SAT vocab

ab-

away

abdicate

to give up a position, right, or power

abhor

to regard with disgust and hatred

ambi-

both

ambiguous

open to more than one interpretation

ambivalence

having mixed feelings; being uncertain

ambul-

move or walk

perambulate

to walk through or around

ambulance

vehicle for transporting the sick or injured

ami-

love

amorous

showing or expressing love

enamored

filled with love or admiration

contra-

against

contravene

to violate or go against

contrary

opposite in nature or meaning

cred-

believe

credence

belief in or acceptance of something as true

incredible

impossible to believe

crypt-

hidden

cryptogram

a text written in code

cryptic

having a meaning that is mysterious

cycl-

circle or ring

bicycle

a vehicle with two weeks

cyclic

occurring in cycles; regularly repeated

dem-

people

demographic

relating to the structure of populations

epidemic

a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease

derm-

skin

epidermis

outer layer of skin

dermatitis

inflammation of the skin

dict-

speak

predict

to say what will happen in the future

verdict

a decision made in a trial

domin-

master

dominate

to have control over

predominant

being the strongest element

dur-

hard

endure

to suffer patiently

duration

the time during which something continues

ego-

I, self

egotistical

excessively self centered

alter ego

a second self

esth-

feeling

anesthetic

a substance that induces insensitivity to pain

aesthete

a person who has a special appreciation of art and beauty

extra-

outside

extraneous

irrelevant or unrelated

extraterrestrial

from outside the earth

fid-

faith

confide

to trust something with a secret

infidel

a person who does not believe in a particular religion

flect-

bend

reflect

to throw back without absorbing

deflect

to cause something to change direction

flor-

flower

floral

made of flowers

florist

a person who sells flowers

frac-, frag-

break

fragment

a small part broken off

refract

to make light change direction

fug-

run away

fugitive

a person who has escaped

refuge

a condition of being safe

gen-

birth, production

generate

to produce or create

progeny

descendants

gram-

something written

telegram

a message sent be a telegraph

grammar

the system of language

graph

to write

autograph

a person’s own signature

biography

an account of someone’s life

grat-

pleasing

gratitude

quality of being thankful

gratuity

a tip given to service workers

gress-

to step, to go

progress

forward movement

regress

to return to a former state

hetero-

different

heterogenous

diverse in character

heterodox

not conforming to accepted beliefs

homo-

same

homonym

a word spelled like another but with different meaning

homogenous

of same kind

idio-

peculiar, distinct

idiosyncrasy

a peculiar behavior

idiopathic

of unknown case

judi-

judge, lawyer

judicial

relating to courts

adjudicate

to make a formal judgement

ling-

language

linguist

a language specialist

bilingual

speaking two languages

loqu-

speak

loquacious

talkative

soliloquy

speaking one’s thoughts aloud

magn-

large, great

magnify

to make larger

magnitude

great size

mal-

bad