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Question

Difficulty: HardVerb and Adverb Suffixes

Without periodic reform, the agency's operational guidelines began to ossify.

In the sentence above, the word ossify most nearly means which of the following?

  1. A
    waver back and forth
  2. harden into a rigid stateAnswer
  3. C
    state of complete inflexibility
  4. D
    become supple and adaptable

Answer

harden into a rigid state
The correct answer correctly identifies the meaning of the suffixed verb. The Latin root 'oss-' refers to bone, and the verb suffix '-ify' signifies causing something to become or transform into that state. Figuratively applied to policies or guidelines, 'ossify' means to harden into an inflexible, rigid state.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Isolate the morphemes within the target word.
The word breaks down into the Latin root 'oss-' (meaning 'bone') and the suffix '-ify'.
Deconstructing the root and affix provides the structural foundation for determining meaning.
2
Analyze the grammatical and semantic function of the suffix.
The suffix '-ify' is a productive verb suffix meaning 'to make', 'to cause to become', or 'to transform into'.
Recognizing the verb-forming suffix ensures proper grammatical alignment and semantic direction.
3
Combine the morpheme meanings and apply them to the context of the sentence.
Literally 'to turn into bone', the figurative meaning in the context of institutional rules is to become inflexible, calcified, or hardened into a rigid state.
Context determines whether the target verb is functioning literally or figuratively.

Key Concept

Verb Suffix -ify (Morphological Transformation)
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Verb and Adverb Suffixes

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