Lesson 29. Word formation. Suffixation. Revision.

Noun formation

Abstract nouns

-age

means "result of an action"

wreck - wreckage

pass - passage

-ment

means "action or state", sometimes is replaced by the suffix -tion/-ion

develop - development

measure - measurement

move - movement

1. advertise -
2. announce -
3. calculate -
4. celebrate -
5. collect -
6. disappoint -
7. embarrass -
8. entertain -
9. invent -
10. pollute -

Substantive nouns

-hood

suggests a family role or family-related periods of life

child - childhood

mother - motherhood

brother - brotherhood

-ship

means "a particular job or position; ability or skill; all people in a particular group"

friend - friendship

partner - partnership

-dom

means "state", from Old English dom "statute, judgment"

king - kingdom

bore - boredom

duke - dukedom

Christ -

Duke -

Earl -

Fief -

Martyr -

Chief -

Thral -

Wise -

Fan -

Reading and discussing

The secretive brotherhood

Freemasonry, known popularly for its white aprons and arcane symbols, is the world's oldest fraternal organization. Despite its longevity, Freemasons have long been shrouded in mystery. To outside observers, the organization's rites and practices may seem cult-like, clannish and secretive — even sinister. Some of this stems from Freemasons' often deliberate reluctance to speak about the organization's rituals to outsiders. But it is also partly the result of many popular movies and books.

In reality, however, Freemasonry is a worldwide organization with a long and complex history. Its members have included politicians, engineers, scientists, writers, inventors and philosophers. Many of these members have played prominent roles in world events, such as revolutions, wars and intellectual movements.

What is Freemasonry?

In addition to being the world's oldest fraternal organization, Freemasonry is also the world's largest such organization, boasting an estimated worldwide membership of some 6 million people, according to a report by the BBC. As the name implies, a fraternal organization is one that's composed almost solely of men who gather together for mutual benefit, frequently for professional or business reasons. However, nowadays women can be Freemasons, too.

But Freemasons, or Masons as they are sometimes called, are dedicated to loftier goals as well. Bound together by secret rites of initiation and ritual, its members ostensibly promote the "brotherhood of man," and in the past, have often been associated with 18th century Enlightenment principles such as anti-monarchism, republicanism, meritocracy and constitutional government.

When did Freemasonry start?

The origins of Freemasonry are obscure, and the subject is rife with myth and speculation. One of the more fanciful claims is that the Freemasons are descended from the builders of Solomon's Temple (also known as the First Temple) in Jerusalem, . Others have argued that the Freemasons began as an offshoot of the Knights Templars, a Catholic military order dating to medieval times. And the famous American revolutionary Thomas Paine attempted to trace the origins of the order to the ancient Egyptians and Celtic Druids.

Nowadays there exists a theory that freemasonry has its origins in the stonemason guilds of medieval Europe. These guilds, especially active during the 14th century, were responsible for constructing some of the finest architecture in Europe, such as the ornate Gothic cathedrals of Notre Dame in Paris and Westminster Abbey in London.

Like many artisan craft guilds of that time, its members jealously guarded their secrets and were selective about who they chose as apprentices. Initiation for new members required a long period of training, during which they learned the craft and were often taught advanced mathematics and architecture. Their skills were in such high demand that experienced Freemasons were frequently sought out by monarchs or high-ranking church officials.

The guilds provided members not only with wage protection and quality control over the work performed but also important social connections. Members gathered in lodges, which served as the headquarters and focal points where the Masons socialized, partook in meals and gathered to discuss the events and issues of the day.

What was next?

However, with the rise of capitalism and the market economy during the 16th and 17th centuries, the old guild system broke down. But the Masonic lodges survived. In order to bolster membership and raise funds, the stonemason guilds began to recruit non-masons. At first, the new recruits were often relatives of existing members, but they increasingly included wealthy individuals and men of high social status.

Many of these new members were "learned gentlemen" who were interested in the philosophical and intellectual trends that were transforming the European intellectual landscape at the time. The men were equally interested in questions of morality — especially how to build moral character.

The symbols of Freemasonry

The world of Freemasonry is composed of esoteric signs and symbols that are baffling to most non-Masons. Perhaps the most common are the compass and square, which are the universally recognizable symbols of the organization. They typically emblazon the lintels above lodge entrances and can be found on the aprons worn by Masons during rituals.

Homework