Which morpheme means birth?

Study for the Introduction to Medical Terminology Test. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which morpheme means birth?

Explanation:
Birth is conveyed by the morpheme nat-, which comes from Latin natus/nasci meaning to be born. You’ll see this root in terms that describe birth or origin, such as natal or nativity, and it also appears in prenatal, where the prefix pre- means before and nat- ties the idea to birth. The other morphemes don’t carry the birth meaning: pre- signals before, dia- means through or across, and peri- means around. So the morpheme that directly denotes birth is nat-.

Birth is conveyed by the morpheme nat-, which comes from Latin natus/nasci meaning to be born. You’ll see this root in terms that describe birth or origin, such as natal or nativity, and it also appears in prenatal, where the prefix pre- means before and nat- ties the idea to birth. The other morphemes don’t carry the birth meaning: pre- signals before, dia- means through or across, and peri- means around. So the morpheme that directly denotes birth is nat-.

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