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 pandemic 

 pan- is a Greek prefix that often means all

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 -dem- comes from a Greek word meaning people, demos 

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 -ic as a suffix forms an adjective & means pertaining to 

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 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. 

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 translucent 

 trans- is a Latin prefix meaning through 

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 -luc- comes from a Latin word meaning light, lux 

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 -ent as a suffix creates an adjective & means causing/allowing 

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 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. 

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 equanimity 

 equa- comes from a Latin word meaning even, aequus 

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 -anim- comes from a Latin word meaning spirit, animus 

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 -ity as a suffix creates an noun & means a state of 

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 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. 

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 herbivorous 

 herbi- comes from a Latin word meaning plant, herbis 

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 -vor- comes from a Latin word meaning to eat, vorare 

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 -ous as a suffix creates an adjective & means full of 

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 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. 

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 circumspect 

 circum- is a Latin prefix meaning around 

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 -spect comes from a Latin word meaning to watch/look, spectare 

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 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. 

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 delegate 

 de- is a Latin prefix that often means down 

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 -leg- comes from a Latin word meaning to appoint, legare 

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 -ate as a suffix creates a verb & means to act by 

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 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. 

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 philanthropy 

 phil- comes from a Greek word meaning loving, philos 

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 -anthr- comes from a Greek word meaning man, anthropos 

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 -opy as a suffix creates a noun & means vision-related 

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 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. 

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 homogenize 

 homo- comes from a Greek word meaning same, homos 

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 -gen- comes from a Greek word meaning kind, genos 

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 -ize as a suffix creates a verb & means make to be 

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 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. 

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 elapse 

 e- is a Latin prefix that often means away from 

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 -lapse- comes from a Latin word meaning to slip, lapsare 

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 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. 

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 helicopter 

 helico- comes from a Greek word meaning spiral, helikos 

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 -pter comes from a Greek word meaning wing, pteron 

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 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. 

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 contract 

 con- is a Latin prefix that often means together 

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 -tract comes from a Latin word meaning to draw, trahare 

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 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. 

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 deluge 

 de- as a prefix often means away 

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 -luge comes from the Latin word for to wash, lavare 

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 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. 

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 succulent 

 succ- comes from a Latin word meaning juice, succus 

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 -ulent forms an adjective & means full of 

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 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. 

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 gravity 

 grav- comes from a Latin word meaning heavy, gravis 

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 -ity as a suffix creates an noun & means a state of 

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 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. 

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 patriotic 

 patri- comes from a Latin word meaning loyal to one's own country, patriotikos 

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 -otic as a suffix forms an adjective & means relating to 

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 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. 

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 desiccate 

 de- is a Latin prefix that often means totally 

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 -siccate comes from a Latin word meaning to dry, siccare 

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 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. 

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 nostalgia 

 nost- comes from a Greek word meaning homecoming, nostos 

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 -algia comes from a Greek word meaning pain, algos 

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 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. 

 www.learncurious.com/vocabulary 

 insalubrious 

 in- as a prefix often means not 

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 -salubri- comes from the Latin word for health, salus 

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 -ous as a suffix creates an adjective & means full of 

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 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. 

 www.learncurious.com/vocabulary 

 dissonance 

 dis- comes from a Latin prefix meaning bad 

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 -son- comes from a Latin word meaning sound, sonare 

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 -ance as a suffix creates a noun & means a state of 

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 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. 

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 consecutive 

 con- is a Latin prefix that often means together with 

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 -secut- comes from a Latin word meaning to follow, secutus 

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 -ive as a suffix creates an adjective & means relating to 

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 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...) 

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 fragment 

 frag- comes from a Latin word meaning to break, fractere 

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 -ment as a suffix often creates a noun & means a state of 

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 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. 

 www.learncurious.com/vocabulary 

 metamorphosis 

 meta- is a Greek prefix that often means change 

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 -morph- comes from a Greek word meaning shape, morphe 

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 -osis as a suffix creates an adjective & means state of 

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 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. 

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 benefactor 

 bene- is a Latin prefix that often means good 

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 -fact- comes from a Latin word meaning to do, facere 

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 -or as a suffix creates an noun & means thing which 

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 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. 

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 magnanimous 

 magn- is a Latin prefix that often means large 

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 -anim- comes from a Latin word meaning spirit, animus 

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 -ous as a suffix creates an adjective & means full of 

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 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. 

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 mellifluous 

 melli- comes from a Latin word meaning honey, mel 

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 -flu- comes from a Latin word meaning to flow, fluere 

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 -ous as a suffix creates an adjective & means full of 

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 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. 

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 invidious 

 in- is a Latin prefix that often means against 

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 -vidi- comes from a Latin word meaning to see/look, videre 

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 -ous as a suffix creates an adjective & means full of 

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 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. 

 www.learncurious.com/vocabulary 

 phototropic 

 photo- comes from a Greek word meaning light, phos 

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 -trop- comes from a Greek word meaning to turn, tropein 

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 -ic as a suffix creates an adjective & means pertaining to 

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 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. 

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 corpulent 

 corp- comes from a Latin word meaning body, corpus 

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 -ulent as a suffix creates an adjective & means full of 

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 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. 

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 abjure 

 ab- is a Latin prefix that often means off of/away from 

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 -jure- comes from a Latin word meaning to swear/vow, iurare 

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 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.