advocate

Ad (to) + voc (voice) + ate (cause) =

v. or n.

Speak for

It is time to advocate a new policy.

ponderous

Pond (weight) + ous (full of) =

Adj.

weighty

Marley told Scrooge that his chain was a ponderous burden.

retribution

Re (back) + trib (pay) + tion (act or state of)=

n.

revenge

Many saw Hiroshima as retributionfor Pearl Harbor.

android

Andro (man) + oid (appearance) =

n.

robot

R2D2 was an android in Star Wars.

infidel

In (not) + fid (faith) =

n.

unbeliever

The crusade against the infidels wasunsuccessful.

resurgence

Re (again) + surg (rise) =

n.

Rising again

A resurgence of patriotism occurredafter 9-11.

punctilious

Punct (point) + ous (full of) =

Adj.

Precise in conduct

She liked his punctilious, formalmanners.

condescend

Con (together) + de (down) + cede (go) =

v.

Lower oneself

She would not condescend byresponding to the ridiculous argument.

collateral

Co (together) + lat (side) =

Adj.

Side by side

In war, collateral damage is a euphemism for civilian deaths.

irrevocable

ir (not ) + re (back) + voc (voice) =

Adj.

Beyond recall

Her cruel comment did irrevocableharm to their friendship.

elucidate

e (out) + luc (light) + ate (cause) =

v.

explain

Since the student was confused, theteacher had to elucidate the algebraproblem again.

epigram

epi (on) + gram (writing) =

n.

Witty comment

Benjamin Franklin’s epigrams amuseus still. My favorite is, “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”

eccentricity

ec (out) + centri (center) =

n.

oddness

Sometimes geniuses are known fortheir eccentricities. Michael Jacksonmade his children wear veils in public.

cognizant

cogn (know) + =

Adj.

aware

It is wise to be cognizant of lawsbefore visiting another country.

stringent

String (bind) =

Adj.

binding

Since 9/11, the stringent regulationswhen flying are more understandable.

anthropoid

anthropo (man) + oid (appearance) =

Adj.

manlike

The Greek and Roman gods hadanthropoid characteristics.

diffident

Dis (away) + fid (faith) =

Adj.

shy

Because Mary was afraid she had the wrong answer, her diffident response was difficult to hear.

pandemonium

Pan (all) =

**daemo is the other stem, Greekfor demon, not people

n.

Demonic clamor

Pandemonium broke out when theteacher left the classroom unattended.

urbane

Urb (city) =

Adj.

sophisticated

After spending a year overseas, hismanners became more urbane.

tractable

Tract (pull)=

Adj.

docile

When I ride a horse, I need one thatis tractable so it will easily follow mydirections.

supersede

Super (over) + sed (sit) =

v.

replace

According to the Constitution, federal law supersedes state law. It comes first.

temporize

tempor (time) + ize (make) =

v.

delay

Begin reading your book withouttemporizing, please. You only havetwenty minutes.

somnambulist

somn (sleep) + ambul (walk) + ist (one who) =

n.

sleepwalker

It is not a good idea to awaken a somnambulist.

sanguinarysangui (blood) =

Adj.

bloody

Antietam was an especially sanguinary battle of the Civil War.There were over 22,000 casualtiesin just one day of fighting.

inanimate

in (not) + anim (mind) + ate (cause) =

Adj.

lifeless

An inaminate object does not breathe,live, or change. An example is a desk.