Building a Better Vocabulary part 2

Five Principles for Learning Vocabulary. 1. Definitions 2. Context 3. Connections 4. Morphology/etymology 5. Sematic chunking

This time we will start with familiar words Circle- a round-shaped figure that has no corners or edges. The prefix circum- which means “around” and the Latin root word circ which mean “ring” both are influential in making up English words. For instance, the prefix circum- gave rise to the words circumference and circumstances, whereas the root circ gave rise to circle and circulation.

Circum- circumstances: those events which stand ‘around’ you circumnavigate: to sail ‘around’ circumference: a bearing or carrying ‘around’ a circle circumvent: go or come ‘around’ Circ- circle: a figure in the shape of a ‘ring’ circus: Roman track in the shape of a ‘ring’ Circus Maximus: the biggest Roman ‘ring’ or chariot-racing track of all circulate: to move around in a loop or ‘ring’ circulatory: of moving about in a ‘ring’ circuit: path in the shape of a ‘ring’ circuitry: system of ‘ring’-shaped paths

Include- comprise or contain as part of a whole The Latin root word clud and its variants clus and clos all mean “shut.” These roots are the word origin of many English vocabulary words, including exclude, exclusive, and closet. When you include someone, you “shut” him in, thus performing the act of inclusion, thereby closing or “shutting” him into your group. The Latin root word clud and its variants clus and clos all mean “shut.”

Clude- include: ‘shut’ in exclude: ‘shut’ out conclude: thoroughly ‘shut’ seclude: ‘shut’ apart Cluse- recluse: person ‘shut’ back from civilization seclusion: a ‘shutting’ apart exclusion: a ‘shutting’ out conclusion: a thorough ‘shutting’ close- close: ‘shut’ enclose: ‘shut’ in closure: a ‘shutting’ of something, such as a book or school year closed-minded: having a mind that is ‘shut’ to new ideas

act- take action, do something The Latin root act means “do.” This Latin root is the word origin of a large number of English vocabulary words, including actor, action, and active. The root act is easily recalled via the word act, for an act is something having been “done.”

act: to “do” act: something “done” actor: one who “does” her part in a play action: the state of “doing” inaction: the state of not “doing” activity: a “doing” reaction: a “doing” back react: to “do” back active: of “doing” things inactive: of not “doing” things proactive: of “doing” beforehand exacting: thoroughly “doing” transaction: a “doing” across from a seller to a buyer exact: a very accurate “doing” actual: of that which was “done” activate: to start something “doing”

Sense- a faculty by which the body perceives an external stimulus; one of the faculties of sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch. The Latin root sent and its variant form sens mean to ‘feel.’ Some common English words that come from these two roots include sensation, sensible, resent, and consent. Remember that when you sense something you ‘feel’ it, and when you are being sentimental, your ‘feelings’ take precedence over anything else.

sense: ‘feeling’ faculty nonsensical: not ‘feeling’ right sensible: ‘feels’ right to do sensitive: susceptible to ‘feeling’ sensory: pertaining to ‘feeling’ sensation: act of ‘feeling’ insensate: not able to ‘feel’ sentimental: ruled by ‘feelings’ assent: ‘feel’ the way another does consent: ‘feel’ with another dissent: ‘feel’ apart from another resent: send angry ‘feelings’ back sentinel: one who ‘feels’ his surroundings sentry: one who ‘feels’ his surroundings

Now lets add a couple prefixes. anti- opposite, against Prefixes are key morphemes in English vocabulary that begin words. The origin of the prefix anti- and its variant ant- is an ancient Greek word which meant “against” or “opposite.” These prefixes appear in numerous English vocabulary words, such as antifreeze, antidote, antonym, and antacid. An easy way to remember that the prefix anti- means “opposite” or “against” is through the word antisocial, for an antisocial person is the “opposite” of being social, or is “against” being so in her everyday conduct.

anti: ‘against’ antidote: remedy given ‘against’ a poison antibiotic: drug given ‘against’ the life-form bacteria which has invaded a body antifreeze: a liquid used ‘against’ the freezing of cars’ engines antiperspirant: product used to help fight ‘against’ perspiration antisocial: of going ‘against’ being social Antarctica: continent ‘opposite’ the Arctic on the globe antonym: word ‘opposite’ another in meaning antacid: tablet used ‘against’ stomach acid antagonist: one who goes ‘against’ another, usually the protagonist antimatter: matter that is the ‘opposite’ of normal matter

Progress- forward or onward movement toward a destination. The prefix pro- primarily means “forward” but can also mean “for.” Some words that the prefix pro- gave rise to are promise, pro, and promote. When you, for instance, make progress, you are stepping “forward,” whereas if you give the pros in an argument, you are speaking “for” something by stating its advantages.

progress: step ‘forward’ promise: send an intention ‘forward’ procrastinate: put off or ‘forward’ into tomorrow propellant: fuel which pushes a vehicle ‘forward’ product: that which is led ‘forward’ by a company to sell promote: move ‘forward’ pro and con: ‘for’ and against pronoun: part of speech which stands in place of or ‘for’ a noun pro-Apple: ‘for’ Apple products pro bono: ‘for’ the common good quid pro quo: this ‘for’ that professional: one who has put ‘forth’ knowledge or advanced skills to the public pro: short for ‘professional’