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32 Cards in this Set
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abstract (ADJ) For over a thousand years, mathematicians regarded subtracting a large number from a small one as impossible because the concept of negative numbers was too abstract. |
ab- away + tractus pulled existing as an idea but not as a tangible experience Form: abstraction= something that exists only as an idea |
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Root Family: tract |
retraction - a pulling back protract - to extend in time tractor - vehicle that pulls farm instruments detract - reduce the value of someone or something tractable - manageable |
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anthropology (N) The Amazon basin has long been a focus of anthropological research because of its many isolated indigenous tribes. |
anthro human + -ology study the study and comparison of human cultures |
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Root Family: anthro |
misanthrope - one who distrusts all people philanthropy - generosity to charitable causes anthromorphic - having human form anthropocentric - pertaining to the belief that humans are the center of the universe |
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comprehensive (ADJ) My doctor gave me a comprehensive physical examination. |
com- together + prehendere to grasp thorough and complete; covering all relevant subjects synonyms: exhaustive, encyclopedic |
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Root Family: prehens |
reprehensible - morally objectionable apprehensive - fearful |
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construe (V) Some opinion polls are unreliable because their biased phrasing encourages people to construe issues to conform to the ideology of the pollster. |
con- together + struere to build to interpret in a particular way Form - misconstrue = to interpret incorrectly |
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Root family: con-, co-, com-, col-
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conjecture - guess consensus - general agreement conspire - to plot together coalesce - to come together coherent - forming a united whole compliant - willing to obey confluence - a place at which two things merge |
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Root family: stru, stroy, stry |
destroy - put an end to by attacking instruct - to teach industry - manufacturing activity obstruct - impede |
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discerning (ADJ) * Elena has a very discerning palate for olives and can even tell in what region of Italy they were grown. |
dis- apart + cernere to separate showing a keen ability to distinguish subtle elements Forms: discern= to recognize and distinguish, discernment= keen judgement, discernible= perceivable Syns: discriminating, judicious, astute, percipient, perspicacious |
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Root family *: dis- |
disparate - very different; variegated discrepancy - a lack of compatibility between facts or claims disseminate - to cast widely disperse - to spread or scatter diffuse - spread over a wide area
----------------------- disputatious - argumentative dispel - to drive away; to eliminate |
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Root family: cern, cert, cret, cre |
ascertain - find something out for certain certain - known for sure certify - formally attest or confirm discretion - behavior to avoid offense or revealing private info; freedom to make decisions |
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discriminating (ADJ) * Our interior designer has a discriminating eye for bold fabrics. |
dis- apart + crimen judicial decision showing good taste or judgement Forms: indiscriminate = done without careful judgement Syns: discerning, judicious, astute, percipient, perspicacious |
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Root family: crim |
criminal - one who commits a crime recrimination - counteraccusation crime - illegal act |
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disseminate (V) The rumor was disseminated almost instantaneously over the Internet. |
dis- widely + semen seed to cast (something, usually info) widely, as seed is scattered Form: dissemination= the process or act of spreading info widely Syns: promulgate, propagate, circulate |
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Root family: dis- |
disconcerting- unsettling disparate- very different; variegated discrepancy- a lack of compatibility between facts or claims disperse- to spread or scatter dispel - to drive away; to eliminate diffuse- spread over a wide area |
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Root family: semin |
seminary - a college to prepare clergy seminal - serving as a primary influence on later works seminar - a discussion-based class |
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erudite (ADJ) Professor could be engagingly erudite without seeming pompous. |
e- not + rudis untrained, unwrought having or showing a great learning or knowledge Form: erudition= an expression of great learning or knowledge; the quality of having great learning or knowledge Syns: scholarly, cerebral, learned |
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Root family: rud |
rudiment - a most basic element or undeveloped first form of something rudimentary - basic or undeveloped rude - ill mannered |
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indoctrinate (V) The parents were concerned that the guest speaker was going to indoctrinate their children. |
e- not + rudis untrained, unwrought to teach someone to accept a set of beliefs uncritically Forms: doctrine= a set of beliefs held by a political, philosophical, or religious group Syns: proselytize, inculcate, propagandize |
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Root family: in- |
inundate- to flood incisive- showing keen judgement ingratiate- to curry favor inherent- existing as an inseparable element infiltrate- to gain access secretly |
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Root family: doc, dox |
Doctrinaire- seeking to impose rigid doctrine Orthodox- conforming strictly to traditional teachings Docile- compliant and easy to instruct Paradox- a self-contradictory statement or situation |
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insular (ADJ) The farming village was too insular for her, who wanted to experience the outside world. |
insula island isolated from cultural and influences outside one's own experience Form: insularity= the quality of being culturally isolated |
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Root family: insula |
insulation- the state of being protected from loss of heat, electrical conduction, or unpleasant effects, or the materials or situations that provide such protection isolate- to set apart from others island- land mass surrounded by water peninsula- land mass surrounded on three sides of water |
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orthodox (ADJ) Dr. Altbaum is respectfully skeptical of treatments that have not been tested via orthodox trials. |
orthos right, straight + docere to teach conforming strictly to traditional teachings Form: orthodoxy= authorized theory or practice, unorthodox= straying from conventional teachings |
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pedantic (ADJ) Jennifer's pedantic displays in class earned her the scorn of her classmates. |
pedante schoolmaster inclined to show off one's learning or knowledge Forms: pedant= a know-it-all, pedantry= the quality or practice of being a know-it-all |
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Root family: ped |
Pediatrician - a children's doctor Pedagogy - the art of teaching |
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peruse (V) Pitifully few of the congressmen perused the bill before signing it |
per- thoroughly + use use to read thoroughly and carefully Form: perusal= the act of reading thoroughly |
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Root family: per- |
Perfect- as good as can be Perpetuate- to help to continue for an extended period of time Perfunctory - carried out with a minimum of effort perturb- to make uncomfortable or anxious |
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postulate (V) Copernicus postulated that the simplest explanation for planetary motion was probably the best explanation. |
assume the existence or truth of something as a basis for reasoning Form: postulate (n) = an assumption made for the purpose of reasoning Syns: posit, presume, hypothesize |
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provincial (ADJ) Glen's comments reflected his provincial political views rather an understanding of the national interest. |
unsophisticated or narrow minded; particular to the narrow views of an isolated community Form: provincialism- narrow mindedness or lack of sophistication Syns: parochial |
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revelation (N) The biography provided many interesting revelations. |
a fact revealed in a surprising way Form: revelatory= revealing something previously unknown Syn: epiphany |
