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pandemic
pan- is a Greek prefix that often means all
-dem- comes from a Greek word meaning people, demos
-ic as a suffix forms an adjective & means pertaining to
prefix + root = all + people + pertaining to
= pertaining to all people ✓
Part of speech:
adjective
Synonym(s):
widespread
disease
Sample usage:
Diseases are considered pandemic when they affect an entire country or the whole world.
translucent
trans- is a Latin prefix meaning through
-luc- comes from a Latin word meaning light, lux
-ent as a suffix creates an adjective & means causing/allowing
prefix + root + suffix = through + light + allowing
= allowing light through ✓
Part of speech:
adjective
Synonym(s):
semi-transparent
see-through
Sample usage:
Translucent dividers separated the test-takers and allowed only light and shadows to be seen from the other side.
equanimity
equa- comes from a Latin word meaning even, aequus
-anim- comes from a Latin word meaning spirit, animus
-ity as a suffix creates an noun & means a state of
prefix + root + suffix = even + spirit + a state of
= a state of evenness of spirit ✓
Part of speech:
noun
Synonym(s):
composure
serenity
calm
Sample usage:
Students of meditation may practice noticing moments in which they experience equanimity; improving awareness of when the spirit is calm helps develop sharper focus.
herbivorous
herbi- comes from a Latin word meaning plant, herbis
-vor- comes from a Latin word meaning to eat, vorare
-ous as a suffix creates an adjective & means full of
prefix + root + suffix = plant + to eat + full of
= plant-eating ✓
Part of speech:
adjective
Synonym(s):
anti-carnivorous
vegetarian
Sample usage:
Many ancient humans were largely herbivorous. Indeed, plants are more plentiful, easier to collect, and more reliable sources of energy.
circumspect
circum- is a Latin prefix meaning around
-spect comes from a Latin word meaning to watch/look, spectare
prefix + root = around + to look + full of
= full of looking around; wary ✓
Part of speech:
adjective
Synonym(s):
prudent
careful
Sample usage:
Keeping a circumspect attitude is ideal when filling in a bubble sheet, as extra focus helps students avoid making careless errors.
delegate
de- is a Latin prefix that often means down
-leg- comes from a Latin word meaning to appoint, legare
-ate as a suffix creates a verb & means to act by
prefix + root + suffix = down + to appoint + to act by
= to act by appointing down ✓
Part of speech:
verb
Synonym(s):
designate
assign
Sample usage:
The ability to delegate allows true leaders to focus on the tasks they're most suited for by selecting others to work on the rest.
philanthropy
phil- comes from a Greek word meaning loving, philos
-anthr- comes from a Greek word meaning man, anthropos
-opy as a suffix creates a noun & means vision-related
prefix + root + suffix = loving + man + vision
= vision of loving of man; generosity ✓
Part of speech:
noun
Synonym(s):
altruism
charity
Sample usage:
Demonstrating interest in philanthropy strengthens college applications, as it shows how students value spending their time helping others.
homogenize
homo- comes from a Greek word meaning same, homos
-gen- comes from a Greek word meaning kind, genos
-ize as a suffix creates a verb & means make to be
prefix + root + suffix = same + kind + make to be
= make to be the same kind ✓
Part of speech:
verb
Synonym(s):
integrate
blend
Sample usage:
The SAT and ACT attempt to homogenize and test high school academic standards nationwide.
elapse
e- is a Latin prefix that often means away from
-lapse- comes from a Latin word meaning to slip, lapsare
prefix + root = away + to slip
= to slip away ✓
Part of speech:
verb
Synonym(s):
pass by
expire
Sample usage:
Whenever possible on timed assignments, it's helpful to leave a few minutes to check over your answers before time elapses.
helicopter
helico- comes from a Greek word meaning spiral, helikos
-pter comes from a Greek word meaning wing, pteron
prefix + root = spiral + wing
= spiral wing ✓
Part of speech:
noun
Synonym(s):
flying machine
hovercraft
Sample usage:
Parents who are over-involved to a fault are sometimes described as helicopters, due to their incessant hovering.
contract
con- is a Latin prefix that often means together
-tract comes from a Latin word meaning to draw, trahare
prefix + root = together + to draw
= to draw together ✓
Part of speech:
verb
Synonym(s):
shorten
lessen
Sample usage:
If you're expecting a sudden temperature drop, you can watch your skin contract into goosebumps that help you stay warm.
deluge
de- as a prefix often means away
-luge comes from the Latin word for to wash, lavare
prefix + root = away to wash
= to wash away ✓
Part of speech:
verb
Synonym(s):
inundate
overwhelm
Sample usage:
To avoid feeling deluged by new information, it's helpful to break an overwhelming subject down into smaller sections to approach at your own pace.
succulent
succ- comes from a Latin word meaning juice, succus
-ulent forms an adjective & means full of
prefix + root = juice + full of
= juicy ✓
Part of speech:
adjective
Synonym(s):
luscious
fleshy
Sample usage:
Thanks to their water-retaining nature, succulent plants — like cacti — are great choices for forgetful gardeners.
gravity
grav- comes from a Latin word meaning heavy, gravis
-ity as a suffix creates an noun & means a state of
root + suffix = heavy + a state of
= heaviness ✓
Part of speech:
noun
Synonym(s):
seriousness
importance
weight
Sample usage:
Students who experience test anxiety feel the difference in gravity between a practice test and a real test more strongly.
patriotic
patri- comes from a Latin word meaning loyal to one's own country, patriotikos
-otic as a suffix forms an adjective & means relating to
root + suffix = loyal to one's country + related to
= relating to national loyalty ✓
Part of speech:
verb
Synonym(s):
nationalistic
loyal
Sample usage:
Patriotic symbols often include a country's national bird, flower, and colors.
desiccate
de- is a Latin prefix that often means totally
-siccate comes from a Latin word meaning to dry, siccare
prefix + root = totally + to dry
= to dry completely ✓
Part of speech:
verb
Synonym(s):
dehydrate
parch
Sample usage:
In wintertime, it's helpful to use moisturizer to prevent your skin from feeling desiccated by the cold, harsh air.
nostalgia
nost- comes from a Greek word meaning homecoming, nostos
-algia comes from a Greek word meaning pain, algos
prefix + root = homecoming + pain
= yearning or pain related to the past ✓
Part of speech:
noun
Synonym(s):
homesickness
longing
Sample usage:
Rediscovering favorite books or activities from childhood can be a pleasant way of indulging nostalgia.
insalubrious
in- as a prefix often means not
-salubri- comes from the Latin word for health, salus
-ous as a suffix creates an adjective & means full of
prefix + root + suffix = not health full of
= unhealthy ✓
Part of speech:
adjective
Synonym(s):
unwholesome
Sample usage:
When eating a meal on a test day morning, be sure to avoid insalubrious foods and give your body plenty of healthy energy instead.
dissonance
dis- comes from a Latin prefix meaning bad
-son- comes from a Latin word meaning sound, sonare
-ance as a suffix creates a noun & means a state of
prefix + root + suffix = bad + sound + a state of
= a state of bad sound ✓
Part of speech:
noun
Synonym(s):
discord
disharmony
Sample usage:
Many test-takers experience dissonance when someone nearby makes a distracting noise.
consecutive
con- is a Latin prefix that often means together with
-secut- comes from a Latin word meaning to follow, secutus
-ive as a suffix creates an adjective & means relating to
prefix + root + suffix = together with + to follow + relating to
= relating to following together ✓
Part of speech:
adjective
Synonym(s):
sequential
following
Sample usage:
In math, "consecutive" describes numbers that come right after one another. (1, 2, 3...)
fragment
frag- comes from a Latin word meaning to break, fractere
-ment as a suffix often creates a noun & means a state of
root + suffix = to break + a state of
= a state of being broken ✓
Part of speech:
noun
Synonym(s):
piece
shard
Sample usage:
If even a fragment of a multiple choice answer option seems different from what you read, eliminate that answer choice.
metamorphosis
meta- is a Greek prefix that often means change
-morph- comes from a Greek word meaning shape, morphe
-osis as a suffix creates an adjective & means state of
prefix + root + suffix = change + shape + state of
= state of changing shape ✓
Part of speech:
noun
Synonym(s):
transformation
change
Sample usage:
The metamorphosis of a caterpillar is a strange process: it completely liquifies in the cocoon before transforming into a butterfly.
benefactor
bene- is a Latin prefix that often means good
-fact- comes from a Latin word meaning to do, facere
-or as a suffix creates an noun & means thing which
prefix + root + suffix = good + to do + thing which
= thing which does good ✓
Part of speech:
adjective
Synonym(s):
supporter
philanthropist
patron
Sample usage:
The mysterious benefactor always made donations anonymously.
magnanimous
magn- is a Latin prefix that often means large
-anim- comes from a Latin word meaning spirit, animus
-ous as a suffix creates an adjective & means full of
prefix + root + suffix = large + spirit + full of
= full of large spirit ✓
Part of speech:
adjective
Synonym(s):
big-hearted
unselfish
Sample usage:
The magnanimous teacher was so dedicated to her students that she made sure to return each graded assignment the very next class.
mellifluous
melli- comes from a Latin word meaning honey, mel
-flu- comes from a Latin word meaning to flow, fluere
-ous as a suffix creates an adjective & means full of
prefix + root + suffix = honey + to flow sweetly + full of
= full of flowing honey ✓
Part of speech:
adjective
Synonym(s):
harmonious
Sample usage:
The mellifluous instrumental music calmed their nerves and made it easier to study.
invidious
in- is a Latin prefix that often means against
-vidi- comes from a Latin word meaning to see/look, videre
-ous as a suffix creates an adjective & means full of
prefix + root + suffix = against + to look + full of
= full of looking against; hateful ✓
Part of speech:
adjective
Synonym(s):
defamatory
spiteful
Sample usage:
When taking a test, rarely will an answer that seems invidious be the correct choice. If an answer seems offensive, it's a good one to eliminate.
phototropic
photo- comes from a Greek word meaning light, phos
-trop- comes from a Greek word meaning to turn, tropein
-ic as a suffix creates an adjective & means pertaining to
prefix + root + suffix = light + to turn + pertaining to
= tending to turn toward light ✓
Part of speech:
adjective
Synonym(s):
light-orienting
Sample usage:
Sunflowers are named both for their appearance and phototropic nature; when the sun is hidden by clouds, they turn toward each other.
corpulent
corp- comes from a Latin word meaning body, corpus
-ulent as a suffix creates an adjective & means full of
prefix + root + suffix = body + full of
= full of body ✓
Part of speech:
adjective
Synonym(s):
obese
fat
Sample usage:
Before hibernating, bears become quite corpulent; they must put on weight to use as energy during the winter.
abjure
ab- is a Latin prefix that often means off of/away from
-jure- comes from a Latin word meaning to swear/vow, iurare
prefix + root = off of + swear
= swear off of ✓
Part of speech:
verb
Synonym(s):
withdraw
renounce
recant
Sample usage:
Unless another animal speeds up, the cheetah will not have to abjure its title as the fastest land mammal.
tropical
trop- comes from a Greek word meaning to turn, tropein
-ical forms an adjective & means relating to
root + suffix = to turn + relating to
= relating to turning ✓
Part of speech:
adjective
Synonym(s):
verdant
lush
Sample usage:
Picturing a serene, tropical oasis can be a pleasant way to meditate before a stressful event.
intertwine
inter- as a prefix often means between
-twine comes from a Old Norse word meaning to double, tvinna
prefix + root = between + to double
= to double between ✓
Part of speech:
verb
Synonym(s):
twist together
interlace
Sample usage:
The groundskeeper loves the way the vines intertwine in a serpentine design up the stone walls of the castle.
skeletal
skele- comes from a Greek word meaning bone, skeles
-tal forms an adjective & means relating to
root + suffix = bone + relating to
= relating to bone ✓
Part of speech:
adjective
Synonym(s):
bony
Sample usage:
Skeletal remains are valuable repositories of information about creatures that have passed away.
bisect
bi- comes from a Latin word meaning two
-sect comes from a Latin word meaning to cut, secare
prefix + root = two + to cut
= to cut in two ✓
Part of speech:
verb
Synonym(s):
halve
Sample usage:
If you stand in the right spot at the beach, the horizon will appear to bisect the sky and the distant ocean.
aquatic
aqua- comes from a Latin word meaning water, aqua
-tic as a suffix forms an adjective & means relating to
root + suffix = water+ relating to
= water-related ✓
Part of speech:
adjective
Synonym(s):
amphibious
Sample usage:
While aquatic life has been the subject of study for millenia, we are still discovering new species to this day.
epidemic
epi- is a Greek prefix that often means upon
-demic comes from a Greek word meaning people, demos
-ic as a suffix forms an adjective & means pertaining to
prefix + root + suffix = upon + people + pertaining to
= pertaining to being on people ✓
Part of speech:
adjective
Synonym(s):
pestilent
Sample usage:
By containing a highly-contagious, epidemic disease in time, regions can protect larger areas from the spread of infection.
endemic
en- as a prefix comes from Greek and means in
-dem- comes from a Greek word meaning people, demos
-ic as a suffix forms an adjective & means pertaining to
root + suffix = in + people + pertaining to
= pertaining to a specific people ✓
Part of speech:
adjective
Synonym(s):
localized
native
Sample usage:
Plant species endemic to certain regions may have devastating effects when introduced to non-native environments.
epicenter
epi- is a Greek prefix that often means upon
-center comes from a Greek word meaning sharp point, kentron
root + suffix = upon + sharp point
= most intense point ✓
Part of speech:
noun
Synonym(s):
focus
Sample usage:
The damage was the worst near the epicenter of the earthquake, where the intensity was felt the most strongly.
pandemonium
pan- is a Greek prefix that often means all
-demonium comes from a Greek word meaning lesser demon, deimonion
prefix + root = all + lesser demons
= state of chaos ✓
Part of speech:
noun
Synonym(s):
confusion
disorder
uproar
Sample usage:
Maintaining order and avoiding pandemonium is essential to keeping the peace in uncertain times.
levity
lev- comes from a Latin word meaning light (in weight), levis
-ity as a suffix creates a noun & means a state of
root + suffix = light + a state of
= lightness; lack of gravity ✓
Part of speech:
noun
Synonym(s):
frivolity
jollity
Sample usage:
When it's appropriate, levity is often welcome in essays. Many readers can relate to a piece of writing more when humor is used.
vaccinate
vaccin- comes from a Greek word meaning from cows, vaccinus
-ate as a suffix forms a verb and often means to produce
root + suffix = from cows + to produce
= to produce from cows ✓
Part of speech:
verb
Synonym(s):
immunize
inoculate
Sample usage:
In the early 1800s, cowpox was used to build immunity to smallpox and is where the bovine term "vaccinate" originates.
contagion
con- is a Latin prefix that often means together
-tag- comes from a Latin word meaning to touch, tangere
-ion as a suffix creates a noun and means act of
prefix + root + suffix = together + to touch + act of
= touching together ✓
Part of speech:
noun
Synonym(s):
infection
disease
Sample usage:
Washing your hands thoroughly is an excellent way to avoid being infected by a contagion spread to you by a contaminated surface or person.
quarantine
quarantine comes from a Latin word meaning forty, quadraginta
root (+ historic context) = relating to the forty days a ship was kept in harbor to avoid spreading disease ✓
Part of speech:
noun
Synonym(s):
isolation
seclusion
Sample usage:
Those found to be violating quarantine, and endangering the lives of others by potentially spreading a contagion, will likely be subject to legal consequences.
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