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Difficulty: MediumRoot Word Analysis

Read the sentence below and use root word analysis to determine the meaning of the highlighted term. Which word best completes the statement?

Answer:A military strategist who remains circumspect before issuing operational orders is thoroughly 【cautious】 in evaluating every risk.

Answer

cautious (or prudent / careful / wary)
The word 'circumspect' originates from the Latin prefix 'circum-' (meaning 'around') and the Latin root 'spect' (meaning 'to look' or 'to see'). Combining these morphemes gives the literal sense of 'looking around on all sides' before acting. Therefore, the exact synonym that fits the sentence is 'cautious' (or 'prudent', 'wary', 'careful').

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the base components of the target word
The word 'circumspect' divides into the prefix 'circum-' and the root 'spect'.
Root word analysis requires breaking complex words into their core morphemes.
2
Determine the etymological meanings of each morpheme
'Circum-' is Latin for 'around' or 'about', and the Latin root 'spect' (from specere) means 'to look' or 'to observe'.
Combining root and prefix definitions reveals the foundational meaning of the term.
3
Synthesize the morpheme definitions to establish the exact contextual synonym
Literally meaning 'looking all around,' the term describes someone who is alert to all possible dangers and consequences: 'cautious' or 'prudent'.
Matching the literal root meaning to standard vocabulary provides the correct synonym.

Key Concept

Deducing word meanings and exact synonyms using Latin roots and prefixes (circum- + spect)
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Root Word Analysis

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