Illiterate, rejection, survival and intervention are words from which language?

Illiterate, rejection, survival and intervention are words from which language?

• A. Latin
• B. German
• C. Arabic
• D. French

Answer: (A)

These four words all trace back to Latin, even though they entered English through other languages. Illiterate comes from Latin litteratus, formed from littera meaning “letter” with a negative sense. Rejection comes from Latin rejectio, built from the idea of throwing back (re- plus a root meaning to throw back). Survival comes from Latin supervivere, with super- meaning “over” and vivere meaning “to live.” Intervention comes from Latin interventio, from intervenire meaning “to come between.” So, the common origin is Latin, not Germanic or Arabic, even though the words may have traveled through French or other languages on their way into English.

These four words all trace back to Latin, even though they entered English through other languages. Illiterate comes from Latin litteratus, formed from littera meaning “letter” with a negative sense. Rejection comes from Latin rejectio, built from the idea of throwing back (re- plus a root meaning to throw back). Survival comes from Latin supervivere, with super- meaning “over” and vivere meaning “to live.” Intervention comes from Latin interventio, from intervenire meaning “to come between.” So, the common origin is Latin, not Germanic or Arabic, even though the words may have traveled through French or other languages on their way into English.