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Question

Difficulty: MediumRoot Word Analysis

Fill in the blank with the most accurate synonym for the bolded root-derived word. What term correctly completes the statement?

Answer:The word placate most nearly means to 【soothe】.

Answer

soothe (or appease, calm, pacify, mollify)
The word 'placate' is derived from the Latin root 'plac-' (from placare/placere), which translates to 'to please,' 'to soothe,' or 'to calm.' Combined with the verb suffix '-ate', it means to make someone less angry, hostile, or agitated. Therefore, words like 'soothe,' 'appease,' 'calm,' and 'pacify' are exact synonyms.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the base root of the target word.
The word 'placate' contains the Latin root 'plac-' (from placare/placere), which means 'to please,' 'to calm,' or 'to soothe.'
Extracting the root morpheme reveals the underlying conceptual core of the word.
2
Analyze the morphological affix and grammatical role.
The suffix '-ate' forms a verb indicating an action or cause.
Understanding the affix confirms that the word functions as a verb meaning 'to cause to become calm or pleased.'
3
Deduce the direct synonym based on root meaning.
The verb that directly matches the action of making someone peaceful or calm is 'soothe' (or 'appease' / 'pacify').
Synthesizing the root analysis determines the most precise synonym.

Key Concept

Root Word Analysis (Latin root 'plac-' meaning 'to please' or 'to calm')
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Root Word Analysis

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