Words: The Power Within
Lesson 5
Knowing What’s Out There
AQU
Aquanaut
 Aqu + naut (sail)
 Literal definition - sail water
 Dictionary definition – (n) a person who
swims underwater using an aqualung
 It took the aquanaut over 24 hours to
complete the repairs on the sea lab.
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AQU
Aquarius
Aqu + ius (of)
Literal definition – of water
Dictionary definition – (n) in astronomy a
large constellation, the Water-carrier or
Water-bearer, said to represent a man
pouring water from a jar; in astrology it is
the 11th sign of the zodiac, which the sun
enters about January 21
 We used our telescope to locate Aquarius in
the night sky.
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AQU = WATER
Aquifer
 Aqu + fer (carry, bear)
 Literal definition – carry water
 Dictionary definition – (n) a body of
permeable rock that can contain or
transmit ground water
 We dug a well to tap into the aquifer and
create a new water source for the crops.
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GEO
Geocentric
 Geo + centr (center)
 Literal definition – earth center
 Dictionary definition – (adj) having or
representing the earth as the center
 People used to believe that our solar
system was geocentric, but now we know
that it is heliocentric
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GEO
Geography
Geo + graph (write, record)
Literal definition – record earth
Dictionary definition – (n) the study of the
physical features of the earth and its
atmosphere and of human activity as it
affects and is affected by these, including the
distribution of population and resources,
land use, and industries
 When we studied Africa, we focused on its
geography, especially population density.
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GEO = EARTH
Geology
 Geo + logy (study of)
 Literal definition – study of earth
 Dictionary definition – (n) the science
that deals with the earth’s physical
structure and substance, its history, and
the processes that act on it; the geological
features of an area
 In geology, we learned about volcanoes
and how they are formed.
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HYDR
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Dehydrate
De (down, away, from) + hydr
Literal definition – water from; water away
Dictionary definition – (v) to lose a large
amount of water from the body; to remove
water from food to preserve and store it
Workouts in the intense heat can dehydrate
a person quickly, so drink plenty of water.
HYDR
Hydrophobia
 Hydr + phobia (fear)
 Literal definition – water fear
 Dictionary definition – (n) extreme or
irrational fear of water, often a symptom
of rabies in humans
 After being bitten by the rabid dog,
Teacake developed hydrophobia and
would not go near the water.
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HYDR = WATER
Hydroplane
 Hydr + planus (plain, flat)
 Literal definition – flat water; water plain
 Dictionary definition – (n) a light, fast
motorboat designed to skim over water; a
seaplane; (v) to slide uncontrollably on the
wet surface of a road
 It only takes a half an inch of water to
hydroplane on any paved surface.
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SCI
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Conscience
Con (together, with) + sci + ence (state)
Literal definition – state of knowing with
Dictionary definition – (n) an inner feeling or
voice viewed as acting as a guide to the
rightness or wrongness of one’s behavior
My guilty conscience forced me to confess
to stealing the candy from the store.
SCI
Conscientious
 Con (together, with) + sci + ious (full of)
 Literal definition – full of knowing with
 Dictionary definition – (adj) wishing to do
what is right, especially to do one’s work
or duty well and thoroughly
 The conscientious student prepared
ahead of time instead of waiting until the
last minute.
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SCI = KNOW
Science
Sci + ence (state of)
Literal definition – state of knowing
Dictionary definition – (n) the intellectual and
practical activity encompassing the systematic
study of the structure and behavior of the
physical and natural world through observation
and experimentation
 In science we learn all sorts of things about how
the world around us works by studying biology,
astronomy, anatomy, chemistry, physics, etc.
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TERR
Terrarium
 Terr + arium (place)
 Literal definition – earth place
 Dictionary definition – (n) a vivarium for
smaller land animals, especially reptiles,
amphibians, or terrestrial invertebrates,
typically in the form of a glass-fronted
case
 In science we made a terrarium when we
studied ecosystems.
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TERR
Terrestrial
 Terr + ial (pertaining to)
 Literal definition – pertaining to earth
 Dictionary definition – (adj) of, on, or
relating to the earth; living on or in the
ground; (n) an inhabitant of the earth
 Extraterrestrials are called such because
they come from beyond the earth.
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TERR = EARTH
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Territory
Terr + ory (pertaining to)
Literal definition – pertaining to earth
Dictionary definition – (n) an area of land
under the jurisdiction of a ruler or state; an
area of land defended by a group of animals
against others of the same sex or species
Cats are very territorial and will often
defend their territory by fighting other cats.