th
10
Grade ACT
Vocabulary
Unit #15
posthumous

Adj. arising, occurring, or continuing
after one’s death
Heath Ledger was
nominated for outstanding
male actor posthumously
for his role as the Joker.
Michael Jackson’s
movie came out
posthumously.
postulate

V. to ask, demand, or claim
potency

N. the state or quality of being
powerful
precept

N. a commandment or direction
given as a rule of action or conduct
preclude

V. to prevent the presence,
existence, or occurrence of; make
impossible
The defense precluded the
quarterback’s ability to throw the
ball.
precursor

N. a person or thing that goes before
something else
A precursor to Spring.
predispose

V. to give a tendency or inclination
before hand
These kids are predisposed
to diabetes and heart
disease.
prelude

N. any action or event that goes
before another
A pregame show
before the game
begins.
prepossess

To possess or dominate mentally
beforehand; as a prejudice does
My friend has a “thing” about
people who own fancy cars. She
doesn’t have to know the person
before she dislikes them. She
prepossesses those negative
feelings.
pretension

N. a claim or title to something;
snobbishness
pretext

N. something that is put forward to
conceal a true purpose or object
prevalent

Adj. widespread; of wide extent or
occurrence
It is prevalent that
girls will do anything
to become a model.
prevaricate

V. to speak falsely or misleadingly;
lie
probation

N. the testing or trial of a person’s
conduct, character, qualification, or
the like
proboscis

N. a long, flexible snout
WORD POWER

16. aud – hear, listen
• audio

audience
17. loqu, loc, locut – speak, talk,
speech
• Loquacious

18. sci - know, knowledge
• Science

conscience
19. scrib, scriot – write
• Inscribe

elocution
Scribble
20. log – word, study
• Dialogue
monologue