What is the basic part of a word that gives it its main meaning?

What is the basic part of a word that gives it its main meaning?

• A. Prefix
• B. Suffix
• C. Root word
• D. Affix

Answer: (C)

The essential meaning of a word comes from its root word—the base part that carries the main idea. Prefixes and suffixes attach to that base to add details, change the tense or part of speech, or form related words, but they don’t provide the core meaning on their own. For example, in teach, adding a suffix to make teacher shows an agent of teaching—the root teach still supplies the main idea. In believe, adding prefixes or suffixes changes the sense (unbelievable, believing, etc.) but builds on the core idea of belief. An affix is any prefix or suffix, and while it tweaks the word, the main meaning comes from the root word.

The essential meaning of a word comes from its root word—the base part that carries the main idea. Prefixes and suffixes attach to that base to add details, change the tense or part of speech, or form related words, but they don’t provide the core meaning on their own. For example, in teach, adding a suffix to make teacher shows an agent of teaching—the root teach still supplies the main idea. In believe, adding prefixes or suffixes changes the sense (unbelievable, believing, etc.) but builds on the core idea of belief. An affix is any prefix or suffix, and while it tweaks the word, the main meaning comes from the root word.