The Least You Should Know about Vocabulary Building. Fifth Edition.
Do you know EU always means good or well ??
Do you know that any word containing PHIL will have something to do with love ??
Learning to break words into their parts is perhaps the most important initial step in vocabulary
building. The Least You should Know about Vocabulary Building-Word Roots.Increase Your Vocabulary through Learning Word Roots:
How did words get to be words ?? Why, for example, is a hippopotamus called a hippopotamus
and not a glipserticka ?? There's is a good reason. Since the animal looks like a fat horse and
spends much of its time in rivers, the Greek combined their word for horse, HIPPO, and their
word for river, POYAMOS, and called the animal a hippopotamus a river horse. And with only
one-letter change, the word has come down to us as hippopotamus.
Words did not just happen. They grew. And if you learn how they grew -- what original roots
they came from -- you'll find it easier to remember them. You'll understand the words you look
up in the dictionary instead of just memorizing the definitions. And weeks later, even though
you may have forgotten the meaning of a word, your knowledge of its roots will help you recall
its meaning.
The best first step in vocabulary building, then, is to become familiar with some roots, because
learning the root of one word gives a clue to dozens or hundreds more. For example, if you learn
that SYN (SYM, SYL) mean together or with, you have a clue to more than 450words, for that
many words beginning with SYN (SYM, SYL) are listed in Webster's Third New International
Dictionary. Similarly, when you learn that philanthropist is made up of PHIL to love and
ANTHROP human, you have learned not only that a philanthropist is a lover of humanity, but you
also have a clue some 70 other words beginning with PHIL and to more than 60 others
beginning with ANTHROP, not to mention those that have PHIL or ANTHROP in the middle
or at the end of the word.
As you become aware of how words are made up, familiar words will take on new meaning,
and unfamiliar words may often be understood even without a dictionary. For instance, if you
know that the root BIBL means book as in bibliography and Bible, then you can guess that a
bibliophile will have something to do with books.
Glancing at the root chain below will help you spot some common spots. The chain beings with
biped [ BI two + PED foot ], a two-footed animal. The next word contains one of the preceding
roots, PED. A pedometer [ PED foot + Meter measure ] is , as its roots indicate,
" a foot measure " or an instrument that measures the distance walked by recording the number
of steps taken. Geometry [ GEO earth + METER measure ] has been chosen. As its roots show,
geometry was originally a system of " earth measuring, " that is, of measuring the earth through
the use of angles.
In this book the term Roots includes Prefix and Suffix because all word parts are equally
sources of word meaning. All are the roots from which our language came.
Biped -- Pedometer -- Geometry -- Geography -- Biology -- Theology -- Atheist -- Apathetic --
Sympathetic -- Symphony -- Telephone -- Telescope -- Microscope -- Microcosm -- Cosmonaut
Astronaut -- Astronomy -- Autonomy -- Automobile -- Immobile -- Infield -- Confident
Committee -- Transmit -- Transport -- Report --Recur -- Excursion -- Exclude -- Seclude -- Secure
Manicure -- Manuscript -- Subscribe -- Subversive -- Controversy -- Contradict -- Benediction
Benefactor -- Facilitate.
Salary [ Sal salt ] originally was the money paid to Roman soldiers to buy salt...
Companion [ Com with + Pan bread ] was originally a person one shared one's bread with...
Malaria [ MAL bad + AER air ] because people thought it was caused by the bad air of the bog..
Terrier [ TERR earth ] because it digs in the earth after small animals in burrows ...
Escape [ ES out + Cap cape ] get out of one's cape, leaving in the hands of the pursers...
Insect [ IN in + SECT to cut ] its body is " cut " into three segments...
Bonfire in the Middle Age was the bone fire built to dispose of corpses during the plague...
Panic described the frantic efforts of the Greek nymphs to escape when the mischievous god
Pan suddenly appeared among them...
Curfew in the Middle Age in France was the ringing if a bell telling the peasants to cover their
fires ( couvre-feu ) for the night...
Alphabet comes from the first two letters of the Greek alphabet, Alpha and BETA,
" a " and " b ".
Trivial [ TRI three + VIA way ] in Roman times meant the crossroads where three ways met and
neighborhood gossips on their way to market often stopped to chat about unimportant
things (TRI VIA talk)...
Preposterous [ PRE before + POST after ] meant having the before part where the after part
should be, like a horse with its tail where its head should be - absurd.
Changes in Root Spelling
A root may change its spelling slightly according to the word it is in. For example, EX out is
found in Excursion, but it changes to ES in Escape and to simply E in Educate. Such
changes have occurred to make pronunciation easier. Escape and educate are easier to
pronounce than excape and exducate would be. Here are some of the ways root spellings
changes.
The last letter of a root changes to be like the first letter of the root that follows :
COM nect -- CON nect
COM loquial -- COL loquial
COM relate -- COR relate
DIS fident -- DIF fident
SYN metrical -- SYM metrical
The last letter of a root changes ( or is dropped ) to make the pronunciation easier, but it doesn't
become the same as the first letter of the root that follows :
EX cape -- ES cape
COM temporary -- CON temporary
SYN pathy -- SYM pathy
DIS vert -- DI vert
EX ducate -- E ducate
How to Use This Book
It makes little difference which root you study first because each root will eventually help you with
some new words. Therefore the roots in this text are predicted alphabetically. As you work
through the book, you may come across words with which you are unfamiliar. This is to be
expected and will make studying this book challenging and rewarding. Working with word roots
and the word that are formed from the roots will make your learning easier.
1. Using some of the words in your own writing. Being to keep a vocabulary journal, writing each
day two or three sentences about whatever interests you and use some of the words you have
just learned. Putting the words into your own writing will help you remember them longer than.
And from time to time you can reread your journal to review your words.
2. Finally, take the most important step in vocabulary building -- use your newly learned words
in conversation. Using a word in conversation will do more to help you remember it than any
amount of silent study. USE A WORD THREE TIMES AND IT'S YOURS. Trying using one new
word a day.
A, AN -- not, without
When A or AN meaning not or without comes at the beginning of certain words, it gives those
words a negative. meaning. Anything that is asymmetrical is not symmetrical, and anything that
is atypical is not typical.
Atheist and agnostic both begin with the negative A and are close in meaning. An atheist
[A without + THE god ] is without a God whereas an agnostic [ A not + GNOS to know ] does not
know whether there is a God. In other words, the atheist is sure there is no God whereas the
agnostic simply does not know.
Agnostic [ A not + GNOS to know ] one who does not know whether there is a God.
He had lost his former faith and had become an agonstic.
Amoral without moral standard; neither moral or immoral; unable to distinguish between right
wrong.
Anarchy [ AN without + ARCH ruler ] without a ruler; political disorder and confusion.
The overthrow of the government resulted in anarchy.
Anecdote [ AN not + EKDOTOS given out ] originally, not published (some stories were made
public by publishing them, and others were kept private); now, merely a short account
of some interesting or humorous incident.
Anemia [ AN without + HEM blood ] without blood; a deficiency of red corpuscles in the blood.
Her weakness was caused by anemia.
Anesthetic [ AN without + ESTHET feeling ] without feeling; a drug causing one to be
insensitive to pain.
Anomaly [ AN not + HOMO same ] not the same (as others ) ; a rare exception; something that
is not normal.
Anonymous [ AN without + ONYM name ] without a name; having an unknown or
unacknowledged name.
Asymmetrical [ A not + SYM together + METER measure ] not measured together; not having
both sides exactly alike; not symmetrical.
Atheist [ A without + THE God ] one who is without a God; one who denies the existence of
God.
Atypical not typical.
ALSO : amorphous, analgesic, apathetic, apathy, atom.
AMBI, AMPHI -- around, both
In Roman times,candidates for public office, wearing white togas so that they could be easily
seen, walked around (AMBI) talking to people and seeking votes. Before long, the term ambitio
took on the meaning of bribery in seeking votes, but by the time the word came into English in
the fourteen century as ambitious, it had lost the idea of seeking votes or of bribery and meant
merely " eager to succeed or to advance."
Ambience [ AMBI around ] the surrounding atmosphere.
Ambiguous [ Ambi around + AGERE to drive ] to drive around ( in an uncertain manner
because there are few roads in early days ); uncertain ; having two possible
meanings.
Ambitious originally, going around for votes; today, having a desire to succeed.
Amphitheater an oval or round structure with tiers of seats around an open space.
Ambidextrous [ Ambi both + DEXTR right hand ] both right hands; able to use both hands with
equal ease.
Ambivalent conflicting ( both kinds of ) feelings toward a person or thing.
Amphibian [ AMPHI both + BIO life ] an animal that lives both in the water and on land.
ANN, ENN -- year
Words containing ANN or ENN will have something to do with year. An anniversary is the
return of some event every year. An annuity is a fund that pays a person money every year.
Annual means happening every year, and semiannual means happening every half year.
Biannual and biennial are easily confused because they both come from BI two and ANN or
ENN year. Just remember that Biannual and Semiannual ( both meaning twice a year) soumd
alike whereas biennial ( meaning every two years) sounds different.
Annals [ANN year ] a written account of events year by year; historical records.
Anniversary [ ANN year + VERS to return ] the yearly return of the date of some memorable
event.
Annual [ ANN year ] yearly.
Annuity an investment that provided fixed payments yearly or at other regular intervals.
Biannual [ BI two + ANN year ] occurring two times a year.
Biennial [ BI two + ENN year ] occurring every two years.
Centennial [ CENT hundred + ENN year ] a hundredth anniversary.
Millennium [ MILLI thousand + ENN year ] a period of a thousand years; specifically, the
thousand years when, according to the New Testament, Christ is to reign on earth;
thus a period of happiness and prosperity.
Per annum [ PER through + ANN year ] by the year; annually.
Perennial [ PER through + ENN year ] having a life cycle lasting through more than two years,
as a perennial palnt.
Semiannual [ SEMI half + ANN year ] half yearly; occurring two times a year.
Superannuated [ Super above + ANN year ] beyond the year of retirement; retired because of
age.
ANTE, ANTI -- before
The ANTE spelling always means before -- either before in place or before in time. Anteroom
and anterior are before in place, whereas ante, antedate, and antebellum are before in time.
Another before - in - time word is antediluvian. Originally, it meant before the Flood described
in the Bible story of Noah and the Ark. In fact its two roots say exactly that
[ Ante before + DILUVIUM flood ], but today it has come to mean merely very old or primitive.
Whenever you want to exaggerate the age of something, you can call it antediluvian. Young
people may think their parents' ideas are antediluvian. A farmer without a tractor or a large office
without a computer might be described as using antediluvian methods. And if you are trying to
convince someone -- or yourself --that your car is old enough to be traded it for a new model, you
might refer to it as antediluvian.
Ante [ ANTE before ] the amount each poker player must put into port before receiving his cards
Antebellum [ ANTE before +BELL war ] before the war, especially before the Civil War.
Antecedent [ ANTE before + CED to go ] anything that logically goes before something else.
Antedate to occur before something else.
Anterior locate before or in front ( as opposed to posterior, locate behind ).
Anteroom a room before the main room; a waiting room.
A variant spelling -- ANTI -- also means before - in - time in the following words.
Anticipate [ ANTI before + CAP to take ] to take before; to realize before hand.
Antiquated as old as to be no longer useful.
Antique belonging to an earlier ( before ) period.
Antiquity ancient ( before ) period.
(ANTI meaning against or opposite.)
ANTHROP -- human
Knowing that ANTHROP means human clarifies the meaning of a number of words.
Anthropology [ ANTHROP human + -LOGY study of ] is a study of the development and
behavior of human beings. A philanthropist [ PHIL to love + ANTHROP human ] loves human
beings and promotes human welfare by charitable acts or gifts. A misanthrope
[ MIS to hate + ANTHROP human ], on the other hand, hates human beings.
Anthropoid [ ANTHROP human + OID resembling ] -- resembling humans.
ANTI -- against, opposite
ANTI meaning against is easy to spot in such words as antifreeze, antitrust , and antisocial, but
it can also help clarify more difficult words. A couple of ANTI words, which you probably won't
have occasion to use and which won't be included in any of the tests in this book, are interesting
just because of their stories. Antipodes [ Anti opposite + POD foot ] means literally " with the
feet opposite " and refers to any place on the opposite side of the earth since the people there
seem to be standing upside down with their feet opposite to ours.
Antagonist [ ANTI against + AGON struggle ] a person one struggle against in a contest.
Antibiotic [ ANTI against + BIO life ] a substance produced by microorganism that destroys
other harmful (living) microorganisms.
Antidote [ ANTI against + DOT give ] a medicine that counteracts (works against) poison or
disease.
Antiseptic [ ANTI against + SEPT putrid ] against infection; capable of destroying
microorganism that cause disease.
In the preceding words, ANTI means against; in the following words it means opposite.
Antarctic the continent opposite the Arctic.
Anticlimax the opposite of the climax; a sudden drop from the important to the commonplace.
Antithesis [ ANTI opposite + THES to place ] one idea placed opposite another; the exact
opposite.
AUTO -- self
AUTO, meaning self, was a common Greek root, but it took on added meaning in America in the
late nineteenth century when it was applied to the new vehicle that could " move by itself " --
the automobile [ AUTO self + MOB to move ].
Autocracy [ AUTO self + CRAC to rule ] government by a single person.
Automatic [ AUTO self + MAT to act ] operating by itself.
Autonomy [ AUTO self + NOM law ] the right of self-government.
Autospy [ AUTO self + OP sight ] a seeing for oneself; an examination of a dead body to
discover the cause of death.
BENE -- well, good
Words that begin with BENE always describe something good -- an action, a result, or attitude.
Benediction [ BENE good + DICT to speak ] a speaking of good wishers; ablessing.
Benefactor [ BENE good + FAC to do ] one who does something good; one who gives help or
financial assistance.
Beneficence [ BENE good + Fac to do ] the doing of good; kindness; charity.
Benefit [ BENE good + FAC to do ] anything that promotes well-being.
Benevolent [ BENE well + VOL to wish ] an inclination to do good; a kindly or charitable act.
Benign having a kindly (good) attitude or disposition.
Benevolent and Benign are close synonyms. Both mean having a kindly attitude, but benevolent
often includes the idea of doing something charitable, and benign often has a medical meaning
opposite to malignant.
BI -- two
Back in the days of sailing ships, according to one story, the bread taken along in the voyages
always became moldy. Then someone discovered that by baking the bread twice, enough
moisture could be removed so that it remained edible during long voyages. The new kind of
bread was called Biscuit [ BI two + COQUERE to cook ] or twice-baked bread. Today, biscuit
are no longer twice-baked but are merely quick breads or non-yeast breads bakes in small
cakes.
Bicameral [ BI two +CAMER chamber ] composed of two legislative chambers branches.
Biceps [ BI two + CAPIT head ] any muscle having two heads or points of origin, as the large
muscle at the front of the upper arm.
Bigamy [ BI two + GAM marriage ] marrying one person while legally married to another.
BIO -- life
The root BIO, meaning life, combines with SYM, meaning together, to form an interesting word
symbiosis, the living together of two dissimilar organisms, usually for the benefit of both. For
example, the hermit crab lives among the lethal tentacles of the sea anemone and is protected
from its enemies by the stinging power of the tentacles. The anemone, on the other hand, is
biosis is beneficial to both.
Autobiography [ AUTO self + BIO life + GRAPH to write ] an account of person's life written by
that person.
Biodegradable capable of being broken broken down by living microorganisms and absorbed
by the environment.
Biofeedback a technique for a conspicuously regulating a bodily (life) function thought to be
involuntary, as heartbeat or blood pressure, by using an instrument to monitor
the function and to signal changes in it.
Biography [ BIO life + GRAPH to write ] a written account of someone's life.
Biopsy [ BIO life + OP sight ] a seeing of live tissues; the examination of tissues removed from
the living body.
Biosphere the part of the Earth, extending from its crust out into the surrounding atmosphere, in
which living things exist.
CHRON -- time
Like all CHRON words, anachronism has something to do with time. It's the term applied to
anything that is out of its proper historical time. For example, it would be an anachronism to
mention antibiotics when writing about nineteenth century.
Anachronism [ ANA back + Chron time ] anything out of its proper historical time.
Chronic continuing for a long time, as a chronic disease.
Chronicle an account of events arranged in order of time.
Chronology [ Chron time + -LOGY study of ] a list of events arranged according to time
occurrence.
Chronometer [ Chrono time + Meter measure ] an instrument for measuring time precisely,
especially in navigation.
Synchronize [ SYN together + CHRON time ] to cause to operate (keep time) in unison, as to
synchronize watches or synchronize the sound with the film in a motion picture.
Circum -- around
CIRCUM always means around. A circumference is the out boundary line around a circular area.
To circumnavigate the globe is to go around it, A circumstance
[ CIRCUM around + STA to stand ] is literally something standing around. Perhaps the
circumstance that is standing around and keeping you from going to a movie is a lack of money.
Circuit the regular journey around a territory by a person performing duties.
Circuitous roundabout; winding.
Circumlocution [ CIRCUM around + LOC to speak ] a roundabout way of saying something.
Circumscribe [ CIRCUM around + SCRIBE write ] to write a line around the bounds; to limit.
Circumspect [ CIRCUM around + SPEC look ] cautious; careful to consider possible
consequences.
Circumstance [ CIRCUM around + STA to stand ] something stand around.
Circumvent [ CIRCUM around + VEN to come ] to come around; to get around.
COM, CON, COL, COR -- together, with
Companion takes on new meaning when we learn its roots. A companion
[COM with + PAN bread ] was originally a person one shared one's bread with. We don't think
of that original meaning today, and yet we want to be hospitable, we invite our companions to
share our food. COM, meaning together or with, is something difficult to spot because it so
changes its last letter to be like the first letter of the root following it. Thus COMloquial becomes
COLloquial, COMnect becomes CONnect, and COMrelate becomes CORrelate. Something the
letter m is dropped completely. Changing the last letter in these ways makes pronunciation
easier. Sometime, as in Condone and Compunction, COM is used merely as an intensive,
giving more emphasis to the root that follows.
Coherent [ CO together + HER to stick ] sticking together; having an orderly relation of parts.
Collaborate to labor together.
Collusion [ COL together + LUD to play ] playing together; a secret agreement between two or
more persons for a deceitful purpose.
Commensurate [ COM together + MENS to measure ] measured together; equal in measure
or size; proportionate.
Commiserate [ COM together + MISERARI to pity ] to sympathize.
Committee [ COM together + MIT to send ] a group of people to sent to meet together to
consider some matter.
Commodious [ COM with + MOD measure ] with plenty of room; spacious.
Commotion [ COM together + MOT to move ] people moving together; social disorder.
Complicate [ COM together + PLIC fold ] to fold together; to make intricate or involved.
Composition [ COM together + POS to put ] a putting together of parts to form a whole.
Compress [ Com together + PRES press ] to press or squeeze together.
Compunction [ COM (intensive) + PUNCT to prick ] a prick of conscience, an uneasiness
caused by a sense of guilt; a slight regret.
Condominium [ CON together + DOMINIUM ownership ] a building in which the living units are
owned individually and the grounds are owned together.
Condone [ COM (intensive) + DON to give ] to forgive and overlook (an offense).
Congenital [ CON together + GEN birth ] born together.
Consensus [ CON together + SENS to feel ] a feeling together; general agreement.
Consummate [ CON together + SUMMA sum ] summed up together; completed or perfect in
every respect.
Contemporary [ CON together + TEMPOR time ] together in time.
Convene [ CON together + VEN to come ] to come together formally.
Convivial [ CON together + VIV to live ] fond of eating, drinking, and being sociable together.
Correlate to relate together; to show relationship.
ALSO : colloquial, colloquium, complacent, compulsive, concoct, concord, concourse, concur,
concurrent, conducive, congregation, conjugal, conscription, conversant, corrupt...
CRED -- believe
In the Middle age, it was customary for servants to carry the prepared food from the kitchen to a
small side table in the dining hall, where, in front of the master and his guests, one of the
servants would taste the food to show that it was not spoiled or poisoned. This side table came
to be called a credence ( belief of trust ), and today in France a side table is still called a
credence. Our English word credence no longer refers to our trust in the food we eat, but we still
speak of having credence (belief of trust) in what we read and in what people tell us.
credible -- believable
incredible -- unbelievable
credulous -- believing to readily
incredulous -- not believing readily
credulity -- tendency to believe readily
incredulity --tendency not to believe readily
Credence belief; acceptance as true.
Credential documents that cause others to believe in one.
Credibility trustworthiness.
Credible believable.
Credit trust, as financial credit; a source of honor, as a credit to one's family.
Discredit [ DIS not +CRED to believe ] not ot believe.
Miscreant [ MIS less + CRED to believe ] originally, an unbelievable in religion; now, an evildoer.
CUR -- to run
If you find it difficult to hang on to your money, don't be surprised,the word currency means
literally running. The currency in circulation in a country is constantly running from person to
person. And if currency should run through the hands of a person or a company too rapidly,
it might be the precursor [ PRE before + CUR to run ] or forerunner of banruptcy.
Concourse [ CON together + CUR to run ] a running together; a larger open space where
crowds gather.
Concur [ CON together + CUR to run ] to run together; to agree.
Concurrent [ CON together + CUR to run ] running together; occurring at the same time.
Courier [ CUR to run ] one who carries (runs with) messages.
Course a running onward from one point to the next, as the course of a stream; in education,
a series of studies leading (running) towards a degree.
Curriculum [ CUR to run ] originally, a race course; today, all the courses offered by an
educational institution.
Cursive [ CUR to run ] running alone.
Cursory running over rapidly without attention to detail; hasty and superficail.
Discourse [ DIS apart + CUR to run ] to run about; to speak at length; a formal lengthy
discussion of a subject.
Excursion [ EX out + CUR to run ] a running out somewhere; a short journey.
Occur [ OB toward + CUR to run ] to run toward, to take place; to happen.
Precursor [ PRE before + CUR to run ] a person or thing that runs before; a forerunner.
Recourse [ RE back + CUR to run ] a running back (for help); a running to someone or
something for help.
Recur [ RE again + CUR to run ] to run again; to happen again.
Recurrent [ RE back + CUR to run ] running back; running repeatedly.
DEM -- people
Many words have changed their meanings over the centuries, some having changed so much
that they now mean almost the opposite of what they meant originally. Demagogue is an
example. First used at the time of the Peloponnesian War, the word demagogue
[ DEM people + AGOG leader ] referred to a leader or orator who championed the cause of the
common people of Athens in their fight against aristocrats of Sparta. Gradually through the
years, however, such leaders began pursuing their own interests rather than helping the people,
and today a demagogue is a political leader who makes impasssioned appeals to the
emotions and prejudices of people to gain personal power.
Democracy [ DEM people + CRAC to rule ] people rule.
Demographic [ DEM people + GRAPH to write ] writing about people; pertaining to the study
of human populations, especially their density, distribution, and vital statistics.
Endemic [EN in + DEM people ] native to a particular people or country, as an endemic
disease which occurs only among certain people, or an endemic plant or animal,
which is found only in a certain location.
Epidemic [ EPI upon + DEM people ] upon the people; a disease or other abnormal condition
spreading rapidly among many people.
Pandemic [ PAN all + DEM people ] among all the people; widespread.
DICT -- speak
The word addict has a long history. In Roam law, to addict a person meant to turn that person
over to a master by sentence (speaking) of the court. Through the years addict has kept
something of its old meaning in that now refers to turning oneself over to a habit, which can,
of course, be a master.
Abdicate [ AB away + DICT to speak, proclaim ] to proclaim away, to renounce formally a
throne or high office.
Addict [ AD to + DICT to speak ] to speak or to sentence oneself; to give oneself habitually
or compulsively to something.
Contradict [ CONTRA against + DICT to speak ] to speak against; to assert the opposite of
&es the farewell speech at commencement.
Dictator one whose speech is to be taken as the final word; one who orders other around.
Dictatorial speaking and acting in a domineering or oppressive way.
Diction choice of words in speaking or writing.
Dictum a formal or authoritative statement (speech).
Edict [ E out + DICT to speak ] a speaking out; an official decree.
Jurisdiction [ JURIS law + DICT to speak ] the right to interpret (speak) and apply the law; legal
power to hear and decide cases; the extent of such judicial or other authority.
Predict [ PRE before + DICT before ] to speak forehand; to foretell.
Valedictorian [ VALE farewell + DICT to speak ] a tudent, usually of the highest scholastic
standing , who gives the farewell speech at commencement.
DIS, DI, IDF -- not, away, apart
It was important in Roman times to start a journey or begin in a new venture on a lucky day. One
way to find out whether a day was favorable was to consult the stars. If the stars were not in a
favorable position, the outcome of any undertaking begun on that day was certain be a
Disaster [ DIS not + ASTER star ].
Disarray [ DIS not + AREER to array ] not arrayed or arranged properly; a state of disorder or
confusion; disorderly dress.
Disburse [ DIS away + BURSA purse ] to take away from a purse; to pay out, as front a fund.
Discomfit [ DIS not + COM together + FAC to do ] to undo; to thwart the plans of; make uneasy.
Disconcert [ DIS not + CONCERT to bring into agreement ] to upset; to frustrate.
Disconsolate not able to be consoled hopelessly sad.
Disparate [ DIS not + PAR equal ] not equal, unlike.
Disparity [ DIS not + PAR equal ] difference, unlikeness.
Dissect [ DIS apart + SEC to cut ] to cut apart.
Disseminate [ DIS apart + SEMIN seed ] to spread abroad as if sowing seed.
Dissent [ DIS apart + sent to sit ] to differ in opinion or feeling;
Dissident [ DIS apart + SID to sit ] sitting apart.
Dissuade [ DIS away + SUAD to persuade ] to turn a person away (from a course) by
persuasion.
Distract [ DIS apart + TRACT to draw ] to draw away the attention.
Diverse [ DI away + VERS to turn ] turneaway from each other.
Divorce [ DI away + VERS to turn ] a dissolution of a marriage.
ALSO : diffident, diffuse, discord, discourse, discrepancy, discursive, dismiss, disparage,
dispel, dispense, disrupt, dissolution, dissonant, distort, diversity, divert.
EQU -- equal
If you are looking for the climate that's equally pleasant in summer and winter, you're looking for
an equable climate. If you're eager for spring, you're waiting for the spring equinox, when days
and nights are equal. If you want a fair settlement of a legal case, you want an equitable
settlement. And if you can remain equally calm and composed under pleasant or unpleasant
circumstances, you're able to maintain your equanimity.
Adequate [ AD to + EQU equal ] equal to what is required; sufficient.
Equinox [ EQU equal +NOX night ] equal night
Equivocate [ EQU equal + VOC voice ] to use equal voices; to make statement with two
possible meanings in order to mislead.
EU -- good, well
If you are in a state of euphoria, you feel that life is good, that everything is going well. EU
always means good or well. A eulogy is a speech that says good things about someone;
euphonious prose has a pleasant (good) sound; and the controversial subject of
euthanasia is concerned literally with a good death, a death for merciful reasons.
Do you ever use euphemisms ??
Eulogize [ EU good + LOG speech ] to give a good speech.
Euphony [ EU good + PHON sound ] good sound; a harmonious succession of words having
a pleasing sound.
EX, EX, E -- out
Our word escape means breaking loose from any confinement, but originally it had a more
picturesque meaning. In Roman time, perhaps when a jailor was trying to hang on to a prisoner
by his cape, the prisoner slipped out of his cape and left it in the hands of the jailor.
Ebullient [ E out + BULL to bubble or boil ] bubbling out; overflowing with enthusiasm.
Educate [ E out + DUC lead ] to lead out (draw out ) the inborn abilities of a pupil.
Efface [ E out + FAC face ] to remove the face of; wipe out.
Eject [ E out + JECT throw ] throw out forcefully.
Emigrate [ E out + MIGRA to move ] move out of a country ( in contrast to immigrate, which
means to move into a country.)
Emit [ E out + MIT to send ] send out.
Emolument [ E out + MOL to grind ] originally a miller's fee for grinding (out) grain; now, a
payment for services rendered.
Enervate [ E out + NERV nerve ] to take out the nerve.
Eradicate [ E out + RIDIC root ] tear out by the roots; to destroy.
Erase [ E out + RAS to scrape ] scrape out.
Excavate [ EX out + CAV hollow ] to hollow out.
Exclaim [ EX out + CLAM to shout ] shout out.
Excoriate [ EX out + COR skin ] to strip the skin off; to denounce harshly.
Exodus [ EX out + OD way ] a way out.
Exonerate [ EX out + ONER burden ] take the burden out.
Expatiate [ EX out + SPATIUM space, course ] to wander out of the course; digress.
Expatriate [ EX out + PATRIA native country ] one who has left one's country or renounced
allegiance to it.
Expel [ EX out + PEL to drive ] to drive out.
Export [ EX out + PORT to carry ] carry out of a country.
Expurgate [ EX out + PURG to clean ] clean out; take out obscene or objectionable materials.
Exterminate [ EX out + TERMINUS boundary ] put things out of the boundary; to destroy living
things by killing off all individuals.
Did you ever wonder how Fido got his name ?? He's called Fido because he's faithful to his
Emit [ E out + MIT to send ] send out.
Emolument [ E out + MOL to grind ] originally a miller's fee for grinding (out) grain; now, a
payment for services rendered.
Enervate [ E out + NERV nerve ] to take out the nerve.
Eradicate [ E out + RIDIC root ] tear out by the roots; to destroy.
Erase [ E out + RAS to scrape ] scrape out.
Excavate [ EX out + CAV hollow ] to hollow out.
Exclaim [ EX out + CLAM to shout ] shout out.
Excoriate [ EX out + COR skin ] to strip the skin off; to denounce harshly.
Exodus [ EX out + OD way ] a way out.
Exonerate [ EX out + ONER burden ] take the burden out.
Expatiate [ EX out + SPATIUM space, course ] to wander out of the course; digress.
Expatriate [ EX out + PATRIA native country ] one who has left one's country or renounced
allegiance to it.
Expel [ EX out + PEL to drive ] to drive out.
Export [ EX out + PORT to carry ] carry out of a country.
Expurgate [ EX out + PURG to clean ] clean out; take out obscene or objectionable materials.
Exterminate [ EX out + TERMINUS boundary ] put things out of the boundary; to destroy living
things by killing off all individuals.
FID -- faith
Did you ever wonder how Fido got his name ?? He's called Fido because he's faithful to his
master. The root FID always has something to do with faith. Fidelity means faithful, and infidelity.
If you are confident, you have faith in yourself, but if you are diffident [ DI not + FID faith ], you
don't have faith in yourself. Sometimes, confide and several other words below, CON is used
merely as an intensive, giving more emphasis to the root that follows.
Bona Fide [ BON good + Fid faith ] in good faith, genuine.
Confident [ CON intensive + FID faith ] a person who has faith in.
Perfidious [ PER through + FID faith ] unfaithfulness, especially in marriage.
GEN -- birth, race, kind
In ancient mythology, when a child was born, a guardian spirit or genius (so named because it
a appeared at birth) was appointed to guide the person through the life. Today, although we no
longer believe we are given in guiding genius at birth, we may still have within us from birth a
genius for something such as painting. Thus the ancient guiding genius has now become an
exceptional intellectual or creative ability.
GEN has four main meanings.
1. First of all, GEN means birth - not only the birth of people but also the birth of things
(an engine generates or gives birth to electricity) and the birth of ideas
(angry words engender or give birth to hate whereas kind words engender love.)
Engender to give birth to
Generate produce
Genesis the birth or coming into being of anything;
Hydrogen [ Hydro water + GEN birth ] a gas so called because it generate (gives birth to) water
by its combustion.
Ingenious [ IN in + GEN birth ] having inborn talent;
Ingenuous [ IN in + GEN birth ] freeborn honest.
2. GEN indicates noble or good birth or breeding.
Generous liberal in giving as a person of noble birth would be.
Genial having a friendly and kindly manner.
Genteel having an aristocratic quality; refined in manner.
Gentry people of gentle birth or high social position.
3. GEN means race. If you are interested in your family history, you are interested in genealogy
, the study of the ancestors of a family.
Gene an element of germ plasm that transmits characteristics of the parents, and hence of
race, to a child.
Genetics the science if hereditary.
Genocide [ GEN race + CID to kill ] the systematic, palnned killing of a racial, political, or
cultural group.
Progenitor [ PRO forth + GEN birth ] a direct ancestor.
Progeny [ PRO birth + GEN birth ] children or descendants.
4. GEN means category or kind.
Generic general kind
Genre a particular kind or category of literature or art.
GRAPH, GRAM -- to write
We don't usually think of geography as having anything to do with writing, but it is made up of GEO, earth, and GRAPH, to write, and is actually a writing about the surface of the Earth.
Autograph [ AUTO self + GRAPH to write ] the writing of oneself.
Calligraphy [ CALL beautiful + GRAPH to write ] the art of fine handwriting.
Cardiogram [ CARD heart + GRAM to write ] a written tracing showing the contractions of the
heart.
Choreography [ CHOR dance + GRAPH to write ] the writing of a story in dance.
Diagram [ DIA through + GRAM to write ] a writing to show through something.
Epigram [ EPI on + GRAM to write ] a writing on a subject.
Graffiti crude drawings or writings scratched on a public.
Graphite a soft, black, lustrous form of carbon found in nature and used in pencils.
Hologram [ HOLO whole + GRAM write ] a three-dimension photograph made using lasers.
Seismograph [ SEISMIS earthquake + GRAPH to write ] an instrument for recording the
intensity and duration of an earthquake.
Topography [ TOP place + GRAPH to write ] a detailed drawing (writing) on a map of the
surface features of a region (place) showing their relative positions and
elevations.
LOG -- speech, word
Words containing the root LOG have to do with speech. A monologue is a speech by one
person. A dialogue is speech between two or more people. A prologue is a speech before a
play, and an epilogue is a speech after it. ( Note that all of these words can also be spelled
without the ue ending. )
Analogy [ ANA according to + LOG speech, reason ] similar in some ways but not in others.
Apology [ APO away + LOG speech ] a speaking away; a speech expressing regret for a fault.
ALSO : Eulogy, logic
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