Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing Eileen Thompson & gene panhorst
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Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Scholastic Inc. grants teachers permission to photocopy the activity sheets from this book for classroom use. No other part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher. For information regarding permission, write to Scholastic Inc., 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012.
Editor: Mela Ottaiano Cover design by Maria Lilja Interior design by Kelli Thompson
ISBN-13: 978-0-439-59025-9 ISBN-10: 0-439-59025-6
Copyright © 2008 by e2 Publishing Services, LLC All rights reserved. Published by Scholastic Inc. Printed in the U.S.A.
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Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Contents
Introduction ...... 6
Chapter 1 Words That Cause Problems ...... 9 Homophones ...... 10 Homographs ...... 21 Words Pronounced Differently as Different Parts of Speech . . . . 28 Commonly Confused Words ...... 32 Irregular Verbs ...... 37 Nouns With Irregular Plurals ...... 40 Nouns That Are Always Plural ...... 42 Collective Nouns ...... 43 Words With Silent Letters ...... 45 Silent e Words ...... 51 Words Not Spelled as They Sound ...... 54
Chapter 2 Vocabulary Development ...... 57 Prefixes (From Greek, Latin, and Old English) ...... 58 Suffixes (From Greek, Latin, and Old English) ...... 65 Roots (From Greek, Latin, and Old English) ...... 70 Compound Words ...... 80 Clipped Words ...... 93 Common Abbreviations ...... 95 Acronyms and Initialisms ...... 103 Words From Mythology ...... 106 Words Based on Names of People ...... 113 Words Based on Places ...... 119 Words From Wars ...... 123 Portmanteau Words ...... 125 Words Shakespeare Added to the Language ...... 127 Words Coined From Literature and Movies ...... 135
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Contents
Chapter 3 Words From Other Languages ...... 137 Words From African Languages ...... 138 Words From Arabic ...... 138 Words From Australian ...... 139 Words From Chinese ...... 140 Words From Dutch ...... 141 Words From French ...... 142 Words From German ...... 144 Words From Greek ...... 146 Words From Hindi ...... 147 Words From Italian ...... 148 Words From Japanese ...... 149 Words From Latin ...... 150 Words From Native American Languages ...... 152 Words From Portuguese ...... 153 Words From Russian ...... 153 Words From Sanskrit ...... 154 Words From Scandinavian Languages ...... 155 Words From Spanish ...... 156 Words From Turkish ...... 158 Words From Yiddish ...... 159 French Phrases ...... 160 Latin Phrases ...... 161 Spanish-English Cognates ...... 163 British-American Words and Terms ...... 167
Chapter 4 Word Differences and Wordplay ...... 169 Shades-of-Difference Words ...... 170 Adjectives That Show Degree ...... 176 Color Words ...... 177 Euphemisms ...... 179
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Regionalisms ...... 180 Onomatopoeia Words ...... 182 Nouns and Adjectives for Animals ...... 183 Palindromes ...... 184 Idioms ...... 185 Words That Come in Nonreversible Pairs ...... 193 Two-Part Verbs ...... 194
Chapter 5 Jargon and Technical Words ...... 195 Business Words ...... 196 Media Words ...... 197 Computer Words and Technology Words ...... 198 Geography Words ...... 199 Music Words ...... 200 Health Words ...... 200 Art Words ...... 201 Measurement Words ...... 202 Sports Words ...... 203 Writers on Words ...... 205
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Introduction
ave you ever found yourself in a situation where H you need extra words to enhance your day-to-day curriculum? With so many words to choose from, where do you start? Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing is the book for you . This time-saving resource contains dozens and dozens of word lists to supplement the language concepts you teach as part of your language arts curriculum . You can dip into the word lists to create instant word charts and enrich reading and writing lessons . The lists can also help you prepare students for the vocabulary development standards assessed on standardized tests, such as understanding the origins of words, knowing the multiple meanings of words, and recognizing different shades of meaning . Each of the word lists includes easy, target, and challenge versions that allow you to address the different ability levels within your classroom .
Chapter 1 focuses on words that cause problems . These words may look alike, sound alike, have irregular forms, or not sound as they are spelled . Using context clues and choosing the meaning that fits the context are excellent skills to reinforce as students learn more about homophones, homographs, and commonly confused words . You can discuss grammar, phonics, and letter-sound correspondence as students learn more about irregular words .
Chapter 2 focuses on developing vocabulary by building new words, shortening words, and understanding the history of words . The extensive lists of prefixes, suffixes, and roots—from Greek, Latin, and Old English—will assist you as you teach students to use word parts to understand unfamiliar words .
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources The lists of abbreviations, acronyms, and initialisms show how language changes over time as longer words are shortened . In addition, the lists showing how words are derived from literature and the names of people, places, wars, and so on, will help you address word-origin standards and bring home to students the rich history of the English language .
Chapter 3 expands the understanding of the history of English by focusing on words and phrases derived from other languages . Twenty other languages are represented, enriching students’ knowledge of the influence of other languages on English and further helping you to address word-origin standards . You will also find an extensive collection of Spanish-English cognates .
Chapter 4 focuses on the differences between words . Because English has its roots in so many sources, it contains many words for the same thing, such as “childish” with a Greek suffix and “immature” with a Latin prefix . There are also dozens of idioms, or phrases not meant literally . Overall, the lists in this chapter help you address the importance of avoiding tired words and choosing the best word or phrase to make meaning clear when speaking or writing .
Chapter 5 focuses on jargon and other technical language . It provides lists of words used in different professions . These lists help students understand that some words have special meanings that are different from their everyday meanings . For example, the noun beat is usually understood as the regular rhythm of a piece of music or of one’s heart . However, the area or subject that a newspaper reporter covers is also called a beat .
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Introduction
As you use this book, here are some activities you can do to reinforce the lists:
■ After using a list, have students hunt for interesting words (and phrases) that they see in newspapers, magazines, or online . Add words students find to running lists you keep on the bulletin board . Suggest that students categorize these words, using vocabulary terms such as “jargon,” “euphemism,” “acronym,” and so on .
■ Create word puzzles for different types of lists . For example, you might create crossword puzzles for words from mythology and word searches for words with silent letters . Encourage your students to create their own puzzles to challenge their classmates . Several puzzle- generating programs are available on the Internet, such as http://puzzlemaker .com .
■ Start collecting idioms and other examples of wordplay, such as puns and clichés . Students can illustrate these in literal and/or figurative ways . Also challenge students to create illustrations using homophones, homographs, and commonly confused words .
■ Bring in examples of graphic novels . Have students discuss the effect of onomatopoeia . Invite them to create graphics using onomatopoeia .
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 1
Words That Cause Problems
“My students are often confused by homophones they read. I need more examples than the ones provided in my textbook.”
here are many types of words in English that can be Tdifficult to learn and remember. These tricky words may sound alike (homophones), look alike (homographs, or even similar words such as conscience and conscious), have irregular forms (such as certain verbs or plural nouns), or not sound as they are spelled (often due to silent letters).
Having a dictionary or thesaurus on hand is always helpful when trying to determine the meaning of a word. However, using context clues to select the meaning that best fits that context is an excellent skill to reinforce as students learn more about homophones, homographs, commonly confused words, and so on. Remind students that the context of a word includes all the other words, phrases, clauses, and sentences around it.
You may also want to suggest that students tackle commonly confused words by writing a single sentence that contains any word set presenting a problem. For example, for costume/ custom: He wears a festive costume (clothing) during celebrations because it is the custom (tradition or usual practice) in his country. This can later act as a mnemonic device when students encounter the words again.
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Homophones
Homophones
Homophones are words that sound alike but are spelled differently and have different meanings .
Easy
A bread a food made with D fl our, water, and yeast aid help bred past tense of breed dear someone loved aide assistant deer an animal
C ail be sick dew moisture ale a drink do perform capital seat of government capitol building where state ate past tense of eat legislature meets die stop living eight one more than seven dye coloring cell room in a prison aye yes sell offer for sale eye an organ for sight E cellar basement ewe a female sheep B seller a person selling you pronoun that refers something to the person being bare not covered addressed (I’m bear a large animal cent 100th of a dollar speaking to you) scent odor be to exist sent past tense of send F bee an insect cents pennies fair just, not biased scents odors fare amount charged for beat to hit or defeat a trip beet a vegetable cheap not expensive cheep sound made by flour a powder made from been past participle of be young bird grain bin a container flower blossom chews grinds up food blew past tense of blow choose pick for a preposition blue a color fore the front of something four the number after creak squeak three brake part of a machine creek a stream that slows it down break smash
10 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Homophones
G K P gnu an African antelope knight in medieval Europe, a pail a bucket knew past tense of know soldier on horseback pale light; lacking color new opposite of old night the opposite of day pair two of a kind groan moan knot something you tie in pear a fruit grown past participle of grow a rope or string not no way peace calm; quiet; a H period without war know to be aware of; to piece a part of something have learned hair fine strands growing no the opposite of yes on head and skin pray to speak to God; to hare an animal resembling request or beg a rabbit L prey someone or something that is hunted hay dried grass lie to recline hey informal greeting lye a strong substance used for cleaning principal the head of a school principle a rule or standard heal to make healthy again heel back part of foot M R made the past tense of make hear to perceive sound maid a housekeeper here this place rap to knock wrap to cover with paper mail letters and other or cloth hi informal greeting items sent by post high far above the ground male not female read the past tense of the verb read; found hole a hollow space main chief; most important meaning in written whole complete Maine one of the 50 states words mane the hair on the head red a color hour 60 minutes and neck of a lion or our belonging to us horse right correct wright someone who makes O or repairs something I write to compose or put words on paper in the opposite of out oar a paddle; something inn a tavern or small hotel you row with or a conjunction road a path rode past tense of ride its belonging to it rowed past tense of row; it’s contraction of it is one the number between zero and two paddled won past tense of win
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 11 Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Homophones
role a part played by an some not all W actor sum the total roll to move on wheels wait to delay or slow son a male child down for someone rose a flower sun the star around which weight how heavy something rows paddles a boat Earth rotates is
S war conflict T wore past tense of wear; had on sail strong cloth on a boat tail the section at the rear that catches the wind end of an animal’s and helps the boat body ware something you sell move tale a story wear to put or have on sale a bargain; selling where at what place goods for money to a preposition showing direction we I and one or more sea the ocean too also people see to perceive through two the number between wee little the use of the eyes one and three weak not strong seam the place where two toad a tailless creature that week seven days pieces of cloth are resembles a frog joined towed past tense of tow; seem to appear to be wood timber dragged away would is or was willing to
sew to use thread to join toe part of the foot pieces of cloth; to tow to drag away mend so therefore; as a result
Target
A altar a table or other raised bark the outer covering of structure used for a tree air a mixture of gases religious ceremonies barque a small sailing ship that we breath alter change heir someone who inherits baron a nobleman B barren empty aisle a passageway I’ll I will bail money paid to release base bottom of something isle a small island someone from prison bass deep voice temporarily bale a bundle of hay
12 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Homophones
beach sandy shore cereal a breakfast food crews groups of people work- beech a type of tree serial a story published ing on a ship or who in installments perform a similar task (one part at a cruise a journey by boat berth a bed on a ship or time) train birth the beginning of life cue a prompt or chute a passage or signal to do some- shaft thing billed sent a statement of shoot to fire or queue a line of people charges discharge build to construct currant a type of fruit cite to name or current up-to-date boar a male hog mention bore to make someone sight the ability to see lose interest cymbal a musical site a place or instrument location symbol a sign board a piece of wood bored not interested clause a group of words D with a subject born brought into and predicate days periods of time made existence; given life claws the curved nails up of 24 hours; plural borne past participle of bear of an animal of day daze a state of borough part of a large city coarse rough; not confusion burro a small donkey smooth burrow a small hole in which course a path or route doe a female deer an animal lives dough mixture of flour, colonel a military officer water, and other brews prepares a drink kernel a grain of cereal ingredients bruise a damaged and discolored area on dual double; with two complement to go well with or the skin parts add to duel a fight with swords compliment praise bridal relating to a wedding bridle leather straps to E coop a pen or cage control a horse coupe a car earn to make money urn a vase but except core center; main butt to hit or push corps a military unit or eaves part of a roof that other group of sticks out over the C people wall that supports it eves plural of eve; the day cache a stockpile council an assembly or or night just before cash money committee an important holiday counsel to advise or festival (New Year’s Eve)
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 13 Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Homophones
F grate to grind and shred, J such as to grate faint to pass out cheese jam a fruit spread feint to pretend great excellent; very large jamb part of a window or door frame faun a mythological grater a device for grinding creature with the and shredding K body of a man and greater bigger or mightier the horns and legs knead to press or work of a goat grease a fatty or oily dough to make a fawn a young deer substance smooth mass Greece a country in south- need to require feat a great and coura- east Europe geous deed feet the plural of foot L H lain past participle of lie flair style hail frozen rain lane a path or narrow road flare to burn brightly hale in good health leak an opening from flea a bug hall a corridor or which water drips flee to leave quickly passageway leek a vegetable similar to haul to carry an onion flew the past tense of fly flu short for influenza, heard past tense of hear lessen to reduce or make less an infectious viral herd a group of cattle lesson something you learn disease flue a chimney or other outlet to carry smoke higher farther above the liar someone who tells ground than some- a lie thing else lyre a musical instrument G hire to employ you play by plucking the strings gait a way of walking or running hoarse sounding rough and gate a type of door or other croaky links connections moveable barrier horse an animal lynx a wildcat
genes units that carry a load a burden; something I person’s hereditary carried from place to characteristics place jeans dungarees; pants idle not working; lazy lode a deposit of ore made of denim idol something or some- one worshipped and adored loan an amount of money gilt a thin coating of gold idyll a peaceful, happy you borrow with the guilt a feeling that you did time or experience promise to pay it back something wrong lone single; only
14 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Homophones
loot booty; plunder moose a large animal in the pause to stop briefly lute a musical instrument deer family paws the feet of an animal similar to a guitar mousse a chilled dessert similar to pudding peak the highest point M peek to take a brief look morn a shortened form of pique temper; wounded pride mall a shopping center morning; the time maul to tear or attack period before noon mourn to grieve for and feel peal the ringing or sad clanging of bells marshal a law enforcement peel to take away the skin officer morning the time period or outer covering martial soldierly; military before noon mourning grief; sorrow pedal the part of a bike or mat a pad or small carpet car that you operate matte dull; not shiny muscle a bundle of fibers with your feet in the body that con- peddle to sell Mays more than one month tributes to movement of May and strength peer to look at something maze a labyrinth; a mussel a type of marine closely and carefully confusing network creature with a shell pier a platform jutting out of passages over the water N meat the flfesh o an animal plain simple meet to encounter; to get naval referring to the navy plane a flat surface together navel a small hollow in the mete to give out or abdomen distribute pleas cries for aid please to satisfy or make O happy medal an award or badge of honor ode a type of poem meddle to intrude or get in owed required to pay poor not wealthy the way someone else pore a tiny opening or hole, particularly in the skin might power or strength overdo to go beyond or do pour to rain heavily mite a bug too much overdue late; tardy pride strong feeling of miner someone who works self-worth in a mine P pried past tense of pry; minor a juvenile forced open pain hurt; ache moor to tie up or fasten an pane the glass part of a profit money made; benefit object such as a boat window or door prophet someone who tells more additional the future or speaks for a deity
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 15 Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Homophones
Q roomer a person who rents a slay to kill room in a house sleigh a vehicle pulled quarts more than one quart rumor gossip; a story over snow or ice by quartz a mineral passed from person a horse to person stair a step or flight of R root the part of a plant steps that spreads under- stare to look intensely at rain water falling from ground something clouds; precipitation route a path or course reign to rule over as a stake a post driven into monarch rote memorized the ground rein a strap for controlling wrote past tense of write; steak a thick slice of a horse composed meat
raise to lift rung past tense of ring; stationary not moving rays beams of light made a bell sound stationery paper used for raze to destroy or tear wrung past tense of wring; correspondence down squeezed steal to take something raiser something or S that doesn’t someone that belong to you raises something soar to glide or fly steel a metal; a strong razor a sharp tool for sore painful; tender alloy of iron and shaving carbon scene sight; setting read to interpret written seen past participle of straight not crooked words see; perceived strait a channel or narrow reed a slender stalk of body of water grass shake to mix by moving back and forth quickly; to suite a group of rooms real actual; genuine tremble sweet sugary reel a spool sheik a leader of a group of Arabs sundae an ice-cream recede to pull back or move dessert away shear to cut hair or fleece Sunday a day of the week reseed to plant seeds again sheer very thin and fine T review to examine shone past tense of shine; revue a type of variety show glowed brightly teas plural of tea; shown past tense of show; drinks made from displayed leaves of a tea ring a circular band plant wring to twist or squeeze side surface or face tease to kid or mock tees plural of tee; pegs sighed past tense of sigh; used to hold golf exhaled noisily balls
16 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Homophones
their belonging to them vale a valley we’d we had or we would there at that place or point veil sheer fabric covering weed a wild plant that people they’re they are the face want to get rid of threw past tense of throw; W which what one tossed witch a make-believe through from one side to the wade to walk through person with super- other shallow water natural powers weighed past tense of weigh; throne a chair for royalty measured how heavy whine to complain or cry thrown past participle of something is wine an alcoholic drink throw; was tossed made from grapes wail to moan or cry out thyme a spice in pain whoa stop time moment; instance whale a large marine woe trouble and sorrow mammal tide the ebb and flow of whose belonging to whom the ocean waist the middle part of the who’s who is tied past tense of tie; body fastened waste to not use properly; to squander wind to turn or twist wined gave wine to tighten to make tighter titan a person of extraor- way a path Y dinary achievement weigh to measure how heavy something is whey the watery liquid that you’re you are U separates from milk your belonging to you and is used to make undo take apart; cancel cheese yoke a wooden frame or undue too much harness weather the temperature and yolk the yellow part of an V other atmospheric egg conditions whether if vain conceited vane a flat metal blade that turns in the wind weave to make cloth vein a blood vessel we’ve we have
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 17 Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Homophones
Challenge
A broach to mention or bring censer a container for up a topic burning incense aerie an eagle’s nest brooch a pin used as jewelry censor a person who airy open and spacious examines mate- burger a meat patty rial to remove burgher a comfortable, aural relating to the ear or anything consid- middle-class citizen; ered offensive hearing in medieval Europe, a oral spoken sensor a device that merchant senses light, movement, or B C temperature change bait a lure; something to canon an approved set of attract a fish or other writings chord two or more animal cannon a weapon or big gun bate lessen; lower musical notes played together canvas a heavy fabric cord string or thin baize a coarse woolen or canvass to campaign or drum rope cotton cloth up support bays areas by the sea click to make a sharp, carat a unit used to short sound bask lie in the warmth of measure precious clique a close group or the sun stones such as circle of friend Basque an ethnic group diamonds living in the Pyrenees caret a mark showing mountains in north- complacent smug or self- where something satisfied central Spain and belongs southwestern France complaisant behaving in a carrot a root vegetable way that will please others beer an alcoholic drink carol a song bier a table holding a carrel a small partitioned casket or dead body cygnet a baby swan work space signet a small seal (a signet ring) bite to tear with your teeth cast to throw byte in computing, a set caste a social class of bits, or units of determined by birth D memory ducked got down quickly cede to yield or give up to avoid being bloc a union of countries seed something you plant block a large, solid piece hit or seen to grow plants duct a pipe or tube through which bootee or a baby’s knit boot something flows bootie booty loot
18 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Homophones
F L P faze to bother or disturb leach to slowly take palate the top of the mouth phase a period of time; a something away palette an artist’s tray for stage leech a blood-sucking mixing paints creature pallet a narrow hard bed foreword a preface or intro- duction lean to bend over or tilt plait a braid forward ahead; onward lien the legal right to take plate a dish or hold property as security against a plum a fruit G debt plumb a lead weight at the end of a line gamble to bet money or levee an embankment for property preventing flooding psalter a book containing gambol to frolic or move levy to impose a tax psalms about playfully salter a person who sells M salt gorilla a large ape guerilla a fighter; a member mantel a frame around R of an irregular or or shelf above a paramilitary group fireplace rancor bitterness; resentment that operates in mantle the part of Earth small bands ranker someone who ranks between the crust things and the core H rapped tapped; knocked mask something covering rapt enthralled; completely hoard to save up the face to disguise a caught up in horde a large group of person wrapped covered with paper people masque a type of play with or cloth masked performers holy sacred reek to stink or smell wholly totally; completely mean not nice strongly mien manner, appearance, wreak to bring about; to hostel an inexpensive inn and bearing cause hostile not friendly; showing anger mews an area with streets rest to take it easy or that once had stables relax K but now has housing wrest to gain with for people difficulty; to seize muse an inspiration key something for unlocking a door rye a cereal grain or quay a dock or jetty grass wry having a dry wit; ironic
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 19 Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Homophones
S staid settled; dull tic a twitch or sudden stayed past tense of stay; contraction of the sachet a small pouch of remained muscles scented powder or tick a clicking sound potpourri step one raised platform sashay to sway or glide in a set of stairs timber wood; lumber steppe a very large plain timbre a quality of a sound scull a small racing boat without trees skull the bony framework tort a wrongful act of the head stolen past participle of torte a rich cake steal; taken without sear to burn or scorch permission seer a fortune teller stollen a sweet fruitbread tracked past tense of track; that originated in followed Germany tract an expanse of land serf a peasant who worked the land in feudal Europe T troop a group of people surf waves with a similar purpose tacked past tense of tack; troupe a company of actors serge a type of cloth usually fastened with a small made from wool nail surge to rush forward tact skill and consideration V in dealing with others shier more shy or bashful vial a small bottle used shire a district taper a tall, slender candle for medicine tapir a large hoofed animal vile disgusting; evil sign a poster or mark sine a geometric function team a group working W together teem to pour or be full of sink to go down waive to give up or put aside sync shortened form of wave a ripple or upward or synch synchronization; tear a droplet of water thrust of water harmony; causing from the eye things to happen at tier a row or level wet not dry the same time whet to sharpen
20 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Homographs
Homographs Homographs are words that are spelled alike, but have different word origins and different meanings . You see them listed as separate entries in the dictionary . (Starred words are also pronounced differently .)
Easy
A C F arm to give someone a calf a young cow fair pleasing; just weapon calf the back of a person’s fair a market; a gathering arm a body part leg between the knee to celebrate an event and ankle B L can a container ball a round object can is able to lie to recline or stretch ball a formal party out close* nearby lie to tell a falsehood band a group of musicians close* to shut band a strip often used to live* not dead hold things together D live* to pass through life; to be alive bank a place to keep money date a fruit bank a slope of land leading date a day, month, and year M down to water dear someone loved or mine something belonging bark a loud sound made valued to me by a dog dear a salutation in a letter mine an excavation made bark the rough outer in the earth for the covering of a tree purpose of extracting does* performs; acts minerals does* more than one doe, bat a wooden stick or female deer bat a flying mammal that P comes out at night dove* a type of bird pen an enclosed area dove* past tense of dive; where an animal is bill a bird’s beak went under water confined bill a check or list pen a writing instrument showing how much duck a swimming bird money is owed duck to get down quickly pit a hole in the ground in order to avoid being pit the stone-like object box a container hit or seen in a fruit box to fight with the fists
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 21 Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Homographs
pound a unit of weight row a series of objects seal a marine mammal pound a place where placed next to each seal to close animals are kept other pound to beat row to use paddles to shed a small building for move a boat storage R shed to lose or get rid of S ring a circular band W ring to sound a bell saw a tool with a jagged edge well healthy saw past tense of see; rose the past tense of rise well a hole from which perceived rose a flower water is drawn
Target
A bay an area of the sea bound to spring upward or partly enclosed by jump affect* to have an effect on land bound past tense of bind; affect* to take on airs or bay a small evergreen tree tied up pretend to be bay to howl bound limit or boundary something bay a reddish-brown horse (often plural) bound headed in a certain direction B bear a large furry animal bear to endure brush to clean or groom bail money paid for the brush a thick growth of temporary release of blow to breathe hard on bushes a prisoner from jail something bail to remove water from blow sudden, unexpected C a boat bad luck cape an outer garment base bottom; stand bluff to pretend without sleeves base vile; corrupt; bluff a cliff cape a spit of land contemptible projecting into boil to heat in order to the water bass* a fish change from liquid bass* a low-pitched sound to gas case a box; a container boil a painful sore filled case a set of circumstances with pus (the case against batter someone who hits someone) a ball batter a partially liquid bore to pierce mixture used to bake bore to make someone chaff part of grains of cakes uninterested; to tire wheat mentally chaff to poke fun at
22 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Homographs
chap a boy or man F might force chap to redden, harden, might maybe split, and become felt past tense of feel; sore touched mint a flavorful plant felt a matted fabric mint a place where coins chest upper body; torso are made chest a container; a box fine in good condition for storage fine money paid as a mold to shape penalty mold fungus commune* a place where people live supporting each other firm solid; compact P commune* to talk together firm a group of people pad a small, thin cushion selling goods and pad to move on foot content* happy; satisfied services content* everything con- tained in something G page one side of a piece of paper page to summon someone converse* opposite; contrary game something you play converse* to have a conversa- game wild animals tion with palm the inner side of the hand grate to shred palm a tree, or a leaf from corn a vegetable with grate a framework of a palm tree kernels on long ears metal bars covering an corn a hardening of the opening skin on the toe pants breathes heavily J pants trousers court to date; to woo court a yard jam a fruit spread peer to look closely jam to push things peer an equal cue a signal or prompt together cue a long rod for perch a freshwater fish playing pool junk worthless things perch a rod or stick on junk a flat-bottomed which a bird sits curry a highly spiced dish sailing boat curry to groom a horse pitch a dark, sticky K substance like tar D pitch to throw kind warm; generous desert* a large expanse of kind type; category plane an aircraft arid land plane a carpenter’s tool desert* to abandon M pool a place for swimming down opposite of up match a contest pool a form of billiards down the soft feathers of match a stick with a tip you a young bird can light
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 23 Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Homographs
pore a tiny opening spell to name the letters of tire the rubber part of a pore to read carefully a word car wheel spell a short period tire to exhaust or wear spell words spoken to out press to bear down or make magic squeeze press to force into military toast bread that has been service squash a gourd heated and browned squash a game similar to toast to say words to handball but played honor someone as R with a racket you clink glasses and drink rare unusual rare cooked so that the stole a shawl inside is still red stole past tense of steal; toll a charge for using a (a rare steak) took something that bridge or road didn’t belong to you toll to ring a bell rash hasty rash a red, itchy skin T V condition tarry* covered with tar vault a place where tarry* to delay; to stay some- valuables are kept root the part of a plant that where temporarily vault to leap or jump grows underground root to dig or rummage through something tear* a drop of fluid from W root to cheer on the eye tear* to pull apart wind* moving air; a breeze S wind* to wrap around temple each side of the head something school a place for learning along the forehead temple a place of worship school a group of fish wound* an injury wound* past tense of wind sound noise; something you tense worried; not relaxed hear tense how a verb expresses sound solid; well thought time out; in good condition sound a wide ocean inlet till a cashbox sound to probe or measure till to prepare land for the depth of water crops
24 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Homographs
Challenge
A buffet* a meal of many char a fish similar to different dishes laid a trout adder a person who adds out on a large table char to burn or scorch adder a water snake from which people serve themselves chop to cut into small buffet* to strike repeatedly; to pieces affected made to happen; batter brought about chop to change directions affected pretentious suddenly bumble to make a buzzing noise like a bee chord a line segment angle the space formed at bumble to act clumsily or chord a combination of the point where two ineptly lines meet three or more notes angle to scheme to get burden something carried or something chow food borne chow a breed of dog burden a recurring idea or arch a curved structure theme arch haughty chum a pal chum bait burn to be on fire B burn a small stream cobbler a person who makes bisque a creamy soup shoes or boots bustle a pad used to expand bisque a pale, yellowish color cobbler a type of fruit pie the back of a skirt bustle to move about busily bit a little piece compound a mixture of two or bit a unit of information more things C on a computer compound an enclosed area bit past tense of bite with a group of caper the edible bud from a buildings in it pungent plant broach to bring up a topic caper to frolic or move broach to move a boat broad- playfully console* a cabinet side to the wind or console* to comfort waves capital the upper part of a column D buff a person with deep capital money; funds knowledge deal a business buff to shine or polish card a piece of stiff paper transaction card to comb with a wire- deal wood from a fir buffer someone or some- toothed brush or pine tree thing that polishes buffer a barrier that lessens carp a fish dice game cubes the shock or affect of carp to quibble or find fault dice to chop into small something pieces
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 25 Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Homographs
die to stop living L pawn a person being used die a game cube for another’s purposes (pl. dice) lay the past tense of lie; pawn to hock or borrow reclined money against diet food a person lay to put in a particular regularly eats position diet a legislative body pink a pastel shade of red lay not a member of the and white clergy pink to cut with shears; E lay a narrative poem to stab
egg something laid by a M plump chubby bird or fish plump to drop down heavily egg to urge someone to mail letters, cards, do something packages pod a casing or housing; mail armor with interlock- a shell ing rings entrance* a door or way in pod a group of marine entrance* to put in a trance or mammals under a spell March the third month of the year primer* an undercoat of paint march to walk in line with F primer* an elementary regular movements textbook teaching fluke a fish reading fluke something maroon a purplish-red color unexpected maroon to leave someone behind Q H quarry an animal that is mean unkind; cruel hunted; prey haze mist; smoke mean average quarry a pit where stone haze to harass someone mean to signify is dug out of the ground I meet suitable; fitting meet to encounter quash to set aside a law or invalid* not valid or legitimate someone ruling invalid* a person made weak quash to put down forcibly; by illness minute* 60 seconds to suppress minute* very tiny iris a flower R iris the colored part of mule a pack animal the eye mule a slipper or backless recount* a second counting shoe or tallying K recount* to tell or relate P kill to cause something recover to get back or someone to die patter rapid speech; chatter recover to cover again kill a stream patter to make light tapping sounds
26 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Homographs
refrain the part of a song or shock a thick mass (a T poem you repeat shock of hair) refrain to hold back or not do shock to surprise or disturb tart sharp and sour greatly tart a type of pie refuse* don’t accept; to decline see to perceive through tender sensitive to touch refuse* garbage the eyes tender to make an offer in see an area controlled by writing a bishop rent money paid to owner tender a small boat for housing rent a tear sheer thin, fine, transparent troll a make-believe sheer to veer or swerve off creature course resort* a vacation place troll to drag a line through resort* an option or chance the water resort* to sort again shy bashful shy to throw or fling W S spit a narrow body of wax a slightly greasy land projecting into a substance used for shoal shallow water body of water polishing shoal a large school of fish spit to expel saliva wax to increase in size
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 27 Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Words Pronounced Differently as Different Parts of Speech
Words Pronounced Differently as Different Parts of Speech Sometimes one word is pronounced differently when it is used as different parts of speech . This occurs most frequently with words that can be used as nouns or verbs . Often, the stress changes from one syllable to another . When this occurs, the vowel sound also changes . Sometimes, though, only the consonant sound is different . (See “Easy” words below .)
Easy
H U
house (n.) (hous) a building you live in use (n.) (yoos) purpose; function house (v.) (houz) to provide a place for use (v.) (yooz) to employ something or put something to be stored or it in action for a person to live
Target
A con´ duct (n.) behavior con duct´ (v.) to lead; to behave a buse´ (n.) mistreatment a buse´ (v.) to treat badly con´ flict (n.) a struggle or fight con flict´ (v.) to be opposed to or contradict al´ ter nate (adj.) every other one al´ ter nate (n.) a stand-in; someone who is con´ test (n.) a competition available to take someone con test´ (v.) to disapprove of or challenge else’s place something al ter nate´ (v.) to happen in turns con´ tract (n.) an agreement C con tract´ (v.) to form an agreement
com´ bat (n.) a battle con´ trast (n.) difference com bat´ (v.) to fight con trast´ (v.) to show the difference
com´ pound (adj.) made of two or more parts con´ vert (n.) somebody who has changed com´ pound (n.) a mixture of two or more from one form of belief or things religion to another com pound´ (v.) to make something by com- con vert´ (v.) to transform or change some- bining two or more things thing from one form to another
28 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Words Pronounced Differently as Different Parts of Speech
con´ vict (n.) a person in prison for a crime M con vict´ (v.) to find guilty of a crime mo´ bile (adj.) able to move easily D mo bile´ (n.) a sculpture with parts that move that hangs from the de´ light (n.) joy; pleasure ceiling de light´ (v.) to give pleasure to O de´ mand (n.) a strong request de mand´ (v.) to request boldly and forcefully ob´ ject (n.) something that can be seen and touched ob ject´ (v.) to oppose something di´ gest (n.) a magazine made up mostly of shortened forms or summaries of articles P di gest´ (v.) to take in and process food or ideas per´ mit (n.) official permission or a license to do something E per mit´ (v.) to allow something or give permission for it ex´ cuse´ (n.) reason not to do something ex´ cuse´ (v.) to give a reason not to do pres´ ent (n.) a gift you give to someone something pre sent´ (v.) to give something to someone ex´ port (n.) something sent outside of the pro´ duce (n.) fruits and vegetables country for sale pro duce´ (v.) to make or create something ex port´ (v.) to send something to another country for sale pro´ ject (n.) a task that takes time and effort to complete G pro ject´ (v.) to send forward grad´ u ate (n.) someone who completes a course of study at a school R grad u ate´ (v.) to complete a course of study at a school rec´ ord (n.) an official document re cord´ (v.) to write down for official use
I re´ bel (n.) someone who defies authority im´ port (n.) something brought into the re bel´ (v.) to defy authority or act in country protest im port´ (v.) to bring into the country re´ ject (n.) something found unsuitable in´ sult (n.) a disrespectful remark or not up to the standard in sult´ (v.) to make a disrespectful remark re ject´ (v.) to turn down
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 29 Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Words Pronounced Differently as Different Parts of Speech
re´ lay (n.) the passing of one thing to sur´ vey (n.) something you use to collect another; a type of race people’s opinions re lay´ (v.) to send something or pass it on sur vey´ (v.) to look at carefully or gather people’s opinions re´ cess (n.) a temporary break re cess´ (v.) to halt for a short period sus´ pect (n.) somebody who is thought to be guilty of doing something illegal S sus pect´ (v.) to think that someone is guilty se´ pa rate (adj.) distinct se pa rate´ (v.) to divide T
sub´ ject (n.) a person under someone’s trans´ port (n.) a vehicle used for carrying rule or command people or things from place sub ject´ (v.) to place under or below to place someone’s rule or command; trans port´ (v.) to move to another place to inflict
Challenge
A at´ tri bute (n.) a quality or characteristic at tri´ bute (v.) to give credit to or assign a ab´ sent (adj.) not present characteristic to ab sent´ (v.) to keep away C ab stract´ (adj.) not concrete ab´ stract (n.) a brief statement summarizing com´ bine (n.) a machine for harvesting and the main ideas threshing grain ab stract´ (v.) to take away or remove com bine´ (v.) to join or mix
af´ fect (n.) a feeling, emotion, or tendency D af fect´ (v.) to have an effect on de´ fect (n.) a fault or flaw ad´ vo cate (n.) a supporter de fect´ (v.) to leave your country ad vo cate´ (v.) to speak out in support because you find fault with its government al´ ly (n.) friend al ly´ (v.) join with de´ lib e rate (adj.) carefully thought through and considered de lib e rate´ (v.) to consider carefully; to weigh ar tic´ u late (adj.) well spoken ar tic u late´ (v.) to voice or express yourself clearly
30 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Words Pronounced Differently as Different Parts of Speech
de´ so late (adj.) forlorn; extremely sad and P hopeless de so late´ (v.) to lay waste to; to bring per´ fect (adj.) complete in every way; disaster to flawless per fect´ (v.) to make something as good du´ pli cate (n.) a copy as possible du pli cate´ (v.) to make a copy R E re´ coil (n.) the spring or kickback from a gun that is fired es´ cort (n.) a person who accompanies or re coil´ (v.) to draw back or retreat guides someone else es cort´ (v.) to accompany or guide T L trans´ plant (n.) an organ or other body part taken from one body and lam´ i nate (n.) a product used as an outer given to another covering trans plant´ (v.) to move from one place to lam in nate´ (v.) to cover with a thin sheet of another something
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 31 Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Commonly Confused Words
Commonly Confused Words
Some pairs of words are easy to confuse . In many pairs, the words sound a lot alike, although not exactly alike . In others, the meanings of the two words are close but not the same .
Easy
A D L
angel a heavenly being desert an expanse of arid loose not tight angle the space formed land lose to misplace or not be between sides of a dessert a sweet treat able to find triangle or other geometric shape diner an informal restaurant P or a person eating among used to connect dinner the main meal of pedal something on a car three or more things the day or bike you operate between used to connect two with your foot things F petal part of a flower
B few a small number of things that can be Q borrow to take or get some- counted (few apples) thing from someone less a smaller part of quiet without noise on a temporary basis a whole or mass quite to a considerable lend to give something (less pie) extent to someone on a temporary basis T G
C good adjective meaning than used after a satisfactory or fine comparative can is able to well adverb meaning adjective or adverb may has permission to satisfactorily, (bigger than) comfortably, or then at that time; therefore adjective meaning costume a disguise or special healthy clothes trail to track or follow custom a tradition trial a hearing in the court of law
32 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Commonly Confused Words
Target
A anxious worried; uneasy click a short, sharp eager excited; enthusiastic sound accent the individual way clique a small group of close friends you pronounce award something given a word as a result of a ascent a climb or rise decision by judges cloth fabric assent to agree to some- (an award for clothe to dress or put thing perfect attendance) garments on reward something given in return for a service accept to take or agree to command to lead or direct (a reward for finding a except not including commend to praise lost cat) adapt to modify or change complement to add to or B for a particular complete circumstance compliment praise or flattery adopt to legally take into bath the act of soaking in one’s family a bathtub bathe to wash or cleanse conscience sense of what is yourself right and wrong advice counsel; sugges- conscious aware tions for what to do advise to counsel someone bazaar an outdoor market or suggest what bizarre strange convince to lead someone to do to believe some- thing beside next to persuade to get someone to affect to make something besides in addition do something happen effect the result breadth depth; expanse; span D breath the air you inhale alley a passage between and exhale decent showing accept- buildings breathe to inhale and able behavior; ally a friend exhale air moral and upright descent decline dissent disagreement all ready everyone is ready C already by this time calendar a chart that shows detract to make less by taking away from allot to give or assign; to the month and days of the year distract to draw someone’s parcel out attention from a lot plenty colander a strainer
carton a box device a tool, gadget, or all together everyone is together machine altogether totally cartoon a drawing or animated film devise to create or develop
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 33 Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Commonly Confused Words
E G lend to give something to someone on a emigrant a person who gap a space between temporary basis leaves his or her things loan something you give native country gape to stare at to someone on a immigrant a person who temporary basis settles in a new glance to take a quick look country glaze to put a shiny finish on lightening making lighter something lightning flashes of light emigrate to leave your during a thunder- native country storm H (used with “from”) immigrate to settle in a new M country (used with hanged executed someone by “to”) hanging that person by the neck medal a badge hung put up; attached to a metal a hard substance envelop to surround wall mettle courage envelope a packet used to mail letters human a person moral a lesson to be humane caring; kind drawn, especially every day each day from a fable everyday ordinary morale general way I someone is feeling; confidence; spirits F imply to suggest or mean infer to make a judgment or O farther more distant in draw a conclusion physical space oral by mouth than something L else (farther down verbal spoken; having to the road) do with words further more distant in later afterward; in a while latter concluding; second degree or time P (further along in her career) lay to place something or pastor a minister put something down pasture a place where animals formally officially; properly lie to recline graze formerly in the past; before this; previously leave to depart precede to come before in let to allow or permit time proceed to carry on or continue
34 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Commonly Confused Words
Challenge
A alternately one after the confidant someone you other confide in access entrance alternatively on the other confident full of confi- assess to evaluate or hand dence; sure of judge your ability amoral without morals; adoptive describing a not knowing connotation associations parent who adopts right from brought to mind; a child (adoptive wrong suggested parent) immoral wicked; corrupt meaning adopted legally taken into denotation stated meaning another family appraise to assess or (adopted child) evaluate connote to suggest a apprise to inform or meaning adverse bad; unfavorable explain denote to state a averse reluctant; against meaning something assure to promise or guarantee continual occurring again affective emotional; moving ensure to see to it that and again effective causing the something continuous nonstop desired result happens or doesn’t happen currently at this time; now insure to guarantee presently in a short while; alleviate to ease, lessen, or protection or soon make more bearable safety ameliorate to improve D censor to remove allude to refer to indirectly offensive or definite certain; exact elude to escape or avoid problematic definitive authoritative; material final allusion an indirect refer- censure an official ence to something reprimand or defuse to remove a fuse delusion a persistent false severe criticism from a bomb or belief; a mental make a situation disorder comprehensible understandable less tense illusion a dream or fantasy; comprehensive complete; cover- diffuse spread out a misleading image ing everything dilemma a situation alternate every other one concurrent happening at involving a choice in a series the same time between two alternative a choice between consecutive one after the equally unfavor- two or more other able options options predicament any difficult option something that and unpleasant may be chosen situation
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 35 Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Commonly Confused Words
disinterested impartial; fair flaunt to show off persecution cruel treatment uninterested not interested; flout to show contempt prosecution bringing a case bored or disobey against a defen- dant in a trial E H economic financial personal private economical thrifty; saving historic significant; personnel the people who money remarkable; work for a having an effect company or organization egoist someone who on history is self-centered historical relating to the and thinks past prescribe to recommend mainly of himself a treatment or or herself J course of action egotist someone who is proscribe to forbid or ban arrogant, very jurist a law expert or conceited, and judge R selfish juror a person who serves on a jury elicit to draw or bring respectfully in a way that out shows respect L illicit unlawful; respectively in that order dishonest luxuriant abundant luxurious fond of or S eminent well-known; marked by luxury famous; important statue a sculpture stature height or standing imminent coming up; about N statute a law or governing to happen rule nauseous sickening; caus- ing nausea T epigram a short, witty nauseated feeling sick and poem or saying ready to vomit tortuous winding; twisted epigraph a quotation used torturous causing great to set the theme P pain and anguish for a literary work epitaph an inscription on perfect without flaws a tombstone prefect a student with authority over F other students
flammable able or likely to persecute harass; treat catch fire easily cruelly inflammable not able or likely prosecute to bring a case to catch fire against a defen- easily dant in a trial nonflammable not able to catch fire
36 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Irregular Verbs
Irregular Verbs
Most English verbs form their past-tense and past- participle forms by adding -ed to the base form or infinitive . Some verbs, though, have irregular past-tense and/or past-participle forms .
Easy
Base Form Past Tense Past Participle Base Form Past Tense Past Participle be was/were been go went gone beat beat beaten or beat grow grew grown become became become have/has had had begin began begun hear heard heard bend bent bent hit hit hit bite bit bitten hold held held blow blew blown hurt hurt hurt break broke broken keep kept kept bring brought brought know knew known build built built leave left left burn burned or burnt burned or burnt let let let buy bought bought lose lost lost catch caught caught make made made come came come meet met met cut cut cut put put put dig dug dug read read read do did done ride rode ridden drink drank drunk ring rang rung drive drove driven run ran run eat ate eaten say said said fall fell fallen see saw seen feed fed fed sell sold sold feel felt felt send sent sent fight fought fought show showed showed or find found found shown fly flew flown shut shut shut get got gotten sing sang sung give gave given sink sank sunk
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 37 Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Irregular Verbs
Base Form Past Tense Past Participle Base Form Past Tense Past Participle sit sat sat think thought thought stand stood stood throw threw thrown take took taken wear wore worn teach taught taught win won won tell told told write wrote written
Target
Base Form Past Tense Past Participle Base Form Past Tense Past Participle arise arose arisen hide hid hidden awake awoke awoken kneel knelt or kneeled knelt or kneeled awaken awakened awakened knit knit or knitted knit or knitted bear bore born or borne lay laid laid bet bet bet lead led led bid bid or bade bidden lend lent lent bind bound bound lie (recline) lay lain bleed bled bled mean meant meant burst burst burst mistake mistook mistaken cast cast cast misunderstand misunderstood misunderstood choose chose chosen overhear overheard overheard cling clung clung pay paid paid cost cost cost plead pleaded or pled pleaded or pled creep crept crept prove proved proved or deal dealt dealt proven dream dreamed or dreamed or quit quit or quitted quit dreamt dreamt redo redid redone fit fitted or fit fitted or fit rid rid rid flee fled fled rise rose risen fling flung flung seek sought sought forbid forbade or forbidden shake shook shaken forbad shed shed shed forecast forecast forecast shine shone or shone or forget forgot forgotten shined shined freeze froze frozen show showed shown grind ground ground shoot shot shot hang (person) hanged hanged shrink shrank or shrunk or hang (thing) hung hung shrunk shrunken
38 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Irregular Verbs
Base Form Past Tense Past Participle Base Form Past Tense Past Participle slay slew slain strike struck struck or sleep slept slept stricken slide slid slid string strung strung slit slit slit swear swore sworn speak spoke spoken sweep swept swept speed sped or sped or swell swelled swollen or speeded speeded swelled spend spent spent swim swam swum split split split swing swung swung spread spread spread tear tore torn spring sprang or sprang or upset upset upset sprung sprung wake woke or woken or steal stole stolen waked waked stick stuck stuck weave wove woven stink stank or stank or weep wept wept stunk stunk wind wound wound sting stung stung wring wrung wrung
Challenge
Base Form Past Tense Past Participle Base Form Past Tense Past Participle backslide backslid backslid overdo overdid overdone breed bred bred oversee oversaw overseen broadcast broadcast or broadcast or overtake overtook overtaken broadcasted broadcasted partake partook partaken foresee foresaw foreseen proofread proofread proofread foretell foretold foretold recast recast recast forgive forgave forgiven shear sheared sheared or shorn input inputted or input inputted or input typecast typecast typecast miscast miscast miscast undercut undercut undercut mislay mislaid mislaid undergo underwent undergone misread misread misread uphold upheld upheld outbid outbid outbid withdraw withdrew withdrawn outgrow outgrew outgrown withhold withheld withheld overcome overcame overcome
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 39 Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Nouns With Irregular Plurals
Nouns With Irregular Plurals
Most English nouns form their plural by adding -s or -es to the singular form . Some nouns, though, have an irregular plural form . This is especially true of nouns borrowed from other languages .
Easy
Singular Plural Singular Plural child children mouse mice deer deer sheep sheep foot feet tooth teeth goose geese wife wives half halves wolf wolves man men woman women
Target
Singular Plural Singular Plural antenna antennae loaf loaves (or antennas) louse lice axis axes medium media basis bases memorandum memoranda bison bison moose moose bacterium bacteria oasis oases cactus cacti octopus octopi (or cactuses) (or octopuses) corps corps offspring offspring crisis crises ox oxen curriculum curricula person people datum data radius radii diagnosis diagnoses self selves die dice series series ellipsis ellipses shelf shelves hippopotamus hippopotami (or species species hippopotamuses) swine swine hoofs hooves thief thieves knife knives life lives
40 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Nouns With Irregular Plurals
Challenge
Singular Plural Singular Plural alga algae hypothesis hypotheses alumna (female) alumnae libretto libretti alumnus (male) alumni (male) index indices (or indexes) amoeba amoebae matrix matrices analysis analyses nebula nebulae appendix appendices nucleus nuclei (or nucleuses) (or appendixes) phenomenon phenomena chateau chateaux schema schemata criterion criteria stimulus stimuli focus foci (or focuses) synopsis synopses formula formulae synthesis syntheses (or formulas) thesis theses fungus fungi (or funguses)
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 41 Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Nouns That Are Always Plural
Nouns That Are Always Plural
Some nouns are always plural . These include words for things that always come in pairs, such as trousers and pliers, and aggregate nouns, such as communications, which usually end in -s . These words take a plural verb and/ or pronoun .
Easy
clothes mittens shorts jeans pants shoes
Target
accommodations headquarters shears barracks living quarters sleeping quarters binoculars leggings sneakers crossroads news spectacles earmuffs overalls sunglasses eyeglasses pajamas tights gallows pliers troops gloves police trousers goggles scissors tweezers
Challenge
archives forceps remains arms goods (library) stacks communications nail clippers tongs contents pinking shears dregs media
42 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Collective Nouns
Collective Nouns
Collective nouns are words that name of group of people, animals, or things . When the noun refers to the group as a unit, it takes a singular verb and pronoun . When it refers to the individual members or parts of the group, it takes a plural verb and pronoun .
Collective nouns for groups of animals are also called “terms of venery ”. Most of them come from hunting . Some use creative or imaginative terms to describe the animals . Some can be used for people, too, such as a “congregation of birds” or a “congregation of people ”.
Easy
band flock pack class group school (of fish) family herd team
Target
army colony luggage assembly committee mob audience company navy baggage congress nest (of mice) batch corporation party board corps pride (of lions) brood (of young council pod (of marine animals) animals or children) crew set bundle fleet society cabinet gaggle (of geese) squadron cache galaxy stable (of horses) cast gang streak (of tigers) choir generation swarm (of insects) chorus horde tribe clan jury troop cluster litter troupe
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 43 Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Collective Nouns
Challenge
array exultation (of larks) plague (of locusts) battery faculty public bevy (of larks or quail) fraternity sorority brace (of wildfowl) gam (of whales) shoal (of fish) cete (of badgers) host (of angels) shrewdness (of apes) clowder (of cats) kindle (of kittens) skein (of wildfowl) congregation majority skult (of vermin) convocation (of eagles) minority span (of oxen) covey (of game birds) murder (of crows) sloth (of bears) drift (of hogs) muster (of peacocks) warren (of rabbits) drove (of cattle or geese) passel (of possums) watch (of nightingales)
44 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Words With Silent Letters
Words With Silent Letters
Many words in English have one or more silent letters . The words below are grouped by the silent letter or letters most likely to cause problems . (This list does not include words that follow the pattern consonant-vowel-consonant-silent e . See p . 51) .
Easy
Silent A Silent C Silent D
coat duck badge lead fleck budge leaf jack dodge leak jacket handsome lean kick hedge leap lick lodge leave lock nudge meadow locket Wednesday mean pack meat package Silent E oak pocket clothe oar rack clothes oath rock doe soak rocket eel soap sack eerie soar sick ore sock rinse Silent B speck waste comb stack crumb tack Silent G ticket doubt gnarled thick dumb gnash track limb gnat trick tomb gnaw gnome gnu
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 45 Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Words With Silent Letters
Silent GH Silent I hatch hitch fight niece hitchhike high hopscotch light Silent K itch might knack kitchen right knave latch sigh knead listen sight knee scratch slight kneel snatch tight knife watch knight Silent H knit Silent U cartwheel knob aunt Christmas knock building ghost knot guard ghostly know guess pinwheel guest whale Silent L guide what half laugh wheat wheel Silent O Silent W when where people sword which two Silent R while who whip purr whole whirl wrap whisker Silent T wrist write whisper batch writing whistle castle wrong white catch why catcher
46 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Words With Silent Letters
Target
Silent A sprocket lathe tackle legume coarse thicket neutral coax trickle omelette cocoa pageant diamond Silent D pasteurize diaper pigeon leaflet adjective questionnaire league adjust rhyme lease budget sergeant leash cartridge soothe leather dislodge submerge restaurant dredge edge sunbathe surely Silent B edgewise fridge surge debt gadget suspense grudge swerve Silent C hedge tease crescent porridge teethe descend tense descendant Silent E thyme discipline value beverage jackal vengeance cleanse jackpot waste coleslaw kickoff writhe collapse muscle commence neckerchief Silent G commerce necklace counterfeit campaign padlock forfeit design racket gorgeous feign scene horde foreign scent lacrosse lasagna slapstick lance socket lapse speckled
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 47 Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Words With Silent Letters
Silent GH whether Silent N whim daughter column whimper height condemn whine slaughter hymn whirlpool though whirlwind through Silent O whisk upright whiz flourish uptight leopard Silent I pious Silent H brilliant dinghy Silent P business bushwhack peculiar psalm chord raspberry choral Silent K chorus Silent PS chronic doorknob corps elsewhere knapsack Silent QU Fahrenheit knickers ghastly knickknack lacquer ghetto knocker harpsichord knoll Silent S knotty heir debris heiress know-how heirloom knowledge Silent T overwhelm knowledgeable beret rhombus knuckle bewitch rhubarb well-known blotch rhyme bouquet rhythm Silent L bristle shepherd behalf butcher silhouette chalk butterscotch spaghetti halve dispatch vehicle llama etch whack salmon glisten wharf glitch wheelchair hatchery wheeze
48 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Words With Silent Letters
hatchet wrestle Silent W hatchling wrestling playwright hustle wristwatch shipwreck hutch swordfish jostle Silent U wholly ketchup biscuit whom latchkey guardian whooping crane mistletoe guild whose nestle guilt wrangle notch guinea pig wreck often guitar wreckage putt laughable wren retch lifeguard wrench rustle mourn wrestle sketch safeguard wrestling snatch vacuum wretched stretch wriggle switch Silent UE wring thatch wrinkle trestle catalogue wristwatch thistle monologue twitch prologue technique Silent X Sioux
Challenge
Silent A honeycomb scepter indebted sickle-cell algae aardvark Silent C Silent CH guinea pig meager abscess yacht pharaoh czar tarpaulin czarina Silent D incandescent drudgery Silent B obscene fledgling scenario dumbfounded
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 49 Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Words With Silent Letters
Silent E choral mortgage choreographer ricochet ageism Christianity tsar aloe chromosome tsarina appease chronological tsunami coerce chrysalis entrepreneur chrysanthemum Silent GH hieroglyphics jodhpurs maneuver asthma khaki neurotic isthmus rheumatism neuter rhinoceros seismograph Silent U rhododendron syringe Sikh camouflage terse vehement cantaloupe venue whimsical chauffeur verge gourmet Silent I guerrilla Silent G guile parliament align guillotine plagiarize benign quetzal champagne Silent O Silent UE consign consignment amoeba epilogue phlegm colonel queue jeopardy rogue Silent GH onomatopoeia synagogue drought Silent P righteous Silent W pneumatic wrath Silent H pneumonia wrest aghast writhe Silent T annihilate Buddha apostle Silent X Buddhism chalet roux bushwhack debut chasm depot Silent Z cholera fillet rendezvous cholesterol gourmet
50 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Silent e in c-v-c-e Words
Silent e in c-v-c-e Words
Some words follow the pattern of consonant-vowel- consonant-silent e . Usually, the silent e signals that the vowel sound is long or, in multisyllabic words, the vowel sound before the last syllable is long .
Easy
1-syllable words lake twine lame vase bake lane wade base late wage bite life wake blade lime wave bone live bore lone 2-syllable words cake lose cane arrive love cape compete made case complete mane cave decide make code define male crime describe mate date divide more dime escape name dine explode nine dive explore note drive include plane face invade pale fine ore pole frame outside rate gate suppose rise gave surprise shine grace tadpole side grade translate stole hate sure hide 3-syllable words tale hole tape crocodile kite time navigate lace twice telephone
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 51 Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Silent e in c-v-c-e Words
Target
1-syllable words 2-syllable words future grenade bale abode ignore brace abuse immune bride alcove impose chime arcade inflame choke astute irate cite azure leisure clone cascade module close collide outrage clove compose reside cone comprise revise core concrete schedule daze console subscribe dome consume supreme dove corrode surname fake costume terrace fare cyclone termite fate defuse tribute flame delete trombone fume deplete turnpike fuse depose unite glaze derive vaccine glide despise volume grate device voyage hale devote hare discrete 3-syllable words hose embrace mare engrave absolute mate estate aggravate pace exhale appetite scene exile carnivore swipe expose centipede tone extreme circulate tote feline civilize truce folktale concentrate wage frustrate congregate
52 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Silent e in c-v-c-e Words
contemplate hibernate submarine dedicate homicide sympathize delegate illustrate tangerine designate immigrate undermine dominate incubate emigrate operate 4-syllable words exercise overrate accommodate finalize organize domesticate formulate paraphrase incorporate herbivore parasite subordinate hesitate renovate telecommute
Challenge
1-syllable words 2-syllable words composite composure bane abate germinate bode abide gyroscope chafe atone regicide chide estate synchronize cite fissure clone glucose 4-syllable words gale graphite haze secrete desegregate hone syndrome eradicate jute turbine espionage mete gesticulate mode 3-syllable words muse attribute name cellophane raze cellulose tome chromosome
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 53 Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Words Not Spelled as They Sound
Words Not Spelled as They Sound
There are many spelling demons in the English language, but the spelling of some words is particularly hard to fathom . Here are words that are tricky because they sound so little like they are spelled .
Easy
ache hymn though acre island through aisle laugh Tuesday are often Wednesday choir one weird eighth restaurant why gypsy route women
Target
amateur fuel reservoir asthma genius rhyme campaign gymnasium rhythm chauffeur hygiene schedule colonel jewelry sergeant conscience lacquer subtle conscious lieutenant surveillance conscientious mortgage technique corps naughty theater diaphragm nuisance unanimous etiquette pageant unique fatigue pamphlet vague faucet penicillin yacht foreign physician feud pneumonia
54 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems Words Not Spelled as They Sound
Challenge
archaeologist hieroglyphics psychiatric archaeology hemorrhage psychic archaic isthmus psychology arctic larynx queue champagne lingerie reminisce coercion maneuver rendezvous drought pharaoh sacrilegious gourmet panache tuition liaison phlegm
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 55 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 2
Vocabulary Development
“I’m teaching my students how to use word parts to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words. My textbook contains some prefixes, suffixes, and roots, and I need additional ones.”
ne way to create new words is to add together word parts. O A combining form is a word part that is combined with one or more other combining forms or a free-standing word to form a new word. Some combining forms always take the initial position. These are commonly called prefixes. Some always take the final position. These are commonly called suffixes. Some can take either position or appear in the middle of a word. These are often referred to as roots.
Another way to build new words is to add together two or more whole words. These compound words may be hyphenated (ice- cold), written with a space between the two words but treated as one entity (ice cream), or closed up with no space between the original words (airplane).
Sometimes words are shortened. A clipped word is a shortened form of a word in which the end syllables are dropped (pop music for popular music). An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase used when writing to represent the whole word (Mr. for Mister). An acronym is a word formed from the initials or other parts of several words. With an acronym, you say the word formed by the letters (radar, for radio detecting and ranging). An initialism uses only letters from the word. With an initialism, you say the letters (CD for compact disc).
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 57 Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development Prefixes
Prefixes
A prefix is a letter or group of letters added to a word or root to change its meaning .
Easy
Latin
Prefix Meaning How It Works Example non- not; lacking; without non + fat = nonfat; without fat nondairy, nonfiction, nonsense, nonstick
pre- before; in front of; pre + view = preview; look at precook, predict, preface, superior to before or ahead of time pretest
re- again; back; reverse the re + make = remake; make again redo, rerun, return, review action of
Old English
Prefix Meaning How It Works Example mis- bad; badly; wrongly mis + fortune = misfortune; bad misbehave, misguided, fortune misspelled, mistake
un- not; the opposite of un + fair = unfair; not fair unable, uncover, unknown, untrue
Target
Greek
Prefix Meaning How It Works Example anti- against; opposed to; anti + labor = antilabor; against antibacterial, antidote; preventing or labor unions antifreeze, antisocial counteracting
auto- self auto + biography = autobiography; autocracy, autograph, biography; story of one’s own automatic, automobile, life autonomous
deca- ten deca + gon = decagon; a ten- decade, decameter, sided figure decathlon
58 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development Prefixes
Prefix Meaning How It Works Example mono- one; alone; single mono + tone = monotone; a monogram, monolith, single, unchanging tone monologue, monopoly oct-, octa-, eight octa + gon = octagon; an octave, octet, octo- eight-sided figure octogenarian, octopus
Latin
Prefix Meaning How It Works Example bi- two; twice; on two sides; bi + monthly = bimonthly; occurring bicycle, bilingual, bisect, occurring every two; every two months biweekly occurring twice during a period co-, col-, together with; joint; to con + vene = convene; to come copilot, collate, com-, con-, the same degree together communication, correlate cor- de- from; down; reverse the de + code = decode; to reverse the debrief, demerit, decrease, action of action of coding; to translate a derail coded message deci- one-tenth deci + mate = decimate; to destroy decibel, decimal, deciliter, every tenth part decimeter dis- not; opposite of; lack of; dis + band = disband; to do the disbelieve, discharge, away from opposite of forming a band; to disconnect, dislike break up a band or move apart
equa-, equal; equally equi + distant = equidistant; equally equation, equator, equi- distant equinox, equitable em-, en- put into or on; cover; en + throne = enthrone; put on the embark, empower, enable, make; subject to; throne; crown endanger intensifier ex- (with former ex- + convict = ex-convict; former ex-mayor, ex-senator, hyphen) convict ex-president, ex-wife e-, ex- out; beyond; away from; ex + pel = expel; to push out, banish, eject, emit, excavate, without or eject exceed, exclude, exhale il-, im-, not; lack of il + legal = illegal; not legal impartial, immature, in-, ir- insecure, irregular
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 59 Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development Prefixes
Prefix Meaning How It Works Example im-, in- in; into; within in + duct = induct; lead or bring immerse, immigrate, into inborn, income
inter- between inter + national = international; interact, intercoastal, between nations intermingle, interstate
intra- within; inside intra + city = intracity; within a intramural, intradermal, large city intrastate, intravenous
mal- bad; badly; wrong; ill mal + adjusted = maladjusted; malcontent, malady, poorly adjusted malaise, malaria
multi many multi + cultural = multicultural; multilingual, multimillionaire, relating to many cultures multiform, multiple
ob-, oc-, before; against; over; ob + scure = obscure; cover; over object, occur, offer, oppose of-, op- totally
per- through; throughout; per + ceive = perceive; understand perfect, perform, permeate, completely; very or grasp thoroughly permit thoroughly
post- after; later post + script = postscript; written posterior, posthumous, afterward or at the end of a letter postpone, postwar
pro- for; forward pro + ceed = proceed; go ahead progress, promote, pronounce, propose
sub under; beneath; to a sub + ject = subject; place under sublet, submerge, lesser degree, bordering someone else’s authority substandard, subway
super-, above; beyond; over super + natural = supernatural; superhighway, superscript, supr- beyond the normal supersonic, supreme
trans- across; over; beyond trans + continental = transconti- transact, transfer, nental; crossing the continent translate, transportation
tri- three tri + angle = triangle, a figure with triceps, tricycle, trillion, three angles tristate
uni- one; only uni + cycle = unicycle; one cycle; uniform, unity, unique one wheel
60 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development Prefixes
Old English
Prefix Meaning How It Works Example by- near; side; secondary or by + stander = bystander; person bylaw, bypass, byproduct, incidental to the main standing at the sidelines or byway product looking on fore- before; ahead of; front fore + ground = foreground; the forearm, forecast, foretell, front or nearest part of a scene forewarn mid- middle mid + stream = midstream; the midnight, midpoint, middle of the stream midterm, midway over- above; over; upper; outer; over + weight = overweight; above overcharge, overdue, superior; passing above, normal weight overflow, oversee beyond, or across; too much self- by oneself; within; self + centered = self-centered; self-confidence, selfish, automatic centered on self-made, self-winding under- beneath; too little; below under + ground = underground; underage, underneath, normal beneath the surface of the ground underwater, underweight
Challenge
Greek
Prefix Meaning How It Works Example acro- high; topmost; at the acro + phobia = acrophobia; a fear acrobat, acronym, extremity of heights acropolis, acrostic ambi-, both; around; about ambi + biguous = ambiguous; having ambidextrous, ambivalent, amphi- two or more possible meanings; amphibious, amphitheater unclear di- two; double; twice di + chromatic = dichromatic; dichotomy, diffract, having two colors dilemma, dissect dia- through; throughout; dia + lect = dialect; local language diagram, diagonal, apart; between used throughout a region diameter, dialogue endo- within endo + biotic = endobiotic; living endocardial, endocentric, within the body endocrinology, endodermis
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 61 Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development Prefixes
Prefix Meaning How It Works Example
epi- upon; over; on the epi + dermis = epidermis; the epicenter, epidemic, outside outside of the skin epidural, epilogue
hemi- half hemi + cycle = hemicycle; a half hemihedral, hemisphere, cycle hemispheroid, hemitrope
hetero- different hetero + nym = heteronym; a word heterochromatic, spelled the same as another but heterogeneous with a different meaning
hex-, six hexa + gon = hexagon; a figure with hexagram, hexahedral, hexa- six sides hexameter, hexapod
homo- same, equal to, like homo + genize = homogenize; to homochromatic, make the same throughout homogeneous, homograph, homonym
macro-, large; long macro + economics = macro- macrobiotics, macroclimate, macr- economics; the field of economics macrocosm, macroscopic dealing with all the forces at work in an economy, or the large picture
mega- especially large; great; mega + dose = megadose; an megahertz, megalith, powerful; mighty; one especially large dose megaphone, megavitamin million
meta- change in; after; going meta + galaxy = metagalaxy; metabolize, metafiction, beyond or higher; beyond or transcending a metamorphic, metaphor behind; between galaxy; all galaxies and all intergalactic matter
micro- very small; minute; micro + biology = microbiology; microbe, microcomputer, the study of very small forms microorganism, of life microprocessor
mono- one; single mono + lingual = monolingual; monogamy, monograph, speaking one language monotone, monotonous
neo- new; young; recent, neo + logism = neologism; a new neoclassic, neoconservative, latest word or new meaning for a word Neolithic, neonatal
paleo- ancient; early paleo + lithic = Paleolithic; relating paleoanthropology, to an early cultural period from paleography, paleontology, about 2 million to 10 million B.C. Paleozoic
pan- all; every; universal pan + theon = pantheon; a temple pan-American, pan-Asian, where all gods are worshipped pandemonium, pantheism
62 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development Prefixes
Prefix Meaning How It Works Example para- at the side of; in a para + legal = paralegal; a person parallel, paramedic, secondary position; who works in a secondary position paranormal, parasite beyond; characterized to a lawyer; an aide to a lawyer by penta- five penta + gon = pentagon; a five- pentacle, pentagram, sided figure pentameter, pentarchy peri- around; about; enclosing; peri + scope = periscope; a tube for peridontics, perimeter, near viewing the surrounding areas peripatetic, periphery poly- many; much, excessive; poly + chromatic = polychromatic; polydactyl, polygamy, more than having more than one color polyglot, polygon proto- first proto + type = prototype; the first protocol, protohuman, of its kind that serves as a model protolithic, proton pseudo- false; deceptive; sham pseudo + science = pseudoscience; pseudomorph, pseudonym, a sham or false science pseudointellectual, pseudonymous sest-, six sest + et = sestet; poem of six lines sestina, sexagenarian, sex- sextet, sextuple syl-, sym-, with; together syn + chronize = synchronize; to syllable, sympathy, syn-, sys- happen at the same time synonym, system tele- far away; at, over, or from tele + scope = telescope; a device telegenic, telephone, a distance for seeing things far away teleport, televise
Latin
Prefix Meaning How It Works Example ab-, abs- from; away ab + duct = abduct; lead or take abdicate, abject, absolve, away; kidnap absorb ante- before; in front of; ante + bellum = antebellum; before anteroom, antecedent, prior to the war, particularly the Civil War antedate, antemeridian bene- good; well bene + factor = benefactor; a person benediction, beneficiary, who does good for another; patron benefit, benevolent circum- around; about; on all circum + scribe = circumscribe; to circumference, circum- sides draw to line around; to limit navigate, circumstance, circumvent
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 63 Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development Prefixes
Prefix Meaning How It Works Example
contra-, against; opposed to; contra + dict = contradict; say the contraband, contradiction, contro- opposite of opposite of contrary, controversy
counter- against; opposite of counter + attack = counterattack; counteract, counterfit, attack a force that has attacked counterclockwise, you counterproductive
demi-, half; less than usual semi + circle = semicircle; half demigod, demitasse, semi- circle semiannual, semiformal
extra-, outside; beyond extra + curricular = extracurricular; extraordinary, extravagant, extr-, beyond or outside normal extremity, extrovert extro- curriculum
infra- beneath; below infra + sonic = infrasonic; below the infrared, infrahuman, audible range of sound infrastructure
medi-, middle; half; between medi + eval = medieval; referring to median, mediate, medium, medio- the Middle Ages mediocre
omni- all; everywhere omni + potent = omnipotent; all omnidirectional, powerful omnipresent, omniscient, omnivore
retro- backward; back; contrary retro + active = retroactive; to make retrofit, retrograde, to; behind active or apply to an earlier or back retrospective, retroversion period
ultra- beyond; more than; ultra + sonic = ultrasonic; above the ultraconservative, ultra- excessive range of sound that can be heard modern, ultranationalism, by the human ear ultraviolet
Old English
Prefix Meaning How It Works Example a-, an- not; without a + moral = amoral; without morals anarchy, apathy, atypical, atonal
64 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development Suffixes
Suffixes A suffix is a letter or group of letters added to the end of a word or root to form a new word and usually to change the part of speech . Adding a suffix often involves some spelling change to the base word .
Easy
Old English
Suffix Forms Meaning How It Works Examples
-ar, -er, a noun someone who; something act + or = actor; someone baker, New Yorker, -or that; native of who acts sailor, scholar
-er a comparative more than (comparing two kind + er = more kind than colder, quicker, adjective or things) taller, wiser adverb
-est a superlative most (compares three or kind + est = kindest, the fastest, loudest, adjective or more things) most kind shortest, smartest adverb
-ful an adjective full of; having the quality harm + ful = harmful; able beautiful, careful, of; able to cause to cause harm doubtful, pitiful
-less an adjective without; not able to be color + less = colorless; countless, soundless, without color spotless, weightless
-ly an adverb or in the manner of; in the year + ly = yearly; daily, neatly, quickly, adjective order of; every; like; having happening every year slowly the characteristics of
-ness a noun state of; quality of good + ness = goodness; happiness, kindness, quality of being good newness, soundness
Target
Greek
Suffix Forms Meaning How It Works Examples -ic an adjective having the characteristics hero + ic = heroic; having alphabetic, horrific, of; causing the qualities of a hero numeric, scientific
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 65 Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development Suffixes
Suffix Forms Meaning How It Works Examples
-ish an adjective having characteristics gray + ish = grayish; childish, reddish, or noun of; somewhat native of somewhat gray selfish, Swedish
-ist a noun a person who; that which piano + ist = pianist; artist, dentist, person who plays the piano extremist, specialist
-meter a noun device for measuring; thermo + meter = barometer, diameter, measure thermometer; device for pentameter, perimeter measuring temperature
-scope a noun an instrument for seeing tele + scope = telescope; microscope, instrument for seeing kaleidoscope, periscope, distances stethoscope
Latin
Suffix Forms Meaning How It Works Examples
-able an adjective capable of; likely to; do + able = able; that can enjoyable, laughable, -ible worthy of; that can or will be done likeable, sensible
-al, -ial an adjective or of; related to; having the person + al = personal; manual, nocturnal, a noun characteristics of; the related to a person; reversal, seasonal process of private
-ant, a noun or someone who; agent of; depend + ent = dependent; attendant, defiant, -ent adjective performing the tasks of; someone who depends on resistant, superintendent having the qualities of other
-ation, a noun act of; state of; process of communicate + ion = action, appreciation, -ion, communication; act division, revision -sion, of communicating -tion
-cian, a noun a person who practices or magic + ian = magician; dietician, mathema- -ian performs a skill or art person who performs tician, musician, magic physician
-ese a noun or native of; language of China + ese = Chinese; Burmese, Cantonese, adjective language of China Japanese, Portuguese, Vietnamese
-fy a verb make beauty + fy = beautify; clarify, justify, make beautiful magnify, simplify
66 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development Suffixes
Suffix Forms Meaning How It Works Examples
-ile an adjective related to; capable of; mob + ile = mobile; docile, juvenile, suitable for capable of moving puerile, senile
-ity, -ty a noun state of; quality of being; creative + ity = creativity; ability, loyalty, instance of state of being creative nationality, possibility
-ive, an adjective causing; tending to do sense + itive = sensitive; conservative, -ative, something; having the tending to sense or feel creative, destructive, -itive quality of things strongly instructive
-ment a noun action of; process of; enchant + ment = achievement, result of; degree of being enchantment; action or enjoyment, government, or state of feeling retirement enchanted
-ous, an adjective full of; having the joy + ous = joyous; full generous, glorious, -eous, qualities of of joy mysterious, nervous -ious
Old English
Suffix Forms Meaning How It Works Examples
-en an adjective made of; added to wax + en = made of wax flaxen, silken, wooden, woolen
-hood a noun place; time; period; state boy + hood = boyhood; adulthood, childhood, of; quality of; group of period when one is a neighborhood, young boy priesthood
-like an adjective similar to; resembling home + like = homelike; childlike, deathlike, resembling home dreamlike, lifelike
-ship a noun condition of; state of; hard + ship = hardship; authorship, dicta- quality of being; art or condition of being hard; torship, friendship, skill of difficulty leadership
-ward an adjective or in the direction of down + ward = downward; backward, homeward, adverb in the direction of down onward, upward
-y an adjective characterized by; inclined stick + y = sticky; tending curly, dirty, happy, to; tending to; somewhat to stick itchy
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 67 Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development Suffixes
Challenge
Greek
Suffix Forms Meaning How It Works Examples
-asis, a noun action; condition; process hypno + osis = hypnosis; stasis, hypothesis, -esis, condition of being synthesis, thesis -osis hypnotized
-cy a noun action; function; rank; bankrupt + cy = bankruptcy; delicacy, democracy, condition or fact of being condition of being papacy, supremacy bankrupt
-ism a noun act of; state of; system; terror + ism = terrorism; communism, cubism, manner; school of act of creating terror heroism, pluralism
-itis a noun disease; inflammation of; tonsil + itis = tonsillitis; arthritis, bronchitis, excessive preoccupation inflfammation o the tonsils laryngitis, neuritis with
-ize a verb make; cause to become; theory + ize = theorize; generalize, sanitize, subject to; engage in engage in forming theories penalize, verbalize
-mania a noun exaggerated enthusiasm; pyro + mania = pyromania; balletomania, egomania madness; uncontrollable uncontrollable desire to, kleptomania, desire set fire to things megalomania
-ology; a noun study of; science of; bio + logy = biology; study archeology, astronomy, -logy branch of learning of all forms of life physiology, psychology
-phobia a noun fear; hatred arachno + phobia = acrophobia, arachnophobia; fear claustrophobia, of spiders hydro phobia, necrophobia
Latin
Suffix Forms Meaning How It Works Examples -ance, a noun state of; quality of; act of; rely + ance = reliance; appearance, defiance, -ancy process of state of relying hesitancy, truancy
-ary, a noun or relating to; having the sense + ory = sensory; dictionary, dormitory, -ory adjective qualities of; place where relating to the senses sanctuary, secondary or for
68 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development Suffixes
Suffix Forms Meaning How It Works Examples -ate a verb cause; make; provide or vaccine + ate = vaccinate; calculate, evaluate, treat with provided with or treated notate, validate with a vaccine
-cide a noun kill; killing; killer fratri + cide = fratricide; herbicide, homicide, killing one’s brother pesticide, suicide
-ence, a noun state of; quality depend + ence = absence, evidence, -ency dependence; state of independence depending on others transparency
-ery a noun place to or for; practice green + ery = greenery; brewery, eatery, of; product of; collection collection of plants robbery, scenery of; condition of
-ice a noun condition of; state of coward + ice = cowardice; avarice, jaundice, state of being cowardly justice, malice
-tude a noun state of; condition of; magni + tude = magnitude; altitude, gratitude, instance of being condition of being impor- multitude, platitude tant or of great size
-ure a noun state of being; process of; seize + ure = seizure; state censure, culture, condition of; result of; of being seized legislature, literature office of; collected body of
Old English
Suffix Forms Meaning How It Works Examples -dom a noun quality of; state of; realm king + dom = kingdom; boredom, freedom, of; power of realm of the king serfdom, wisdom
Old French
Suffix Forms Meaning How It Works Examples -ee a noun one who is receiving the employ + ee = employee; evacuee, referee, action or performing the person who is employed refugee, trainee action
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 69 Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development Roots
Roots
A word root is the basic meaningful part of a word from which other words are built . A root cannot stand alone as a word but needs a prefix and/or suffix added to it .
Easy
Greek
Root Meaning How It Works Example graph written; drawn; recorded graph + ic + s = graphics; drawings autograph, biography, geography, graphically, photography
Latin
Root Meaning How It Works Example dic, dict speak; say; tell pre + dict + ion = prediction; the act dictator, dictionary, of foretelling; forecast indicate, verdict
ject throw; cast re + ject + ion = rejection; being cast dejected, injection, project, out or thrown out reject
port carry trans + port + ation = transportation deport, portable, reporter, the carrying of goods and people teleport across distances Target
Greek
Root Meaning How It Works Example bio life; of living things micro + bio + logy = microbiology; autobiography, biography, study of very tiny living things biology, bioengineering, biofeedback
chron, time syn + chron + ize = synchronize; chronic, chronology, chrono make the same time chronological, chronometer
gen birth; race; product of gen + erate = generate; give birth to generation, generic, or create homogeneous, progeny
geo earth geo + logy = geology; study of the geochemistry, geography, earth geode, geologist
70 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development Roots
Root Meaning How It Works Example gram written; letter; recorded mono + gram = monogram; one or electrocardiogram, more letters standing for a name grammar, grammatical, telegram path, disease; suffering; sym + path + etic = identifying with compassion, empathy, pass feeling with someone else’s suffering passionate, pathology phil love phil + osophy = philosophy; love of bibliophile, Francophile, learning philanthropist, philosopher phon, sound tele + phone = telephone; a device microphone, phoneme, phono for carrying the sound of the phonetic, symphony human voice over distances photo of or produced by light photo + graph = photograph; a photocopy, photoengraving, picture taken with light photokinesis, telephoto sci know omni + sci + ent = omniscient; conscientious, conscious, all knowing pseudoscience, scientific therm heat hypo + therm + ia = hypothermia; thermal, thermodynamics, very low body temperature thermometer, thermos
Latin
Root Meaning How It Works Example alter other alter + ate = alternate; every alter ego, alternative, other one alternator, unalterable anni, year semi + annu + al = semiannual; anniversary, annuity, annu, happening every biannual, centennial enni half year aqua, water aqua + rium = aquarium; tank filled aquaplane, aquamarine, aque with water for fish aqueduct, subaquatic aud, audi hear, hearing aud + ible = audible; able to be audience, auditor, heard auditorium, inaudible cap, capt, take; seize capt + ure = capture; seize captivate, deceive, intercept, ceive, receive cept capit, head; principal, most capit + al = capital; the head or seat captain, capitalize, capt important of government decapitation
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Root Meaning How It Works Example cede, move; yield; give up re + cede = recede; move away; cessation, depression, ceed, ced, withdraw recess, succession cess
civ public; citizen civ + ic = civic; relating to citizens civil, civilian, civilization, uncivil
clam, shout; cry out ex + clam + ation = exclamation; clamor, proclaim, reclaim claim something shouted out
clud, shut re + clus + ive = reclusive; shutting conclusion, exclusive, cluse yourself off from others include, seclude
cred believe; belief cred + ible = credible; believable credit, credulous, incredible, incredulous
cur, curs run re + cur + sive = recursive; running concurrent, cursive, again and again; repeating itself cursory, precursor
derm skin epi + derm + is = epidermis; the dermatology, hypodermic, outer part of the skin pachyderm, taxidermist
doc lead doc + ile = docile; easily taught doctor, doctrine, or lead documentary, indoctrinate
dorm sleep dorm + itory = dormitory; place dormant, dormancy, where a group of people sleep dormouse, nondormant
duc, duct lead aque + duct = aqueduct; a pathway educate, induct, reduce, for leading water viaduct
fac, fact, make; do fact + ory = factory; a place where facsimile, fictional, infect, fec, fic things are made manufacture
fer carry; bear trans + fer = transfer; carry across; ferry, inference, refer, move, or relocate referee
flect, flex bend re + flect = reflect; bend back or deflect, flexibility, inflex- reproduce an image ible, reflection
form shape re + form = reform; form again or deform, information, change for the better reformatory, uniform
fract, frag break fract + ure = fracture; a break, split, fragile, fragment, or crack infraction, refract
hab, habit live; have, hold in + hab + it = inhabit; live in habitant, habitat, habitation, inhabitable
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Root Meaning How It Works Example junct join junct + ion = junction; the point adjunct, conjunction, where two things meet or join disjunctive, injunction jud, judi, aw judic + ial = judicial; relating to judiciary, jurist, juror, judic, jur, the law prejudicial juris lab work col + lab +orate = collaborate; work collaboration, elaboration, together laboratory, laborious leg, legis law legis + lature = legislature; place illegal, legal, legitimate, where laws are made illegitimate liber free liber + ate = liberate; make free liberal, liberation, liberalize, liberty loc, loco place loc + ation = location; place dislocate, localize, locate, relocation magn, large; great magni + fy = magnify; make larger magnanimous, magnification, magni magnificent, magnitude man, hand manu + al = manual; done by hand emancipate, manicure, manu manufacture, manuscript mand order counter + mand = countermand; commander, demand, give an order that makes invalid mandate, reprimand a previous order mar, mari, sea sub + mar + ine = submarine; a aquamarine, marina, mer ship that goes under the sea mariner, mermaid mem mind re + mem + brance = remembrance; commemorate, memo- bringing to mind; honoring memory randum, memorialize, migr, wander; move; change im + migr + ate = immigrate; move to emigrant; immigration, migra another country migration, migratory miss, mit send trans + miss + ion = transmission; admission, emit, missile, send across space; broadcast omission mob, mot, move im + mob + ile = immobile; not automobile, emotion, mov movable; motionless mobility, removable nat to be born; birth un + nat + ural = unnatural; not native; nativity, arising from nature or birth preternatural, supernatural nomen, name nomin + ate = nominate; name cognomen, nomenclature, nomin someone for order nominee, nominal
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Root Meaning How It Works Example
nov new novel + ty = novelty; something new innovate, nova, novel, and different renovation
numer number numer + ical = numerical; using enumerate, enumerable, numbers numerator, numerous
pac peace pac + ify = pacify; make peaceful pacific, pacifier, pacifist, pacifism
ped, pod foot ped + estrian = pedestrian; someone centipede, pedestal, who gets from place to place on foot octopod, podiatrist
pel, puls drive; urge re + pel = repel; drive back compulsion, expel, impulse, propulsion
pend, hang, weigh sus + pens + ion = suspension; dispense, expend, pens supporting framework for pendulum, impending something that hangs, such as a bridge
pon, pos put, place post + pone + ment = postponement; component, deposit, placed at a later date; delayed opposition, posture
pop people un + pop + ulated = unpopulated; depopulate, populace, not filled with people popularity, unpopular
port carry trans + port = transport; carry deportation, export, across a distance import, portage
put think; suppose; estimate; com + put + ation = computation; computer, dispute, reckon; consider calculation or final reckoning reputation, repute
quer, ask in + quir + y = inquiry; questions inquisitive, query, quest, ques, quir, about; formal investigation question quis
rupt break, tear inter + rupt = interrupt; break into corrupt, disruption, erupt, a conversation rupture
scrib, write pre + script + ion = prescription; conscript, describe, script written request or order for inscription, scribble medication
sign, signi mark; indication sign + al = signal; a mark or consignment, insignia, indication to do something resignation, significant
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Root Meaning How It Works Example spec, look in + spect + ion = inspection; a introspective, perspective, spect formal look or investigation of spectacles, spectator something sphere ball; sphere hemi + sphere = hemisphere; half atmosphere, spherical, sphere spheroid, stratosphere spir breath; courage re + spir + ation = respiration; aspire, inspiration, breathing in and out perspiration, spiritual spond, answer re + spons+ ible = responsible; correspond, despondent, spons being answerable for something irresponsible, sponsor stru, build; arrange de + struct + ion = destruction; act construction, instruct, struct of tearing down what was built or instructure, structure arranged tact, tang touch tang + ible = tangible; able to be contact, intact, tactile, touched intangible terr, terra earth; land extra + terr + estrial = extraterrestrial; terra cotta, territorial, beyond the earth terrace, terrarium tract pull; drag re + tract + ion = retraction; some- attractive, contract, thing pulled or taken back detract, subtract vac empty e + vac + uate = evacuate; empty of vacancy, vacate, vacuous, people; leave vacuum vid, vis see e + vid + ence = evidence; proof that envision, revise, television, that allows a person’s guilt to be videocassette seen
Challenge
Greek
Root Meaning How It Works Example anthr, man phil + anthrop + ist = philanthropist; anthropology, anthropomorphic anthro, person who gives money away to misanthropic, philanthropy anthrop help humankind arch chief, first, ruler mon + arch + y = monarchy; govern- archbishop, archeology, ment with one ruler, usually a king matriarch, patriarch or queen
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Root Meaning How It Works Example
aster, star astro + nomy = astronomy; study of asteroid, astrologist, astr stars and star systems astronaut, disaster
bibl, book biblio + graphy = bibliography; list biblical, bibliographer, bibli, of books and other works consulted bibliomania, bibliophile biblio
chrom, color mono + chrom + atic = monochromatic; chromosphere, chromosome, chromo having one color monochrome, polychromatic
cosm universe; world micro + cosm = microcosm; cosmic, cosmonaut, a miniature cosmopolitan, macrocosm
cycl, cyclo ring; circle; wheel bi + cycle = bicycle; a machine with cyclical, cyclone, recycle, two wheels tricycle
dem, people demo + cracy = democracy; demography, epidemic, demo government by the people pandemic
dox belief, opinion; praise para + dox = paradox; two seemingly doxology, heterodoxy, contradictory opinions or beliefs orthodox, orthodoxy
dyna, strength; power dynam + ic = dynamic; showing force aerodynamic, dynamite, dynam, and power; full of energy dynamo, hydrodynamics dynamo
gam marriage mono + gam + y; one marriage bigamist, bigamy, polygamist, polygamy
gnos know dia + gnos + is = diagnosis; knowing agnostic, diagnostician, the cause of a disease Gnostic, prognosis
helio sun helio + trope = heliotrope; a plant heliocentric, heliograph, that turns to the sun heliostat, heliotherapy
hemo blood hemo + stat = hemostat; something hemoglobin, hemophilia, used to stop bleeding hemorrhage, hemotoxin
hydr, water hydro + phobia = hydrophobia; fear dehydrated, hydrodynamics, hydra, of water hydroelectricity, hydrothermal hydro
lex word; speech lexi + con = lexicon; special words alexia, dyslexic, lexical, used in a field of study lexicographer
lith stone mono + lith = monolith; one large lithography, lithosphere, stone standing by itself megalith, neolithic
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Root Meaning How It Works Example log, logue word; speaking mono + logue= monologue; speech catalog, dialogue, epilogue, by one person logical morph shape a + morph + ous = amorphous; having anthropomorphic, no set shape metamorphosis, morphology, polymorph onym name an + onym + ous = anonymous; acronym, antonym, without a name; unsigned or pseudonym, synonymous unidentified ortho straight; upright; un + ortho + dox = not conforming orthodontics, orthography, correct to correct or proper beliefs orthopedics, orthotics poli city; state metro + poli + tan = metropolitan; cosmopolitan, police, referring to a large urban area, policy, politician usually including a city and its suburbs psych, mind; spirit psycho + logy = psychology; the psychic, psychoanalysis, psycho science of the human mind and psychopath, psychotherapy mental states soph wise soph + omore = sophomore; “wise philosophy, philosopher, fool”; a second-year student sophisticated, sophomoric tox poison tox + ic = toxic; poisonous antitoxin, intoxication, toxicology, toxin
Latin
Root Meaning How It Works Example agr, agri, field agri + culture = agriculture; science agrarian, agribusiness, agro or field of farming agrochemical, agronomy anim life, spirit anim + ate = animate; make lively; animal, inanimate, give life to magnanimous, reanimate belli war belli + cose = bellicose; given to antebellum, belligerent, warlike or aggressive behavior rebel, rebellion brei, short ab + brevi + ate = abbreviate; abbreviation, brief, brev, shorten breviary, brevity brevi
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Root Meaning How It Works Example
card, heart cardio + logy = cardiology; field of cardiac, cordial, electro- cardio, medicine specializing in the heart cardiogram, encourage cord, cor
carn, flesh carni + vore = carnivore; flesh- carnage, carnival, carni eating mammal carnivorous, reincarnation
centr, central; center con + centr + ic = concentric; with centrifugal, centrist, centri, the same center or midpoint eccentric, egocentric contro
cogn know re + cogn + ize = recognize; know cognition, cognomen, again; identify incognito, recognition
corp body in + corp + orate = incorporate; legally corpulent, corporeal, form an organization corpse, corpus
cura, cure care mani + cure = manicure; treatment curative, curator, pedicure, to care for hands and nails incurable
den, dent, tooth dent + al = dental; relating to the dentist, dentures, dont teeth orthodontist, periodontal
domin master domin + ate = dominate; master or domineer, dominion, subdue someone or something; indomitable, predominate control
don, donat give donat + ion = donation; a gift donor, condone, donate, pardon
fid, feder faith; trust con + fid + ence = confidence; faith bona fide, federation, in yourself fidelity, infidel
fin end; final; limit fin + ish = finish; end define, final, finite, infinite
frater, brother frater + nity = fraternity; a society of confraternity, fraternal, fratri men who act like brothers fratricide, fraternize
grat pleasing; favor; oblige grat + itude = gratitude; the state of gratis, gratuitous, gratuity, feeling pleased; appreciation ingratitude
luc, lum, light il + lumin + ate = illuminate; shed lucid, luminescence, lumin light on luminous, translucent
mater, mother mater + nal = maternal; showing the maternity, matrimony, matri characteristics of a mother matriarch, matriarchy
mon advise; warn pre + mon + ition = premonition; admonish, admonishment, warning about a future event monitor, monument
78 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development Roots
Root Meaning How It Works Example mor, mori, death im + mort + al = immortal; not able immortality, morbid, mort to die; lasting forever moribund, mortality mut change im + mut + able = immutable; not able commute, mutant, mutate, to be changed mutation pater, father patri + ot = patriot; a person loyal paternal, patricide, patri- to the fatherland or homeland repatriate, unpatriotic reg, regi rule, guide, straight regi + cide = regicide; killing of the regal, regent, regime, regiment ruler sacr, secr holy; secret sacri + lege = sacrilege; violating consecrate, desecrate, something considered holy sacrifice, sacred sens, sent feel con + sens + us = consensus; joint consent, resentment, feeling or opinion sensory, sentiment somn sleep in + somn + ia = insomnia; inability to insomniac, somnambulate, sleep somnambulist, somnolent soror sister soror + ity = sorority; a group of sororal, sororate, sororicide, women who act like sisters tempo ime con + tempo + rary = contemporary; extemporary, tempo, living at the same time temporize, temporary ten, tens pull; stretch ex + tens + ion = extension; extend, pretend, tension, expansion or addition tenuous tort, tors twist con + tort + ion = contortion; twisting distort, retort, torsion, torture of the body ven, vent meet con + vent + ion = convention; advent, event, invention, meeting of a large group of people venture vert, turn re + vers + al = reversal; turning advertise, convert, vers around or back extrovert, version vict, vinc conquer con + vict + ion = conviction; finding convince, evict, invincible, someone guilty; conquering doubts victory about a person’s innocence vig, vit, life viv + id = vivid; lively vigorous, vitamin, viv vivacious, vivisection
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Compound Words A compound word consists of two or more words joined together to form a new word . Compound words can be closed up with no space between the two original words, hyphen- ated, or written with a space between the original words .
Easy
Amount
every no one someplace everybody nothing something everyday nowhere sometime everyone some sometimes everything somebody somewhat everywhere someday somewhere no somehow nobody someone
Animals
bird catbird seat dog ear birdbath cat burglar dogfight birdcage catcall dogfish birdcall catfight doggie bag birddog catfish doghouse bird feed catgut dog paddle birdhouse catnap dogsled birdseed cat’s cradle dog tag birdshot cat’s-eye hangdog bird’s nest cat’s paw seeing-eye dog bird watcher cattail watchdog bluebird dog redbird dog biscuit snowbird dogcart cat dog collar catbird dog days
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Home and Furniture
bath clock dining room bathmat alarm clock living room bathrobe clock radio table bathroom clock-watching coffee table bathtub clockwork end table bathwater digital clock side table grandfather clock bed tablecloth bedbug door table linen bedchamber backdoor tablespoon bedclothes doorbell table lamp bedcover doorknob tabletop bedpost doorstep tableware bedroll doorstop wall bedroom doorway wall hanging bedside front door wallpaper bedsitter floor wall plug bedsore floorboard wall-to-wall bedspread floor cloth bedspring window floor lamp bedtime window box floor plan windowpane chair room window seat armchair bathroom window shade side chair bedroom windowsill
People and Family Relationships
baby brother father baby boom brother-in-law father-in-law baby boomer stepbrother fatherland baby carriage grandfather child baby grand grandfather clock childbirth babysit great-grandfather child care babysitter stepfather child labor baby tooth childproof child’s play
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folk mother sister folk dance grandmother sister-in-law folklore great-grandmother stepsister folk music motherboard teen folksinger mother hen teenage folk song mother-in-law teenager folktale motherland motherlode woman man stepmother womanpower manhandle women’s movement manhole parent women’s rights manhunt grandparent women’s room manpower great-grandparent women’s wear menfolk stepparent men’s wear men’s room
Time
day night spring day bed night blindness spring break daybreak nightclothes spring-cleaning daycare nightgown spring fever daydream nightlight springtime day job nightlong summer day labor night owl summerhouse daylight night school summer school daylily night shift summertime daylong night shirt daypack nightstand winter dayroom night table winter break day school nighttime wintergreen day shift night watch winterkill daytime nightwear wintertime day-tripper daywear
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Transportation
boat car plane boathouse carfare airplane boat people carjack biplane boat train car phone monoplane motorboat carpool seaplane rowboat carport truck sailboat car seat truck driver car sick bus truck farm car wash bus driver truckload railcar busload truck stop sidecar bus stop sports car
Target
Celestial Words
moon stardust solar wind moonbeam starfish solar year moon blindness starfish flower sun moon-faced star fruit sunbeam moonlight stargazer sunblock moonquake starlight sunburn moonrise starry-eyed sunburst moonscape solar sundial moonstone solar battery sundown moonstruck solar cell sun porch moonwalk solar day sunrise lunar solar flare sunscreen lunar month solar heating sunset lunarscape solar house sunshade lunar year solar month sunshine solar panel sunspot star solar system starburst solar power star-crossed
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Colors
black blue moon red-letter blackball blueprint red maple black bear blue ribbon white blackberry bluestone white birch blackbird green white blood cell blackboard greenbelt white bread black cherry green card whitecap black eye greengrocer white chocolate black-eyed pea greenhouse white-collar black-eyed Susan green light whitefish blackfish greens keeper white flag black hole green tea white heat blacklist white-hot blackmail orange white knight black market orangeade whiteout blackout orange juice white noise blacksmith orange stick white pages blacktop orangewood white paper black widow red white space blue redbird white tie bluebell red blood cell whitewash blueberry red-blooded white water bluebird redbreast yellow bluebonnet red carpet yellowbird blue cheese redfish yellow fever blue chip red flag yellowfin tuna blue-collar red-handed yellow jacket bluefish redhead yellow journalism bluegrass red herring yellow pages blue jeans red-hot
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Food
bread chicken food breadbasket chicken breast food poisoning breadboard chicken feed food processor breadbox chicken-fried food pyramid breadline chicken run food service bread pudding chicken wire food stamps breadstuff foodstuff fish breadwinner food web fishcake rye bread fish farm meat white bread fish fry meatball cheese fish head meatloaf cheeseburger fishhook meat market cheesecake fishing rod milk cheesecloth fishnet ice milk grilled cheese fishpond milk shake fish stick milk toast fishtail malted milk
Human Body
arm hot-blooded earmuffs armband warm-blooded earring armchair brain eye armhole brainchild eyeball armrest brainstorm eye bank blood brainwash eyebrow blood bank eye-catching brow blood donor eye chart browbeat bloodhound eyedropper eyebrow bloodshed eyeglasses highbrow bloodshot eyehole lowbrow bloodstream eyelash bloodthirsty ear eyelid blood vessel earache eye opener cold-blooded eardrum eyeshade
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eyesight footwear headshot eyestrain footwork headstand eyewitness head-to-head hand starry-eyed backhand heart face handbag downhearted barefaced handball heartache face cloth handbill heart attack face-off handbrake heartbeat faceplate handcar heartbreak face-saver handcart heartburn face-to-face handclasp heart disease handcuff heart failure finger hand-me-down heartfelt finger hole handpick heart rate fingernail handsaw heartsick finger-paint handshake heartstring fingerpick handspring heartwarming fingerprint handstand fingertip nose hand-woven noseband foot handwriting nosebleed barefoot head nosedive football headache nosepiece footbath headband nose-ring foot bridge headboard foot fault head cold toe foot gear headcount toecap foothill headdress toe dance foothold headfirst toehold footlights headgear toenail footlocker headlamp toe shoe footloose headlight waist footpad headline waistband footpath headmaster waistcoat footprint headphone waistline footrace headpiece waist pack foot soldier headrest wrist footsore headroom wristband footstep headscarf wristwatch footstool headshake
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Position
down upfront sidekick down-and-out upgrade sideline downbeat uphill sideslip downcast upland sidestep downdraft uplift sidestroke downfallen uplink sideswipe downfield upload sidetrack downgrade upraise sideways downhearted uprising high down-home upriver high beam downlink upside highbrow download upstage highchair down payment upstairs high country downplay up-tempo high-end downright upturn high-flying downriver upwind high frequency downscale center high-grade downshift center back high ground downside center field high-handed downsize center fielder high horse downspin centerfold highlander downstage centerline highlands downstairs center of gravity highlight downstream centerpiece high profile downswing center spread high-rise down-to-earth center stage high-risk downtown high road downturn side high school downwind countryside high seas flipside up high-strung sideband up-and-coming highway sidebar upbeat high wire sideboard up-close sidecar low update side chair low beam updraft side dish lowbrow upend side effect low country
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low-end backdrop second low-frequency back-end second base low-grade backfield second best low ground backfire second class lowland backflip second-guess low profile background secondhand low-rise backhand secondhand smoke low-risk backlash second-rate low road backlist second wind backlog in end backmatter indoors back-end back office inland bitter end backpack inroad endgame backrest inside end line backroom end matter out back-seat driver endnote outbuilding backslide endpaper outdoors backspace end plate outhouse backstab endplay outland backstage end product outpost backstairs end run outside back story end table backstroke front end use backswing front-end end user backtalk frontline end zone backwater front list front-end backwoods frontmatter backyard last front office last-born frontrunner first last-ditch front yard first aid last-gasp waterfront first base last hurrah first class back last laugh first edition backache last minute firsthand backbone last names first night back country last rites first-rate backdate last straw backdoor last word
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Temperature
cold coolheaded hot spot cold-blooded cooling tower hot tub cold call hot-water bottle hot cold cream hotbed warm cold feet hot-blooded warm-blooded cold front hotcake warmed-over cold pack hothead warm front cold-shoulder hothouse warm-hearted cold sore hot line warming pan cold war hotlink warm-up cool hot plate cooldown hot seat
Weather
ice rain forest snowmaker ice age rain gauge snowmelt iceberg rainmaking snowplow iceboat rainsquall snowshoe icebound rainstorm snowslide icebreaker rainwater snowstorm icecap rainwear snowsuit icefall snow tire snow ice field snowball wind ice floe snowbank wind farm ice fog snow blindness windmill ice-free snow blower windscreen icehouse snowbound wind shear ice pack snowcap windshield ice storm snow cover windsock rain snowdrift windstorm rainbow snowfall windsurf rain check snowfield windswept raincoat snowflake wind tunnel rain date snow goose wind turbine rainfall snow line
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Target
Four Elements
air earthquake fire station airbag earth-shaking fire storm airborne earth tone fire tower airbrake earthworm firetrap airbrush firewall fire air chamber fireworks fire alarm air conditioning fire ant water air-cool firearm water ballet air cover fireball waterbed aircraft firebird water bird airfield fireboard water biscuit airflow fireboat waterborne airfoil firebomb water buffalo air force firebox water bug airlift firebrand watercolor airline firecracker watercourse airlock fire department water cycle airplane fire door waterfowl air pocket fire drill waterfront airpower fire engine water gate air pressure fire escape water level air raid fire extinguisher waterline airsick firefighter waterlogged airspace firefly watermark airstrip fireguard water polo air taxi firehouse water-repellent airtight fire hydrant watershed airwave firelight water supply earth fireplace watertight earthborn fireplug waterwheel earthbound fireproof waterworks earthenware fire sale
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Connection
free freehand free will free agent freeload free world free-associate free market tied free association free-range tieback freeborn free skating tie beam freedom fighter free speech tiebreaker freedom rider free-spoken tie clasp free enterprise freestanding tie-in free-fall freestyle tie line free flight freethinker tie rod free-floating free trade tie tack free-for-all free verse tie-up freeform freeway
Life and Death
dead death benefit life jacket dead air death mask lifeline deadbeat death rate life mask deadbolt death squad life preserver dead end deathtrap life-size dead heat death warrant lifespan dead language lifestyle life deadline life support lifeblood deadlock lifetime lifeboat dead reckoning life cycle live dead spot life expectancy livelong dead weight life form livestock death lifeguard deathbed life insurance
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Media
computer newscast newsroom computer age news conference newsstand computer crime news flash newsweekly computer graphics news group newswire computer language newsletter newsworthy computer literacy newsmagazine radio computer science newsmaker radiophone computer virus newspaper radiophoto newsprint news radiotelegraph news radio news agency radiotelephone news release newsbreak radio wave
Places
city civil law stateroom city council civil rights state’s evidence city desk civil servant stateside city editor civil service statesperson city hall civil war states’ rights city room statewide county cityscape county agent country cityslicker county fair back country city-state county seat country club citywide countywide country cousin civil country music state civil defense countryside statecraft civil disobedience countrywide statehouse civil engineer
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Clipped Words
A clipped word is a short word formed from a longer word by dropping one or more syllables .
Easy
Clipped Standard Clipped Standard bike bicycle photo photograph hippo hippopotamus plane airplane phone telephone rhino rhinoceros
Target
Clipped Standard Clipped Standard ad advertisement lab laboratory auto automobile limo limousine bra brassiere lunch luncheon burger hamburger math mathematics bus omnibus memo memorandum champ champion movie moving picture con convict pants pantaloons dorm dormitory pen penitentiary e-mail electronic mail pike turnpike exam examination pop popular ex ex-husband or prom promenade ex-wife ref referee ex-con ex-convict sitcom situation comedy exec executive sub submarine an fanatic taxi taxicab flu influenza teen teenager fridge refrigerator tie necktie gas gasoline tux tuxedo grad graduate van caravan gym gymnasium vet veterinarian; veteran
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Challenge
Clipped Standard Clipped Standard amp amplifier mum chrysanthemum cab cabriolet perk perquisite cam camera prenup prenuptial agreement cap capital letter psych psychology carb carbohydrate quad quadrangle cat catamaran recap recapitulate chemist alchemist rehab rehabilitation coed coeducational scrip prescription condo condominium specs specifications co-op cooperative stats statistics apartment stereo stereophonic building or business synch synchronize decaf decaffeinated typo typographical error demo demonstration varsity university dub double vent ventilator fax facsimile webcam Web camera meds medications zoo zoological gardens
94 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development Common Abbreviations
Common Abbreviations
An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word used primarily in writing to represent the whole word .
Easy
Days of the Week Streets and Roads
Abbreviation Whole Word Abbreviation Whole Word Mon. Monday Ave. Avenue Tues. Tuesday Blvd. Boulevard Weds. Wednesday Dr. Drive Thurs. Thursday Pl. Place Fri. Friday Rd. Road Sat. Saturday St. Street Sun. Sunday
Titles of Address
Months* Abbreviation Whole Word Capt. Captain Abbreviation Whole Word Col. Colonel Jan. January Dr. Doctor Feb. February Gen. General Mar. March Hon. Honorable Apr. April Jr. Junior Jun. June Lt. Lieutenant Jul. July Mr. Mister Aug. August Mrs. Mistress (for a married woman) Sept. September Ms. Ms. (pronounced Oct. October “miz,” for women who Nov. November prefer not to be called Dec. December Mrs. or Miss) Prof. Professor * There is no abbreviation for May. Rev. Reverend Sr. Senior Sgt. Sergeant
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Target
Time U.S./United States
Abbreviation Whole Word Abbreviation Whole Word A.M. ante meridiem, AL Alabama “before midday” AK Alaska P.M. post meridiem, “after AZ Arizona midday” AR Arkansas A.D. anno Domini, “in the CA California year of our Lord” CO Colorado B.C. before Christ CT Connecticut B.C.C. before the common era DE Delaware C.E. common era FL Florida GA Georgia HI Hawaii
Time Zones in U.S. ID Idaho IL Illinois Abbreviation Whole Word IN Indiana EDT Eastern Daylight Time IA Iowa EST Eastern Standard Time KS Kansas CDT Central Daylight Time KY Kentucky CST Central Standard Time LA Louisiana MDT Mountain Daylight Time ME Maine MST Mountain Standard Time MD Maryland PDT Pacific Daylight Time MA Massachusetts PST Pacific Standard Time MI Michigan AKDT Alaskan Daylight Time MN Minnesota AKST Alaskan Standard Time MS Mississippi HADT Hawaiian-Aleutian MO Missouri Daylight Time MT Montana HAST Hawaiian-Aleutian NE Nebraska Standard Time NV Nevada DST Daylight Saving Time NH New Hampshire NJ New Jersey NM New Mexico NY New York
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U.S./United States Measurements U.S. System
Abbreviation Whole Word Length
NC North Carolina Abbreviation Whole Word ND North Dakota in. inch OH Ohio ft. foot OK Oklahoma yd. yard OR Oregon rd. rod PA Pennsylvania fur. furlong RI Rhode Island mi. mile SC South Carolina SD South Dakota Area TN Tennessee TX Texas Abbreviation Whole Word UT Utah sq. ft. square foot VT Vermont sq. yd. square yard VA Virginia sq. rd. square rod WA Washington sq. mi. square mile WV West Virginia WI Wisconsin Volume WY Wyoming DC District of Columbia Abbreviation Whole Word federal district cu. ft. cubic foot (Washington D.C.) cu. yd. cubic yard AS American Samoa
FM Federated States of Capacity Micronesia GU Guam Abbreviation Whole Word MH Marshall Islands tsp. teaspoon MP Northern Mariana tbsp. tablespoon Islands oz. ounce PW Palau c. cup PR Puerto Rico pt. pint VI U.S. Virgin Islands qt. quart gal. gallon
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Weight Volume
Abbreviation Whole Word Abbreviation Whole Word dr. dram m3 cubic meter oz. ounce dm3 cubic decimeter lb. pound cc or cu cm cubic centimeter 3 cwt hundredweight or cm T ton Capacity
Measurements Metric System Abbreviation Whole Word l liter Length dl deciliter cl centiliter Abbreviation Whole Word ml milliliter m meter dal dekaliter dm decimeter hl hectoliter cm centimeter kl kiloliter mm millimeter dm3 cubic decimeter dam dekameter hm hectometer km kilometer Weight Abbreviation Whole Word Area g gram Abbreviation Whole Word dg decigram cg centigram sq cm or cm2 square centimeter mg milligram sq km or km2 square kilometer kg kilogram ha hectare hg hectogram dag dekagram t metric ton
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Challenge
Countries of the World
The following two-letter and three-letter codes were established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) . Country codes are often used at the end of international URLs .
Africa
2-Letter Code 3-Letter Code Whole Word 2-Letter Code 3-Letter Code Whole Word
DZ DZA Algeria LS LSO Lesotho AD AND Angola LR LBR Liberia BJ BEN Benin LY LBY Libya BW BWA Botswana MG MDG Madagascar BF BFA Burkina Faso MW MWI Malawi BI BDI Burundi ML MLI Mali CM CMR Cameroon MR MRT Mauritania CV CPV Cape Verde MU MUS Mauritius CF CAF Central African MA MAR Morocco Republic MZ MOZ Mozambique TD TCD Chad NA NAM Namibia KM COM Comoros NE NER Niger CD COD The Democratic NG NGA Nigeria Republic of the RW RWA Rwanda Congo ST STR Sao Tome and CG COG The Republic of Principe the Congo SN SEN Senegal CI CIV Ivory Coast SC SYC Seychelles DJ DJI Djibouti SL SLE Sierra Leone EG EGY Egypt SO SOM Somalia GQ GNQ Equatorial Guinea ZA ZAF South Africa ER ERT Eritrea SD SDN Sudan ET ETH Ethiopia SZ SQZ Swaziland GA GAB Gabon TZ TZA Tanzania GM GMB Gambia TG TGO Togo GH GHA Ghana TN TUN Tunisia GN GIN Guinea UG UGA Uganda GW GNB Guinea-Bissau ZM ZMB Zambia KE KEN Kenya ZW ZWE Zimbabwe
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Asia
2-Letter Code 3-Letter Code Whole Word 2-Letter Code 3-Letter Code Whole Word
AF AFG Afghanistan LB LBN Lebanon AR ARM Armenia MY MYS Malaysia AZ AZE Azerbaijan MV MDV Maldives BH BHR Bahrain MN MNG Mongolia BD BGD Bangladesh MM MMR Myanmar BT BTN Bhutan NP NPL Nepal KH KHM Cambodia OM OMN Oman CN CHN China PK PAK Pakistan CY CYB Cyprus PH PHL Philippines TP TMP East Timor QA QAT Qatar GE GEO Georgia RU RUS Russia (also IN IND India Europe) ID IDN Indonesia SA SAU Saudi Arabia IR IRN Iran SG SGP Singapore IQ IRQ Iraq LK LKA Sri Lanka IL ISR Israel SY SYR Syria JR JRN Japan TW TWN Taiwan JO JOR Jordan TJ TJK Tajikistan KZ KAZ Kazakhstan TH THA Thailand KP PRK Democratic TR TUR Turkey (also Peoples Republic Europe) of Korea (North TM TKM Turkmenistan Korea) AE ARE United Arab KR KOR Republic of Korea Emirates (South Korea) UZ UZB Uzbekistan KW KWT Kuwait VN VNM Vietnam KG KGZ Kyrgyzstan YE YEM Yemen LA LAO Laos
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Australia and Pacific Islands
2-Letter Code 3-Letter Code Whole Word 2-Letter Code 3-Letter Code Whole Word
AU AUS Australia PW PLW Palau BN BRN Brunei PG PNG Papua New FJ FJL Fiji Guinea KI KIR Kiribati WS WSM Samoa MH MHI Marshall Islands SB SLB Solomon Islands FM FSM Micronesia TO TON Tonga NR NRU Nauru TV TUV Tuvalu NZ NZL New Zealand VU VUT Vanuatu
Europe
2-Letter Code 3-Letter Code Whole Word 2-Letter Code 3-Letter Code Whole Word
AL ALB Albania LU LUX Luxembourg AD AND Andorra MK MKD Macedonia AT AUT Austria MT MLT Malta BY BLR Belarus MD MDA Moldova BE BEL Belgium MC MCO Monaco BO BIH Bosnia and NL NLD Netherlands Herzegovina NO NOR Norway BG BGR Bulgaria PL POL Poland HR HRV Croatia PT PRT Portugal CZ CZE Czech Republic RO ROM Romania DK DNK Denmark RU RUS Russia (also EE EST Estonia Asia) FI FIN Finland SM SMR San Marino FR FRA France SK SVK Slovakia DE DEV Germany SI SVN Slovenia GR GRC Greece ES ESP Spain HU HUN Hungary SE SWE Sweden IS ISL Iceland CH CHE Switzerland IE IRL Ireland TR TUR Turkey (also Asia) IT ITA Italy UA UKR Ukraine LV LVA Latvia GB GBR United Kingdom (Great Britain) LI LIE Liechtenstein VA VAT Vatican City LT LTU Lithuania
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North America, Central America, and the Caribbean
2-Letter Code 3-Letter Code Whole Word 2-Letter Code 3-Letter Code Whole Word
AI AIA Anguilla HN HND Honduras AG ATG Antigua and JM JAM Jamaica Babuda MX MEX Mexico AW ABW Aruba NI NIC Nicaragua BS BHS the Bahamas PA PAN Panama BB BRB Barbados KN KNA Saint Kitts and BZ BLZ Belize Nevis BM BMU Bermuda LC LCA Saint Lucia CA CAN Canada VC VCT Saint Vincent and CR CRI Costa Rica the Grenadines CU CUB Cuba TT TTO Trinidad and DM DMA Dominica Tobago DO DOM Dominican TC TCA Turks and Caicos Republic Islands SV SLV El Salvador US USA United States GL GRL Greenland BG VGB Virgin Islands (British) GD GRD Grenada VI VIR Virgin Islands GT GTM Guatemala (U.S.) HT HTI Haiti
South America and Antarctica
2-Letter Code 3-Letter Code Whole Word 2-Letter Code 3-Letter Code Whole Word
AR ARG Argentina GY GUY Guyana BO BOL Bolivia PY PRY Paraguay BR BRA Brazil PE PER Peru CL CHL Chile SR SUR Suriname CO COL Columbia UY URY Uruguay EC ECU Ecuador VE VEN Venezuela FK FLK Falkland Islands GF GUF French Guiana AQ ATA Antarctica
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Acronyms and Initialisms
Acronyms and initialisms are special types of abbreviated words . An acronym is a new word formed from the initial letters of the original words . The word that is formed is pronounced (for example, radar) . An initialism is formed from the letters of one or more words . For initialisms, the letters are pronounced (for example, CD) .
Easy
Acronyms (pronounce word) Initialisms (pronounce letters)
New Word Initial letters/Original words Letters Word(s) radar RAdio Detecting And Ranging CD Compact Disc scuba Self-Contained Underwater C.O.D. Cash On Delivery Breathing Apparatus FAQ Frequently Asked Questions sonar SOund NAvigation and Ranging IOU I Owe You UNESCO United Nations Educational, P.S. Post Script Scientific, and Cultural TV TeleVision Organization TGIF Thank God (or Goodness) UNICEF United Nations (International) It’s Friday Children’s (Emergency) Fund ZIP (code) Zone Improvement Plan
Target
Acronyms (pronounce word)
New Word Initial letters/Original words New Word Initial letters/Original words
AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency PIN Personal Identification Number Syndrome NATO North Atlantic Treaty AWOL Absence WithOut Leave Organization FEMA Federal Emergency MAnagement snafu Situation Normal All Fouled Up Organization Teflon Tetrafloroetylene resin laser Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation
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Initialisms (pronounce letters)
Letters Words Letters Words
AAA American Automobile IRS Internal Revenue Service Association MIA Missing In Action ABC American Broadcasting Company MO Modus Operandi (method of operating) ASAP As Soon As Possible NAACP National Association for the ATM Automatic Teller Machine Advancement of Colored People BLT Bacon Lettuce and Tomato NBC National Broadcasting Company sandwich PBS Public Broadcasting System CBS Columbia Broadcasting System RIP Rest In Peace CIA Central Intelligence Agency RSVP Repondez S’il Vous Plait DA District Attorney (please respond) CPR CardioPulmonary Resuscitation POW Prisoner Of War DJ Disc Jockey SAT Scholastic Achievement (or Aptitude) Test DNA DeoxyriboNucleic Acid SUV Sports Utility Vehicle DVD Digital Video Disc URL Uniform Resource Locator FBI Federal Bureau of Investigation VCR Video Cassette Recorder FCC Federal Communications Commission VIP Very Important Person
FTC Federal Trade Commission VJ Video Jockey IQ Intelligence Quotient
Combination Acronym and Initialism
CD-ROM Compact Disc Read Only Q-and-A Question-and-Answer Memory
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Challenge
Acronyms (pronounce word)
New word Initial letters/Original words New word Initial letters/Original words
BASIC Beginner’s All-purpose Ginny Mae Government National Mortgage Symbolic Instruction Code Association CAD Computer-Aided Design HUD Department of Housing and Urban Development CAT Computerized Axial Tomography NAFTA North American Free Trade DOS Disc Operating System Agreement
Initialisms (pronounce letters)
Letters Words Letters Words
AI Artificial intelligence GNP Gross National Product AKA Also Known As GPA Grade Point Average BBC British Broadcasting System GPS Global Positioning System CEO Chief Executive Officer LCD Liquid Crystal Display CFO Chief Financial Officer LED Light Emitting Diode DNA DeoxyriboNucleic Acid NEA National Endowment for the Arts EU European Union
Combination Acronym and Initialism
JPEG Joint Photographic Experts Group
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Words From Mythology Greek , Roman, and Norse myths have provided a rich source of words in English, including the days of the week, character traits, and scientific concepts .
Easy
Days
Word Origin Meaning
Sunday from Sunne, Norse goddess of the sun the Sun’s day; first day of the week Monday from Mani, the Norse god of the moon the Moon’s day; second day of the week Tuesday from Tyr or Tiu, the Norse god of war third day of the week Wednesday from Woden, king of the Norse gods and fourth day of the week god of the hunt Thursday from Thor, the Norse god of thunder fifth day of the week Friday from Freyja, the Norse goddess of love sixth day of the week Saturday from Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture seventh day of the week who reigned during the Golden Age
Months
Word Origin Meaning
January from Janus, the Roman god of doorways, first month of the year who had two faces—one looking backward and one forward March from Mars, the Roman god of war third month of the year May from Maia, in Greek mythology, one of the fifth month of the year seven daughters of Atlas, and the mother of Mercury June from Juno, the Roman goddess of sixth month of the year marriage, who was queen and wife of Jupiter;
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Flora and Fauna
Word Origin Meaning floral from Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers of, relating to, or showing flowers hyacinth from Hyacinthus, a Spartan youth beloved a plant that has a thick stem with small by the Greek gods, flowers that grow in long clusters iris from the Greek, goddess of the rainbow a plant with long, thin leaves and large purple, white, or yellow flowers mint from Minthe, a Greek nymph transformed an herb whose leaves have a strong into an herb by the goddess Persephone scent and are used for flavoring narcissus from Narcissus, the Greek youth who fell a plant that has yellow or white flowers in love with his own image in a pool of and long, thin leaves (a daffodil is a water, fell in and drowned, and was kind of narcissus) turned into a flower peony from Paeon, the physician to the gods a garden plant with large flowers that in Greek mythology may be red, pink, or white
Geography
Word Origin Meaning
Asia from the Greek goddess Asia, the mother the world’s largest continent of Atlas atlas from the Greek Titan condemned to a book of maps stand at the end of the world and hold up the sky Europe from the princess Europa, in Greek the world’s second-smallest continent, mythology, who was abducted by Zeus after Australia and carried from Phoenicia to Crete ocean from Oceanus, Greek god of the great the entire body of salt water that covers waters most of the earth’s surface volcano from Vulcan, the Roman god of fire and a mountain with vents through which blacksmiths molten lava, ash, cinders, and gas erupt
Planets
Word Origin Meaning
Mercury from the Roman god Mercury, the fleet- planet closest to the Sun footed messenger of the gods and of business
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Word Origin Meaning
Venus from Venus, the Roman goddess of love second planet from the Sun and beauty Mars from Mars, the Roman god of war fourth planet from the Sun Jupiter from Jupiter, the Roman god who was fifth planet from the Sun ruler of the other Roman gods Saturn from the Roman god Saturn, the father sixth planet from the Sun of Jupiter Uranus from the Greek god Uranus, who was the seventh planet from the Sun earliest and supreme god Neptune from the Roman god of the sea, Neptune eighth planet from the Sun Pluto from the Roman god of the underworld, a dwarf planet, formerly classified as the Pluto ninth planet from the Sun
Target
Appearance, Character Traits, and Behavior
Word Origin Meaning
Achilles’ from the Greek hero Achilles, whose weak spot heel when he was a baby, dipped him in magical water to protect him, but did not remove her hand from his heel berserk from legendary Norse warrior, Old violent, upset, and destructive Berserkr, known for his ferociousness and frenzy in battle hector from Hector, the Trojan prince killed bully; threaten by Achilles jovial from Jove, another name for Jupiter, cheerful; jolly the chief Roman god Junoesque from Juno, the Roman queen of the stately and imposing gods and wife of Jupiter juvenile from Juventus, Roman god of youth young; immature lunatic from Luna, Roman goddess of someone who is crazy the moon
108 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development Words From Mythology
Word Origin Meaning martial from Mars, the Roman god of war warlike mercurial from the Roman god Mercury, the quick and changeable in mood fleet-footed messenger of the gods and of business panic from the Greek god Pan, the god of sudden, intense fear sheep and of dark woods and fields promethean from the Greek Titan Prometheus, who wildly creative; defiant and bold stole fire from the gods tantalize from the Greek king Tantalus, who was to tempt someone without letting that condemned to stand in water that he person have what he or she desires couldn’t drink, with fruit above him that he couldn’t reach
Objects, Occupations, and Other Things
Word Origin Meaning ambrosia from ambrosia, the food of the gods, a sweet treat with oranges and fl aked coconut thought to give immortality to those who eat it calliope from Kalliope, the Greek muse with a a keyboard instrument like an organ but fitted beautiful voice, who watched over epic with steam whistles poetry cereal from Ceres, Roman goddess of grain a breakfast food chronology from Chronos, Roman god of time order of events kraken from the Norse sea monster, the Kraken a sea monster mentor from Mentor, a trusted advisor to an advisor; someone who takes you under Odysseus his/her wing merchandise from the Roman god Mercury, the things that are bought and sold fleet-footed messenger of the gods and of business merchant from the Roman god Mercury, the someone in the business of selling things fleet-footed messenger of the gods and of business museum from the nine Muses in Greek a place for viewing and studying objects of mythology, who presided over the artistic, historic, and scientific interest arts and sciences
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Word Origin Meaning
music from the nine Muses in Greek the arrangement of sounds to create an mythology, who presided over the arts artistic piece and sciences
pontoon from Pontus, the Greek god of the sea a type of floating structure or bridge siren from the Sirens, Greek sea nymphs an alarm or distress signal who lured sailors to their doom terminal from Terminus, the Roman guardian an end point or station of boundaries typhoon from Typhon, a rebellious Greek god a hurricane or violent tropical storm in the who ruled destructive volcanoes and western Pacific or Indian Ocean storms zephyr from Zephyrus, the Greek god of the a gentle breeze west wind
Qualities, Magnitude, and Ideas
Word Origin Meaning
colossal from the Colossus of Rhodes, a huge extremely large and awe inspiring statue of the Greek god Apollo cupidity from Cupid, the god of love and son of greed; intense desire the Roman goddess Venus discord from Discordia, the Roman goddess disagreement; strife of disagreement fortune from Fortuna, the Roman goddess luck; fate; destiny of luck fury from the Furies, three Greek goddesses anger and rage who sought out and punished wrongdoers herculean from Hercules, the Greek hero of demanding great strength and effort exceptional strength who accomplished twelve seemingly impossible tasks iridescent from Iris, the Greek goddess of the brilliant; sparkling; showing the colors of the rainbow rainbow Midas touch from Midas, who, in Greek myths, the ability to make huge amounts of money turned everything he touched into gold
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Word Origin Meaning narcissism from Narcissus, the Greek youth who intense self-love and admiration fell in love with his own image in a pool of water odyssey from Odysseus, the Greek hero who, a long voyage filled with adventures after the Trojan War, traveled for many years to get back to his home Olympian from Mt. Olympus, the home of the exalted; majestic Greek gods panacea from Panacea, a daughter of Aesculpius, a cure-all or universal remedy the Greek god of medicine saturnine from the Roman god Saturn, the father dark and threatening of Jupiter Stygian from the River Styx in the underworld dark, gloomy, and forebidding of Greek mythology titanic from the Titans, the family of giants colossal; extraordinarily large and strong who, in Greek mythology, originally ruled the heavens
Challenge
Character Types
Word Origin Meaning
Adonis from the beautiful youth loved by the a strikingly beautiful man Greek goddess Aphrodite amazon from the women warriors of Greek a particularly strong, tall, and aggressive mythology woman Cassandra from the daughter of King Priam and a person who predicts misfortunes but is Queen Hecuba of Troy not believed nemesis from Nemesis, the Greek goddess of someone who keeps pursuing another to get justice or vengeance justice; a force that cannot be beaten
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Science and Health
Word Origin Meaning
arachnid from Arachne, a Greek girl changed a spider into a spider by Athena chimera from a fire-breathing monster in Greek a highly fanciful illusion; or an organism made mythology made up of a goat, a lion, up of different genetic tissues and a serpent
echoic from Echo, the Greek nymph who pined relating to the repetition of sound by reflection away for her lover until only her voice of sound waves off a surface remained electricity from Electra, the daughter of a phenomenon arising from the behavior of Agamemnon, who, in Greek mythology, electrons and protons avenged her father’s death fauna from Fauna, the Roman goddess of the animal life in a particular region birth and fertility
flora from Flora, the Roman goddess of the plant life in a particular region spring and flowers helium from Helios, the Greek titan who was the lightest element the sun god hygiene from Hygeia, the Greek goddess of the science dealing with health and cleanliness health and cleanliness hypnosis from Hypnos, the Greek god of sleep the technique of putting someone in an induced, trancelike condition
112 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development Words Based on Names of People
Words Based on Names of People
Many words have been coined from the names of people . Often, these people invented, discovered, or did something special that brought about the word . Words coined from people’s names are called eponyms . Easy
Word Person Meaning
America from Amerigo Vespucci, one of the the great landmasses that make up what is European explorers of the New World now North America, Central America, and South America braille from Louis Braille, a French teacher a system of writing consisting of raised of the blind who was himself blind dot-formed letters that can be read by touch cardigan from James Thomas Brudenell, seventh a longed-sleeved buttoned sweater without Earl of Cardigan, an English soldier a collar who led the Charge of the Light Brigade and whose soldiers wore this type of garment Morse code from the American inventor of the a dot-dash code system used by telegraph, Samuel Finley Breese Morse telegraphers to send messages sandwich from John Montagu, the fourth Earl two or more slices of bread with a filling of Sandwich, who reputedly put slices in-between of meat between bread so that he could keep gambling without being interrupted by eating teddy bear from Theodore Roosevelt, 26th president a stuffed toy bear of United States and noted outdoorsman, who reputedly refused to shoot a bear cub valentine from St. Valentine, an early Christian a holiday during which sweethearts martyr whose feast day falls on Feb. 14, express affection the day, according to some old legends, when birds begin to mate
Target
Word Person Meaning argyle from the Duke of Argyle a brightly colored diamond-shaped cloth pattern resembling the Argyle Clan tartan
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Word Person Meaning
bloomers from Amelia Jenks Bloomer, an full, loose trousers that are gathered at the American feminist and social reformer ankle or knee who wore these pantaloons bobby from Sir Robert Peel, the British Home a police officer; a member of the London Secretary who reorganized the London police force police force bowie knife from Col. James Bowie, a Texas patriot a knife with a double-edged blade that and soldier, who popularized the knife curved to a point and marketed it under his name boycott from Charles Cunningham Boycott, an to avoid trade or refuse to deal with, as Irish landlord whose tenants refused to a protest pay rents and who was refused services in local stores in protest against harsh conditions Bunsen from Robert Wilhelm Bunsen, who used in most chemistry labs, a burner that burner invented it mixes gas with air to produce a hot flame colt from Samuel Colt, who invented this gun a six-shooter or revolver derby from Edward Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby, a dome-shaped felt hat also called a bowler who had a strong interest in horse racing that was created to look like the bowler hats the English wore at the Derby (a horse race, also named for him) derrick from Godfrey Derrick, a 16th-century a crane for lifting heavy objects English executioner known for his strength derringer from Henry Derringer, the Philadelphia a small, stubby, easily hidden pistol gunsmith who invented it
diesel from Rudolf Diesel, a German engineer a type of internal combustion engine who built the engine that bears his name Ferris wheel from George Washington Gail Ferris a giant wheel with passenger-carrying cars whose invention debuted at the that revolves on a stationary axis or stand Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893 gibberish from Geber, or Jabir ibn Hayyan, an Arabian nonsense language alchemist who, as a precaution against being charged with sorcery, wrote in seemingly unintelligible code guillotine from Dr. Joseph-Ignace Guillotin, a French a machine with a sharp sliding blade used physician who proposed its use during the for beheading people French Revolution hooligan from Patrick Hooligan, a rowdy 19th- a ruffian or other violent thug century criminal and thug
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Word Person Meaning leotard from Jules Leotard, a 19th-century French a close-fitting one-piece garment worn by aerial gymnast dancers and gymnasts Levi’s from Levi Strauss, a San Francisco jeans; dungarees manufacturer who made these sturdy pants during the Gold Rush lynch from Charles Lynch, a Virginia planter to hang someone for a crime without benefit who formed a secret band to punish of a trial people accused of crimes macintosh from Charles Macintosh, a Scottish a kind of raincoat chemist who patented a method for making waterproof garments magnolia from Pierre Magnol, a French physician an evergreen tree with showy flowers and botanist who classified plants mason jar from John L. Mason, an American a heavy glass jar used for home canning manufacturer who invented and patented and preserving them maverick from Samuel Augustus Maverick, a Texas unbranded cattle; a nonconformist lawyer and rancher who claimed ownership of any unbranded cattle pasteurize from Louis Pasteur, a French scientist who a process to purify and preserve milk by invented the process of pasteurization heating and rapid cooling ritzy from César Ritz, Swiss restaurateur and classy, lavish, expensive hotel manager who built a lavish hotel shrapnel from Henry Shrapnel, an English military fragments of an exploding artillery shell officer who invented a specific type of or bomb exploding projectile sideburns from General Ambrose Burnside, who long hair growing on the side of a man’s face wore the hair on the side of his face in a distinctive way (originally called burnsides) silhouette from Etienne de Silhouette, a French an outline image filled in with black finance minister, who placed severe restrictions on spending and whose name became associated with being cheap spaldeen from Alfred Goodwell Spalding, who a rubber ball established manufacturing standards for baseballs and baseball equipment Stetson from John Batterson Stetson, a hatmaker a hat with a tall crown and wide brim, often who specialized in cowboy hats called a 10-gallon hat
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Challenge
Word Person Meaning
bowdlerize from Thomas Bowdler, editor of an to censor or delete written material expurgated edition of Shakespeare considered improper or bawdy camellia from George Joseph Kamel, a botanist a beautiful flowering plant who described the plant he found in the Philippines chauvinism from Nicolas Chauvin of Rochefort, a excessively patriotic or loyal to a group French soldier who was extremely patriotic and nationalistic curie from Marie and Pierre Curie, French a unit of measure for radioactivity chemists and codiscoverers of radium doily from a London linen merchant named a mat made of lace Doily, Doiley, Doylet, or Doyly draconian from Draco, Athenian ruler and lawgiver harsh application of law or rules who established extremely harsh penalties for crime dunce from John Duns Scotus, a 13th and 14th a fool or blockhead centuries philosopher whose work was later mocked
forsythia from William Forsyth, a Scottish gardener a shrub with bright yellow flowers who brought the plant to England from China gerrymander from Elbridge Gerry, Governor of to manipulate or change electoral districts Massachusetts, who approved a politically to benefit the party in power inspired plan to reshape voting districts kaiser from Julius Caesar, Roman general and emperor; ruler (also czar; tsar) dictator kelvin scale from William Thompson, Lord Kelvin, a a scale for measuring temperature Scottish scientist who invented this scale klieg lights from John H. and Anton T. Kliegl, who high-intensity lights invented the high-intensity lights used in the early days of filmmaking macadam from John Loudon McAdam, a road a smooth road surface made from stones engineer who built these small mixed with asphalt or tar crushed-stone or gravel roads
116 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development Words Based on Names of People
Word Person Meaning macadamia from Dr. John Macadam, Secretary a type of tree with nuts of the Victoria Philosophical Institute mach number from Ernst Mach, a German scientist who the ratio of the speed of an object and the investigated supersonic speed speed of sound in air machiavellian from Niccolò Machiavelli, who, in his book scheming; using unscrupulous methods to The Prince, asserted that a ruler may use maintain power any means available to maintain power madeleine from Madeleine Paulmier, a French pastry a small shell-shaped cake chef who created these cakes mansard from Nicolas François Mansart, aka a type of roof that accommodates high- Mansard, a French architect and designer ceiling attics martinet from Colonel Jean Martinet, a French a strict, overbearing disciplinarian officer and strict disciplinarian marzipan from Franz Marzip, a German confectioner a sweet treat made of almond paste and sugar mausoleum from King Maussollus of ancient Persia, a large tomb whose wife ordered a huge monument erected to him after his death mercerize from John Mercer, an American industrialist to treat cotton fabric in a way that who invented this method for treating strengthens it and gives it a silky luster cotton cloth mesmerize from Franz Anton Mesmer, an early to put in a trace-like state; to hypnotize or Austrian hypnotist hold spellbound minié ball from Captain Claude Étienne Minié, a a cone-shaped lead bullet French soldier who invented a new kind of lead bullet Molotov from Vyacheslav Molotov, a Russian a crude bomb; a gasoline-filled bottle with cocktail statesman who claimed that the bombs the a rag fuse Russians were dropping on the Finns were only food and drink Neanderthal from Joachim Neander, a poet who wrote an early form of Homo sapiens in praise of the glory of creation and for whom the Neanderthal (valley) was named nicotine from Jean Nicot, the French ambassador a byproduct of the combustion of tobacco to Portugal when tobacco was first brought to Europe from the New World obsidian from Obsius, an ancient Greek explorer a kind of volcanic glass who first described it
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Word Person Meaning
ohm from Georg Ohm, a German scientist who a unit of electrical resistance studied electric currents pompadour from Madame de Pompadour, a French a hairstyle in which hair is swept up noblewoman who was a Parisian fashion from the forehead leader and who wore her hair this way
petri dish from Julius Richard Petri, a German a flat glass or plastic dish with a loose scientist who invented this laboratory dish cover quisling from Vidkun Quisling, a fascist who a traitor who is a puppet of the enemy became ruler of Norway after the Nazis invaded the country during World War II raglan sleeve from Fitzroy James Henry Somerset, 1st a style of sleeve that is cut so that it Baron Raglan, a courageous 18th-century extends to the neck British soldier who wore a loose-fitting coat with sleeves extending to the neck saxophone from Antoine Joseph Sax, a Belgian a valved brass instrument musical instrument maker spinet from Giovanni Spinetti, a Venetian musical a small, upright piano instrument maker spoonerism from the Reverend William Archibald a one-line phrase in which the initial Spooner, who was famous for his slips of letters of words are switched the tongue tawdry from St. Audrey (also known as St. cheaply made; gaudy Etheldreda) who was honored by holding fairs on her saint’s day during which lace scarves and necklaces were sold as souvenirs thespian from Thespis, a sixth-century Greek poet an actor Vandyke from Sir Anthony Van Dyck, a Flemish v-shaped beard painter who depicted noblemen sporting this distinctive style of beard volt from Count Alessandro Giuseppe Antonio a unit of measure of electric force Anastasio Volta, an Italian scientist who invented the first electric battery zeppelin from Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, a a rigid, lighter-than-air aircraft German designer and Civil War veteran of the Union Army who developed this airship
118 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development Words Based on Places
Words Based on Places
Many words have been coined based on the names of places . Often these words refer back to where the item was invented, made, or first found . Words based on places are called toponyms .
Easy
Word Place Meaning
Bermuda shorts from Bermuda knee-length pants bologna from Bologna, Italy a type of lunch meat cheddar cheese from Cheddar, England a type of hard cheese china from China porcelain dishes frankfurter from Frankfurt, Germany a hot dog hamburger from Hamburg, Germany or a meat patty New York lumber from Lombardy, Italy wood from trees that have been cut down magnet from Magnesia, Asia Minor a piece of metal that has the power to draw iron or steel palace from the Palatine Hill, Rome, Italy a grand residence for monarchs pistol from Pistoia, Italy a gun
Target
Word Place Meaning academy from the Academia, Athens, a school Greece angora from Ankara, Turkey wool from a goat or rabbit arsenal from the Arsenale, Venice, Italy a place where weapons are stored baked Alaska from Alaska, U.S.A. a dessert of cake and ice cream with a meringue topping bikini from the Bikini Atoll in the a scanty two-piece bathing suit South Pacific
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 119 Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development Words Based on Places
Word Place Meaning
blarney from a stone in the Blarney Castle, flattery and smooth, but insincere, talk Cork, Ireland Brazil nut from Brazil, South America a type of tree with edible nuts Brussels sprouts from Brussels, Belgium a type of vegetable Cajun from Acadia, Canada a Louisiana native who is a descendent of French Canadians calico from Calicut, India a type of coarse cloth cantaloupe from Cantalupo, Italy a type of melon cashmere from Kashmir, India wool from a goat champagne from the province of Champagne, a sparkling wine France Charleston from Charleston, South Carolina a type of dance dalmatian from Dalmatia, Croatia a type of dog denim from Nîmes, France (de Nîmes) a coarse cloth used for jeans duffel bag from Duffel, Belgium a large canvas bag fez from Fes, Morocco a flat-topped hat with a tassel forum from the Forum in Rome, Italy a meeting place or public square gauze from Gaza in the Middle East a thin, filmy cloth ghetto from the island of Ghetto, a racially segregated area or area where Venice, Italy specific groups are forced to live italics from Italy a slanted typeface jersey from the Isle of Jersey, England a knitted sweater java from Java, Indonesia coffee
lima bean from Lima, Peru a type of edible flat pod; butter bean limburger cheese from the Limburg province, a type of pungent cheese Holland limerick from Limerick, Ireland a humorous five-lined poem limousine from Limousin, France a luxurious vehicle usually driven by a chauffeur
lobby from the lobby to the British to influence political representatives to vote a House of Commons, London, certain way or support a specific cause England
120 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development Words Based on Places
Word Place Meaning
Louisville slugger from Louisville, Kentucky a baseball bat mackinaw Macinac City, Michigan a thick woolen blanket or a coat made from this cloth manila paper from Manila, the Philippines a thick paper or cardboard mayonnaise from Port Mahon, Minorca, Spain a dressing made from egg yolks milliner from Milan, Italy a hat maker muslin from Mosul, Iraq a sturdy cotton fabric rhinestone from the Rhine River in Europe artificial gems romaine from Rome, Italy a type of lettuce Roman numeral from Rome, Italy any of the symbols used by the ancient Romans to represent numbers spa from Spa, Belgium a resort or other place offering health-related activities and treatments Swiss cheese from Switzerland a type of cheese characterized by holes suede from Sweden a type of velvety-surfaced leather wiener from Vienna, Austria a frankfurter
Challenge
Word Place Meaning argosy from Rugusa, Dalmatia a large merchant ship or fleet of ships (rugusa corrupted to argosy) bohemian from the Kingdom of Bohemia in a person with an unconventional lifestyle Northern Europe coliseum from the Colosseum in Rome, Italy a large arena or theater for a sporting event damascene from Damascus, Syria to create a design with wavy patterns on metal damask from Damascus, Syria a cotton or linen patterned fabric dumdum bullet from the Dum-Dum Arsenal in a bullet that expands on impact Bengal, India homburg from Homburg, Germany a soft, felt hat
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 121 Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development Words Based on Places
Word Place Meaning
india ink from India a type of black ink japan from Japan to decorate with a black enamel jimsonweed derived from Jamestown-weed, a tall poisonous weed Jamestown, Virginia laconic from Laconia, Sparta, Greece terse; not verbose; using few words Leyden jar from Leyden, Holland an early form of a capacitor Linzer torte from Linz, Austria a pastry with a raspberry filling madras from Madras, India a fabric with a striped or checked pattern maelstrom from the Maelstrom, a whirlpool a large whirlpool off the west coast of Norway magenta from Magenta, Italy a reddish-purple color mecca from Mecca, Saudi Arabia a center of activity that draws many people meringue from Mirengen, Switzerland a confection made of egg whites whipped with sugar organdy from Urgendi, Turkestan a cotton or silk lightweight fabric used for dresses panama hat from Panama a brimmed hat made from plaited leaves parmesan from Parma, Italy a type of cheese rialto from the Rialto in Venice, Italy a marketplace or theater district romanesque from Rome, Italy relating to a style of architecture that combines Roman and Byzantine elements roquefort from Roquefort, France a type of blue-veined cheese sienna from Siena, Italy a reddish color venetian blinds from Venice, Italy a window covering with slats that can be adjusted to let light in or keep it out verdigris from Greece (literally “green a greenish color found on copper and brass of Greece”) that has oxidized worsted from Worsted, England a type of close-woven woolen cloth
122 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development Words From Wars
Words From Wars
Words entered English from different wars . Sometimes a new word was coined . Sometimes the meaning of the word was extended to cover a new object or situation .
Easy
Word War Meaning ace from World War I an expert fighter pilot dogfight from World War I an aerial battle between fighter pilots dog tag from World War I a metal identification tag worn by a soldier GI from World War II a soldier who has enlisted jeep from World War II an open four-wheel-drive vehicle tank from World War I an armored vehicle
Target
Word War Meaning
A-bomb from WWII an atomic bomb airlift from the Spanish to transport soldiers or other people by air Civil War AWOL from the Civil War absent without leave beachhead from World War I territory held on the enemy shoreline and used as a launching point for an attack blitz (blitzkrieg) from World War II an intense, heavy air raid brainwash from the Korean War to impose beliefs through torture or intensive indoctrination brass hat from World War I high-ranking military officer concentration camp from World War II a prison where people are kept under extremely harsh conditions doughboy from World War I a soldier draftee from the Civil War someone conscripted or drafted into military service gestapo from World War II Nazi secret police gung ho from World War II extremely brave, loyal, and eager joystick from World War I an airplane’s control stick
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 123 Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development Words From Wars
Word War Meaning
kamikaze from World War II Japanese suicide bombers mushroom cloud from World War II the cloud caused by an atomic explosion nosedive from World War I a steep dive or swooping downward of an aircraft R and R from World War II leave granted for rest and recuperation radar from World War II an acronym for radio detecting and ranging shell shock from World War I combat fatigue caused by exposure to shell fire storm trooper from World War II a member of the Nazi militia trench coat from World War I a belted, military-style raincoat U-boat from World War I a German submarine walkie-talkie from World War II a portable radio set used for communication warhorse from the Civil War an experienced veteran watch cap from World War I a knitted cap war correspondent from the Civil War someone who reports on a war
Challenge
Word War Meaning
balaclava from the Crimean War a woolen garment covering the head and neck bazooka from World War II a gun that fires rockets cravat from the Thirty Years a neckerchief or scarf War fifth columnist from the Spanish a secret agent or saboteur Civil War flattop from World War II an aircraft carrier genocide from World War II the planned extermination of an entire race or group of people medivac from the Korean War an acronym for a vehicle used for medical evacuation pillbox from World War I a shelter for a machine gun pipsqueak from World War I a small, fast artillery shell sabotage from World War II to deliberately destroy weapons and equipment stalag from World War II a prisoner-of-war camp strafe from World War I to attack with heavy machine-gun fire from a low-flying airplane
124 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development Portmanteau Words
Portmanteau Words
In his nonsense poem “Jabberwocky” from Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There, Lewis Carroll coined new words by blending sounds from two familiar words . The new word carries the meaning of both the original words and is called a portmanteau word . The process continues to this day .
Easy
Word Combined Words Meaning brunch breakfast + lunch a late-morning meal carjack car + hijack to hijack or forcibly take a car from someone motel motor + hotel a casual hotel for motorists scrunch squeeze + crunch to crush tightly together slosh slop + slush to spill or splash in a clumsy manner smog smoke + fog pollution caused by a mixture of fog and smoke splatter splash + spatter to spatter and splash something squiggle squirm + wiggle a wavy line
Target
Word Combined Words Meaning aerobatics aeroplane + acrobatics spectacular stunts performed by airplanes biopic biography + picture a movie about a real-life person chocoholic chocolate + alcoholic someone who likes chocolate too much chortle chuckle + snort noisy, hearty laughter chunnel Channel + tunnel the tunnel through the English Channel emoticon emotion + icon a picture used to express emotion guesstimate guess + estimate an estimate based on guessing heliport helicopter + airport an airport for helicopters moped motor + pedal bicycle with a motor motorcade motor + cavalcade a parade or procession of cars and other vehicles paratrooper parachute + trooper a soldier who parachutes into battle prissy prim + sissy excessively prim and proper prequel precede + sequel a sequel that tells what happened before shopaholic shop + alcoholic someone who likes to shop too much slithy slimy + lithe slippery and thin workaholic work + alcoholic someone who works too hard and too much
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 125 Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development Portmanteau Words
Challenge
Word Combined Words Meaning
advertorial advertisement + editorial an editorial written for the purpose of advertising a product or service animatronics animation + electronics cartoons and other animated computer graphics aquacise aqua + exercise exercise routines performed in water biotech biology + technology the use of biology and biological processes for production camcorder camera + recorder a portable video camera and recorder contrail condensation + trail the visible trail of vapor left by an aircraft cyborg cybernetic + organism a creature that is part human and part machine edutainment education + entertainment entertainment created for educational purposes infomercial information + commercial a commercial designed to give a lot of information netizen Internet + citizen citizen of the Internet; Internet user pixel picture + element a computer picture element or image
126 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development Words Shakespeare Added to the Language
Words Shakespeare Added to the Language
Through his plays and poems, Shakespeare is credited with adding many words to the English language . In some cases, he coined new words . In other cases, he used an existing word as a different part of speech or joined two existing words . In still others, he gave an existing word a new meaning . Shakespeare also gave words from other languages new English forms, and he added prefixes and/or suffixes to existing words to form new words . Some scholars, though, are dubious about the number of words attributed to Shakespeare, claiming that he can be credited only with the earliest written examples of the use of these words that we have . In other words, the words may have been in use before, but no written examples of them exist .
Easy
Word Usage/Meaning Shakespeare Connection alligator a noun meaning an aquatic reptile said by Balthasar in Romeo and Juliet bandit a noun meaning thief, robber said by the Duke of Suffolk in Henry VI, Part II bedroom a noun meaning space with a bed for said by Lysander in A Midsummer sleeping Night’s Dream bet a verb meaning to wager said by Shallow in Henry IV, Part II blanket a verb meaning to cover said by Edgar in King Lear bump a noun meaning a lump or raised bruise said by Nurse in Romeo and Juliet dawn a noun meaning sunrise said by King Henry in Henry V eyeball a noun meaning the round mass of said by Oberon in A Midsummer the eye Night’s Dream farmhouse a noun meaning a dwelling on a farm said by the Host in The Merry Wives of Windsor hint a noun meaning a clue said by Othello in Othello hush an adjective meaning quiet or still said by the First Player in Hamlet leapfrog a noun meaning a game said by King Henry in Henry V moonbeam a noun meaning light from the moon said by Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 127 Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development Words Shakespeare Added to the Language
Word Usage/Meaning Shakespeare Connection
puppy dog a noun meaning a young canine said by Philip in King John roadway a noun meaning a street or path said by Prince Hal in Henry IV, Part II unreal an adjective meaning imaginary said by Macbeth in Macbeth watchdog a noun meaning a dog that guards said by Ariel in The Tempest
Target
Word Usage/Meaning Shakespeare Connection
accused a noun meaning a person suspected of said by the King in Richard II a crime aerial an adjective meaning in or of the air said by Montano in Othello amazement a noun meaning surprise said by Philip in King John arouse a verb meaning to awaken said by the Captain in Henry VI, Part II backing a noun meaning support said by Falstaff in Henry IV, Part I barefaced an adjective meaning obvious said by Macbeth in Macbeth beached an adjective meaning having a shore said by Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream birthplace a noun meaning a place where a person said by Coriolanus in Coriolanus is born bloodstained an adjective meaning colored by blood said by Martius in Titus Andronicus blushing an adjective meaning flushing of the face said by York in Henry VI, Part III buzzer a noun meaning a noisemaker said by Claudius in Hamlet caked a verb meaning to encrust or harden said by Timon in Timon of Athens champion a verb meaning to defy said by Macbeth in Macbeth cloud-capped an adjective meaning topped with clouds said by Prospero in The Tempest coldblooded an adjective meaning unfeeling said by Constance in King John compromise a verb meaning betray said by Shylock in The Merchant of Venice countless an adjective meaning too numerous said by Marcus Andronicus in Titus to count Andronicus
128 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development Words Shakespeare Added to the Language
Word Usage/Meaning Shakespeare Connection courtship a noun meaning the activity of courting said by the Princess in Love’s or wooing Labour’s Lost critic a noun meaning one who analyzes or said by Berowne in Love’s evaluates Labour’s Lost design a noun meaning a plan or target said by Don Adriano de Armado in Love’s Labour’s Lost dialogue a verb meaning to talk together or hold a said by the Maid in A Lover’s Complaint conversation downstairs an adverb meaning toward the lower floors said by Prince Hal in Henry IV, Part I drug a verb meaning to add a toxic substance said by Lady Macbeth in Macbeth or narcotic to a food or drink elbow a verb meaning to nudge or prod said by Kent in King Lear employer a noun meaning a person who uses someone said by Benedick in Much Ado or something About Nothing exposure a noun meaning the act of uncovering or said by Nestor in Troilus and Cressida leaving unprotected fancy-free an adjective meaning free from the power said by Oberon in A Midsummer of love Night’s Dream film a verb meaning to coat or cover thinly said by Hamlet in Hamlet flawed an adjective meaning weakened or damaged said by Edgar in King Lear fortune-teller a noun meaning one who professes to said by Antipholus of Ephesus in The predict the future Comedy of Errors full-grown an adjective meaning mature, fully developed said by John Gower in Pericles gloomy an adjective meaning dark or shadowy said by Joan la Pucell in Henry VI, Part I gossip a noun meaning someone given to loose said by the Abbess in The Comedy talk about friends of Errors green-eyed an adjective meaning envious said by Portia in The Merchant of Venice homicide a noun meaning killer said by Reignier in Henry VI, Part I hurry a verb meaning move quickly said by Adriana in The Comedy of Errors ill-starred an adjective meaning unfortunate said by Othello in Othello
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Word Usage/Meaning Shakespeare Connection
ill-tempered an adjective meaning having a bad temper, said by Brutus in Julius Caesar unwholesome label a verb meaning to brand said by Olivia in Twelfth Night laughable an adjective meaning humorous said by Salarino in The Merchant of Venice lonely an adjective meaning isolated said by Coriolanus in Coriolanus lower a verb meaning to reduce in height or said by Mark Antony in Antony and standing Cleopatra luggage a noun meaning possessions, baggage said by Prince Hal in Henry IV, Part I madcap an adjective meaning zany, foolish said by Maria in Love’s Labour’s Lost majestic an adjective meaning having dignity or said by Cassius in Julius Caesar grandeur manager a noun meaning someone or something said by Don Armado in Love’s that controls Labour’s Lost marketable an adjective meaning saleable, attractive said by Celia in As You Like It mimic a noun meaning a double, lookalike said by Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream mountaineer a noun meaning people who live in said by Cloten in Cymbeline mountains, hillbillies noiseless an adjective meaning silent said by the King in All’s Well That Ends Well obscene an adjective meaning repulsive, gross, said by Ferdinand in Love’s indecent Labour’s Lost ode a noun meaning a type of poem said by Dumaine in Love’s Labour’s Lost outbreak a noun meaning a sudden eruption said by Polonius in Hamlet partner a verb meaning to link or join with another said by Jachimo in Cymbeline puke a verb meaning to vomit said by Jaques in As You Like It quarrelsome an adjective meaning contentious, likely said by Grumio in The Taming of to bicker the Shrew radiance a noun meaning brilliance said by Helena in All’s Well That Ends Well
130 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development Words Shakespeare Added to the Language
Word Usage/Meaning Shakespeare Connection rant a verb meaning to speak out loudly said by Hamlet in Hamlet retirement a noun meaning the giving up of a position said by the The Earl of Douglas in Henry IV, Part I rival an adjective meaning completing said by Theseus in A Midsummer Night’s Dream scuffle a noun meaning aggressive actions, fights said by Philo in Antony and Cleopatra secure a verb meaning to make safe, to guarantee said by Queen Margaret in Henry VI, Part II shooting star a noun meaning a meteor glowing from said by the Earl of Salisbury in atmospheric friction Richard II skim milk a noun meaning milk with cream removed said by Hotspur in Henry IV, Part I soft-hearted an adjective meaning sympathetic to said by Queen Margaret in Henry VI, a fault Part II submerge a verb meaning put underwater said by Cleopatra in Antony and Cleopatra superscript a noun meaning address said by Holofernes in Love’s Labour’s Lost swagger a verb meaning to assume an attitude above said by Puck in A Midsummer Night’s one’s station Dream tardiness a noun meaning lateness, slowness said by the King of France in King Lear torture a verb meaning to hurt for a cause said by Simpcox in Henry VI, Part II tranquil an adjective meaning quiet, temperate, still said by Othello in Othello unaware an adverb meaning unknowingly, said by Venus in Venus and Adonis inadvertently unchanging an adverb meaning not varying, always said by York in Henry VI, Part III the same undervalue a verb meaning to give a lower rating or said by Bassanio in The Merchant of worth than justified Venice varied an adjective meaning different, changing, said by Marcus in Titus Andronicus showing different examples of something well-behaved an adjective meaning courteous, polite said by Mistress Ford in The Merry conduct Wives of Windsor wormhole a noun meaning the burrow of a worm said by Lucrece in The Rape of Lucrece
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 131 Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development Words Shakespeare Added to the Language
Word Usage/Meaning Shakespeare Connection
worthless an adjective meaning without value said by the Earl of Warwick in Henry VI, Part III zany a noun meaning a wild uncontrolled said by Berowne in Love’s Labour’s person, mimic, clown Lost
Challenge
Word Usage/Meaning Shakespeare Connection
academe a noun meaning a school or place of learning said by Ferdinand in Love’s Labour’s Lost addiction a noun meaning habit said by the Archbishop of Canterbury in Henry V anchovy a noun meaning small fish of the herring said by Peto in Henry IV, Part I family assassination a noun meaning a planned murder said by Macbeth in Macbeth bedazzle a verb meaning confuse with brilliance said by Kate in The Taming of the Shrew besmirch a verb meaning to smear or stain said by Laertes in Hamlet castigate a verb meaning to punish or rebuke said by Apemantus in Timon of Athens severely cater a verb meaning to act as provider of food said by Adam in As You Like It cow a verb meaning to intimidate, to frighten said by Macduff in Macbeth dauntless an adjective meaning fearless said by King Lewis XI in Henry VI, Part III dickens a noun meaning heck, devil said by Mistress Page in The Merry Wives of Windsor discontent a noun meaning unhappiness, said by Saturninus in Titus Andronicus dissatisfaction engagement a noun meaning commitment or pledge said by Brutus in Julius Caesar epileptic an adjective meaning the condition of said by Kent in King Lear having epilepsy; to be jerky, uncontrolled fitful an adjective meaning relating to a disease; said by Macbeth in Macbeth troubled; disturbed
132 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development Words Shakespeare Added to the Language
Word Usage/Meaning Shakespeare Connection foppish an adjective meaning foolish, silly said by the Fool in King Lear frugal an adjective meaning not wasteful said by Mistress Page in The Merry Wives of Windsor gallantry a noun meaning politeness, bravery said by Paris in Troilus and Cressida go-between a noun meaning a messenger said by Falstaff in The Merry Wives of Windsor grovel a verb meaning to kowtow, to humble said by Eleanor in Henry VI, Part II oneself hobnob a verb (hob, nob) meaning to socialize with said by Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night humor a verb meaning to satisfy, to indulge said by Moth in Love’s Labour’s Lost inauspicious an adjective meaning ill-omened, unlucky said by Romeo in Romeo and Juliet invulnerable an adjective meaning indestructible, not said by King Philip in King John able to be hurt jaded an adjective meaning bored, disinterested said by Suffolk in Henry VI, Part II jet a verb meaning to intrude said by Aaron the Moor in Titus Andronicus lackluster an adjective meaning dull, mediocre said by Jaques in As You Like It lustrous an adjective meaning shining, glossy said by the Clown in Twelfth Night metamorphose a verb meaning to change said by Proteus in The Two Gentlemen of Verona negotiate a verb meaning to bargain said by Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing obsequiously an adverb meaning with deep respect said by Lady Anne in Richard III and deference pedant a noun meaning teacher said by Hortensio in The Taming of the Shrew petition a verb meaning to request said by Mark Antony in Antony and Cleopatra premeditated an adjective meaning considered, planned said by the Bishop of Winchester in Henry VI, Part I remorseless an adjective meaning without guilt or said by King Henry VI in Henry VI, sympathy Part II
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 133 Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development Words Shakespeare Added to the Language
Word Usage/Meaning Shakespeare Connection
sacrificial an adjective meaning worshipful, relating to said by the Poet in Timon of Athens a sacrifice or offering savagery a noun meaning wild, violent behavior said by Salisbury in King John stealthy an adjective meaning secretive, hidden said by Macbeth in Macbeth unearthly an adjective meaning not of this planet said by Dion in The Winter’s Tale unpublished an adjective meaning secret, not issued said by Cordelia in King Lear unwillingness a noun meaning the quality of being said by Richard in Richard II unwilling; disinclination vaulting an adjective meaning soaring overarching said by Queen Margaret in Henry VI, Part II vulnerable an adjective meaning open to harm said by Macbeth in Macbeth
134 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development Words Coined From Literature and Movies
Words Coined From Literature and Movies Just as many words from Shakespeare’s works have become part of the English language, new words from literature and movies have also become part of the lexicon .
Easy
Word Origin Meaning robot coined by Karel Capek in R.U.R. a machine programmed to carry out human-like tasks and activities scrooge Ebenezer Scrooge, a character in A an extremely stingy and miserly Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens person sherlock Sherlock Holmes, the detective in Arthur a detective Conan Doyle’s mysteries
Target
Word Origin Meaning
Big Brother George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four a dictator or a dictatorship that watches everything one does broken-hearted coined by William Tyndale, English inconsolable; grief-stricken translator of the Bible, in Luke 4:18 Camelot the site of King Arthur’s legendary court any ideal place cantankerous coined by Oliver Goldsmith in She Stoops cranky; bad-tempered to Conquer Catch-22 coined by Joseph Heller in the novel a situation or problem that can’t be Catch-22 solved doublethink coined by George Orwell in Nineteen believing two contradictory things at Eighty-Four the same time eleventh hour the Bible, Matthew 20:1-16 the latest possible time elfin coined by Edmund Spenser in The like an elf Fairie Queene fedora Fedora Romanoff, a leading character in a soft felt hat Victorien Sardou’s play Fedora
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 135 Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development Words Coined From Literature and Movies
Word Origin Meaning
freelance coined by Sir Walter Scott in Ivanhoe knights who sold their services to any master good Samaritan the Bible, Luke 10:30-85 a stranger who stops to help another newspeak coined by George Orwell in Nineteen language used to mislead the public Eighty-Four pollyanna the main character in M. Porter’s someone who is foolishly optimistic novel Pollyanna Shangri-la coined by James Hilton in Lost Horizon a paradise on Earth underdog a popular 19th-century song by David Barker a person expected to lose called “The Under-Dog in the Fight”
Challenge
Word Origin Meaning
braggadocio coined by Edmund Spenser in The a braggart; excessive boasting Fairie Queene dust devil coined by F.M. Parker in Skinner a small dust storm or whirlwind gargantuan originally a character from French folktales enormous; gigantic but made popular by François Rabelais in Gargantua and Pantagruel jeremiad Jeremiah, a Hebrew prophet from the a long mournful tale of trouble and woe Old Testament lilliputian the Lilliputians in Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s tiny; little; of no importance Travels malapropism Mrs. Malaprop in Richard Sheridan’s a mistake in which one important- The Rivals sounding word is confused with another pandemonium coined by John Milton in Paradise Lost chaos paparazzi Signore Paparazzo, a photographer in a freelance photographer of Federico Fellini’s film La Dolce Vita celebrities quixotic coined by Miguel de Cervantes in Don having an over romantic view of life; Quixote de la Mancha lofty-minded and impractical replicant Ridley Scott’s movie Blade Runner an android; a bioengineered being thought police George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four people who control or try to control what others think
136 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 3
Words From Other Languages
“We’re studying the influence of other languages on English. I need some examples of English words that come from many different languages, not just from Spanish and French.”
his chapter explores the history of English by focusing on T words and phrases derived from other languages. More than twenty languages are represented in the lists that follow, enriching students’ knowledge of their influence on English. While some of the words have changed in spelling and/or pronunciation as they have been adopted into English, students may notice that others have remained in their original form.
Because we use Latin and Greek roots to build words, the English language owes a great debt to these two languages. In addition, many Latin words in particular have passed into English through several other languages. Share with students the following example from Building Your Vocabulary (Scholastic, 2002): The English word delicatessen came from a German word, delikatessen, which came from a French word, délicatesse, which came from a Latin word, delicatus, which means “pleasing.”
The Greek and Latin words included in the lists in this chapter are either ones that appear pretty much as they do in their original language or ones that can be traced more directly back to the original language. You may wish to show students the word origin information that is typically included in a dictionary entry so that they can continue to study word origins on their own.
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 137 Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages African Languages/Arabic
Words From African Languages
Easy
Word Meaning Word Meaning
banana a fruit yam a vegetable cola a drink
Target
Word Meaning Word Meaning
aardvark a mammal with a long snout safari a hunting trip or trip dashiki a brightly colored, loose- to see animals fitting garment samba a dance gumbo a thick, spicy stew zombie the living dead marimba a dance
Challenge
Word Meaning Word Meaning
apartheid a system of racial segregation raffia a type of fiber made from dengue an infectious disease leaves kraal a rural village veld grassland
Words From Arabic
Easy
Word Meaning Word Meaning
ghoul a ghost or phantom sofa a couch magazine a weekly or monthly zero nothing publication mummy an embalmed body wrapped in cloth
138 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages Arabic/Australian
Target
Word Meaning Word Meaning admiral a commander kohl a dark powder often used as algebra a field in mathematics eyeliner alcohol a fermented beverage loofah a type of sponge assassin killer, especially of an important mecca a place thought to be a center person of activity falafel fried balls of ground, spiced monsoon a torrential rainstorm chickpeas sheik the leader of an Arab tribe hummus a dip of mashed chickpeas sultan a ruler jinni a spirit tariff a tax on imported and sometimes kebab grilled meat and vegetables on exported goods a stick
Challenge
Word Meaning Word Meaning caliph a Muslim ruler fatwa a religious decree casbah the older section of a North hegira a flight or escape African town kismet fate dhow a one- or two-masted sailing ship intifada an uprising elixir a sweetened drink or potion jihad a military campaign or holy war emir a ruler mufti civilian clothes worn by a fakir a holy man who lives by begging military person
Words From Australian
Easy
Word Meaning Word Meaning kangaroo a mammal with a pouch koala an animal resembling a small bear
Target
Word Meaning Word Meaning boomerang a weapon made from a curved piece dingo a wild dog of wood
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 139 Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages Australian/Chinese
Challenge
Word Meaning Word Meaning
billabong a water hole didgeridoo a musical instrument
Words From Chinese
Easy
Word Meaning Word Meaning
china tableware made of porcelain tea a drink made from dried leaves chop suey vegetable dish with fish or meat wok a metal pan for stir-frying chow mein fried noodle dish with shredded wonton a dumpling meat ketsup a spicy, tomato-based sauce
Target
Word Meaning Word Meaning
dim sum small portions of various dishes mahjong a type of board game ginseng a root often used in Chinese medicine mandarin the highest-ranked public official gung ho very eager and excited soy sauce made from beans kowtow kneel and touch head to floor; tofu bean curd to fawn over typhoon a violent windstorm kumquat a small citrus fruit yang sun; masculine principle kung fu a martial art used for self- yin moon; feminine principle defense
Challenge
Word Meaning Word Meaning
feng shui system of beliefs about people’s tai chi a form of physical exercise and relationship with the environment meditation sampan a flat-bottomed boat tao the way or guiding principle
140 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages Dutch
Words From Dutch
Easy
Word Meaning Word Meaning cookie a little, flat cake snoop to pry or spy skate to glide across ice stove an appliance on which one cooks sled a small vehicle with runners for tulip a flower moving over ice and snow waffle a type of pancake sleigh an open vehicle with runners pulled walrus a sea mammal by a horse over ice or snow wiggle twist and jiggle snack a between-meals treat
Target
Word Meaning Word Meaning bluff to pretend or fake knack a special talent or clever way of coleslaw a salad of sliced cabbage doing something cruise a voyage by water pickle a cucumber that has been soaked in brine cruller a small cake of fried dough splinter a small, thin piece of wood decoy a lure or snare stoop a small porch or staircase duffel a type of woolen material; a bag yacht a type of boat easel a device for holding a painter’s canvas
Challenge
Word Meaning Word Meaning maelstrom a violent whirlpool schooner a fast sailing ship mannequin a life-size dummy scone a small cake of baked bread mart a store sloop a single-masted ship roster a list smelt to melt or fuse in order to produce metal
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 141 Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages French
Words From French
Easy
Word Meaning Word Meaning
ballet a type of dance menu a list of food items being served beret a soft, flat hat omelette an egg dish cafe a place that serves coffee picnic a casual meal eaten outside, chauffeur someone who drives someone often sitting on the grass else’s car portrait a picture of a person corduroy a type of ribbed fabric restaurant a place that serves food coupon a piece of paper giving the bearer masquerade a party at which masks and certain benefits, such as a discount costumes are worn crayon a colored stick, often of wax, used touché word used to show a person has for drawing scored or made a point margarine food product usually made from unique one of a kind vegetable oils mayonnaise a beaten mixture of oil and egg white
Target
Word Meaning Word Meaning
ambiance atmosphere or mood of a place crochet a type of needlework done with a arabesque a type of dance position hooked needle attaché a military or governmental agent; a croquet a game played on grass civil servant croquette a small meat or potato ball bayonet a steel blade attached at the muzzle coated with bread crumbs of a gun crouton a small piece of dried bread bayou marshland; swampland cuisine style of cooking bistro a small, informal restaurant debris remains; rubbish cabaret a nightclub or restaurant where debut first appearance people can enjoy a floor-show detour a bypass or route taken around cache a hidden store of things something camouflage to disguise or conceal diplomat an ambassador casserole a type of stew encore a repeated performance or part cassette a plastic cartridge containing of it that is repeated magnetic tape etiquette a system of appropriate behavior coupé a small, two-doored car fiancé a man engaged to be married courier a messenger fiancée a woman engaged to be married
142 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages French
Word Meaning Word Meaning gaffe a noticeable mistake; blunder publicity advertising gourmet a person with knowledge and love queue line of good food quiche a pie made with a filling of marinade a sauce for soaking meat before eggs and cream cooking ratchet a tool mauve a light purple color repertoire a body of work that can be memoir a personal account of one’s life performed mortgage a type of written agreement for reservoir an artificial lake borrowing money for property résumé summary of education, mutiny rebellion against legal authority experience, and qualifications naïve inexperienced and too trusting revenue income from business née born sauté cooked quickly in butter or oil passé out of date soufflé a light baked dish made with plaque a sign or tablet egg whites potpourri a mixture of flowers and herbs souvenir a memento or reminder of a particular place or event promenade walk vogue fashion; trend protégé a young person who receives guidance from an older person zest flavor; enthusiasm; enjoyment for life
Challenge
Word Meaning Word Meaning abattoir a place where animals are entourage followers or associates slaughtered entrepreneur someone who sets up his/her accoutrements accessories; clothing or own business to make money equipment envoy someone acting as a messenger adroit skillful for another country apropos appropriate for a particular espionage spying situation finesse skill; flair avant-garde ultra-modern gauche awkward; vulgar blasé unimpressed impromptu without preparation bourgeois middle-class; conventional, insouciance lack of concern; calm and materialistic, and boring untroubled manner cul-de-sac a dead end intrigue plot or scheme dossier bundle of papers relating to a liaison a person who links or particular topic coordinates others echelon rank or level macabre suggesting death; gruesome; chilling
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 143 Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages French/German
Word Meaning Word Meaning
maladroit clumsy; awkward rapport bond of understanding nuance a very slight difference regime government in power nonchalant casual; calm and unconcerned renaissance rebirth of culture panache style and self-confidence rendezvous meeting piquant spicy ricochet to rebound or bounce back raconteur a storyteller sabotage subversive, destructive act repartee witty banter sachet a little package of scent
Words From German
Easy
Word Meaning Word Meaning
dachshund a type of dog with a long body knapsack a backpack delicatessen a shop selling prepared cooked noodle a strip of pasta meats, relishes, cheeses, etc. polka a type of fast dance dollar 100 cents; a unit of money pretzel a crisp bakery product usually frankfurter a hotdog shaped like a knot hamster a small domesticated rodent pumpernickel a coarse, dark bread hamburger a patty of chopped meat wiener a hot dog kindergarten a school for young children or yodel a type of singing grade before first grade
Target
Word Meaning Word Meaning
blitz heavy and swift air bombardment gesundheit a kind of blessing or wish when bratwurst a sausage made of spiced pork someone sneezes or veal glitz glamour; glitter edelweiss a European alpine plant glockenspiel a percussion instrument foosball a table game kaiser emperor or ruler flugelhorn a musical instrument kaput broken; ruined frau a married woman kitsch tacky or lowbrow fräulein a young or unmarried woman knockwurst short, thick sausage gestapo secret police liverwurst a liver sausage
144 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages German
Word Meaning Word Meaning linzer torte a type of cake with fruit schmooze to meet and talk informally loden a thick, dark-green woolen snorkel a breathing tube used for diving cloth spritz squirt or spray Luftwaffe German air force stein a large beer mug plunder to take property by force streusel a pastry with a sweet crumbly poltergeist a noisy and mischievous ghost topping rottweiler a breed of dog torte a rich cake made with eggs and rucksack a backpack ground nuts sauerkraut a dish of shredded, sour cabbage waltz a type of dance or dance music schnauzer a type of rough-haired terrier wurst a sausage schwa an unstressed vowel sound zwieback a type of bread that is baked and then toasted shyster an unscrupulous or contemptible person, coward
Challenge
Word Meaning Word Meaning angst anxiety and worry lederhosen knee-length leather trousers cobalt a metallic element leitmotif a recurring theme doppelgänger a double meerschaum a tobacco pipe ersatz fake or imitation muesli a cereal of untoasted, rolled feldspar a metamorphic rock oats, nuts and dried fruit fest a get-together or celebration panzer an armored vehicle such as a tank flak bursting or shells from artillery Reich German empire gestalt big or total picture; the whole form spiel extravagant talk; a sales pitch gneiss a rock resembling granite umlaut a diacritical mark hinterland backcountry, remote region verboten forbidden howitzer cannon with medium-length wanderlust a longing to travel barrel wunderkind an extremely talented child lebensraum territory needed for a country zeitgeist spirit of the time to expand
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 145 Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages Greek
Words From Greek
Easy
Word Meaning Word Meaning
alphabet the letters in a language hippopotamus a large mammal that lives buffalo a type of cattle with horns in rivers chorus a group of singers rhinoceros a large mammal with one or two horns on its nose church a place of worship rhythm beat crocodile a large reptile
Target
Word Meaning Word Meaning
academy a school horizon point where the sky seems to acoustic relating to sound touch the earth agony struggle and pain marathon a foot race of about 26 miles amnesia the inability to remember mathematics the study of numbers and how one’s past they work amoeba a one-celled organism meander to wander athlete someone who plays sports and mechanic a person who repairs machines other physical activities melody rhythmically organized tones catastrophe a disaster that create a musical quality ceramic a mixture of clay and chemicals metropolis a city chaos complete disorder mime a type of performance in which character a person in a story characters are portrayed democracy government by the people through physical movements dinosaur a prehistoric and extinct reptile mystery something difficult to understand drama a serious play prophet a seer economy management of resources psalm a hymn or song of praise epitaph an inscription, particularly one on sympathy understanding and compassion a tombstone tragedy a drama that ends unhappily or gymnasium a place equipped for sports in which the main character is brought to ruin history the story of the past
146 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages Greek/ Hindi
Challenge
Word Meaning Word Meaning abyss an extremely deep chasm; a void holocaust massive slaughter of people acme the peak or perfection martyr a person who suffers willingly for a cause agora marketplace melancholy sadness allegory the use of characters to represent ideas myriad a multitude alpha the beginning obelisk a large stone that serves as a monument anathema something that is reviled omega the end anarchy chaos and disorder ostracize to exclude aristocracy members of the noble class sarcasm mockery asbestos a type of heat-resistance mineral stigma a mark of shame or disgrace cosmos the ordered universe syntax the pattern or rules of dogma doctrine a language epiphany a revelation thesis a proposition
Words From Hindi
Easy
Word Meaning Word Meaning bangle a bracelet pajamas sleeping attire bandanna a scarf shampoo a cleanser for hair cot a folding bed
Target
Word Meaning Word Meaning bungalow a simple one-storied house dungarees jeans or cottage khaki a dull brownish-yellow color calico a patterned, coarse cotton cloth loot plunder chintz a brightly colored, printed, glazed swami a religious leader fabric thug a brutal person dinghy a small boat veranda a porch
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 147 Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages Hindi/Italian
Challenge
Word Meaning Word Meaning
chutney a relish maharani a Hindu princess cummerbund a pleated sash worn for formal pundit a critic dress swami a religious teacher jodhpurs riding breeches tandoori a dish cooked in a clay oven juggernaut a relentlessly destructive force over charcoal maharaja a Hindu prince
Words From Italian
Easy
Word Meaning Word Meaning
bandit an outlaw; a thief pizza flat bread with cheese and sauce broccoli a green vegetable solo alone macaroni a type of pasta spaghetti a type of pasta motto a statement expressing goals violin a stringed instrument pasta noodles made from flour, eggs, volcano an opening from which molten and water rock erupts from the earth piano a large musical instrument with a keyboard
Target
Word Meaning Word Meaning
balcony a terrace graffiti writings and drawings made ballot a system of voting on walls bravo excellent; well-done grotto a cave casino a public place for gambling influenza a respiratory disease confetti streamers of colored paper lava molten rock from a volcano fiasco total failure maestro a master finale the end malaria a disease transmitted by mosquitoes ghetto a segregated area of a city mandolin a stringed instrument gondola a long, narrow boat
148 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages Italian/Japanese
Word Meaning Word Meaning marina a harbor; a place where boats soprano a singer with a high voice are docked studio a workroom for an artist mezzanine a floor midway between the first torso the trunk of the body and second floors zany comical opera a dramatic work that is sung
Challenge
Word Meaning Word Meaning a cappella singing without musical libretto the text for an opera accompaniment madrigal a song alfresco in the open air paparazzi photographers who pursue allegro quick and lively celebrities antipasto appetizer portfolio a flat case for holding papers aria a melody that is sung by one person regatta a boat race alone or two people together sonata a type of classical music cappuccino coffee with hot milk staccato short, rapid notes concerto a musical composition stiletto a dagger crescendo a gradual increase in the volume stucco a plaster coating used for outer of music walls diva an important woman singer, svelte slender especially one who is arrogant trattoria a small, simple restaurant or tavern fascism a system of government headed vendetta a feud by a dictator virtuoso an expert or particularly skillful incognito disguised person
Words From Japanese
Easy
Word Meaning Word Meaning haiku a poem of three lines with a total karate a martial art that uses kicks and of 17 syllables punches judo a martial art similar to wrestling
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 149 Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages Japanese/Latin
Target
Word Meaning Word Meaning
banzai a Japanese battle cry sake an alcoholic beverage made bonsai a miniaturized tree or shrub from rice futon a sleeping mat samurai a warrior hibachi a grill sashimi thin slices of raw fish honcho the person in charge sushi raw fish and rice jujitsu a martial art that relies on tofu a food made from bean curd wrestling techniques tsunami a giant wave caused by an manga a style of comic or graphic book underground earthquake ninja a fighter trained as an assassin tycoon a powerful business magnate origami the art of paper folding
Challenge
Word Meaning Word Meaning
aikido a martial art shogun a ruler kabuki a form of drama shiatsu a type of massage karaoke entertainment where a person sumo a type of wrestler sings along with a prerecorded tatami a straw mat song nisei an American whose parents came from Japan
Words From Latin
Easy
Word Meaning Word Meaning
alibi excuse or explanation pro for arena enclosed area for a sporting event quota allowed amount exit way out recipe instructions for preparing food index a listing showing topics rex king minus reduced by versus against; opposed to
150 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages Latin
Target
Word Meaning Word Meaning alias assumed name minutia little details ante bet; to put up in advance nil nothing apex highest point opus work cursor pointer par standard or average data information pleb common person focus concentrate attention on re regarding forum a place or opportunity for meeting sic thus; so and discussing sinister evil; wicked fungus a type of organism stet keep or restore habitat environment subpoena an order for someone to appear media mass communication in court memento souvenir thesaurus a collection of synonyms and memorabilia things that help you remember a sometimes antonyms person or event veto vote against memorandum a brief communication via by way of
Challenge
Word Meaning Word Meaning acumen keenness of judgment erratum error addendum something added exemplar example affidavit sworn statement fiat formal authorization anima spirit; inner self genus the ranking between species and family atrium entrance hall gratis free auspices guidance; protection gravitas seriousness cadaver dead body honorarium money paid to someone who caveat warning; caution gives a speech credo belief hiatus pause; break crux heart of the matter impetus drive; momentum decorum good manners inertia inactivity dementia a disease that causes mental juvenalia work done when a writer or artist deterioration was young ergo therefore limbo dividing line
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 151 Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages Latin/Native American Languages
Word Meaning Word Meaning
lacuna a gap; something missing persona character or assumed role matrix the situation from which placebo drug without any active ingredi- something originates ents, used in a test situation modicum small amount stratum level mores customs and habits tenet principle nexus connection or link verbatim exactly as said
Words From Native American Languages
Easy
Word Meaning Word Meaning
chipmunk a small striped rodent papoose a young child or baby igloo a dwelling made of packed snow tomahawk a small weapon with a sharp blade moccasin a type of soft shoe made of wampum polished beads used for money leather wigwam a type of hut parka a hooded jacket
Target
Word Meaning Word Meaning
hickory a type of tree succotash a dish made of corn and lima husky a breed of dog used to pull sleds beans kayak a lightweight canoe toboggan a narrow sled without runners pecan a type of edible nut totem a carving representing an animal squash a vegetable or object important to a tribe
Challenge
Word Meaning Word Meaning
anorak a long jacket with a hood wickiup a type of hut
152 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages Portuguese/Russian
Words From Portuguese
Easy
Word Meaning Word Meaning samba a dance zebra a wild animal similar to a horse that has black and white stripes on its body
Target
Word Meaning Word Meaning commando a military unit that conducts pagoda a Buddhist temple dangerous raids
Challenge
Word Meaning Word Meaning junta military rule peon a farmworker or menial worker mangrove a type of tree or shrub tapioca a starch from the root of the cassava plant
Words From Russian
Easy
Word Meaning Word Meaning czar a Russian ruler sputnik an artificial satellite sable an animal prized for its fur
Target
Word Meaning Word Meaning babushka a head scarf cosmonaut a Russian astronaut blintz a thin pancake cossack a peasant borscht a soup made from beets kremlin a Russian citadel or fortress
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 153 Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages Russian/Sanskrit
Word Meaning Word Meaning
mammoth a hairy, extinct elephant tundra permanently frozen, treeless land shaman a sage or spiritualist yurt a tent steppe prairieland
Challenge
Word Meaning Word Meaning
glasnost a policy of openness and politburo the executive branch of the cooperation Communist government gulag a labor camp samovar a tea urn perestroika a restructuring of government troika a carriage drawn by three horses pogrom an officially sanctioned system of persecution
Words From Sanskrit
Easy
Word Meaning Word Meaning
om a sacred syllable used in prayers yoga a discipline or system that and chants includes breathing exercises and postures
Target
Word Meaning Word Meaning
karma fate nirvana a state of enlightenment; mandala a circular design representing the paradise universe mantra yogi a person who practices yoga
154 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages Sanskrit/Scandinavian Languages
Challenge
Word Meaning Word Meaning ashram a retreat raga a form of music avatar someone who embodies certain swastika a religious symbol that later principles or a figure that became a fascist symbol represents a person tantra sacred books dharma duty or truth
Words From Scandinavian Languages
Easy
Word Meaning Word Meaning flounder a type of flatfish ski a sport in which people glide mink an animal prized for its fur down mountains on narrow strips of wood, metal, or plastic
Target
Word Meaning Word Meaning slalom a downhill ski race wicker material woven from twigs or smorgasbord a buffet weeds
Challenge
Word Meaning Word Meaning fjord a long, narrow body of water ombudsman a government official responsible surrounded by steep cliffs for investigating complaints gauntlet a protective glove tungsten a metallic element krill tiny creatures that are eaten by gravlax thin slices of cured salmon baleen whales and other marine lingonberry a type of red berry animals
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 155 Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages Spanish
Words From Spanish
Easy
Word Meaning Word Meaning
adios good-bye flamingo a long-legged pink bird alligator a large reptile with sharp teeth guitar a stringed instrument amigo a friend hombre man barrio a section of a city where Spanish- hurricane a violent wind storm speaking people live mosquito an insect bronco a wild horse patio an outdoor living area burrito a tortilla wrapped around a filling potato a white tuber cooked as a burro a small donkey vegetable breeze a gentle wind ranch a farm where livestock are raised chili a pod of the pepper plant salsa a spicy sauce chocolate a sweet treat made from cocoa siesta an afternoon nap butter and milk sombrero a hat cigar a roll of tobacco leaves taco a tortilla with filling cockroach an insect that is a household pest tamale fried meats and vegetables in a coyote an animal that is somewhat corn husk similar to a wolf tobacco dried leaves that are smoked fajita strips of meat served on a soft tomato a type of fruit often used in tortilla salads fiesta a celebration tortilla thin, flat bread
Target
Word Meaning Word Meaning
adobe a brick made from straw and earth cafeteria a coffee shop or informal armadillo an animal with hard plates restaurant covering its body cantina an eating place that also sells armada a large fleet of ships liquor arroyo a gulch or gorge cannibal a person who eats other humans avocado a type of fruit canyon a valley with a river running through it bordered by steep barracuda a predatory fish cliffs bodega a grocery store cargo freight bravado boldness; display of courage corral a fenced area for livestock buckaroo a cowboy crimson deep red
156 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages Spanish
Word Meaning Word Meaning desperado a desperate outlaw pampas grass-covered plains flotilla a fleet of ships papaya a tropical fruit galleon a large sailing ship with three plaza a public square masts poncho an outer garment or blanket with gaucho a cowboy a slit for the head that is worn guacamole a dish made from mashed over the shoulders avocados puma a mountain lion hacienda a large farm or ranch quesadilla a fried tortilla stuffed with cheese hammock a hanging bed made of ropes rodeo a competition with bronco riding iguana a tropical lizard and cattle roping jaguar a large cat similar to a leopard rumba a type of dance jalapeño a type of spicy chili savanna plains jerky dried meat silo a barn or cylinder used to store grain or animal feed lariat a rope used to catch and tie up livestock stampede headlong rush of animals lasso a rope used to catch livestock tango a type of dance matador a bullfighter toreador a bullfighter who fights on mesa flat, tableland horseback mustang a wild horse tornado a destructive wind storm nada nothing vanilla a flavoring oregano a spice vamoose to leave in a hurry
Challenge
Word Meaning Word Meaning abalone a marine creature with a pearly guerrilla a soldier who takes part in shell irregular warfare aficionado a fan machete a knife with a broad blade albino someone whose skin and hair lack machismo exaggerated masculinity pigmentation mariachi a type of street band cabana a changing room or bath house palmetto a type of palm condor a large vulture peccadillo a small mistake or offense conquistador a Spanish conqueror pimiento a type of sweet red pepper embarcadero a pier or a boat dock platinum a precious metal that is fandango a type of dance silver-white guano dung; bird or bat droppings renegade an outlaw guava a pear-shaped fruit
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 157 Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages Turkish
Words From Turkish
Easy
Word Meaning Word Meaning
coffee a hot beverage sherbet a frozen dessert made from fruit fez a brimless hat yogurt a type of fermented milk product
Target
Word Meaning Word Meaning
bulgur grain; dried cracked wheat kiosk a stall or booth caftan a loose-fitting robe kismet fate divan a sofa minaret a slender tower harem private quarters for women mullah a scholar or teacher khan a ruler shish kebab meat and vegetables on a skewer
Challenge
Word Meaning Word Meaning
baklava a dessert janissary a soldier or member of an elite dervish a member of a religious order group of supporters noted for its devotional dancing
158 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages Yiddish
Words From Yiddish
Easy
Word Meaning Word Meaning bagel a bread roll shaped in a ring matzo unleavened bread
Target
Word Meaning Word Meaning klutz a clumsy person maven an expert knish a seasoned potato cake nosh snack kosher following specific religious rules pastrami smoked, seasoned beef for preparing and selling food schnozzle nose kvetch complain yarmulke a skull cap
Challenge
Word Meaning Word Meaning chutzpah self-confidence; bravado nebbish a weak and timid person golem a clay creature brought to life schlepp to drag or carry kaddish a prayer for the dead shtick act or routine mensch a decent and honorable person tchotchke knick-knack, trinket
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 159 Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages French Phrases
French Phrases
Easy
Phrase Meaning Phrase Meaning
à la carte from a menu that prices each déjà vu the feeling of having seen or item separately done something before à la mode topped with ice cream nom de plume pen name au gratin with melted cheese
Target
Phrase Meaning Phrase Meaning
bon appétit good appetite; enjoy the meal femme fatale a very attractive woman who bon vivant a person who enjoys life and breaks many men’s hearts lives with style hors d’oeuvre an appetizer served before the main meal carte blanche license to do whatever one in lieu of instead of wants without consequences nouveau riche people who have become rich double entendre a remark with a double meaning recently en route on the road tour de force masterful work or skill esprit de corps team spirit
Challenge
Word Meaning Word Meaning
au pair live-in domestic helper faux pas false step; embarrassing social bon mot a witty remark mistake or blunder cause célèbre a famous or notorious case fin de siècle end of the century or cause joie de vivre joy of life; enthusiasm coup de grâce stroke of kindness laissez-faire little control on free enterprise coup d’état the taking of power by force, as noblesse oblige rights and responsibilities in military coup coming from being high born de rigueur required or necessary nouveau riche people who have become rich recently enfant terrible a prodigy or remarkable person par excellence the very best en masse as a whole; all together pièce de the best part of something fait accompli something already done or résistance accomplished
160 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages French Phrases/Latin Phrases
Word Meaning Word Meaning raison d’être reason for being; justification tête-à-tête face-to-face or private savoir faire confidence; flair in social conversation situations
Latin Phrases
Easy
Phrase Meaning Phrase Meaning et cetera and other things per diem by the day (etc.) vice versa the opposite; the other way ex libris from the library around in toto completely
Target
Phrase Meaning Phrase Meaning ad hoc formed for a specific occasion mea culpa the blame is mine or situation nota bene note well ad nauseum to the point of nausea; sickening per capita per each head; per person bona fide in good faith persona non a person who isn’t welcome; carpe diem seize the day grata someone unacceptable cum laude with honors postmortem after death e pluribus from many, one pro bono for the public good unum summa cum with highest honors ex post facto done after the fact laude habeas corpus you must have the body tempus fugit time flies in media res in the middle of things terra firma firm land; solid ground magna cum with high honors laude
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 161 Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages Latin Phrases
Challenge
Phrase Meaning Phrase Meaning
ad hominem appealing to personal in vitro in glass; in an artificial considerations environment ad infinitum with no limit ipso facto by that very fact alma mater school you formerly attended lingua franca language used by most people; a priori conceived beforehand; commonly used language self-evident modus operandi way of working alter ego other self; close friend quid pro quo this for that caveat emptor let the buyer beware non sequitur it does not follow de facto in fact rara avis rare bird; something rarely deus ex a contrived solution or ending encountered machina tabula rasa a blank slate et alia (et al.) and other things terra incognita unknown or unexplored land in absentia in the absence of
162 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages Spanish-English Cognates
Spanish-English Cognates
Spanish-English cognates share the same Latin root . They look and sound very similar . In fact, in some cases, they are identical . Knowing cognates is a useful strategy for learning a new language .
Easy
Spanish Word English Word Spanish Word English Word acto act forma form; shape actor actor gas gas actriz actress gigante giant aire air globo globe altar altar honor honor banco bank hospital hospital banda band horrible horrible bandido bandit idea idea barra bar letra letter blusa blouse línea line bota boot lista list bote boat mapa map capa cape marcha mark capital capital natural natural capitán captain número number copia copy océano ocean correcto correct palma palm danza dancing pasta paste; pasta; eco echo dough error error patio patio falso false perla pearl fama fame rancho ranch familia family té tea flor flower tren train
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 163 Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages Spanish-English Cognates
Target
Spanish Word English Word Spanish Word English Word
abnormal abnormal cuestión question abrupto abrupt; steep cupón coupon absorber absorb debatir debate academia academy decidir decide accidente accident decisión decision acento accent decorar decorate aceptar accept diferencia difference activo active dirección direction acusar accuse efecto effect adaptar adapt elegante elegant adjustar adjust elevar elevate; raise admitir admit emigrante emigrant adoptar adopt emoción emotion atleta athlete energía energy atención attention ensalada salad atractivo attractive eterno enternal audiencia audience fabuloso fabulous autobús bus famoso famous autor author favorable favorable avenida avenue festivo festive; merry balcón balcony generoso generous balón ball glorioso glorious banquero banker gratitud gratitude bicicleta bicycle hábito habit; custom biografía biography historia history border border honoria honorary calendario calendar humano human being candidato candidate identidad identity clínica clinic ilusión illusion combinar combine imperfecto imperfect convicto convicted importante important crear create imposible impossible cuarto quarter industria industry curioso curious información information
164 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages Spanish-English Cognates
Spanish Word English Word Spanish Word English Word lapso lapse; mistake opinión opinion lección lesson palacio palace libertad liberty pasado past lustre luster; shine permiso permission magnifico magnificent plantar plant magnitud magnitude policia police manual manual; by hand religión religion manuscrito manuscript satisfactorio satisfactory máximo maximum secreto secret medicina medicine selección selection memoria memory teatro theater mérito merit; worth telescopio telescope mínimo minimum televisión television nacional national temperatura temperature necesario necessary último ultimate negativo negative unidad unity nervioso nervous urbano urban novela novel vacante vacant objecto object vena vein ocasión occasion victoria victory ocupado occupied visión vision
Challenge
Spanish Word English Word Spanish Word English Word absoluto absolute auténtico authentic abismo abyss automático automatic absurdo absurd bárbaro barbarian acelerar accelerate beneficio benefit aceptación acceptance biología biology admiración admiration bulevar boulevard adolesencia adolescence calcular calculate ambulancia ambulance celebración celebration asociación association competencia competition astrónomo astronomer contribución contribution atracción attraction cooperación cooperate
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 165 Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages Spanish-English Cognates
Spanish Word English Word Spanish Word English Word
cuota quota juventud youth curiosidad curiosity lenguaje language decimo tenth majestad majesty defecto defect; fault maravilloso marvelous departamento department metropolitano metropolitan descender lower nacionalidad nationality destino destiny naturalmente naturally elástico elastic obediente obedient electricidad electricity objetivo objective facilidad facility; ease oportunidad opportunity facultad faculty pacifico pacific; peaceful fatiga fatigue pavimento pavement festividad festivity percepción perception fractura fracture; break realidad reality generosidad generosity recientemente recently grotesco grotesque recreación recreation habitante inhabitant referencia reference hemisferio hemisphere satélite satellite historiador historian sobrenatural supernatural hospitalidad hospitality solidario solidarity; unity humanidad humanity turista tourist imaginativo imaginary tradicional traditional imitación imitation tragedia tragedy imperativo imperative universidad university imperio empire vacaciones vacation inmediatamente immediately vehiculo vehicle justicia justice
166 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages British-American Words and Terms
British-American Words and Terms
Even though the British and Americans share the same language, some words and phrases are different .
Easy
British Word American Word British Word American Word biscuit cookie mate friend chips fries mum mom dustbin trash can post mail flat apartment pram baby carriage football soccer sweets candy hire rent tap faucet holiday vacation telly TV jug pitcher tin can lift elevator trousers pants
Target
British Word American Word British Word American Word banger sausage ice lolly popsicle banknote bill jello jelly bank cashier teller jelly jam bonnet car hood jumper sweater boot car trunk loo bathroom carrier bag shopping bag lorry truck car park parking lot motorway highway caravan motor home; trailer nappy diaper constable police officer pavement sidewalk (especially one on petrol gas foot patrol) plaster band-aid cooker stove postal code zip code crisps potato chips push chair stroller diversion detour queue line full stop period rasher slice of bacon
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 167 Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages British-American Words and Terms
British Word American Word British Word American Word
row argument torch flashlight rucksack backpack trolley cart scone biscuit wardrobe closet take-away takeout windscreen windshield
Challenge
British Word American Word British Word American Word
aubergine eggplant roundabout traffic circle bed sit studio apartment rubber eraser braces suspenders runner beans stringbeans chemist pharmacy serviette napkin cinema movie theater silencer muffler commercial traveler traveling sitting room living room salesperson solicitor lawyer draughts checkers surgery doctor’s office drawing pin thumbtack swimming costume bathing suit dressing gown robe tea towel dish towel flyover overpass toll motorway turnpike; toll road fortnight two weeks trainers sneakers ground floor first floor turnups cuffs kerosene paraffin tube subway knickers underpants vacuum flask thermos bottle macintosh raincoat verge (of road) shoulder nought nothing waistcoat vest pinafore jumper wellies galoshes; boots plimsolls gym shoes zebra crossing crosswalk public school private school return ticket round-trip ticket
168 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 4
Word Differences and Wordplay
“I’m showing my students the importance of choosing the best word when writing. I need some more examples of shades of difference among synonyms.”
nglish is a very versatile language and, with the E help of the lists in this chapter, it is possible for students to avoid tired words and choose the best word or phrase to make meaning clear when speaking or writing. When it’s really frosty outside, why say it’s cold? Why say blue when a more precise description may warrant sapphire or indigo? Continue to challenge students to refine their word choices and elaborate in their writing by using words that show shades of meaning.
Exploring some of the more playful aspects of language, such as regionalisms, onomatopoeia, and idioms, can foster a curiosity about language and encourage students to take more risks with their writing. You may want to invite students to illustrate or act out a favorite idiom and ask the rest of the class to identify it. Because these expressions often pose difficulties for the students who take them literally, be sure to discuss the actual meaning of an idiom and give concrete examples of when they might use it.
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 169 Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay Shades-of-Difference Words
Shades-of-Difference Words English is rich in synonyms . However, synonyms are often not exactly alike . Most carry meaning under the main meaning . Finding the right word makes good writing better . It’s important to understand the shades of difference in words in order to choose the best synonym to fit a context and match a purpose . In the lists below, the first word in each group has the most general meaning .
Easy
cold below average temperature run to move at a fast pace chilly cold enough to make you dash to move quickly and suddenly uncomfortable or shiver jog to run at a slow, steady pace freezing extremely cold race to move very quickly as if in a frosty cold enough to cause frost to form competition sprint to move quickly for a short comfortable feeling at ease and relaxed distance cozy feeling pleasantly warm and homey snug feeling warm and protected shout to cry out or say something loudly bellow to shout in a deep, loud voice cry to shed tears holler to call out or shout in order to tell someone something bawl to cry noisily roar to cry out, especially in anger or sob to make gasping sounds while excitement crying weep to cry, often quietly talk to speak whimper to cry weakly, make whining sounds babble to talk without making sense chat to talk in a friendly and casual way mean not nice; unkind discuss to talk in a purposeful way, cruel deliberately unkind particularly in order to make nasty very unpleasant; spiteful a decision vicious extremely cruel old the opposite of young walk to move by using your legs and feet ancient very old; from the distant past amble walk slowly and leisurely antique valuable because of its age, rarity, stride to walk by taking long steps and beauty trudge to walk slowly and wearily pretty pleasing to look at beautiful very good-looking cute sweet and pleasing; delightful lovely gracefully delicate and pleasing
170 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay Shades-of-Difference Words
Target bad badly behaved childlike like a child naughty badly behaved and causing mischief, childish behaving in a way more appropri- but without meaning serious harm ate to a child than an adult wicked badly behaved and morally wrong immature not yet fully developed; not developed to a level appropriate evil foul; purposefully causing trouble for one’s age juvenile appropriate for young people or blame find fault with or think someone children responsible for a wrongdoing accuse charge someone with a wrongdoing common not special or crime average typical of a group criticize point out someone’s faults mundane common and often boring denounce speak out publicly against someone ordinary usual and customary; not condemn judge that someone is guilty and distinguishable from others deserves punishment
confident behaving in a way that shows brave not afraid faith in yourself courageous consciously facing danger boldly aggressive behaving in a forceful and some- by drawing on inner strength times belligerent manner fearless having no fear in the face of danger assertive behaving in a strong, firm, and heroic showing the bravery and daring self-confident manner typical of a hero cocky behaving in an overly self- confident and arrogant manner busy full of activity bustling full of energy and noise confuse to mix someone or something up hectic too busy; frantic puzzle to confuse someone and make lively full of energy and life that person feel unsure baffle to make someone feel very cheap not willing to give or spend money confused and helpless freely mystify to make something seem too economical careful to spend money in the most mysterious to understand advantageous way miserly greedy and unwilling to give or depressing causing feelings of sadness spend money dreary dull and depressing stingy not generous; giving or spending gloomy dark and cheerless as little money as possible dismal depressing and hopeless thrifty spending money cautiously and sensibly
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 171 Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay Shades-of-Difference Words
disagree to have different opinions intelligent quick in thinking; able to reason argue to express different opinions, often effectively angrily bright able to learn quickly and easily bicker to argue about something unim- clever mentally quick, ingenious, and portant in a bad-tempered way original debate to talk formally and at length about shrewd showing keen judgment, partic- different positions ularly in business dealings and politics error something that is not correct or is smart quick in thinking and able to take misunderstood care of yourself blunder a serious or embarrassing error or wise able to make good decisions on mistake the basis of what you know gaffe a clumsy mistake made in a social situation laugh to make sounds expressing mistake an error that results from amusement carelessness chortle to laugh in a noisy and gleeful way slip a slight mistake chuckle to laugh quietly or to yourself giggle to laugh quietly in a silly or friend someone you are close to and get childish way along with well snicker to laugh in a disrespectful way ally someone you bond with for mutual aid and support to reach a shared love to care deeply about someone goal adore to love and honor someone colleague someone you work with intensely confederate someone you join with to carry out idolize to deeply admire and respect a plot or conspiracy someone worship to treat someone as though that funny causing laughter person were a god amusing pleasant and entertaining droll funny because it is odd or strange pile a number of things heaped together hilarious very funny; causing outbursts of clutter an untidy pile of things laughter jumble an untidy and disorganized pile witty clever, stylish, and amusing of things hodgepodge a pile of unrelated things happy the opposite of sad mess an untidy and usually dirty pile blissful serenely happy of things content pleased and satisfied gleeful very happy and pleased because of polite showing good manners something that has happened civil polite in a cold and formal manner joyous full of great joy and happiness courteous polite, gracious, and considerate well-mannered showing proper behavior and good manners
172 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay Shades-of-Difference Words
pretend to make believe something is true strange not common or usual or real that isn’t alien outside normal experience bluff to pretend something in order to exotic strikingly unusual and suggestive trick or frighten someone of foreign countries deceive to mislead someone deliberately foreign from another place or country feign to fake, imitate, or copy something surprise to fill someone with sudden wonder rain drops of water from the sky amaze to make someone feel very surprised drizzle light but steady rain astonish to make someone feel overwhelm- pour heavy rain ingly surprised sleet frozen rain astound to make someone feel extreme surprise and shock rude not polite; disagreeable coarse displaying a lack of taste and thin without extra fat on your body refinement skinny thin in an unhealthy and unpleasant uncouth bad-mannered, clumsy, and way graceless slender thin in a graceful and attractive way unrefined not acting in a socially acceptable svelte particularly slim and attractive way trim slim and fit vulgar crude and obscene truthful expressing feeling and opinions in scared frightened; afraid an honest way aghast feeling shock, dismay, and alarm blunt expressing feelings and opinions horrified feeling revulsion, disgust, and shock freely and openly without regard for terrified feeling overpowering and often their effect on others paralyzing fear candid expressing feelings and opinions in an open, sincere, and straight- forward manner shiny bright, glossy, and reflecting light frank expressing feelings and opinions in brilliant extremely bright an open, honest, and forceful way dazzling spectacularly bright; stunning luminous glowing; startlingly bright worried feeling concerned and troubled lustrous with a soft shine agitated worried, nervous, and upset; unable to rest shy not comfortable around people anxious worried and afraid that something bashful self-conscious and awkward bad will happen around people distraught overly worried and distressed coy pretending self-consciousness hysterical panic-stricken around people diffident reserved and restrained because of a lack of confidence timid nervous around people
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 173 Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay Shades-of-Difference Words
Challenge
able equipped to do something constant steady; always present capable able to do a particular task continual happening again and again at competent having the skills necessary to do a regular intervals particular task continuous happening without interruption skilled having a special ability to do a for a long period of time particular task persistent continuing relentlessly for a long period of time agreement an understanding or arrangement accord a treaty or settlement dishonest not honest; lying and cheating consensus general, widespread agreement calculating scheming and acting in order to get the advantage pact an agreement to do something conniving devious and scheming deceitful purposefully misleading or annoyed mildly disturbed or displeased untruthful bothered annoyed and feeling put-upon mendacious chronically lying irked annoyed and wearied vexed annoyed and angered destroy to ruin completely annihilate to wipe out so completely it no apparent easy to see and understand longer exists; to vanquish blatant exceedingly obvious; impossible decimate to kill every tenth person; to kill a to hide large part of a group/population conspicuous easy to see because it attracts devastate to cause widespread damage attention slaughter to kill brutally and mercilessly obvious easy to see and understand because nothing is hidden early ahead of time premature before the expected or advisable average typical time mediocre run-of-the-mill; okay but not untimely at a bad or inconvenient time; very good happening too soon middling neither good nor bad standard up to the norm for acceptability eerie strange and frightening and quality gruesome focusing on cruelty and injury in order to cause horror and shock careful showing care; thorough macabre focusing on the horror of death accurate without error and decay meticulous extremely careful and precise morbid dark and gloomy in an unhealthy painstaking showing great care and attention and unwholesome way to detail
174 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay Shades-of-Difference Words
judge to form an opinion of someone real not artificial or something authentic reliable; trustworthy arbitrate to act as judge in a dispute genuine being what it claims to be mediate to help both sides of a dispute unadulterated not changed in any way reach an agreement referee to decide a contest, particularly in sports shorten to reduce the length or duration of abbreviate to shorten by removing parts of abridge to shorten by cutting parts or pity sorrow caused by someone else’s summarizing misfortune or pain truncate to shorten by cutting off the compassion concern for the suffering of others final part and a desire to help sympathy a feeling of sharing the suffering and pain of others showy making an impressive display empathy strong identification with the pain gaudy loud, flashy, and extravagant and suffering of others garish crudely ornate and showy ostentatious pretentiously showy praise express approval and admiration tawdry cheap and showy commend praise in a formal way eulogize praise highly usual normal; common; ordinary extol praise enthusiastically and with customary conforming to established great admiration customs and procedures habitual done on a regular and frequent basis
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 175 Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay Adjectives That Show Degree
Adjectives That Show Degree
Some synonyms for adjectives compare the degree or extent of a quality, such as how much of something there is or how bad or good something is . In the lists below, the last word in each group shows the superlative .
Easy
adjective comparative superlative adjective comparative superlative
bad worse worst lukewarm warm hot cool cold frigid many more most (countable good better best things) little less least much more most (an amount you cannot count)
Target
adjective comparative superlative adjective comparative superlative
big huge immense necessary essential indispensable full packed stuffed risky serious critical grand magnificent majestic tired weary exhausted great terrific superb top apex zenith greatest maximum ultimate weak feeble decrepit loud ear-splitting deafening wild fierce ferocious
Challenge
adjective comparative superlative adjective comparative superlative
difficult challenging grueling plentiful abundant profuse disastrous calamitous catastrophic terrible appalling abysmal disliked hated detested unappealing repellent hideous eager enthusiastic avid unhappy dejected disconsolate interesting absorbing fascinating urgent vital imperative
176 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay Color Words
Color Words
English is rich in words that name different shades or variations of primary and secondary colors . As a result, we can choose the exact word we need to describe a color . Some color words are derived from objects that are that precise color, such as ruby and periwinkle . Others come from words in other languages, such as cerise and puce (French) .
Easy black brown gray orange purple rose tan yellow blue gold green pink red silver white
Target apricot pale yellowish orange khaki light brown aquamarine greenish blue lavender pale purple auburn deep coppery red or reddish brown lilac pinkish purple azure sky blue magenta brilliant reddish purple beige creamy brown mahogany deep reddish brown bronze deep yellowish brown maroon brownish red or purple buff pale yellowish pink mauve light pinkish purple canary bright intense yellow navy dark blue champagne pale brownish gold olive deep yellowish green cherry strong bright red to purplish red peach creamy yellowish orange chestnut deep reddish brown pearl yellowish white copper reddish brown periwinkle pale purplish blue coral deep orangey pink or reddish orange plum dark reddish purple cream pale yellow to yellowish white ruby deep, intense red tinged with crimson deep, rich purplish red purple ebony deep brownish black russet brownish red emerald intense yellowish green rust reddish brown fawn pale, soft yellowish brown sable black or grayish, yellowish brown fuchsia brilliant deep purplish pink saffron deep yellowish orange indigo blue violet sage grayish green ivory pale yellowish white salmon pinkish orange
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 177 Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay Color Words
sapphire brilliant intense blue tawny light brown or brownish orange scarlet deep red teal greenish blue slate black tinged with purple or gray topaz dark brownish yellow tangerine bright orange or reddish orange turquoise bright greenish blue or bluish green taupe deep brownish gray violet deep purplish blue
Challenge
alabaster translucent white heliotrope violet or purplish red amethyst bluish purple henna rich reddish brown aubergine dark purple hoary silvery gray or snow white burgundy deep red madder reddish orange carmine deep purplish red ocher yellowish orange or brown celadon pale grayish green perse dark grayish blue or purple cerise deep purplish red puce purplish red or pink cerulean sky blue reseda dull grayish green chartreuse intense yellowish green sienna earthy reddish brown cinnabar deep red tinged with orange sorrel brownish orange or light brown citrine dark greenish yellow terra cotta reddish brown citron grayish green titian bright reddish gold claret dark purplish red ultramarine deep brilliant blue cyan deep greenish blue umber earthy brown ecru pale grayish, yellowish brown vermilion bright red or reddish orange
178 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay Euphemisms
Euphemisms A euphemism is a softer, blander word used in place of a harsher, blunter word . A euphemism often covers up an offensive or distasteful quality clearly conveyed by the original word .
Easy
Original Word Euphemism Original Word Euphemism dead deceased problem challenge die pass away old age golden years garbage waste old person senior citizen
Target
Original Word Euphemism Original Word Euphemism burial ground cemetery; memorial insane asylum sanatorium; park psychiatric hospital disabled challenged poor underprivileged garbage collector sanitation worker prison correctional garbage collection waste management institution garbage dump refuse collection rerun encore performance area superintendent custodial engineer kill terminate used car preowned vehicle
Challenge
Original Word Euphemism Original Word Euphemism
attack, raid incursion old-fashioned retro bathroom facility picky discriminating burial interment poorly behaved maladjusted civilian causalities collateral damage retreat strategic withdrawal crime antisocial behavior rude socially maladjusted conquer pacify slum economically conquest pacification disadvantaged area killed by own troops friendly fire theft misappropriation of funds imitation faux war military action lie fabrication
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 179 Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay Regionalisms
Regionalisms
Many common objects are called different things in different locations or parts of the country . Words like this are called regionalisms . Sometimes the exact places where a region- alism is used may be difficult to pinpoint . Some can be isolated to one area, such as the Southeast or Midwest . Others pop up around the country in places that are far apart, such as in Boston, the Midwest, and California . In the lists below, the most commonly or widely used term is listed first .
Easy
bag coke poke pop sack soda tonic
Target
drinking fountain highway porch submarine (sandwich) bubbler freeway gallery Cuban sandwich expressway stoop grinder frying pan the I veranda hero fry pan thruway hoagie skillet rubberband Italian sandwich spider margarine gumband poor boy (or po’ boy) oleo elastic garage carport milk shake remarkable frappe bodacious grocery cart buggy pancakes sofa shopping wagon battercakes couch flapjacks davenport grocery store griddlecakes bodega hotcakes sprinkles corner market johnnycakes jimmies mini-mart
180 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay Regionalisms
Challenge andiron orphaned calf traffic circle valley dog iron dogie rotary hollow roundabout detergent squad car turn signal washing powder cruiser blinker patrol car directional signal gazebo prowl car belvedere pagoda summerhouse garden folly
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 181 Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia Words
Some words imitate sounds . They can be the sounds made by animals, people, or things . You would think these words would be standard from language to language, but they are not . For example, in English a cat says, “meow,” in Danish, “mjav,” in Japanese, “nyaa,” and in Bengali, “meu ”.
Easy
baa clop moo tick-tock beep cock-a-doodle-doo neigh tweet boo-hoo ding-dong oink whoo bow-wow gobble ouch woof buzz hee-haw peep choo choo meow quack
Target
achoo coo plop thud arf crackle pow thump bong croak ribbit twitter bonk crunch screech wham brr duh smack whinny burp eek snarl whoosh chirp fizz snort whizz clang growl splash yelp clickety clack grr splat zap clink hiss squawk clip clop jingle squeal clunk mew swoosh
Challenge
ahem caw pitter-patter twang argh cha-ching poof vroom baroom gurgle rustle whiffle blah blah blah hmmm sizzle yadda yadda yadda bleet humph slurp yahoo boing ka-boom thunk bray mumble tsk-tsk
182 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay Nouns and Adjectives for Animals
Nouns and Adjectives for Animals
Many of the names of animals are based on Old English words . Often we form an adjective by adding a suffix to the noun . Sometimes, though, an adjective is formed from the Latin word for the animal . For example, a dog displays canine behavior . Usually, the Latin form of the adjective carries the meaning “relating to or characteristic of” and has a more scientific application .
Easy
adjective adjective noun adjective (Latin form) noun adjective (Latin form) cat catty feline horse horsy equine dog doggish canine
Target
adjective adjective noun adjective (Latin form) noun adjective (Latin form) ape ape-like simian lion lion-like leonine bee bee-like apian monkey monkey-like simian bird bird-like avian rabbit rabbity lapine bull bullish taurine snake snakelike serpentine cow cow-like bovine spider spidery arachnoid donkey donkey-like asinine pig piggish porcine fish fishy piscine wolf wolfish lupine
Challenge
adjective adjective noun adjective (Latin form) noun adjective (Latin form) badger badger-like musteline hare hare-like leporine bear bearish ursine hog hoggish suilline calf calf-like vituline lizard lizard-like saurian deer deer-like cervine rodent rodent-like murine eagle eagle-like aquiline sheep sheep-like ovine fox foxy vulpine squirrel squirrelly sciurine goat goaty caprine worm wormy vermian
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 183 Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay Palindromes
Palindromes
Palindromes are words that read the same backward and forward .
Easy
bib hah pep sis dad mom pip tat deed noon pop tot did pap pup toot eye peep sees wow
Target
aha eve ma’am shahs civic gag madam solos denned gig pull up dewed kook put up eke level redder
Challenge
deified repaper sagas kayak reviver stats race car rotator tenet radar rotor
184 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay Idioms
Idioms An idiom is a group of words that takes on a special meaning that is different from the meaning of each individual word . These expressions are easy for native speakers to under- stand but pose difficulties for nonnative speakers, who tend to take them literally . Idioms are often fresh and colorful, but when they become overused, they become cliches .
Easy
Idiom Meaning Example of Idiom Example of Meaning an arm and a leg a great deal; The present cost an The present cost a lot a lot of money arm and a leg. of money. apple of one’s eye someone or Janina was the apple Janina was adored by something one of her father’s eye. her father. adores or likes a lot a bee in one’s something you can’t She had a bee in her She couldn’t help thinking bonnet help thinking about bonnet about getting about getting a kitten. a kitten. catch cold contract or develop Dress warmly so that Dress warmly so that a cold you don’t catch cold. you don’t develop a cold. catch one’s breath to rest The acrobats didn’t have The acrobats didn’t have time to catch their time to rest between acts. breath between acts. cry wolf give a false alarm If you cry wolf too often, If you give a false alarm people won’t pay atten- too often, people won’t tion when you are really pay attention when you in trouble. are really in trouble. drop the ball fail to do something I was depending on her I was depending on her to order the supplies, but to order the supplies, at the last minute she but at the last minute dropped the ball. she failed to do it. have one’s cake and use something but She couldn’t decide She couldn’t decide eat it too still have it whether to spend money whether to spend money on the sweater or not, on the sweater or not, since she wanted to have since she wanted to buy her cake and eat it too. the sweater but also keep the money.
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 185 Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay Idioms
Idiom Meaning Example of Idiom Example of Meaning
feather in one’s cap reward; honor; For Anita, winning the For Anita, winning the prize soccer game was a soccer game was an feather in her cap. honor.
get cold feet lose one’s nerve Jack got cold feet and Jack lost his nerve and didn’t ask Eliza to the didn’t ask Eliza to the concert. concert.
get up on the wrong be in a bad mood “Stay out of his way,” “Stay out of his way,” side of bed said Chris, “since it said Chris, “since he’s looks like he got up on in a bad mood.” the wrong side of bed.”
hands down easily; without effort The team won the soccer The team won the soccer game hands down. game easily.
head over heels completely; In the movie, the two stars In the movie, the two stars overwhelmingly were head over heels were overwhelmingly in love. in love.
keep one’s fingers hope Keep your fingers crossed Hope that I pass the tryouts. crossed that I pass the tryouts.
last straw final annoyance Your eating my piece of Your eating my piece of pie pie is the last straw. I is the final annoyance. I won’t put up with your won’t put up with your behavior anymore. behavior anymore.
lend a hand help Please lend me a hand Please help me with my with my chores. chores.
let the cat out let a secret be known Be careful you don’t let Be careful you don’t let of the bag the cat out of the bag her know the secret and and tell her about the tell her about the surprise surprise party. party.
make up something create; fib or lie The little boy made up a The little boy fibbed to story to explain the explain the missing missing cookies. cookies.
on the ball alert; competent The new coach was The new coach was certainly on the ball; certainly alert; he he didn’t miss anything. didn’t miss anything.
picture of (something) perfect example of When she won the blue When she won the blue ribbon, she was the ribbon, she was a perfect picture of happiness. example of happiness.
186 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay Idioms
Idiom Meaning Example of Idiom Example of Meaning piece of cake very easy After studying so hard, After studying so hard, getting an A on the test getting an A on the test was a piece of cake. was very easy. pull one’s leg tease; fool or trick Uncle James didn’t mean Uncle James didn’t mean it; he was just pulling it; he was just teasing you. your leg. put the cart before do something in the Getting paid before you Getting paid before you the horse wrong order do the chore is putting do the chore is the wrong the cart before the horse order. ring a bell remind of something That name doesn’t ring That name doesn’t remind a bell. me of anything. take a catnap sleep for a short Lisa took a catnap before Lisa slept for a short period period of time going to the movies. of time before going to the movies.
Target
Idiom Meaning Example of Idiom Example of Meaning ball is in your court is your turn to do “I’ve made my final offer,” “I’ve made my final offer,” something the CEO said, “and now the CEO said, “and now the ball is in your court.” it’s your turn to do some- thing.” bark up the wrong tree follow the wrong The reporter who followed The reporter who followed course of action a false lead was barking a false lead was following up the wrong tree. the wrong course of action. beat around the bush avoid talking about Leslie was embarrassed Leslie was embarrassed a topic so she tried to beat so she tried to avoid talk- around the bush. ing about the problem. breathe a word of tell anyone Don’t breathe a word of Don’t tell the newspapers. this to the newspapers. bite the hand that harm someone who Be careful what you say Be careful what you say feeds you helps you about your advisor. about your advisor. Remember that you Remember that you shouldn’t bite the hand shouldn’t harm someone that feeds you. who helps you.
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 187 Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay Idioms
Idiom Meaning Example of Idiom Example of Meaning
catch red-handed catch someone in The police caught the The police caught the the midst of commit- thief red-handed. thief in the midst of ting a crime or another committing the crime. wrongdoing
come out in the wash work out all right Stick with it and your Stick with it and your problems will all come problems will all work out in the wash. out all right.
cover a lot of ground discuss a lot of topics Let’s get started right Let’s get started right away since we have to away since we have to cover a lot of ground in discuss a lot of topics this meeting. in this meeting.
face the music accept punishment or The defendant confessed The defendant confessed unpleasant conse- and was resolved to face and was resolved to quences the music. accept punishment.
fighting chance good chance or She had a fighting chance She had a good chance possibility of winning the election. of winning the election.
from the bottom of sincerely I thank you from the I thank you sincerely. one’s heart bottom of my heart.
get off on the wrong begin badly Don’t get off on the wrong Don’t begin badly by doing foot foot by doing something something foolish on the foolish on the first day first day of school. of school.
get off to a flying start begin well The guests were all excited The guests were all excited to be there, and the party to be there, and the party got off to a flying start. began well.
go overboard do too much; be Don’t go overboard when Don’t be excessive when excessive buying treats for the party. buying treats for the party.
go to the dogs ruin; deteriorate The aging actor was The aging actor was badly fearful of letting his fearful of letting his appearance go to the dogs. appearance deteriorate badly.
have egg on one’s be embarrassed Layla had egg on her face Layla was embarrassed face because of an error after she realized her after she realized her mistake. mistake.
have second thoughts have doubts about Jaime had second Jaime had doubts about thoughts about buying buying that computer that computer game. game.
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Idiom Meaning Example of Idiom Example of Meaning hit the nail on the head be exactly right You hit the nail on the You were exactly right head with that answer. with that answer. knocked off one’s overwhelmingly Since my sister is away Since my sister is away feet surprised at college, I was knocked at college, I was over- off my feet when she whelmingly surprised showed up at my birthday when she showed up at party. my birthday party. off the hook freed from obligations Since Yolanda agreed to Since Yolanda agreed to or responsibility take over the job, you are take over the job, you are off the hook. freed from responsibility. once in a blue moon rarely A streak of luck like that A streak of luck like that happens only once in a happens only rarely. blue moon. par for the course usual; typical During the winter months, During the winter months, it was par for the course it was usual for three or for three or four students four students to be out to be out sick. sick. raise eyebrows make others surprised The way the star was The way the star was or feel disapproval dressed was bound to dressed was bound to raise some eyebrows. make some people disapprove. snake in the grass a treacherous person He posed as his friend, but He posed as his friend, but he was really a snake in he was really a treacher- the grass waiting for the ous person waiting for opportunity to betray him. the opportunity to betray him. don’t waste your breath don’t bother to say Don’t waste your breath Don’t bother to try to something because trying to convince him convince him to change it won’t make a to change his vote. his vote because it won’t difference. make a difference.
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Challenge
Idiom Meaning Example of Idiom Example of Meaning
bend one’s ear talk too much to At the dinner party, the At the dinner party, the someone; be overly person on my left bent person on my left talked chatty and annoying my ear all night, telling me too much and annoyed about his problems. me, telling me about his problems.
eye of the storm center of a problem The candidate found The candidate found or controversy herself in the eye of the herself in the center storm. of the controversy.
feet of clay have hidden faults The reporter set out to The reporter set out to prove that the esteemed prove that the esteemed politician really had feet politician really had of clay. hidden faults.
green-light a project give approval for a The board of directors The board of directors project to move ahead decided to green-light decided to give approval the project. for the project to move ahead.
give someone a blank let someone spend as The business tycoon gave The business tycoon gave check much as necessary; the relief organization a the relief organization unlimited funds blank check to provide unlimited funds to provide housing for the flood housing for the flood victims. victims.
have a bone to pick have a matter to After reading her comment After reading her comment discuss or argue in the newspaper, he in the newspaper, he about stormed into her office stormed into her office and said, “I have a bone and said, “I have a matter to pick with you.” to discuss with you.”
have a vested interest in be personally As your mentor, I have a As your mentor, I am interested in vested interest in your personally interested in success. your success.
heartbeat away from extremely close to; He was a heartbeat He was extremely close to next in line for away from winning the winning the presidency. presidency.
horse of a different completely new and The solution you just The solution you just color different proposed is a horse proposed is completely of a different color. new and different.
190 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay Idioms
Idiom Meaning Example of Idiom Example of Meaning in a dead heat tied At the end of the show, At the end of the show, the two contestants were the two contestants in a dead heat. were tied. in one fell swoop in one swift action In one fell swoop, the In one swift action, the company closed down company closed down 20 plants across the 20 plants across the country. county. in the black making money The new company The new company president is credited with president is credited with strategies that made the strategies that made the company operate in the company operate success- black. fully and make money. in the red losing money The books show that the The books show that the company is in the red. company is losing money. jog one’s memory help one remember Does this note jog your Does this note help you memory? remember? lesser of two evils the better of two poor Neither option was what Neither option was what choices she wanted, but she she wanted, but she picked the lesser of picked the better of two evils. two poor choices. make allowances for consider something The judges made The judges considered when making a allowances for the age the age differences of decision or doing differences of the the contestants. something; take into contestants. consideration meeting of minds reach agreement After arguing for several After arguing for several hours, they had a meeting hours, they reached of minds. agreement. on a shoestring with very little money They started their They started their business on a shoestring. business with very little money. opening gambit something said or As an opening gambit, she To secure her position, done to secure a said she would increase she said at the beginning position or advantage health-care benefits for that she would increase all employees. health-care benefits for all employees.
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Idiom Meaning Example of Idiom Example of Meaning
out of one’s depth involved in something The newly promoted The newly promoted that is too difficult executive felt out of his executive was involved in depth when the employees something that was too went on strike. difficult for him to handle when the employees went on strike.
put a spin on twist something to His supporters put a spin His supporters twisted the one’s advantage on the results from the results from the poll to poll. his advantage.
put to bed complete work on They put the newspaper They completed work on and send off to bed and sent it off to the newspaper and sent the presses. it off to the presses.
read loud and clear understand You don’t have to keep You don’t have to keep something that was hinting about what hinting about what said completely present you want, since I present you want, since I read you loud and clear. understand what you said completely.
shed light on help someone under- The students asked the The students asked the stand something teacher to shed light teacher to help them on the problem. understand the problem.
shot in the dark wild guess We didn’t really know the We didn’t really know the answer, but we took a answer, but we took a shot in the dark. wild guess.
stand on ceremony wait for a formal Rosalie didn’t stand on Rosalie didn’t wait for a invitation ceremony but went up formal invitation but went and introduced herself up and introduced herself to the government official. to the government official.
192 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay Words That Come in Nonreversible Pairs
Words That Come in Nonreversible Pairs
Some idiomatic expressions are made up of word pairs that always occur in a certain order . Sometimes the two words in the pair are separated by the word and or or .
Easy back and forth huff and puff over and under black and blue knick-knack up and down cat and mouse in and out upside down
Target an arm and a leg high and low question and answer around and about hot and cold rain or shine bells and whistles in and out sink or swim better or worse life and death sooner or later bow and arrow last in, first out straight and narrow do or die loud and clear to and fro down and dirty make or break tooth and nail down and out odds and ends topsy-turvy far and away over and out touch and go far and wide over and under wear and tear give and take pins and needles willy-nilly head over heels pros and cons
Challenge aches and pains fast and furious life and death all or nothing first and foremost nuts and bolts armed and dangerous flotsam and jetsam onward and upward be all and end all hale and hearty rant and rave blood and guts hard-and-fast sick and tired bread and circuses hem and haw take it or leave it by and large high and dry straight and narrow cap and gown house and home trials and tribulations cease and desist hurly-burly up-and-coming crash and burn hoity-toity wax and wane crimson and clover kith and kin dog and pony show law and order
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 193 Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay Two-Part Verbs
Two-Part Verbs
Some verbs form an idiom when followed by an adverb or preposition . This type of two-part verb is called a phrasal .
Easy
add up hear of show up back down hold on slow down back up lie down slow up go over put on hear from run away
Target
break down catch up take after bring on dress down take back bring out dress up take down burn down give back take in burn up give up talk back get around look after talk over call off point out throw away call up pull out throw out calm down pull through turn into carry on rinse off try on carry out save up try out catch on send over wash up
Challenge
bear up drop off see through brush off drop out stand by burn out fall through think over buy out hand down think through buy up hand over turn into clean out hold off wear down close down make over wear off die down play down wear out die off push across work out drop by rule out
194 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 5
Jargon and Technical Words
“My students know all the basic geography terms. But they’re about to do a research project and I’d like to first give them an idea about the more challenging words they’re sure to encounter.”
very field has its own jargon or special language. E It is made up of the technical terms used in that field and the special meanings given to everyday terms.
This chapter provides lists of words used in different professions. One of the goals of these lists is to help students understand that some words have special meanings that are different from their everyday meanings. For example, the noun beat is usually understood as the regular rhythm of a piece of music or of one’s heart. However, the area or subject that a newspaper reporter covers is also called a beat.
You may wish to use some of these words to illustrate other concepts. Include crescendo, soprano, or a cappella in a discussion about the influences other languages have had on English. Try antibiotics, micro- organism, abnormal, or malnutrition when discussing Greek and Latin prefixes. Or, even use fastball, ballpark, or home plate in a lesson about compound words.
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Business Words
Easy
budget employer manufacture staff company expense plant supervisor cost instruction manual product tax customer loan profit value debt loss salary wage employee manager service workforce
Target
accounting competition interview promotion advertising corporation investment proposal agenda counterfeit marketing résumé assembly line credit nonprofit organization retail balance sheet deduction overhead revenue benefits earnings patent service industry bond finance payroll stock brochure flyer press release stockholder capital forecast principal checking account interest procedure
Challenge
accounts payable bottom line CPA (certified public liquidity accounts receivable buy-out accountant) net accrual cash flow depreciation operating income allocation CEO (chief executive equity portfolio annual report asset officer) gross proprietor audit CFO (chief financial insurance stock option bankruptcy officer inventory subsidiary billing commission leverage turnover board of directors commodity liability
196 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 5: Jargon and Technical Words Media
Media Words
Easy actor cut newspaper schedule artist design performer script artwork DVD (digital photography set audience video disc) plot setting camera director prime time special effects character focus prop studio costume movie recording theater
Target acoustics documentary multimedia propaganda archive editing multiplex ratings brand fade narration real time cable format network realistic cinema frame option sound effects broadcast genre pan treatment clip art image perspective voice-over commercial long shot photo-realism wipe cropping long take point of view wrap disc mainstream production zoom dissolve mix projection
Challenge aesthetics cinematography HDTV (high-definition public domain analog continuity television) repertoire articulation demographics melodrama synergy avant-garde deregulation morphing verisimilitude biopic digital niche vertical integration broadband docudrama objectivity censorship focal length persona
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Computer Words and Technology Words
Easy
back up data input paste bookmark directory Internet search boot document offline server byte drag online software clip art e-mail menu store command font monitor tab control key format output Web site cursor keyboard password window
Target
blog emoticon network URL (universal browser header pixel resource locator) bulletin board host platform virus cache hypertext program Web log database keyword programmer wikibook digital interface search engine worm domain link spam download modem threaded discussion
Challenge
bandwidth file extension metasearch engine plug-in Boolean operators FTP (file transfer netiquette spider CGI (common gateway protocol) netware Web crawler interface) HTML (hypertext newsgroup XML (extensible CSE (custom search markup language) packet jam markup language) engine) ISP (Internet service PDF (portable cookie provider) document format) cyberspace list server phish
198 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 5: Jargon and Technical Words Geography
GGeographyeography WordsWords
Easy agriculture forest lake resource axis fossil latitude sphere canyon gas lava temperature climate geographer longitude tundra compass globe ocean valley coast grasslands peninsula wetlands continent habitat pond desert hemisphere prairie equator island region
Target acid rain erosion landform projection arid eruption landslide rift valley arroyo extinction layer savanna atmosphere fault magma sedimentary bedrock fissure mantle seismograph bog geological era mesa smog butte geologist metamorphic steppe canyon geyser meteor strait core glacier meteorite tectonic plates crater global warming mineral temperate crust gorge mudslide terrain delta greenhouse gases permafrost volcano dormant groundwater plate watershed earthquake iceberg plateau weathering epicenter igneous precipitation
Challenge accretion bituminous geopolitical paleontologist aquifer cartographer lithosphere plate tectonics archipelago climatic zone loam strata atoll crevasse loess topography bayou deposition megapolis tributary biodegradable escarpment moraine trilobite biome estuary nebula
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 199 Chapter 5: Jargon and Technical Words Music/Health
Music Words
Easy
alto flat quartet sharp bass instrument quintet solo bar key rest soprano chorus lyrics rhythm staff duet note scale trio
Target
baritone harmony mode rondo brass instruments interlude octave score chord interval orchestra sequence clef keyboard percussion instruments string instruments composer measure pitch tempo conductor medium range tenor dynamics melody refrain treble ensemble meter register woodwinds
Challenge
a cappella crescendo mezzo forte signature adagio diminuendo mezzo piano syncopation allegro forte mezzo soprano tonic andante fugue piano chromatic scale moderato pianissimo coda modulation presto
Health Words
Easy
ache cold flu muscle bandage cough heart pain blood cure injury patient bone cut limb skeleton checkup diet lung tooth chest disease medicine wound
200 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 5: Jargon and Technical Words Health/Art
Target abnormal carbohydrate infectious respiratory system addiction cartilage injection reproduction system allergy contagious joint skeletal system artery chronic ligament specialist asthma digestive system lymphatic system spinal cord bacteria disorder malnutrition stress bladder endocrine system medication surgery blood cell fatigue microbe temperature blood pressure fungus muscular system tendon blood vessel general practitioner nervous system tissue calcium gland nutrition trauma capillary hormone operation vaccination circulatory system immune system prescription vein cancer immunity protein virus
Challenge
AIDS (acquired bulimia HIV (human immune obesity immune deficiency cardiovascular deficiency virus pathogen syndrome) cholesterol intravenous protozoa anorexia communicable disease irritant psychiatry antibody congestion malignant psychology antibiotic dehydration metabolism psychotherapy antigen DNA (deoxyribonucleic microorganism syndrome autoimmune disease acid) mucus bronchia esophagus noninvasive
Art Words
Easy color light sculpture wavy curve line shadow zigzag diagonal horizontal space drawing painting spiral figure statue vertical
Target abstract architecture background column arch acrylic collage complementary color
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources 201 Chapter 5: Jargon and Technical Words Art/Measurement
composition hue mural secondary color design interior oil paint texture dimension landscape palette three-dimensional dome minaret panorama two-dimensional exterior mobile pastel watercolor foreground motif photography harmony mosaic primary color
Challenge
aesthetics diptych grotesque perspective allegory egg tempura impressionism performance art assemblage engraving installation positive space batik etching kinetic realism Byzantine expressionism luminosity relief ceramics fauvism minimalism symmetry chiaroscuro flying buttress negative space conceptual art fresco nonrepresentational cubism gothic opacity
Measurement Words
Easy
cup length quart volume day mile ruler weight depth minute tape measure width foot month tablespoon yard gallon ounce teaspoon year hour pint time inch pound ton
Target
acre degree line segment percentage angle estimation linear ratio balance Fahrenheit liter temperature capacity fraction meter U.S. customary system Celsius gram metric system vertex centimeter kilogram milliliter decimal kilometer millimeter
202 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 5: Jargon and Technical Words Measurement/Sports
Challenge acceleration dram kelvin peck ampere equivalence lumen rod angstrom farad luminance scale apothecary weight furlong lux square candela gill metric ton tesla conversion hectare mole velocity coulomb henry newton volt cubic hertz ohm watt density joule pascal weber
Sports Words
Easy ballpark coach pass pitcher base glove shin guards umpire batter kick spikes bleachers mask team block mitt trainer
Target arena fastball kickoff signal backcourt fly ball infield stadium baseline foul inning strike block forward league tackle bullpen frontcourt leftfield timeout bunt fumble lineup touchdown centerfield goalie match tournament court goal line offense traveling curveball goaltender outfield underdog defense halfback punt winger down halftime quarterback dribble home plate referee dugout home run right field
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Challenge
battery gridiron pigskin relief pitcher blitz interception pinch hitter rosin defensive offensive point spread rotation designated hitter on deck possession slider double-team penalty box reception zone defense
204 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Chapter 5: Jargon and Technical Words Writers on Words
Writers on Words
Easy
“When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less.” “The question is,” said Alice, “whether you can make words mean so many different things.” “The question is,” said Humpty Dumpty, “which is to be master—that’s all.”
—Lewis Carroll
Sticks and stones may break our bones, but words will break our hearts.
—Robert Fulghum
Target
All words are pegs to hang ideas on.
—Henry Ward Beecher
Often when I write, I am trying to make words do the work of line and colour. I have the painter’s sensitivity to light. Much (perhaps the best) of my writing is verbal painting.
—Elizabeth Bowen
Writing cannot express all words, words cannot encompass all ideas.
—Confucius
Words are the thread on which we string our experiences.
—Aldous Huxley
Gradually from naming an object we advance step by step until we have traversed the vast distance between our first stammered syllable and the sweep of thought in a line of Shakespeare.
—Helen Keller
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The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter—’tis the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.
—Mark Twain
The English language is nobody’s special property. It is the property of the imagination; it is the property of the language itself. —Derek Walcott
Challenge
Words are things, and a small drop of ink, falling like dew upon a thought, produces that which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.
—Lord Byron
A word is not a crystal, transparent and unchanged, it is the skin of a living thought, and may vary greatly in color and content according to the circumstances and the time in which it is used.
—Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes
Words are . . . the most powerful drug used by mankind.
—Rudyard Kipling
Words have weight, sound and appearance; it is only by considering these that you can write a sentence that is good to look at and good to listen to.
—W. Somerset Maugham
Wit has truth in it; wisecracking is simply calisthenics with words.
—Dorothy Parker
. . . I . . . believe that words can help us move or keep us paralyzed, and that our choices of language and verbal tone have something—a great deal—to do with how we live our lives and whom we end up speaking with and hearing; and that we can deflect words, by trivialization, of course, but also by ritualized respect, or we can let them enter our souls and mix with the juices of our minds.”
—Adrienne Rich
206 Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Notes
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources Notes
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources