Vocabulary
Lesson 2
The prefix im-
• A prefix is a syllable placed before a root
or base word to change or add its
meaning. Some prefixes have more than
one meaning. For example, the prefix imcan mean “not,” or it can mean “in,”
“within,” or “into.” The vocabulary
words in this lesson have the prefix im& are related to the theme of justice.
1. Impartial: (adj.)not partial
• Definition: not biased; showing lack of
favoritism; treating or affecting all equally
• Synonym: unbiased, unprejudiced,
equitable, neutral, just, fair
• e.g. Jason is an Impartial judge
2. Imprint: (n), (v)
• Definition: a mark or figure impressed or
printed on something.
• Synonym: impress, mark, imbed
• e.g. "We imprint our own ideas onto
acts" (Ellen Goodman)
• He tried to imprint the number on his
memory.
3. Imperceptible(adj.):
• Definition: not able to be perceived by the
senses; subtle (slight or elusive);
Impossible or difficult to perceive by the
mind or senses; not easily apprehended
• Synonym: undetectable, invisible,
unperceivable, hidden
• e.g. This week had an imperceptible drop
in temperature.
4. Immaterial(adj)
• Definition: not important; not relevant to
the matter at hand
• Synonym: unimportant, irrelevant,
unsubstantial, inconsequential,
insignificant, inconsiderable
•
• e.g. "whether you choose to do it or not is
a matter that is quite immaterial (or
indifferent)"
5. Imperturbable:(adj.)
• Definition: marked by extreme calm,
steadiness, & serenity; cool; incapable of
being upset or agitated; not easily excited
• Synonym: calm, stable, unshakable
• e.g. Though imperturbable, he now
showed signs of alarm.
6. Imprison: (v)
• Definition: to put in; or as if in prison
• Synonym: confine, enclose, incarcerate,
jail, restrain
e.g. "The suspects were imprisoned without
trial“
• "The murderer was imprisoned for the
rest of his life"
7. Impenitent:
• Definition: showing no remorse or regret
• Synonym: shameless, ungrateful,
sorrowless, unrepentant, hardened
• e.g. The murderer had such a careless and
impenitent heart.
8. Impersonate(v)
• Definition: to assume or act the character
of someone else, pretend to be; to mimic
the voice, mannerisms, etc., of (a person) in
order to entertain.
• Synonym: imitate, characterize, represent,
• e.g. He was arrested for impersonating a
police officer.
9. Implausible (adj)
• Definition: not believable; provoking
disbelief
• Synonym: unbelievable, improbable,
inconceivable (impossible to comprehend
or belief
• e.g. no one believed his implausible
excuse.
10. Impervious(adj.)
• Definition: not able to be affected or
disturbed
• Synonym: unchanging, not permitting
penetration or passage; impenetrable,
resistant
• e.g. The coat is impervious to rain.
• Write the meaning of the base word in
each word below. Then, write the
meaning of the word. Write a sentence
for each word.
Circle the word in each set of parentheses that best
completes the sentence.
1. It is against the law to (imprison, impersonate, imprint) a
police officer.
2. The judge’s (immaterial, impenitent, imperturbable)
personality prevented him from becoming easily upset
during the trial.
3. The slight twitching of the defendant’s face was
(imperceptible, impartial, impervious) to the jurors.
4. The lawyer tried to make the defendant contradict himself,
but the man was (immaterial, impenitent,
impervious) to her tactics.
5. The defendant smiled as she admitted her guilt, showing
that she was (imperceptible, implausible, impenitent).
Activity 2
• Imagine that you are a newspaper
reporter covering the “trial of the
century”—a court case that has everyone
in the country glued to the radio and
television. On a separate sheet of paper
write several newspaper headlines using
five of the vocabulary words to describe
what is happening in this imaginary trial.