The World of Words: Vocabulary for College Success ... - eLibrary

Learning Strategy 13Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.(1) the past participle, (2) the present participle, and (3) the third-personsingular verb form.In print dictionaries, if an entry is for a verb of more than one syllable,these forms are listed without the first syllable. For example, theforms for the verb answer are listed in the dictionary as -swered, -swering,-swers, with an- simply left out. Entries for nouns list the spelling of irregularplural forms. Entries for adjectives like pretty list spellings forcomparative forms, such as prettier and prettiest.As you look at the definitions within each part-of-speech category ofrule, you will notice three other features of the dictionary entry. First, twoor more closely related definitions may be listed under one number. Thisis true for several definitions of rule. Definitions 1, 2, and 6 of rule as anoun each have parts a and b (lines 1–5 and 8–10). Definition 4 of rule asa transitive verb also has two parts (lines 16–17).Next you may notice that a word in italics (such as Mathematics,Law, or Printing) is included in some definitions. This word, which iscalled a label, indicates that a definition is used in a special manner. Forexample, the fifth definition of rule (line 7) as a noun is used mainly inmath. Definition 6 is used in law, and 8 is used in printing.Other labels give information about the style or use of a definition.For instance, the labels Obs. (for obsolete) and Archaic indicate that thismeaning of a word is no longer used. The label Informal shows that thisuse of the word is acceptable only in informal speech. Nonstandard indicatesa usage that is not commonly accepted.The fourth definition of rule as an intransitive verb is used as slang(lines 20–21). Note that a sentence illustrates the definition: “That new movierules!” In some cases, sentences written by well-known authors are quoted indictionary entries. In other cases, a phrase is used to illustrate a meaning.Toward the end of the entry for rule some phrases using the word areshown. A phrasal verb is a phrase that functions as a verb. In the entry forrule, the phrasal verb rule out is defined (line 21). An idiom is a commonphrase. In this entry, the idiom as a rule is included (lines 22–23).The last part of the entry shows the etymology of rule. It was firstused in Latin, then in Vulgar Latin, then made its way to Old French, andfinally entered Middle English. The English we speak is a descendant ofMiddle English.A dictionary can also help you find other words that have the samemeaning, or synonyms. The entry for rule shows that synonyms for thetransitive verb, definition number 3, are listed at the entry for decide.For practice, read a dictionary entry from an online source for feignand then answer the questions.