Add "E" to Form A New Word Trivia Quiz

Answer: effort

Adding "e" to the front of the word "fort" forms the new word "effort."

The word effort is derived from Latin, with "ex" meaning out and "fortis" meaning "strong". It is also related to the Latin "exfortiare", which means to show strength.

James Mitchel, seen in the picture, was making quite the effort! He was participating in the 1904 Olympics in an event called the hammer throw. Although he took fifth place in that event and sixth place in the discus throw, he did take home the bronze medal in the 56 lb weight throw.

Answer: committee

Adding "e" to the back of the word "commit" forms the new word "committee."

The word committee dates back to the late 1400s and is derived from the Anglo-French word "commite". From the early 1600s the word was used to describe a group who was trusted to finish a certain task.

When I think of committees, the first that comes to mind is the Committee of Public Safety that was formed during the French Revolution. This group operated during the infamous Reign of Terror, as its main job was to "protect" France from foreign and domestic enemies. Their "work" led to the execution of hundreds of people.

Answer: esteem

Adding "e" to the front of the word "steam" forms the new word "esteem."

The word esteem is derived from the Latin "aestimare", which means either to value or determine the value of an item.

Self-esteem, of course, is how we value ourselves. It is an important part of one's mental health. The concept was first introduced by David Hume during the Enlightenment.

Answer: bungee

Adding "e" to the back of the word "bung" forms the new word "bungee."

The word bungee came from southwest England, where it was used to describe anything that was "thick and squat", according to a book published in 1825. In the early 20th century it was slang for a rubber eraser, and in the 1930s it was used to describe the cord that was used to launch gliders.

Of course, today bungee jumping is a well known sport. An elasticized cord, made of strands of latex, is typically attached to a person's ankle and they jump off some sort of high launchpad to safely free fall. My son says this is great fun!

Answer: Yankee

Adding "e" to the back of "yank" forms the new word "Yankee".

By 1683 many culture groups had already begun to settle in what is now the United States, and while the exact origin is unknown, some sources connect it to a Dutch name like "Janke" for Little John or "Jan" for John. Others say it was a term used by the British to describe American colonists in the New England area. It is agreed that it was first used as some sort of an insult. It has since come into use with people outside the United States to describe a thing or person that is American in either a complimentary or uncomplimentary way.

"Yankee Doodle" was a popular song during the American Revolution, and Northerners were called Yankees during the American Civil War. There's even a professional baseball team that has officially been called the New York Yankees since 1913. The movie, "Pride of the Yankees" (1942) explored the life and career of Yankee great, Lou Gehrig, whose career was ended by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

Answer: easel

Adding an "e" to the beginning of "zeal" forms a new word "easel".

The origin of the word easel is quite interesting; it is derived from the Latin "asinu" or ass, meaning donkey. In other words, it is a painter's beast of burden.

Easels have been used as a painter's beast of burden for centuries, dating back to ancient Egypt and Rome. There are different designs, such as the A frame and H frame, but they are generally used to hold a canvas (or the like) while an artist is working or displaying it when he is finished.

Answer: evil

Adding an "e" to the beginning of the word "veal" makes the new word "evil".

The word evil was derived from the Old English "yfel" to describe something that is bad or wicked in the 1200s. In fact, it was the go to word used to describe something that was really really bad in any way. Eventually it was used to describe someone who was morally bad.

When thinking of which picture to display, the images of several evil people came to mind. I choose, however, a picture of Mizaru, the Japanese "see no evil" monkey, who is connected to the ancient proverb, "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil". Did you know that the monkeys have names?

Answer: essay

Adding an "e" to the beginning of "say" forms the new word "essay".

Michel de Montaigne, a sixteenth century philosopher, is credited with being the first to use the word essay, which is derived from the French, "essayer", meaning to try or attempt. In other words, he was attempting to put his ideas into writing. School children today probably do NOT praise him for his invention!

Answer: punkie

Adding an "e" to the end of "punk" creates the new word "punkie".

The term is derived from the New York Dutch "pónkwəs", which probably came from the Proto-Algonquian "penkw", meaning dust or ashes, with the Dutch suffix "je" added at the end.

Indeed, the tiny flies, gnats, midges, and no-see-ums that are also called punkies are so small that, like specks of dust, can come in through the screen door of a house. Although the word can apply to a number of such insects, it is generally used for biting flies that also suck blood. Yikes!

Answer: Easter

Adding an "e" to the beginning of "stir" creates the new word "Easter".

The word Easter, derived from the Proto-Germanic "austron", or dawn, may have been taken from the name of a goddess whose festival was celebrated in April. It became "Easterdęg" in Old English.

The Christian festival of Easter celebrates Christ's resurrection from the dead. It occurs the first Sunday after the full moon that occurs on or after the spring equinox. It is typically in April, however, in 2024 Easter is scheduled to take place on March 31.