She was by trade a weaver; and by constant application to her business, she had been in a good degree preserved from the blighting and dehumanizing effects of slavery.

Question

—Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass,
Frederick Douglass

Use your knowledge of context clues, word roots, and affixes to determine the meaning of the word dehumanizing.

making humans unequal
making people more human
taking a person’s humanity away
taking people’s choices away

Answer 1

The word "dehumanizing" can be understood by breaking it down into its roots and affixes. The prefix "de-" often indicates removal or reversal, and the root "human" relates to human qualities or characteristics. The suffix "-izing" generally indicates a process or action.

Putting this together, "dehumanizing" suggests the process of removing or taking away a person's humanity or human qualities.

Given this analysis, the best choice from the options provided is:

taking a person’s humanity away.