Spelling FIN


A Spelling Strategy

 

 

What's the last show of a television season?

 

season FINale

 

What's the last, comprehensive test you take at the end of the year?

 

FINal exam

 

What do you say when you've completed a task?

 

I'm FINished!

 

What do you see at the end of old-fashioned movies?

 

FIN

 

What are French and Spanish words for "the end"?

 

FIN, FINito

 

What's a term for limiting something?

 

conFINe

 

What is the word for limiting an idea, say, the number of people you can fit in a phone booth?

 

FINite

 

What is the word when you set a limit or explanation to something?

 

deFINe

 

What is the noun version of a limit or explanation for something?

 

deFINITE

 

How about the adverb version?

 

deFINITEly


What does the root "FIN" mean?

An end or limit!


There are NO 'A's in the words define, definite, or definitely! No A! None, whatsoever! ZERO A!


Look! Now you know how to spell! Latin is your friend! So is etymology in general!

 

(PS, for word nerds like me: "finite" and "definite" are from different but still-related Latin root words definire and finire, so the "de" is NOT a negative prefix in this case. )