What is a baseword?

A baseword is a fundamental word that can be combined with prefixes and suffixes to create new words. It is the core meaning of a word, and it is often a noun, verb, or adjective.

Here are some examples:

* Baseword: "act"

* Prefixes: re-, en-, trans-

* Suffixes: -ion, -ive, -or

* New words: react, enact, transact, action, active, actor

* Baseword: "happy"

* Prefixes: un-, over-

* Suffixes: -ness

* New words: unhappy, overhappy, happiness

Key characteristics of basewords:

* Core meaning: They carry the main idea or concept of the word.

* Root: They are often the root of the word family.

* Independent: They can stand alone as a word.

Understanding basewords is important for:

* Vocabulary building: It helps you understand the relationships between words and their meanings.

* Spelling: It can help you remember the correct spelling of words.

* Reading comprehension: It can help you decode the meaning of unfamiliar words.

Note: Not all words have basewords. Some words are compound words (e.g., "rainbow," "waterfall") or borrowed from other languages.