WORDS OF LATIN AND GERMAN ORIGIN  源于拉丁語和德語言

英語里表示同一個事物時，常會有源于拉丁語（Lain origin）和德語／日耳曼語（German/Germanic origin）的兩個單詞。

例如，拉丁語系的commence和德語/日耳曼語系的start,都是“開始”的意思。在正式場合下常用拉丁語系的詞。

例如前一頁所示，劇院里的廣播就常用commence面不是start.

depart 和leave也一樣。I’m departing today 雖然和I’m leaving today 意思一樣，但若用在旅館服務臺時卻會顯得有些

生硬。下面也列舉了幾對這種同義詞（前九個是動詞，后三個是形容詞）。

 

LATIN ORIGIN                                    GERMAN/GERMANIC ORIGIN

arrive                                             get here, ddget there

The train now arriving at platform 3 is the 16:03.          What time did you get here?

commence                                         begin, start

The performance will commence in five minutes.          What time does the play start?

consult                                            speak to, ask

If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.                 I’ll have to speak to my brother.

continue                                           go on

If the problem continues, contact the manufacturer.         Why does he go on living there?

depart                                             leave

The 12;35 to York will depart from Platform 2.            She left home last week.

insert                                             put in Quick! Put in some more money!

Insert money before calling.                           get

obtain                                             Where can I get tickets for the match?

Tickets can be obtained by calling 435 1612.              book

reserve                                            Did you book a table?

Customers are advised to reserve a table.                 go back, come back

return                                             Please go back to your seat.

All passengers should now return to their seasts.           right

correct                                            Put in the right answers.

Insert the correct answers.                             hard

difficult                                           This exercise is uite hard.

This exercise is quite difficult.                         big

large                                             This sweater is too big.

Small, medium or arge?