Build Vocabulary - PopulationMe.com

Name _____________________________________________
Date __________
OfA Visit to Grandmother" by William Melvin Kelley (text page 166)
Build Vocabulary
Spelling Strategy When the suffix -ing is added to a word ending in -e, the -e is
dropped; for example, bake becomes baking, and grimace becomes the Word Bank word
grimacing. (Exceptions: ey~ing, dy~ing)
Using Word Origins
A word's etymology is its hIstory. or origin. A dictionary presents a word's etymology in
brackets following the word's pronunciation key and part of speech label or occasionally at the
end of the definition. In most cases, the information in the brackets describes the language(s)
from which the word originated, the original form of the word, and the original meaning of the
word.
A. DIRECTIONS: Use a dictionary to look up the origin of each of the following words from "A
Visit to Grandmother." Then fill in the appropriate information on the lines provided. As you
look at the words, you will notice that some words have been part of many different languages.
The last version listed within the set ofbrackets is the word's original version.
1. grimace
Language of origin __________________~_~_______
Originalform _____________________________________________~_________
Original meaning ____________________________~_______
2. indulge
Languageoforigin ________________________________________
Originalfurm _____________________________~__________________
Originalmeaning _________________________________________
3. venture
Language of origin _______________________________________,
Originalfurm ______________________________________
Original meaning _________________________
Using the Word Bank
B. DIRECTIONS: Match each word in the left column with its definition in the right column. Write
the letter of the definition on the line next to the word it defines.
1. indulgence a. coated with a varnish made from shellac or resin
2. grimacing b. took the risk of
3. lacquered c. making a twisted or distorted faCial expression
4. ventured d. leniency; forgiveness
© Prentice-Hall, Inc. A Visit to Grandmother 47