French has a poor vocabulary (André Martinet (Sorbonne University - Paris))
(it must often borrow words from Greek and Latin to make new words and the
derivation system is inefficient). In comparison, English has a much more
developed vocabulary, BESIDE the words from Latin and Greek.
Moreover, the close semantic link between the different lexemes listed
here
can be directly observed by the English speaker. This is not the case for
the corresponding French words.
Let us compare:
to add: ajouter
addendum: addendum
addition: addition
to addict: s'adonner
addictive: qui crée une dépendance
adipose: adipeux
adiposity: adiposité
to adjoin: être contigu à
adjoining : adjacent à
to propel : propulser
propellant : combustible
propeller : hélice
short- or near-sightedness = myopia > -ic
longsightedness = presbyopia > -ic
amiral: admiral
amirauté: Admiralty
to admire : admirer
admirer : admirateur
admiring : admiratif
admiringly : avec admiration
to admit : admettre
admittance : admission
admittedly : de l'aveu général
