Практический курс английской лексикологии = English Lexicology Test Book

Л.И. Швыдкая 

ПРАКИЧЕСКИЙ КУРС АНГЛИЙСКОЙ

ЛЕКСИКОЛОГИИ 

ENGLISH LEXICOLOGY 
TEST BOOK 
I 

Учебник 
4-е издание, стереотипное

Москва  
Издательство «ФЛИНТА» 
2019

УДК 811.111(075.8) 
ББК 81.2Англ 

Ш358 

Р е ц е н з е н т ы :  

кандидат филологических наук, профессор Нижегородского государственного 

лингвистического университета 
И.М. Деева 
доктор филологических наук, профессор Санкт-Петербургского 
института внешнеэкономических связей, экономики и права
В.В. Кабакчи 
доктор филологических наук, профессор Волгоградского 
государственного педагогического университета
В.И. Карасик 

Швыдкая Л.И.  
Практический курс английской лексикологии.: в 2-х ч. Ч. I [Электронный 
ресурс] : учебник / Л.И. Швыдкая. – 4-е изд., стер. – М. :ФЛИНТА, 2019. — 372 с. 
ISBN 978-5-9765-2027-1 

English Lexicology Test Book является учебником нового типа, в котором 
органически сочетаются теоретические положения с обширным фактическим материалом. 
Впервые в практике преподавания лексикологии использован метод тестирования Multi-ple 
Choice, позволяющий выработать автоматический навык соединения теории и практики, а 
также обеспечить эффективный контроль и самоконтроль. 
Часть I содержит разделы по этимологии и словообразованию; часть II – по системным 
отношениям лексики, семантике, идиоматике.  Завершает учебник раздел на повторение, 
включающий три полноформатных теста.  Все разделы учебника и серии заданий имеют 
идентичную структуру: от идентификации параметров и механизма создания явления до 
узуального и окказионального употребления в разных функциональных стилях.  Все задания 
снабжены ключами ответов. 
Учебник предназначен для студентов факультетов иностранных языков, аспирантов, 
филологов широкого профиля, переводчиков, преподавателей и специалистов в области 
лингвистики, а также широкого круга лиц, планирующих сдачу экзаменов для получения 
одного из сертификатов международного образца. 

УДК 811.111(075.8) 

ББК 81.2Англ 

ISBN 978-5-9765-2027-1 
 © Издательство «ФЛИНТА», 2014 

Ш358

CONTENTS 
 
 
Introduction 
4 

Etymological and Cultural Background of the English Vocabulary 
8 

Word  Formation 
 

Morphological Structure of English Words 
53 

Affixation  (Derivation) 
58 

Compounding 
176 

Conversion 
260 

Abbreviation 
307 

Blending 
342 

Backformation 
354 

Answer Keys 
368 

Index 
382 

 
 

INTRODUCTION 
 
 
English Lexicology Test Book is written for undergraduate and 
postgraduate students, specialists in linguistic theory and practice, and 
teachers of English. The material for the book is carefully chosen from classical and contemporary British and American sources to meet the particular 
needs of students majoring in English linguistics. The logic behind the construction of this book rests on a systematic and repetitive study of principal 
theoretical and practical issues of English Lexicology.  
This book can teach students the fundamentals of English Lexicology, and in this process help them dramatically increase awareness of and 
confidence with words and their usage, as well as expand their vocabulary.  
The pedagogic assumptions underlying the theory and construction 
of this book are that human beings generally do not recall the details of 
what they learn and read and often do not retain what they believe they have 
learned. Thus, merely studying theory and isolated theoretical issues and 
topics only to the point of recall is not sufficient for long term retension and 
effective linguistic practice. This book seeks to combine theory and practice 
by getting students to repeatedly review and participate in the systematic 
process of analyzing, defining and comparing thousands of words, word 
parts and phrases, and using repetition and comparison inherent in this procedure as a means of acquiring and honing linguistic skills. The multiplechoice format of this book encourages learners to determine the correct answer by using theoretical, contextual and dictionary-based information. 
Reading and analyzing a broad assortment of texts will expose students to a 
large stock of words and a variety of styles. Where quotes or excerpts are 
used, the authors’ original spelling and punctuation are preserved.  
English Lexicology Test Book consists of two parts. Each of which 
is divided into sections, complementing and supplementing the others. Part 
One deals with the problems of etymology, morphological structure of English words, word-building (affixation, compounding, conversion, abbreviation, blending, back-formation). Part Two is concerned with semantic and 
systematic analysis of the vocabulary, idioms, British and American English, etc. Besides, Part Two comprises a revision section with three final 
tests. Each part has answer keys and a cross-reference subject index at the 
end. This arrangement helps students to focus upon the principles and par

ticulars presented in each section, which features a definite subject area (abbreviations, for instance); but to ensure that they not only learn certain lexicological facts, but that they can also connect them with other problems, the 
same issues appear over and over again in different sections and in different 
contexts and different wording. So by learning something new students will 
be reviewing the already familiar points. The subject index should prove 
very useful for both student and instructor when learning or reviewing the 
material; it serves to show where additional information about this or that 
issue can be found in the book. 
Each principal section of the book (with the exception of final tests 
and answer keys) is based on a similar pattern: a short theoretical survey of 
the problem with concise definitions of all essential issues dealt with in the 
section, and a number of multiple-choice assignments (quizzes). The theoretical preamble to each section will motivate students by giving them a 
head start and making the quizzes less imposing. However, because of 
space limitations, theoretical information is highly compressed. Multiplechoice quizzes and tests are designed to help students focus on, understand 
and remember how this or that linguistic phenomenon can be actualized in a 
practical study. Assignments in each quiz and qiuizzes within each section 
are arranged in an order of ascending complexity. More complex and/or 
optional tasks are marked with an asterisk. 
Quizzes show some variations in format:  
1. Four-option multiple-choice assignments of the type “Each of 
the following sets contains... Can you identify it?”, comprising ten or more 
sets, each having four choices marked A..., B..., C..., D...; and of the type 
“Identify the following ... as: A... B... C... D...” with a number of texts for 
analysis to follow.  
2. Multiple-choice matching assignments given in a two-column 
format, with the left column (or column one) comprising definitions or sentences with blanks to be filled in with appropriate words or phrases listed in 
column two (right column). Issues for analysis are printed in boldface. 
The three final tests cover the lexicology minimum every student 
should acquire by the time of course completion. They are designed to give 
students an intensive review of the fundamentals of the lexicology course. 
Each final test consists of 70 assignments covering the principal issues of 
the course. The final tests not only provide valuable reinforcement material, 
but can also be used as a diagnostic tool. Both major sections and final tests 

include a number of short jokes for students to determine the underlying 
lexicological phenomenon.  
All assignments can be done either in class as group activities or 
on an individual-student basis. The instructor should use his or her own 
discretion in differentiating classwork and homework and the number and 
type of quizzes for pass, good and excellent grades.  
 
To the Student 
How to use this book? 
Spend some time browsing through the book to become familiar 
with its organization and content so that you can determine which areas will 
be of greater benefit to you. Then you can return to the beginning of the 
book and proceed with a more systematic study.  
Carefully preview all the introductory theoretical material with 
term definitions and examples preceding each set of quizzes in a section.  
Then read all the sentences or words given in a quiz set; each will 
add to your understanding of the task. Try to discover the correct answer by 
comparing the definitions and usages of the words and their parts and seeing 
how one is similar to or different from the others. In addition to discussing 
why the answer is correct, it is useful to discuss the inapproprietness of other choices as a way to differentiate between various issues. There is only 
one correct answer in each set. If you cannot find the right answer, look it 
up in the answer key and then go back to the theoretical part and the same 
quiz to understand your mistake. If necessary, refer to fundamental lexicology books for a more thorough and comprehensive theoretical treatment of 
the problem. But be careful, as quite a number of definitions and particulars 
are diffrent from those found in other books and present the author’s original approach to some problems, including more detailed classifications.  
After you finish each section, leaf back over the pages with the 
quizzes you’ve just done as a kind of quick review, and make note of basic 
principles of the phenomenon. Be sure that you use the cross-reference subject index provided at the end of the book to direct you quickly to the same 
issue treated in a different linguistic format. Repeating the same issue in a 
diffrent setting may have a powerful effect. Dare to be repetitious until you 
can recognize and solve a lexicological problem immediately.  
Make a practice of looking up words, their etymologies, proper usage, etc., in a dictionary. Thus by the end of this course you will not only 

become well-versed in the fundamentals and particulars of English lexicology, but you will also learn hundreds of new words and their usage. 
Final test results can help you determine your proficiency in English Lexicology. If the number of your total correct answers in each test is 
60 –76%, you achieve the minimum succesful performance – a pass grade 
(satisfactory); good – 77-90%; excellent – 91-100% of correct answers. 
Do not mark your answers in the book. 
Now on to the work! 
 
ABBREVIATIONS 
 
adj., adjective 
adv., adverb 
AF, Anglo-French 
Aus., Australian 
BE, Brit., British English 
c., century 
cf., compare 
Chin., Chinese 
cogn., cognate 
conj., conjunction 
Du., Dutch 
E.g., for example 
esp., especially 
f., fr.,  from 
F., Fr., French 
Flem., Flemish 
Germ., German 
Gk, Greek 
Gmc, Germanic 
Goth., Gothic 
Heb., Hebrew 
Hind., Hindi, Hindustani 
It., Ital., Italian 
L., Lat., Latin 
LG, Low German 

LL, Late Latin 
ME, Middle English 
MLG, Middle Low German 
n., noun 
OE, Old English 
OF, Old French 
OHG, Old High German 
ON, Old Norse 
OS, Old Saxon 
perh., perhaps 
Pers., Persian 
pl., plural 
Port., Portuguese 
prec., preceding 
prep., preposition 
pron., pronoun 
Rom., Roman, Romanic 
Russ., Russian 
sl., slang 
Sp., Spanish 
US,  American English 
v., verb  
v.i., verb intransitive 
v.t., verb transitive 
w., word 
 
 

ETYMOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL BACKGROUND OF THE 
ENGLISH VOCABULARY 
 
 
Etymology, a branch of linguistics concerned with the origin and 
development of words, phrases, morphemes, etc. 
Etymology, the historically verifiable sources of the formation of a word 
and the development of its meaning; an account of these. (fr. Gk etymos 
true, real; logos treating of, discourse) 
Origin of the word, the language to which the word may be traced. 
E.g., tea of Chinese origin (Amoi dial.) t’e = Mandarin dial. ch’a 
Source of the word, the language from which the word was taken into 
English. 
E.g., tea in the 17th c. from Dutch thee: Dutch is the source-language. 
Native word, a word which belongs to the original English wordstock. 
E.g., man, wood, to sit, red 
 
Native Word Types 
1. Words of common Indo-European word-stock with cognates in other 
languages of Indo-European family (Latin, Greek, Russian, Sanskrit, 
etc.) 
E.g.,  foot: Lat. ped; Gk pod; Russ. пята 
  red: Lat. rufus; Russ. рдеть, руда 
2. Words of common Germanic word-stock with cognates in other 
languages of Germanic group (Danish, Dutch, German, Icelandic, 
Norwegian, Swedish, Gothic, etc.) 
E.g.,  house: OE hus; OS, OHG, ON hus; Goth. hus 
  man: OE man(n); OS, OHG man; ON mathr; Goth. Manna; 
 Germ. der Mann 
3. Words of English word-stock without cognates found in other 
languages.  
E.g.,  kite:      OE cÿta 
  wench:  OE wencel 
  witch:   OE wicca, wicce 
 

Borrowing, the process of taking over a word, phrase, morpheme or 
meaning from another language. 
Loan-word (loan, borrowing, borrowed word), a word taken over from 
another language and modified in phonemic shape, spelling, paradigm 
and/or meaning according to the standards of the English language.  
E.g., umbrella  fr. Italian ombrella 
           verst         fr. Russian верста  
           butter       fr. Latin butyrum 
 
Mechanism of Borrowing: 
1. Transcription, the rendering of the sound form of a foreign word by 
the characters of the alphabet of another language.  
E.g., samurai fr. Japanese; shekel fr. Hebrew sheqel 
2. Transliteration, the rendering of a letter or letters of one alphabet by 
equivalents in another. 
E.g., sputnik fr. Russian спутник 
3. Transplantation, the transferring of a word from one language into 
another, without changing its graphic form. 
E.g., pêche, a peach-flavoured alcoholic drink, especially sparkling 
wine (fr. French) … crowd which had turned up at Øvrevoll for the 
Norsk Grand National … (Francis. Slay…) (fr. Norwegian) 
4. Loanshift (semantic calque), a change in the meaning of a word resulting 
from the influence of a corresponding word in a foreign language. 
E.g., collegium   
1. a collegiate church 
2. an 
independent 
and 
self-governing 
ecclesiastical 
body 
uncontrolled by the state 
3. a group of officials, headed by a commissar, who are in  charge 
of a commissariat in Soviet Russia. fr.  Russ. коллегия 
5. Loan translation (calque), a word-for-word or morpheme-formorpheme translation from another language, without changing the 
word structure or sequence of elements. 
E.g., masterpiece fr. German Meister (master) + Stück (piece) 
        decembrist fr. Russian декабрист  
        cult of personality fr. Russian культ личности 
6. Semi-calque, a combination of transliteration or transplantation with 
loan translation. 
E.g., Third Reich fr. German Drittes Reich 

You may wish to shop in the Beriozka Shop in your hotel 
 or in Moscow. (H.A.W.) fr. Russian  магазин «Берёзка» 
Etymological doublets, two or more words of the same language which 
were derived by different routes from the same basic word (i.e. words of the 
same origin). 
E.g.,  break: OE brecan, OS brekan, Goth. brikan, fr. Gmc *brekan 
         breach: ME breche, fr. OF breche, fr. Gmc *brekan 
         shirt: OE scyrte, ON skyrta, fr. Gmc skurtjōn 
         skirt: ME fr. ON skyrta 
 
Folk (popular) etymology, a popular modification of the form of a word, in 
order to render it apparently significant; an attempt to find motivation for a 
borrowed word. 
E.g., “I think, therefore I am” was said by the philosopher Day Cart. 
(Lederer. Fractured…) (Descartes, René, French philosopher, physicist and 
mathematician) 
Grayhound, slender, long-legged keen-sighted dog used in coursing hares 
etc. 
OE grīghund, ON greyhundr = grey (bitch) + hundr (dog) 
Assimilation  of loanwords (adaptation, naturalization), partial or total 
conformation to the phonetical, graphical and morphological standards of 
the receiving language and its semantic structure, and the beginning of its 
development according to the laws of this language. 
 
Degree of assimilation of loanwords: 
1. Completely assimilated words cannot be distinguished from native 
words either phonetically, graphically, morphologically or semantically. 
E.g., street, sport, spouse  
2.    Partially assimilated words 
A. 
Phonetically and/or graphically non-assimilated words possess 
phonetic and/or spelling features of the source-word. 
E.g., garage, machine, zucchini, café 
B.     Morphologically (grammatically) non-assimilated words retain 
their foreign plurals.  
  E.g., crisis –  crises; erratum – errata; formula –  formulae 
C.   Semantically non-assimilated words denote phenomena of a 
foreign culture. 
E.g., the Kremlin, kasha, blini (Russ.)