Weird Stems
Wonder why it's called a "crescent" moon when you tell us the meaning of the stem "cresc"
What is "grow"?
The stem "in," when found in words such as "incorrigible," means this
What is "not"?
His infirmity could not dampen his bonhomie. In other words,
meaning of "excrescence"
Because he had to extemporize his speech due to his lack of preparedness, it sounded very insipid and not at all credible.
What is, "Because he had to improvise his speech due to his lack of preparedness, it sounded very empty/dull and not at all believable"?
The stem "geron", as in "gerontology," means this
What is "old man"?
After expressing his disagreement with the group's plan, the member was declared persona non grata.
What is, "After expressing his disagreement with the group's plan, the member was declared an unwelcome member/person"?
Catch, or apprehend, the meaning of the stem "hend"
What is "grasp"?
"Inter," found in "interregnum," means this
What is "between"?
Although he claimed to be sorry, the lack of inflection of his voice showed no compunction, proving that he was incorrigible.
What is, "Although he claimed to be sorry, the lack of change in his tone of voice showed no feeling of remorse/regret, proving that he was unable to be corrected"?
A person employing casuistry to make an argument should not be allowed to win, because casuistry is this
What is "specious or faulty reasoning"?
The interregnum period was a time when people felt they could get away with many infractions of the law.
What is, "The time between rulers was a time when people felt they could get away with a lot of law-breaking"?
Any kind of mania is a type of __________
What is "madness"?
The incarnadine casserole made me feel as though I was eating someone's intestines.
What is, "The flesh-colored casserole made me feel as though I were eating someone's intestines"?
Is your pugnacious little sibling bothering you? Impress them by telling the meaning of the stem "pugn"
What is "fight"?
The stem "ous," found in words like "lugubrious," means this
What is "full of"?
The book's denoument was melancholy. In other words...
What is, "The book's ending or outcome was dark and sad?"
For her encore, the pianist played a cadenza, which is this
What is an "elaborate solo"?
The anthology of quotes had many sapient sayings, but contained a surfeit of platitudes as well.
The literary collection of quotes had many wise sayings, but contained an excess of trite, dull remarks as well.
The threshold of viability for premature babies has increased with greater medical technology.
The threshold of the ability to live for premature babies has increased with greater medical technology.
What is, "His openly carefree attitude toward serious matters meant that others believed him insincere even when he was serious"?
"Muta" and "meta" both mean the same thing as stems
What is "change"?
What is "out"?
The government opened an inquisition in order to extirpate the idiosyncratic anarchists.
What is, "The government opened a punitive investigation in order to root out the peculiar anti-government activists/believers"?
The class's esprit de corps made them determined to get every single vocab question right. They had a lot of this
What is "group pride"?
Rather than a place to remain in stasis, the caterpillar's cocoon is the sine qua non for the insect's metamorphosis.
What is, "Rather than a place to remain in a constant/steady state, the caterpillar's cocoon is the essential element for the insect's change of shape"?
Many people oppugn the deification of material goods and technology, but others embrace these things as innocuous.
What is, "Many people argue against the making of material goods and technology into (a) god(s), but others embrace these things as not harmful"?
His proclivity for improvident decisions led to his inexorable downfall.
What is, "His unfortunate tendency for decisions made with a lack of foresight led to his inescapable downfall"?
It might sound nice, but as a stem, "bell" means this
What is "war"?
You should "remember" what the stem "re" means, since it's so common!
What is "again"?
After being knocked out, the recumbent pugilist spouted lugubrious platitudes about his loss, too tenacious to give up the spotlight.
What is, "After being knocked out, the reclining boxer / the boxer who was lying down said mournful, trite remarks about his loss, too stubborn to give up the spotlight."
A mutable status quo is this
What is "a changeable present state"?
With apprehension, the man exercised his prerogative as a respected prophet to give a sagacious, pellucid admonition to the belligerent anarchists, hoping to intervene in their plans to spread a deadly pathogen that would cause people to become demented.
(TRIPLE POINTS!)
With a feeling of foreboding, the man used his exclusive privilege as a respected prophet to give a wise, crystal-clear warning to the warlike anti-government activists, hoping to come between their plans to spread a deadly disease-causer that would cause people to become insane.
DOUBLE POINTS!
The obdurate kleptomaniac pursued an opulent lifestyle by seeking out an omnifarous selection of exquisite of jewels.
What is, "The stubborn/hard-hearted pathological thief pursued a rich lifestyle by seeking out only a selection of jewels of highest quality of all kinds"? (Phrasing may vary)
"Noli me tangere," the somnolent classicist murmured, "I am dreaming of the wonderful possibility of a hagiocracy."
What is, "Don't touch me," the sleepy classicist [person who studies the classics] murmured, "I am dreaming of the wonderful possibility of a government made of holy people"?