.

Radical: LITER-.

1. LIT'ERAL: liter + al = relating to the letter of a thing; that is, exact
to the letter.

2. LIT'ERARY: liter + ary = pertaining to _letters_ or learning.

3. OBLITERATE: ob + liter + ate = to cause letters to be rubbed out: hence,
to rub out, in general.

4. LIT'ERATURE: through Lat. n. _literatura_ = the collective body of
literary works.

5. ILLIT'ERATE: il (for _in_, not) + liter + ate = of the nature of one who
does not know his letters.

EXERCISE.

(1.) Define what is meant by a "_literal_ translation."

(2.) Give a synonymous expression for a "literary man."--Compose a sentence
containing the terms "literary society."

(3.) Give a synonym of "obliterate" in its literal meaning. _Ans._ To
_erase_.--If we should speak of _obliterating_ the memory of a wrong,
would the word be used in its primary or its derivative sense?

(4.) "When we speak of English "literature" what is meant?--Can you mention
a great poem in Greek "literature"?--Compose a sentence containing the word
"literature."

(5.) Give a synonym of "illiterate." _Ans. Unlearned_.--What is the
opposite of "illiterate"? _Ans. Learned_.

24. MORS, mortis, _death_.

Radical: MORT-.

1. MOR'TAL: mort + a = relating to death.

2. MOR'TIFY: mort + ify = literally, to cause to die: hence, (1) to destroy
vital functions; (2) to humble.

3. IMMOR'TALIZE: im (for _in_, not) + mort + al + ize = to make not subject
to death: hence, to perpetuate.

EXERCISE.

(1.) What does Shakespeare mean by the expression to "shuffle off this
_mortal_ coil"?--Combine and define mortal + ity.--What is the opposite of
"mortal"?--Give a synonym. _Ans. Deathless_.

(2.) State the two meanings of "mortify."--What noun is derived from this
verb? _Ans. Mortification_.--When a surgeon speaks of "mortification"
setting in, what does he mean?--What is meant by "mortification" when we
say that the British felt great _mortification_ at the recapture of Stony
Point by General Anthony Wayne?

(3.) Compose a sentence containing the word "immortalize." MODEL: "Milton
_immortalized_ his name by the production of Paradise Lost."

25. NOR'MA, _a rule_.

Radical: NORM-.

1. NOR'MAL: norm + al = according to rule.

2. ENOR'MOUS: e + norm + ous = having the quality of being out of all rule:
hence, excessive, huge.

3. ENOR'MITY: e + norm + ity = the state of being out of all rule: hence,
an excessive degree--generally used in regard to bad