Vocabulary Lists
Vocabulary 1
1. verbum = word – verbose: wordy
2. sonus = sound – sonic: related to what can be heard
3. mille = thousand – millipede: “thousand” footed insect
4. polis = city – metropolis: mother city around which other smaller cities are clustered
5. tropos = turning – phototropic: turning toward light (as some plants do)
6. hypnos = sleep – hypnotic: tending to induce sleep
7. petros = rock/stone – petrified: made into stone
8. pathos = feeling/suffering – apathy: lack of feeling
9. ignis = fire – ignite: to set on fire
10. caput/capitis = head – captain: head of a group of soldiers
Vocabulary 2
1. scio/scitum = know – conscience: knowledge of right and wrong
2. frater/fratris = brother – fraternize: associate together on brotherly terms
3. pater/patris = father – patriarch: male leader of a family, tribe, or group
4. mater/matris = mother – matriarch: female leader of a family, tribe or group
5. arbor/arboris = tree – arboretum: public garden where trees are exhibited
6. tele = far away/distant – telescope: device for looking at distant objects
7. autos = self – autograph: one’s own name
8. biblos = book – bibliography: list of books on a particular subject
9. bracchium = arm – embrace: to take into one’s arms
10. pono/positum = lay/put/place – repose: lie back, pause, rest in place
Vocabulary 4
1. figo/fixum = fix/fasten/attach – affix: to attach an object to something else
2. phone = sound – symphony: sounds that go together
3. stella = star – constellation: group of stars
4. bios = life – autobiography: written story of one’s own life
5. unus = one – universe: star galaxy that turns/moves as one entity
6. techne = art/skill – technique: manner of applied skill
7. bonus = good – debonaire: of good disposition
8. cum = with/together – combat: to fight together with
9. plico/plicatum = fold – explicit: to make matters clear or unfold them
10. facio/factum = do/make – factory: place for making things
Vocabulary 5
1. curro/cursum = run – recur: run into again, occurring multiple times
2. luna = moon – lunacy: madness caused by the moon
3. corpus/corporis = body – corporeal: pertaining to the body
4. discipulus = student – discipline: a field of study
5. urbs/urbis = city – urbane: polite, with city manners
6. chronos = time – synchronize: to do at the same time
7. sauros = lizard – dinosaur: terrible lizard
8. geo = earth – geology: study of the earth
9. annus = year – annual: yearly
10. dico/dictum = speak/say – predict: to say beforehand
Vocabulary 3
1. vivo/victum = life – vivid: lively
2. nomen/nominis = name – nominate: to suugest someone’s name for office
3. video/visum = see – advise: to tell what you see or how you see matters
4. inter = between/among/amid = interject: throw between
5. ad = to/toward/near/next to = adhere: to stick next to
6. amo/amatum = love – amateur: one who loves an activity without doing it professionally
7. jungo/junctum = join/unite/connect – conjugal: relating to the joining of man and woman in marriage
8. manus = hand – manufacture: to make by hand
9. pro = for/before/forward/in place of – prologue: word that come before a book or play
10. digitus = finger/toe/inch – prestidigitation: fast-fingered/sleight-of-hand performance of magic
Vocabulary 6
1. liber/libri = book – library: place where books are kept
2. ped/pedis = foot – pedestal: the foot of a column
3. zoon = animal – zoology: study of animals
4. helios = sun – heliotrope: a plant which turns toward the sun
5. phobos = fear – phobia: irrational fear
6. micros = small – microphone: device to transmit small sound over distance
7. lithos = stone – monolith: lone stone
8. graph = to write or draw – photograph: Picture drawn by light
9. megas = great/large/big = megalomania: person with delusions of greatness
10. photos = light – photophobia: fear of light
Vocabulary 7
1. vert/versum = turn – reverse: to turn back
2. skopeo = look at/inspect/examine – telescope: device for seeing distant objects
3. dens/dentis = teeth – dentate: having a toothed edge (like some leaves)
4. ars/artis = art/skill – artless: without skill
5. thesis = put/place/position – thesis: a position taken in an argument supported by a set of reasons
6. demos = the people/the citizens – democracy: power of the people
7. para = beside/along with - parable: a story along with a moral lesson
8. thermos = heat – thermal: relating to heat
9. trans = across/over/beyond/through – transport: to carry across
10. terra = land – territory: land under control of a government or owner
Vocabulary 8
1. populus = people – populace: the common people
2. scribo/scriptum = to write – transcribe: to transfer speech into writing
3. sol = sun – parasol: a portable sun shade
4. dormio/dormitum = sleep - dormant: sleeping
5. aqua = water – aqueduct: a structure for carrying water
6. magnus = big/large/great – magnate: person of great rank or influence
7. philia = love/friendship – philosopher: one who loves wisdom
8. pyro = fire – pyre: bonfire for burning bodies at funerals
9. kinesis = movement – kinetic: relating to movement
10. prae = before/in front of – precursor: something that comes before something else
Vocabulary 9
1. astron = star – astronaut: star sailor
2. metron = measure – symmetry: measuring the same
3. hydros = water – dehydrate: to take water away from
4. syn = with/together – sympathy: to feel with someone
5. dia = through/between/across/apart – diabolical: shot through with the devil
6. tempus/temporis = time – temporal: pertaining to time
7. logos = word/study – logic: study to gain wisdom
8. centum = hundred – centurion: Roman military officer over 100 men
9. duo = two – duet: performance by two people
10. tres = three – tribe: early Rome was divided into three social groups called tribes
1. accolade – noun – any word, token, or prize given in appreciation, usually given formally – As nice as the accolade from the school was, his parents look of pride meant more to him.
2. bewilder – verb – to confuse or puzzle – By the end of the drive, the poor directions and winding roads had bewildered us.
3. catalyst – noun – something that causes an event or change without participating in the change itself – A free press has often been the catalyst that prompts people to change an ineffectual government.
4. deposition – noun – a statement or testimony under oath – She didn’t have to appear in court because the attorneys were satisfied with her deposition given earlier in the investigation.
5. empathy – noun – the ability to understand and share the feelings of another – A therapist who can balance empathy with objectivity is often better than one who takes a strictly clinical approach.
6. ferocity – noun – the state of being fierce or violent – The lion’s ferocity was more intimidating in the wild than it had been in the zoo.
7. glutton – noun – someone who eats an enormous amount – All-you-can-eat buffets are heaven to gluttons.
8. heterogeneous – adjective – consisting of many dissimilar parts – She loved living in the city because of its heterogeneous population and the varied cultures that such an atmosphere provides.
9. imminent – adjective – about to happen, immediate – The crowd knew the President’s arrival was imminent when the Secret Service began clearing a path.
10. levity – noun – humor or a joking manner – His attempt to inject some levity at the funeral was met with disapproval.
1. mercenary – adjective – solely interested in monetary gain, even at the expense of morals – he bought and sold companies with a mercenary indifference to the employees and their families.
2. mercenary - noun - a soldier interested only in the money offered, not the politics or ideals involved – Mercenaries do not fight with the same fervor as soldiers who are in the battle for love of country.
3. onus – noun – obligation or burden of proof – The onus was on the teacher to prove the two students had cheated on the exam.
4. partisan – adjective – devoted to a particular cause to the point of being biased against anything else – His partisan devotion to the democratic party made it difficult for him to negotiate between sides in the senate.
5. partisan – noun – an avid and devout follower of a group or political party – The partisans following the general were willing to risk their lives to bring him to power.
6. rarified – adjective - thin, less dense – The rarified air at high altitudes can cause pilots to lose consciousness.
7. savory – adjective – morally pure, uncorrupted – The judge’s less-than-savory past caused him to lose the election.
8. torrid – adjective – passionate or fiery – Their torrid love affair evolved into a marriage that lasted over 55 years.
9. verbose – adjective – using more words than necessary – The professor was known to be so verbose that his students often had a hard time following what he said.
10. adage – noun – a short saying or phrase that states an accepted truth – many adages currently in use were originally penned by Benjamin Franklin.
1. bleak – adjective – without hope, barren – Unless she started taking her classes seriously, her chances of graduating on time seemed bleak.
2. cataract – noun – a great, rushing waterfall – Although it was a beautiful place for a picnic, the roar of the cataract made talking impossible.
3. deterrent – noun – something that discourages or dissuades – For most college students, the threat of expulsion is an effective deterrent against cheating.
4. embezzle – verb – to steal money that has been entrusted to one’s care – The CEO had been embezzling from the payroll funds for years.
5. fervent – adjective – having great emotion or passion – the mother’s fervent pleas for an organ donor moved everyone who heard them.
6. imperative – absolutely necessary, urgent – He wore a medical alert bracelet because it was imperative that doctors knew about his penicillin allergy in the event of an emergency.
7. lenient – adjective – permissive and indulgent – While some children need strict discipline, others thrive under more lenient conditions in which they can make their own decisions.
8. mesmerize – adjective – to entrance or enthrall, to strongly attract – The young woman was mesmerized by the beauty of the ballet performance.
9. opportunist – noun – a person who takes advantage of a situation to attain his own goals, regardless of the consequences – She was accused of being an opportunist when she applied for the position before the vacancy was even made public.
10. penury – noun – extreme poverty – Few tourists to resort islands never see the penury in which the locals live their day-to-day lives.
1. reciprocal – adjective – exchanged, felt or performed by each side – Although the generals were on opposing sides of the war, they had developed a reciprocal appreciation for each other’s skill.
2. scanty – adjective – small in amount, less than is needed – Her scanty paycheck was not enough to cover her monthly expenses.
3. trifling – adjective – unimportant, not worth dealing with – He saved the trifling paperwork for the end of the day so he could devote tine to more important matters when he was at his most alert.
4. vexation – noun – frustration – He couldn’t hide his vexation with the woman who was holding up the grocery line with her enormous stack of coupons.
5. adulterate – verb – to lower the quality of something by adding another substance – her father could never understand why she chose to adulterate her coffee with cream and sugar.
6. blithe – adjective – happily unconcerned and oblivious to the point of being uncaring – Her blithe response to the plight of the custodial department made her coworkers wonder if she had a heart at all.
7. charlatan – noun – a con-artist or fraud – In the old days, charlatans traveled from town to town to find their next victim, but now they just use the internet.
8. deride – verb – to ridicule – Under school policy, no students was allowed to deride another.
9. emulate – verb – to imitate or copy in a flattering way – His goal as a poet was to emulate his idol Walt Whitman.
10. fidelity – noun – faithfulness and loyalty – She showed her fidelity to her alma mater with a generous check every year.
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implement – verb – to put plans or ideas into practice – The CEO decided to implement new ideas in order to keep the company state of the art.
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libel – noun – any publication, be it written word or picture, that is false and damaging to a person’s reputation – Tabloid magazines can be sued for libel if they print rumors that are untrue.
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libel – verb – to write or publish lies or false information about a person – The bloggers didn’t care if they were libeling the candidate or not as long as they contributed to her losing the election.
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mettle – noun – courage, the ability to rise to an occasion – The runner showed her true mettle when she managed to qualify for the competition even though she tripped during the trials.
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ornate – adjective – highly decorated, showy, flashy, or intricate – The ornate gold picture frame displayed in the window looked out of place in the junk shop.
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perennial – adjective – lasting for a long period of time, reoccurring year after year – Eating properly and exercising are two known keys to perennial health and longevity.
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redress – verb – to remedy or make right, to make amends for – The company promised to redress the customer’s complaints by offering him a year’s free samples of a new, improved product.
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sedentary – adjective – inactive – characterized by sitting and getting little exercise – He started gaining weight after taking a sedentary computer job.
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turbid – adjective – muddy and unclear (literally or figuratively) – She knew she would never find the ring she had dropped in the turbid river.
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vilify – verb - to insult cruelly, to speak or write harshly and usually incorrectly about someone – She took the high road and refused to vilify her ex-husband to the press.
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acumen – noun – the ability to make wise decisions in a particular area or profession – He was well respected for his business acumen.
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bolster – verb – to shore up, to build up, to increase support – The candidate needed to bolster his support in the Midwest if he was going to win the election.
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clarity – noun – clearness in speech or thought – The lecturer explained the concepts with such clarity that the audience was able to understand even the most difficult concepts.
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derivative – adjective – originating from another source, copied or adapted from something else – A paragraph in her essay was so obviously derivative that the teacher knew it was plagiarized.
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detached – adjective – disconnected emotionally – Doctors and other health professional need to remain detached from their patients in order to remain objective I their treatment and diagnoses.
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endorse – verb – to give or declare public approval – The candidate hoped her stance on fair employment practices would cause the trade unions to endorse her.
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finesse – noun – grace and skill – It took all the finesse the building manager had to juggle the egos among the artists performing at the benefit.
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implicate – verb – to show a close connection between two things – usually in an incriminating, negative way – She took the proof of illegal hazing to the dean even though she knew it would implicate her sorority.
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linger – verb – to stay in place longer than necessary – The young man smiled when he realized his girlfriend’s perfume was lingering in his car even after he had dropped her at home.
10. mien – adjective – bearing or conduct – The dean’s austere mien prevented most students from wanting to deal with him directly.
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permeate – verb – to fill a space, to spread throughout – The excitement leading up to graduation permeated the whole school, and even the staff seemed more upbeat and enthusiastic.
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refute – verb – to prove false or incorrect – The adventures he claimed to have always took place when he was alone, so as incredible as they seemed, no one could refute them.
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shard – noun – a piece of small breakable object, usually with sharp edges – The shards of broken glass scattered across the kitchen floor.
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turmoil – noun – a great state of confusion or agitation – The country was thrown into turmoil after the assassination of the prime minister.
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viscous – adjective – having a thick, gooey texture that does not flow easily – The students knew the lab experiment had gone wrong when the material, which was supposed to be a runny liquid, turned into a viscous ooze.
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adversity – noun – trouble, misfortune – She considered herself lucky to have had an easy life rather than one of adversity and hardship.
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braggart – noun – one who boasts or brags unnecessarily -His reputation as a braggart kept people from admiring the true quality of his work.
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cogitate – verb – to think over carefully – The state representative had to cogitate on whether he wanted to run for national office because he refused to make snap decisions.
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devious – adjective – sneaky, underhanded – Her little brother could be devious when it came to getting her in trouble and looking like an angel himself.
10. enigma – noun – a puzzle or mystery (usually refers to a person), someone who is difficult to understand – It is said the women are enigmas to men and vice versa.
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affable – adjective – friendly, easy to get along with – His affable nature meant he made friends all over campus.
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breach – verb – to break through, to violate – Anyone who has seen water breach a levee will never forget the sight of the damage it caused.
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coherent – adjective – able to make sense, be consistently logical – She rarely drank because she was a lightweight drinker and became incoherent after only one glass of wine.
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deign – verb – to do something below one’s station or dignity – Some of the more stuck up seniors wouldn’t deign to talk to the freshmen.
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entreat – verb – to ask earnestly, to plead – The police entreated anyone who had information about the crime to come forward.
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fitful – adjective – irregular, not steady – Her sleep was always fitful during exams because she suffered from test anxiety.
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gullible – adjective – easily made to belive something false, easy to fool – Con artists count on people being gullible enough to fall for the various scams.
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hoodwink – verb – to trick or deceive, to fool – Her attempts to hoodwink her parents failed when they discovered she had sneaked out after midnight.
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impervious – adjective – impossible to affect, immune to reaction – Having grown up in new England, she was impervious to southern winters.
10. listless - adjective – having no energy or enthusiasm, uncaring and disinterested – He was listless for weeks after the breakup until friends took him out for a night on the town.
1. callow (adjective): inexperienced, immature, emotionally young – Teenagers from small towns tend to be more callow than those from big cities.
2. defer (verb): to put off or postpone until a later time – She decided to defer college for a year in order to travel through Europe with her friends.
3. efface (verb): to erase or rub out – Nothing would ever efface the memories she had of her honeymoon.
4. falter (verb): to hesitate or be unsteady (usually from fear) – he felt his courage falter as they passed him the microphone, but he rose to the occasion admirably and delivered a stunning speech.
5. glacial (adjective): extremely cold either in demeanor, attitude, or temperature – Her glacial smile let him know he was still in disfavor.
6. haughty (adjective): arrogant, condescending – The beauty contestant’s haughty manner caused her to lose personality points.
7. immaculate (adjective): perfectly clean, spotless – Though they hadn’t expected their son’s dorm room to be immaculate, they were shocked at how messy it was.
8. lampoon (verb): to make fun of something, to satirize – He knew he was in trouble when the teacher he was lampooning caught him in the act.
9. mar (verb): to damage or deface – The accident had marred his appearance, but he refuse to let the fact change his life for the worse.
10. nominal (adjective): insignificant, trifling, or token – The student’s nominal effort was reflected in his poor grades.
1. kohl (adjective): black coloring – The kohl eyeshadow was the favorite of the local Goths.
2. labyrinth (noun): a complicated or difficult path, a maze – The favorite Halloween destination was the haunted labyrinth set up by the town each year.
3. malcontent (noun): a person who is discontent or unhappy – The protestors spoke calmly and rationally in order to be taken seriously and not just seen as a group of malcontents.
4. nadir (noun ): the lowest possible point – Running out of gas and having to walk three miles in her dress shoes in the rain was the nadir of a very bad night.
5. obtrude (verb): to become noticeable in an unpleasant, annoying way – My room-mate’s differing lifestyle threatened to obtrude upon my peace and quiet until we came up with an arrangement that respected everyone’s feelings
6. palate (noun): an appreciation for, a taste or liking for – His refined palate developed from eating at only the finest restaurants in Paris.
7. quaff (verb): to drink deeply – Oktoberfest is a traditional time to find friends partying and quaffing ale.
8. rancor (noun) long-standing anger, bitterness – None of her friends understood why she still had such rancor over and event that had happened while they were back in school.
9. sage (adjective): wise – The therapist’s sage advice helped the couple overcome their disagreements.
10. taciturn (adjective) : quiet or uncommunicative – His taciturn manner often made people feel her wasn’t interested in them, even though nothing was further from the truth.
1. ulterior (adjective): hidden beyond what is acknowledged or admitted to – because she knew she didn’t deserve the promotion, she wondered if her boss had ulterior motives for giving her the new position.
2. vapid (adjective): uninteresting and unchallenging – His parents knew he was maturing when he brought home and intelligent woman rather than the vapid girls he usually dated.
3. wary (adjective): cautiously alert and on guard – A smart woman is wary but unafraid when she is out after dark.
4. yearling (noun): a creature that is one year old – The yearlings in the petting zoo were popular attractions with the children.
5. zealot (noun): a person who believes so strongly in an idea or cause that it becomes more important than anything else - The group was afraid the zealot would give them a bad reputation by association.
6. abridge (verb): to shorten a text without changing the meaning – Reader’s Digest has produced many abridged versions of classic novels over the years.
7. bask (verb): to relax and enjoy warmth, either literally or figuratively – After the long, cold winter, all they anted to do was bask in the Caribbean sun.
8. cajole (verb): to persuade someone to do something through flattery or repeat requests – She hoped to cajole her parents into letting her attend the party.
9. decimate (verb): to utterly destroy or ruin – The football team’s strategy decimated the opposition.
10. eclectic (adjective): combining elements from many different cultures or situations – He preferred an eclectic mix of furniture rather than the uniform adherence to one particular style.