Question

Difficulty: MediumPrefix and Suffix Analysis

During a heated dispute between two team members, the division officer stepped in to intercede. In this sentence, what does the word intercede most nearly mean?

  1. A
    provoke
  2. mediateAnswer
  3. C
    surrender
  4. D
    intersect

Answer

mediate
The target word 'intercede' consists of the prefix 'inter-' (meaning between or among) and the root 'cede' (meaning to go or yield). In the context of stepping into a conflict between two individuals, to intercede means to act as a peacemaker or go-between, making 'mediate' the exact synonym.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the prefix and root components of the target word 'intercede'.
The prefix 'inter-' signifies 'between' or 'among', and the Latin root 'cede' (from cedere) signifies 'to go' or 'to yield'.
Deconstructing the affix and root provides the core morphological meaning of the word.
2
Synthesize the morphological elements with the provided sentence context.
Going 'between' two parties involved in a dispute means to act as an intermediary or to 'mediate'.
Applying morphological analysis to the surrounding context reveals the precise synonym.

Key Concept

Prefix and Suffix Analysis
Estimated Time:45s
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