Below is a list of words that often appear on the TOEFL test. The underlined sections of a word provide links to definitions of that word’s respective roots, prefixes and suffixes. Sentences are provided as examples of word usage.

 A B C D E F G H J L M N O P Q R S T U V

A

act, ag

react(verb): to act in response to something o re + acto How did he react when he heard the news?

agent(noun): something which acts or acts upon something elseag

+

ent

o The travel agent helped her purchase the tickets.

active(adjective): involving movement, moving about o act + iveo Joan is an active child.

agitate(verb): to excite, to disturb, to stir up o ag it + ateo The washing machine agitates the load of laundry.

aud, audit, aur

audible( adjective): can be heard o aud + ibleo Your voice is barely audible over the sound of the train whistle.

auditorium(noun): a place where one goes to hear something o aud it+ oriumo The band played in the school auditorium

auricular o aur + ic + ul + aro The auricular ability of the cat is well-known.

am, ami

amorous(adjective): loving o amor + ouso The actor played an amorous role.

amiable(adjective) friendly, agreeable o ami + ableo He seems to be an amiable man.

amicable(adjective): friendly o ami c + ableo The two neighbors came to an amicable decision about the fence.

anim

animal(noun): a living creature o anim + alo A dog is an animal.

animate(verb): to give spirit or support, to supply movement o anim + ateo The artist animated the cartoon.

animosity(noun): hostility, ill will o animos + ityo There isn’t any animosity between us.

ann, annu, enni

annals (noun): record of events, historical records o ann + al + so The annals of the organization are kept in notebooks.

annual(adjective): yearly o annu + alo She is planning on going to the company’s annual meeting.

annuity(noun): money payable yearly o annu + ityo Joan is going to invest her annuity in the stock market.

anniversary(noun): the yearly celebration of an event o anni + vers + aryo John’s parents will celebrate their wedding anniversary in April.

perennial(adjective): enduring, persisting for several years o per + enn + ial

o I would like to buy some perennial plants.

auc, aug, aut

author (noun): one that originates or creates, a writer o auth + oro Susan met the author of this book.

augment(verb): to increase, to add to o aug + mento He had to augment his salary by taking another job.

auction(noun): a sale of goods to the highest bidder o auct + iono I bought this car at the auction.

B

bene biblio

benevolent

benign (adjective): harmless, mild, gentle o The doctor removed a benign tumor from my neck and I went home the

same day.

 brev + ity

bibliography

 

biology

 

brief

abbreviate(verb): to shorten o How does one abbreviate the word “Minnesota”?

brevity(noun): short or concise expression o The politician gave short speeches and he became known for his brevity.

C

cad, cap, cas, ceiv, cept, cid

deceive (verb): to cause or allow someone to believe something is true when it is actually false; to mislead

o de + ceiveo The criminal deceived many people into believing she was honest.

capable(adjective): having the ability to do something; having the traits necessary to perform some action

o cap + ableo Jose is a very capable lawyer.

capacious (adective): containing a great deal o cap ac + iouso You have a capacious library with many unusual books.

captive (noun, adjective): a person held against his or her own will; held prisoner o cap + tiveo The captives were taken to the jail.o Geoff had a captive audience.

accident(noun): an unplanned event o ac + cid + ento Don’t get upset about minor accidents and errors.

capture (verb): to gain control of, to gain by effort o capt + ureo In the game of chess, the object is to capture the king.

occasion(noun): an opportunity; a happening, instance or celebration o oc + cas + iono Did you have an occasion to speak with your professor?

receive(verb): to take in, to acquire o re + ceiveo Imelda received many letters in the mail today.

concept(noun): an idea o con + cepto The concept of using computers in the classroom is relatively new.

ceas, cede, ceed, cess

predecessor (noun): a person who has previously occupied a position that another has taken over

o pre + de + cess + or

o I hope I can live up to my predecessor’s reputation.

succeed (verb): to follow after another, to do well o suc + ceedo To succeed as a student, one must study.

recede (verb): to move back, to withdraw o re + cedeo The water receded five days after the flood.

concede (verb): to accept as true, to yield, to allow o con + cedeo I conceded to her point of view.

exceed (verb): to go beyond a limit, to be greater than o ex + ceedo The driver exceeded the speed limit by ten miles an hour.

recess (noun): an indentation, a temporary break o re + cesso The children were given a recess from the lessons.

deceased (adjective): dead o de + ceas + edo The deceased person will be cremated rather than buried.

chron

chronic(adjective): marked by a long period of time, recurrence o chron + ico Gabrielle has a chronic back disorder and cannot lift heavy objects.

chronicle (noun): a historical account arranged in order of time o chron + icleo The teacher asked us to read a chronicle on the Revolutionary War.

chronological (adjective): arranged in order of time o chrono + log + icalo The text book listed the presidents in chronological order.

clam, claim

acclaim(verb): praise o ac + claimo The restaurant is acclaimed for its desserts.

exclaim (verb): to speak loudly, to cry out in surprise o ex + claimo The children exclaimed “hurray” when they heard there would be no

classes tomorrow.

clamor (noun, verb): n. noise, v. to make noise o clam + oro The children clamored for more ice cream.

proclaim (verb): to declare loudly o pro + claimo The president of the university proclaimed March 21 to be a holiday in

honor of the school’s award winning faculty.

cogn, gnos

cognizant(adjective): aware o cogn iz + anto The man was cognizant of the danger of walking through the park at night.

diagnose (verb): to recognize (diseases) by symptoms o dia + gnoseo The patient was diagnosed with Lyme’s disease.

agnostic (noun): one who believes that any ultimate reality is unknowable o ag + gnost + ico John is unsure of the reality of god and considers himself to be an

agnostic.

recognize (verb): to know, to identify o re + cogn + izeo I thought I recognized your face from somewhere.

corp

corpse (noun): a dead body o corpse o A corpse was found floating in the river.

corpulent (adjective): having a large body o corp + ul + ento The corpulent politician jabbed a fat finger in the air.

incorporate (verb): to unite into one being o in + corp + or + ateo The artist incorporated paint, photographs, and fabric into her artwork.

corporate (adjective): formed into a body or association, united in one group o corp + or + ateo The corporate structure allowed many people to work as a group.

cre, cresc, cret

crescent(noun, adjective): a narrow curved shape; a quarter moon or smaller o cresc + ento The crescent moon could be glimpsed through the clouds.

create (verb): to originate, to produce through imagination o cre + ateo The musician created a new musical arrangement.

accretion (verb): growth by gradual addition o ac + cret + iono The accretion of dirt on windows is sometimes hard to detect.

increase (verb): to grow in size or amount o in + crease Alfonse wishes he could find a way to increase his salary.

cred

credible(adjective): can be believed, reasonable o cred + ibleo The witness gave a credible account of the accident.

credulous (adjective): too ready to believe o cred + ul + ouso The credulous child believed the story about flying horses.

incredible (adjective): unbelievable, amazing o in + cred + ibleo Makiko said she just saw an incredible horror movie.

cour, cur, curr, curs

excursion(noun): a trip o ex + curs + iono The father planned an excursion to the zoo for his children.

discourse (noun, verb): a conversation, to talk o dis + courseo The discourse between the speaker and the audience was informal.

courier (noun): a messenger

o cour i + ero The courier gave the message to the secretary.

course (noun, verb): forward movement, movement from point to point; to run along a path

o course o Blood courses through your veins with every beat of your heart.

occur (verb): to happen, to come to mind o oc + curo It just occurred to me that tomorrow is your birthday.

current (adjective, noun): happening now, up to date; the movement of water o curr + ento Is this information current or out of date?

D

dic, dict, dit

dictionary (noun): a book of definitions o dict + ion + aryo Juliana looked up the word in the dictionary.

condition (noun): the state of something or someone o con + dit + iono Is your car in good condition?

indicate (verb): to show, to point out o in + dic + ateo The gas gauge indicates that we are almost out of gas.

dictate (verb): to speak for a person to record, to issue an order o dict + ateo The lawyer dictated the letter to her secretary.

predict (verb): to say what will happen in the future o pre + dicto Joseph predicts that he will get married in ten years.

addict (verb): to be devoted to something in an obsessive manner o ad + dicto Leslie is addicted to betting on the horse races.

doc, doct

doctor(noun): a person who has received the highest degree a university offers, a physician

o doct + oro Andre is going to medical school so that he can be a doctor like his

mother.

doctrine (noun): something that is taught, dogma o doct r + ineo We learned about the doctrine of “manifest destiny” in our American

history class.

docile (adjective): obedient, easily taught o doc + ileo Mrs. Galindez wants to buy a docile dog for her son.

document (noun): an official paper o docu + mento The library houses many government documents in its collection.

dog, dox

orthodox (adjective): holding conventional beliefs o ortho + doxo I don’t know if my interpretation of that book is orthodox or not.

dogma (noun): an established opinion o dog + mao Some people find the dogma associated with that organization disturbing.

paradox (noun): a statement that seems to contradict itself but contains some truth

o para + doxo The paradox of the matter is that I want to see the opera but I also want to

stay home.

dec, dign

decorate(verb): to make something look attractive or suitable o dec + or + ateo Linda decorated her apartment with paintings and plants.

decent (adjective): conforming to standards, good, kind o dec + ento This magazine contains a decent article on home improvement.

dignity (noun): quality of being worthy, noble, honored

o dign + ityo I haven’t yet had the dignity and honor of being grand marshall of the

parade.

duc, duct

conduct (verb, noun): v. to lead or guide, n. a person’s behavior o con + ducto Jared was conducted into the doctor’s office by the nurse.o Arnelle’s conduct was inexcusable and she should apologize to the class.

educate(verb): to train, to provide schooling for o e + duc + ateo The school tries to educate its students to be productive members of

society.

induct (verb): to install in office or to enroll in military service o in + ducto Mindy was inducted into the army last month.

deduct (verb): to subtract o de + ducto The salesperson deducted five dollars off the purchase price of the radio.

deduce (verb): to make a decision or draw a conclusion by reasoning o de + duceo I deduced from the trail of crumbs and the empty milk carton that the

children were home.

produce (verb, noun): to bring forward, to make to bear or yield; something made or grown

o pro + duceo The lawyer produced new evidence at the trial.o The produce from the farm will go to the market next week.

seduce(verb): to persuade (especially into doing something wrong), to tempt o se + duceo Money and power have been known to seduce many honest people.

induce(verb): to persuade, cause, or bring about by artificial means. o in + duceo If a child swallows poison, it is suggested that vomiting should be

induced.

E

ev, et

eternal(adjective): not effected by time, without beginning or end, ceaseless o etern + al o The lecture seemed eternal and many in the audience had fallen asleep.

medieval (adjective): relating to the Middle Ages (500 – 1500 AD) o med + iev al o There are many styles to medieval architecture and a building built in 500

AD looks different from one built in 1000 AD.

F

fict, feign, fain

faint(adjective, verb): indistinct, not clearly perceived, weak; to lose consciousness from lack of blood to the brain

o faint o There is a faint odor of apples in this room.o Some people faint at the sight of blood.

feign (verb): to pretend o feign o The child feigned illness in an attempt to avoid the test.

fiction (noun): something produce from imagination, an invented story o fict + iono The excuse Marvin just gave for not doing his homework is pure fiction.

fig

effigy (noun): a figure representing a disliked person. o e f + fig + yo The children made an effigy of their nasty neighbor.

figure (noun): shape, pattern, drawing o fig + ureo The figure Louise drew on the paper looks nothing like an apple.

figment (noun): a thing that does not exist, something made up o fig + mento Ghosts and monsters are figments of an active imagination.

fac, fact, fec, fic, fas, fea

fashion(noun, verb): the form of something, style; to give shape or form to

o fash + iono The current fashion is hair worn short.

feasible(adjective): capable of being done o feas + ibleo The engineer thought that building the bridge across the river was a

feasible project.

feature(noun, verb): the appearance or form of a person or object; to picture or portray

o feat + ureo Lisette’s best feature is her eyes.

factory(noun): a place where things are made or built o fact + oryo There is a boat factory near the river.

difficult (adjective): hard to do, troublesome, hard to understand o di + fic + ulto The test was difficult and I answered only eight of the ten questions.

fact (noun): something known to be true o fact o It’s a fact that the world is round.

effect (noun): a change caused by something, a result, influence o e + fecto The sun’s effect on human skin is known to be harmful.

fer

fertile(adjective): productive, bearing or capable of bearing fruit in large quantities

o fert + ileo The land by the river is quite fertile and many crops are grown there.

refer (verb): to classify within a general category, to send or direct to another source

o re + fero The patient was referred to a physical therapist for additional treatment.

infer (verb): to come to a conclusion from facts or ideas, to guess o in + fero Sometimes a reader has to infer from the facts presented in an article what

the main idea is about.

fid

diffident (adjective): hesitant in acting, shy o di f + fid + ento The diffident student would not speak in front of the class.

fidelity (noun): the quality of being faithful, accuracy o fid + el + ityo The fidelity of this video reproduction is quite good.

confide (verb): to trust, to trust another person with a secret o con + fideo Joan confided in her friend and told her a secret.

flu, fluct, flux

fluent (adjective): capable of moving with ease, able to speak another language o flu + ento The dancer had a fluent body.o Juanita is fluent in several languages.

superfluous (adjective): extra, more than is needed o super + flu + ouso Three cherries on my piece of cake is superfluous; I only needed one.

influence (verb, noun): to have an effect on something; the ability to affect something indirectly

o in + flu + enceo It was John’s success as a musician that influenced my decision to take

guitar lessons.

fluid (adjective): capable of flowing, a smooth style, liquid o flu + ido The ink my new pen is quite fluid and flows evenly across the page.

fluctuate (verb): to shift back and forth, to move erratically o fluct u + ateo My body temperature has been fluctuating all day — sometimes I’m hot

and sometimes I’m cold.

form fract, frag, frai

format

formulate (verb): to prepare from a set of steps (formula), to devise o The chemist formulated a new way of making dish detergent.

 

fracture (verb, noun): to break, to crack; a broken bone o fract + ure Miguel fractured his arm while skiing.

fragment (noun): a piece broken off, a part of something o frag + mento It bothers me that I can remember only a fragment of the poem rather than

the whole piece.

frail (adjective): easily broken, not strong o frail o Be careful! That chair is frail

G

gen, gin

generally(adverb): in a general manner, usually, with regard to the whole not specifics

o gen + er + al + lyo Generally, Lance leaves work at 5:00 p.m.

gingerly (adverb, adjective): careful o gin + ger + lyo Paulette picked up the antique vase gingerly and placed it on the shelf.

indigenous (adjective): native, having been born in a specific area or environment o in + di + gen + ouso The tomato plant is indigenous to South America.

ge de + gree

geography

 

categorize

 

grade (noun): a stage in a process, a mark indicating quality o Ali hopes to receive a passing grade on his midterm exam.

progress (verb, noun): to move forward; forward movement o Mina progressed to the next level in her French language program.

o There hasn’t been much progress made in getting the house built — only the frame is up.

degree (noun): a step or stage in a process, a rank, a level of intensity o There is a high degree of stress associated with being a police officer.

graph, graf H

graphic

graffitti (noun): drawings or writing on a wall o Many people find the graffitti on the subway trains disturbing.

 

her, hes

adhere (verb): to stick o ad + hereo Paper often adheres to wet surfaces.

hesitate (verb): to hold back a decision, to waver o hes it + ateo Don’t hesitate to call me if you need help.

J

jac, ject, jet re + ject

adjacent

jettison (verb): to throw away, to cast off o The captain of the sinking ship jettisoned the cargo.

reject(verb): to throw out, unwilling to accept o David was rejected by two schools before he found a school that accepted

him.

jug, junct, just

adjust(verb): to change or adapt to fit or match something o ad + justo Jared has to adjust to his new work schedule.

conjugal (adjective): of marriage, marital relationship o con + jug + al

o One should think seriously before entering a conjugal relationship.

junction (noun): the place at which two things join o junct + iono Deborah’s house is at the junction of Hill and Maple streets.

L

lex, leg

o   col + lege Yolanda is going to college to become a lawyer.

 (noun): a school for higher learning, a group of people having a common purpose

o college

 

legal (adjective, noun): based on law; conforms to law o leg + alo Jared is working as a legal secretary for two lawyers in New Yorko Is it legal to own fireworks in Massachusetts or is there a law against

them?

league(noun): a group of people, an association o leag + ueo There are fifty people participating in the bowling league.

lect

o   col + lect The little girl collected wildflowers for her mother.

(verb): to gather, to bring together

o collect

 

legible(noun): readible, clear enough to read o leg + ibleo His handwriting is quite legible.

eligible (adjective): qualified, worthy to be chosen o e + lig + ibleo Now that Geoffrey is eighteen he is eligible to vote.

loc

o   loc + al + ly The vegetables are grown locally.

 (adverb): nearby, relative to a certain area

o locally

 

log

o   log + ic Simone is taking a class in logic and she is learning about how to

reason.

 (noun): the study of reason

o logic

 

luc

o   trans + luc + ent The sheet of paper is translucent when held close to a lightbulb.

(adjective): allowing some light to shine through

o translucent

 

illuminate(verb): to provide with light, to make lighter, to make clear o il + lum + in + ateo The lamp illuminates the room.

illustrate(verb): to explain by using pictorial examples, to show by using visual examples

o il + lustr + ateo Christopher illustrated his idea on piece of paper for everyone to see.

M

man

o   man + age + ment This store is under new management.

(noun): the act of handling or running something, usually a business.

o management

 

mem

o   com + mem + or + ate The American Revolution is commemorated every Fourth of July.

(verb): to remember an important event through ceremony or observation

o commemorate

 

memory(noun): the ability to recall past events o mem + or + yo Geanine has an excellent memory and she can recall things that happened

years ago.

ment

mental(adjective): related to the mind o ment + alo Lauren’s mental abilities must be quite good if she achieved a perfect

score without even studying.

mention(verb): to cite, to speak about, to refer to o ment + iono The instructor forgot to mention that the class was cancelled.

min

minor(adjective): lesser, less important o min + oro The knife slipped and Marcelle received a minor cut.

minute(adjective, noun): tiny, very small; sixty seconds o min + uteo Even though the speck of dirt on the camera lens was minute, it ruined the

photograph.o Terry will be finished in one minute.

minuscule(adjective): very small o minusc + uleo The minuscule gem was very hard to see without magnifying glasses.

mit, miss

o   ad + mit I must admit that even though you didn’t like the movie I did.

(verb): to accept, to confess, to allow entry

o admit

 

missive (noun): a letter to be sent o miss + iveo Missives were more common one hundred years ago. Today, people use

the telephone.

mob, mov, mot

o   re + move The waiter removed the dirty dishes from the table.

(verb): to take off or to take away

o remove

 

mobile(adjective): able to move

o mob + ileo Many people drive their mobile homes from North to South, following the

warm weather.

motion(noun): act of moving, action o mot + iono Many people find the motion of a rocking chair soothing.

N

nasc, nat, gnant, nai

o   nat +ive Turkeys are native to North America.

(adjective): belonging to a place by birth, indigenous

o native

 

nascent (adjective): just born o nasc + ento The nascent kittens curled up with their mother.

pregnant (adjective): having a child developing in the womb, “with child” o pre + gn +ento Linda’s dog is pregnant and it will have its puppies in November.

naive (adjective): lack of experience, not knowledgeable of the world o nai + veo When Olivia went to New York ten year’s ago she was naive, but now she

is a well-seasoned traveler.

nom

o   nomin + ate Vittorio nominated Mary for class president.

(verb): to name for office

o nominate

 

synonym (noun): a word with a similar meaning to another word in the same language

o syn + onymo The word “fair” is a synonym for the word “just.”

nov

o   nov el + ty After six months the novelty of Pierre’s new car is starting to wear

off.

(noun): something new

o novelty

 

novice (noun): a newcomer, a beginner, someone new to something o nov + iceo Bjorn is a novice when it comes to playing poker or other card games.

O

oper

o   oper + ate People are advised not to operate heavy machinery after drinking

alcohol.

(verb): to work, to perform

o operate

 

opus (noun): a musical composition o opus o Vivaldi’s opus number three is not as well known as is other

compositions.

P

pat

o   pat i + ent Josiah was patient as he waited in line for concert tickets. Amelia has been a patient of Dr. Gustaf’s for ten years.

(adjective, noun): calm, bearing pain without complaint; a person under medical care

o patient

 

passion (noun): a strong feeling or emotion o pass + iono Barbara has a passion for motorcycle racing.

sympathy (noun): sharing another person’s feelings, the ability to feel for another person’s suffering

o sym + path + yo Ching-wei expressed his deepest sympathy when hearing of Mrs. Martin’s

death.

pathology (noun): the study of diseases o path o + log + yo Blaise is studying pathology because he wants to learn about diseases.

ped

o   im + pede The shackles and chains impeded the prisoner’s escape.

(verb): to hinder, to slow down

o impede

 

pedestal (noun): a support for a column or other structure, a base for something o ped est + alo Johannes put the vase on a pedestal.

pedestrian (noun): a person walking o ped estr + iano As soon as the cars stopped, the pedestrians crossed the street.

pod

podium (noun): a platform, an area raised above the surrounding ground, a place at which to speak in front of an audience

o pod + iumo The professor walked up to the podium and spoke into the microphone.

pel

o   re + pel Does Margo’s new jacket repel water?

(verb): to drive away or push back

o repel

 

pulse (noun): the regular action of blood through arteries o pulse o The nurse felt for the patient’s pulse in his neck.

pend, pond

suspend(noun): to hang from, to interrupt, to stop o sus + pendo The light was turned on by a string suspended from the light fixture.

ponder(verb): to think about, to weigh in one’s mind o pond + ero Levi pondered the possibility of going to medical school.

phan, fan

o   phan + tom The children told horror stories about phantoms and ghosts.

(noun): something seen but having no physical existence, a ghost.

o phantom

 

fantasy(noun): a creation of the imagination that cannot be real, a daydream o fan tas + y

o When Miguel was a child he had a fantasy about being a doctor on the planet Jupiter.

phil

o   philo + soph + er Plato wrote about the Greek philosopher Socrates.

 (noun): a person who seeks (loves) wisdom

o philosopher

 

phon

o   phon et + ic The phonetic alphabet is useful when studying languages or

linguistics.

(adjective) relating to speech sounds

o phonetic

 

pict

o   de + pict In the movie the character was depicted as evil.

 (verb): to portray, to represent

o depict

 

port

o   im + port Fyodor imports caviar and other products from Russia.

 (verb): to bring in from a foreign country

o import

 

portage (noun) the labor of carrying boats across land o port + ageo Bill said that he had a five mile portage on his last canoe trip.

pli, ply

o   re + ply Did Marco reply to Emily’s invitation? Lynn received a negative reply from her parents and she will not

be going to the party.

(verb, noun): to respond, to answer; a response

o reply

 

implicate (verb): to involve, to incriminate o im + plic + ateo The thief was implicated in three burglaries.

ply (noun): a layer o ply o Two ply tissue paper is stronger than one ply.

pon, pos

o   pos it + ion What position does Ian hold at his mother’s company?

(noun): a place occupied by something

o position

 

postpone (verb): to put off to a later time o post + pone

o The baseball game was postponed because of the storm.

posture (noun) the position of a body o post + ureo Denise has terrific posture — her back is straight and strong.

psych

o   psych o + log + y Lynette studies psychology because she is interested in how people

think and feel.

(noun): study of how the mind works

o psychology

 

Q

quir

o   in + quire Debbie inquired about employment opportunities at the factory.

(verb): to ask about

o inquire

 

exquisite (adjective): carefully selected, marked by beauty o ex + quis + iteo Everyone noticed the exquisite diamond Toni was wearing.

quest (noun): a search, the act of seeking o quest o At four in the morning Quincy went out on a quest for ice cream.

query (verb, noun): to ask questions, a question o query o The lawyer queried the witness.o I have a query about the origins of the English language.

R

rupt

o   cor + rupt The politician was corrupted by power and money. The corrupt judge was arrested for accepting a bribe.

(verb, adjective): to change from good to bad

o corrupt

 

rupture (verb): to break or burst o rupt + ureo The water bed ruptured and the water flowed onto the floor.

interrupt (verb): to stop, to break in (usually with questions) o inter + rupto It’s impolite to interrupt someone while they are speaking.

S

sci

o   con + sci + ous Gerturde was conscious of everything even though she appeared

asleep.

(adjective): aware, having knowledge of oneself

o conscious

 

science (noun): a system of knowledge o sci + enceo Claire enjoys science, especially biology.

scrib, scrip

scribble (verb): to write quickly or carelessly o scrib b + le

o He scribbled a note in his notebook.

script(noun): handwriting, something written o script o Sometimes her script is hard to read.

describe(verb): to say what something is like o de + scribeo The scientist described his experiment to the class.

sent, sens

sensation(noun): ability to feel due to stimulation o sens + at + iono Jamal felt a tingling sensation in his arm after he hit his elbow on the

table.

sentimental(adjective): marked by feeling or emotion o sent i + ment +alo Lauren has a sentimental attachment to that quilt because her great

grandmother made it.

sequ

o   sequ + ence The sequence of events were as follows: first we had dinner, then

we went to the movies, and then we went fo ice cream.

(noun): a continuous series

o sequence

 

consecutive (adjective): following in an unbroken order o con + secut + iveo Terri was elected team captain three consecutive years in a row.

ensue (verb): to happen afterward o en + sueo After a disagreement in the restaurant, a fight ensued in the parking lot.

soci solv, solu

society

 

solitary

isolate (verb): to separate from others, to place something by itself o i +o The sick cat was isolated from the other animals.

 sol + uble

solve

absolute (adjective): complete, unrestricted, perfect o The babysitter has absolute authority over the children while their parents

are away.

soluble (adjective): able to disperse in liquid o Sugar is soluble in water.

spec, spi spicic + ious

spectator

despise (verb): to hate, tolook down on o Marguerite despises people who are cruel to animals.

auspicicious (adjective): favorable o au +o The thousand dollar donation made for an auspicious beginning.

espionage (noun): using spies or observers o e + spion + ageo Espionage is often depicted in mystery movies and novels.

spir stab, stat

respiration

inspire (verb): to stimulate, to fill with a feeling or desire o Students are often inspired by their teachers.

 sta + nce

stature

establish (verb): to found, to start, to make firm

o e +o Southampton College was established in 1963.

stance (noun): a way of standing, a position, an attitude o A person’s stance is very important in the games of golf and baseball.

strain, strict string + ent

restrain

constrict (verb): to squeeze, to make narrow o Marvin felt constricted by the suit and tie he wore to the meeting.

stringent (adjective): strict, tight, severe o There are stringent rules and regulations one must follow when operating

a child care center.

prestige (noun): respect for a person or a thing o pre + stigeo There is a lot of prestige associated with occupying a political position.

stru, stroy ob + struct

destroy

misconstrue (verb): to interpret, analyse, or understand something incorrectly; misunderstand

o Do not misconstrue his actions to mean he likes you — being pleasant to customers is part of his job.

obstruct (verb): to block, prevent, hinder o The fallen tree obstructed the roadway and blocked traffic for hours.

T

tact, tang con + tig + uous

tactilely

tangible (adjective): able to be perceived by touch, physically real o Many people want tangible proof of something before they believe it to be

true.

contiguous (adjective): touching, next in a sequence o The United States has forty-eight contiguous states.

contingent (adjective): possible, dependent on something else o con + ting + ento Armand’s move to a new apartment is contingent on his getting a raise.

tend, tens tain, ten

extensive

contend (verb): to strive or reach for, to argue o The two fighters contended for the heavy-weight championship title.

 con + tent

retain

continue (verb): to keep going, to remain o The movie is scheduled to continue until midnight.

content (noun, adjective): something contained, held; satisfied o I can’t tell what the content of this can is until I open it.

tenacious (adjective): holding or sticking to something o ten + ac + iouso Kareem is tenacious and he will stick with a subject until he understands

it.

term terr

exterminate

terminal (adjective): relating to an end o Margot has been diagnosed with a terminal disease and has been given

only six months to live.

 test

territory

terrain (noun): the physical features of an area o There is some very rough terrain in the White Mountain area of New

Hampshire.

therm

attest

testify (verb): to make a statement based on personal knowledge o The witness testified at the trial.

tor

thermometer

thermal (adjective): relating to the presence of heat o Lisa bought some thermal underwear to take with her when she goes

skiing.

con + tort

torment

torsion (noun): twisting of a body or an organ by an external force along an axis o The torsion of the bolt will help release the wheel.

contort (verb): to twist into an abnormal shape o The actor contorted her face into an evil grin and scared the audience.

tract, trai treat + y

attract

train (verb): to teach or to cause to do something o Yvette trained her dog to perform tricks.

treaty (noun): a formal agreement o The rebels and the new government signed a treaty calling for peace.

U

uni V

unite

unison (noun): at the same time, at the same pitch o The two singers sang in unison.

 

vac ven, vent

vacant

vacuum (noun): empty space, isolation from outside influence o Some people seem to live in a vacuum and they have no knowledge of

current events.

pre + vent

convene

invent (verb): to create through thought or imagination o Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone and other devices.

prevent (verb): to act ahead of, to keep from happening o Lamont prevented a disastrous fire by calling the fire department the

moment he smelled smoke.

ver verb, verv

verify

veracity (noun): truthfulness, accuracy o Daphne is known for her veracity and honesty.

vers, vert:

verbalize

verve (noun): enthusiasm o The cheerleaders showed verve and school spirit at the football game.

vid, vis

versatile

revert(verb): to go back, to return (to an original state) o The land slowly reverted to a wild state after it was abandoned.

vis + ible

video

review (verb): to look at again, to re-examine o Marsha reviewed for the test by re-reading her class notes.

visible (adjective): able to be seen o Sometimes the moon is visible during the day.

indivisible(adjective, noun): cannot be separated o in + di + vis + ibleo The Pledge of Allegiance mentions that the United States is an indivisible

nation.

vit, viv voc, voke

vital

revive (verb): to return to life o After spending a day in the sun, I was revived by a glass of water.

volv, vol

vocal

revoke (verb): to call back, to withdraw o Karl’s license was revoked because he was caught driving 20 miles over

the speed limit.

e + vol + ut + ion

revolve

revolt (verb): to rebel, to turn against, to feel disgust o It was the peasants who revolted during the French Revolution.o Cooked carrots revolt some people.

evolution (noun): the process by which something develops o Darwin and other natural scientists have developed theories of evolution.

 (verb): to turn around

re + volve The earth revolves around the sun.

 (adjective): uttered by the voice, producing sound

voc + al Parrots are known to be very vocal birds.

 (adjective): necessary for life

vit + al The cancer had not yet spread to her vital organs and she was given an excellent

chance for a full recovery.

 (noun): television or recorded movies

vid + eo Patricia rented a video and watched it on her television.

(adjective): capable of changing or adapting, useful

vers + at + ile When used correctly, a computer can be a versatile tool.

 (verb): to express in words, to put into words

verb + al + ize Sometimes it is difficult to verbalize one’s feelings.

 (verb): to confirm that something is true

ver + ify The police officer verified Arthur’s identity by asking for his driver’s license.

 (verb): to assemble, to come together

con + vene The meeting convened at 2:00 p.m. and lasted until 5:00 p.m.

 (adjective): empty, not occupied, free

vac + ant The hotel has only one vacant room left.

 (verb) to make one, to join together

uni te The two small companies united and became one large business.

(verb): to draw toward, to arouse interest

at + tract The spilled sugar attracted flies and ants.

 (noun, verb): agony, pain; to cause recurring pain

tor + ment The torment Jean’s nightmares caused made him seek professional help. The guards tormented the prisoners.

 (noun) a device for measuring heat

therm o + meter I took my temperature with a thermometer.

(verb): to provide proof, to say something is true

at + test Malcolm can attest to Shiela’s honesty since he has known her for ten years.

 (noun): area of land

terr it + ory This area is considered to be Canadian territory.

 (verb): to kill off, to get rid of

ex + term + in + ate The Schaeffer’s hired a company to exterminate the cockroaches living in their

house.

 (verb): to keep, to hold in place

re + tain Blanche retained her Alaskan residence since she will return there when she is

finished with school.

 (adjective): large in area, wide

ex + tens + ive There are extensive farm fields located in the plain states.

 (adverb): related to the sense of touch

tact + ile + + ly Some people are tactilely oriented while others are visually oriented.

 (verb): to ruin, to pull down

de + stroy The house was destroyed by the fire.

 (verb): to hold back, to prevent from doing

re + strain The dog was restrained by the trainer’s grip on its leash.

 (noun): height of a body, importance of position

stat + ure I’m reluctant to say she was short, but she was of rather small stature.

 (noun): breathing

re + spir + at + ion Respiration becomes increasingly difficult the higher one climbs.

 (noun): a person who watches or observes

spect + at + or There were over a thousand spectators at the local baseball game.

(verb): to find an answer

solve The professor asked the student to solve the problem and show her answer on the

board.

(adjective): being alone

sol it + ary There was a solitary bather on the beach.

(noun): community, the relationship among individuals living or working in a common area, companionship

soci et + y Sometimes what is best for a society is not always good for an individual living in

that society.

(adjective): to lie next to

ad + jac + ent You won’t have a long walk between classes because the engineering building is

adjacent to the chemistry laboratories.

(adjective): written, drawn, vividly shown

graph + ic Dominic is planning to study graphic art.

grade (verb): to place things in classes or sets, to classify

cat e + gor + ize The professor asked her students to categorize the plants they found.

(noun): a science that describes the earth’s surface

geo + graph + y The geography of New York varies from the sandy shores to rocky mountains.

(noun): the shape and size of something, the arrangement of something

form + at The format of this class will be half lecture and half class participation.

(adjective): short

brief Anand gave a brief lecture on the rain forest.

(noun): the study of life

bio + log + y In biology class the students learned about how the human body works.

(noun): a list of written works

biblio + graph + y Olaf listed a brief bibliography at the end of his paper.

(adjective): marked by goodwill

bene + vol + ent The “Salvation Army” is known as a benevolent society for its acts of charity.

re + volt re + voke re + vive re + view re + vert verve ver + ac + ity in + vent vacu + um uni + son train tors + ion therm + al test ify terr + ain term + in + al con + tin + ue con + tend tang + ible mis + con + strue con + strict stabl + ish in + spire de + spise ab + sol + ute sol + ate sol jet t + ison graph + itti pro + gress grad, gress, gree gor form + ul + ate ab + brevi + ate brev bio, bi ben + ign