Word Origins
What is the origin of the word "symbiosis?"
1876, as a biological term, "union for life of two different organisms based on mutually benefit," from Greek symbiosis "a living together," from symbioun "live together," from symbios "(one) living together (with another)
What is Greek?
What is the prefix in the word "incredible"?
in-
Synonym or Antonym?
essential : important
Synonym
Positive or Negative?
pip-squeak
negative
Speaking rudely to the judges was rash behavior. you really hurt your chances of winning!
What does rash mean in this context?
bad
What contains facts such as currency, population, weather, and geographical data?
Atlas
Frankie franticly frolicks for fifty flowers. A) Metaphor B) Alliteration C) Hyperbole
B - Alliteration
What is the word origin for "enthusiastic"?
enthusiastic (adj.)
c. 1600, "pertaining to possession by a deity," from Greek enthousiastikos "inspired," from enthousiazein "be possessed or inspired by a god" (see enthusiasm). Meaning "pertaining to irrational delusion in religion" is from 1690s. The main modern sense, in reference to feelings or persons, "intensely eager, rapturous," is from 1786. Related: Enthusiastically.
What is Greek?
What is the suffix in the word "psychology"?
-ology
Complete the analogy:
hot : cold = start : ______
end, finish
Choose the correct tone in the following sentence.
It was a dark and stormy night. A strong chill filled the air. a) happy b) scary c) hopeful
B
A 98 year old woman is always working to knit scarves to send as gifts for the troops - she is a selfless person!
A selfless person is --
cares more about others than herself
You are participating in the spelling bee at your school. The teacher says a word you do not know. When you ask her to give you the definition, where might the teacher get this information?
Dictionary
The walls began to walk towards me. A) Personification B) Onomatopoeia C)Metaphor D)Simile
A - Personification
What is the word origin for "song"?
Old English sang "voice, song, art of singing; metrical composition adapted for singing, psalm, poem," from Proto-Germanic *songwho- (source also of Old Norse söngr, Norwegian song, Swedish sång, Old Saxon, Danish, Old Frisian, Old High German, German sang, Middle Dutch sanc, Dutch zang, Gothic saggws), from PIE *songwh-o- "singing, song," from *sengwh- "to sing, make an incantation" (see sing (v.)).
Old English
What is the common root deriation in the following words?
claustrophobia
arachnophobia
aerophobia
-phobia
Synonym for elderly
old
Which is positive?
job or career
career
I believe that if you lower taxes so that people can keep more of the money they earn, it will be an incentive for them to work harder.
What is the meaning of "incentive"?
A reason to do something.
Your class is doing research papers on someone who has made an impact on our country's history. Where can you find information about the person you chose for this report?
Encyclopedia
He ran as fast as a cheetah? A.) simile B.) metaphor C.) pun
A - Simile
What is the word origin for "project"?
project (n.)
c. 1400, projecte, "a plan, draft, scheme, design," from Medieval Latin proiectum "something thrown forth," noun use of neuter of Latin proiectus, past participle of proicere "stretch out, thrust out, throw forth," from pro- "forward" (see pro-) + combining form of iacere (past participle iactus) "to throw" (from PIE root *ye- "to throw, impel").
Medieval Latin
What is the common root derivations for the following words?
deformity
transformation
uniform
inform
form
Antonym for "artificial"
real
Positive or Negative?
odorous
negative
Put this medicine on your arm and rub it into your skin until it's invisible. It will inhibit the infection's attempt to spread.
What does "inhibit" mean?
block or slown down
Where do you go to look up a word's pronunciation?
Dictionary
The sun was a furnace.
Metaphor
What is the word origin for "beauty"?
early 14c., bealte, "physical attractiveness," also "goodness, courtesy," from Anglo-French beute, Old French biauté "beauty, seductiveness, beautiful person" (12c., Modern French beauté), earlier beltet, from Vulgar Latin *bellitatem (nominative bellitas) "state of being pleasing to the senses" (source also of Spanish beldad, Italian belta), from Latin bellus "pretty, handsome, charming," in classical Latin used especially of women and children, or ironically or insultingly of men, perhaps from PIE *dw-en-elo-, diminutive of root
french
What do the prefixes sym- and syn- mean?
together, same
If cruel and compassionate are antonyms, what does compassionate mean?
caring, nice
Choose the correct tone in the sentence.
Did you see what he just did? My goodness! a) insecure b) humorous c) surprised
C
t's a wonder to me how anyone can still be undecided about this election. These two candidates are certainly distinct. Each would lead our nation in opposite directions.
What does distinct mean?
clearly different
This week's spelling words are hard for you to understand. You have already written the definition to the words. You believe that by finding synonyms and antonyms for the words might give you a better understanding of the definition. Where can you find synonyms and antonyms?
Thesaurus
Peter Piper picked peppers.
alliteration