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Question

Difficulty: MediumRoot Word Analysis

During the tense border negotiations, the commander maintained an increasingly bellicose tone. What does the word bellicose most nearly mean?

  1. A
    peaceful
  2. combativeAnswer
  3. C
    attractive
  4. D
    boisterous

Answer

combative
The word 'bellicose' derives from the Latin root 'belli-' (meaning 'war' or 'fighting') and the suffix '-ose' (meaning 'full of' or 'inclined to'). Therefore, the meaning of 'bellicose' is inclined to fight or aggressive, making 'combative' the exact synonym.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Isolate the root of the target word
The target word 'bellicose' contains the Latin root 'bell-' / 'belli-' (from 'bellum'), which means 'war' or 'fighting'.
Analyzing root morphology allows deduction of the core meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary.
2
Match the core root meaning to the closest answer choice
'Combative' directly aligns with the concept of being eager or ready to fight.
A valid synonym must preserve the primary semantic definition established by the base root.

Key Concept

Root Word Analysis (Latin root 'belli-' meaning war/fight)
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Root Word Analysis

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