Word Knowledge Answer
As an ASVAB tutor, I focus on the importance of reviewing Latin and Greek prefixes, root words and suffixes. Yesterday I presented a Word Knowledge question.
The question is about a Latin root word that is very common in English.
The root word is “mal”. Yesterday I presented a variety of words with the Latin prefix “mal”.
The meanings of these words are:
Malfunction means to fail to function normally.
Malformed means abnormally formed or misshapen.
Malnutrition means lack of proper nutrition, caused by not having enough to eat or not eating enough of the right food.
Malign means evil in nature or to speak about someone in a spitefully critical way.
Malignant means malevolent, infectious, or cancerous.
Malpractice means improper, illegal, or negligent professional activity or treatment, especially by a medical practitioner, lawyer, or public official.
Malice is the desire to do evil.
Malady is a disease or an ailment.
The question is:
What does the Latin root “mal” mean?
- Good
- Bad
- Sea
- Mother
The Latin root “mal” means bad or evil.
The correct answer is B. Bad.
