Vocabulary from Latin and Greek Roots - Unit One Study Guide

Root: FAC (Latin FACERE, FACTUM)

  • Root Meaning: "to make, do"

  • DISCOMFIT

    • Pronunciation: (dis kǝm' fit)

    • Part of Speech: Verb

    • Definition: To embarrass and confuse

    • Synonym: Perturb

    • Antonym: Relax

    • Context Example: Although the presence of a large audience discomfited the violinist, she gave a magnificent performance.

  • EDIFICATION

    • Pronunciation: (ed ǝ fi ka shǝn)

    • Part of Speech: Noun

    • Definition: Improvement or enlightenment

    • Etymology: Latin aedis ("building") + factum ("to make") = to make a building, to build up

    • Synonym: Betterment

    • Context Example: Mrs. Marple, an etiquette expert, often gives hints for the edification of her audience.

  • MALFEASANCE

    • Pronunciation: (mal fez ǝns)

    • Part of Speech: Noun

    • Definition: Misconduct or wrongdoing, especially by a public official

    • Etymology: Latin mal ("bad") + facere ("to do") = doing bad

    • Synonym: Wrongdoing

    • Context Example: The reporter uncovered a complex conspiracy intended to hide the mayor's latest malfeasance.

  • FEASIBLE

    • Pronunciation: (fèz ǝ bǝl)

    • Part of Speech: Adjective

    • Definition: Capable of being accomplished

    • Synonym: Possible

    • Antonym: Impossible

    • Context Example: The Board of Education could not find a feasible solution to the overcrowding of city schools.

  • SURFEIT

    • Pronunciation: (sûr fǝt)

    • Part of Speech: Noun

    • Definition: Condition of being too full; overabundance

    • Etymology: Latin sur ("over") + facere ("to make") = too much made

    • Synonym: Abundance

    • Antonym: Shortage; dearth

    • Context Example: A surfeit of army boots led to lack of space in the warehouse.

    • Visual Mnemonic: "The shark feasted on a SURFEIT of SURFERS"

Root: OPUS (Latin OPUS, OPERIS & OPS, OPIS)

  • Root Meanings:

    • Latin OPUS, OPERIS: "work"

    • Latin OPS, OPIS: "wealth, power, resource"

  • MAGNUM OPUS

    • Pronunciation: (mag nǝm ō' pas)

    • Part of Speech: Noun

    • Definition: The greatest work of an artist, writer, or composer

    • Etymology: Latin magnum ("great") + opus ("work") = great work

    • Synonym: Pinnacle

    • Context Example: Wagner's "Ring Trilogy" is considered by many to be the composer's magnum opus.

  • MODUS OPERANDI

    • Pronunciation: (mō dǝs ä pǝ rändi)

    • Part of Speech: Noun

    • Definition: Manner of working

    • Etymology: Latin modus ("way") + operandi ("of working") = way of working

    • Context Example: The criminal's modus operandi was one that the police had seen only rarely in the past.

  • OPULENT

    • Pronunciation: (o'pu lant)

    • Part of Speech: Adjective

    • Definition: Possessing or exhibiting great wealth; affluent

    • Context Example: Having made his fortune in computer sales, Kit retired to an opulent estate on a private island.

Root: ERG (Greek ERGON)

  • Root Meaning: "work"

  • SYNERGY

    • Pronunciation: (si' nǝr je)

    • Part of Speech: Noun

    • Definition: The power that results from the combination of two or more forces

    • Etymology: Greek syn ("together") + ergon ("work") = working together

    • Synonym: Confluence

    • Context Example: The synergy of the two networks allowed for faster and more powerful transmission of information.

  • LITURGY

    • Pronunciation: (li´tər jē)

    • Part of Speech: Noun

    • Definition: A pattern of prayer or worship

    • Etymology: Greek leiton ("town gathering") + ergon ("public work") = public work

    • Context Example: In a traditional Roman Catholic mass, the priest leads the congregation in the liturgy.

  • LETHARGY

    • Pronunciation: (lǝ thǝr je)

    • Part of Speech: Noun

    • Definition: A state of sluggishness, inactivity, and apathy

    • Etymology: Greek lethe ("forgetfulness") + a ("without") + ergon ("work") = forgetful idleness

    • Synonym: Laziness

    • Antonym: Activity

    • Context Example: As Jack's lethargy increased, he found himself unable to concentrate on his work.

Root: LABOR (Latin LABOR)

  • Root Meaning: "work"

  • LABORIOUS

    • Pronunciation: (lǝ bôre ǝs)

    • Part of Speech: Adjective

    • Definition: Requiring mental or physical effort

    • Synonym: Industrious

    • Context Example: Reading the article was so laborious that I left the library exhausted.

  • BELABOR

    • Pronunciation: (bē la bǝr)

    • Part of Speech: Verb

    • Definitions:

      1. To discuss in too much detail

      2. To attack

    • Context Examples:

      1. There is no need to belabor this topic; let us talk of other things.

      2. Movie critics belabored that actor for his terrible movies.

  • ELABORATE

    • Pronunciation: (ē la bar āt)

    • Part of Speech: Verb

    • Definition: To explain in greater detail

    • Etymology: Latin e ("out of") + labor ("work") = to work out

    • Context Example: When asked to elaborate on his proposal for the new park, the mayor said only that it was in the planning stages.