Y09W35VC Word Roots — -domin- (master/rule)

To have the most power or influence over something; to be the most important or noticeable element.

Word Breakdown: -domin- (root meaning 'master' or 'rule') + -ate (suffix meaning 'to cause or bring about')

Example: Western philosophical traditions have dominated academic discourse in ways that marginalise non-Western ways of knowing.

Synonyms: control, rule, prevail

Collocations: dominate the conversation, dominate the market, dominate discourse

Present or holding power as the strongest or most significant element; most common or influential.

Word Breakdown: pre- (prefix meaning 'before' or 'above all') + -domin- (root meaning 'rule') + -ant (suffix meaning 'characterised by')

Example: The predominant view among researchers is that early childhood intervention produces the highest long-term educational return.

Synonyms: leading, primary, overriding

Collocations: predominant view, predominant culture, remain predominant

Power, authority or control over a domain or territory; sovereignty over a place or group.

Word Breakdown: -domin- (root meaning 'master' or 'rule') + -ion (suffix forming a noun)

Example: The colonial project was predicated on the assertion of dominion over land and peoples that had their own systems of governance.

Synonyms: control, authority, sovereignty

Collocations: exercise dominion, assert dominion, dominion over

To develop an idea or explanation in greater detail; to add more information or complexity.

Word Breakdown: -ate (suffix meaning 'to cause or develop')

Word family: elaboration (n.), elaborate (adj.)

Example: The researcher elaborated on the initial hypothesis, providing three case studies that each tested a different aspect of the claim.

Synonyms: develop, expand on, explain further

Collocations: elaborate on, elaborate the point, elaborate in detail

To make something larger or more extensive; to develop an idea more fully.

Word family: expansion (n.), expansive (adj.)

Example: In the following section, the author expands on her argument, drawing on additional empirical evidence from comparative studies.

Synonyms: develop, extend, broaden

Collocations: expand on, expand the argument, expand the scope

To make something longer, wider or more comprehensive; to continue or stretch something further.

Word family: extension (n.), extensive (adj.)

Example: This essay extends the existing scholarship by applying the theoretical framework to a previously unexamined case study.

Synonyms: develop, continue, broaden

Collocations: extend the argument, extend further, extend beyond

To grow or cause something to grow more advanced, complete or complex.

Word family: development (n.), developed (adj.)

Example: The writer develops the central theme of isolation through a series of increasingly confined settings.

Synonyms: build, grow, advance

Collocations: develop an argument, develop the idea, further develop

To examine or investigate something thoroughly; to consider different aspects of an idea or topic.

Word family: exploration (n.), exploratory (adj.)

Example: The essay explores the tension between individual freedom and collective responsibility through a series of case studies.

Synonyms: examine, investigate, consider

Collocations: explore the idea, explore the tension, fully explore

Used in academic writing to signal that the previous point will now be developed in greater detail.

Example: The argument hinges on the concept of structural disadvantage; to elaborate, this refers to the ways in which social systems systematically produce unequal outcomes.

Synonyms: to expand, to develop, to explain further

Collocations: to elaborate on this, to elaborate further, to elaborate the point