Freshman Vocabulary
CP1 Vocabulary Week 1
BIO comes from the Greek word for “life.”
1. biodegradable (adj.): able to be broken down into harmless substances by microorganisms or other
living things
2. bionic (adj.): having normal powers, abilities, or performance improved by electronic or mechanical
devices
3. biopsy (n.): the removal and examination of tissue, cells, or fluids from a living body
4. symbiosis (n.): the close living together of two different forms of life in a way that benefits both
CP1 Vocabulary Week 2
HYDR comes from the Greek word for “water.”
1. dehydrate (v.): to remove water from
2. hydraulic (adj.): relating to water; operated, moved, or brought about by means of water
3. hydroelectric (adj.): having to do with the production of electricity by waterpower
4. hydroponics (n.): the growing of plants in nutrient solutions, with or without supporting substances such
as sand or gravel
CP1 Vocabulary Week 3
SUB means “under,” and can be used either literally or figuratively
1. subconscious (adj.): existing in the mind just below the level of awareness
2. subjugate (v.): to bring under control and rule as a subject; conquer
3. subliminal (adj.): not quite strong enough to be sensed or perceived consciously
4. subversion (n.): an attempt to overthrow a government by working secretly from within
CP1 Vocabulary Week 4
MONO is Greek for “one” or “only.”
1. monogamous (adj.): being married to one person or having one mate at a time
2. monograph (n.): a scholarly essay written on a single small topic and published separately
3. monolithic (adj.): appearing to be a huge, featureless, often rigid whole
4. monotheism (n.): the worship of a single god
CP1 Vocabulary Week 5
BI/BIN means “two” or “double.”
1. bipartisan (adj.): involving members of two political parties
2. binary (adj.): consisting of two things or parts; double
3. biennial (adj.): occurring every two years; continuing or lasting over two years
4. bipolar (adj.): having two opposed forces or views; having two poles or opposed points of attraction
CP1 Vocabulary Week 6
CHRON comes from the Greek word for “time.”
1. anachronism (n.): the error of placing a person or thing in the wrong time period; a person or thing that
is out of its own time
2. chronic (adj.): lasting a long time or recurring frequently; always present; constantly annoying or
troubling; habitual
3. chronology (n.): a sequence of events in the order they occurred; a table, list, or account that presents
events in order
4. synchronous (adj.): happening or existing at exactly the same time; simultaneous
CP1 Vocabulary Week 7
FRAG/FRACT comes from the Latin verb frangere, “to break or shatter.”
1. fractious (adj.): apt to cause trouble or be unruly; stirring up quarrels; irritable
2. fragmentary (adj.): consisting of broken or disconnected parts; incomplete
3. infraction (n.): the breaking of a law or a violation of another’s rights
4. refraction (n.): deflection of a ray of light or wave of energy as it passes at an angle from one substance
into another in which its speed is different
CP1 Vocabulary Week 8
RETRO means “back,” “behind,” or “backward” in Latin.
1. retroactive (adj.): intended to apply or take effect at a date in the past
2. retrofit (v.): to furnish something with new or modified parts or equipment that was optional or
unavailable at the time of manufacture
3. retrogress (v.): to return to an earlier and usually worse or more primitive state
4. retrospective (n.): a generally comprehensive exhibition or performance usually covering an artist’s
output to date
CP1 Vocabulary Week 9
PARA can mean “beside,” “beyond,” outside,” or “associated with.”
1. paradigm (n.): a very clear or typical example showing how something is to be done
2. paradox (n.): a statement that seems to go against common sense but may still be true; a person or
thing with qualities that seem to be opposite
3. paragon (n.): a model of excellence or perfection
4. parameter (n.): a physical quality whose value determines the characteristics or behavior of a system; a
characteristic element; a limit or boundary
CP1 Vocabulary Week 10
LOC/LOQU comes from the Latin verb loqui, “to talk.”
1. circumlocution (n.): the use of an unnecessarily large number of words to express an idea or to avoid
stating a position or opinion directly.
2. elocution (n.): the art of effective public speaking
3. colloquial (adj.); conversational or informal in style
4. loquacious (adj.): apt to talk too much; talkative
CP1 Vocabulary Week 11
APT/EPT from aptare, “to fit,” and aptus, “fit.”
1. adaptation (n.): adjustment to conditions of an environment or to a new or different use
2. aptitude (n.): natural tendency, talent, or ability; ability to learn
3. adept (adj.): expert or highly skilled
4. inept (adj.): foolish, incompetent, bungling
CP1 Vocabulary Week 12
SCRIB/SCRIP comes from the Latin verb scribere, “to write.”
1. conscription (n.): enforced enlistment of persons especially for military service; draft
2. circumscribe (v.): to clearly limit the range or activity of something; to draw a line around or to surround
with a boundary
3. inscription (n.): something permanently written, engraved, or printed, particularly on a building, coin,
medal, or piece of currency; the dedication of a book or work of art
4. proscribe (v.): to forbid as harmful or unlawful; prohibit
CP1 Vocabulary Week 13
HYPER is a Greek prefix that means “above or beyond it all.”
1. hyperactive (adj.): excessively active
2. hyperbole (n.) extreme exaggeration
3. hypertension (n.): high blood pressure
4. hyperventilate (v.): to breathe rapidly and deeply
CP1 Vocabulary Week 14
DI/DUO are the Greek and Latin prefixes meaning “two.”
1. dichotomy (n.): a division into two often contradictory groups
2. diplomatic (adj.): relating to negotiations between nations; tactful
3. duplex (adj.): having two principal elements; double
4. duplicity (n.): deception by pretending to feel and act one way while acting in another
CP1 Vocabulary Week 15
CENT means “one hundred,” from the Latin centum.
1. centenary (n.): a 100th anniversary or the celebration of it; a centennial
2. centigrade (adj.): relating to a temperature scale in which 0° is the freezing point of water and 100° is its
boiling point
3. centimeter (n.): a length measuring 1/100th of a meter, or about 0.39 inch
4. centurion (n.): the officer in command of a Roman century, originally a troop of 100 soldiers
CP1 Vocabulary Week 16
QUADR/QUART comes from the Latin words meaning “four” or “fourth.”
1. quadrennial (adj.): happening every four years; lasting for four years
2. quadrille (n.): a square dance popular in the 18th and 19th century, made up of five or six patterns for
four couples
3. quadriplegic (adj.): paralyzed in both arms and both legs
4. quartile (n.): one of four equal groups each containing a quarter of a statistical population
CP1 Vocabulary Week 17
TRI means “three,” whether derived from Greek or Latin.
1. triceratops (n.): one of a group of large dinosaurs that lived during the Cretaceous period and had three
horns, a bony crest or hood, and hoofed toes
2. tricolor (adj.): having three colors
3. trident (n.):a three-pronged spear sometimes carried by various sea gods in mythology
4. trilogy (n.): a series of three creative works that are closely related and develop a single theme
CP1 Vocabulary Week 18
UNI comes from the Latin word for “one.”
1. unicameral (adj.): having only one lawmaking chamber
2. unilateral (adj.): done by one person or party; one-sided; affecting one side of the body
3. unison (n.): perfect agreement; sameness of musical pitch
4. uniform (n.): a single design worn by everyone
CP1 Vocabulary Week 19
ANT/ANTI is opposite to or opposes something else.
1. antagonist (n.) a person who opposes or is unfriendly toward another; an opponent
2. antigen (n.): a chemical substance that, when introduced into the body, causes the body to form
antibodies against it
3. antipathy (n.) a strong dislike
4. antithesis (n.): the contrast or opposition of ideas; the exact opposite
CP1 Vocabulary Week 20
DYNAM comes from Greek and means “to be able” or “to have power.”
1. dynamic (adj.): relating to physical force or energy; continuously and productively active and changing;
energetic or forceful
2. dynamo (n.): a power generator; a forceful, energetic person
3. dynasty (n.): a line of rules from the same family; a group, family, or team that keeps its powerful
position for a long time
4. hydrodynamic (adj.): having to do with the science that studies fluids in motion and the forces that act
on bodies surrounded by fluids
CP1 Vocabulary Week 21
SACR/SANCT, meaning “holy,” comes from the Latin words sacer and sanctus.
1. sanction (v.): to give approval to
2. sacrilege (n.): gross disrespect toward a revered person, place, or thing; blasphemy
3. sacrosanct (adj.): most sacred or holy; treated as if holy and therefore immune from criticism or
disturbance of any kind
4. sanctuary (n.): a holy place, such as a church or temple, or the most holy part of one; a place of safety,
refuge, and protection.
CP1 Vocabulary Week 22
DOM comes from the Lain domus, “house,” or dominus, “master.”
1. predominant (adj.): greater in importance, strength, influence, or authority
2. domicile (n.): a dwelling place or home; a residence
3. domination (n.): supremacy or power over another; the exercise of governing or controlling influence
4. dominion (n.): an area over which one rules; domain
CP1 Vocabulary Week 23
ART comes from the Latin word for “skill.”
1. artful (adj.): skillful; wile, crafty, sly
2. artifact (n.): a usually simple object, such as a tool or ornament, made by human workmanship or
modification
3. artifice (n.): clever skill; a clever trick
4. artisan (n.): a skilled worker or craftsperson
CP1 Vocabulary Week 24
MAND/MEND comes from mandare, Latin for “entrust” or “order.”
1. commendation (n.): a formal citation of merit or thanks
2. mandate (n.): a formal command; permission to act, given by the people to their representatives
3. mandatory (adj.): required, compulsory
4. remand (v.): to order a case sent back to another court or agency for further action
CP1 Vocabulary Week 25
TRANS comes from Latin to indicate movement “through, across, or beyond” something.
1. transfiguration (n.): a change in form or appearance; a glorifying spiritual change
2. transfuse (v.): to spread into or throughout; to permeate
3. transient (adj.): not lasting long; short-lived; passing through a place and staying only briefly
4. transcendent (adj.): exceeding or rising above usual limits; surpassing, supreme; beyond
comprehension; beyond ordinary experience or material existence
CP1 Vocabulary Week 26
DYS comes from Greek, where it means “bad” or “difficult;” as a prefix in English it also means
“abnormal” and “impaired.”
1. dysfunctional (adj.): operating or functioning in an impaired or abnormal way
2. dyslexia (n.): a disturbance or interference with the ability to read or to use language
3. dyspeptic (adj.): relating to or suffering from indigestion; having an irritable temperament; ill-humored
1. dystrophy (n.): any of several disorders involving nerves and muscles
CP1 Vocabulary Week 27
ANIM comes from the Latin anima, meaning “breath” or “soul,” and it generally describes
something that is alive or lively.
1. animated (adj.): full of life; lively, vigorous, active; seeming or appearing to be alive
2. magnanimous (adj.): showing a lofty and courageous spirit; generous and forgiving
3. animosity (n.): ill will or resentment
4. inanimate (adj.): not alive; lifeless; not lively; dull
CP1 Vocabulary Week 28
HEMI/SEMI means ‘half.” HEMI comes from Greek, SEMI from Latin.
1. semicolon (n.): the punctuation mark “;” used chiefly to separate major sentence elements such as
independent clauses
2. hemiplegia (n.): total or partial paralysis of one side of the body that results from disease of or injury to
the motor centers of the brain
3. semiconductor (n.): a solid that conducts electricity like a metal at high temperatures and insulates like
a non-metal at low temperatures
4. semiformal (adj.): designating or requiring attire that is less than strictly formal but not informal
CP1 Vocabulary Week 29
GRAT comes from gratus, the Latin word meaning “pleasing, welcome, or agreeable,” or from
gratia, meaning “grace, agreeableness, or pleasantness.”
1. gratify (v.): to be a source of pleasure or satisfaction; give pleasure or satisfaction to; to give in to;
indulge or satisfy
2. gratuity (n.): something, especially a tip, given freely
3. gratuitous (adj.): done or provided freely; not called for by the circumstances
4. ingratiate (v.): to gain favor or acceptance by making a deliberate effort
CP1 Vocabulary Week 30
ANTHROP comes from the Greek word for “human being.”
1. anthropoid (n.): any of several large, tailless apes
2. anthropology (n.): the science and study of human beings
3. misanthropic (adj.): hating or distrusting humans
4. philanthropy (n.): the effort to promote human welfare; an act or gift aimed at helping others