7. infer, refer, prefer, confer
"貌"同处fer,词根:拿、携带.各相异处前缀in-:内、里面,in + fer "拿内含的东西"乃"推断";re-:回,往原处,re + fer "反复拿书或资料"就是"参考、查阅";pre-:前面,pre + fer"拿在前面,先拿"肯定是"喜欢";con-:共同、一起,con + fer "在对话中共同采纳"引为"协商、商议".
例: (1) What can you infer from this passage?
你能从该短文中推断出什么?
(2) When writing papers, we have to refer to a lot of references concerned.
写论文时我们得查阅许多有关资料.
(3) It is a good idea to ask what your guests prefer to drink before you bring in the refreshments.
端上茶点之前最好先问一下你的客人喜欢喝什么饮料.
(4) We need to confer with the whole committee before making this important decision.
在做出这一重大决策之前,我们必须与全体委员交换意见.
8. acquire, inquire, require
该组虽不宜说是词根加词缀构成,但我们可以用同样的方式去分析,再加联想以帮助记忆."貌"同处quire:一刀纸.各相异处ac-:加强意义,使……,acquire联想"使纸中的即书中的成为自己的"那就是"获得,尤指获取知识";in-:内、里面,inquire 联想"想知道书中不懂的"就去"询问或咨询";re-:反复,require 联想"在纸条上反复写重要内容"就是"要求".
例: (1) I have acquired the basic knowledge of writing required in high school.
我已掌握中学阶段要求掌握的写作基础知识.
(2) Mary inquired of me the reason for my quitting the job.
玛丽问我辞职的原因.
9. distinct, instinct, extinct
"貌"同处tinct,词根tin + ct:保持、容纳.各相异处前缀dis-:分开,dis + tinct "分开保持"乃"明显的、区别的";in-:内、里面,in + stinct "内在保持"是为"本能";ex-:外面、出,ex + tinct "出了容纳范围"不就是"灭绝"了吗?
例:These animals have a distinct instinct of protecting themselves from being extinct.
这些动物有一种明显的本能,能保护自己不灭绝.
10. persist, insist, exist, resist, consist
"貌"同处sist,词根:站立.各相异处前缀除per-之外,其余上文都已出现并分析过,就不再赘述.per-:始终、贯穿,per + sist"始终站立"乃"坚持";in + sist "站在内"引为"坚决主张/认为";ex + sist "站出来了"就能"生存、继续存在";re + sist "站在背面"表示"反抗";con + sist "站在一起"就是"组成".
例:(1) You must persist in your studies even when you feel discouraged and exhausted.
即使当感到泄气和疲劳时也须坚持你的学业.
(2) The chairman insisted the meeting be cancelled.
主席坚持要把会议取消.
(3) There exists in that country a resisting force against the government which consists mainly of the unemployed.
那个国家存在一股主要由失业者组成的反政府势力.
11. conform, confirm
它们可称得上是一对"貌"差无几的"双胞胎",仅一字母之差.con-:共同、一起,form:形式、形成,con + form"形式相同"是为"一致、符合";firm:坚硬、牢固,con + firm "一起坚硬"引为"确定、证实".
例:(1) This phrase doesn’t conform to present-day usage.
这一短语不合现代惯用法.
(2) The expected result confirmed me in my belief that I was right.
预期的结果使我确信我是对的.
12. contract, contact
tract:拉、拖,con + tract"拉向一处之物,常指法律文件"即"合同、契约";tact:碰,con + tact "碰到一起"乃为"联系、接触".
例:We’ll contact again and sign the contract as soon as possible.
我们还会再次联系,尽快把合同签了.
13. contend, content
tend:伸张、奋力,con + tend"一起伸张"乃"竞争、角逐";tent:保持、容纳,con + tent"保持在一起的东西"就是"目录、容量".
例:(1) The content of the report concerns the new building plans.
报告的内容涉及新的建筑计划.
(2) A good teacher can contend with several problems at the same time.
好教师能同时应付几个难题.
英语中这种"貌"近之词还有很多,本文只择以上几组,个别分析可能还欠科学,主要是想帮助英语学习者利用一切办法并举一反三,掌握其"貌"同处,辨清相异点,最终识得这些"双胞胎或多胞胎兄弟姐妹",并准确使用.