Vocabulary
Word Parts
Word Parts
Prefixes—are word parts located at the front of a word
that alter the meaning of the root word
EX: Rewrite, interact
Suffixes--are word parts added to the end of a word that
alter the meaning of the root word
EX: Gracefully, dancer
Roots—are the part of a word that contains the basic
meaning of the word; it is the base element of the word
EX: Empathy, sympathy, apathy
path=feeling, suffering
DisDefinition=not, away
Example=dispersed: to drive away or send off in
various directions
Sentence= The students dispersed when she
gave back their tests.
DeDefinition=remove away
Example=desensitize: to make indifferent,
unaware, or the like, in feeling
Sentence= Playing violent video games
desensitizes children to the dangers of guns.
AntiDefinition=against
Example=antibacterial: destroying or against the
growth of bacteria
Sentence=After Josh coughed on the desk, she
disinfected it with antibacterial spray.
InterDefinition=between
Example=interrogating: questioning that takes
place between two or more people usually in a
hostile manner
Sentence=The police were interrogating
Christopher because he was at the scene of the
crime.
Brainstorm
In your group, brainstorm words that have each of
these word parts in them.
DisDeAntiInterWrite them on your grid.
Sanct
Definition= holy
Example=sanctified: to make holy
Sentence= The shaman sanctified the smoke in
the teepee.
Sub
Definition= under
Example=submission: the act of yielding to
authority or influence
Sentence= The dog showed submission to her
owner when she rolled over onto her back.
spect
Definition=see
Example=introspection: the act of looking at
one’s own mental and emotional state
Sentence=Christopher struggled with
introspection because he did not understand
emotions.
gress
Definition=go, step
Example=digress: to turn away from or move
aside a main subject or path
Sentence= Classroom discussion often digressed
when the students did not want to complete
their grammar activities.
Brainstorm
In your group, brainstorm words that have each of
these word parts in them.
Sanct
Sub
spect
gress
Write them on your grid.
belli
Definition=war
Example=belligerent: warlike; aggressively
hostile and starts wars
Sentence=Her belligerent personality kept her
from making friends.
cred
creed
Definition=belief
Example=credible: offering reasonable grounds
for being believed
Sentence=The witness’s testimony appeared
credible to the jury.
dorm
Definition=sleep
Example=dormant: in the state of rest of
inactivity
Sentence=Mononucleosis can remain dormant
in a person’s immune system for as long as two
years after contracting the virus.
equi
equa
Definition=equal
Example=equivocate: to avoid committing to
one side
Sentence=After looking at and test driving both
cars, I continued to equivocate and left without
purchasing either.
Brainstorm
In your group, brainstorm words that have each of
these word parts in them.
belli
cred/creed
dorm
Equi/equa
Write them on your grid.
IntraIntroDefinition=within
Example=introvert: a person who stays within
oneself (shy)
Sentence=Peggy is an introvert, so I often have
trouble figuring out what she is thinking.
mort
Definition=death
Example=immortal: not subject to death
Sentence=Writing a memoir allows your
thoughts to become immortal.
nat
nasc
Definition=born, birth
Example=innate: existing in one form from birth
Sentence=Many people believe humans have an
innate desire to be part of a group, family, or
clan.
soph
Definition=wise
Example=sophomoric: characterized by
overconfidence but poorly informed
Sentence=The sophomoric students plagiarized
their papers, turned them into Turnitin.com, and
got caught by their teacher.
Brainstorm
In your group, brainstorm words that have each of
these word parts in them.
Intro-/ Intramort
nat/nasc
Soph
Write these brainstormed words on your grid.