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Difficulty: MediumGreek Roots

The architect noted that the initial project proposal was still amorphous and needed more defined parameters before construction could begin. What does the word amorphous most nearly mean?

  1. A
    Rigid
  2. B
    Lifeless
  3. ShapelessAnswer
  4. D
    Colorful

Answer

Shapeless
The word amorphous derives from the Greek root *morph* (meaning form, shape, or structure) preceded by the Greek prefix *a-* (meaning without or lacking). Thus, amorphous means lacking a definite shape, form, or organization, which is accurately defined as shapeless.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Isolate the morphemes of the target word
The word consists of the Greek privative prefix a- (without, not) and the Greek root morph (form, shape, structure).
Analyzing the morphological components reveals the root definition of the unfamiliar word.
2
Synthesize the morpheme meanings with the sentence context
Combining 'without' and 'shape' yields 'lacking shape or structure', which aligns with a proposal needing defined parameters.
The sentence indicates that the proposal lacked clear structure and boundaries, confirming 'shapeless'.

Key Concept

Greek root morph (form, shape) with prefix a- (without)
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Greek Roots

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