Monday, August 15^th

Roots of the Day: CON vs. DIS

CON- [CO-, COL-, COM-, COR-] = together, with, very

DIS- [DIF-, DI-] = apart, in different directions, not, very

Examples:

convocation = an assembly, meeting (literally, “a calling together” from Latin vocāre = to call)

cooperation = to work together (from Latin opus = a work)

collaborate = to work together (from Latin laborāre = to work)

commerce = exchange of ideas or goods (literally, “merchandise together” from Latin merx = merchandise)

corroborate = make more certain (literally, “strengthen with” from Latin robur = strength)

converge = to move towards a point (literally, “bend together” from Latin vergere = to bend)

dissonance = different sounding (from Latin sonāre = to sound, resound)

diffuse = to pour out (from Latin fundere = to pour)

digress = to turn aside (literally, “to step in a different direction” from Latin gredī = to step)

distrust = not to trust

diffident = lacking confidence (literally, “not trusting” from fidere = to trust)

Go to www.etymonline.com to look up an uncertain etymology.

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More Examples:

convalescence = to recover health (literally, “to grow very strong” from Latin valescere = to grow strong)

conceive = to form something (literally, “to take with” from Latin capere = to take, seize)

conceal = to hide (literally, “to hide with” from Latin celāre = to hide)

conflagration = a raging fire (literally, “burning very much” from flagrāre = to burn)

converge = to come together (literally, “to bend together” from Latin vergere = to bend)

collocation = placing together (from Latin locāre = to place)

college = higher institution of learning (literally, “to read with” from legere = to pick, choose, read)

co-evolution = evolving together

difficult = not easy (from Latin facilis = easy)

diffraction = modification of light as it passes through a surface (literally, breaking in different directions from

Latin frangere = to break)

disperse = to scatter in different directions (from Latin spargere = to scatter)

disdain = contempt (literally, “not worthy” from Latin dignus  = worthy)

distraught = mentally confused, upset (literally, “dragged apart” from Latin trahere = to drag)

diverge = to come apart (literally, “to bend apart” from Latin vergere = to bend)

discern = to perceive (literally, “to distinguish apart from” from Latin cernere = to distinguish)

Tuesday, August 16^th

Roots of the Day: SUPER vs. SUB

SUPER- = above, over, more than

SUB- [SUC-, SUF-, SUG-, SUM-, SUP-, SUR-, SUS-] = under, below, up from below

Examples:

superb = splendid, special

superable = capable of being overcome (from Latin superāre = to overcome)

superior = situated above

superlative = surpassing all others (literally, “carry over” from Latin fero, ferre, tuli, latus = to bring, carry)

superconfident = overly confident

subterranean = below the earth (from Latin terra = land)

suffice = to be enough (literally, “to under do” from Latin facere = to do, make)

suggest = to bring up, prompt (literally, “to carry up from below) from Latin gerere = to carry)

Go to www.etymonline.com to look up an uncertain etymology.

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More Examples:

supercilious = arrogantly scornful (literally, “of eyebrows” from Latin supercilium [super+cilium] = eyebrows)

superfluous = unnecessary (literally, “overflowing” from Latin fluere = to flow)

superficial = related to the surface (literally “over the face” from Latin facies = face)

submarine = under water (from Latin mare = sea)

subcutaneous = under the skin (from Latin cutis = skin)

sublime = lofty, noble (literally, “above the threshold” from Latin limen = threshold, doorway)

succeed = to have a good result (literally, “to move up from below” from Latin cedere = to move)

suffix = to put at the end of the word  (literally, “to fix from under” from Latin figere = to fasten)

suppose = to hold an opinion (literally, “to put under” from Latin ponere = to put, place)

NCEE Preparation

Wednesday, August 17^th

Roots of the Day: CONTRA vs. TRANS

CONTRA- = against

TRANS- = across, through

Examples

contrarian = a person who always take the opposite or unpopular opinion

contradict = to deny the truth of (literally, “to speak against” from Latin dicere = to say, speak)

contraband = forbidden goods (literally, “against a decree” from Latin banum = ban, decree)

transfer = = to change from one form to another (literally, “to carry across” from Latin fero, ferre, tuli, latus =

to carry)

transcribe = to make a written copy (literally, “to write across” from Latin scribere = to write)

transact = to carry through (literally, “to drive through” from Latin agere = to do, drive, act, etc.)

transept = the shorter part of a cross-shaped church (literally, “across the partition” from Latin saeptum =

fence, partition)

Go to www.etymonline.com to look up an uncertain etymology.

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More Examples:

contravene = to act contrary or oppose (literally, “to come against” from Latin venire = to come)

contraception = voluntary prevention of conception (literally, “take against” from Latin capere = to take)

transmit = to send from one to another (literally, “to send across” from mittere = to send)

transducer = a device that takes power from one device and gives it to another (literally, “lead across” from

ducere = to lead)

transcend = to rise above (literally, “to climb across” from Latin ascendere = to climb)

transgress = to go beyond the limits (literally, “to step across” from Latin gredī = to step, move)

translate = to change from one form to another (literally, “to carry across” from Latin fero, ferre, tuli, latus =

to carry)

transfix = to pierce through (literally, “to fix through” from Latin fingere = to fix, fasten)

NCEE Preparation

Thursday, August 18^th

Roots of the Day: DE vs. PRO

DE- = from, down from

PRO- = forth, before, instead

Examples:

dejected = to depressed (literally, “thrown down” from Latin iacere = to throw)

despise = to hate, loath (literally, “to look down (at)” from Latin spectare = to look (at))

desist = to cease (literally, “to stop from” from Latin sistere = to stop)

despair = to lose hope from Latin (de)sperāre = to (lose) hope

project = to put forth (literally, “to throw forth” from Latin iacere = to throw)

pronoun = a word used to rename a noun (literally, “in place of a noun” from Latin nomen = name, noun)

protect = to defend (literally, “to cover before” from Latin tegere = to cover)

Go to www.etymonline.com to look up an uncertain etymology.

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More Examples:

deduce = to draw from known facts (literally, “to lead from” from Latin ducere = to lead)

describe = to represent with words (literally, “to write from” from Latin scribere = to write)

deport = to send away forcefully (literally, “to carry from” from Latin portāre = to carry)

detract = to take away from (literally, “to drag from” from Latin trahere = to draw, drag)

depend = to be conditioned upon (literally, “to hang down from” from pendēre = to hang)

defrost = to take the frost from something

produce = to bring out (literally, “to lead forth” from Latin ducere = to lead)

proscribe = to attribute (literally, “to write forth” from Latin scribere = to write)

proportion = relation of one part to another (literally, “to carry instead” from Latin portāre = to carry)

prosper = succeed (literally, “put forth hope” from Latin sperāre = to hope)

propensity = a natural inclination (literally, “to hang forth” from Latin pendēre = to hang)

prodigal = spending too much (literally, “driving forth” from agere = to do, drive, act, etc.)

Friday, August 19^th

Root of the Day: RE vs. PER vs. OB

RE- = again, back; anew

PER- through, bad; very

OB- [O-, OC-, OF-, OP-] = against, towards, to; very

Examples:

reticent = reluctant to speak (literally, “silent again” from Latin tacēre = to be silent)

refract = to bend from a straight course (literally, “to bend back” from Latin frangere = to break)

remit = to send money (literally, “to send back” from Latin mittere = to send)

regress = to return (literally, “to step back” from Latin gredī = to step, move)

recapitulate = to go over again (literally, “main part again” from Latin caput = head)

perfidy = wickedness (literally, “bad faith” from Latin fidus = trust)

perennial = through the year (from Latin annus = year)

obviate = to remove (literally, “to be against the way of” from Latin via = road, way)

obverse = the principal side of something (literally, “turned toward” from Latin vertere = to turn)

occur = to be found or met with (literally, “to run against” from Latin currere = to run)

oppose = to be against (literally, “to put against” from Latin ponere = road, way)

offend = to do wrong (literally, “to strike against” from Latin fendere = to strike)

Go to www.etymonline.com to look up an uncertain etymology.

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More Examples:

reverse = opposite, other way (literally, “turned back” from Latin vertere = to turn)

recalcitrant = stubbornly disobedient (literally, “to kick back” from Latin calcitrāre = to kick)

respect = to think highly of (literally, “look back” from Latin spectāre = to look at, watch)

reduce = to lessen (literally, “to lead back” from Latin ducere = to lead)

receive = to accept, take willingly (literally, “to take back” from Latin capere = to take)

redact = to select or edit for publication (literally “to drive back” from Latin agere = to do, drive, etc.)

pernicious = harmful (literally, “to kill through” necāre = to kill)

perfunctory = done without care (literally, “to perform badly” from Latin fungi = to perform)

perverse = contrary (literally, “turned bad” from Latin vertere = to turn)

occlude = to obstruct (literally, “to close against” from Latin claudere = to close)

occult = hidden (literally, “hidden against” from Latin celāre = to hide)