Over the years, sophomore English teacher Mr. Allen instilled in his students a great understanding of the English language through his vocabulary at the beginning of class.
Last year he retired.
As one of his former students (Yes, a long time ago.), I wanted to continue this tradition.
So, thanks Mr. Allen for letting me steal your vocabulary list.
Lots of English words can be traced back to Latin and Greek. Often you can guess the meaning of an unfamiliar word if you
use the Latin & Greek clues.
Vocabulary Plan of AttackIn a designated spiral, or section of a notebook--• Write down the Latin or Greek prefix/suffix/root & its
meaning• Write down the words derived (made from) it & their
meaningsTest over words about once a week – Mondays? (Sometimes, you might get to use your notes.)Extra Credit: If you find one of the vocabulary words we have gone over in class in the Real World, show me and you’ll get five extra credit points. Max of 20 points a quarter.
1. Mor = Death
1. mortal: capable of death; fatal2. immortal: can’t die3. morbid: deals with death4. morose: sad, gloomy5. mortify: to humiliate; kill ego
2. Lit = letter, word
1. literate: can read & write2. illiterate: can’t read & write3. obliterate: to erase; destroy4. literally: really, actually5. Alliteration: repeating a
consonant letter sound for effect
3. bene/bon = good, well
1. bona fide: genuine, authentic2. Pro bono: for the good of man
no charge3. beneficiary: one who gets the
goods4. Benefactor: sponsor, supporter5. Benign: harmless, won’t hurt
4. Trans = across
1. transcript: official written copy2. transient: nomadic, moving,
(n)hobo, bum3. transcent: to cross a border,
boundary (abstract)4. transparent: see through5. transaction: business deal
5. Phil = love1. Philadelphia: city of brotherly love2. philander: to flirt, cheat on spouse3. philanthropist: one who loves
people, donates money4. Anglophile: one who loves
England5. bibliophile: one who loves
books
6. Omni = all1. omniscient: all-knowing2. omnipresent: everywhere3. omnipotent: all-powerful4. omnivore: eats all5. carnivore: eats meat
7. Greg = group
1. segregate: to split into groups2. desegregate: to end segregation3. integrate: to mix groups4. gregarious: friendly, social5. egregious: outstandingly bad,
antisocial
8. Ante = before1. ante: bid, wager money2. antecedent: a noun a pronoun
replaces(Mr. Allen isn’t here. He retired.)
3. antebellum: before the Civil War (1860)
4. a.m.: ante meridiem, before noon
5. anteroom: a room in the front
9. Theo = god, religion
1. theology: study of religion2. monotheism: belief in one god3. atheist: one who has no god4. polytheism: belief in many gods5. theocracy: government
centered around religion
1. fledgling: rookie2. underling: one beneath you in
rank3. sapling: young, undeveloped
tree4. inkling: small idea, hint, clue5. kindling: small bits of wood
10. Ling = small, young
1. credible: can be believed2. incredible: can’t be believed3. incredulous: doubtful, shocked4. accredited: approved by
authorities5. discredit: shown as being false
11. Cred = believe
1. illicit: illegal and immoral2. license: permit, to permit3. solicit: to approach for
business/help4. licit: legal and moral5. solicitor: British lawyer
12. Lic = allow,permit
1. monologue: speech made alone2. monotone: a voice with only
one pitch3. monotonous: boring4. monolith: a towering pointing
rock formation5. monarch: a sole crowned ruler
13. mono= one
1. biology: study of living things2. geology: study of rocks, earth3. zoology: study of animals4. anthropology: study of man’s
past evolution5. paleontology: study of fossils
14. ology= study of
1. graphic: very detailed2. cartography: map making3. agraphia: inability to write4. calligraphy: beautiful
handwriting5. demographics: mapping
populations, trends
15. graph=write
1. cantor: a song leader2. chant: a short repeating song3. incantation: a special religious
or magical phrase (spoken)4. recant: to take back in public5. enchanted: touched by magic
16. Cant = sing
1. astrology: study of stars affect on us(horoscopes)
2. astronomy: scientific study of stars
3. asterisk: small star for noting4. disaster: terrible event5. astronomical: very high;
expensive
17. Astro = star
18. eu=nice, pleasant
1. euphemism: a nice way of saying something harsh
2. euphoria: pleasant feeling3. euthanasia: mercy killing4. eulogy: a speech at a funeral5. eureka: a shout of delight; “I
found it!”
1. porter: one who carries luggage2. import: to ship product into the
country3. export: to ship a product out of the
country4. deport: to ship a person out of the
country5. portable: can be carried
19. Port = carry
1. canine: dogs2. feline: cats3. lupine: wolves4. bovine: cows5. serpentine: snakes
20. Ine = animal
1. polygamy: more than one spouse
2. polymorph: more than one form3. polyglot: speaks many
languages4. polysyllabic: large vocabulary5. polydactyl: extra toes or fingers
21. Poly = many
1. claustrophobia: fear of small, closed areas
2. agoraphobia: fear of open spaces
3. acrophobia: fear of heights4. canophobia: fear of dogs5. gatophobia: fear of cats
22. Phobia = fear
23. Post = after, rear1. posterior: the back of2. postlude: music, chapter, scene at
the end3. post mortem: after death;
autopsy4. p.m.: post meridiem – after noon5. postnasal: at the back of your
nose
1. Annual: once a year2. Biannual: twice a year3. Perennial: comes back each
year4. Centennial: marks 100 years5. Per diem: per day; daily
allowance
24. anni, enni = year
1. amphitheatre: stage with audience surrounding
2. amphibian: animal that live on land & water
3. ambivalent: mixed feelings4. ambiguous: two meanings5. ambidextrous: both handed
25. amphi, ambi = both
1. Par: average/normal2. Parallel: next to 3. Paraphrase: translation into
own words4. Paragon: model of excellence5. Parasite: one who feeds off
others
26. Par = equal, next to
1. realist: one who sees things as they really are
2. idealist: one who sees things as you hope they are
3. pessimist: negative thinker4. optimist: positive thinker5. alarmist: one who worries
constantly
27. Ist = one who
1. synonym: words with the same meaning
2. synchronize: coordinate in time3. synopsis: a summary4. synthetic: fake5. synthesize: to mix, blend
28. Syn = the same as
1. vocal: sung, spoken2. revoke: to call back; return to
issuer3. provoke: to initiate4. vocation: career; a calling5. avocation: a hobby
29. Voc = to call
1. legal: lawful2. illegal: not lawful3. legitimate: recognized by
authorities4. illegitimate: not recognized by
authorities5. privilege: a special right
30. Leg = law
1. natal: deals with birth2. innate: natural; comes from
within3. naïve: innocent4. neo-nate: an infant5. renaissance: rebirth
31. Nat = birth
1. unique: one of a kind2. unilateral: one sided3. unanimous: agreed upon by all4. anonymous: unsigned
32. Uni = one
33. Pend = hang
1. dependent: relies on other2. pendant (n): jewelry that hangs
around nect3. pending: nt yet completed4. impending: about to happen5. appenix: an addition at the end
1. intramural: within the building2. intravenous: through the veins3. introvert: one who is shy;
withdrawn4. introspect: to reflect on yourself5. intrinsic: natural; comes from
within
34. intra= within
1. interstate: goes between states2. intermittent: off and on3. intervene: to com between two
parties4. interlude: the time in between5. interjection: a word tossed in
for emotion
35. inter=between
1. homicide: killing a person2. suicide: killing yourself3. patricide: killing your dad4. matricide: killing your mom5. fratricide: killing your brother;
countrymen
36. Cide = kill
37. Soph = wise1. sophistry: clever but illogical
reasoning2. philosophy: underlying truth or
principle3. sophomore: a 2nd year person;
“wise fool”4. sophomoric: silly, foolish5. sophisticated: complex
1. malignant: harmful2. malice: intentional harm3. malady: common illness4. maladroit: clumsy, awkward5. malevolent: evil; wicked
38. mal=bad
1. habit: constant behavior2. habitat: surroundings3. rehabilitate: give a new life4. habitual: done out of habit5. inhabitable: can be lived in
39. Hab = live
40. Mis = wrong, hatred
1. misspell: to spell incorrectly2. misdemeanor: petty crime3. mischievous: causes mischief4. misconception: wrong
information5. misconstrue: interpret
incorrectly
41. Chron = time
1. chronic: all the time2. synchronize: to coordinate in
time3. chronicle: a record4. chronology; events arranged by
time or date5. anachronism: something in the
wrong time period
42. temp= heat
1. temperate: mild, no extremes2. temperament: personality3. temperamental: moddy4. tempest: violent storm5. tempestuous: violent
43. Ana = backwards
1. Analyze(v): to understand by taking apart
2. Analysis(n):product after analyzing3. Analogy: comparison of two situations4. Anagram: a word made by scrambling
another (Live – vile)5. Apalindrome: a word that reads the
same backwards & forward. “Madam, I’m Adam.”
44. Al = other
1. Alternative: second choice2. Alibi: an excuse for being
elsewhere3. Alias: an assumed name4. Alma mater: school you
graduate from; school song5. Altruistic: considers others first
45. Sub = beneath
1. subterfuge: trickery2. subjugate: to place beneath in
importance3. subsidy: sponsored with public
money4. subsidiary: smaller company to a
larger corporation5. subliminal: beneath conscious level
46. Tempo = time
1. tempo: beat, rhythm2. contemporary: modern, new3. contemporaries(n): people who
are alive at the same time4. extemporaneous: spur of the
moment5. tempus fugit: time flies
47. pre=before
1. precarious: dangerous2. precocious: ahead of its time3. pretentious: flashy4. presumptuous: too confident5. precedent: something similar
that happened before
48. Corp = body
1. corps: a team2. corpse: dead body3. esprit de corps: team spirit4. corporal: physical; on the body5. corpulent: fat
49. mat= mother
1. maternal: motherly2. maternity: motherhood3. matron: distinguished married
woman4. matriculate: enroll in college5. matriarch: woman head of
house
50. due= to lead
1. induct: to enroll2. induce: to start a process3. deduce: to figure out by logi4. abduct: to take away with force5. conducive: promotes, leads to
51. dia=through
1. diameter:; longest distance through a circle
2. dialogue: talk between people3. diatribe: harst verbal attack4. diagram: map, blueprint5. dialect: variation of a language
52. fac= to make
1. faux: fake2. facsimile: a copy3. facile: easy4. facilitate: to make something
easier5. manufacture: make by hand
53. Dict = speak
1. diction: clear speaking2. valedictorian: #1 in class3. edict: new unquestioned law4. indicative: speak for, reflects
back5. abdicate: give up authority
54. Pat = father
1. paternity: fatherhood2. patronize: to support3. expatriate: to leave your
country4. repatriate: to return to a
country5. patrician: upper-class citizen
55. Epi = upon
1. epic: a very long story, poem, movie
2. epoch: a long time period, era3. epitaph: writing on a tombstone4. epigram: a short, witty
statement5. epigraph: a thematic quote
placed at the beginning
56. Path = emotions
1. sympathy: sharing another’s sorrows
2. empath: sharing another’s feelings3. apathy: a lack of feelings4. pathology: study of causes of
disease; death5. pathological: caused by emotions
57. vis= to see
1. visage: the usual expression on your face
2. vista: a distant, far-off view3. envision: to see in your mind4. visionary: one who sees ahead5. vis-à-vis: eye to eye; face to face
58. bi= two
1. biweekly: 1 time every 2 weeks2. bimonthly: 1 times every two
months3. bilateral: both, two sided4. bipartisan: made up ,
represented by both parties5. bipod: two feet
59. Tri = three
1. triumvirate: a three man government
2. tripod: three legs3. trifecta: a three way win
60. Vor = eat
1. omnivore: eats all2. carnivore: eats meat only3. herbivore: eats plants only4. voracity: huge appetite5. voracious: very hungry
61. Vest = clothes
1. invest: to install you into office2. divest: to remove you from
office3. vestibule: a large room at the
front for coats4. vestige: leftover; rag5. travesty: disgraceful example
62. Grat = thanks; please
1. gratitude: appreciation2. ingrate: one who doesn’t
appreciate3. ingratiate: to force yourself into
on’e favor4. gratis: for free5. gratuity: a tip
63. Magna = great
1. magnate(n): a powerful person2. magnum(adj): very powerful3. magnanimous: very generous4. magna cum laude: with high
honors
64. Cede = go
1. exceed: go beyond2. concede: admit defeat3. ced: yield4. preced: go before5. secede: go off, break away
65. Cognos = know
1. diagnosis: knowing from symptoms
2. prognosis: an educated guess3. cognition: learning4. incognito: in disguise5. cognizant: aware of
66. Loqu = talk
1. soliloquy: a speech made alone2. eloquent: very articulate3. colloquial: slang from a group4. loquacious: very talkative
67. clud, clus = close, shut
1. occlude: block your vision2. preclude: to prevent3. exclusive: not open to all4. inclusive: open to all5. recluse: a hermit
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