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BMO
Joined: 19 Feb 2004 Posts: 705
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Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 2:04 pm Post subject: pentagon - prefix and suffix |
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Is penta- a prefix or root?
Is -gon a suffix or root?
Thanks.
bmo |
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bud
Joined: 09 Mar 2003 Posts: 2111 Location: New Jersey, US
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Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2005 3:57 pm Post subject: |
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"Penta-" is a prefix and "-gon" is a suffix. Hmm... so what is the root of pentagon? Hmm.. Good question, BMO!  |
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BMO
Joined: 19 Feb 2004 Posts: 705
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Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2005 4:23 pm Post subject: |
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Maybe root can be a prefix or suffix.
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bud
Joined: 09 Mar 2003 Posts: 2111 Location: New Jersey, US
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Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2005 4:35 pm Post subject: |
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It's a good question, but beyond me! |
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asterix
Joined: 26 Jan 2003 Posts: 1654
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Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2005 12:59 pm Post subject: |
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In the Oxford Dictionary is says that penta- is a word that combined with other words means five. In chemistry it forms the names of compounds having five atoms or groups of a specified kind. e.g. pentachloride, pentoxide.
It comes from the greek pente= five.
-gon is likewise described as a combination form, forming nouns which denote plane figures with a specified number of angles. (pentagon, hexagon)
It comes from the greek noun gon = angle.
So, cutting to the chase I would say that in the case of pentagon penta- is the prefix and gon is the noun root. |
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