Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumPrefix and Suffix Analysis

The technician noted that the minor voltage drop was a precursor to the complete electrical outage. In this sentence, what does the word precursor most nearly mean?

  1. A
    precaution
  2. forerunnerAnswer
  3. C
    aftermath
  4. D
    remedy

Answer

forerunner
The word precursor is derived from the prefix 'pre-' (meaning 'before'), the Latin root 'curs' (meaning 'to run'), and the suffix '-or' (designating an agent or object). Thus, a precursor is literally something that runs ahead or comes before, which aligns directly with the meaning of 'forerunner'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Break down the morphological components of the target word precursor.
The word contains the prefix 'pre-' (meaning 'before'), the base root 'curs' (from Latin currere, meaning 'to run'), and the noun suffix '-or' (indicating an agent, device, or thing that performs an action).
Analyzing prefixes, roots, and suffixes reveals the foundational meaning of derived vocabulary.
2
Synthesize the affix meanings to define the full word and evaluate the context.
Literally meaning 'that which runs before,' a precursor is an indicator, predecessor, or forerunner that precedes a subsequent occurrence.
Matching the morphological synthesis with the sentence context confirms the correct synonym.

Key Concept

Prefix and Suffix Analysis
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Rate this question

Topics

Prefix and Suffix Analysis

More questions from this topic