72

PART III: VOCABULARY

word on your exam,

Prefixes attach to the beginning of a root word to alter its meaning or to create a
new word.

Roots or stems are the basic elements of a word that determine its meaning. Roots
or stems are not words. They must be combined with prefixes, suffixes, or both.
Groups of words from the same root word are called word families.

Suffixes attach to the end of a root word to change its meaning, help make it
grammatically correct in context, or form a new word. Suffixes often indicate
whether a word is a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb.

Use the word list that follows to expand your word horizons. Once you begin to learn
the word parts on the list, youll be able to take apart unfamiliar words like a master
mechanic. As you make your way through the list, try to think of other words with the
same parts. If you have time, check their meanings in a dictionary and take a look at
the word origins in the entry.

LIST OF COMMON WORD PARTS

Prefix

Meaning

Example

not

amoral

ab

away from

absent

ad, ac, ag, at

to, against

aggressive, attract

without

anarchy

ante

before

antedate

anti, ant

against

antipathy, antonym

an

A word can have a root, a prefix, and a suffix; it can have a root and two suffixes or a
root and one prefix. The possibilities are endless (almost), but you must always have a
root. Word analysis is a kind of arithmetic. Instead of adding numbers, we add the
meanings contained in each part of an unfamiliar word. The sum of these parts is the
definition of the whole word.

get the meaning.

and add them up to

decipher its parts

against an unfamiliar

Each kind of word part has a specific purpose. There are three basic types of word parts:

parts. If you come up

Different kinds of word parts work together to make a fully functioning word. Think
about it: If your car is going to do more than just sit there, it needs a collection of parts
put together in the right way. Two steering wheels wont do you any good if you dont
have a gas tank.

the sum of their

HOW DO WORD PARTS WORK?

arithmetic. Words are

Practice word

TIP

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CHAPTER 6: Word Arithmetic

73

Meaning

Example

bene

well

benefactor

bi

two

biannual

circum

around

circumvent

com, con, col

together

commit, collate

contra

against

contraband

de

from, down

descend

dis, di

apart, away

distract, divert

dom

home, rule

domicile, dominate

ex, e

out, from

exit, emit

extra

beyond, outside

extracurricular

not

inept, irregular, illegal

in, im

in, into

interest, imbibe

inter

between

interscholastic

within

intramural

mal

bad

malcontent

mis

wrong

misspell

non

not

nonentity

against

obstacle

all

omnivorous

per

through

permeate

peri

around, about

periscope

poly

many

polytheism

post

after

postmortem

pre

before

premonition

pro

forward, for

propose

re

again, back

review, redeem

se

apart, away

seclude

semi

half

semicircle

sub

under

submarine

super

above

superimpose

on, upon

surmount

syn, sym

together, with

sympathy

trans

across, beyond

transpose

not

unwelcome

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un

sur

omni

ob

intra, intro

in, im, ir, il, un

Prefix

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PART III: VOCABULARY

Suffix

Meaning

Example

able, ible

capable of

applicable, reversible (adj.)

place, thing, idea

storage (n.)

pertaining to

instructional (adj.)

ance

relating to

reliance (n.)

ary

relating to

dictionary (n.)

ate

an action of

confiscate (v.)

cy

the quality of

democracy (n.)

ed

past action

subsided (v.)

ence

relating to

confidence (n.)

er, or

one who

adviser, actor (n.)

ic

pertaining to

democratic (adj.)

ing

present action

surmising (v.)

ion

the act or state of

radiation (n.)

ious

full of

rebellious (adj.)

ive

having the quality of

creative (adj.)

ize

to make

harmonize (v.)

ly

to do with the quality of

carefully (adv.)

ment

the result of

amusement (n.)

ness

the quality of being

selfishness (n.)

condition of being

sanity (n.)

Stem

Meaning

Example

ag, ac

do

agenda, action

agri

farm

agriculture

aqua

water

aquatic

auto

self

automatic

biblio

book

bibliography

bio

life

biography

cad, cas

fall

cadence, casual

cap, cep, cept

take

captive, accept

capit

head

capital

go

intercede

celer

speed

accelerate

chrom

color

monochromatic

chron

time

chronological

age
al

ty

ced, cede, ceed, cess

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CHAPTER 6: Word Arithmetic

75

Meaning

Example

cut

incision

clude, clud, clus

close, close in

include, cluster

cog, cogn

knowledge of

recognize

cur, curs

run

incur, recur

ded

give

dedicate

dent, dont

tooth

dental

duce, duct

lead

induce, deduct

make, do

perfect, fiction

carry

refer, dilate

bend, turn

reflect

break

infringe, refract

picture, writing

graphic, telegram

group, gather

gregarious

gress, grad

move

progress, degrade

hydr

water

hydrate

ject

throw

inject

jud

right

judicial

junct

join

conjunction

juris

law, justice

jurist

lect, leg

read, choose

collect

logue

speech, speaking

dialogue

logy

study of

psychology

speak

elocution

play, perform

elude

manu

by hand

manuscript

mand

order

remand

mar

sea

maritime

med

middle

intermediate

mind, memory

mention

meter

measure

thermometer

micro

small

microscope

min

lessen

miniature

mis, miss, mit

send

remit, dismiss

mot, mov

move

remote, remove

change

commute

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mute

ment, mem

lude, lus

loq, loc

greg

graph, gram

fring, fract

flect, flex

fer, late

fact, feet, fict

cide, cis

Stem

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PART III: VOCABULARY

Stem

Meaning

Example

naut

sailor, sail

nautical

declare, state

announce, enunciate

ped, pod

foot

pedal

pel, pulse

drive, push

dispel, impulse

pend, pense

hang, way

depend, dispense

plac

please

placate

plic

fold

implicate

port

carry

portable

put, place

depose, component

rule

regulate, direct

rupt

break

disruption

scend, scent

move

ascent

scribe, script

write

describe

cut

bisect

sed

remain

sedentary

sert

state, place

insert

serve

keep, save

preserve

sist

stand, set

insist

look

inspect

breath, breathe

perspire

strict

tighten

restrict

tain

hold

detain

term

end

terminate

tort

twist

distort

tract

draw, drag

detract

come

intervene, invent

overcome, conquer

evict

roll, turn

evolve, evolution

nounce, nunci

pose, pone
reg, rect

sec, sect

spect
spire, spirat

vene, vent
vict
volve, volu

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CHAPTER 6: Word Arithmetic

77

The words in this list are grouped in families, by their stems. The stems are arranged
in alphabetical order. If you need help with words other than those listed here, check
with your dictionary or thesaurus.

WORD LIST

AQUA, AQUE: water

aquariuma tank for fish and water plants

aquatichaving to do with water

aqueouswatery

subaqueousunder water

autobiographythe story of ones life, written by oneself

AUTO: self

autographa persons own signature

automationa system in which machinery does most of the work itself

automaticself-operating

BIBLIO: book

bibliographya list of books used for reference

bibliolatryworship of books

antibioticsmedicines that work against harmful life-forms in the body

BIO: life

biographythe story of a persons life

symbiosismutual interdependence of two different living organisms

biologythe study of various life-forms

CAP, CEP, CEPT: take

acceptto take in

captureto take by force; to take prisoner

exceptionsomething taken or left out

inceptionthe act of taking something in; a beginning

ED, CEDE, CEED, CESS: go, move

accedeto move toward; to grant

concedeto go with; admit

concessionan admission

exceedto go over or outside of

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excessgoing over certain limits

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PART III: VOCABULARY

intercedeto move between

precedeto go before or ahead of
proceedto move forward
recedeto move back
secessionthe act of moving apart; separation from the whole

CHRON: time
anachronismsomething contrary to a particular era
chronometera tool that measures time

CIDE, CIS: cut

decideto act; to cut off from further consideration
exciseto cut out or away
incisiona cut

CLUDE, CLUS: close, shut

excludeto close or shut out
exclusivehaving the quality of shutting out
includeto shut or close in
reclusea person who shuts him- or herself away from others
secludeto shut apart from

COG, COGN: knowledge of

cognizantthe quality of being knowledgeable
incognitounknown; disguised
recognitionthe act of knowing again; recalling

CUR, CURS: run

concurrentrunning with; at the same time
cursorythe quality of running through quickly
precursora forerunner
recurrentrunning again

DUCE, DUCT: lead

abductto lead away; to kidnap
conducivehaving the quality of leading together; persuasive
deduceto lead from; to conclude
introduceto lead into

reductionthe act of leading backward; a loss

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FACT, FECT, FICT: make, do

affectationsomething made up; a pretense

defectsomething made apart from the ordinary

effectsomething done outwardly; a change

fictitiousmade up; not true

FER: carry, bring

conferencethe state of bringing together; a meeting

differto carry apart; to disagree

ferretto force out of hiding; to search about

inferto bring in; to conclude

offerto carry out

preferencethe act of bringing first or before

referencethe act of carrying back

transferto carry across

FLECT, FLEX: bend, turn

circumflexan accent mark that is bent over a letter

flexibleable to be bent or changed

genuflectto bend the knee to the floor

reflectto bend or turn something back

reflexa return movement; a response

FRING, FRACT: break

fracturea break in something hard

infractionthe breaking of a rule

infringeto break into

refractto break up

GRAPH, GRAM: picture, writing

diagraminformation in picture form

epigrama brief piece of writing

graphinformation in picture form

seismographa picture record of earth movements

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telegraphcommunication with sounds that are translated into writing

telegramcommunication using sound and writing

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PART III: VOCABULARY

GREG: group, gather

aggregationa group
congregateto gather together
gregarioushaving the characteristic of getting along well in a group; social
segregateto group apart; to keep groups separate

GRESS, GRAD: move

aggressivethe characteristic of moving toward something
degradeto move down
graduateto move from one level of prestige, proficiency, or experience to a
higher one
ingredientsomething that is moved into something else
progressto move forward
regressto move backward
upgradeto move up

HYDR: water
dehydrateto remove water from
hydrantsomething that gives out water
hydraulicrelating to water power
hydrogenwater gas
hydrologythe study of water
hydrophobiafear of water
hydrotherapycure by water

JECT: throw
conjecturesomething thrown together; a guess
dejectedthrown down
ejectto throw out
injectto throw in
projectilean object to throw forward
subjectedthrown under

JUNCT: join
conjunctiona word that joins parts of sentences together
enjointo join into; to enforce
injunctionan enjoining action
junctiona joining of two parts of something

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JURIS: law, justice

jurisdictionsphere of legal authority

jurisprudencelegal science

juristan expert in law

LOGUE: speaking, speech

dialoguespeech between two people

epiloguea short ending speech

eulogya speech of praise

monologueone persons speech

prologuea speech given as a foreword

LOQ, LOC: talk, speak

colloquytalking together

elocutionclear speech

interlocutorsspeakers

loquaciousthe quality of being talkative

LUDE, LUS: play

alludeto refer to casually or indirectly

allusiona reference to

deludeto deceive; to mislead

eludeto escape through cleverness

preludean introductory period before a main event

MAND: order, command

countermandan order placed against another order

mandatecommand

mandatoryordered or required

remandto order back

MANU: hand

manicurecare of the hands

manifestas from an open hand; made obvious

manuala handbook; done by hand and not by machine

manipulateto handle

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manuscripta document written by hand

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PART III: VOCABULARY

MEM, MENT: mind, memory

commemorateto remember with
dementedout of ones mind
mentiona call to mind
reminisceto call back memories

MIS, MISS, MIT: send

committo send together
dismissto send away
emitto send out
remissionthe state of being sent back
submitto send under
transmitto send across

PED, POD: foot

bipedan animal that walks on two feet
impedeto put a foot against; to obstruct
pedestriana person who is walking
podiatrista foot doctor
tripodan object with three feet

PEL, PULSE: drive, push

dispelto drive away
expelto push out
impulseto drive or push in
propelto push forward
repelto push back

PEND, PENSE: hang, weigh

appendixpart that hangs; a portion of a book usually found in the back
dispenseto apportion
expenditurea sum paid out
impendinghanging over something
suspendto hang from

PLAC: please
implacablenot able to be pleased or appeased
placateto please

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placidquiet, pleasing

placeboan inactive medicine designed to please or satisfy

PLI, PLIC: fold

implicateto involve

pliableeasily folded or influenced

PONE, POSE, POSIT: place or put

componentsunits to be put together

proponenta person who puts something forward; an advocate

opposeto place against

exponentsomething or someone who puts something forth

deposeto put down

PORT: carry, bring

deportationthe act of carrying out or away from

exportto carry trade out of a country

importto carry trade into a country

reportto carry back

transportto carry across

RECT, REG: to rule or lead, straight

erectstraightened upward

rectifyto straighten out; to correct

rectitudemoral uprightness

regulateto rule

RUPT: break

disruptto break through or down

eruptto break out

rupturea break

SCEND, SCENT: climb

ascendto climb up

condescendto climb down with

descentdownward slope

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transcendto climb beyond

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PART III: VOCABULARY

SCRIBE, SCRIPT: write

describeto write about
inscriptionsomething written in something else
prescriptionwritten before receiving
proscribeto write something out; to ban

SEC, SECT: cut

bisectto cut in two
dissectto cut apart
sectora cutting or part of a whole

SERT: declare, state

assertto state firmly
insertto place within

SERVE: keep, save

conserveto save (together)
preservationthe state of maintaining as before
reservationsomething kept or saved aside

SIST: stand, set

desistto stand away
inconsistentnot standing together; changing
insistenthaving the quality of standing firmly

SPEC, SPECT: see, look

aspecta way of looking at something
prospectiveforward looking; future
spectrumsomething seen broadly
speculateto look at mentally

TAIN, TEN: hold

containto hold together
containmentthe state of being held together
detainto hold aside
retainto hold back
tenaciousholding powerfully

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CHAPTER 6: Word Arithmetic

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TERM: end, limit

exterminateto eliminate

interminablenot able to be ended; unending

terminateto end

terminusending place

TORT: twist

contortto twist together

distortionsomething that twists away from the truth

extortto twist away or out of

TRACT: draw, drag

distractionsomething that draws attention away from something else

attractto draw toward

extractto draw out

intractablenot easily drawn or persuaded

protracteddrawn out

VENE, VENT: come

adventa coming

circumventto avoid by going around

conveneto come together

interveneto come between

VINCE, VICT: conquer, overcome

convinceto conquer

invinciblenot able to be conquered

victorconqueror

VOLVE, VOLU: roll, turn

evolutionthe act of rolling forth; a gradual development

convolutedrolled or twisted together

involveto draw in

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revolutiona rolling back; an overturning