定義
自由詞素指本身具有完整意義並能作為“簡單詞”(Simple World)而單而使用的詞素,比如boy(男孩),girl(女孩),desk(書桌),chair(椅子),kind(仁慈的),cruel(殘酷的),give(給),take(拿)等都屬於這一類。自由詞素可以充當詞根(Root)加上詞綴(affix)構成派生詞(Derivative)。例如:
kind: kindness, unkind, unkindness, kindly
friend: friendly, friendship, friendless, unfriendly, unfriendness
自由詞素還可以和其他自由詞素相結合,構成複合詞(Compound World)。例如:
book: bookmark, bookworm, bookshop, bookstall
take: intake, take-home, take-over, take-off, Takeaway, undertake