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Difficulty: MediumGreek Roots

The historical novel described the hermit as a bitter misanthrope who lived far from the neighboring towns. What does the word misanthrope most nearly mean?

  1. A
    A generous person who actively promotes human welfare
  2. B
    A scientist who studies human physical and cultural evolution
  3. A person who dislikes and avoids human societyAnswer
  4. D
    An individual who constantly makes careless errors and mistakes

Answer

A person who dislikes and avoids human society
The word 'misanthrope' comes from the Greek roots 'mis-' (meaning 'to hate') and 'anthropos' (meaning 'human being' or 'mankind'). Combining these morphemes gives the definition of a person who has a strong dislike or distrust of human society.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the initial Greek root in the word 'misanthrope'
The morpheme 'mis-' derives from the Greek root 'misein', meaning 'to hate' or 'distrust'.
Recognizing the Greek prefix helps establish the negative emotional stance of the word.
2
Identify the base Greek root in the word 'misanthrope'
The morpheme 'anthrop-' derives from the Greek root 'anthropos', meaning 'human' or 'mankind'.
Determining the base morpheme identifies the target of the sentiment.
3
Synthesize the roots to deduce the full meaning
A 'misanthrope' is a person who harbors hatred or deep aversion toward humankind.
Combining 'to hate' with 'human' produces the accurate definition.

Key Concept

Deconstructing words using Greek roots (mis- meaning 'to hate' and anthropos meaning 'human')
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Topics

Greek Roots

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