Choose the correctly spelled scientific word.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
Correct Answer
Vaccine
Explanation
Etymological Root: The word originates from the Latin term vaccinus, which comes from vacca (meaning cow), relating to Edward Jenner's early use of the cowpox virus to create immunity against smallpox. The standard English spelling retains the double consonant layout from its Latin roots.
Orthography Rules: The correct spelling requires a double cc and ends with the classic noun suffix -ine. The double "c" produces a distinct phonetic sound combination where the first "c" sounds like a hard "k" and the second "c" sounds like a soft "s" (/vækˈsiːn/).
Incorrect Alternatives: Options like "Vacine" omit the necessary double consonant, while "Vaccene" uses an incorrect vowel suffix. "Vaxine" relies on a phonetic misspelling based on the common abbreviation "vax."
Key Points
Word: Vaccine
Meaning: A biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a particular infectious disease.
Grammatical Role: Noun (functions as the accurate spelling choice for the medical term).