In the word unethical, the un-, efhic, and -al are all examples of ( \( \{ \) point) affixes. roots morphemes. base words.

The term "unethical" is a prime example of how language evolves through the combination of morphemes, the smallest units of meaning. In this word, "un-" is a prefix meaning "not," "ethic" is the root that conveys the idea of morality, and "-al" is a suffix that turns the root into an adjective. This combination creates the meaning of "not having ethics," illustrating how morphemes work together to form complex ideas. Understanding morphemes can be beneficial when decoding unfamiliar words in English. By breaking words down into their component parts, you can often infer the overall meaning without having to look it up. So, if you encounter a new term, try identifying the prefixes, roots, and suffixes—this can be a game-changing strategy for expanding your vocabulary and comprehension!