Root (linguistics) facts for kids
The root in language is either a base word, or a part of a word to which affixes are added. Or, it is the part left after affixes have been taken away. Technically, it is the smallest unit which carries meaning: it cannot be reduced into smaller units. It is the same as a free-standing morpheme.
If a root is a whole word, then it is called a base word. It is the word which stands at the head of a dictionary definition, is the base of a word family.
Examples: in each case in bold
- Unhelpfully
- reaction
- receive
- science. This one is interesting because it is so ancient. It is a descendent of the Indo-European root scei, meaning to cut or split. It comes to us via the Latin language.
See also
In Spanish: Lexema para niños
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Root (linguistics) Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.