Vocabulary Strategies
© Mary Barrett Mayo High School 1420 SE 11 th Ave. Rochester, MN 55904 [email protected]
These materials may be duplicated for non-profit, educational use. Vocabulary is about learning new words
by studying by studying
Context Clues Word Parts
such as such as
1. Compare/Contrast Prefixes
2. Direct Explanation such as --come at beginning of word 3. Experience --change meaning of word --are used with word or roots 4. Explanation Through Example --can appear in multiples 5. Familiar Expression Roots 6. Inference 7. Mood/Tone --carry main word meaning such as --can appear in multiples 8. Summary --combine with prefix/suffix 9. Synonym or Restatement 10. Words in a Series Suffixes --come at end of word --change part of speech --can appear in multiples [email protected] 1 99% Accuracy?
The man leaned against the current as he waded, waist-deep, upstream. His hands steadied either end of the FURNWUNCH balanced across his shoulders. He had moved about 90 yards from the DNUP where he had entered the stream. A few yards ahead, a part of the wooded bank had been replaced by an ACNRID FRUD. He came abreast of it, and with effort, pressed the FURNWUNCH up and over his head, and then set it on top of the FRUD. He placed his hands on his hips, pulled his elbows back, and arched his back in an attempt to stretch out muscles that were knotted from long exertion.
He relaxed somewhat and began a visual inspection of the FRUD. He moved closer to it and reached under the water to explore its surface. Moving slowly, he started the search from the downstream end. At about the RONDTIP he stopped and probed one area intently. Satisfied that he had located a GRUNDLE, he continued to the upstream end. There was only one GRUNDLE to contend with. He retrieved the FURNWUNCH and cradled the heavy implement as he made his way back to the RONDTIP. He gingerly lowered the FURNWUNCH, holding it perpendicular to the FRUD. When it reached the GRUNDLE, he slid it in its full length. He held it in place with one hand and turned the expansion lock handle until the instrument was seated tightly in place. His mission accomplished, he was clearly relieved. He waded easily downstream to the DNUP. From: Harris, C. H. Curriculum Based Assessment: A Primer 297 Words/ 6.4 GE Flesch-Kincaid
Why 99% accuracy? This passage has 16 occurrences of six unknown words, or 93% known words, making it impossible to comprehend. Pre-teach vocabulary words that are essential to comprehension before students read!
[email protected] 2 2 Types of Vocabulary
1. Critical: Vocabulary that is essential to understanding key concepts in the subject area
Strategies: - Preteach directly - Use Vocab Frames/Flashcards
2. Casual: Vocabulary that needs to be figured out long enough to make meaning of the text but that is not essential to know forever
Strategies: - Context Clues - Word Diary
[email protected] 3 CONTEXT CLUES Introduction
Name: Date: Hour: Kinds of Context Clues
1. COMPARE/CONTRAST Use the knowledge of the word you know to guess the meaning of the new word. Usually you will have a contrast clue such as the word while or but, or a phrase such as on the other hand.
Ex. Jefferson and Washington were as different as day and night. While Jefferson was a lively conversationalist with something to say on every subject, Washington was shy and TACITURN.
TACITURN:
2. DIRECT EXPLANATION The meaning of the unknown word is given later in the sentence or paragraph.
Ex. Monopoly (only one seller) or oligopoly (only a few sellers) situations do give producers some price- setting powers.
Oligopolist:
3. EXPERIENCE You use your own experience in life to help you guess intelligently about the meaning of a word.
Ex. Anyone could tell by the look on his face that the test filled him with DREAD.
DREAD:
4. EXPLANATION THROUGH EXAMPLE Examples that will help you guess the unknown word’s meaning are given in context.
Ex. Jim had been studying for hours and his eyes were tired and scratchy. He decided to take a short break and stretch. After this RESPITE, Jim was ready to study again.
RESPITE:
5. FAMILIAR EXPRESSION This kind of clue lets you figure out a new word because you have heard a similar idiom or know a similar word. Often, this clue will help you figure out new slang.
Ex. My grandfather smiled knowingly when I said, "That rocks!" "Yes," he said, "that is the BEE'S KNEES!"
BEE'S KNEES:
[email protected] 4 Context Clues Introduction
6. INFERENCE This is a combination of all the other clues. You use all the skills you have to understand the new word. In the end, you just "know" the meaning of the word; you can't point to any one place in the sentence that provided a clue.
Ex. Sharon came home from her date and told her roommate: "I'm through with blind dates forever! This one topped them all! What a wasted evening! Every minute was tedious! Even though he was cute, my date was utterly VAPID."
VAPID:
7. MOOD / TONE The context has a general feeling that allows you to guess the meaning of the word.
Ex. The LUGUBRIOUS cries of the child matched the dreary whistling of the wind in the deserted cemetery.
LUGUBRIOUS:
8. SUMMARY At the beginning or end of an explanation or description, one word will summarize the whole paragraph or sentence.
Ex. Pete Littlefield, the basketball team center, is six feet, five inches tall and weighs 210 pounds. His teammates call him "Shorty," an obvious MISNOMER.
MISNOMER:
9. SYNONYM OR RESTATEMENT Usually you will find the new word followed by: , or , The word following the or is the synonym. Sometimes the or is left out and only the commas remain.
Ex. Flooded with spotlights the newly announced queen received her crown from the queen of the year before. The new queen was the CYNOSURE, or focus, of all eyes for the rest of the Pep Fest.
CYNOSURE:
10. WORDS-IN-A-SERIES Several synonyms in a row might contain one word you don't know. The unknown word will have a meaning similar to the other words in a series.
Ex. The new student was motivated, eager, INDUSTRIOUS, and anxious to learn.
INDUSTRIOUS:
While it is not a specific clue to use WORD PARTS, it is a useful tool. For example, if you see the word exigency, you might think, "That ends like the word emergency" and base your guess on that. You might see the word directive and notice the word direct, which you already know. You can also use your knowledge of prefixes (ex-, un-, mis-, dis-) to recognize that a word has a negative slant.
[email protected] 5 Context Clues Introduction
Now complete the following items as a worksheet exercise.
11. COMPARISON / CONTRAST
Unlike his older brother, who could meet anyone from the president of the local women's club to the President of the United States with grace and ease, Bill was quite GAUCHE.
GAUCHE:
12. DIRECT EXPLANATION
The EXIGENCY that developed when the automatic pilot failed forced the astronaut to ignore some experiments and fly the shuttle craft manually. Luckily they survived the emergency landing.
EXIGENCY;
13. EXPERIENCE
Finally the moment of entering the new school arrives. The unexplored world of Mayo lies ahead. Almost every freshman approaches a new school with some TREPIDATION.
TREPIDATION:
14. EXPLANATION THROUGH EXAMPLE
Bob's reaction to his new stepmother was characterized by a strange AMBIVALENCE -- faith conflicting with distrust.
AMBIVALENCE:
15. FAMILIAR EXPRESSION
In his eagerness to be elected, he tried hard to impress his fellow students. He made posters, handed out name stickers, and appeared on the Spartan Scene. As a result of this INORDINATE effort, he was elected.
INORDINATE:
16. INFERENCE CLUE
While driving his father's new car, Mike had a serious collision. People who saw the accident CORROBORATED his statement that he had been driving carefully.
CORROBORATED:
[email protected] 6 Context Clues Introduction
17. MOOD OR TONE CLUE
The anger in his voice and the frown on his face warned us that Father was in a CAPTIOUS mood. Absolutely nothing could satisfy him. Dinner was too late; the meat was too cold; the coffee was too hot.
CAPTIOUS:
18. SUMMARY CLUE
The stories about Jim, invented from bits and scraps of gossip and legend, soon developed into a terrible rumor, and an innocent student became the victim of CALUMNY.
CALUMNY:
19. SYNONYM CLUE
Three times in a row, the football team's players charged their opponent's line without gaining an inch of ground. The line proved IMPREGNABLE, or unbreakable.
IMPREGNABLE:
20. WORDS IN A SERIES CLUE
His qualities as a leader made it hard for him to express his ideas. The Student Council members disliked his finality, his decisiveness, his PEREMPTORY manner.
PEREMPTORY:
[email protected] 7 Context Clues Sample #1 from "Gray Matters" by Sharon Begley
1. "...active regions of the brain use more glucose than quiescent areas and so emit radioactivity, which PET detects."
What does QUIESCENT mean?
What is the clue in the sentence?
2. "If women's brains are paragons of holism, while men's are a house divided, it could explain findings."
What does PARAGONS OF HOLISM mean?
What is the clue in the sentence?
3. "The brain is so malleable that rats raised in a cage filled with toys and mazes grow more connections between their neurons than rats raised in a bare cage."
What does MALLEABLE mean?
What is the clue in the sentence?
4. "...researchers catch brains in the very act of cogitating, feeling, or remembering."
What does COGITATING mean?
What is the clue in the sentence?
[email protected] 8 CONTEXT CLUES Sample #2
1. "She had marked a turning off here with a pile of stones and pine cones. With relief and triumph she saw the beam of the flashlight illuminate her private CAIRN. from p. 122 Anne Granger Murder Among Us
What does CAIRN mean?
What is the clue in the sentence?
2. You're right that basal-cell cancer rarely spreads -- METASTASIZES -- to internal organs. from p. 4E Pioneer Press August 1997
What does METASTASIZES mean?
What is the clue in the sentence?
3. "I love prom because it changes so dramatically from year to year -- the styles, colors," Bessler says. She has to buy her dress lines months before prom, meaning she has to be PRESCIENT about what is going to be popular. from p. 1B Rochester Post Bulletin September, 1997
What does PRESCIENT mean?
What is the clue in the sentence?
[email protected] 9 Context Clues Sample #3
1. Miss Barrett decided, after the computer had crashed three times, that she was going to become a LUDDITE and give up computers forever.
What does LUDDITE mean?
What is the clue in the sentence?
2. This sunny midweek afternoon, a BALMY breeze makes for a LANGUOROUS atmosphere in the little ball park where baseball is played with a passion as mild as the weather. (Time, 3/20/98 p. 76)
What does BALMY mean?
What is the clue in the sentence?
What does LANGUOROUS mean?
What is the clue in the sentence?
3. "--all are monstrous CALUMNIES that now seem to pass for accepted truth." (Newsweek, 3/30/98 p. 35)
What does CALUMNIES mean?
What is the clue in the sentence?
4. "... not easy to fix because CFCs are UBIQUITOUS in almost every society. They're used in refrigeration and air conditioning. They're used as cleaning solvents in factories. They're used as blowing agents to create certain kinds of plastic foam. In many countries CFCs are still spewed into the air as part of aerosol sprays.
What does UBIQUITOUS mean?
What is the clue in the sentence?
[email protected] 10 Vocabulary in Context - OH Sample #4 Examples
1. Guangyong seemed more PRAGMATIC than emotional about the decision to keep his daughter or give her away. from "Family Secret" Pioneer Press 2/25/98 p. 4B PRAGMATIC means: Type of clue:
2. He's the guardian of the true, the champion of the real, the friend of VERISIMILITUDE. VERISIMILITUDE means:
Type of clue:
3. You could buy a paper shredder for up to $2,000. On the other hand, LUDDITES can buy a nice ambidextrous Durasharp stainless steel scissors with a 10-year warranty for $7.70. LUDDITES means: Type of Clue:
4. Daniel Maida's heart was beating rapidly and not pumping blood, a condition known as FIBRILLATION. FIBRILLATION means: Type of clue:
[email protected] 11 5. To poke fun at the superstitious, organizers will hold limbo dances under a ladder, toss mirrors and play superstition trivia games -- all in the name of helping FRIGGATRISKAIDEKAPHOBES, or those who fear Friday the 13th.
FRIGGATRISKAIDEKAPHOBES means: Type of clue:
6. The old Greeks had a word for it: HUBRIS. It was their explanation of why bigshots - the rich, the famous, the powerful - do the inexplicable things they sometimes do, and often destroy themselves doing it.
HUBRIS means: Type of clue:
7. He hated how the Sahara had left a permanent coat of fine sand on his skin, how the grains found their way between his teeth and into every meal he ate. He said he hated watching the sand women's SISYPHEAN LABOR, the same sand spilling back into the spaces they had cleared.
SISYPHEAN LABOR means: Type of clue:
8. The mountain climber expected to face ADVERSITY, or trouble, on his ascent of Everest. But he did not expect to watch five of his part die.
ADVERSITY means:
Type of clue:
[email protected] 12 Word Diary Name Hour Dates: to Date Unfamiliar Word Context: Sentence in which you found the word Guess
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Your grade depends on the following: 1) The word is spelled correctly; 2) the word is used in the sentence in which you found it; 3) the word is highlighted or underlined within the sentence; 4) your handwriting is legible; and 5) your guess makes sense when it is substituted for the new word in the context of the sentence. Your Word Diary is due after each 10 diary entries. Thanks! Due Date:
[email protected] 13 Word Diary Name Hour Dates: to Date Unfamiliar Word Context: Sentence in which you found the word Guess
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Your grade depends on the following: 1) The word is spelled correctly; 2) the word is used in the sentence in which you found it; 3) the word is highlighted or underlined within the sentence; 4) your handwriting is legible; and 5) your guess makes sense when it is substituted for the new word in the context of the sentence.
Your Word Diary is due after each 10 diary entries. Thanks! Due Date: [email protected] 14 Monarchy Oligarchy Archetype
Archrival Anarchy Archenemy arch, archae, arche Patriarchy first, chief, ruler, Archive ancient, primitive
Matriarchy Architect
Archaic Archdeacon Archeologist Archangel
[email protected] 15 Using Prefixes, Roots, and Suffixes
Description: Can you figure out what this word means?
pneumoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis
If you use your knowledge of prefixes and suffixes, you could break it down into the following parts:
pneumo (air, wind) ultra (beyond the normal) micro (small) scopic (to see) silico (hard stone) volcano (fire) coni (dust) osis (disease) You read Latin from right to left, so literally this word means the dust from burning a hard stone and that is too small to see in the air. This is the longest word in the dictionary, and it is a term for black lung disease. (Miners breathed in a very fine coal dust that coated their lungs and made it difficult for the miners to breathe. Many coal miners died of black lung disease.) Not only could you figure out this word if you had some knowledge of Greek and Latin prefixes, roots, and suffixes, you could also pronounce it! A college dictionary will give you the etymology of the word, including its roots and their meanings. [email protected] 16 OUR GREEK AND LATIN ROOTS LECTURE NOTES
LATIN Latin Lang families Romance Languages Number One --Latin unus --Italian uno --Spanish uno --France un --Portuguese um --Romanian un Numbers -10 almost identical
Rome invades Britain originally spoken by Romans --developed from Latin of the Holy Roman Empire --Julius Caesar invaded Britain in 55 B.C.E. and 54 B.C.E.
EX: Caesar = Kaiser = Czar
--Romans introduced towns, laws, roads --Romans stayed in Britain until the 5th century C.E. --Latin was the language of the Christian church and Latin spread as Christianity spread
Anglo Saxon --words in our language today from the Old English (Anglo-Saxon) are often kinship terms (modor = mother) or words for basic functions and emotions (drincan = drink; saed = sad) --Saxons, Jutes, and Angles invaded in 5th-6th century C.E. --Anglo-Saxon languagebecame leading everyday language of Britain
Latin --Latin was the language of religion, diplomacy, business, trade
Norman Invasion --Normans invaded Britain in 1066 (C.E.) --French became language of court, government, schools, nobility --Latin was the language of international communications
[email protected] 17 Latin influences --10,000 Latinate words --75% of these words are still in use
Renaissance --during the Renaissance (1500-1650 C.E.) new flood of Roman words entered the language as Roman civilization was rediscovered --Latin language of the educated --Latin international language dictionary --1755 Samuel Johnson pub. English Dictionary --standardized spelling --standardized meanings
Structure of Words prefix PREFIX --come at the beginning of the word or before the root --change the meaning of the entire word --have variant spellings because of pronunciation ex. a-, ac-, ad-, af-, ag-, an-, ar-, as-, at- meaning " to or toward" --may exist in multiples (un inter rupted) in a word --may affect the spelling of the word root ROOTS --carries the primary meaning of the word --may appear in multiples (metro nome, manu script)) --may change slightly in mng today from orig. mng --may have variant spellings --are affected by prefixes and suffixes suffix SUFFIXES --come at the end of the word --do not change the word mng --determine the POS of the word --may appear in multiples (re spect ful ly) [email protected] 18 --may affect the spelling of a word
[email protected] 19 GREEK --as late as 700 B.C.E., the Greeks did not have a written lang. --poets like Homer had to keep poetry in their heads --Phoenician alphabet adapted by Greeks
--influence on English entirely through books, not speaking --300-600 B. C. E. books of history, poetry, plays, philosophy, geometry, and studies of nature --major influence beg. 200 C. E. with dev't of parchment books knowledge --Grks first div knowledge in dif categories --Eng wds are derived from special skill or study ex: history, arithmetic, mathematics, physics, music, drama
Sample Greek wds --telephone, telegram, telegraph, telescope, telepathy, telephoto arts --theatre, architecture Med terms --diagnosis, hyppodermic, epidemic
abbrev --i.e. id est = 'that is' --e.g. exemplis gratia = 'for example' --etc et cetera = ' and others' --a.m. ante meridian = before noon --p.m. post meridiem = after noon --P.S. post scriptum = 'written later' --v. versus = 'against'
[email protected] 20 Open Notes Quiz Our Latin and Greek Roots Lecture
1. were the early inhabitants of the British Isles.
2. The power which dominated the region with its language and culture from 43 (C.E.) to 400 (C.E.) was .
3. Later, Germanic tribes including the and the brought their additions to the language.
4. With the invasion of William the conqueror in 1066, was added to the language of politics and the courts.
5. With the coming of the Renaissance and the printing press, Latin became the language of and .
6. Eighteenth century advances in science and technology led to many in Latin.
7. Greek words in the language relate primarily to the in knowledge.
Our Latin and Greek Roots Quiz 2 – Open Note
1. In what years did Julius Caesar invade Britain?
2-5. In addition to the Romans, what four other groups invaded Britain?
6-7. Give two subject areas where Latin words dominated the language in Britain.
8. Who published the English dictionary in 1755?
9-11. What are the three word parts in English that are based on our Latin heritage?
12. What is one similarity between prefixes and suffixes?
13. What is one difference between prefixes and suffixes?
14. What does POS stand for?
[email protected] 21 15. What characteristics of language did Greek introduce into English?
16. Give one area where many English words have Greek roots.
[email protected] 22 Master List: Prefixes, Roots, and Suffixes that occur in English PREFIX Origin Meanings Example of Use a-, ab-, abs- L away from absent, abstinent a- ac-, ad-, af-, ag- L to, toward adhere, annex, accede, adapt an-, ar-, as-, at- ambi, amb L both, around ambidextrous, ambiguous, amble amphi L both amphibious, amphitheater ante- L before antebellum, antedate, anteroom, antecedent anti- L against anticommunist, antidote, anticlimax be- OE on, away bedeck, bestow, belabor bene-, bon- L well benefit, benefactor, benevolent, bonus, bonanza bi-, bis- L two biped, bicycle cata- L down, against catapult, catastrophe, catalog circum-, circ- L around circumference, circumlocution co-, com-, con- L together, with combination, connect contra-, counter- L against controversy, contradict, counterpart de- L down, from, opposite descend, decline, detract, demerit dis-, dif-, di- L apart disperse, difference epi- L upon, on top of, in epilogue, epidermis addition equi- L equal equivalent ex-, ef-, e- L out, from eject, exalt, exit extra-, extro L beyond, outside extraordinary, extracurricular, extrovert fore- OE before in time forecast, foretell, foreshadow hemi-,, semi- Fr half hemisphere, semicircle hyper- L over hypersensitive, hyperactive, hypercritical hypo- L under hypodermic, hypoactive, hypothesis il,- ir-, in-, im- L not illegal, irregular, inactive, immoral in-, il-, im- L into inject, inside, illustrate, impose, imprison mal-, male- L bad, ill malpractice, malevolent, maladjusted, malady miso- L indicates hate misogyny mono- L alone, one, single monotone, monopoly multi- L many multifaceted, multicultural non- L not nonsense ob-, of, op, oc L in front, against obviate, obvious, offend, oppose, occur omni- L everywhere, all omnipresent, omnipotent per- L through perceive, pervade, perfect, permanent pre- L thoroughly persuade, persecute, permutation poly- L many polygon post- L after posterior, postpone pre- L before precursor, preface pro- L forward, in favor of proceed, promote re- L back, again recall, recede, redo se- L apart secede sub- (suf-, sug-, L under subliminal, subway, subhuman, subversive sup-, sus-) suffer, sufficient, suggest, support, suspect super- L greater, beyond supernatural, superstition trans-, tra L across, beyond transpire, transcontinental, transfusion un-, uni- L one unilateral, unity un OE not unethical, unlocked
KEY: L = Latin
[email protected] 23 Gr = Greek OE = Old English
[email protected] 24 SUFFIXES Origin Meaning Examples of Use -able, -ible (adj) L able, can do capable, agreeable, suitable, visible, edible -ade (n.) (-actus) L result of action blockade, lemonade -age (n.) (-actus) L act of, state of salvage, storage -al (adj.) L relating to natural, sensual, gradual, manual -an, ian (n.) L native of, relating to American, Canadian -ance, ancy (n.) L action, process, state assistance, allowance, truancy, defiance (-ans) -ant (adj.) (-ans) L performing agent assistant, servant -ary, -ery, -ory (n.) L connected with, engaged dictionary, bravery, dormitory (-arius) with -ate (v.) L cause, make liquidate, segregate, inculcate -cy (n.) (-tia) L quality, condition hesitancy, prophecy, normalcy, criteria -dom (n.) OE quality, realm, office kingdom, wisdom, freedom, dukedom -en (adj.) OE made of, make silken, frozen, oaken, wooden, lighten -ence, ency (n.) L action, state, quality difference, conference, urgency - er, -or (n.) L one who dancer, rider, baker, teacher, doctor -fic (adj.) L making, causing terrific, scientific, specific -ful (adj.) OE full of frightful, helpful, careful -fy (v.) L make fortify, simplify, amplify -hood (n.) OE order, condition manhood, womanhood, brotherhood -ian (n.) L having skill or art musician, magician, beautician, physician -ic (adj.) OE like, characteristic metallic, heroic, poetic, acidic -ile (adj.) L relating to, suited to juvenile, senile, missile -ion, -sion, -tion L act of, state of contagion, aversion, infection (n.) -ish (adj.) OE origin, nature foolish, clownish -ist (n.) L one who realist, dentist, centrist -ity, (n.) L state of, quality captivity, clarity -ive (adj.) L causing, tendency abusive, exhaustive toward -ize (v.) L make emphasize, publicize, idolize -less (adj.) OE without baseless, careless, artless, fearless, helpless -ly (adj.) OE like, manner of carelessly, fearlessly, hopelessly, shamelessly -ment (n.) L product, means, action contentment, amendment -ness (n.) OE state of carelessness, restlessness -ology, -logy (n.) OE study, science biology, anthropology, geology, neurology -ous (adj.) L full of, having gracious, nervous, spacious, vivacious -ship (n.) OE office, state, skill friendship, authorship, dictatorship -some (adj.) L like, apt, tending to lonesome, threesome, gruesome -tude (n.) L state of, condition of attitude, gratitude, multitude -ure (n.) L state of, act, process culture, literature, rupture -ward (n.) OE in the direction of eastward, forward, backward -y (adj.) L condition, state of being, cheery, crafty, faulty quality
KEY: L = Latin Gr = Greek OE = Old English
25 ROOTS Origin Meanings Derivations acer, acid, acri bitter, sour, sharp acerbic, acidity, acrimonious act, ag, acro height, edges, pointed acrophobia, acropolis, acrobat act, agi move, do, go react, enactment, activities, transact, actuary, agitate acu, acuere sharp acute aero air aerobics, aerodynamics aesthet feeling, perception kinesthesia, anesthesia, esthetics, aesthete agog leader pedagogue, demagogue agon contest, struggle agony, antagonize, protagonist agri field agriculture, agronomy ali, alter other alias, alternative alt high altitude, exaltation, alto, altimeter ambi around ambient, ambiguous, ambition ambulo walk amble, perambulator, preamble, ambulance, ambulant amo love amorous, amour, amateur andr man, human android, androgynous ang corner triangle, angular, angulate animus, anima make alive, mind, spirited animal, animate, magnanimity, pusillanimous, unanimity annus, anni, enni year annual, annuity, perennial, anniversary, millennium anthropo man, mankind anthropology, anthropomorphic apert open aperture apt, ept suitable aptitude, ineptitude aqua water aquamarine, aquifer arch archae, first, chief, ruler archetype, monarch, oligarchy, anarchy, archangel arche primitive, ancient archaic, archive art skill artisan, artificial arti joint article, articulate, arthritis (Greek) Week 2 astro, ast, astr star asteroid, astronomy, astrology, asterisk, disaster aud, aus hear audience, audible, audition, audio aug, auc increase augment, auction auto self automatic, autobiography, autograph, automobile baro weight barometer, baritone, isobar bas low basement bellum, belli war rebellion, belligerent, bellicose, ante-bellum, rebel bellus pretty belle, belladonna, beau, beauty bene, bon good, well benevolent, bonus, benediction, bona fide, benefactor bi, du two biannual, bipartisan, bicameral, biceps, duplicate, duo biblio, bibl book bibliography, bibliophile, bible bio life biography, microbe, biopsy, amphibian, biochemistry breve short abbreviate, brevity cad, cas, cid fall, happen cadence, cascade, coincide, cadaverous, accident calor, cal heat calorie cande shine, glow candle cam, camp field camp, campus, campaign, champion, scamper cap, cept, cip take, seize capture, incapacitate, captive, capsule, forceps capit, capt head capital, capitulate, cap, caption, caprice, precipitate cardi, card, cord heart cordial, cardiac, cardiology Week 3 carn flesh carnation, carnal, carnivorous, reincarnated, carnival caus, caut burn, heat caustic, cauterize cause, cuse, cus cause, motive excuse ced, cess, cede, yield, move, go recede, intercede, secede, cede, recession, precedent ceed ROOTS Origin Meanings Derivations
[email protected] 26 ceive, cept, cip take, receive deceive, precept, inception cent hundred centimeter, century, cent, centennial centric, centr center central, centrifuge, egocentric, ethnocentric cephalo skull, head, brain hydrocephalus, microcephalus, cephalopod cern, cerno separate discern, secretive, discretion, concern, certain cert, certus, -a sure certain, certificate chrom color chromatic, chromosome, chromatography chrono, chron time chronology, synchronize, chronic, anachronism cis, cide cut, kill scissors, concise, precise, homicide, germicide, incisors cite, cit arouse, summon, call recite, citation, excite, incite, cite, recital civis, civ citizen civic, city, civilize, civilian, civility clam, claim cry out clamor, claim, declamation, reclamation clar clear clarify, clarion, clarinet, claret, declare claus, clud, clus close, shut closet, close, closure, recluse, foreclose, claustrophobia, preclude clemen merciful clemency cline lean incline, recline, decline cog, nosc, gnosi know cognitive, agnostic col, cul inhabitant, settlement colony commun common community, communism corpus, corp body corpse, corps, corpulent, corporal, corporeal cosmo, cosm universe, world cosmic, cosmopolitan, macrocosm, cosmos cracy, crat govern, rule, strength democracy, autocracy, technocracy, bureaucracy crea create creation, creator cred believe credible, creed, credo, credit, credence cresc, cret, increase, rise, grow crescent, crescendo, accrue, crew, recruit crease, cru crit separate, choose critical Week 4 crux, cruc cross crusade, cross, crucifix, crux, excruciate, crucial crypt hidden cryptogram, cryptic, crypt cub, cumb lie down, lean back encumber, recumbent cum heap cumulative, accumulate curr, curs run current, concurrent, corridor, recur, curriculum cura care cure, accurate, security, curative, curiosity, curator cycle, cycl, circle, wheel bicycle, cyclic, encyclopedia cyclo cyto cell cytoplasm, cytology, cytogenesis deci, deca ten decimeter, decimate, decade, December demo, dem people pandemic, epidemic, demography, endemic, democrat denti, dent, dont tooth dentist, dentine, dent, indent, dentifrice, orthodontist derm skin taxidermist, epidermis, pachyderm, hypodermic di two dilemma, dichotomy, dichromatic dic, dict say, speak dictionary, dictation dies day diary, diet, journey, sojourn, adjourn doc, doct, dox, teach, belief, opinion doctrine, document, documentary, doctor indoctrinate, docile, dogma orthodox, paradox, dogma domin master, rule dominate, dominant, domino, domineer, domain don, donat give donate, donor, date, pardon, condone dorm sleep dormitory, dormant drome to run, step syndrome duc, duct to lead induce, introduce, deduce, conducive, ductile dura hard, lasting durable dynam power thermodynamics, dynamo, dynamite, dynamometer ego I, self superego, egotist ROOTS Origin Meanings Derivations Week 5
[email protected] 27 endo, end within endocrine, endosperm, endoskeleton, endothermic equi, equ equal equality, equanimity erg work energy, ergonomics err to wander erratic, aberration eth(os) custom ethnic eu good, well eulogy, euphemism, euphoria, euphonious fac, fact, fic, fect make, do fact, facile, facsimile, facilitate, faction, feasible, facility fall, fals deceive fallacy, fallacious, false femino female feminine fer carry, bear transfer, circumference, deference, fertile, offer fid, fide, feder trust, faith confident, fiduciary, diffidence, infidel, fidelity, Fido fig form figment, effigy fil son filial, affiliation fin end final firm securely fixed affirm, firmament fix fix fix, transfix, crucifix flex, flect bend flexible, reflect flu, flue, fluv flow fluid, fluent, flux, influx, affluent, influence, fluvial, flush form shape, form transform, formative, formation fort, forc strong fortress, fortify frag, fract break fragile, fraction, fracture, frail, refraction, fragment, infraction Week 6 frater brother fraternity, fraternal fric rub friction, fricative fug flee fugitive, fugue, refugee, subterfuge fum smoke fumigate, fumes funct perform function, dysfunctional gam marriage misogamy, polygamy, bigamy, monogamy gastro stomach gastronomy, gastric gen, genus origin, birth, race, kind homogenize, eugenics, gene, genesis, generation, gender geo earth geology, geography, geode, geo-politics germ sprout, offshoot germination, germ, germinal gest carry, bear gestation, ingest, digest gloss, glot tongue glottal, polyglot glom G ball conglomerate glu L glue gluten, glue glyph carve hieroglyph, petroglyph, glyph gon angle pentagon, tetragonal, octagon, nonagon grad, gress step, grade gradual, graduate, digress, ingredient, egress, progress gram, graph written, drawn hexagram, telegram, program, cardiogram, graphic grat pleasing gratitude, gratify, grace, gratis, gratuitous, congratulate grav heavy gravity, grave, gravitate, aggravate, grieve, gravid greg group, flock congregate, segregate, gregarious, egregious gyn woman gynecology, philogyny, misogyny, gynarchy habit have, hold habitual, habit, inhibit, habitude, hab, hib live habitation, habitat, hibernation hap OE luck, chance happen, haphazard helio sun heliocentric, heliotrope, heliotherapy hemi half hemisphere, hemicycle, hemiplegia hemo, hema blood hemophilia, hemostat, hemoglobin, hemorrhage, anemia here, hes stick, cling adhere, adhesive hetero different heterogeneous, heteronym, heterosexual
[email protected] 28 ROOTS Origin Meanings Derivations Week 7 hexa six hexagon, hexagram, hexameter hiero sacred hierarchy, hieroglyphic homo G same homonym, homogenous, homologous, homosexual homo L man homicide, Homo Sapiens, hombre honor honor honor, honorable, dishonor, honorarium, honorary hosp, host host, guest hostel, hospital, host, hospitality hum, earth, ground humility, exhume, inhumation, posthumous human man human hydro, hydr, water dehydrate, hydrogen, hydrophobia, hydraulic hydra hypn sleep hypnosis iatric, iatr medical treatment geriatrics, psychiatry, podiatry, pediatrics idio individuality idiosyncrasy, idiom, ignis fire ignite, ignition, igneous imag likeness image, imagery init beginning initial, initiative integ whole integrate, integer iso equal isotherm, isotope, isosceles, isobar jac, ject throw eject, projectile, interject, adjective, trajectory, dejected junct, join join, connect junction, injunction, adjoin, conjunction, join jud, judi, judic, judge, lawyer, law, judiciary, adjudicate, jurisprudence, justice, jurisdiction jus, jur right juven young, youth juvenile kine, cine move cinema, kinetic, kinescope labor, lab work laboratory, labored, elaborate, collaborate, belabor laps, lat slip collapse, elapse lat carry translate, relate lat side, broad lateral, latitude laut, lav, lot, lut wash lavatory, ablution leg, lect read, select collect, select, legible, legend, lectern, lecture, elect legis, leg law legislature, legal, legitimate, illegal levis light alleviate, levity lic, licit permit illicit, license lingua language linguist, language, lingo, linguistics lit, letter, liter letter literary, literate, literal, letter, obliterate, illiterate litho, lith stone megalith, lithograph, monolith, Neolithic liver, liber free liberate, deliver, liberty loco, loc place location, locus, allocate, locomotion, local log, logo, logue, word, study of, speech, dialog, biology, neologism, logic, catalog, biology logy science of Week 8 loqu, locut speak, talk eloquent, loquacity, colloquial, ventriloquist, soliloquy, locution lude, lud, lus play prelude, ludricus lumen, luc, lum, light illuminate, luminary, luminous, luminescence lus luna moon lunar, lunacy, lunate, lunatic lust shine illustrate, lackluster, luster lysis, lys loosening, destroying paralysis, catalysis, hydrolysis macro long, large macroeconomics, macrobiotic, macrocosm, macroscopic magnus, magn great, large magnify, magnificent, major, magnanimous mal bad malice, malignant, malpractice, malicious, malinger mand command mandatory ROOTS Origin Meanings Derivations
[email protected] 29 mania madness for pyromania, kleptomania, monomania, maniac manu, man hand manual, manicure, emancipate, manufacture mar, mari, mer sea, pool marine, submarine max greatest maximum, maxim matri, matro, mother matron, matriculate, matrimony, alma mater matric mechane, mech machine mechanics, machine, mechanism, machinations medi half, middle, between medium, mediocre mega great, large megaphone, megaton, megacycle, megalomania mem remember memorandum, remember, memory ment mind mental, mention merge, mers dip, dive emerge, immerse meter measure barometer, thermometer, metronome, meter Week 9 metry measurement geometry, trigonometry, optometry micro small microscope, micron, microfilm, microbiology migra, migr wander migrate, emigrate, immigrant milli thousand(th) millimeter, million, millennium mim same mimic, mimeograph min small, less minute, minor minist servant, officer minister, administer mira look, wonder admire, miracle, miraculous, mirage, admiration miso hatred, wrong, bad misanthropy, misconduct, misplace, misadventure mitt, miss send transmit, admit, omit, remit, missive, mission, missile mon advise, warn admonish, monitor mono, mon one monogram, monogamy, monocle, monarch, monopoly monst, mist show demonstrate morph form amorphous, anthropomorphic, metamorphosis mort, mori, mors death mortal, immortal, mortician, mortify, mortgage, moribund mov, mob, mot move remove, move, motivation, mobility, commotion multi many multiply, multicolored, multiform, multilingual, multitude mut, mutat change, interchange mutual, commute, mutation, immutable narr tell narrate, narrative nase nose nasal, nostril, nasofrontal nat, nasc born nature, native, innate, naïve, cognate, prenatal nav ship navy, navigate necro dead necrophobia, necrotic, necromancy, necrophile, necropolis neg no negative, renege neo recent, new neophyte, neon, neoplasm, Neolithic neuro, neur nerve neurology, neuralgia, neurosis, neuron nom law, order autonomy nomen, nomin, name nominate, cognomen, ignominious, nominal nym nomy systematized physiognomy, economy, autonomy, metronome knowledge nota, not note notation, notorious, notice, denote, annotation, noteworthy nounce, nunce, warn, declare announce, denunciate, renounce noun novus, nov new novelty, innovate, novel, novice, Novocain, novelette nox, noc night nocturnal
[email protected] 30 ROOTS Origin Meanings Derivations Week 10 null none nullify, annul numer number enumerate, numerous octo eight octagon, octopus, octogenarian, octet, octave, October ocu, op, opt eye oculist, binoculars, optical, Cyclops omni all, every omniscient, omnivorous, omnipotent onus burden onerous, onus onym name synonym, acronym, pseudonym, anonymous, antonym oper work operate, opus opt best optimist, optimal ora pray adoration, oracle ora, orus speak, mouth oral, oration, oratory ord row order, extraordinary orig beginning origin, aborigine ortho straight, correct orthodontist, orthopedic, orthographic osteo, oss bone osteopath, osteoporosis, osteology, ossification pac, pax peace pacify, pacifier, pact paleo ancient, prehistoric paleontology, Paleozoic, Paleolithic pan all panorama, pantheism, panacea, panchromatic par equal parity, disparate, par patho, path feeling, disease sympathy, apathetic, antipathy, pathos, pathology patr, pater father paternity, paternal ped, pedo child pedagogy, pediatrician, pedophile ped, pod foot pedal, pedestrian, pedestal, pedicure, tripod, podiatry, podium pel, pulse, pul drive, push, urge propel, repellent, expel, repulsive, compulsion, pulse, compulsory, repulse pend, pens, pon to hang pendulum, suspense, impend, pending, propensity pent five pentagon, pentathlon, pentameter peri around periscope, perigee, perimeter, peristaltic persona person personality, personae, parson, personify, impersonate petro stone petrify, petroleum, petroglyph pheme speech euphemism, morpheme, grapheme phil love philosophy, philanthropy, hemophilia, Anglophile phobia, phob fear of claustrophobia, hydrophobia, triskadekaphobia phono, phon sound phonograph, phonetic, cacophony, telephone, Dictaphone Week 11 photo, phos light photograph, photogenic, photosynthesis, phosphoresce physio, phys nature, natural physiotherapy, physics, physiology, astrophysical phyte plant neophyte, dermophyte, microphyte pict paint pictorial, picturesque, depict plac, plais please pleasure, complacent, please, pleasant, placebo, complaisance plasia mold, change plastic, plasticize, plaster plenus full replenish, plenitude plere to fill complete, complement, replete, comply, compliment, expletive plec, plic, pli, interweave, fold complex, Plexiglas, plywood, multiply, pliable, implicate ply, plex plu, plur, plus more plus, surplus, plural pneuma, breath pneumonia, pneumonic pneumon polis, poli city politics, cosmopolitan, metropolis, police, metropolitan poly many polygon, polygamy, polytechnic, polyester, polymer pon, pos, pond put, place expound, exponent, opponent, postpone, dispose, deposit pop people population, populace, popular, depopulated ROOTS Origin Meanings Derivations
[email protected] 31 port carry transport, portage, purport, important, importune, portend portio part, share proportion, apportion poss, pot power, ability potential, potent, possible prehend seize apprehend, comprehend, reprehensible press press pressure, press, express, suppress, depress, repress, impression proto G first prototype, protoplasm, proton, protocol, protozoan prim, prime L first primitive, prime pseudo false pseudonym, pseudopodia, pseudoscience psych mind psychic, psychopath, psychology, psychosomatic pug fight pugnacious, impugn punct point punctual, punctuation, punctilious put think computer, putative pyro fire pyrotechnics, Pyrex, pyre, pyromania quad four quadrangle, quadrant, quadrilateral, quadruped quer, ques, quis inquire question, inquest, inquisitive, requisition, perquisite quies at rest acquiesce, quiescence rad ray, spoke radio, radius ras scrape erase, rasp ratio reason rational, ration, rationale, reason, rationalize, ratio reg, recti, rect rule, direct, straighten regal, regimen, regalia, regent, regulate, Regina Week 12 ri, ridi, risi laughter ridicule, derisive rog, roga ask interrogate, derogatory rupt break out erupt, disrupt, abrupt, corrupt, interrupt, bankrupt sac, sect holy sacred, sacrifice, sacrilege, desecrate, sacrilegious sal jump assault, salient, assail, resilient, sally, resultant salv, salu safe, healthy salubrious, salvation, salutary san health sanitary, sanity sat, satis enough satisfactory, sate scend climb ascend, descendent sci know science, prescient, conscious, conscience, omniscient scope see microscope, gyroscope, periscope, stethoscope, scope scrib, script write script, conscript, scripture, prescription, describe, scribble sect cut section, dissect sed, sess, sid sit, settle sediment, sedan, sedation, supersede, residue, sedentary sem seed seminal, semen semi half semicircle, semiconscious, semidetached, semifinal sen, seni old senator, senile sent, sens feel sentiment, sentient, sensitive, insensitive sequ, secu, sue follow sequence, sequential, prosecute, consequent, subsequent serv serve, save reservation, servant, conserve sign, signi sign, mark, seal signature, signet, significant silic flint silicon simil, simul, sim like, resemble simulation, assimilate, similar sist, sta, stat, stand assist, stationary, constituent, stable, estate, statue, statute, stature, stit, stet constant, static sol sun solar, solarium, solstice, parasol, Sol solus, sol alone solo, solitaire, solipsism, soliloquy, solitude solv, solu to loosen dissolve, solvent, absolution, soluble, resolve, dissolution somn sleep insomnia, somnambulist, somnolent son sound sonar, sonnet
[email protected] 32 ROOTS Origin Meanings Derivations Week 13 soph wise, wisdom sophisticated, philosophy, sophomore spec, spic, spect see, look spectator, perspicacity, perspective, specimen, prospect spir breathe respiration, aspirate, inspiration sphere circle atmosphere, sphere, hemisphere, stratosphere spond, spons pledge, answer sponsor, response, stell star constellation, stellar stereo 3 dimension, solid stereophonic, stereoscope, stereotype stimu goad stimulate, stimulus sto, stat, sisto stand, cause to stand insist, statue string, strict draw tight strict, stringent, strain, redistrict, stricture, distraught stru, struct build construction, instruction, structure, instrumental sum highest sum, summit sume, sump take, use, waste consume, consumption, assumption, presume surg, surr rise resurrect, resurgent syn, sym together, same time symmetry, synchronicity, synchronize, system tact, ting, tang, touch contact, tactile, tingle, tangible, tangent, contagious, contiguous tag, tig tax systematic arrangement taxonomy, syntax, tactics, taxation techno, techni skill, art, craft technique, technical, technology tele far telescope, telegraph, telephone, telemetry, television tempo, temp time temporary, temporal, extemporaneous, tempus fugit ten, tin, tain hold tenant, tenet, pretend, pertinacious, tenor, lieutenant tend, tent, tens stretch extend, distend, contention, tendon, portend, ostensible Week 14 terra, terr earth terrain, terra firma, terrestrial term end terminate, exterminate, terminal test to bear witness testimony, protest, attest tex weave text, textile theo, the god theology, atheist, monotheism, polytheism therapy cure psychotherapy, hydrotherapy, therapeutic, therapist therm heat thermos, thermostat, isotherm, thermometer thesis, thet place, put, position antithesis, thesis tome, tom cut dichotomy, tonsillectomy, atom, anatomy, epitome tort, tors twist distort, torture, extort, tortilla, tort, retort toxic, tox poison toxicology, toxic, intoxicated, antitoxin tract, tra draw, pull tractor, contract, retract, tract, traction, extract, intractable, trail tri three tricycle, triad, tricolor, trident, triplicate trib pay, bestow tribute, contribute, distribute trope turning entropy, heliotrope, tropic trophy nourishment atrophy, dystrophy trud, trus push extrude, obtrusive tui, tuit, tut guard, protect, look at tutor, intuit, intuition turb, turbo disturb, whirl turbulent, trouble, turbid, perturb, turbine, disturb type model, impression archetype, typical, type, typify type print typewriter, prototype ultima last ultimate, penultimate un, uni one unicycle, unite, unite, uniform, Unitarian, unison, unilateral
[email protected] 33 ROOTS Origin Meanings Derivations Week 15 unda wave, flow undulate urb city urban, suburb, exurb vac empty vacuum, vacation, vacuous vag wander vague, vagabond vad, vas go evade, pervasion vale farewell valediction, valedictory vali, val strength, worth, valor valiant, value var different variety, variegated ven, vent come convention, convenient, venue, contravene, circumvent, revenue ver, veri true verify, verity, veritable verb word verbal, proverbial, verbiage, verbatim vert, vers turn convert, subversion, vertebra, vertigo, versatile, inversion vest clothe, dress vestment, invest, divest vic, vicis change, substitute vicar, vicarious vict, vinc conquer victorious, invincible vid, vis see, perceive video, provident, supervisor, visa, advise vir man virile vita, viv, vivi life, alive vital, vitality, vitamin, vivacious, revive voc, vok call vocal, vociferous, voice, convoke, provocative, avocation void empty avoid, devoid vol will, wish volunteer, volition vola fly volatile volcan, vulcan fire volcano, vulcanize volu, volvo, roll, turn revolve, evolve, convoluted, revolt, voluminous volv vor devour voracious zoo animal zoo, zoology, zoophobia, zodiac
[email protected] 34 Roots and Prefixes Preparing for the SAT by Gary Gruber
Is there a short cut way to learn vocabulary? Well, there certainly is a more efficient way to learn the meaning of words than memorizing a word list. The SAT chooses words from a list of over 30,000. Did you know that a reliable study has shown that 20 prefixes and 14 roots can help you to get the meanings of over 100,000 words? Well, here are those roots and prefixes, and one or two more:
ROOT MEANING EXAMPLE act, ag do, act activity, agent apert open aperture bas low basement cap, capt take, seize capable, capture ced, cess give in, go concede, concession cred believe credible curr, curs run current, precursor dict speak dictionary, predict duc, duct lead induce, conduct equ equal equality, equanimity fac, fact, fic make, do facile, artifact fer bear, carry offer, conference graph write monograph, graphite log word, study of dialog, biology mitt, miss send permit, admission par equal parity, disparate plic fold complicated pon put, place component scrib, script write transcribe, subscription sequ, secu follow sequel, consecutive spec, spect see specimen, aspect sto, stat, sisto stand, cause to stand statue, insist tact touch contact, tactile ten hold retentive, tenacious tend, tent, tens stretch extend, tension un, uni one unilateral, unanimous ven, vent come convenient, advent ver true verify, verisimilitude [email protected] 35 [email protected] 36 PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE a, ab, abs away, from absent, abstinent ad, a, ac, af to toward adhere, annex, accede, adapt ag, al, an, ap, ar, as, at, bi, bis two biped, bicycle circum around circumference, circumlocution com, con together, with combination, connect de opposite, from detract, demerit dis, dif, di apart disperse, difference epi upon, on top of epilogue equi equal equality, equitable ex, ef, e out, from eject, exalt, exit in, en in, into inject, endure mal, male bad, ill malpractice, malevolent mis wrong misplace, misunderstand mono alone, one, single monotone, monopoly non not nonsense ob in front, against obviate, obvious omni everywhere, all omnipresent, omnipotent per through perceive, pervade poly many polygon post after posterior, postpone pre before precursory, preface pro forward proceed, promote re again recall, recede se apart secede sub under subliminal, subway super greater, beyond supernatural, superstition trans across transpire, transcontinental un, uni one unilateral, unity un (pronounced uhn) not unethical
You will find that this list will be of considerable help in getting at the meaning of words. For example, take the word DISPARITY. If you remember what the list tells you -- that PAR means equal and DIS means apart -- you can reason that DISPARITY means dissimilarity or difference.
[email protected] 37 VOCABULARY FRAMES
Vocabulary frames are a flash card method of learning new vocabulary. You DO NOT use vocabulary frames for every vocabulary word you encounter. Some words are explanations of a totally new concept; you put those words on a vocabulary frame flash card.
Look Backwards look forward, foretelling
PRE DICT ION speak (noun)
Dictator Napoleon looked ahead by gazing into a crystal ball.
Top Right Corner: Write the word's definition.
Top Left Corner: Write the word's opposite and cross it out.
Lower Left Corner: Write a silly sentence that uses the definition of the word.
Lower Right Corner: Draw a graphic to help you visualize the concept.
In the Center: Isolate any prefixes. Isolate the root. Note the meaning of the root. Isolate any suffixes. Label the part of speech in parenthesis.
[email protected] 38 VOCABULARY FRAME
Example with labels:
Opposite Definition
stimulate to force learning
Prefix Root Suffix
IN CULC ATE
Root meaning trample
Part of Speech (Verb)
The cult members were forced to learn about government.
Sentence Graphic
[email protected] 39 Two-Sided Vocab Frame
PRE DICT ION speak (Noun)
Front
Look backwards Look forward, foretelling
Dictator Napoleon looked ahead by gazing into a crystal ball.
Back
[email protected] 40 IN CULC ATE trample (Verb)
Front
Stimulate To force learning
The cult members were forced to learn about government.
Back