The Word Within the Word
Stem Lesson 2
Part 1 (stems 26-40)
26. archy
meaning: government
Sentence example:
England is, or once was, ruled
by a monarchy.
Clue Words:
monarchy, hierarchy, anarchy, matriarchal,
patriarchal
Anarchy
• Absence of governmental control
27. ard
meaning: always
Sentence example:
The dullard was always boring
everyone to tears.
Clue Words:
drunkard, coward, braggart, laggard, dullard, sluggard
Sluggard
• A lazy person
28. cide
meaning: kill
Sentence example:
In killing his father, Oedipus was
guilty of patricide.
Clue Words:
herbicide, homicide, matricide, suicide, regicide, genocide,
fratricide
Genocide
• Mass killings, i.e. extermination of a particular
race or sect
29. ician
meaning: specialist
Sentence example:
Mustafa is an electronic
technician.
Clue Words:
technician, musician, beautician, physician, statistician,
clinician
Physician
• A medical doctor
30. itis
meaning: inflammation
Sentence example:
The dermatitis on his skin was
painful and unpleasant.
Clue Words:
appendicitis, tonsillitis, arthritis, dermatitis
Arthritis
• Joint inflammation
31. aqua
meaning: water
Sentence example:
Balthazar, the scuba diver,
collects aquatic species.
Clue Words:
aquarium, aquatic, aquaplane, aqueduct, semiaquatic,
aquifer, aquaman
Aqueduct
• A man-made channel for water
32. audi
meaning: hear
Sentence example:
The deaf moose had an injured
auditory nerve.
Clue Words:
audiophile, audience, audition, auditory, audiometer, audit
Audiophile
• Someone passionate about sound quality
33. bell
meaning: war
Sentence example:
Belligerent nations gain nothing
from their many wars.
Clue Words:
bellicose, belligerent, rebel, rebellion
Belligerent
• Aggressively hostile
34. cap
meaning: take
Sentence example:
The hostile island tribe captured
captives.
Clue Words:
capture, captive, captor, captivate, captivity, caption,
capsule
Captivate
• To hold someone’s interest
35. cise
meaning: cut
Sentence example:
The design was incised into the
oaken door with a knife.
Clue Words:
excise, incisors, incision, precise, concise, decision
Incision
• A cut
36. bio
meaning: life
Sentence example:
Biomorphic abstract sculpture
resembles living shapes.
Clue Words:
biography, biology, biomorphic, biochemistry, biogenesis
Biography
• A written account of someone’s life
37. auto
meaning: self
Sentence example:
The general wrote a tedious
autobiography about his exploits.
Clue Words:
autobiography, automobile, autograph, automatic,
autocracy
Autocracy
• Unlimited power by one person
38. port
meaning: carry
Sentence example:
The porter will carry your bags to
the train.
Clue Words:
transport, import, report, porter, deport, important, portly
Portly
• stout
39. scrib
meaning: write
Sentence example:
Please inscribe my yearbook.
Clue Words:
scribble, inscribe, scribe, describe, conscription, transcribe,
ascribe
Inscribe
• To mark a surface with words
40. logy
meaning: science
Sentence example:
Since he loved insects, he studied
entomology.
Clue Words:
biology, anthropology, geology, entomology, mythology
Mythology
• The study of myths, i.e. supernatural stories
that explain a culture’s beliefs/ values