The Witty Wordsmith – Week 4
Resources
Please check your work and spelling before submitting your answers online, and do not submit your work more
than once. You MAY use dictionaries or other language resources (AFTER you’ve used your own brain) to ensure
that you’re using real words. Here are two resources that I use regularly:
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Online Dictionary (one of many): http://dictionary.reference.com/
Online Etymological Dictionary: http://www.etymonline.com/
Activity 1 – Word Construction
Solve the following word puzzles using the prefixes and word roots from
your word lists. Make sure ALL your answers are REAL English words. You
should learn your roots first, then use your knowledge to find the words.
You can use the resources above if you get stuck.
Clue
1.
the inability to write, or "bad writing"
2.
"good words" about a person, spoken at their funeral
3.
a place where Jewish people are "led together" to worship
4.
being married to "many men" at the same time
5.
If "mis" means "hate," what is a "hatred of humankind"
6.
What we call it when there is "no rule" or no government
7.
Another word for a prayer, but the roots mean "to say" something "good "
8.
the act of "killing" someone who "rules"
9.
to "cry forth" or "cry before", as when a king makes a special announcement
10. to bring "into a body", as when starting a business
11. a widespread disease or illness that is "on the people"
12. to "say" what's going to happen "before" it happens
13. the "study" of different "tribes / nations"
14. being like "brothers" or having the characteristics of "brothers"
15. the "study" of "births" or family trees
16. A governmental system in which "women rule"
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© The Lukeion Project 2014
www. lukeion.org
Regan L. Barr, Instructor
Clue
17. to "kill" a "human"
18. if "somni" means "sleep", what is it when someone "speaks" in their "sleep"
19. if "aria" mean "air", what is a disease that's been named "bad air"?
20. the "mother" who "rules"
21. if "iatr" means "heal", what do we call a doctor who "heals children"?
22. to talk down to someone, as a "father" talks to a little child
23. liked by all the "people", like a book or a movie star
24. what kind of a shape has "straight" or "right angles"?
25. a organization of women who consider themselves "sister"
26. the highest qualities to be found in a good "man"
27. if "arist" means "best", what is "rule" by the "best"
Activity 2 – Word De-construction
Give the meanings of the ROOTS in each of these words. Be precise,
according to the definitions in your word list. Try to do it from memory,
but check yourself if you need help. (In exercise 3 you’ll be defining the
words with the asterisks by them and then using them in a sentence.)
Example: If the word is submit, you’d tell me the roots mean “send down”
Word
Meanings
dysmetria 1.
euphony * 2.
demagogue 3.
androgynous 4.
anthropology 5.
monarch * 6.
bonus * 7.
incision 8.
acclamation 9.
incorporeal 10.
demographics 11.
contradict * 12.
multiethnic 13.
© The Lukeion Project 2014
www.lukeion.org
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Word
Meanings
feminine 14.
fraternize * 15.
dysgenesis 16.
inhumane 17.
alogia 18.
interlocution 19.
malicious 20.
matrix 21.
pedagogy 22.
expatriate 23.
repopulate 24.
interregnum 25.
virile 26.
technocracy 27.
Activity 3 – Word Understanding
Look up the following words in a dictionary and write out a common definition of the
word (Don’t look for the obscure, weird, or seldom-used meanings). Then use the word
correctly in a sentence. PLEASE try to write fun or humorous sentences. The best will be
shared in class!
1. euphony (definition):
euphony:
2. monarch (definition):
monarch:
3. bonus (definition):
bonus:
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www.lukeion.org
Page 3
4. contradict (definition):
contradict:
5. fraternize (definition):
fraternize:
© The Lukeion Project 2014
www.lukeion.org
Page 4