精選寫作用字 (字源解析) 
 

1. pos, posit = put, 表示“放”

    拉丁文ponere

pose  v 做姿勢，造成，提出(問題)

This new taxation policy will pose a threat to the real estate industry.

compose  v 組成，作曲，使鎮定（com一起+pose→放在一起→組成）

Water is composed of hydrogen and oxygen.

 

composition  n 組合，作文（compose+tion→[文字]放在一起組合→作文）

A theory is a logical composition of interrelated facts.

 

composure  n 鎮靜，沉著（compose+ure→[精神]放在一起→鎮靜）

He wondered at her composure in such a crisis.

depose  v 罷免（de去掉+pose 放，職位→去掉職位→罷免） / deposition  n

The king was deposed and his army disbanded.

deposit  v 存款，沉澱 n 礦藏，沉澱（de下面+posit→放在下面→沉澱）deposition  n

The phosphate was deposited by the decay of marine microorganisms.
 

dispose  v 處理，排列（dis分開→pose→分開[排好]→排列）

An incinerator was built to dispose of toxic waste.

 

disposition  n 安排，性情

She always confronts difficulties with a sanguine disposition.

expose  v 暴露，揭露（ex出+pose→放出來→暴露） /  exposure  n

exposition  n 解說，展覽

The report revealed that workers had been exposed to high levels of radiation.

impose  v 施加，課稅（im 進+pose→放進去→施加） /  imposition  n

The court can impose a fine or a prison sentence.

juxtapose  v 並列，並置（juxta並排+pose→並排放）

This room shows a style of decor that juxtaposes antiques with modern furniture.

oppose  v 反對（op反+pos→放相反→反對） /  opposition  n
opposite  a 相反的

Idealism is opposite to / from materialism.

repose  n v 休息，睡眠（re再+pose→再放下[工作]→休息）

The village reposed in the dusk.

transpose  v 互換位置（trans轉移+pose→轉移放置）

Many people inadvertently transpose digits of the ZIP code.

 

propose  v建議，提議（pro向前+pose→向前放→提議） /  proposal  n 

The plans were proposed but not seconded.

purpose  n 目的，意圖（pur始終+pose→始終放著的東西→目的）

Troops were sent solely for / with the purpose of assisting refugees.

position  n 位置，立場，職位 v 定位（posit+ion→放的地方→位置）

The company's precarious financial position is a warning to potential investors.

suppose  v 推測，猜想（sup在下面+pose→放在心底→推測）/ supposition  n

The castle is supposed to be haunted. 

 

2. tain, ten, tin = hold, 表示“拿住”

attain  v 獲得，達成（at加強語氣+tain→拿住了→獲得）/ attainment  n
attainable  a 可達到的（attain+able)

He attained his ambition of becoming a pilot.

contain  v 包含，抑制（con全部+tain→全部拿住→包含）

The pamphlet contains tourist information and a list of inns.

Doctors are struggling to contain the epidemic.

entertain  v 招待，娛樂（enter進入+tain→接客人進入→招待）

entertainment  n
A museum should aim to entertain as well as educate.

detain  v 阻攔，拘留（de向下+tain→拿下→拘留）/ detention  n

Two suspects have been detained by the police for questioning .

maintain  v 維持，堅持（main[=man手]+tain→用手拿住→維持）

maintenance  n

The hotel prides itself on maintaining high standards.

  
pertain  v 屬於，有關（per始終+tain→始終拿著→屬於）

pertinent  a 相關的，恰當的  /  impertinent  a 不相關的，無禮的

There is an urgent need for legislation pertaining to employment rights.

The last point is particularly pertinent to today's discussion.

obtain  v 獲得，達到（ob加強動作+tain→拿到→獲得）

You will need to obtain permission from your superior.

retain  v 維持，保留（re回+tain→拿回來→保留）/ retention  n

As a matter of fact, china dishes retain heat longer than metal ones do.

sustain  v 支撐，扶養（sus下面+tain→在下面拿住→支撐）
sustenance  n 支撐，糧食

These columns sustain the arches.

Potatoes were their only means of sustenance.

tenable  a  (論點，主張) 站得住腳的（ten+able→能拿住的）

untenable  a 薄弱的

This theory is untenable and susceptible to criticism.

tenacious  a 固執的，堅持的（ten+acious多….的→拿住不放→固執的）/ tenacity  n

He is a tenacious advocate of civil rights and freedom of speech.

tenure  n 在職期間，佔有權，終身職（ten+ure→拿住狀態→佔有權）

It's becoming increasingly difficult to acquire academic tenure .

content  n 內容 a 滿足的（con全部+tent→全部拿的東西→內容）

contentment  n 滿足

discontent  a 不滿的（dis不+content→不滿足的）

His speech was brimming with flowery rhetoric yet meager in content.

 

abstain  v 戒除，節制（abs離開+tin+ence→離開不再拿住→戒除） 

abstinence  n

The doctor advised the patient to abstain from alcohol and smoking.