chapter-5

HOW TO TALK ABOUT VARIOUS

PRACTITIONERS

(Sessions 7–10)

TEASER PREVIEW

What practitioner:

is a student of human behavior?

follows the techniques devised by Sigmund Freud?

straightens teeth?

measures vision?

grinds lenses?

treats minor ailments of the feet?

analyzes handwriting?

deals with the problems of aging?

uses manipulation and massage as curative techniques?

SESSION 7

An ancient Greek mused about the meaning of life, and philosophy

was born. The first Roman decided to build a road instead of cutting

a path through the jungle, and engineering came into existence. One

day in primitive times, a human being lent to another whatever then

passed for money and got back his original investment plus a little

more—and banking had started.

Most people spend part of every workday at some gainful

employment, honest or otherwise, and in so doing often contribute

their little mite to the progress of the world.

We explore in this chapter the ideas behind people’s occupations

—and the words that translate these ideas into verbal symbols.

IDEAS

1. behavior

By education and training, this practitioner is an expert in the

dark mysteries of human behavior—what makes people act as they

do, why they have certain feelings, how their personalities were

formed—in short, what makes them tick. Such a professional is

often employed by industries, schools, and institutions to devise

means for keeping workers productive and happy, students well-

adjusted, and inmates contented. With a state license, this person

may also do private or group therapy.

A psychologist

2. worries, fears, conflicts

This practitioner is a physician, psychiatrist, or psychologist who

has been specially trained in the techniques devised by Sigmund

Freud, encouraging you to delve into that part of your mind called

“the unconscious.” By reviewing the experiences, traumas, feelings,

and thoughts of your earlier years, you come to a better

understanding of your present worries, fears, conflicts, repressions,

insecurities, and nervous tensions—thus taking the first step in

coping with them. Treatment, consisting largely in listening to, and

helping you to interpret the meaning of, your free-flowing ideas, is

usually given in frequent sessions that may well go on for a year or

more.

A psychoanalyst

3. teeth

This practitioner is a dentist who has taken postgraduate work in

the straightening of teeth.

An orthodontist

4. eyes

This practitioner measures your vision and prescribes the type of

glasses that will give you a new and more accurate view of the

world.

An optometrist

5. glasses

This practitioner grinds lenses according to the specifications

prescribed by your optometrist or ophthalmologist, and may also

deal in other kinds of optical goods.

An optician

6. bones and blood vessels

This practitioner is a member of the profession that originated in

1874, when Andrew T. Still devised a drugless technique of curing

diseases by massage and other manipulative procedures, a technique

based on the theory that illness may be caused by the undue

pressure of displaced bones on nerves and blood vessels.

Training is equal to that of physicians, and in most states these

practitioners may also use the same methods as, and have the full

rights and privileges of, medical doctors.

An osteopath

7. joints and articulations

The basic principle of this practitioner’s work is the maintenance

of the structural and functional integrity of the nervous system.

Treatment consists of manipulating most of the articulations of the

body, especially those connected to the spinal column. Licensed and

legally recognized in forty-five states, this professional has pursued

academic studies and training that parallel those of the major

healing professions.

A chiropractor

8. feet

This practitioner treats minor foot ailments—corns, calluses,

bunions, fallen arches, etc., and may perform minor surgery.

A podiatrist

9. writing

This practitioner analyzes handwriting to determine character,

personality, or aptitudes, and is often called upon to verify the

authenticity of signatures, written documents, etc.

A graphologist

10. getting old

This social scientist deals with the financial, economic, sexual,

social, retirement, and other non-medical problems of the elderly.

A gerontologist

USING THE WORDS

Can you pronounce the words?

1. psychologist

sī-KOL′-Ə-jist

2. psychoanalyst

sī-kō-AN′-Ə-list

3. orthodontist

awr-thƏ-DON′-tist

4. optometrist

op-TOM′-Ə-trist

5. optician

op-TISH′-Ən

6. osteopath

OS′-tee-Ə-path

7. chiropractor

KĪ′-rƏ-prƏk′-tƏr

8. podiatrist

pƏ-DĪ′-Ə-trist

9. graphologist

graf-OL′-Ə-jist

10. gerontologist

jair′-Ən-TOL′-Ə-jist

Can you work with the words?

PRACTITIONERS

INTERESTS

1. psychologist

a. vision

2. psychoanalyst

b. “the unconscious”

3. orthodontist

c. bones and blood vessels

4. optometrist

d. lenses and optical instruments

5. optician

e. feet

6. osteopath

f. teeth

7. chiropractor

g. problems of aging

8. podiatrist

h. joints of the spine

9. graphologist

i. handwriting

10. gerontologist

j. behavior

KEY: 1–j, 2–b, 3–f, 4–a, 5–d, 6–c, 7–h, 8–e, 9–i, 10–g

Do you understand the words?

1. A psychologist must also be a physician.

TRUE FALSE

2. A psychoanalyst follows Freudian techniques.

TRUE FALSE

3. An orthodontist specializes in straightening teeth.

TRUE FALSE

4. An optometrist prescribes and fits glasses.

TRUE FALSE

5. An optician may prescribe glasses.

TRUE FALSE

6. An osteopath may use massage and other manipulative

techniques.

TRUE FALSE

7. A chiropractor has a medical degree.

TRUE FALSE

8. A podiatrist may perform major surgery.

TRUE FALSE

9. A graphologist analyzes character from handwriting.

TRUE FALSE

10. A gerontologist is interested in the non-medical problems of

adolescence.

TRUE FALSE

KEY: 1–F, 2–T, 3–T, 4–T, 5–F, 6–T, 7–F, 8–F, 9–T, 10–F

Can you recall the words?

1. delves into the unconscious

1. P____________

2. uses either massage and manipulation or other standard medical

procedures to treat illness

2. O____________

3. takes care of minor ailments of the feet

3. P____________

4. straightens teeth

4. O____________

5. analyzes handwriting

5. G____________

6. grinds lenses and sells optical goods

6. O____________

7. deals with the non-medical problems of aging

7. G____________

8. manipulates articulations connected to the spinal column

8. C____________

9. studies and explains human behavior

9. P____________

10. measures vision and prescribes glasses

10. O____________

SESSION 8

ORIGINS AND RELATED WORDS

1. the mental life

Psychologist is built upon the same Greek root as psychiatrist—

psyche, spirit, soul, or mind. In psychiatrist, the combining form is

iatreia, medical healing. In psychologist, the combining form is logos,

science or study; a psychologist, by etymology, is one who studies the

mind.

The field is psychology (sī-KOL′-Ə-jee), the adjective psychological

(sī′-kƏ-LOJ′-Ə-kƏl).

Psyche (SĪ′-kee) is also an English word in its own right—it

designates the mental life, the spiritual or non-physical aspect of

one’s existence. The adjective psychic (SĪ′-kik) refers to phenomena

or qualities that cannot be explained in purely physical terms.

People may be called psychic if they seem to possess a sixth sense, a

special gift of mind reading, or any mysterious aptitudes that cannot

be accounted for logically. A person’s disturbance is psychic if it is

emotional or mental, rather than physical.

Psyche combines with the Greek pathos, suffering or disease, to

form psychopathic (sī-kƏ-PATH′-ik), an adjective that describes

someone suffering from a severe mental or emotional disorder. The

noun is psychopathy (sī′-KOP′-Ə-thee).¹

The root psyche combines with Greek soma, body, to form

psychosomatic (sī′-kō-sƏ-MAT′-ik), an adjective that delineates the

powerful influence that the mind, especially the unconscious, has on

bodily diseases. Thus, a person who fears the consequence of being

present at a certain meeting will suddenly develop a bad cold or

backache, or even be injured in a traffic accident, so that his

appearance at this meeting is made impossible. It’s a real cold, it’s

far from an imaginary backache, and of course one cannot in any

sense doubt the reality of the automobile that injured him. Yet,

according to the psychosomatic theory of medicine, his unconscious

made him susceptible to the cold germs, caused the backache, or

forced him into the path of the car.

A psychosomatic disorder actually exists insofar as symptoms are

concerned (headache, excessive urination, pains, paralysis, heart

palpitations), yet there is no organic cause within the body. The

cause is within the psyche, the mind. Dr. Flanders Dunbar, in Mind

and Body, gives a clear and exciting account of the interrelationship

between emotions and diseases.

Psychoanalysis (sī′-kō-Ə-NAL′-Ə-sis) relies on the technique of

deeply, exhaustively probing into the unconscious, a technique

developed by Sigmund Freud. In oversimplified terms, the general

principle of psychoanalysis is to guide the patient to an awareness of

the deep-seated, unconscious causes of anxieties, fears, conflicts,

and tension. Once found, exposed to the light of day, and

thoroughly understood, claim the psychoanalysts, these causes may

vanish like a light snow that is exposed to strong sunlight.

Consider an example: You have asthma, let us say, and your

doctor can find no physical basis for your ailment. So you are

referred to a psychoanalyst (or psychiatrist or clinical psychologist who

practices psychoanalytically oriented therapy).

With your therapist you explore your past life, dig into your

unconscious, and discover, let us say for the sake of argument, that

your mother or father always used to set for you impossibly high

goals. No matter what you accomplished in school, it was not good

enough—in your mother’s or father’s opinion (and such opinions

were always made painfully clear to you), you could do better if you

were not so lazy. As a child you built up certain resentments and

anxieties because you seemed unable to please your parent—and

(this will sound farfetched, but it is perfectly possible) as a result

you became asthmatic. How else were you going to get the parental

love, the approbation, the attention you needed and that you felt

you were not receiving?

In your sessions with your therapist, you discover that your

asthma is emotionally, rather than organically, based—your ailment

is psychogenic (sī′-kō-JEN′-ik), of psychic origin, or (the terms are

used more or less interchangeably although they differ somewhat in

definition) psychosomatic, resulting from the interaction of mind and

body. (Psychogenic is built on psyche plus Greek genesis, birth or

origin.)

And your treatment? No drugs, no surgery—these may help the

body, not the emotions. Instead, you “work out” (this is the term

used in psychoanalytic [sī-kō-an′-Ə-LIT′-ik] parlance) early trauma in

talk, in remembering, in exploring, in interpreting, in reliving

childhood experiences. And if your asthma is indeed psychogenic (or

psychosomatic), therapy will very likely help you; your attacks may

cease, either gradually or suddenly.

Freudian therapy is less popular today than formerly; many newer

therapies—Gestalt, bioenergetics, transactional analysis, to name

only a few—claim to produce quicker results.

In any case, psychotherapy (sī-kō-THAIR′-Ə-pee) of one sort or

another is the indicated treatment for psychogenic (or psychosomatic)

disorders, or for any personality disturbances. The practitioner is a

psychotherapist (sī-kō-THAIR′-Ə-pist) or therapist, for short; the

adjective is psychotherapeutic (sī-kō-thair′-Ə-PY

ōō

′-tik).

REVIEW OF ETYMOLOGY

ROOT, SUFFIX

MEANING

1. psyche

spirit, soul, mind

ENGLISH WORD _____________

2. iatreia

medical healing

ENGLISH WORD _____________

3. -ic

adjective suffix

ENGLISH WORD _____________

4. soma

body

ENGLISH WORD _____________

5. genesis

birth, origin

ENGLISH WORD _____________

6. pathos

suffering, disease

ENGLISH WORD _____________

USING THE WORDS

Can you pronounce the words?

1. psychology

sī-KOL′-Ə-jee

2. psychological

sī′-kƏ-LOJ′-Ə-kƏl

3. psyche

SĪ′-kee

4. psychic

SĪ′-kik

5. psychopathic

sī-kƏ-PATH′-ik

6. psychopathy

sī-KOP′-Ə-thee

7. psychopath

SĪ′-kƏ-path

8. psychosomatic

sī′-kō-sƏ-MAT′-ik

9. psychoanalysis

sī′-kō-Ə-NAL′-Ə-sis

10. psychoanalytic

sī-kō-an′-Ə-LIT′-ik

11. psychogenic

sī-kō-JEN′-ik

12. psychotherapy

sī-kō-THAIR′-Ə-pee

13. psychotherapist

sī-kō-THAIR′-Ə-pist

14. psychotherapeutic

sī-kō-thair′-Ə-PY

ōō

′-tik

Can you work with the words?

1. psychology

a. mental or emotional

disturbance

2. psyche

b. psychological treatment based

on Freudian techniques

3. psychic

c. general term for psychological

treatment

4. psychopathy

d. originating in the mind or

emotions

5. psychosomatic

e. one’s inner or mental life, or

self-image

6. psychoanalysis

f. study of the human mind and

behavior

7. psychogenic

g. describing the interaction of

mind and body

8. psychotherapy

h. pertaining to the mind;

extrasensory

9. psychopath

i. person lacking in social

conscience or inner censor

KEY: 1–f, 2–e, 3–h, 4–a, 5–g, 6–b, 7–d, 8–c, 9–i

Do you understand the words?

1. Psychological treatment aims at sharpening the intellect.

TRUE FALSE

2. Psychic phenomena can be explained on rational or physical

grounds

TRUE FALSE

3. Psychopathic personalities are normal and healthy.

TRUE FALSE

4. A psychosomatic symptom is caused by organic disease.

TRUE FALSE

5. Every therapist uses psychoanalysis.

TRUE FALSE

6. A psychogenic illness originates in the mind or emotions.

TRUE FALSE

7. A psychotherapist must have a medical degree.

TRUE FALSE

8. Psychoanalytically oriented therapy uses Freudian techniques.

TRUE FALSE

9. A psychopath is often a criminal.

TRUE FALSE

KEY: 1–F, 2–F, 3–F, 4–F, 5–F, 6–T, 7–F, 8–T, 9–T

Can you recall the words?

1. one’s inner or mental life, or self-image

1. P____________

2. the adjective that denotes the interactions, especially in illness,

between mind and body

2. P____________

3. mentally or emotionally disturbed

3. P____________

4. study of behavior

4. P____________

5. extrasensory

5. P____________

6. treatment by Freudian techniques

6. P____________

7. pertaining to the study of behavior (adj.)

7. P____________

8. of mental or emotional origin

8. P____________

9. general term for treatment of emotional disorders

9. P____________

10. antisocial person

10. P____________

SESSION 9

ORIGINS AND RELATED WORDS

1. the whole tooth

Orthodontist, as we discovered in Chapter 4, is built on orthos,

straight, correct, plus odontos, tooth.

A pedodontist (pee′-dō-DON′-tist) specializes in the care of

children’s teeth—the title is constructed from paidos, child, plus

odontos. The specialty: pedodontia (pee′-dō-DON′-sha); the adjective:

pedodontic (pee′-dō-DON′-tik).

A periodontist (pair′-ee-ō-DON′-tist) is a gum specialist—the term

combines odontos with the prefix peri-, around, surrounding. (As a

quick glance in the mirror will tell you, the gums surround the

teeth, more or less.)

Can you figure out the word for the specialty? __________________

For the adjective? __________________

An endodontist (en′-dō-DON′-tist) specializes in work on the pulp

of the tooth and in root-canal therapy—the prefix in this term is

endo-, from Greek endon, inner, within.

Try your hand again at constructing words. What is the specialty?

__________________. And the adjective? __________________.

The prefix ex-, out, combines with odontos to form exodontist (eks′-

ō-DON′-tist). What do you suppose, therefore, is the work in which

this practitioner specializes? __________________.

And the term for the specialty? __________________.

For the adjective? __________________.

2. measurement

The optometrist, by etymology, measures vision—the term is built

on opsis, optikos, view, vision, plus metron, measurement.

Metron is the root in many other words:

1. thermometer (thƏr-MOM′-Ə-tƏr)—an instrument to measure heat

(Greek therme, heat).

barometer

(bƏ-ROM′-Ə-ter)—an

instrument

measure

atmospheric pressure (Greek baros, weight); the adjective is

barometric (bair′-Ə-MET′-rik).

3. sphygmomanometer (sfig′-mō-mƏ-NOM′-Ə-tƏr)—a device for

measuring blood pressure (Greek sphygmos, pulse).

4. metric system—a decimal system of weights and measures, long

used in other countries and now gradually being adopted in the

United States.

3. bones, feet, and hands

Osteopath combines Greek osteon, bone, with pathos, suffering,

disease. Osteopathy (os′-tee-OP′-Ə-thee), you will recall, was

originally based on the theory that disease is caused by pressure of

the bones on blood vessels and nerves. An osteopathic (os′-tee-Ə-

PATH′-ik) physician is not a bone specialist, despite the misleading

etymology—and should not be confused with the orthopedist, who is.

The podiatrist (Greek pous, podos, foot, plus iatreia, medical

healing) practices podiatry (pƏ-DĪ′-Ə-tree). The adjective is podiatric

(pō′-dee-AT′-rik).

The root pous, podos is found also in:

1. octopus (OK′-tƏ-pƏs), the eight-armed (or, as the etymology has

it, eight-footed) sea creature (Greek okto, eight).

2. platypus (PLAT′-Ə-pƏs), the strange water mammal with a duck’s

bill, webbed feet, and a beaver-like tail that reproduces by laying

eggs (Greek platys, broad, flat—hence, by etymology, a flatfoot!).

3. podium (PŌ′-dee-Əm), a speaker’s platform, etymologically a

place for the feet. (The suffix -ium often signifies “place where,” as

in gymnasium, stadium, auditorium, etc.)

4. tripod (TRĪ′-pod), a three-legged (or “footed”) stand for a

camera or other device (tri-, three).

5. chiropodist (kƏ-ROP′-Ə-dist), earlier title for a podiatrist, and still

often used. The specialty is chiropody (kƏ-ROP′-Ə-dee).

Chiropody combines podos with Greek cheir, hand, spelled chiro- in

English words. The term was coined in the days before labor-saving

machinery and push-button devices, when people worked with their

hands and developed calluses on their upper extremities as well as

on their feet. Today most of us earn a livelihood in more sedentary

occupations, and so we may develop calluses on less visible portions

of our anatomy.

Chiropractors heal with their hands—the specialty is chiropractic

(kī′-rō-PRAK′-tik).

Cheir (chiro-), hand, is the root in chirography (kī-ROG′-rƏ-fee).

Recalling the graph- in graphologist, can you figure out by etymology

what chirography is? __________________

An expert in writing by hand, or in penmanship (a lost art in

these days of electronic word-processing),² would be a chirographer

(kī-ROG′-rƏ-fƏr); the adjective is chirographic (kī′-rō-GRAF′-ik).

If the suffix -mancy comes from a Greek word meaning foretelling

or prediction, can you decide what chiromancy (KĪ′-rō-man′-see) must

be? __________________.

The person who practices chiromancy is a chiromancer (KĪ′-rō-

man′-sƏr); the adjective is chiromantic (kī′-rō-MAN′-tik).

REVIEW OF ETYMOLOGY

PREFIX, ROOT, SUFFIX

MEANING

1. orthos

straight, correct

ENGLISH WORD _____________

2. odontos

tooth

ENGLISH WORD _____________

3. paidos (ped-)

child

ENGLISH WORD _____________

4. -ic

adjective suffix

ENGLISH WORD _____________

5. peri-

around, surrounding

ENGLISH WORD _____________

6. endo-

inner, within

ENGLISH WORD _____________

7. ex-

out

ENGLISH WORD _____________

8. opsis, optikos

vision

ENGLISH WORD _____________

9. metron

measurement

ENGLISH WORD _____________

10. therme

heat

ENGLISH WORD _____________

11. baros

weight

ENGLISH WORD _____________

12. sphygmos

pulse

ENGLISH WORD _____________

13. osteon

bone

ENGLISH WORD _____________

14. pathos

suffering, disease

ENGLISH WORD _____________

15. pous, podos

foot

ENGLISH WORD _____________

16. okto

eight

ENGLISH WORD _____________

17. platys

broad, flat

ENGLISH WORD _____________

18. -ium

place where

ENGLISH WORD _____________

19. tri-

three

ENGLISH WORD _____________

20. cheir (chiro-)

hand

ENGLISH WORD _____________

21. mancy

prediction

ENGLISH WORD _____________

22. iatreia

medical healing

ENGLISH WORD _____________

USING THE WORDS

Can you pronounce the words? (I)

1. pedodontist

pee′-dō-DON′-tist

2. pedodontia

pee′-dō-DON′-shƏ

3. pedodontic

pee′-dō-DON′-tik

4. periodontist

pair′-ee-ō-DON′-tist

5. periodontia

pair′-ee-ō-DON′-shƏ

6. periodontic

pair′-ee-ō-DON′-tik

7. endodontist

en′-dō-DON′-tist

8. endodontia

en′-dō-DON′-shƏ

9. endodontic

en′-dō-DON′-tik

10. exodontist

eks′-ō-DON′-tist

11. exodontia

eks′-ō-DON′-shƏ

12. exodontic

eks′-ō-DON′-tik

13. thermometer

thƏr-MOM′-Ə-tƏr

14. barometer

bƏ-ROM′-Ə-tƏr

15. barometric

bair′-Ə-MET′-rik

16. sphygmomanometer

sfig′-mō-mƏ-NOM′-Ə-tƏr

Can you pronounce the words? (II)

1. osteopathy

os′-tee-OP′-Ə-thee

2. osteopathic

os′-tee-Ə-PATH′-ik

3. podiatry

pƏ-DĪ′-Ə-tree

4. podiatric

pō′-dee-AT′-rik

5. octopus

OK′-tƏ-pƏs

6. platypus

PLAT′-Ə-pƏs

7. podium

PŌ′-dee-Əm

8. tripod

TRĪ′-pod

9. chiropodist

kƏ-ROP′-Ə-dist

10. chiropody

kƏ-ROP′-Ə-dee

11. chiropractic

kī′-rō-PRAK′-tik

12. chirography

kī-ROG′-rƏ-fee

13. chirographer

kī-ROG′-rƏ-fƏr

14. chirographic

kī′-rƏ-GRAF′-ik

15. chiromancy

KĪ′-rƏ-man′-see

16. chiromancer

KĪ′-rƏ-man′-sƏr

17. chiromantic

kī′-rƏ-MAN′-tik

Can you work with the words? (I)

1. orthodontia

a. dental specialty involving the

pulp and root canal

2. pedodontia

b. instrument that measures

atmospheric pressure

3. periodontia

c. specialty arising from the

theory that pressure of the

bones on nerves and blood

vessels may cause disease

4. endodontia

d. specialty of child dentistry

5. exodontia

e. blood-pressure apparatus

6. barometer

f. treatment of minor ailments of

KEY: 1–i, 2–d, 3–j, 4–a, 5–h, 6–b, 7–e, 8–c, 9–f, 10–g

Can you work with the words? (II)

1. octopus

a. speaker’s platform

2. platypus

b. maintenance of integrity of the

nervous system by

manipulation and massage

3. podium

c. palm reading

4. chiropody

d. eight-armed sea creature

5. chiropractic

e. handwriting

6. chirography

f. treatment of minor ailments of

the foot

7. chiromancy

g. egg-laying mammal with

webbed feet

KEY: 1–d, 2–g, 3–a, 4–f, 5–b, 6–e, 7–c

Do you understand the words?

1. Orthodontia is a branch of dentistry.

TRUE FALSE

2. Doctors use sphygmomanometers to check blood pressure.

TRUE FALSE

3. Osteopathic physicians may use standard medical procedures.

TRUE FALSE

4. Chiropractic deals with handwriting.

TRUE FALSE

5. Chiropody and podiatry are synonymous terms.

TRUE FALSE

6. A podium is a place from which a lecture might be delivered.

TRUE FALSE

7. A pedodontist is a foot doctor.

TRUE FALSE

8. A periodontist is a gum specialist.

TRUE FALSE

9. A endodontist does root-canal therapy.

TRUE FALSE

10. An exodontist extracts teeth.

TRUE FALSE

11. A barometer measures heat.

TRUE FALSE

12. An octopus has eight arms.

TRUE FALSE

13. A platypus is a land mammal.

KEY: 1–T, 2–T, 3–T, 4–F, 5–T, 6–T, 7–F, 8–T, 9–T, 10–T, 11–F, 12–

T, 13–F, 14–F, 15–T, 16–T

Do you recall the words? (I)

1. pertaining to child dentistry (adj.)

1. P__________________

2. pertaining to treatment of the foot (adj.)

2. P__________________

3. blood-pressure apparatus

3. S__________________

4. three-legged stand

4. T__________________

5. pertaining to the treatment of diseases by manipulation to

relieve pressure of the bones on nerves and blood vessels (adj.)

5. O__________________

6. pertaining to handwriting (adj.)

6. C__________________

7. gum specialist

7. P__________________

8. treatment of ailments of the foot

8. P__________________ or C__________________

9. stand for a speaker

9. P__________________

10. dentist specializing in treating the pulp of the tooth or in doing

root-canal therapy

10. E__________________

KEY: 1–pedodontic, 2–podiatric, 3–sphygmomanometer, 4–tripod,

5–osteopathic, 6–chirographic, 7–periodontist, 8–podiatry or

chiropody, 9–podium, 10–endodontist

Can you recall the words? (II)

1. pertaining to the specialty of tooth extraction (adj.)

1. E__________________

2. pertaining to the measurement of atmospheric pressure (adj.)

2. B__________________

3. palm reading (noun)

3. C__________________

4. handwriting

4. C__________________

5. the practice of manipulating bodily articulations to relieve

ailments

5. C__________________

6. egg-laying mammal

6. P__________________

7. eight-armed sea creature

7. O__________________

8. instrument to measure heat

8. T__________________

SESSION 10

ORIGINS AND RELATED WORDS

1. writing and writers

The Greek verb graphein, to write, is the source of a great many

English words.

We know that the graphologist analyzes handwriting, the term

combining graphein with logos, science, study. The specialty is

graphology (grƏ-FOL′-Ə-jee), the adjective graphological (graf′-Ə-LOJ′-

Ə-kƏl).

Chirographer is built on graphein plus cheir (chiro-), hand. Though

chirography may be a lost art, calligraphy (kƏ-LIG′-rƏ-fee) is enjoying

a revival. For centuries before the advent of printing, calligraphy, or

penmanship as an artistic expression, was practiced by monks.

A calligrapher (kƏ-LIG′-rƏ-fƏr) is called upon to design and write

announcements, place cards, etc., as a touch of elegance. The

adjective is calligraphic (kal′-Ə-GRAF′-ik).

Calligraphy combines graphein with Greek kallos,³ beauty, and so,

by etymology, means beautiful writing.

If a word exists for artistic handwriting, there must be one for the

opposite—bad, scrawly, or illegible handwriting. And indeed there

is—cacography (kƏ-KOG′-rƏ-fee), combining graphein with Greek

kakos, bad, harsh.

By analogy with the forms of calligraphy, can you write the word

for:

One who uses bad or illegible handwriting?

__________________________.

Pertaining to, or marked by, bad handwriting (adjective)?

__________________________.

Graphein is found in other English words:

1. cardiograph (discussed in Chapter 4)—etymologically a “heart

writer” (kardia, heart).

2. photograph—etymologically, “written by light” (Greek photos,

light).

3. phonograph—etymologically, a “sound writer” (Greek phone,

sound).

4. telegraph—etymologically a “distance writer” (Greek tele-,

distance).

5. biography—etymologically “life writing” (Greek, bios, life).

(Many of these new roots will be discussed in greater detail in later

chapters.)

2. aging and the old

We know that a geriatrician specializes in the medical care of the

elderly. The Greek word geras, old age, has a derived form, geron,

old man, the root in gerontologist. The specialty is gerontology (jair′-

Ən-TOL′-Ə-jee), the adjective is gerontological (jair′-Ən-tƏ-LOJ′-Ə-kƏl).

The Latin word for old is senex, the base on which senile, senescent,

senior, and senate are built.

1. senile (SEE′-nīl)—showing signs of the physical and/or mental

deterioration that generally marks very old age. The noun is senility

(sƏ-NIL′-Ə-tee).

2. senescent (sƏ-NES′-Ənt)—aging, growing old. (Note the same

suffix in this word as in adolescent, growing into an adult,

convalescent, growing healthy again, and obsolescent, growing or

becoming obsolete.) The noun is senescence (sƏ-NES′-Əns).

3. senior (SEEN′-yƏr)—older. Noun: seniority (seen-YAWR′-Ə-tee).

4. senate (SEN′-Ət)—originally a council of older, and presumably

wiser, citizens.

REVIEW OF ETYMOLOGY

PREFIX, ROOT, SUFFIX

MEANING

1. graphein

to write

ENGLISH WORD _____________

2. cheir (chiro-)

hand

ENGLISH WORD _____________

3. kallos

beauty

ENGLISH WORD _____________

4. -er

one who

ENGLISH WORD _____________

5. -ic

adjective suffix

ENGLISH WORD _____________

6. pyge

buttocks

ENGLISH WORD _____________

7. kakos

bad, harsh

ENGLISH WORD _____________

8. kardia

heart

ENGLISH WORD _____________

9. photos

light

ENGLISH WORD _____________

10. tele-

distance

ENGLISH WORD _____________

11. bios

life

ENGLISH WORD _____________

12. geras

old age

ENGLISH WORD _____________

13. geron

old man

ENGLISH WORD _____________

14. senex

old

ENGLISH WORD _____________

15. -escent

growing, becoming

ENGLISH WORD _____________

USING THE WORDS

Can you pronounce the words?

1. graphology

grƏ-FOL′-Ə-jee

2. graphological

graf′-Ə-LOJ′-Ə-kƏl

3. calligraphy

kƏ-LIG′-rƏ-fee

4. calligrapher

kƏ-LIG′-rƏ-fƏr

5. calligraphic

kal′-Ə-GRAF′-ik

6. callipygian

kal′-Ə-PIJ′-ee-Ən

7. cacography

kƏ-KOG′-rƏ-fee

8. cacographer

kƏ-KOG′-rƏ-fƏr

9. cacographic

kak′-Ə-GRAF′-ik

10. gerontology

jair′-Ən-TOL′-Ə-jee

11. gerontological

jair′-Ən-tƏ-LOJ′-Ə-kƏl

12. senile

SEE′-nīl

13. senility

sƏ-NIL′-Ə-tee

14. senescent

sƏ-NES′-Ənt

15. senescence

sƏ-NES′-Əns

Can you work with the words?

1. graphology

a. possessed of beautiful buttocks

2. calligraphy

b. science of the social,

economic, etc. problems of the

aged

3. callipygian

c. condition of aging or growing

old

4. cacography

d. deteriorated old age

5. gerontology

e. analysis of handwriting

6. senility

f. ugly, bad, illegible handwriting

7. senescence

g. beautiful handwriting;

handwriting as an artistic

expression

KEY: 1–e, 2–g, 3–a, 4–f, 5–b, 6–d, 7–c

Do you understand the words?

1. Graphology analyzes the grammar, spelling, and sentence

structure of written material.

TRUE FALSE

2. A calligrapher creates artistic forms out of alphabetical symbols.

TRUE FALSE

3. Tight slacks are best worn by those of callipygian anatomy.

TRUE FALSE

4. Cacographic writing is easy to read.

TRUE FALSE

5. Gerontology aims to help old people live more comfortably.

TRUE FALSE

6. Senile people are old but still vigorous and mentally alert.

TRUE FALSE

7. In a society dedicated to the worship of youth, senescence is not

an attractive prospect.

TRUE FALSE

KEY: 1–F, 2–T, 3–T, 4–F, 5–T, 6–F, 7–T

Can you recall the words?

1. pertaining to the study of the non-medical problems of the aged

(adj.)

1. G __________________

2. growing old (adj.)

2. S __________________

3. pertaining to handwriting as an artistic expression (adj.)

3. C __________________

4. one who uses ugly, illegible handwriting

4. C __________________

5. mentally and physically deteriorated from old age

5. S __________________

6. pertaining to the analysis of handwriting (adj.)

6. G __________________

7. possessed of beautiful or shapely buttocks

7. C __________________

KEY: 1–gerontological, 2–senescent, 3–calligraphic, 4–cacographer,

5–senile, 6–graphological, 7–callipygian

CHAPTER REVIEW

A. Do you recognize the words?

1. Practitioner trained in Freudian techniques: (a) psychologist, (b)

psychoanalyst, (c) psychotherapist

2. Foot doctor: (a) podiatrist, (b) osteopath, (c) chiropractor

3. Handwriting analyst: (a) graphologist, (b) chirographer, (c)

cacographer

4. Mentally or emotionally disturbed: (a) psychological, (b)

psychopathic, (c) psychic

5. Originating in the emotions: (a) psychic, (b) psychogenic, (c)

psychoanalytic

6. Describing bodily ailments tied up with the emotions: (a)

psychosomatic, (b) psychopathic, (c) psychiatric

7. Gum specialist: (a) periodontist, (b) pedodontist, (c) endodontist

8. Specialist in tooth extraction: (a) orthodontist, (b) exodontist,

9. Blood-pressure apparatus: (a) barometer, (b) thermometer, (c)

sphygmomanometer

10. Prediction by palm reading: (a) chirography, (b) chiropody, (c)

chiromancy

11. Possessed of a shapely posterior: (a) calligraphic, (b) callipygian,

12. Artistic handwriting: (a) calligraphy, (b) chirography, (c)

graphology

13. Growing old: (a) senile, (b) geriatric, (c) senescent

KEY: 1–b, 2–a, 3–a, 4–b, 5–b, 6–a, 7–a, 8–b, 9–c, 10–c, 11–b, 12–a,

13–c, 14–b, 15–a and b

B. Can you recognize roots?

ROOT

MEANING

1. psyche

_________________

EXAMPLE psychiatry

2. iatreia

_________________

EXAMPLE podiatry

3. soma

_________________

EXAMPLE psychosomatic

4. pathos

_________________

EXAMPLE osteopath

5. orthos

_________________

EXAMPLE orthodontia

6. paidos (ped-)

_________________

EXAMPLE pedodontist

7. odontos

_________________

EXAMPLE exodontist

8. pous, podos

_________________

EXAMPLE platypus

9. cheir (chiro-)

_________________

EXAMPLE chiropodist

10. okto

_________________

EXAMPLE octopus

11. graphein

_________________

EXAMPLE graphology

12. kallos

_________________

EXAMPLE calligraphy

13. pyge

_________________

EXAMPLE callipygian

14. kakos

_________________

EXAMPLE cacography

15. photos

_________________

EXAMPLE photography

16. tele-

_________________

EXAMPLE telegraph

17. bios

_________________

EXAMPLE biography

18. geras

_________________

EXAMPLE geriatrics

19. geron

_________________

EXAMPLE gerontology

20. senex

_________________

KEY: 1–mind, 2–medical healing, 3–body, 4–disease, 5–straight,

correct, 6–child, 7–tooth, 8–foot, 9–hand, 10–eight, 11–to

write, 12–beauty, 13–buttocks, 14–bad, ugly, 15–light, 16–

distance, 17–life, 18–old age, 19–old man, 20–old.

TEASER QUESTIONS FOR THE AMATEUR

ETYMOLOGIST

1. Latin octoginta is a root related to Greek okto, eight. How old is

an octogenarian (ok′-tƏ-jƏ-NAIR′-ee-Ən)? __________________

2. You are familiar with kakos, bad, harsh, as in cacography, and

with phone, sound, as in phonograph. Can you construct a word

ending in the letter y that means harsh, unpleasant sound?

___________________. (Can you pronounce it?)

3. Using callipygian as a model, can you construct a word to

describe an ugly, unshapely rear end? __________________. (Can you

pronounce it?)

4. Using the prefix tele-, distance, can you think of the word for a

field glass that permits the viewer to see great distances?

__________________. How about a word for the instrument that transmits

sound over a distance? __________________. Finally, what is it that makes

it possible for you to view happenings that occur a great distance

away? __________________.

(Answers in Chapter 18)

BECOMING WORD-CONSCIOUS

Perhaps, if you have been working as assiduously with this book

as I have repeatedly counseled, you have noticed an interesting

phenomenon.

This phenomenon is as follows: You read a magazine article and

suddenly you see one or more of the words you have recently

learned. Or you open a book and there again are some of the words

you have been working with. In short, all your reading seems to call

to your attention the very words you’ve been studying.

Why? Have I, with uncanny foresight, picked words which have

suddenly and inexplicably become popular among writers?

Obviously, that’s nonsense.

The change is in you. You have now begun to be alert to words,

you have developed what is known in psychology as a “mind-set”

toward certain words. Therefore, whenever these words occur in

your reading you take special notice of them.

The same words occurred before—and just as plentifully—but

since they presented little communication to you, you reacted to

them with an unseeing eye, with an ungrasping mind. You were

figuratively, and almost literally, blind to them.

Do you remember when you bought, or contemplated buying, a

new car? Let’s say it was a Toyota. Suddenly you began to see

Toyotas all around you—you had a Toyota “mind-set.”

It is thus with anything new in your life. Development of a “mind-

set” means that the new experience has become very real, very

important, almost vital.

If you have become suddenly alert to the new words you have

been learning, you’re well along toward your goal of building a

superior vocabulary. You are beginning to live in a new and different

intellectual atmosphere—nothing less!

On the other hand, if the phenomenon I have been describing has

not yet occurred, do not despair. It will. I am alerting you to its

possibilities—recognize it and welcome it when it happens.

(End of Session 10)

1 Psychopathy is usually characterized by antisocial and extremely egocentric behavior. A

psychopath (SĪ′-kƏ-path′), sometimes called a psychopathic personality, appears to be lacking

an inner moral censor, and often commits criminal acts, without anxiety or guilt, in order

to obtain immediate gratification of desires. Such a person may be utterly lacking in sexual

restraint, or addicted to hard drugs. Some psychologists prefer the label sociopath (SŌ′-

shee-Ə-path′ or SŌ′-see-Ə-path′) for this type of personality to indicate the absence of a

social conscience.

2 But see calligrapher in the next session.

3 An entrancing word that also derives from kallos is callipygian (kal′-Ə-PIJ′-ee-Ən), an

adjective describing a shapely or attractive rear end, or a person so endowed—the

combining root is pyge, buttocks.