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Question

Difficulty: MediumGreek Roots

After decades of colonial rule, the island territory was finally granted full autonomy. What does the word autonomy most nearly mean?

  1. A
    mechanical operation
  2. self-governmentAnswer
  3. C
    total dependence
  4. D
    legal authorization

Answer

The term autonomy most nearly means self-government.
The word 'autonomy' is formed from the Greek elements 'auto-' (meaning 'self') and 'nomos' (meaning 'law' or 'rule'). Together, they denote the power or condition of self-rule and independence, making 'self-government' the accurate definition in this context.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify and isolate the Greek morphological roots in the word 'autonomy'
The prefix/root 'auto-' means 'self', and the root 'nomos' (seen as '-nomy') means 'law', 'rule', or 'management'.
Deconstructing compound Greek words into their constituent roots reveals the core literal meaning.
2
Synthesize the morpheme definitions and apply them to the context of a territory gaining rights
Combining 'self' and 'law/rule' produces 'self-rule' or 'self-government'.
Matching the etymological meaning to the surrounding sentence confirms the definition of political independence.

Key Concept

Greek roots 'auto-' (self) and 'nomos' (law, rule, governance)
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Greek Roots

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