9 th grade. ex: incontrovertible def: describes something that is definitely true and that cannot...
TRANSCRIPT
ROOT WORDS AND SAT VOCABULARY
9th Grade
-able/-ible : quality of; can do; able
Ex: incontrovertible
Def: describes something that is definitely true and that cannot be denied or disproved
No one could question the incontrovertible eye witness proof provided at the trial.
responsible audibleconvertibleflexibleforcibletangibleagreeableportablebearableenjoyablemanageablelaughable
agon : to contest, struggle
Ex: antagonist
Def: a person or thing that competes with or goes against another.
The character who is the “bad guy” in a story is also known as the antagonist.
agony
amo, amatum : love
Ex: amorous
Def: someone or something indicating affection or desire, especially of a sexual nature.
The amorous couple held hands and stole kisses when no one was looking.
amateur (from French word for ‘lover’amiableamicableenamored (in love)amity (friendship)
annus : year
Ex: annuity
Def: a sum of money or an investment that is paid at regular intervals
Mrs. Clark’s annuity paid her $1,000 every year.
anniversaryannualbiennial (every two years)centennial (every hundred years)millennialperennialannuityannals
ant, ante- : before
Ex: antediluvian
Def: Someone or something from before the time of the Great Flood or ancient, elderly, or passe
The dinosaur is an antediluvian animal.
antebellumantecedent
arbor : tree
Ex: arboreal
Def: anything referring to trees or something that is like a tree
Some animals are generally arboreal in habit, hunting in the trees and forest canopy.
arboretumArbor Dayarboraceous (full of treesarboriculturearborvitae (“tree of life”)
arch : lead, rule, first, begin
Ex: archetype
Def: the original pattern, or model, from which all other things of the same kind are made; prototype
The god represents the trickster archetype, which can be found in many mythologies.
anarchyarchaeologyarchaicarchitectarchivemonarcholigarchy (gov’t by the few)patriarch
aster : star
Ex: disaster
Def: an event, often sudden, that causes great damage or devastation.
Japan’s tsunami was a life-changing disaster for so many people.
astronomerasteroidastrologerastronautastralasterisk
-ate : to make
Ex: commiserate
Def: to express or have sympathy.
My best friend was there to commiserate when my boyfriend broke up with me.
animatecaptivatefabricatehydrateirrigatesaturatetabulateventilate
auto : self
Ex: autonomy
Def: independence in one's thoughts or actions.
The new graduate experienced true autonomy when she moved into her new apartment in a strange city.
autographautomobileautobiographyautocratautomatic
bellum : war
Ex: bellicose
Def: someone or something aggressive and eager or willing to fight; warlike
The group of protesters became more bellicose than diplomatic, which offended people and did not help their cause.
antebellumbelligerentrebellion
Bene, bon : good
Ex: beneficent
Def: doing good; resulting in a benefit
The American Cancer Society is a beneficent organization dedicated to helping the fight against cancer.
benefitbenedictionbeneficiarybenevolentbenignbonanzabonbonbonhomiebon motbonusbonnybon vivant
biblos : book
Ex: bibliophile
Def: a person who loves or admires books
Mary was a bibliophile with an impressive library of titles, all of which she had read twice!
Biblebibliographybibliomaniabibliophobiabiblioklept (one who steals books)
bios : life
Ex: biopsy
Def: the removal of living tissue from the body for diagnostic examination
A biopsy of the suspected tumor is taken by using a fine needle.
biologybiographyautobiographybionicantibioticamphibian (amphi = both)microbe (micro = small)
caput, capitis : head
Ex: capitulate
Def: to surrender or give in to all demands.
The principal capitulated to the reasonable requests from the student body representatives.
capitalcapitalismcaptainrecapitulatecabbage (vegetable “head”)
centum : hundred
Ex: centennial
Def: a 100th anniversary, or a celebration of a 100th anniversary.
The centennial celebration of the founding of the city will include a parade of vintage cars.
centcenturycenturionpercentcentipedecentigrade (gradus = degree)
chrom : color
Ex: chromatic
Def: of color or having color or colors; colorful
The chromatic piece of art will show nicely against a stark white wall.
achromatic (colorless)chromatologychromatosischromosomepolychromeKodachrome (color film)
chrono : time
Ex: chronological
Def: arranged in the order it happened; timeline
In his court testimony, the detective chronologically outlined the movements of the suspect.
synchronizechronometerchronicanachronismchronicle
corpus : body
Ex: corpulence
Def: fatness or stoutness of body; obesity
His corpulence made it difficult for him to fit into an airliner seat.
corporealcorps (militarydivision organized as a body)incorporatecorporationcorpsecorpuscle (small part of body)corpus delicti
decem : ten
Ex: decimate
Def: to destroy or kill a large part of something.
A large portion of the population was decimated after the tsunami struck the island.
December
dico, dictum : speak, say
Ex: diction
Def: manner of expression in words; choice of words; wording
Poetic diction describes the range of language used in poems.
dictatedictationdictatorpredictbenedictioncontradictverdict
dormio : sleep
Ex: dormant
Def: someone or something inactive, sleeping or quiet.
The volcano is dormant and has not erupted in years.
dormitory
tuit, tui, tut : to teach
Ex: intuition
Def: knowledge obtained without instruction; insight
John’s intuition told him to avoid the dark alley at night.
intuittutortutorialtuitionintuitive
ex- : outside, from, past
Ex: expatriate
Def: to be removed from or to leave one's homeland.
The author became an expatriate and moved to Europe because he didn’t like the politics of his own country.
exitextinctexaggerateexclaimexcludeexodusexpediteexpireexpulsionextinguishextractexile
frater : brother
Ex: fraternize
Def: to associate in a brotherly manner; be on friendly terms
The commander told the soldiers that if they fraternized with the enemy they would be severely punished.
fraternalfraternityfriar
geo : earth
Ex: geocentric
Def: measured or viewed as from the center of the earth; having or regarding the earth as a center.
Since we reside on Earth, it makes sense that we would have a geocentric theory about the solar system.
geographygeologygeologistgeometryGeorge (farmer)
graph : write or draw
Ex: calligraphy
Def: a special, formal style of handwriting
Since it was a formal occasion, my mother told me to address the wedding invitations in calligraphy.
photographphonographtelegraphgraphlithographgraphiteautographpictograph
hosp/host : guest or host
Ex: inhospitable
Def: not offering hospitality; not offering protection, shelter, etc.; barren; forbidding
A lack of oxygen would make a planet inhospitable to human life.
hostesshospitalhospitalityhostelhospice
hydro : water
Ex: dehydrate
Def: to remove water from (a compound, substance, body tissues, etc.); dry
Foods are dehydrated to preserve them for future use.
hydroplanehydrophobiahydrogenhydrophonehydroelectrichydrologyhydrate
logos : study or word
Ex: technology
Def: scientific research put into practical use.
The technology of computers is improving all the time.
The concept was so new that the company did not understand the digital technology well enough to move forward.
logicgeologyastrologybiologyzoologyanthropologypsychology
luna : moon
Ex: lunatic
Def: a person who is either actually crazy or who is acting crazy and wild in his behavior.
I don’t like to shop at that store because the owner always acts like a lunatic around his customers.
lunarlunacyclair de lune (fr. moonlight)lunariuminterlunarlunambulist (sleepwalking)
mal : bad
Ex: malinger
Def: to fake sick or to exaggerate an illness in order to skip school, work or some other
undesirable event.
Many students like to malinger by pretending to have a stomach ache so that they can stay home from school.
maladymaledictionmalefactordismalmalariamalevolentmalicemalignmalapropismmalcontentmaleficent
manus : hand
Ex: manipulate
Def: to move, arrange or control something in a skilled manner.
The flower arranger manipulated the roses so they would be more prominent in the table arrangement.
manufacturemanifestmanicotttimanuscriptmanumit (to release from hand)manicuremanaclesemancipation
mater : mother
Ex: matrilineal
Def: designating or of descent, kinship, or derivation through the mother
She is my matrilineal cousin because our mothers are sisters.
matriarchmaternalmaternitymatrixmatriculatealma matermatrimony
mega : great or large
Ex: megalomania
Def: a mental disorder characterized by delusions of grandeur, power, etc.
Many people believe that Napoleon suffered from megalomania.
megaphonemegalithmegatonmegabytemegatropolis
mille : thousand
Ex: millennium
Def: a period of 1000 years or is an anniversary of the passage of 1000 years.
In 2000, people around the world celebrated the new millennium in a variety of ways.
millimetermillipedemilligrammillionmillionaire
nomen : name
Ex: misnomer
Def: giving the wrong name for a person, thing or place.
The Black Forest in Germany is a misnomer because it is actually a mountain range.
nominatenominationnominalnomenclaturenom de plumedenominationdenominator
omni : all
Ex: omniscient
Def: seeing all or knowing all.
God is considered to be omniscient.
omnipotentomnipotenceomnipresentomnivorousomnibusomnidirectional
pan : all
Ex: pandemic
Def: widespread, particularly a disease that affects many people.
The bird flu became a pandemic when it sickened people over a large geographic area.
panaceapandemoniumpanoramapantheon
pater : father
Ex: patriot
Def: a person who loves, defends and supports his or her country.
In this country, a person who fights for the United States is considered a patriot.
patriarchpatriotismpatricianpatrimonypatronpaternalcompatriot
pes, pedis : foot
Ex: pedestrian
Def: something dull, boring or lacking inspiration or excitement; a person who is walking along a road
There was nothing distinguished about the painting, which was considered rather pedestrian by most art critics.
pedalbipedimpedepedestalpedicurepedometerpodiatrypodiumQuadrupedcentipede
phil : love
Ex: philanthropy
Def: the act of doing charitable work or an activity designed to improve human welfare.
My mother enjoyed philanthropy and volunteered at a battered women’s shelter once a week.
bibliophileaudiophilePhiladelphiaphilandererphilatelistphilharmonicphilologyphilosophy
phone : sound
cacophony
Def: sounds that are loud, and irritating and out of tune.
The band that was warming up produced an annoying cacophony of sound because they really weren’t very good.
phonographtelephonephonogrameuphonysymphonymegaphonemicrophonephonemephonicsphonetic
photo : light
Ex: photosynthesis
Def: the biological synthesis of chemical compounds in the presence of light
Green plants are able to make their own food in a process is called photosynthesis
photographyphotographphotonsymphonytelephotophotometerphotophobiaphotokinesis
poli : city
Ex: metropolis
Def: a large or main city.
Manhattan, New York is an example of a metropolis.
politicalpolicepolitepolicymetropolitan
port, portatum : carry
Ex: portfolio
Def: a flat case used for carrying loose sheets of paper or a combination of investments or samples of completed works.
The artist took several excellent drawings from his portfolio to show the gallery owner.
exportimportdeportmentportableportageportmanteauportertransportimportantreportsupportdeport
pre- : before
Ex: precocious
Def: developed or matured to a point beyond that which is normal for the age: a precocious child
Shirley Temple was a precocious child actress who won many awards for her talents.
predictpreambleprecautionprecursorpreferpregnant (time before birth)prejudicepreviewprematurepremonitionpreschool
pro : in favor of
Ex: proponent
Def: someone who is in favor of something or who advocates for a cause.
Although she owns many guns, she is a proponent of gun-control laws.
proceedprofessprocrastinateprofessionalprofileproblemprojectprologuepronounprohibitpromontoryprospect
skopeo : look at, inspect
Ex: skeptical
Def: someone who has doubts, questions or is not easily convinced of something.
The police detective was skeptical about the story the suspect told on the night of the robbery.
scopemicroscopetelescopeperiscopekaleidoscope
solus : alone
Ex: soliloquy
Def: a speech in a drama in which a character tells the audience how he feels by talking to himself.
The characters in Shakespeare’s plays often have dramatic soliloquies, allowing the audience to know what they are thinking.
solosoloistsolitarysolesolitudesolitaire
soro : sister
Ex: sorority
Def: a social club for females, typically at a college or university, where the girls call each other "sisters," and do activities together.
My cousin’s sorority sister came for a visit during summer vacation.
Soroptimistsororalsororial
syn, sym : with, together
Ex: symbiotic
Def: a similar relationship of mutual interdependence
There is a symbiotic relationship between man and machines.
sympathysymphonysynthesisphotosynthesissynonymsynagoguesynchronizesymptomsynchronoussyndicatesyndromesynergysynthetic
tele : far away, distant
Ex: telepathy
Def: communication between minds.
My mother said my sister and I have telepathy because it often seems as though we can read each other’s mind.
televisiontelephonetelegraphtelephototelescopetelethonteleport
thesis : put, place, position
Ex: synthesis
Def: combining a number of different parts or ideas to come up with a new idea or theory.
In order to write a synthesis essay, you will need to combine the information from several books.
thesisthemeparenthesissyntheticsynthesizer
un- : not
Ex: unconscionable
Def: not guided or restrained by conscience; unscrupulous
unreasonable, excessive, or immoderate
Her lack of concern over the injuries of her own child is unconscionable.
unhappyunsatisfiedunhearduncaringundoneuntutoredunlessunnecessaryunwantedunfairunkemptunsavoryunrelenting
urbs : city
Ex: urbane
Def: someone polished, suave or sophisticated.
She is usually urbane and relaxed, but the meeting has her a bit frazzled.
urbansuburbsuburbaniteurbanity
verbum : word
Ex: vernacular
Def: common language spoken by average citizens of a particular place
Mark Twain used several styles of vernacular to depict people from different parts of the country.
verbproverbverbalverbiageverboseverbatimverbalize
video : see
Ex: evidence
Def: something that makes another thing evident; indication; sign
something that tends to prove; ground for belief
Scraped-clean dishes were evidence that the family had enjoyed their dinner.
televisionvideophonevideoadviseinvisiblevideographer