6.2 - Vocabulary for the High School Student

ANT-, ANTI-

against, opposite

antagonist

one who is against, or contends with, another in a struggle, fight or contest; opponent; adversary; foe

antibiotic

Substance obtained from tiny living organisms that works against harmful bacteria

antibody

Substance manufactured in the body that works against germs or poisons produced by germs

antidote

1. Remedy that acts against the effects of poison

2. Countermeasure

antihistamine

drug used against certain allergies and cold symptoms

antipathy

feeling against; distaste; repugnance; dislike; enmity

antiseptic

(literally, "against decaying") a substance that prevents infection by checking the growth of micro-organisms; germicide

antitoxin

Substance formed in the body as the result of the introduction of a toxin (poison) and capable of acting against that toxin

antonym

Word meaning the opposite of another word

ONYM-, ONOMATO-

name, word

acronym

Name formed from three first letter of letters of other words

anonymous

nameless; unnamed; unidentified

homonym

word that sounds like another but differs in meaning

onomatopeia

Use of words whose sound suggests their meaning

psuedonym

(literally, “false name”) fictitious name used by an author; pen name; alias

synonym

word having the same meaning as another word

DERM-, DEMATO-

skin

dermatologist

physician specializing in dermatology, the science dealing with the skin and its diseases

dermis

inner layer or the

epidermis

outer layer of the skin

hypodermic

beneath the skin

taxidermist

One who practices taxidermy, the art of preparing, stuffing and mounting the skins of animals in lifelike form.

NOM-, NEM-

management, distribution, law

agronomy

(literally, "land management") branch of agriculture dealing with crop production and soil management; husbandry

astronomical

1. Having to do with astronomy (literally, "Distribution of the stars") the science of the sun, moon, planets, stars and other hevenly bodies.

2. Inconceivably large

economic

Having to do with economics (literally "household management") the social science dealing with production, distribution and consumption

economical

managed or managing without waste; thrifty; frugal; sparing

gastronome

One who follows the principles of gastronomy, the art or science of good eating (literally "management of the stomach") lover of good food; epicure; gourmet

nenemis

(From "Nemesis", the Greek goddess of vengence who distributes or deals out what is due)

1. Person that inflicts just punishments for evil deeds, avernger, scourge.

2. Formidable and usually victorious opponent

PHAN-, PHEN-

show; appear

cellophane

cellulose substance that “shows” through or permits seeing through; transparent cellulose substance used as a wrapper

diaphanous

or such fine texture as to permit seeing through; sheer transparent

fancy

imagination; illusion

fantastic

based on fantasy rather than reason; imaginary; unreal; off; unbelievable

fantasy

Illusionary image; play of the mind; imagination; fancy

phantom

Something that has the appearance but no reality; apparition; ghost, specter

phenomenal

extraordinary; remarkable; exceptionable; unusual

phenomenon

(literally "an appearance")

1. Any observable fact or event

2. Extraordinary person, event, or thing; wonder; prodigy

THERMO-, THERM-

heat

diathermy

generation of heat in body tissues through high frequency electric currents for medical purposes

thermal

pertaining to heat; hot; warm

thermometer

instrument for measuring temperature

thermonuclear

having to do with the fusion (joining together) at an extraordinarily high temperature of the nuclei of atoms (as in the hydrogen bomb)

thermostat

automatic device for regulating temperature

PROT-, PROTO-

first

protagonist

the leading (“first”) character in a play, novel, or story

protocol

1. First draft or record (of discussions, agreements, etc.) from which a treaty is drawn up; preliminary memorandum

2. Rules of etiquette of the diplomatic corps, military services, etc.

protoplasm

(literally "first molded material") fundemental sunstance of which all living things are composed.

prototype

first of original model of anything; model; pattern

protozoan

(literally, "first animal") animal consisting of only a single cell

THESIS-, THET-

set, place, put

antithesis

(literally, "a setting against") direct opposite; contrary; reverse

epithet

characterizing word or phrasel descriptive name or title

Hypothesis

(literally, "a placing under" or "supposing") supposition or assumption made as a basis for reasoning or research

synthesis

(literally, "putting together") combination of parts of elements into a whole

synthetic

(literally, "put together") artificial; factitious; not of natural origin

thesis

1. Claim put forward; proposition; statememnt; contentation

2. Essay written by a candidate for an advanced degree

ASTER-, ASTR-, ASTRO-

star

aster

plant having small starlike flowers

asterisk

(literally, "little star") star-shaped mark (*) used to call attention to a footnote, ommision, etc.

asteroid

1. Very small plant resembling a star in appearance

2. Starfish

astrologer

Person who practices astrology, a study professing to interpret the supposed influence of the mood, sun and stars on human affairs

astronaut

(literally "star sailor") traveler in outer space

astronomer

Expert in astronomy, science of the starts, planets, sun, moon, and other heavenly bodies

disaster

(literally, "contrary star") sudden or extraordinary misfortune; calamite; catastrophe

GRAM-, GRAPH-

letter, writing

anagram

word or phase formed from another by transposing the letters

cartographer

(literally, "map writer") person skilled in cartography, the science of art of mapmaking

cryptogram

something written in secret code

electrocardiogram

"writing" or tracing made by and electrocardiograph, an instrument that records the amount of electricity the heart muscles produce during the heartbeat

epigram

(literally, something "written on" or "inscribed") bright or witty thought concisely and cleverly expressed.

graphic

written or told in clear, lively manner; vivid picturesque

graphite

soft black carbon used in lead pencils

monogram

(literally, "one letter") person's initials interwoven or combined into one design

monograph

written account of a single thing or class of things

stenographer

person skilled in, or employed to do, stenography (literally, "narrow writing") the art of writing in shorthand

typographical

Pertaining to or occurring in printing or typography (literally, "writing with type")