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
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