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Question

Difficulty: MediumPrefix and Suffix Analysis

Once signed by both property owners, the boundary agreement became irrevocable. In this sentence, the word irrevocable most nearly means:

  1. A
    reversible
  2. B
    spoken aloud
  3. unchangeableAnswer
  4. D
    disputable

Answer

The correct answer is unchangeable.
The word 'unchangeable' is the accurate synonym. Morphological breakdown of 'irrevocable' reveals the negative prefix 'ir-' (meaning 'not'), the root elements 're-' and 'voc' (meaning 'to call back' or 'repeal'), and the suffix '-able' (meaning 'capable of'). Synthesizing these affixes yields 'incapable of being retracted, reversed, or altered,' matching the definition of unchangeable.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Isolate and identify the prefix 'ir-'
Determine that 'ir-' is an assimilated form of the negative prefix 'in-', meaning 'not' or 'without'.
Recognizing the negative prefix is essential for establishing the word's polarity.
2
Analyze the internal elements 're-' and the root 'voc'
Recognize 're-' (back) and 'voc' (from Latin 'vocare', meaning 'to call'), which together signify 'to call back' or 'revoke'.
Identifying the root provides the primary action or concept underlying the word.
3
Evaluate the suffix '-able' and synthesize the full definition
Combine 'not' + 'call back' + 'capable of being' to define the word as 'incapable of being called back or altered' (unchangeable).
The suffix determines the part of speech and completes the composite morphological meaning.

Key Concept

Prefix and Suffix Analysis in Determining Word Meaning
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Prefix and Suffix Analysis

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