Building
Vocabulary
from Word
Roots
Unit 1: Lesson 5
Greek Prefixes: epi-
epiThe Greek prefix epi- means
“upon, to, in addition to.”
Like other Greek prefixes (a-,
an-, eu-, ev-, and dys-), epiusually attaches to Greek
bases and generate
vocabulary that is scientific,
technical, or medical in
nature.
epi-
“upon, in addition to, to”
This prefix consistently appears as epi- when it attaches
to a base beginning with a consonant.
epi + log (word) = epilogue
Basic= “in addition to” a “story”
Better= a closing statement added to a literary work
epi + leps (seize) = epilepsy
Basic= bodily tremors “seize” “upon” a person
Better= a condition causing a person to have seizures
epi + phan (appear) = epiphany
Basic= to“appear” “to”
Better= a sudden “appearance” that comes “to” us and
brings understanding
epIf the base of the word begins with a vowel or the letter
h, we use ep- to make the word easier to pronounce.
epi- + hemer (“day”) = ephemeral
Basic= “upon” a “day”
Better= lasting but one day, fleeting
Epi+ hor (look) = ephor
Basic= someone who “looks” “upon”
Better= a person who oversees something
Practice
How do the bolded words use the meanings of epi-? Use context
clues to help create a defintions.
1.
Citizens across America fear the Ebola epidemic.
2.
The earthquake’s epicenter was 20 miles from Bayside, California.
3.
When John fell on the concrete, he scraped his epidermis.
4.
He was the epitome of strength as he lifted the car to free the woman
trapped beneath it.
5.
She wrote an epistle with advice for future generations.
6.
Before he was executed, the 19th century Irish hero Robert Emmet said,
“Let no man write my epitaph.”
7.
Many people believe that happiness is ephemeral and fleeting.
Practice
1.
Citizens across America fear the Ebola epidemic. a disease that spreads “upon” the
people
2.
The earthquakes epicenter was 20 miles from Bayside, California. the exact spot
“upon” which the center of the earthquake begins
3.
When John fell on the concrete he scraped his epidermis. outer layer of the skin that
sits “upon” the “skin”
4.
He was the epitome of strength as he lifted the car to free the woman trapped beneath
it. “to cut” “upon” the top; the highest value of a feature
5.
She wrote an epistle with advice for future generations. a formal letter sent to a reader
6.
Before he was executed, the 19th century Irish hero Robert Emmet said, “Let no man
write my epitaph.” a short poem or inscription written upon the headstone of a grave
7.
Many people believe that happiness is ephemeral. fleeting, lasting only a day
Practice
Use the definitions of the bases, prefixes and suffixes, if provided, and
the context of the sentence to determine the meaning of the bolded word.
Dear Journal,
This morning I had an epiphany about love. I’ve just
realized that love is like a sunny morning. You never know
when to expect it, but when it happens your heart feels
warm. I hope that one day this knowledge of love becomes
an epidemic, and everyone becomes infected with its
goodness. I know that true love is not ephemeral, instead
lasting a life time. (The base phany means “appear”; the
base dem means “the people”; and the base hemer means
“day.”)
Practice
Use the definitions of the bases, prefixes and suffixes, if provided, and
the context of the sentence to determine the meaning of the bolded word.
Dear Journal,
This morning I had an epiphany about love. I’ve just realized that love is like a sunny
morning. You never know when to expect it, but when it happens your heart feels
warm. I hope that one day this knowledge of love becomes an epidemic, and
everyone becomes infected with it’s goodness. I know that true love is not
ephemeral, instead lasting a life time. (The base phany means “appear”; the base
dem means “the people”; and the base hemer means “day.”)
• epiphany- a sudden “appearance” that comes “to” us and
brings understanding
• epidemic- a disease that falls “upon” a community of
“people”
• ephemeral- fleeting, “upon” a “day”, lasting only a “day”
Practice
Use the definitions of the bases, prefixes and suffixes, if
provided, and the context of the sentence to determine the
meaning of the bolded word.
There is also an epilogue to this journal entry. The epilogue is
that after my realization about love, I then began to notice
examples of everyone becoming infected with its goodness. I
will write about these examples in my future journal entries. My
thoughts on this are the epitome, I think, of all I believe love
should be, too. It’s what my parents have always taught me. If I
could write my own epitaph I would want it to talk about love,
so that I could eternally be underneath its symbolic warmth.
(The base log means “word”, “speech”, or “reason”; the base
tome means “to cut short”, “cut down”, or “cut into”; the base
taph means “grave” or “tomb”.
Practice
Use the definitions of the bases, prefixes and suffixes, if provided, and the
context of the sentence to determine the meaning of the bolded word.
There is also an epilogue to this journal entry. The epilogue is that after my
realization about love, I then began to notice examples of everyone becoming
infected with its goodness. I will write about these examples in my future journal
entries. My thoughts on this are the epitome, I think, of all I believe love should be,
too. It’s what my parents have always taught me. If I could write my own epitaph I
would want it to talk about love, so that I could eternally be underneath its symbolic
warmth. (The base log means “word”, “speech”, or “reason”; the base tome means
“to cut short”, “cut down”, or “cut into”; the base taph means “grave” or “tomb”.
• epilogue- “words” “added to” the end of something
• epitome- perfect example
• epitah- a short poem or inscription written “upon” the
headstone of a “grave”
Test Prep
Epi- this prefix means ______, ____, _________________
Ms. Beckstedt instructed our class to analyze the epitaph
before we began reading the book Fahrenheit 451. On the
first page it read, “If they give you ruled paper, write the
other way” by Juan Roman Jitnenez. Libby and Katy both
raised their hands at the same time to explain what they
thought about the opening lines in the book.
• Define the word epigraph using a definition of the prefix.
Basic:
Better:
Test Prep
Epi- this prefix means upon, to, in addition to
Ms. Beckstedt instructed our class to analyze the epitaph
before we began reading the book Fahrenheit 451. On the
first page it read, “If they give you ruled paper, write the
other way” by Juan Roman Jimenez. Libby and Katy both
raised their hands at the same time to explain what they
thought about the opening lines in the book.
• Define the word epigraph using a definition of the prefix.
Basic: to “write” “upon” or “in addition to” something
Better: a quotation from another author at the beginning
of a literary work
Test Prep
Epi- this prefix means ______, ____, _________________
I have recently developed an interest in science. In class
yesterday we discussed different plant species and I was
especially intrigued by epiphytes because they do not
normally grow in the soil. They manufacture their own food
through photosynthesis but obtain moisture through the air
or another plant, hence their nickname the “air plant.”
• Define the word epiphyte using a definition of the prefix.
Basic:
Better:
Test Prep
Epi- this prefix means upon, to, in addition to
I have recently developed an interest in science. In class
yesterday we discussed different plant species and I was
especially intrigued by epiphytes because they do not
normally grow in the soil. They manufacture their own food
through photosynthesis but obtain moisture through the air
or another plant, hence their nickname the “air plant.”
• Define the word epiphyte using a definition of the prefix.
Basic: “upon” a “plant”
Better: a plant which grows upon another plant
Divide and Conquer
Word:
Prefix means:
Base means:
epidemic
epi=
dem= people
epicenter
epi=
cent= center
epidermis
epi=
derm= skin
epitome
epi=
tom=cut
epistle
epi=
stle=send
epitaph
epi=
taph=grave, tomb
ephemeral
ep=
hemer=day
epiphany
epi=
phan= appear
epigram
epi=
gram= write, draw
epithet
epi=
thet= put, place
Word means: