derived from this verb? _Ans. Mortification_.--When a surgeon speaks of ”mortification”

setting in, what does he mean?--What is meant by ”mortification” when we say that the British felt great _mortification_ at the recapture of Stony Point by General Anthony Wayne?

(3.) Compose a sentence containing the word ”immortalize.” MODEL: ”Milton _immortalized_ his name by the production of Paradise Lost.”

25. NOR'MA, _a rule_.