Speech gave Latin many roots, and English kept them all. dict means “say”: to predict is to say before, to contradict is to say against. loqu (also locut) means “speak”: a ventriloquist seems to speak from the belly. voc means “call” or “voice” (vocal, invoke). nounce means “announce” or “report” (pronounce), and mand means “order” (command, demand).
Key idea
The loqu words are about how a person talks: loquacious (talking a lot), eloquent (speaking out well), colloquial (the way people talk together, informal), soliloquy (speaking alone, as an actor does on stage). The voc words are about calling out: vociferous means carrying a loud voice.
The parts and their words
Words taken apart
| Word and meaning | Parts, and what they say |
|---|---|
| diction the choice of words; also, how clearly words are spoken | dict say + -ion → “a way of saying” |
| edict an official order from an authority | e- out + dict say → “a thing said out (by those in charge)” |
| verdict a decision or judgment, especially a jury’s | ver true + dict say → “a true saying” |
| eloquent speaking or writing in a fluent, moving way | e- out + loqu speak + -ent → “speaking out (well)” |
| colloquial used in ordinary, informal conversation | col- together + loqu speak + -ial → “speaking together (everyday talk)” |
| soliloquy a speech in a play in which a character speaks thoughts aloud alone | sol alone + loqu speak + -y → “speaking alone” |
| advocate to speak in favor of | ad- to + voc call + -ate → “call to (someone’s side)” |
| vociferous loud and forceful in expressing opinions | voc voice + fer carry + -ous → “carrying the voice (loudly)” |
| denounce to publicly declare to be wrong or evil | de- formally + nounce announce → “announce formally (against someone)” |
| mandate an official order; also, authority given by voters | mand order + -ate → “a thing ordered” |
Worked example: A word with a silent c
- Take it apart: in- (upon, against) + dict (say).
- Literally: “to say against,” to make a formal charge.
- The spelling kept the Latin c, but the word is said in-DITE, rhyming with invite.
Answer: To formally charge someone with a crime; said in-DITE.
Meet the words
Common mistake