Lesson 5: 11. Ten (Tin, Tent), 12. Mon (Monit), 13. Mand (Mandat), 14. Cred (Credit), 15. Fid

Let's get a grip on words that mean "hold" or "keep"! These terms are all about holding onto things literally and figuratively, from ideas to property.

Key Words

• The senator's tenure in office lasted for three full terms, a total of eighteen years.
• Your question about my favorite ice cream flavor is not pertinent to our discussion about the history homework.
• A core tenet of responsible pet ownership is providing a safe and loving home.

The Latin root TEN (TIN, TENT) means "to hold" or "to keep." Words built on this root often relate to the act of holding on to something, whether it's an opinion (pertinacious), a job (tenure), or information (retentive). They can describe something's relevance (pertinent) or a belief someone holds firmly (tenet).

Listen up! The following words share the root for "warn," so they're all about giving advice, keeping track of things, or sensing something before it happens.

Key Words

• The librarian had to admonish the loud students to be quiet.
• A strange, premonitory chill ran down his spine just before the lights went out.
• The Lincoln Memorial is a famous monument built to remind us of the nation's 16th president.

The root MON (MONIT), meaning "warn," is at the heart of words related to warnings and reminders. An admonition is a gentle warning, while a premonition is a feeling that warns of a future event. A monitor is a person or device that keeps watch and warns of any issues, and a monument helps us remember—or reminds us of—an important person or event.

Here are some words that lay down the law! With a root that means "order" or "command," these terms are used when instructions are given, required, or taken back.

Key Words

• The fire chief had to countermand the order to enter the building when the roof began to collapse.
• The voters gave the new mayor a clear mandate to improve the city's public transportation system.
• Completing the safety training is mandatory for all new employees; it is not optional.

When you see MAND (MANDAT), think "order," "command," or "commit." This root forms words that are central to rules and authority. A mandate is an official command, while something that is mandatory must be done. To countermand is to issue an order that cancels a previous one, and to remand someone is to order them back to custody.

It's time to talk about trust and belief. All these words come from the root for "believe," and they explore what makes something believable, who trusts too easily, and the documents that prove you're trustworthy.

Key Words

• You shouldn't be so credulous; you can't believe every ad you see on the internet.
• The scientist's groundbreaking theory was at first met with widespread incredulity from her peers.
• Before hiring the new accountant, the manager carefully checked his credentials, including his university degree and letters of reference.

The root CRED (CREDIT) means "believe." This powerful root gives us words about belief and trust. A credible story is one you can believe, while a credulous person believes things too easily. Your credentials are the documents that make others believe in your qualifications. To discredit an idea is to make people stop believing it.

Let's put our faith in these next words! Stemming from the root for "faith" or "trust," this group covers everything from being self-assured to being loyal or even betraying someone's trust.

Key Words

• Though he was an excellent musician, he was too diffident to perform in front of an audience.
• The spy's act of perfidy involved selling national secrets to the enemy.
• My best friend is the only confidant with whom I share my most private thoughts.

The root FID means "faith" or "trust," and it explores all sides of this concept. Being confident means having faith in yourself, while being diffident means you lack it. Fidelity is faithfulness to a person or promise, while perfidy is the opposite—a betrayal of trust. A confidant is someone you trust with your secrets.