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Question

Difficulty: EasyPrefix and Suffix Analysis

The maintenance supervisor instructed the crew to eliminate all nonessential tasks during the shift. In this sentence, what does the word nonessential most nearly mean?

  1. A
    Crucial
  2. B
    Nonsensical
  3. UnnecessaryAnswer
  4. D
    Damaged

Answer

Unnecessary
The word 'nonessential' is formed by joining the prefix 'non-' (meaning 'not') with the base word 'essential' (meaning 'necessary' or 'vital'). Thus, 'nonessential' most nearly means 'unnecessary'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the prefix and base word in the target term
The word 'nonessential' breaks down into the prefix 'non-' and the base word 'essential'.
Analyzing morphological structure allows the deduction of the word's complete definition.
2
Combine the meanings of the affix and base word
The prefix 'non-' means 'not', and 'essential' means 'necessary' or 'required'. Combined, 'nonessential' means 'not necessary' or 'unnecessary'.
Synthesizing word parts directly identifies the synonymous meaning.

Key Concept

Prefix and Suffix Analysis
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Topics

Prefix and Suffix Analysis

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