Free Comps! Quiz | Words Within Words

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. To express esteem, respect, affection, or admiration

Answer: Compliment

The etymology of the word compliment originally came from the noun form: the Latin "complementum", meaning "that which fills up or completes", which itself comes from the verb "complire", meaning "to fill up, finish". The word then went into the Italian form "complimento", where the meaning changed to "expression of respect and civility". According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the reason the two meanings are connected is the notion of "that which completes the obligation of politeness".

Synonyms include to praise and flatter, while antonyms are blame and criticize.

A lot of "comp" words have the Latin root "com-" meaning with or together, with the rest of the word having a root word beginning with "p".

2. To conform, submit, or adapt (as to a regulation or another's wishes) as required or requested

Answer: Comply

Comply comes from French, the root "complir", meaning "to accomplish, fulfill, carry out". It also contains the Latin roots "com-" (with) and "plere" (to fill). Synonyms include to obey or adhere to, while antonyms are disobey and dissuade.

3. To formulate and write (a piece of music); to form by putting together

Answer: Compose

Compose comes from the French verb "composer", meaning "put together, compound; adjust, arrange; write". It contains the Latin roots "com-" and "poser" (to place). Some synonyms are devise and design, while antonyms include destroy and ruin. Compose has many other meanings as well, such as to free from agitation, or arrange in proper form.

4. To drive or urge forcefully or irresistibly; to cause to do or occur by overwhelming pressure

Answer: Compel

Compel comes from French, which took it directly from the Latin word "compellere", meaning to drive together. The Latin roots are "com-" and "pellere", which means "to drive". Synonyms include enforce and oblige; antonyms are discourage and dissuade.

5. To represent as similar; liken; to examine qualities in order to discover resemblances or differences

Answer: Compare

Compare comes from the French "comparer" (to compare, liken). It has its origins in the Latin verb "comparare", meaning to compare; the roots are "com" and "par", meaning equal. Some synonyms are connect and correlate; antonyms are imbalance and disconnect.

6. To make up by connecting or combining; to press together

Answer: Compact

Compact is originally from the Latin "compingere" (meaning "to put together or fasten"), which is the past participle of "compactus" (containing "com-" and "pangere", meaning "to fix, fasten") which means "fastened together".

It has many additional meanings as a noun and adjective, which are related to its etymology -think of a compact for makeup, a compact car, the Mayflower Compact. Synonyms include compress and condense; antonyms include expand and disperse.

7. To determine especially by mathematical means; to make a calculation

Answer: Compute

Compute comes from the French verb "computer", which came from the Latin "computare", meaning "to count, sum up, reckon together". It contains the Latin roots "com-" and "putare", meaning to reckon. Synonyms include to gauge and measure; antonyms are estimate or guess. It also has a more modern meaning -- to use a computer.

8. To collect and edit into a volume; to build up gradually

Answer: Compile

Compile comes from the French word "compiler" (meaning to collect), which came from the Latin "compilare", meaning to plunder or bundle together. The root "pilare" means "to compress", so the word has come to mean gathering sources into a single grouping. A compilation is a result of compiling. Synonyms include gather and organize; some antonyms are disarrange and scatter.

9. To grasp the nature, significance, or meaning of

Answer: Comprehend

Comprehend comes directly from Latin -- the word "comprehendere", meaning "to take together, to unite; include; seize". The word has two Latin roots: "com-" (with), "pre" (before); and a hypothesized Proto-Indo-European root "ghend" (seize, take). Some synonyms are appreciate and fathom; antonyms include neglect and overlook.

10. To come to an agreement by mutual concession

Answer: Compromise

The origin of compromise is the French noun "compromis", which comes from the Latin "compromissus", the past participle of "compromittere", meaning "to make a mutual promise". The roots are "com-" and "promittere", which contains "pro" (before) and "mittere" ("to release, let go; send, throw"). Synonyms are agree and negotiate; antonyms are dispute or differ.

Source: Author Jordanar18

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Free Comps! Trivia Quiz

Trivia compatriots: please complete this un-complicated computerized quiz, comprised of a compilation of verbs beginning with "comp". All definitions come from Merriam-Webster's Dictionary, and etymology info comes from the Online Etymology Dictionary.

Questions		Choices
1. To express esteem, respect, affection, or admiration		Compare
2. To conform, submit, or adapt (as to a regulation or another's wishes) as required or requested		Compel
3. To formulate and write (a piece of music); to form by putting together		Compliment
4. To drive or urge forcefully or irresistibly; to cause to do or occur by overwhelming pressure		Compromise
5. To represent as similar; liken; to examine qualities in order to discover resemblances or differences		Compile
6. To make up by connecting or combining; to press together		Comprehend
7. To determine especially by mathematical means; to make a calculation		Compact
8. To collect and edit into a volume; to build up gradually		Comply
9. To grasp the nature, significance, or meaning of		Compute
10. To come to an agreement by mutual concession		Compose