Lesson 6
Pondering the Universe
WORDS: THE POWER WITHIN
AER (AERO)
Aerate
 Aer + ate (make, cause)
 Literal definition – cause air
 Dictionary definition – (v) to introduce air into a
material
 Most people will aerate their lawns to help
oxygenate the soil.
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AER (AERO)
Aerial
 Aer + ial (related to)
 Literal definition – related to the air
 Dictionary definition – (adj) existing,
happening, or operating in the air
 The surprise aerial attack caught the enemy off
guard.
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AER (AERO) - AIR
Aerobic
 Aero + ic (characterized by)
 Literal definition – characterized by air
 Dictionary definition – (adj) relating to exercise
that is designed to improve the efficiency of the
body’s cardiovascular system in absorbing and
transporting oxygen
 Aerobic exercise like jogging can build stamina
and improve overall health.
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ASTER (ASTR)
Asteroid
 Aster + oid (like, resembling)
 Literal definition – like a star
 Dictionary definition – (n) a chunk of rock
orbiting the sun in an area between Mars and
Jupiter
 Some scientists believe a stray asteroid hitting
Earth is what caused the dinosaurs to go
extinct.
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ASTER (ASTR)
Astronaut
 Astr + naut (sail)
 Literal definition – sail the stars
 Dictionary definition – (n) one who explores
outer space
 Wolfgang studied to become an astronaut, but
he failed the entrance exam.
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ASTER (ASTR) - STAR
Astronomy
 Astr + nomy (law, principle)
 Literal definition – laws of the stars
 Dictionary definition – (n) science that deals
celestial objects, space, and the physical
universe as a whole
 Back in the day, sailors used astronomy to help
them navigate.
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LUN
Lunar
 Lun + ar (related to)
 Literal definition – related to the moon
 Dictionary definition – (adj) determined by,
relating to, or caused by the moon
 The lunar eclipse was amazing to see.
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LUN
Lunatic
 Lun + ic (dealing with)
 Literal definition – dealing with the moon
 Dictionary definition – (n) a mentally-ill person
(not technically), from the ancient belief that
changes in the moon caused intermittent
insanity
 Grinning like a lunatic, Wolfgang skipped
around the garden.
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LUN - MOON
Lunula
 Lun + ula (noun ending)
 Dictionary definition – (n) a crescent-shaped
mark or object
 While Harry Potter had a scar that looked like a
lightning bolt, Wolfgang had a scar that looked
like a lunula.
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SOL
Solar
 Sol + ar (related to)
 Literal definition – related to the sun
 Dictionary definition – (adj) of, relating to, or
caused by the sun
 A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes
between the Sun and the Earth, temporarily
blocking the Sun.
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SOL
Solarium
 Sol + arium (place where)
 Literal definition – place where there is sun
 Dictionary definition – (n) a room with extensive
areas of glass to admit sunlight (similar to a
sunroom but with a glass roof)
 Wolfgang added a solarium onto his house.
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SOL - SUN
Solstice
 Sol + stit (stop, stay)
 Literal definition – sun stop
 Dictionary definition – (n) either of the two times in
the year when the sun reaches its highest or
lowest point in the sky at noon, marked by the
longest or shortest day
 The summer solstice occurs around June 21 and
the winter solstice around December 21.
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STELL
Constellation
 Con (together, with) + stell + ation (state, quality)
 Literal definition – state of stars together
 Dictionary definition – (n) a group of stars forming
a recognizable pattern that is usually named for its
apparent form or a mythological figure
 I have an app on my phone that shows where the
constellations are in the sky.
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STELL
Interstellar
 Inter (between, among) + stell + ar (related to)
 Literal definition – related to among the stars
 Dictionary definition – (adj) occurring or
situated between the stars
 Science fiction movies often feature interstellar
travel as characters move from one planet to
another.
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STELL - STAR
Stellar
 Stell + ar (related to)
 Literal definition – related to the stars
 Dictionary definition – (adj) of or related to a
star or stars; featuring or having the quality of a
star performer or performers; exceptionally
good or outstanding
 Wolfgang created a stellar science project that
ultimately won first place.
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