Final answer:
The word-building elements 'onym' and 'onomy' come from Greek and refer to names and systems of classification, respectively. They help form words that indicate types of names like 'synonym' or areas of study like 'taxonomy' and 'astronomy'. Understanding them helps in interpreting the meaning of complex English terms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The word-building elements onym and onomy originate from Greek and commonly pertain to names, terms, and their classification or ordering. The suffix onym refers to a type of name or word. For example, the word synonym, which combines syn- (together) with -onym (name), denotes a word that has the same or nearly the same meaning as another word. The suffix onomy indicates a field of knowledge or a system of rules or laws about a particular subject. Therefore, in the field of science, the word taxonomy, which combines taxis- (arrangement) with -onomy (method), pertains to the classification of living organisms. These elements play a crucial role in the structure of various English words and contribute to the vast lexicon in language and science.
Another interesting example is the term astronomy, which derives from the Greek words astron (star) and -onomy, implying it is the study or law of stars.
In linguistics, understanding the etymology and semantics behind these word-building elements can help in deciphering the meaning of new or unfamiliar terms, as they provide significant insight into the definition of words. The use of these suffixes is quite versatile, allowing the creation of words to describe various types, methods, and studies of classification in both the physical and theoretical realms.