Root Words/vocabulary List 2

Front 1

introspective

Back 1

Given to examining one's own thoughts or feelings:

Front 2

introvert

Back 2

a shy, reticent, and typically self-centered person.

a person predominantly concerned with their own thoughts and feelings rather than with external things.

Front 3

malign

Back 3

evil in nature or effect; malevolent

Front 4

malady

Back 4

a disease or ailment

Front 5

malapropism

Back 5

the mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one, often with unintentionally amusing effect, as in, for example, “dance a flamingo ” (instead of flamenco).

Front 6

misguided

Back 6

having or showing faulty judgment or reasoning

Front 7

misdeed

Back 7

a wicked or illegal act

Front 8

misfortune

Back 8

bad luck: the project was dogged by misfortune.

• an unfortunate condition or event:

Front 9

nonconformity

Back 9

failure or refusal to conform to a prevailing rule or practice.

• lack of similarity in form or type.

Front 10

nonplussed

Back 10

1 (of a person) surprised and confused so much that they are unsure how to react: he would be completely nonplussed and embarrassed at the idea.

2 informal (of a person) not disconcerted; unperturbed.

Front 11

nonchalant

Back 11

(of a person or manner) feeling or appearing casually calm and relaxed; not displaying anxiety, interest, or enthusiasm

Front 12

postgraduate

Back 12

of, relating to, or denoting a course of study undertaken after completing a first degree

Front 13

posthumous

Back 13

occurring, awarded, or appearing after the death of the originator

Front 14

postscript

Back 14

an additional remark at the end of a letter, after the signature and introduced by “P.S.”:

Front 15

prelude

Back 15

an action or event serving as an introduction to something more important:

Front 16

premonition

Back 16

a strong feeling that something is about to happen, esp. something unpleasant:

Front 17

predecessor

Back 17

a person who held a job or office before the current holder

Front 18

semiformal

Back 18

combining formal and informal elements

• used to describe clothing that is neither formal nor casual and that is typically worn for a dance, wedding, or other event

Front 19

semitone

Back 19

the smallest interval used in classical Western music, equal to a twelfth of an octave or half a tone; a half step.

Front 20

semiaquatic

Back 20

of an animal) living partly on land and partly in water

• (of a plant) growing in very wet or waterlogged ground.

Front 21

subterranean

Back 21

existing, occurring, or done under the earth's surface.

• secret; concealed:

Front 22

subordinate

Back 22

lower in rank or position:

Front 23

subterfuge

Back 23

deceit used in order to achieve one's goal.

Front 24

supervise

Back 24

observe and direct the execution of (a task, project, or activity)

Front 25

superfluous

Back 25

unnecessary, esp. through being more than enough

Front 26

supercilious

Back 26

behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others

Front 27

synchronize

Back 27

cause to occur or operate at the same time or rate

Front 28

synthetic

Back 28

(of a substance) made by chemical synthesis, esp. to imitate a natural product: synthetic rubber.

• (of an emotion or action) not genuine; insincere:

Front 29

synopsis

Back 29

a brief summary or general survey of something

Front 30

symbiosis

Back 30

interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association, typically to the advantage of both

Front 31

symmetry

Back 31

the quality of being made up of exactly similar parts facing each other or around an axis:

Front 32

symposium

Back 32

a conference or meeting to discuss a particular subject.

Front 33

unequivocal

Back 33

leaving no doubt; unambiguous:

Front 34

untenable

Back 34

(esp. of a position or view) not able to be maintained or defended against attack or objection:

Front 35

unconventional

Back 35

not based on or conforming to what is generally done or believed: