Photo credit: www.filmofilia.com

• -doct(Latin) meaning learned, skilled (related to
teachings)
• doct rine
• exo(Greek combining form) meaning outer, outside
• exo tic
• -junct(Latin) meaning join
• junct ure
• -trib(Latin) meaning assign, classify; pay, bestow
• at trib ute

• at(Latin) meaning attend
• at tribute
• be(ME) meaning to make, cause to become
• be little
• ex(Latin) meaning out
• ex cise
• con - (Latin) meaning together, with
• con vey
• un(OE) meaning not
• un assuming

• -al (Latin) meaning that which; characterized by
• meni al
• -ic (Greek) meaning having some characteristics of
• exot ic
• -ory (Latin) used to form Latin nouns and verbs into adjectives
• preda tory
• -y (OE) meaning characterized by
• jaunt y

• -le (Middle English) used with actions that have a repeating quality
• belitt le
• -ise (Latin) to render, make; to convert into
• exc ise

(noun) the highest point
– The acme of Mr. Filbert’s career came when he was named “Man of the Year” by the Tucson Chamber of
Commerce.
SYNONYM: summit, top, peak, pinnacle
ANTONYM: low point, bottom, nadir
Ah, the irony!!!
Photo source: www.chroniclebooks.com

at
• MULTIPLE USAGE ALERT! PAY ATTENTION TO THE
PRONUNCIATION!!!
• (noun) [a-truh-byoot] upbringing, training, rearing
• For anyone who plans to pursue a career as a radio announcer, a clear speaking voice is an essential attribute .
• (v.) [uh-trib-yoot] to bring up, care for, train, nourish
• John attributes his keen interest in the sea to his being a descendent of the great naval hero John Paul Jones.
SYNONYM: (v.) raise, rear, foster
ANTONYM: (v.) neglect, ignore, discourage, hinder
WORD ATTACK!!
• at(Latin) meaning attend
• -trib(Latin) meaning assign, classify; pay, bestow
WORD FAMILIES!!
• attribution
• retribution tribute tributary contribute

be
• (v.) to make something appear smaller than it is; to refer to in a way that suggests lack of importance or value
– If you belittle a child in front of his friends, the humiliation associated with the experience will be far worse.
SYNONYNS: minimize, underrate, disparage
ANTONYNS: exaggerate, magnify, overestimate
WORD ATTACK!
be(ME) meaning to make, cause to become

Image source:http://www.boston.com/news/local/gallery/0112_newneccos/ con
(v.) to transport; to transmit; to communicate, make known; to transfer ownership or title to
– Please convey our condolences to Mrs. Jefferson on the death of her husband, Otto.
SYNONYNS: carry, send, impart
WORD ATTACK!
• con(Latin) meaning together
• via (Latin) meaning way
WORD FAMILIES:
• conveyor
• conveyance
Sweetheart “Conversation Hearts” are dropping off a conveyor belt and into a tank.

(noun) a belief, principle, or teaching; a system of such beliefs or principles; a formulation of such beliefs or principles
• It is important for
Confirmation candidates to have a strong understanding of Catholic doctrine .
Photo sources: www.usccb.org; www.osv.com

ex
ise
MULTIPLE USAGE /MEANING ALERT! PAY ATTENTION
TO THE PRONUNCIATION!!! BEWARE!!! MEANINGS
ARE UNRELATED!
• (v.) [ek-sīz] to remove by cutting
• Doctor Futz excised a pendulous excrescence from the nose of Mr. Wattle.
• (noun) [ek-sīz] an indirect tax on the manufacture, sale, or distribution or a commodity or service
• A significant excise is placed on gasoline at the pump, raising its price beyond the actual cost of the oil itself.
SYNONYM: (v.) cut out, delete, expunge
ANTONYM: (v.) put in, insert, interpolate
WORD ATTACK!
• ex(Latin) meaning out
• -ise (Latin) to render, make; to convert into

ic
• (adj.) foreign; charmingly unfamiliar or strikingly unusual
• Exotic plants like orchids grow best in greenhouses.
SYNONYMS: strange, alien, picturesque, colorful
ANTONYMS: native, indigenous, familiar, commonplace
WORD ATTACK!
• exo(Greek combining form) meaning outer, outside
• -ic (Greek) meaning having some characteristics of
Photo sources: fleurieflowers.com; symbianize.com; wricmumbai.org

(adj.) thin, pale, and careworn as a result of worry or suffering; wild-looking
– President Lincoln’s haggard expression attests to the heavy burden the Civil
War placed upon him.
SYNONYM S: drawn, gaunt, wasted
ANTONYMS: healthy, glowing, radiant, hale and hearty
WORD FAMILIES!
• hag
…Yes, hag. The etymological source of haggard is, in fact, hag. A hag is defined as an ugly old woman, a witch or shrew. To appear haggard, literally, is to a look like a hag, but the word has come to mean having a care-worn look. As such, even _________ (fill in the blank with your idea of a beautiful person here) is capable of looking haggard.
Photo soucre: facesofthecivilwar.blogspot.com

y
• (adj.) lively, easy, and carefree in manner; smart or trim in appearance
• Teddy is a snappy dresser, preferring casual, jaunt y styles to stodgy ones.
• SYNONYMS: unconcerned, lighthearted
• ANTONYMS: downcast, dejected, glum
WORD ATTACK!
-y (OE) meaning characterized by
ETYMOLOGY!!!
Jaunty is related to the Old French word
gentil, meaning gentle or noble, behavior associated with the gentry or nobility.
This makes sense: Those high in society have always placed great importance upon appearances.
Photo source: ilovedinomartin.blogspot.com

(noun) a joining together; the point at which two things are joined; any important point in time
• At this juncture , police officials are unwilling to reveal any further details about the suspect they are holding for the recent string of bank robberies in the Tucson area.
SYNONYM: union, seam, joint, turning point
WORD ATTACK!
• -junct(Latin) meaning join
WORD FAMILIES!
• junction
• conjunction
• injunction

al
MULTIPLE USAGE ALERT!
(adj.) lowly, humble, lacking importance or dignity
• Though Catholic Social Teaching disavows such actions, many cultures assign meni al tasks to women and those of the lowest social status.
(noun) a person who does the humble and unpleasant tasks
• Poorly educated people have few options other than to take jobs as low-paid menials .
SYNONYMS: (noun) underling, scullion, servant
ANTONYMS: (adj.) lofty, elevated; (noun) boss, master
ETYMOLOGY!!!
Menial is related to the archaic (meaning long out-of-date) word
meiny [mey-nee], which means household, followers, or attendants.
The connection makes sense. All of these words seem to point to the underlings of a household, and as such, those most likely to be assigned the lowly tasks.

MULTIPLE USAGE ALERT!
(v.) to ward off, fend off, deflect, evade, avoid
• Although Ferdie parried a few of Henry’s blows, eventually the big galoot landed a shot right in
Ferdie’s kisser.
(noun) a defensive movement in fencing and other sports
• Ferdie’s parry deflected Henry’s first punch, but a round-house slug put Ferdie on his caboose.
Graphic source: www.phocabulary.com

ory
(adj.) preying on, plundering, or piratical
– Since I always remember to pack myself a good lunch before heading off to school, I resent my twin brother Geoffrey’s predat ory behavior in the lunch room when he forgets to bring something for himself.
• SYNONYMS: looting, pillaging, ravenous, rapacious
WORD ATTACK!
• -ory (Latin) used to form Latin nouns and verbs into adjectives
WORD FAMILIES!
• predat or
Photo source: www.michaelnorthrop.net

MULTIPLE USAGE ALERT!
(v.) to destroy, to lay waste, ruin
• Wildfires ravaged Cochise County last summer, leaving the landscape scarred and many Sierra Vista residents homeless.
(noun) ruinous damage, destruction
• After decades of sun exposure, the ravages of time could be seen on her deeply wrinkled face.
SYNONYM: (v.) wreck, devastate
ANTONYMS: (v.) spare
Image source: http://morrisonworldnews.com/?p=51105

(noun) a way of holding the body; an attitude or position on an issue
– The batter’s firm stance at the plate gave him both balance and leverage against the pitcher’s wicked fast balls.
– Congressman Wickham’s stance on the immigration issue offends many of his constituents.
SYNONYM: posture, bearing
Photo credit: www.27pitches.com

• (adj.) showy and flashy but lacking in good taste
• Designer clothing is thought to be the height of fashion, but often the styles are downright tawdry .
• SYNONYMS: loud, garish, gaudy, tacky, vulgar
• ANTONYMS: refined, tasteful, subdued, muted
Photo source: sodahead.com; collegefashion.net; chicmenclothes.com

tesco.com; ushistory.org
(noun) a person who switches to an opposing side or party
• Benedict Arnold will be remembered in American history as a turncoat , a traitor who donned the infamous red coat in service to the Crown.
SYNONYM: traitor, quisling, renegade
ANTONYM: loyalist, diehard

un
ing
(adj.) not putting on airs, unpretentious; modest
• Although Angie is a talented musician, a gifted scholar, and a strikingly beautiful young lady, she has an unassuming manner that makes her well-liked by all.
ANTONYMS: conceited, pretentious, arrogant
WORD ATTACK!
• un(Latin) meaning not
• -ing Wait a minute…. You’re saying –ing will get me an adjective ? Not a verb? Yes, both –ing and –ed might be adjective signals. Both of these suffixes create participles, words that are verb forms but can be used as modifiers.
Always examine the USAGE of a word before making a presumption regarding its part of speech.

MULTIPLE USAGE ALERT!
(v.) to roll about in a lazy, clumsy, or helpless way; to overindulge in; to have in abundance
• Every once in a while, Miss Priss wallows in some imagined misery and throws herself a little pity party.
(noun) a wet, muddy, or dusty area used by animals as a sort of bath; a state of moral or physical collapse
• The wallow for the rhinoceroses at the Reid Park
Zoo must be watered regularly to keep it muddy.
SYNONYM: (v.) delight in, bask in
Photo credit: www.theblogthattimeforgot.blogspot.com

(v.) to move to and fro, become unsteady; to show lack or firmness or decision
• There is no point in arguing with Mom because once she makes a decision, she simply will not waver .
SYNONYNS: hesitate, falter
ANTONYNS: stand firm, be resolute
Photo credit:tinubos.blogspot.com