Let’s talk about Words – Diploma

Let’s talk about the word Diploma

Dictionary meaning:

1.       a document given by an educational institution conferring a degree on a person or certifying that the person has satisfactorily completed a course of study.

2.      a document conferring some honour, privilege, or power.

3.       a public or official document, especially one of historical interest

The Latin meaning of diploma – a letter of recommendation or an official document

The Greek meaning of díplōma – a letter folded double

There are two parts in the word diploma which is of Greek origin

diplo – meaning double or folded in half and the suffix ma

The suffix ma is found at the end of the Greek word for result which is apotelesma

It’s interesting that the word for result –apotelesma  has the same suffix as diploma which is really a type of statement of a result of study or a record of such.

A suffix is placed after the stem or root of a word. Some common suffixes are:

ology;  astrology, biology, geology etc

ism; atheism, sexism, hyperthyroidism etc

ment; establishment, contentment, enjoyment etc

tion; attention, creation, devotion, nutrition etc

Can you think of some words with the following suffixes?

able; ist; mania;

Now, maybe you can think of some other words that have the suffix ma

Hint: dogma