This thread is intended for laughs (but on a serious note, it could also reveal some challenges students may face). Try to find hidden or unusual meanings in words based on their roots (you can change the root too, as long as the final word looks the same (and please include the roots in brackets so we can see more clearly how you came to the new definition).
I'll start:
Fortify (forty + -fy) = gather into groups of forty. Example: I fortified the 400 pencils into ten boxes.
contrary (contra + -ry) = having to do with the guerilla force in Nicaragua. Example: He has contrary ideas.
express (ex- + press) = press out. Example: I expressed the juice from the orange.
employ (in- + plicare, plicat-, plitit-, fold) = fold in. Example. I employed the edges to make the wings for the paper airplane.
introduce (intro- + ducere, lead) The door introduces the house. hmmm... that one kind of makes sense even in its normal use.. but still a little odd.
submit (sub- + mitere, miss-, 'send') I submitted the table my dog.
violet (vilare, treat violently + -et, diminutive noun). violate a little. Example: The car was going 101km/hour on a road with a speed limit of 100 km/hour. It's a violation, but not a major one. It's just a violet.
minister (mini- + -ster) = a person involved in small things. Example: Oh him, he's not the boss; he's just the minister in our office. You know, he fetches the mail, brings the coffee and stuff like that.
priceless (price + -less, without) The hamburger is five dollars, but the chips are priceless.
hardly (hard + -ly) He hit the table hardly with his fist.
Now let's see what strange word definitions you can come up with based on the roots.
Have fun.
Fun with roots.
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