Building
Vocabulary
from Word
Roots
Lesson 15
Latin Bases
Volv, volu, volut
Volv, Volu, Volut
The Latin bases volv, volu,
volut mean “roll.”
They can be used literally
(actually rolling) or
metaphorically (a figure
of speech suggesting a
resemblance).
Volv, Volu, Volut
These bases attach to five
prefixes:
Con- with, together, very
De- down, off, from
Re- back, again, after
In- not; in, on, into
E- out, very
Volv, volu, volut= “roll”
Re- (back, again) + volv= revolve— rotating or
“rolling” “back again”
E- (out)+ volv = evolve— to “roll out” into
something new
In- (into)+ volv= involve— to “roll” “into” something
Con- (together) + volut= convoluted— “rolled”
“together”, mixed up or confusing
Practice
How do the bolded words use the meanings of “roll”? Use
context clues to help create a definition.
I don’t want to be involved in their argument; I have
enough to think about without adding someone else’s
concerns.
In one year the earth makes a single revolution
around the sun, causing the seasons to change all
around the world.
He was such a voluble and smooth talker that he
could sell anyone just about anything.
Practice
How do the bolded words use the meanings of “roll”? Use
context clues to help create a definition.
I don’t want to be involved in their argument; I have
enough to think about without adding someone else’s
concerns. To be “rolled into” or wrapped up in
something
In one year the earth makes a single revolution
around the sun, causing the seasons to change all
around the world. The “rolling” or spinning of the
planet “again and again”
He was such a voluble and smooth talker that he
could sell anyone just about anything. A fluent
speaker; words “roll” off the tongue
Practice
Use the definitions of the bases, prefixes, and suffixes,
if provided, and the context of the sentence to
determine the meanings of the bolded words.
He had evolved from a shy little boy
into a voluble public speaker with
excellent volume control.
Practice
He had evolved from a shy little boy into a
voluble public speaker with excellent volume
control.
• Evolved- “rolled” “out” of something; changed
into something new
• Voluble- words “roll” off the tongue; very
fluent speaker
• Volume- amount of sound “rolled up” inside a
person; the level of sound one can produce
Practice
Use the definitions of the bases, prefixes, and suffixes,
if provided, and the context of the sentence to
determine the meanings of the bolded words.
The robbers offered a convoluted excuse
as to why they entered the bank’s
revolving doors with their revolvers
drawn.
Practice
The robbers offered a convoluted excuse as to
why they entered the bank’s revolving doors
with their revolvers drawn.
• Convoluted- too many ideas “rolled together”;
confusing or difficult to follow
• Revolving- “rolling” “again”; spinning or moving
around another object
• Revolver- a weapon with a “rolling” bullet chamber
Test Prep
Volv, volu, volut—these bases mean _________
At the beginning of the school day the room
was organized, but after twenty-five
kindergarteners came stampeding in it
quickly devolved into chaos.
• Define the word devolved using a
definition of the base.
Test Prep
Volv, volu, volut—these bases mean roll
At the beginning of the school day the room
was organized, but after twenty-five
kindergarteners came stampeding in it
quickly devolved into chaos.
• Define the word devolved using a
definition of the base.
• “Rolled” “down” from one state to a lower
one
Test Prep
Volv, volu, volut—these bases mean _________
“Without Thomas Jefferson and his Declaration of
Independence, there would have been no American
revolution that announced universal principles of
liberty.” (Christopher Hitchens)
• Define the word revolution using a
definition of the base
Test Prep
Volv, volu, volut—these bases mean roll
“Without Thomas Jefferson and his Declaration of
Independence, there would have been no American
revolution that announced universal principles of
liberty.” (Christopher Hitchens)
• Define the word revolution using a
definition of the base
• A fight that “rolls” or “back” against a
controlling power