Vocabulary in Context Flashcards

Grade 8 · English · Flashcards

Master key vocabulary strategies including context clues, roots, and connotation vs. denotation.

Flashcards

Context clue: Information in surrounding text that hints at an unfamiliar word's meaning.
Definition clue: A context clue that directly states the word's meaning, often set off by commas or dashes.
Synonym clue: A nearby word with a similar meaning that hints at the unknown word's definition.
Antonym clue: A contrasting word or phrase that suggests the opposite of the unknown word's meaning.
Denotation: The literal, dictionary meaning of a word — its factual definition.
Connotation: The emotional associations a word carries beyond its literal meaning.
Root word: The base of a word that carries its core meaning (e.g., 'port' = carry).
Prefix: A word part added before the root (e.g., 'un-' = not, 'pre-' = before).
Suffix: A word part added after the root that changes meaning or part of speech (e.g., '-tion,' '-ness').
Semantic change: The way word meanings shift over time — 'nice' once meant foolish.
Affix: A prefix or suffix — any word part added to a root to modify its meaning.
Inference: A logical conclusion drawn from clues; used in vocabulary when no direct clue is given.