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Question

Difficulty: MediumRoot Word Analysis

The engineer explained that the structural specifications of the support beam are immutable. What does the word immutable most nearly mean?

  1. A
    Silent
  2. B
    Changeable
  3. UnchangeableAnswer
  4. D
    Immune

Answer

The word immutable most nearly means unchangeable.
The word 'immutable' is formed from the negative prefix 'im-' (meaning 'not') and the Latin root 'mut' (from 'mutare', meaning 'to change'), combined with the adjective suffix '-able'. Therefore, something that is immutable cannot be altered or modified, making 'unchangeable' the correct synonym.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the prefix and root of the target word
The word 'immutable' is composed of the prefix 'im-' (meaning 'not'), the Latin root 'mut' (from 'mutare', meaning 'to change'), and the suffix '-able' (meaning 'capable of').
Deconstructing a word into its morphological components reveals its foundational definition.
2
Synthesize the morpheme definitions into a complete meaning
Combining 'im-' (not) + 'mut' (change) + '-able' (capable of) yields 'not capable of change' or 'unchangeable'.
Combining the root and affix definitions allows direct matching to the exact synonym.

Key Concept

Root Word Analysis of Latin root 'mut' (change) with negative prefix 'im-'
Estimated Time:35s
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Topics

Root Word Analysis

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