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Difficulty: HardLatin Roots

After reviewing the structural safety report, the engineering committee determined that the contractor's proposed design was fundamentally untenable under seismic loads. In the word untenable, what is the primary meaning of the Latin root?

  1. A
    to stretch
  2. B
    to release
  3. to holdAnswer
  4. D
    to touch

Answer

to hold
The word 'untenable' is constructed from the negative prefix 'un-', the Latin root 'ten' (from 'tenere', meaning 'to hold' or 'to maintain'), and the adjectival suffix '-able'. Therefore, the fundamental meaning of the root is 'to hold'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Isolate the morphemes of the target word
The word 'untenable' breaks down into prefix 'un-' (not), base root 'ten' (from Latin 'tenere'), and suffix '-able' (capable of being).
Deconstructing the word reveals the underlying morphological components.
2
Identify the foundational meaning of the Latin root morpheme
The Latin root 'ten' (also appearing as 'tin' or 'tent') means 'to hold', 'to maintain', or 'to grasp'.
Connecting the morpheme to its Latin etymology provides the core semantic value.
3
Synthesize the definition with the context
Something 'untenable' is literally 'incapable of being held or defended'.
Verifying the literal meaning against the sentence context confirms that the root means 'to hold'.

Key Concept

Latin Root Morpheme Analysis ('ten/tin/tent')
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Latin Roots

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