Prefix/Suffix/Roots
The words "digression" and "divergent" both contain the prefix "di." What does this prefix mean?
What is...
two?
When I showed up to her door, I quickly noticed her diminutive figure, a tiny wisp of a girl. Define "diminutive."
What is...
small; tiny
I thought the teacher would approve of my ideas, but she censured everything I said in class with the phrase "that's ridiculous!" (censure)
What is...
to formally dissapprove?
Sometimes, minorities find themselves marginalized, that is treated as insignificant and on the periphery. Provide an antonym of the word "marginalized."
What is...
significant; important; influential?
John is an unimpeachable witness. I know his high values, honesty, and integrity. "unimpeachable"
What is...
not able to be doubted; trustworthy
The prom decorations were "resplendent." (Look at the root word and combine with the context clues to define it.)
What is...
visually attractive or impressive?
My sister was the bane of my 12-year-old existence. I asked myself repeatedly, "What had I done to deserve such a curse?" Define "bane."
What is...
a curse; a plague; a deadly affliction
He went on a five minute tirade about my being late when he could have just kept quiet and let it go. (tirade)
What is...
a long, angry speech?
John saw the deer and veered off the road; the suddeness of his swerve caused his hot coffee to land in his lap.
What is ...
suddenly change direction?
He whispered his usual saccharine greeting: "You are my sweetest, cutest, honey-pie and angel love."
What is...
excessively sweet or sentimental?
A "benefactor" is someone who supports another person, often financially while "benevolent" means "kind." A "benediction" is a blessing. What does the root "bene" most likely mean?
What is...
good or well?
Conrad was the boss's yes-man. Why is it that every office or classroom has to contain at least one sycophant? Define sycophant.
What is...
a servant-like flatterer; a suck-up
Instead of the peace and quiet that I was expecting, the clamor of the children's playing with musical instruments could be heard through the walls. (clamor)
What is...
a loud, confusing noise?
The CDC wants to take the current Covid-19 data and extrapolate, that is estimate or conclude, expectations of what the virus might look like in 2021. Which sentence uses the word "extrapolate" correctly?
A) I extrapolated my sandwich from my lunchbox.
B) Look at the worksheet and extrapolate the directions.
C) It is wrong to extrapolate the data that all Californians are surfers based on a few personal experiences.
What is....
Answer C?
He vacillated between going water skiing with his parents or staying home and resting.
Define vacillated.
What is...
to be undecided?
The root 'pan' means "all," so a "pantheist" believes in many gods. The root 'a' means "without," so an atheist is a person "without god" or one who "believes in no god. Define "monotheist."
What is...
a person who believes in one god?
I suffered most from ennui during the quarantine. Because I was bored, I picked on my little brother constantly, driving my mom crazy. Define "ennui."
What is...
dullness; boredom; monotony
Unlike my friend Jenny who loves the limelight, I try to be as unobtrusive as possible. (unobtrusive)
What is...
inconspicuous or not drawing attention?
The babysitter was relieved that the children seemed amenable to all of her ideas for games and videos. It made her job so much easier that they were easily controlled. What does "amenable" mean?
What is...
easily controlled/persuaded OR open and responsive?
The directions were "ambiguous." Did the teacher want the thesis stated as the last sentence of the intro paragraph, as the first sentence of the essay, or at the end of the essay where the author leads the evidence along a line of reasoning towards the climactic presentation of the revealed theme?
What is ...
unclear? able to be interpreted different ways?
His eyes contained a vacuous stare.
Think about the word "vacuous." Define this word.
What is....
void; empty?
A vaccine in not necessarily a cure-all for the recent pandemic. If some people refuse to be vaccinated, it certainly can't be the panacea that we've hoped for. Define "panacea."
What is...
a cure-all; complete remedy
Although Alex was hard-nosed, uncompromising, and unwilling to offer an olive branch, I was conciliatory in my actions.
What is...
tending to pacify or intending to gain favor or goodwill by reconciling
The reporters importuned the president, in an aggressive manner, for an explanation of his health care policy, harrassing him persistently until he gave them the answers they wanted. What does "importune" mean?
What is...
to harrass someone (persistently) for them to do something?
Dropping out of school is analogous to leaving for a trip with only half of the luggage you need. In both cases, you might find yourself unprepared for a future situation.
What is...
comparable to?