All the options you listed can help readers define words, but they serve different purposes:
-
Parts of speech: Identifying the part of speech (noun, verb, adjective, etc.) helps readers understand how a word functions in a sentence and contributes to its meaning.
-
Pronunciations: Knowing how to pronounce a word correctly can aid in understanding and remembering it, though it doesn't directly define its meaning.
-
Etymological patterns: Understanding the origin and historical development of a word can provide insights into its meaning and how it relates to other words.
-
Stressed syllables: Recognizing which syllables are stressed can help with proper pronunciation, but it is more about verbal communication than defining the word's meaning.
If you're looking for the option that most directly helps define words, parts of speech and etymological patterns are particularly significant, as they provide contextual and historical meaning to the word.