Question

The English word ‘education’ is borrowed from :

• A. French
• B. Latin
• C. Scandinavian
• D. None of the above

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Latin

Etymology of 'Education'

• The English word 'education' is primarily derived from Latin.
• It stems from two key Latin verbs that provide insight into the multifaceted nature of the concept:
  • educare: This verb means "to bring up, to train, to rear, or to mold". It suggests the process of nurturing and shaping an individual's character and skills.
  • educere: This verb means "to lead out, to draw forth, or to bring out". It implies the idea of eliciting or developing latent talents, knowledge, and potential from within a person, rather than merely instilling information from external sources. Many modern educational philosophies resonate with this 'leading out' concept.
• The Latin prefix 'e-' (or 'ex-') means "out of" or "from".
• The Latin root 'ducere' means "to lead". Thus, 'educere' literally translates to "to lead out".
• This etymological background emphasizes that education is not just about the transmission of knowledge but also about guiding individuals to discover and actualize their inherent capabilities.

Latin's Enduring Influence on English

• Latin has had an immense and lasting impact on the English language, significantly contributing to its vocabulary.
• A substantial portion of English words, especially those found in academic, scientific, legal, medical, and religious contexts, trace their origins back to Latin.
• This influence is largely due to historical events such as the Roman occupation of Britain, the Norman Conquest (which brought Old French, a Latin-derived language, to England), and the Renaissance (a period of renewed interest in classical Latin and Greek).
• For competitive exams, understanding common Latin and Greek roots, prefixes, and suffixes is crucial as it greatly aids in vocabulary building, comprehension, and deciphering the meaning of unfamiliar words. For instance, words containing '-duct-' often relate to 'leading' (e.g., conduct, deduct, induce, produce).