Public Speaking Part 4

12. di (dis) = twice, double; _dissyllable_

13. dis (di, dif) = apart, away, not; _distract, diverge, diversion, disparage_

14. en (em) = in, on, into; _engrave, embody, embrace_

15. extra = beyond; _extraordinary, extravagant_

16. hyper = above; _hypercritical_

17. in (il, im, ir) = in, into, not; _inclose, ill.u.s.trate, irrigate, inform, illiterate, impious, irregular_

18. ex (e, ec, ef) = out of, from, beyond, thoroughly, formerly but not now; _exclude, excel, ex-senator._

19. inter = between, among; _intercede, interchange, interfere, interurban, interlude_

20. mis = wrongly, badly; _miscalculate, misspell, misadventure_

21. mono = one; _monoplane_

22. per = through, thoroughly, by; _perchance, perfect, per-adventure_

23. poly = many; _polygon, polytheism_

24. post = behind, after; _postgraduate, post-mortem, postlude_, _postscript, post-meridian_ (P.M.)

25. pre = before (in time, place, or order); _preeminent, predict, prefer, prefix, prejudge, prejudice_

26. preter = beyond; _preternatural_

27. pro = before, forth, forward; _proceed, prosecute_

28. pro = siding with; _pro-ally_

29. re = back, again; _recover, renew, recall_

30. sub, etc. = under; _submerge, subscribe, subterranean, subterfuge_

31. super (sur) = over, above; _superintend, supercargo_

32. trans (tra) = across; _translate, transmit, transfer_

33. vice (vis) = instead of; _vice-president, vice-admiral_

SUFFIXES

1. ee, er = one who; _absentee_, _profiteer_, _mower_

2. ard, art= term of disparagement; _drunkard_, _braggart_

3. esque = like; _statuesque_

4. ism = state of being; _barbarism_, _atheism_

5. et, let = little; _brooklet_, _bracelet_, _eaglet_

6. ling = little, young; _duckling_, _gosling_

7. kin = little; _lambkin_, _Peterkin_

8. stead = a place; _bedstead_, _homestead_, _instead_

9. wright = a workman; _wheelwright_

Thesaurus. Besides frequently consulting a good modern dictionary a student speaker should familiarize himself with a _Thesaurus_ of words and phrases. This is a peculiarly useful compilation of expressions according to their meaning relations. A dictionary lists words, then gives their meanings. A Thesaurus arranges meanings, then gives the words that express those ideas. The value of such a book can be best ill.u.s.trated by explaining its use.

Suppose a speaker is going to attack some principle, some act, some party. He knows that his main theme will be denunciation of something.

In the index of a Thesaurus he looks under _denunciation_, finding two numbers of paragraphs. Turning to the first he has under his eye a group of words all expressing shades of this idea. There are further references to other related terms. Let us look at the first group, taken from Roget's _Thesaurus_.

MALEDICTON, curse, imprecation, denunciation, execration, anathema, ban, proscription, excommunication, commination, fulmination.

Cursing, scolding, railing, Billingsgate language.

_V_. To curse, accurse, imprecate, scold, rail, execrate.

To denounce, proscribe, excommunicate, fulminate.

_Adj_. Cursing, &c, cursed, &c.

THREAT, menace, defiance, abuse, commination, intimidation.

_V_. To threaten, menace, defy, fulminate; to intimidate.

_Adj_. Threatening, menacing, minatory, abusive.

The second reference leads us farther. It presents the expressions dealing with the methods and results of _denunciation_, providing hundreds of words and phrases to use in various ways. It does even more, for in a parallel column it gives a list of opposites for the words indicating _condemnation_. This more than doubles its value.

Finally having reached the word _punishment_ it lists its cognates until the idea _penalty_ is reached, where it balances that idea with _reward_ and its synonyms. A portion of this section follows.

LAWSUIT, suit, action, cause, trial, litigation.

Denunciation, citation, arraignment, persecution, indictment, impeachment, apprehension, arrest, committal, imprisonment.

Pleadings, writ, summons, plea, bill, affidavit, &c.

Verdict, sentence, judgment, finding, decree, arbitrament, adjudication, award.

_V_. To go to law; to take the law of; to appeal to the law; to join issue; file a bill, file a claim.

To denounce, cite, apprehend, arraign, sue, prosecute, bring to trial, indict, attach, distrain, to commit, give in charge or custody; throw into prison.