Commiserate:
Part of Speech – verb
Definition – 1. to feel or express sorrow or
sympathy for; empathize with; pity
Word Root – com, together
Sample Sentence –
“A true friend is one who can commiserate with those he
cares for.”
Voracious:
Part of Speech – adjective
Definition – exceedingly eager or avid.
Word Root – vor, eater
ous, full of
Sample Sentence –
“Stan was always a voracious reader of science fiction.”
“I used to voraciously collect antique chess boards.”
Circumlocution:
Part of Speech – noun
Definition – 1. The use of unnecessarily wordy and indirect
language.
2. Evasiveness in speech or writing.
3. A roundabout expression.
Word Root –circum, around
loqui-, to speak
Sample Sentence – “The politician evaded talking about the
issue through circumlocution.”
Animosity:
Part of Speech – noun
Definition – a feeling of strong dislike, ill will, or enmity
that tends to display itself in action.
Word Root – anim, mind
ous, full of
Sample Sentence – “The friends that once had
loved each other now shared a common animosity.”
Belligerent:
Part of Speech – adjective
Definition – of warlike character; aggressively hostile
Word Root – bell, war
Sample Sentence –
“My sister always talks to my parents with a belligerent
tone.”
“I will not tolerate your belligerence any longer!”
Vacuous:
Part of Speech – adjective
Definition – 1. Lacking intelligence; stupid.
2. Devoid of matter; empty.
Word Root –vac, empty
ous, full of
Sample Sentence – “I tried explaining it to him, but his
expression remained vacuous and uncomprehending.”
Cosmopolitan:
Part of Speech – noun
Definition – belonging to all the world; not limited to just
one part of the world
Word Root – cosm, world
polis, city
Sample Sentence – “His mother was Russian and
his dad was Peruvian…he was a true
cosmopolitan.”
Perambulate:
Part of Speech – verb
Definition – To walk through, about, or over.
Word Root – peri, around
ambul, to walk
Sample Sentence – “As you take the test I will be
perambulating in case you have any questions.”
“He generally perambulated near her table once or twice
each day during lunch.”
Dormant:
Part of Speech – adjective
Definition – Lying asleep; a state of inactivity.
Word Root – dorm, sleep
Sample Sentence – “With the cold weather and darker days
usually make most teens rather dormant during much of
winter break.”
Euphony:
Part of Speech – noun
Definition – agreeableness of sound; pleasing effect on the
ear
Word Root – eu, good
phon, sound
Sample Sentence – “Good poetry always seems to have a
euphonious succession of words.”
Patriarchy:
Part of Speech – noun
Definition – a social organization in which the father is the
supreme authority (in tribes or families, not in necessarily
government)
Word Root – pater, father
archy, government
Sample Sentence – “Capable women have for
centuries sought to escape the oppression of
traditional patriarchies.”
Symbiotic:
Part of Speech – adjective
Definition – an interdependent, mutually
beneficial relationship between two organisms.
Word Root – sym, together
bio, life
Sample Sentence – “The two hugged each other in
a momentary symbiotic exchange of encouragement.”