Instant Word Lists
for Teaching Reading
and Writing
Eileen Thompson
& gene panhorst
New York • Toronto • London • Auckland • Sydney
Mexico City • New Delhi • Hong Kong • Buenos Aires
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources
Scholastic Inc. grants teachers permission to photocopy the activity sheets from this book for
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Scholastic Inc., 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012.
Editor: Mela Ottaiano
Cover design by Maria Lilja
Interior design by Kelli Thompson
ISBN-13: 978-0-439-59025-9
ISBN-10: 0-439-59025-6
Copyright © 2008 by e2 Publishing Services, LLC
All rights reserved. Published by Scholastic Inc.
Printed in the U.S.A.
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Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources
Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Chapter 1
Words That Cause Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Homophones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Homographs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Words Pronounced Differently as Different Parts of Speech . . . 28
Commonly Confused Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Irregular Verbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Nouns With Irregular Plurals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Nouns That Are Always Plural . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Collective Nouns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Words With Silent Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Silent e Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Words Not Spelled as They Sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Chapter 2
Vocabulary Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Prefixes (From Greek, Latin, and Old English) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Suffixes (From Greek, Latin, and Old English) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Roots (From Greek, Latin, and Old English) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Compound Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Clipped Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Common Abbreviations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Acronyms and Initialisms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Words From Mythology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Words Based on Names of People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Words Based on Places . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Words From Wars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Portmanteau Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Words Shakespeare Added to the Language . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Words Coined From Literature and Movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources
Contents
Chapter 3
Words From Other Languages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Words From African Languages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Words From Arabic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Words From Australian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Words From Chinese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Words From Dutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Words From French . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Words From German . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Words From Greek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Words From Hindi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Words From Italian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Words From Japanese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Words From Latin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Words From Native American Languages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Words From Portuguese . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Words From Russian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Words From Sanskrit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Words From Scandinavian Languages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Words From Spanish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Words From Turkish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Words From Yiddish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
French Phrases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Latin Phrases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Spanish-English Cognates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
British-American Words and Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Chapter 4
Word Differences and Wordplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Shades-of-Difference Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Adjectives That Show Degree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Color Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Euphemisms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources
Regionalisms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Onomatopoeia Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Nouns and Adjectives for Animals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Palindromes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Idioms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Words That Come in Nonreversible Pairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Two-Part Verbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Chapter 5
Jargon and Technical Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Business Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Media Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Computer Words and Technology Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Geography Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Music Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Health Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Art Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Measurement Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Sports Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Writers on Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources
Introduction
H
ave you ever found yourself in a situation where
you need extra words to enhance your day-to-day
curriculum? With so many words to choose from, where do
you start? Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing
is the book for you. This time-saving resource contains
dozens and dozens of word lists to supplement the language
concepts you teach as part of your language arts curriculum.
You can dip into the word lists to create instant word charts
and enrich reading and writing lessons. The lists can also
help you prepare students for the vocabulary development
standards assessed on
standardized tests, such
as understanding
the origins of words,
knowing the multiple
meanings of words,
and recognizing different
shades of meaning.
Each of the word lists
includes easy, target,
and challenge versions
that allow you to address
the different ability levels
within your classroom.
Chapter 1 focuses on words that cause problems. These words
may look alike, sound alike, have irregular forms, or not sound
as they are spelled. Using context clues and choosing the
meaning that fits the context are excellent skills to reinforce
as students learn more about homophones, homographs,
and commonly confused words. You can discuss grammar,
phonics, and letter-sound correspondence as students learn
more about irregular words.
Chapter 2 focuses on developing vocabulary by building
new words, shortening words, and understanding the
history of words. The extensive lists of prefixes, suffixes,
and roots—from Greek, Latin, and Old English—will assist
you as you teach students to use word parts to understand
unfamiliar words.
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources
The lists of abbreviations, acronyms, and initialisms
show how language changes over time as longer words
are shortened. In addition, the lists showing how words
are derived from literature and the names of people,
places, wars, and so on, will help you address word-origin
standards and bring home to students the rich history of
the English language.
Chapter 3 expands the understanding of the history of
English by focusing on words and phrases derived from
other languages. Twenty other languages are represented,
enriching students’ knowledge of the influence of other
languages on English and further helping you to address
word-origin standards. You will also find an extensive
collection of Spanish-English cognates.
Chapter 4 focuses on the differences between words. Because
English has its roots in so many sources, it contains many
words for the same thing, such as “childish” with a Greek
suffix and “immature” with a Latin prefix. There are also
dozens of idioms, or phrases not meant literally. Overall,
the lists in this chapter help you address the importance of
avoiding tired words and choosing the best word or phrase
to make meaning clear when speaking or writing.
Chapter 5 focuses on jargon and other technical language. It
provides lists of words used in different professions. These
lists help students understand that some words have special
meanings that are different from their everyday meanings.
For example, the
noun beat is usually
understood as the
regular rhythm of
a piece of music
or of one’s heart.
However, the area
or subject that a
newspaper reporter
covers is also called
a beat.
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources
Introduction
As you use this book, here are some activities you can do to
reinforce the lists:
■ A
fter
using a list, have students hunt for interesting words
(and phrases) that they see in newspapers, magazines,
or online. Add words students find to running lists you
keep on the bulletin board. Suggest that students
categorize these words, using vocabulary terms such as
“jargon,” “euphemism,” “acronym,” and so on.
■ C
reate
word puzzles for different types of lists. For
example, you might create crossword puzzles for words
from mythology and word searches for words with silent
letters. Encourage your students to create their own
puzzles to challenge their classmates. Several puzzlegenerating programs are available on the Internet, such
as http://puzzlemaker.com.
■ S
tart
collecting idioms and other examples of wordplay,
such as puns and clichés. Students can illustrate these in
literal and/or figurative ways. Also challenge students
to create illustrations using homophones, homographs,
and commonly confused words.
■ B
ring in examples of graphic novels. Have students discuss
the effect of onomatopoeia. Invite them to create graphics
using onomatopoeia.
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources
Chapter 1
Words That
Cause Problems
“ My students are
often confused by
homophones they
read. I need more
examples than the
ones provided in
”
my textbook.
T
here are many types of words in English that can be
difficult to learn and remember. These tricky words may
sound alike (homophones), look alike (homographs, or even
similar words such as conscience and conscious), have irregular
forms (such as certain verbs or plural nouns), or not sound as
they are spelled (often due to silent letters).
Having a dictionary or thesaurus on hand is always helpful
when trying to determine the meaning of a word. However,
using context clues to select the meaning that best fits that
context is an excellent skill to reinforce as students learn
more about homophones, homographs, commonly confused
words, and so on. Remind students that the context of a
word includes all the other words, phrases, clauses, and
sentences around it.
You may also want to suggest that students tackle commonly
confused words by writing a single sentence that contains
any word set presenting a problem. For example, for costume/
custom: He wears a festive costume (clothing) during
celebrations because it is the custom (tradition or usual
practice) in his country. This can later act as a mnemonic
device when students encounter the words again.
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources
Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Homophones
Homophones
Homophones are words that sound alike but are spelled
differently and have different meanings.
Easy
A
aid
aide
help
assistant
ail
ale
be sick
a drink
ate
eight
ast tense of eat
p
one more than seven
aye
eye
yes
an organ for sight
B
10
bare
bear
not covered
a large animal
be
bee
to exist
an insect
beat
beet
to hit or defeat
a vegetable
been
bin
ast participle of be
p
a container
blew
blue
past tense of blow
a color
brake
break
part of a machine that slows it down
smash
bread
bred
a food made with flour, water, and yeast
past tense of breed
C
capital
capitol
seat of government
building where state
legislature meets
cell
sell
room in a prison
offer for sale
cellar
seller
basement
a person selling something
cent
scent
sent
100th of a dollar
odor
past tense of send
cents
scents
pennies
odors
cheap
cheep
not expensive
s ound made by
young bird
chews
choose
grinds up food
pick
creak
creek
squeak
a stream
D
dear
deer
someone loved
an animal
dew
do
moisture
perform
die
dye
stop living
coloring
E
ewe
you
a female sheep
pronoun that refers to the person being addressed (I’m speaking to you)
F
fair
fare
just, not biased
amount charged for a trip
flour
a powder made from
grain
blossom
flower
for
fore
four
a preposition
t he front of something
the number after
three
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources
Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Homophones
G
K
gnu
knew
new
an African antelope
past tense of know
opposite of old
groan
moan
grownpastparticiple of grow
H
hairfine strands growing
on head and skin
hare
an animal resembling
a rabbit
hay
hey
dried grass
informal greeting
healtomake healthy again
heel
back part of foot
hear
here
to perceive sound
this place
hi
informal greeting
highfar above the ground
hole
whole
a hollow space
complete
hour
our
60 minutes
belonging to us
knotsomething you tie in
a rope or string
not
no way
knowto be aware of; to
have learned
no
the opposite of yes
L
lie
to recline
lyea strong substance
used for cleaning
in
the opposite of out
innatavern or small hotel
belonging to it
contraction of it is
pail
pale
a bucket
light; lacking color
pair
pear
two of a kind
a fruit
peacecalm; quiet; a
period without war
piece
a part of something
prayto speak to God; to
request or beg
preysomeone or something that is hunted
principalthe head of a school
principle a rule or standard
M
madethepast tense of make
maid
a housekeeper
mailletters and other
items sent by post
male
not female
mainchief; most important
Maineoneof the 50 states
mane
the hair on the head
and neck of a lion or
horse
O
I
its
it’s
knightin medieval Europe, a
soldier on horseback
night
the opposite of day
P
oara paddle; something
you row with
or
a conjunction
onethe number between
zero and two
won
past tense of win
R
rap
to knock
wrapto cover with paper
or cloth
readthe past tense of
the verb read; found
meaning in written
words
a color
red
right
correct
wrightsomeone who makes
or repairs something
writeto compose or put
words on paper
road
a path
rodepast tense ofride
rowedpast tense ofrow;
paddled
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11
Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Homophones
rolea part played by an
actor
to move on wheels
roll
rose
rows
a flower
paddles a boat
S
some
sum
not all
the total
son
sun
a male child
the star around which
Earth rotates
T
sailstrong cloth on a boat
that catches the wind
and helps the boat
move
salea bargain; selling
goods for money
tailthesection at the rear
end of an animal’s
body
tale
a story
sea
the ocean
seeto perceive through
the use of the eyes
toa preposition
showing direction
too
also
twothe number between
one and three
seamthe place where two
pieces of cloth are
joined
seem
to appear to be
toada tailless creature that
resembles a frog
towedpast tense oftow ;
dragged away
sewto use thread to join
pieces of cloth; to
mend
sotherefore; as a result
toe
tow
part of the foot
to drag away
altar
a table or other raised
structure used for
religious ceremonies
change
W
waitto delay or slow
down for someone
weighthow heavy something
is
conflict
war
worepast tense ofwear ;
had on
ware
wear
where
something you sell
to put or have on
at what place
weI and one or more
people
wee
little
weak
week
not strong
seven days
wood
timber
wouldis or was willing to
Target
A
air
heir
a mixture of gases
that we breath
someone who inherits
alter
B
aisle
I’ll
isle
a passageway
I will
a small island
bail
bale
12
oney paid to release
m
someone from prison
temporarily
a bundle of hay
bark
barque
the outer covering of
a tree
a small sailing ship
baron
barren
a nobleman
empty
base
bass
bottom of something
deep voice
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources
Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Homophones
beach
beech
sandy shore
a type of tree
berth
a bed on a ship or
train
the beginning of life
birth
billed
build
s ent a statement of
charges
to construct
boar
bore
a male hog
to make someone
lose interest
board
bored
a piece of wood
not interested
born
brought into existence; given life
past participle of bear
borne
cereal
serial
a breakfast food
a story published
in installments
(one part at a
time)
crews
cruise
cue
chute
shoot
cite
sight
site
clause
claws
a passage or
shaft
to fire or discharge
t o name or mention
the ability to see
a place or location
a group of words
with a subject
and predicate
the curved nails
of an animal
queue
brews
bruise
bridal
bridle
but
butt
prepares a drink
a damaged and discolored area on
the skin
relating to a wedding
leather straps to
control a horse
except
to hit or push
coarse
course
r ough; not
smooth
a path or route
colonel
kernel
a military officer
a grain of cereal
complement
compliment
t o go well with or
add to
praise
coop
coupe
a pen or cage
a car
core
corps
center; main
a military unit or
other group of
people
C
cymbal
symbol
a stockpile
money
council
counsel
a n assembly or committee
to advise
a musical instrument
a sign
D
days
eriods of time made
p
up of 24 hours; plural
of day
a state of confusion
doe
dough
a female deer
mixture of flour, water, and other
ingredients
dual
ouble; with two
d
parts
a fight with swords
duel
E
earn
urn
to make money
a vase
eaves
art of a roof that
p
sticks out over the
wall that supports it
plural of eve; the day
or night just before
an important holiday
or festival (New
Year’s Eve)
eves
cache
cash
a prompt or signal to do something
a line of people
currant a type of fruit
current up-to-date
daze
borough part of a large city
burro
a small donkey
burrow a small hole in which
an animal lives
groups of people working on a ship or who
perform a similar task
a journey by boat
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13
Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Homophones
grate
F
faint
feint
to pass out
to pretend
faun
a mythological creature with the
body of a man and
the horns and legs of a goat
a young deer
fawn
great
grater
greater
grease
Greece
feat
a device for grinding
and shredding
bigger or mightier
a fatty or oily substance
a country in southeast Europe
J
jam
jamb
a fruit spread
art of a window or
p
door frame
K
knead
need
t o press or work
dough to make a
smooth mass
to require
feet
a great and courageous deed
the plural of foot
flair
flare
style
to burn brightly
hail
hale
frozen rain
in good health
flea
flee
a bug
to leave quickly
hall
haul
a corridor or passageway
to carry
heard
herd
past tense of hear
a group of cattle
lessen
lesson
to reduce or make less
something you learn
higher
f arther above the
ground than something else
to employ
liar
lyre
someone who tells a lie
a musical instrument
you play by plucking
the strings
links
lynx
connections
a wildcat
load
a burden; something
carried from place to
place
a deposit of ore
t he past tense of fly
short for influenza,
an infectious viral
disease
a chimney or other
outlet to carry smoke
flew
flu
flue
G
a way of walking or
running
a type of door or other
moveable barrier
gate
genes
jeans
gilt
guilt
L
H
hire
gait
14
to grind and shred,
such as to grate
cheese
excellent; very large
nits that carry a
u
person’s hereditary
characteristics
dungarees; pants
made of denim
a thin coating of gold
a feeling that you did
something wrong
hoarse
horse
s ounding rough and
croaky
an animal
I
idle
idol
idyll
not working; lazy
something or someone worshipped and
adored
a peaceful, happy
time or experience
lain
lane
past participle of lie
a path or narrow road
leak
a n opening from
which water drips
a vegetable similar to
an onion
leek
lode
loan
lone
a n amount of money
you borrow with the
promise to pay it back
single; only
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Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Homophones
loot
lute
booty; plunder
a musical instrument
similar to a guitar
M
moose
mousse
morn
mall
maul
a shopping center
to tear or attack
marshal a law enforcement
officer
martial soldierly; military
mat
matte
a pad or small carpet
dull; not shiny
Mays
ore than one month
m
of May
a labyrinth; a confusing network of passages
maze
meat
meet
mete
medal
meddle
might
mite
the flesh of an animal
to encounter; to get
together
to give out or distribute
mourn
minor
moor
more
a shortened form of
morning; the time
period before noon
to grieve for and feel
sad
morning t he time period before noon
mourning grief; sorrow
muscle
mussel
a bundle of fibers in the body that contributes to movement
and strength
a type of marine
creature with a shell
naval
navel
referring to the navy
a small hollow in the
abdomen
O
a n award or badge of
honor
to intrude or get in
the way
ode
owed
a type of poem
required to pay
someone else
power or strength
a bug
overdo
t o go beyond or do
too much
late; tardy
s omeone who works
in a mine
a juvenile
t o tie up or fasten an
object such as a boat
additional
pause
paws
to stop briefly
the feet of an animal
peak
peek
pique
the highest point
to take a brief look
temper; wounded
pride
peal
t he ringing or clanging of bells
to take away the skin
or outer covering
peel
pedal
peddle
peer
pier
t he part of a bike or
car that you operate
with your feet
to sell
t o look at something
closely and carefully
a platform jutting out
over the water
N
overdue
miner
a large animal in the
deer family
a chilled dessert
similar to pudding
P
pain
pane
plain
plane
simple
a flat surface
pleas
please
cries for aid
t o satisfy or make
happy
poor
pore
not wealthy
a tiny opening or
hole, particularly in
the skin
to rain heavily
pour
pride
pried
hurt; ache
the glass part of a
window or door
profit
prophet
s trong feeling of
self-worth
past tense of pry ;
forced open
money made; benefit
someone who tells
the future or speaks
for a deity
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15
Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Homophones
roomer
Q
quarts
quartz
more than one quart
a mineral
root
R
rain
reign
rein
ater falling from
w
clouds; precipitation
to rule over as a
monarch
a strap for controlling
a horse
raise
rays
raze
to lift
beams of light
to destroy or tear
down
raiser
s omething or someone that raises something
a sharp tool for
shaving
razor
read
t o interpret written
words
a slender stalk of
grass
reed
real
reel
actual; genuine
a spool
recede
16
rumor
reseed
t o pull back or move
away
to plant seeds again
review
revue
to examine
a type of variety show
ring
wring
a circular band
to twist or squeeze
route
a person who rents a
room in a house
gossip; a story
passed from person
to person
t he part of a plant
that spreads underground
a path or course
rote
wrote
memorized
past tense of write ;
composed
rung
past tense of ring ;
made a bell sound
past tense of wring ;
squeezed
wrung
slay
sleigh
staira step or flight of
steps
stare
to look intensely at
something
stake
steak
to glide or fly
painful; tender
scene
seen
sight; setting
past participle of
see; perceived
shake
to mix by moving back
and forth quickly; to
tremble
a leader of a group of
Arabs
sheik
shear
sheer
to cut hair or fleece
very thin and fine
shone
ast tense of shine;
p
glowed brightly
p
ast tense of show ;
displayed
shown
side
sighed
surface or face
past tense of sigh ;
exhaled noisily
a post driven into
the ground
a thick slice of
meat
stationary
stationery
not moving
paper used for
correspondence
steal
t o take something
that doesn’t belong to you
a metal; a strong
alloy of iron and
carbon
S
soar
sore
to kill
a vehicle pulled
over snow or ice by
a horse
steel
straight
strait
not crooked
a channel or narrow
body of water
suite
sweet
a group of rooms
sugary
sundae
an ice-cream dessert
a day of the week
Sunday
T
teas
tease
tees
plural of tea ;
drinks made from
leaves of a tea
plant
to kid or mock
plural of tee ; pegs
used to hold golf
balls
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Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Homophones
their
there
they’re
belonging to them
a t that place or point
they are
past tense of throw ;
tossed
through from one side to the
other
threw
throne
thrown
a chair for royalty
ast participle of
p
throw; was tossed
vale
veil
W
a spice
moment; instance
tide
t he ebb and flow of
the ocean
past tense of tie ;
fastened
tied
tighten
titan
to make tighter
a person of extraordinary achievement
t o walk through shallow water
weighed past tense of weigh ;
measured how heavy
something is
undo
undue
vein
waist
waste
way
weigh
take apart; cancel
too much
V
vain
vane
whale
whey
U
conceited
a flat metal blade
that turns in the wind
a blood vessel
we’d
weed
we had or we would
a wild plant that people
want to get rid of
which
witch
what one
a make-believe person with supernatural powers
whine
wine
to complain or cry
a n alcoholic drink
made from grapes
whoa
woe
stop
trouble and sorrow
whose
who’s
belonging to whom
who is
wind
wined
to turn or twist
gave wine to
wade
wail
thyme
time
a valley
sheer fabric covering
the face
to moan or cry out in pain
a large marine mammal
t he middle part of the
body
to not use properly;
to squander
a path
to measure how
heavy something is
the watery liquid that
separates from milk
and is used to make
cheese
weather t he temperature and
other atmospheric
conditions
whether if
weave
we’ve
Y
you’re
your
you are
belonging to you
yoke
a wooden frame or
harness
the yellow part of an
egg
yolk
to make cloth
we have
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17
Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Homophones
Challenge
broach
A
aerie
airy
an eagle’s nest
open and spacious
aural
r elating to the ear or
hearing
spoken
oral
B
burger
burgher
a meat patty
a comfortable,
middle-class citizen;
in medieval Europe, a
merchant
censer
censor
sensor
C
bait
a lure; something to
attract a fish or other
animal
lessen; lower
bate
baize
bays
bask
a coarse woolen or
cotton cloth
areas by the sea
canon
cannon
canvas
canvass
a n approved set of
writings
a weapon or big gun
a heavy fabric
to campaign or drum
up support
chord
cord
click
carat
a unit used to measure precious
stones such as diamonds
a mark showing
where something
belongs
a root vegetable
lie in the warmth of
the sun
an ethnic group living in the Pyrenees
mountains in northcentral Spain and
southwestern France
caret
beer
bier
an alcoholic drink
a table holding a
casket or dead body
carol
carrel
a song
a small partitioned
work space
cygnet
signet
bite
byte
to tear with your teeth
in computing, a set
of bits, or units of
memory
cast
caste
to throw
a social class determined by birth
D
cede
seed
to yield or give up
something you plant
to grow plants
Basque
bloc
block
a union of countries
a large, solid piece
bootee or a baby’s knit boot
bootie
booty
loot
18
brooch
t o mention or bring
up a topic
a pin used as jewelry
carrot
clique
complacent
complaisant
ducked
duct
a container for burning incense
a person who
examines material to remove
anything considered offensive
a device that
senses light,
movement, or
temperature
change
t wo or more
musical notes
played together
string or thin
rope
t o make a sharp,
short sound
a close group or
circle of friend
smug or selfsatisfied
behaving in a
way that will
please others
a baby swan
a small seal (a signet ring)
g ot down quickly
to avoid being
hit or seen
a pipe or tube
through which
something flows
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources
Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Homophones
F
L
faze
phase
t o bother or disturb
a period of time; a
stage
foreword a preface or introduction
forward ahead; onward
leach
leech
lean
lien
G
gamble
gambol
gorilla
guerilla
t o bet money or property
to frolic or move
about playfully
a large ape
a fighter; a member
of an irregular or
paramilitary group
that operates in
small bands
levee
levy
P
t o slowly take something away
a blood-sucking
creature
palate
palette
pallet
the top of the mouth
an artist’s tray for
mixing paints
a narrow hard bed
to bend over or tilt
the legal right to take
or hold property as
security against a
debt
plait
plate
a braid
a dish
plum
plumb
a fruit
a lead weight at the
end of a line
psalter
a book containing
psalms
a person who sells
salt
a n embankment for
preventing flooding
to impose a tax
salter
M
mantel
mantle
a frame around or shelf above a
fireplace
the part of Earth between the crust
and the core
H
hoard
horde
holy
wholly
hostel
hostile
to save up
a large group of
people
sacred
totally; completely
an inexpensive inn
not friendly; showing
anger
mask
masque
mean
mien
not nice
manner, appearance,
and bearing
mews
a n area with streets
that once had stables
but now has housing
for people
an inspiration
K
key
quay
s omething for unlocking a door
a dock or jetty
s omething covering
the face to disguise a
person
a type of play with
masked performers
muse
R
rancor
ranker
itterness; resentment
b
someone who ranks
things
rapped
rapt
tapped; knocked
enthralled; completely
caught up in
wrapped covered with paper
or cloth
reek
wreak
rest
wrest
rye
wry
t o stink or smell
strongly
to bring about; to
cause
t o take it easy or
relax
to gain with difficulty; to seize
a cereal grain or
grass
having a dry wit;
ironic
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19
Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Homophones
S
sachet
sashay
scull
skull
a small pouch of
scented powder or
potpourri
to sway or glide
a small racing boat
the bony framework
of the head
sear
seer
to burn or scorch
a fortune teller
serf
a peasant who
worked the land in
feudal Europe
waves
surf
staid
stayed
step
steppe
stolen
stollen
surge
a type of cloth usually
made from wool
to rush forward
shier
shire
more shy or bashful
a district
sign
sine
a poster or mark
a geometric function
to go down
sink
sync
shortened form of
or synch synchronization; harmony; causing
things to happen at
the same time
20
o ne raised platform
in a set of stairs
a very large plain
without trees
ast participle of
p
steal ; taken without
permission
a sweet fruitbread
that originated in
Germany
T
tacked
serge
settled; dull
ast tense of stay ;
p
remained
tact
past tense of tack;
fastened with a small
nail
skill and consideration
in dealing with others
tic
tick
a twitch or sudden
contraction of the
muscles
a clicking sound
timber
timbre
wood; lumber
a quality of a sound
tort
torte
a wrongful act
a rich cake
tracked
past tense of track;
followed
an expanse of land
tract
troop
a group of people
with a similar purpose
troupe
a company of actors
V
vial
taper
tapir
a tall, slender candle
a large hoofed animal
team
a group working
together
to pour or be full of
teem
tear
tier
a droplet of water
from the eye
a row or level
vile
a small bottle used
for medicine
disgusting; evil
W
waive
wave
t o give up or put aside
a ripple or upward
thrust of water
wet
whet
not dry
to sharpen
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources
Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Homographs
Homographs
Homographs are words that are spelled alike, but have different
word origins and different meanings. You see them listed as
separate entries in the dictionary. (Starred words are also
pronounced differently.)
Easy
A
C
arm
t o give someone a
weapon
a body part
arm
B
ball
ball
a round object
a formal party
band
band
bank
bank
bark
bark
bat
bat
bill
bill
box
box
a group of musicians
a strip often used to
hold things together
a place to keep money
a slope of land leading
down to water
a loud sound made
by a dog
the rough outer covering of a tree
a wooden stick
a flying mammal that
comes out at night
a bird’s beak
a check or list showing how much
money is owed
a container
to fight with the fists
F
calf
calf
a young cow
the back of a person’s
leg between the knee
and ankle
can
can
a container
is able to
close*
close*
nearby
to shut
date
date
a fruit
a day, month, and year
dear
s omeone loved or
valued
a salutation in a letter
does*
does*
performs; acts
more than one doe,
or female deer
dove*
dove*
a type of bird
past tense of dive;
went under water
duck
duck
a swimming bird
to get down quickly
in order to avoid being
hit or seen
pleasing; just
a market; a gathering
to celebrate an event
L
lie
lie
live*
live*
D
dear
fair
fair
t o recline or stretch
out
to tell a falsehood
not dead
to pass through life;
to be alive
M
mine
mine
s omething belonging
to me
an excavation made
in the earth for the
purpose of extracting
minerals
P
pen
pen
pit
pit
a n enclosed area
where an animal is
confined
a writing instrument
a hole in the ground
the stone-like object
in a fruit
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21
Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Homographs
pound
pound
pound
a unit of weight
a place where animals are kept
to beat
row
row
a series of objects
placed next to each
other
to use paddles to
move a boat
seal
seal
a marine mammal
to close
shed
a small building for
storage
to lose or get rid of
shed
R
S
ring
ring
a circular band
to sound a bell
rose
rose
the past tense of rise
a flower
saw
saw
a tool with a jagged
edge
past tense of see ;
perceived
W
well
well
healthy
a hole from which
water is drawn
bound
to spring upward or
jump
past tense of bind ;
tied up
limit or boundary
(often plural)
headed in a certain
direction
Target
bay
A
affect*
affect*
to have an effect on
to take on airs or
pretend to be something
B
bail
oney paid for the
m
temporary release of
a prisoner from jail
to remove water from
a boat
bail
base
base
bottom; stand
vile; corrupt; contemptible
bass*
bass*
a fish
a low-pitched sound
batter
s omeone who hits a ball
a partially liquid
mixture used to bake
cakes
batter
22
bay
bay
bay
an area of the sea
partly enclosed by
land
a small evergreen tree
to howl
a reddish-brown horse
bear
bear
a large furry animal
to endure
blow
t o breathe hard on
something
sudden, unexpected
bad luck
blow
bluff
bluff
to pretend
a cliff
boil
t o heat in order to
change from liquid to gas
a painful sore filled
with pus
boil
bore
bore
to pierce
to make someone
uninterested; to tire
mentally
bound
bound
bound
brush
brush
to clean or groom
a thick growth of
bushes
C
cape
cape
a n outer garment
without sleeves
a spit of land projecting into the water
case
a box; a container
caseaset of circumstances
(the case against
someone)
chaff
chaff
art of grains of
p
wheat
to poke fun at
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources
Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Homographs
chap
chap
a boy or man
to redden, harden,
split, and become
sore
might
might
force
maybe
past tense of feel;
touched
a matted fabric
mint
mint
a flavorful plant
a place where coins
are made
fine
fine
in good condition
money paid as a penalty
mold
mold
to shape
fungus
firm
solid; compact
firm
a group of people
selling goods and
services
F
felt
felt
chest
chest
upper body; torso
a container; a box
for storage
commune* a place where people
live supporting
each other
commune* to talk together
content*
content*
converse*
converse*
corn
happy; satisfied
e verything contained in something
opposite; contrary
to have a conversation with
a vegetable with
kernels on long ears
a hardening of the
skin on the toe
corn
court
court
to date; to woo
a yard
cue
cue
a signal or prompt
a long rod for
playing pool
curry
curry
a highly spiced dish
to groom a horse
G
game
game
something you play
wild animals
grate
grate
to shred
a framework of
metal bars covering an
opening
J
jam
jam
a fruit spread
to push things together
junk
junk
worthless things
a flat-bottomed sailing boat
K
D
desert*
desert*
down
down
a large expanse of
arid land
to abandon
opposite of up
the soft feathers of
a young bird
kind
kind
warm; generous
type; category
M
match
match
a contest
a stick with a tip you
can light
P
pad
pad
a small, thin cushion
to move on foot
page
o ne side of a piece of
paper
to summon someone
page
palm
palm
t he inner side of the
hand
a tree, or a leaf from
a palm tree
pants
pants
breathes heavily
trousers
peer
peer
to look closely
an equal
perch
perch
a freshwater fish
a rod or stick on
which a bird sits
pitch
pitch
a dark, sticky substance like tar
to throw
plane
plane
an aircraft
a carpenter’s tool
pool
pool
a place for swimming
a form of billiards
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23
Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Homographs
pore
pore
a tiny opening
to read carefully
press
t o bear down or
squeeze
to force into military
service
press
spell
tire
squash
squash
a gourd
a game similar to
handball but played
with a racket
toastbread that has been
heated and browned
toast
to say words to
honor someone as
you clink glasses and drink
stole
stole
a shawl
past tense of steal ;
took something that
didn’t belong to you
spell
spell
R
rare
rare
unusual
c ooked so that the
inside is still red (a rare steak)
rash
rash
hasty
a red, itchy skin condition
root
t he part of a plant that
grows underground
to dig or rummage
through something
to cheer on
root
root
S
a place for learning
a group of fish
sound
oise; something you
n
hear
solid; well thought
out; in good condition
a wide ocean inlet
to probe or measure
the depth of water
sound
sound
sound
24
T
tarry*
tarry*
temple
toll
toll
the rubber part of a
car wheel
to exhaust or wear
out
a charge for using a
bridge or road
to ring a bell
V
covered with tar
to delay; to stay somewhere temporarily
tear*a drop of fluid from
the eye
tear*
to pull apart
temple
school
school
tire
to name the letters of
a word
a short period
words spoken to
make magic
e ach side of the head
along the forehead
a place of worship
tense
tense
worried; not relaxed
how a verb expresses
time
till
till
a cashbox
to prepare land for
crops
vault
vault
a place where valuables are kept
to leap or jump
W
wind*
wind*
moving air; a breeze
t o wrap around
something
wound*
wound*
an injury
past tense of wind
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources
Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Homographs
Challenge
buffet*
A
adder
adder
a person who adds
a water snake
affected m
ade to happen;
brought about
affected pretentious
angle
angle
arch
arch
t he space formed at
the point where two
lines meet
to scheme to get
something
a curved structure
haughty
B
bisque
bisque
a creamy soup
a pale, yellowish color
bit
bit
a little piece
a unit of information
on a computer
past tense of bite
bit
broach
broach
buff
to bring up a topic
to move a boat broadside to the wind or
waves
a person with deep
knowledge
to shine or polish
buff
buffer
buffer
someone or something that polishes
a barrier that lessens
the shock or affect of
something
buffet*
bumble
bumble
burden
burden
a meal of many different dishes laid
out on a large table
from which people
serve themselves
to strike repeatedly; to
batter
t o make a buzzing
noise like a bee
to act clumsily or
ineptly
s omething carried or
borne
a recurring idea or
theme
burn
burn
to be on fire
a small stream
bustle
a pad used to expand
the back of a skirt
to move about busily
bustle
C
caper
caper
capital
capital
t he edible bud from a
pungent plant
to frolic or move playfully
t he upper part of a
column
money; funds
char
char
chop
chop
a fish similar to a trout
to burn or scorch
t o cut into small
pieces
to change directions
suddenly
chord
chord
a line segment
a combination of
three or more notes
chow
chow
food
a breed of dog
chum
chum
a pal
bait
cobbler
a person who makes
shoes or boots
a type of fruit pie
cobbler
compound a mixture of two or
more things
compound an enclosed area
with a group of
buildings in it
console* a cabinet
console* to comfort
D
deal
card
card
a piece of stiff paper
to comb with a wiretoothed brush
deal
carp
carp
a fish
to quibble or find fault
dice
dice
a business transaction
wood from a fir or pine tree
game cubes
t o chop into small
pieces
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25
Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Homographs
die
die
to stop living
a game cube (pl. dice)
diet
food a person regularly eats
a legislative body
diet
lay
lay
lay
lay
E
eggsomething laid by a
bird or fish
egg
to urge someone to
do something
mail
March
march
F
fluke
fluke
t he past tense of lie ;
reclined
to put in a particular
position
not a member of the
clergy
a narrative poem
M
mail
entrance* a door or way in
entrance* to put in a trance or
under a spell
pawn
L
letters, cards, packages
armor with interlocking rings
the third month of
the year
to walk in line with
regular movements
a fish
something unexpected
maroon
maroon
a purplish-red color
to leave someone
behind
mist; smoke
to harass someone
mean
mean
mean
unkind; cruel
average
to signify
meet
meet
suitable; fitting
to encounter someone
H
haze
haze
I
invalid*
invalid*
iris
iris
not valid or legitimate
a person made weak
by illness
a flower
t he colored part of the eye
K
kill
kill
26
pawn
pink
pink
a pastel shade of red
and white
to cut with shears; to stab
plump
plump
chubby
to drop down heavily
pod
a casing or housing;
a shell
a group of marine
mammals
pod
primer*
primer*
an undercoat of paint
an elementary
textbook teaching
reading
Q
quarry
quarry
quash
quash
minute*
minute*
a person being used
for another’s purposes
to hock or borrow
money against
60 seconds
very tiny
a n animal that is
hunted; prey
a pit where stone
is dug out of the
ground
t o set aside a law or
ruling
to put down forcibly;
to suppress
R
mule
mule
a pack animal
a slipper or backless
shoe
recount* a second counting or tallying
recount* to tell or relate
P
t o cause something
or someone to die
a stream
patter
patter
rapid speech; chatter
to make light tapping
sounds
recover
recover
to get back
to cover again
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources
Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Homographs
refrain
refrain
refuse*
refuse*
rent
t he part of a song or
poem you repeat
to hold back or not do
don’t accept; to decline
garbage
rent
oney paid to owner
m
for housing
a tear
resort*
resort*
resort*
a vacation place
an option or chance
to sort again
S
shoal
shoal
shallow water
a large school of fish
shock
shock
a thick mass (a
shock of hair)
to surprise or disturb
greatly
T
tart
tart
sharp and sour
a type of pie
t o perceive through
the eyes
an area controlled by
a bishop
tender
tender
sensitive to touch
to make an offer in
writing
a small boat
t hin, fine, transparent
to veer or swerve off
course
troll
troll
shy
shy
bashful
to throw or fling
W
spit
a narrow body of
land projecting into a
body of water
to expel saliva
see
see
sheer
sheer
spit
tender
wax
wax
a make-believe creature
to drag a line through
the water
a slightly greasy
substance used for
polishing
to increase in size
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27
Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Words Pronounced Differently as Different Parts of Speech
Words Pronounced Differently
as Different Parts of Speech
Sometimes one word is pronounced differently when it is used
as different parts of speech. This occurs most frequently
with words that can be used as nouns or verbs. Often, the
stress changes from one syllable to another. When this occurs,
the vowel sound also changes. Sometimes, though, only the
consonant sound is different. (See “Easy” words below.)
Easy
H
U
house (n.) (hous) a building you live in
house (v.) (houz)to provide a place for
something to be stored or for a person to live
use (n.) (yoos)
purpose; function
use (v.) (yooz)to employ something or put
it in action
Target
A
a buse´ (n.)
a buse´ (v.)
mistreatment
to treat badly
al´ ter nate (adj.)
al´ ter nate (n.)
every other one
a stand-in; someone who is
available to take someone
else’s place
to happen in turns
al ter nate´ (v.)
C
behavior
to lead; to behave
con´ flict (n.)
con flict´ (v.)
a struggle or fight
to be opposed to or contradict
con´ test (n.)
con test´ (v.)
a competition
to disapprove of or challenge
something
con´ tract (n.)
con tract´ (v.)
an agreement
to form an agreement
com´ bat (n.)
com bat´ (v.)
a battle
to fight
con´ trast (n.)
con trast´ (v.)
difference
to show the difference
com´ pound (adj.)
com´ pound (n.)
made of two or more parts
a mixture of two or more
things
to make something by combining two or more things
con´ vert (n.)
somebody who has changed
from one form of belief or
religion to another
to transform or change something from one form to another
com pound´ (v.)
28
con´ duct (n.)
con duct´ (v.)
con vert´ (v.)
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Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Words Pronounced Differently as Different Parts of Speech
con´ vict (n.)
con vict´ (v.)
a person in prison for a crime
to find guilty of a crime
M
mo´ bile (adj.)
mo bile´ (n.)
D
de´ light (n.)
de light´ (v.)
joy; pleasure
to give pleasure to
able to move easily
a sculpture with parts that
move that hangs from the
ceiling
O
de´ mand (n.)
de mand´ (v.)
a strong request
to request boldly and forcefully
di´ gest (n.)
a magazine made up mostly
of shortened forms or summaries of articles
to take in and process food or
ideas
di gest´ (v.)
ob´ ject (n.)
ob ject´ (v.)
P
per´ mit (n.)
per mit´ (v.)
E
ex´ cuse´ (n.)
reason not to do something
ex´ cuse´ (v.)to give a reason not to do
something
ex´ port (n.)something sent outside of the
country for sale
ex port´ (v.)
to send something to another
country for sale
G
grad´ u ate (n.)
grad u ate´ (v.)
s omeone who completes a
course of study at a school
to complete a course of study
at a school
I
im´ port (n.)
im port´ (v.)
in´ sult (n.)
in sult´ (v.)
s omething brought into the
country
to bring into the country
a disrespectful remark
to make a disrespectful remark
s omething that can be seen
and touched
to oppose something
o fficial permission or a license to do something
to allow something or give
permission for it
pres´ ent (n.)
pre sent´ (v.)
a gift you give to someone
to give something to someone
pro´ duce (n.)
pro duce´ (v.)
fruits and vegetables
to make or create something
pro´ ject (n.)a task that takes time and
effort to complete
pro ject´ (v.)
to send forward
R
rec´ ord (n.)
re cord´ (v.)
an official document
to write down for official use
re´ bel (n.)
re bel´ (v.)
someone who defies authority
to defy authority or act in protest
re´ ject (n.)
s omething found unsuitable
or not up to the standard
to turn down
re ject´ (v.)
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29
Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Words Pronounced Differently as Different Parts of Speech
re´ lay (n.)
sur´ vey (n.)
re lay´ (v.)
t he passing of one thing to
another; a type of race
to send something or pass it on
sur vey´ (v.)
re´ cess (n.)
re cess´ (v.)
a temporary break
to halt for a short period
sus´ pect (n.)
S
sus pect´ (v.)
se´ pa rate (adj.)
se pa rate´ (v.)
distinct
to divide
sub´ ject (n.)
a person under someone’s
rule or command
to place under or below
someone’s rule or command;
to inflict
sub ject´ (v.)
something you use to collect
people’s opinions
to look at carefully or gather
people’s opinions
s omebody who is thought to
be guilty of doing something
illegal
to think that someone is guilty
T
trans´ port (n.)
trans port´ (v.)
a vehicle used for carrying
people or things from place
to place
to move to another place
Challenge
at´ tri bute (n.)
at tri´ bute (v.)
A
ab´ sent (adj.)
ab sent´ (v.)
not present
to keep away
ab stract´ (adj.)
ab´ stract (n.)
ab stract´ (v.)
not concrete
a brief statement summarizing
the main ideas
to take away or remove
af´ fect (n.)
af fect´ (v.)
a feeling, emotion, or tendency
to have an effect on
ad´ vo cate (n.)
ad vo cate´ (v.)
a supporter
to speak out in support
al´ ly (n.)
al ly´ (v.)
friend
join with
ar tic´ u late (adj.)
ar tic u late´ (v.)
well spoken
to voice or express yourself
clearly
a quality or characteristic
to give credit to or assign a
characteristic to
C
30
com´ bine (n.)
com bine´ (v.)
a machine for harvesting and
threshing grain
to join or mix
D
de´ fect (n.)
de fect´ (v.)
a fault or flaw
t o leave your country because you find fault with its government
de´ lib e rate (adj.) c arefully thought through and considered
de lib e rate´ (v.)
to consider carefully; to weigh
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources
Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Words Pronounced Differently as Different Parts of Speech
de´ so late (adj.)
de so late´ (v.)
f orlorn; extremely sad and
hopeless
to lay waste to; to bring disaster to
P
per´ fect (adj.)
per fect´ (v.)
du´ pli cate (n.)
du pli cate´ (v.)
a copy
to make a copy
c omplete in every way; flawless
to make something as good
as possible
R
E
re´ coil (n.)
es´ cort (n.)
es cort´ (v.)
a person who accompanies or
guides someone else
to accompany or guide
re coil´ (v.)
t he spring or kickback from a
gun that is fired
to draw back or retreat
T
L
trans´ plant (n.)
lam´ i nate (n.)
lam in nate´ (v.)
a product used as an outer
covering
to cover with a thin sheet of
something
trans plant´ (v.)
a n organ or other body part
taken from one body and
given to another
to move from one place to
another
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31
Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Commonly Confused Words
Commonly Confused Words
Some pairs of words are easy to confuse. In many pairs,
the words sound a lot alike, although not exactly alike. In
others, the meanings of the two words are close but not
the same.
Easy
A
D
angel
angle
a heavenly being
the space formed
between sides of a
triangle or other geometric shape
among
used to connect
three or more things
between used to connect two
things
B
to take or get something from someone
on a temporary basis
to give something to someone on a temporary basis
C
can
may
diner
dinner
is able to
has permission to
a n expanse of arid
land
a sweet treat
an informal restaurant
or a person eating
the main meal of the day
less
a small number of
things that can be
counted (few apples)
a smaller part of a whole or mass (less pie)
not tight
to misplace or not be
able to find
P
pedal
s omething on a car
or bike you operate
with your foot
part of a flower
Q
quiet
quite
without noise
to a considerable
extent
T
G
well
loose
lose
petal
F
good
costume a disguise or special
clothes
custom a tradition
32
dessert
few
borrow
lend
desert
L
a djective meaning
satisfactory or fine
adverb meaning
satisfactorily, comfortably, or
adjective meaning
healthy
than
then
trail
trial
used after a comparative adjective or adverb
(bigger than)
at that time; therefore
to track or follow
a hearing in the court
of law
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Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Commonly Confused Words
Target
A
accent
ascent
assent
t he individual way
you pronounce a word
a climb or rise
to agree to something
anxious
eager
worried; uneasy
excited; enthusiastic
award
something given as a result of a decision by judges
(an award for perfect attendance)
something given in
return for a service
(a reward for finding a
lost cat)
reward
accept
except
to take or agree to
not including
adapt
t o modify or change
for a particular circumstance
to legally take into
one’s family
adopt
advice
advise
affect
effect
alley
c ounsel; suggestions for what to do
to counsel someone
or suggest what to do
t o make something
happen
the result
ally
a passage between
buildings
a friend
all ready
already
everyone is ready
by this time
allot
a lot
t o give or assign; to
parcel out
plenty
all together everyone is together
altogether totally
B
bath
bathe
t he act of soaking in
a bathtub
to wash or cleanse
yourself
bazaar
bizarre
an outdoor market
strange
beside
besides
next to
in addition
breadth
breath
epth; expanse; span
d
the air you inhale
and exhale
to inhale and exhale air
breathe
C
click
clique
cloth
clothe
fabric
to dress or put garments on
command
commend
to lead or direct
to praise
complement t o add to or complete
compliment praise or flattery
conscience
conscious
s ense of what is
right and wrong
aware
convinceto lead someone
to believe something
persuade
to get someone to
do something
D
decent
descent
dissent
calendar a chart that shows
the month and days
of the year
colander a strainer
detract
carton
cartoon
device
a box
a drawing or animated
film
a short, sharp
sound
a small group of
close friends
distract
devise
s howing acceptable behavior;
moral and upright
decline
disagreement
to make less by taking away from
to draw someone’s
attention from
a tool, gadget, or
machine
to create or develop
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33
Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Commonly Confused Words
E
lend
G
emigrant
immigrant
emigrate
immigrate
envelop
envelope
every day
everyday
a person who
leaves his or her
native country
a person who
settles in a new
country
to leave your native country
(used with “from”)
to settle in a new
country (used with
“to”)
to surround
a packet used to
mail letters
each day
ordinary
F
gap
gape
glance to take a quick look
glaze
to put a shiny finish on
something
H
hanged e xecuted someone by
hanging that person by the neck
hung
put up; attached to a
wall
human a person
humane caring; kind
further
formally
formerly
ore distant in
m
physical space
than something
else (farther down
the road)
more distant in degree or time (further along in her career)
officially; properly
in the past; before
this; previously
loan
lightening making lighter
lightning flashes of light during a thunderstorm
M
medal
metal
mettle
a badge
a hard substance
courage
moral
a lesson to be
drawn, especially
from a fable
general way someone is feeling; confidence; spirits
morale
I
imply
infer
farther
a space between
things
to stare at
to suggest or mean
t o make a judgment or
draw a conclusion
O
oral
verbal
L
by mouth
s poken; having to
do with words
later
latter
afterward; in a while
concluding; second
lay
lie
t o place something or
put something down
to recline
pastor
pasture
a minister
a place where animals
graze
leave
let
to depart
to allow or permit
precede
t o come before in
time
to carry on or continue
P
proceed
34
to give something
to someone on a
temporary basis
something you give
to someone on a
temporary basis
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Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Commonly Confused Words
Challenge
alternately
A
access
assess
entrance
to evaluate or
judge
alternatively
amoral
adoptive
adopted
escribing a d
parent who adopts
a child (adoptive
parent)
legally taken into
another family (adopted child)
immoral
appraise
apprise
adverse
averse
affective
effective
bad; unfavorable
reluctant; against
something
emotional; moving
causing the desired result
alleviate
t o ease, lessen, or
make more bearable
ameliorate to improve
allude
elude
to refer to indirectly
to escape or avoid
allusion
a n indirect reference to something
a persistent false
belief; a mental
disorder
a dream or fantasy;
a misleading image
delusion
illusion
alternate
e very other one in a series
alternative a choice between
two or more options
option
something that
may be chosen
assure
ensure
insure
one after the other
on the other hand
ithout morals;
w
not knowing
right from
wrong
wicked; corrupt
t o assess or evaluate
to inform or explain
t o promise or guarantee
to see to it that
something happens or
doesn’t happen
to guarantee
protection or
safety
confidant
confident
connotation
denotation
connote
denote
continual
continuous
currently
presently
s omeone you
confide in
full of confidence; sure of
your ability
a ssociations
brought to mind;
suggested
meaning
stated meaning
t o suggest a
meaning
to state a meaning
o ccurring again
and again
nonstop
a t this time; now
in a short while;
soon
D
censor
censure
t o remove
offensive or
problematic material
an official reprimand or
severe criticism
comprehensible understandable
comprehensive complete; cover-
ing everything
definite
definitive
certain; exact
authoritative;
final
defuse
t o remove a fuse
from a bomb or
make a situation
less tense
spread out
diffuse
dilemma
concurrent
consecutive
happening at
the same time
one after the
other
a situation involving a choice
between two
equally unfavorable options
predicament any difficult and unpleasant
situation
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35
Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Commonly Confused Words
disinterested impartial; fair
uninterested not interested;
bored
E
flaunt
flout
H
economic
economical
financial
thrifty; saving
money
egoist
s omeone who
is self-centered
and thinks
mainly of himself
or herself
someone who is
arrogant, very
conceited, and
selfish
egotist
elicit
illicit
t o draw or bring
out
unlawful; dishonest
eminent
ell-known; w
famous; important
imminent
c oming up; about
to happen
epigram
a short, witty
poem or saying
epigraph
a quotation used
to set the theme
for a literary work
epitaph
a n inscription on
a tombstone
historic
historical
flammableable or likely to
catch fire easily
inflammable not able or likely
to catch fire easily
nonflammable not able to catch
fire
s ignificant; remarkable; having an effect
on history
relating to the
past
J
jurist
juror
luxuriant
luxurious
a law expert or
judge
a person who
serves on a jury
abundant
fond of or
marked by luxury
N
nauseous
nauseated
s ickening; causing nausea
feeling sick and
ready to vomit
P
perfect
prefect
without flaws
a student with
authority over
other students
persecute
arass; treat
h
cruelly
to bring a case
against a defendant in a trial
prosecute
persecution
prosecution
cruel treatment
ringing a case
b
against a defendant in a trial
personal
personnel
private
the people who
work for a company or
organization
prescribe
t o recommend
a treatment or
course of action
to forbid or ban
proscribe
L
F
36
to show off
t o show contempt
or disobey
R
respectfully
in a way that
shows respect
respectively in that order
S
statue
stature
statute
a sculpture
height or standing
a law or governing
rule
T
tortuous
torturous
winding; twisted
c ausing great
pain and anguish
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Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Irregular Verbs
Irregular Verbs
Most English verbs form their past-tense and pastparticiple forms by adding -ed to the base form or
infinitive. Some verbs, though, have irregular past-tense
and/or past-participle forms.
Easy
Base Form
Past Tense
Past Participle
Base Form
Past Tense
Past Participle
be
beat
become
begin
bend
bite
blow
break
bring
build
burn
buy
catch
come
cut
dig
do
drink
drive
eat
fall
feed
feel
fight
find
fly
get
give
was/were
beat
became
began
bent
bit
blew
broke
brought
built
burned or burnt
bought
caught
came
cut
dug
did
drank
drove
ate
fell
fed
felt
fought
found
flew
got
gave
been
beaten or beat
become
begun
bent
bitten
blown
broken
brought
built
burned or burnt
bought
caught
come
cut
dug
done
drunk
driven
eaten
fallen
fed
felt
fought
found
flown
gotten
given
go
grow
have/has
hear
hit
hold
hurt
keep
know
leave
let
lose
make
meet
put
read
ride
ring
run
say
see
sell
send
show
went
grew
had
heard
hit
held
hurt
kept
knew
left
let
lost
made
met
put
read
rode
rang
ran
said
saw
sold
sent
showed
shut
sing
sink
shut
sang
sank
gone
grown
had
heard
hit
held
hurt
kept
known
left
let
lost
made
met
put
read
ridden
rung
run
said
seen
sold
sent
showed or
shown
shut
sung
sunk
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37
Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Irregular Verbs
Base Form
Past Tense
Past Participle
Base Form
Past Tense
Past Participle
sit
stand
take
teach
tell
sat
stood
took
taught
told
sat
stood
taken
taught
told
think
throw
wear
win
write
thought
threw
wore
won
wrote
thought
thrown
worn
won
written
Base Form
Past Tense
Past Participle
Base Form
Past Tense
Past Participle
arise
awake
awaken
bear
bet
bid
bind
bleed
burst
cast
choose
cling
cost
creep
deal
dream
arose
awoke
awakened
bore
bet
bid or bade
bound
bled
burst
cast
chose
clung
cost
crept
dealt
dreamed or
dreamt
fitted or fit
fled
flung
forbade or
forbad
forecast
forgot
froze
ground
hanged
hung
arisen
awoken
awakened
born or borne
bet
bidden
bound
bled
burst
cast
chosen
clung
cost
crept
dealt
dreamed or
dreamt
fitted or fit
fled
flung
forbidden
hide
kneel
knit
lay
lead
lend
lie (recline)
mean
mistake
misunderstand
overhear
pay
plead
prove
hid
knelt or kneeled
knit or knitted
laid
led
lent
lay
meant
mistook
misunderstood
overheard
paid
pleaded or pled
proved
quit
redo
rid
rise
seek
shake
shed
shine
quit or quitted
redid
rid
rose
sought
shook
shed
shone or shined
showed
shot
shrank or
shrunk
hidden
knelt or kneeled
knit or knitted
laid
led
lent
lain
meant
mistaken
misunderstood
overheard
paid
pleaded or pled
proved or
proven
quit
redone
rid
risen
sought
shaken
shed
shone or
shined
shown
shot
shrunk or
shrunken
Target
fit
flee
fling
forbid
forecast
forget
freeze
grind
hang (person)
hang (thing)
38
forecast
forgotten
frozen
ground
hanged
hung
show
shoot
shrink
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Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Irregular Verbs
Base Form
Past Tense
Past Participle
Base Form
Past Tense
Past Participle
slay
sleep
slide
slit
speak
speed
slew
slept
slid
slit
spoke
sped or speeded
spent
split
spread
sprang or
sprung
stole
stuck
stank or
stunk
stung
slain
slept
slid
slit
spoken
sped or speeded
spent
split
spread
sprang or
sprung
stolen
stuck
stank or
stunk
stung
strike
struck
string
swear
sweep
swell
strung
swore
swept
swelled
swim
swing
tear
upset
wake
weave
weep
wind
wring
swam
swung
tore
upset
woke or
waked
wove
wept
wound
wrung
struck or
stricken
strung
sworn
swept
swollen or
swelled
swum
swung
torn
upset
woken or
waked
woven
wept
wound
wrung
Base Form
Past Tense
Past Participle
Base Form
Past Tense
Past Participle
backslide
breed
broadcast
backslid
bred
broadcast or
broadcasted
foresaw
foretold
forgave
inputted or input
miscast
mislaid
misread
outbid
outgrew
overcame
backslid
bred
broadcast or
broadcasted
foreseen
foretold
forgiven
inputted or input
miscast
mislaid
misread
outbid
outgrown
overcome
overdo
oversee
overtake
partake
proofread
recast
shear
typecast
undercut
undergo
uphold
withdraw
withhold
overdid
oversaw
overtook
partook
proofread
recast
sheared
typecast
undercut
underwent
upheld
withdrew
withheld
overdone
overseen
overtaken
partaken
proofread
recast
sheared or shorn
typecast
undercut
undergone
upheld
withdrawn
withheld
spend
split
spread
spring
steal
stick
stink
sting
Challenge
foresee
foretell
forgive
input
miscast
mislay
misread
outbid
outgrow
overcome
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39
Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Nouns With Irregular Plurals
Nouns With Irregular Plurals
Most English nouns form their plural by adding -s or -es to
the singular form. Some nouns, though, have an irregular
plural form. This is especially true of nouns borrowed from
other languages.
Easy
Singular
Plural
Singular
Plural
child
deer
foot
goose
half
man
children
deer
feet
geese
halves
men
mouse
sheep
tooth
wife
wolf
woman
mice
sheep
teeth
wives
wolves
women
Singular
Plural
Singular
Plural
antenna
antennae
(or antennas)
axes
bases
bison
bacteria
cacti
(or cactuses)
corps
crises
curricula
data
diagnoses
dice
ellipses
hippopotami (or
hippopotamuses)
hooves
knives
lives
loaf
louse
medium
memorandum
moose
oasis
octopus
loaves
lice
media
memoranda
moose
oases
octopi
(or octopuses)
offspring
oxen
people
radii
selves
series
shelves
species
swine
thieves
Target
axis
basis
bison
bacterium
cactus
corps
crisis
curriculum
datum
diagnosis
die
ellipsis
hippopotamus
hoofs
knife
life
40
offspring
ox
person
radius
self
series
shelf
species
swine
thief
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Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Nouns With Irregular Plurals
Challenge
Singular
Plural
Singular
Plural
alga
alumna (female)
alumnus (male)
amoeba
analysis
appendix
algae
alumnae
alumni (male)
amoebae
analyses
appendices
(or appendixes)
chateaux
criteria
foci (or focuses)
formulae
(or formulas)
fungi
(or funguses)
hypothesis
libretto
index
matrix
nebula
nucleus
phenomenon
schema
stimulus
synopsis
synthesis
thesis
hypotheses
libretti
indices (or indexes)
matrices
nebulae
nuclei (or nucleuses)
phenomena
schemata
stimuli
synopses
syntheses
theses
chateau
criterion
focus
formula
fungus
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Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Nouns That Are Always Plural
Nouns That Are Always Plural
Some nouns are always plural. These include words for
things that always come in pairs, such as trousers and
pliers, and aggregate nouns, such as communications,
which usually end in -s. These words take a plural verb and/
or pronoun.
Easy
clothes
jeans
mittens
pants
shorts
shoes
accommodations
barracks
binoculars
crossroads
earmuffs
eyeglasses
gallows
gloves
goggles
headquarters
living quarters
leggings
news
overalls
pajamas
pliers
police
scissors
shears
sleeping quarters
sneakers
spectacles
sunglasses
tights
troops
trousers
tweezers
forceps
goods
nail clippers
pinking shears
media
remains
(library) stacks
tongs
Target
Challenge
archives
arms
communications
contents
dregs
42
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Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Collective Nouns
Collective Nouns
Collective nouns are words that name of group of people,
animals, or things. When the noun refers to the group as a
unit, it takes a singular verb and pronoun. When it refers to
the individual members or parts of the group, it takes a plural
verb and pronoun.
Collective nouns for groups of animals are also called “terms
of venery.” Most of them come from hunting. Some use
creative or imaginative terms to describe the animals. Some
can be used for people, too, such as a “congregation of birds”
or a “congregation of people.”
Easy
band
class
family
flock
group
herd
pack
school (of fish)
team
army
assembly
audience
baggage
batch
board
brood (of young animals or children)
bundle
cabinet
cache
cast
choir
chorus
clan
cluster
colony
committee
company
congress
corporation
corps
council
crew
fleet
gaggle (of geese)
galaxy
gang
generation
horde
jury
litter
luggage
mob
navy
nest (of mice)
party
pride (of lions)
pod (of marine animals)
set
society
squadron
stable (of horses)
streak (of tigers)
swarm (of insects)
tribe
troop
troupe
Target
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43
Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Collective Nouns
Challenge
array
battery
bevy (of larks or quail)
brace (of wildfowl)
cete (of badgers)
clowder (of cats)
congregation
convocation (of eagles)
covey (of game birds)
drift (of hogs)
drove (of cattle or geese)
44
exultation (of larks)
faculty
fraternity
gam (of whales)
host (of angels)
kindle (of kittens)
majority
minority
murder (of crows)
muster (of peacocks)
passel (of possums)
plague (of locusts)
public
sorority
shoal (of fish)
shrewdness (of apes)
skein (of wildfowl)
skult (of vermin)
span (of oxen)
sloth (of bears)
warren (of rabbits)
watch (of nightingales)
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Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Words With Silent Letters
Words With Silent Letters
Many words in English have one or more silent letters. The
words below are grouped by the silent letter or letters most
likely to cause problems. (This list does not include words
that follow the pattern consonant-vowel-consonant-silent e.
See p. 51).
Easy
Silent A
coat
lead
leaf
leak
lean
leap
leave
meadow
mean
meat
oak
oar
oath
soak
soap
soar
Silent B
comb
crumb
doubt
dumb
limb
tomb
Silent C
duck
fleck
jack
jacket
kick
lick
lock
locket
pack
package
pocket
rack
rock
rocket
sack
sick
sock
speck
stack
tack
ticket
thick
track
trick
Silent D
badge
budge
dodge
handsome
hedge
lodge
nudge
Wednesday
Silent E
clothe
clothes
doe
eel
eerie
ore
rinse
waste
Silent G
gnarled
gnash
gnat
gnaw
gnome
gnu
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45
Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Words With Silent Letters
Silent GH
fight
high
light
might
right
sigh
sight
slight
tight
Silent H
cartwheel
Christmas
ghost
ghostly
pinwheel
whale
what
wheat
wheel
when
where
which
while
whip
whirl
whisker
whisper
whistle
white
why
46
Silent I
niece
Silent K
knack
knave
knead
knee
kneel
knife
knight
knit
knob
knock
knot
know
Silent L
half
Silent O
people
Silent R
purr
Silent T
batch
castle
catch
catcher
hatch
hitch
hitchhike
hopscotch
itch
kitchen
latch
listen
scratch
snatch
watch
Silent U
aunt
building
guard
guess
guest
guide
laugh
Silent W
sword
two
who
whole
wrap
wrist
write
writing
wrong
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Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Words With Silent Letters
Target
Silent A
coarse
coax
cocoa
diamond
diaper
leaflet
league
lease
leash
leather
restaurant
Silent B
debt
Silent C
crescent
descend
descendant
discipline
jackal
jackpot
kickoff
muscle
neckerchief
necklace
padlock
racket
scene
scent
slapstick
socket
speckled
sprocket
tackle
thicket
trickle
Silent D
adjective
adjust
budget
cartridge
dislodge
dredge
edge
edgewise
fridge
gadget
grudge
hedge
porridge
Silent E
beverage
cleanse
coleslaw
collapse
commence
commerce
counterfeit
forfeit
gorgeous
horde
lacrosse
lance
lapse
lathe
legume
neutral
omelette
pageant
pasteurize
pigeon
questionnaire
rhyme
sergeant
soothe
submerge
sunbathe
surely
surge
suspense
swerve
tease
teethe
tense
thyme
value
vengeance
waste
writhe
Silent G
campaign
design
feign
foreign
lasagna
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Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Words With Silent Letters
Silent GH
daughter
height
slaughter
though
through
upright
uptight
Silent H
dinghy
bushwhack
chord
choral
chorus
chronic
elsewhere
Fahrenheit
ghastly
ghetto
harpsichord
heir
heiress
heirloom
overwhelm
rhombus
rhubarb
rhyme
rhythm
shepherd
silhouette
spaghetti
vehicle
whack
wharf
wheelchair
wheeze
48
whether
whim
whimper
whine
whirlpool
whirlwind
whisk
whiz
Silent I
brilliant
business
peculiar
Silent K
doorknob
knapsack
knickers
knickknack
knocker
knoll
knotty
know-how
knowledge
knowledgeable
knuckle
well-known
Silent L
behalf
chalk
halve
llama
salmon
Silent N
column
condemn
hymn
Silent O
flourish
leopard
pious
Silent P
psalm
raspberry
Silent PS
corps
Silent QU
lacquer
Silent S
debris
Silent T
beret
bewitch
blotch
bouquet
bristle
butcher
butterscotch
dispatch
etch
glisten
glitch
hatchery
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Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Words With Silent Letters
hatchet
hatchling
hustle
hutch
jostle
ketchup
latchkey
mistletoe
nestle
notch
often
putt
retch
rustle
sketch
snatch
stretch
switch
thatch
trestle
thistle
twitch
wrestle
wrestling
wristwatch
Silent U
biscuit
guardian
guild
guilt
guinea pig
guitar
laughable
lifeguard
mourn
safeguard
vacuum
Silent UE
catalogue
monologue
prologue
technique
Silent W
playwright
shipwreck
swordfish
wholly
whom
whooping crane
whose
wrangle
wreck
wreckage
wren
wrench
wrestle
wrestling
wretched
wriggle
wring
wrinkle
wristwatch
Silent X
Sioux
Challenge
Silent A
algae
aardvark
guinea pig
meager
pharaoh
tarpaulin
Silent B
dumbfounded
honeycomb
indebted
Silent C
abscess
czar
czarina
incandescent
obscene
scenario
scepter
sickle-cell
Silent CH
yacht
Silent D
drudgery
fledgling
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Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Words With Silent Letters
Silent E
ageism
aloe
appease
coerce
entrepreneur
hieroglyphics
maneuver
neurotic
neuter
seismograph
syringe
terse
venue
verge
Silent G
align
benign
champagne
consign
consignment
phlegm
Silent GH
drought
righteous
Silent H
aghast
annihilate
Buddha
Buddhism
bushwhack
chasm
cholera
cholesterol
50
choral
choreographer
Christianity
chromosome
chronological
chrysalis
chrysanthemum
jodhpurs
khaki
rheumatism
rhinoceros
rhododendron
Sikh
vehement
whimsical
Silent I
parliament
plagiarize
Silent O
amoeba
colonel
jeopardy
onomatopoeia
Silent P
pneumatic
pneumonia
Silent T
apostle
chalet
debut
depot
fillet
gourmet
mortgage
ricochet
tsar
tsarina
tsunami
Silent GH
asthma
isthmus
Silent U
camouflage
cantaloupe
chauffeur
gourmet
guerrilla
guile
guillotine
quetzal
Silent UE
epilogue
queue
rogue
synagogue
Silent W
wrath
wrest
writhe
Silent X
roux
Silent Z
rendezvous
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Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Silent e in c-v-c-e Words
Silent
e in c-v-c-e
Words
Some words follow the pattern of consonant-vowelconsonant-silent e. Usually, the silent e signals that the
vowel sound is long or, in multisyllabic words, the vowel
sound before the last syllable is long.
Easy
1-syllable words
bake
base
bite
blade
bone
bore
cake
cane
cape
case
cave
code
crime
date
dime
dine
dive
drive
face
fine
frame
gate
gave
grace
grade
hate
hide
hole
kite
lace
lake
lame
lane
late
life
lime
live
lone
lose
love
made
mane
make
male
mate
more
name
nine
note
plane
pale
pole
rate
rise
shine
side
stole
sure
tale
tape
time
twice
twine
vase
wade
wage
wake
wave
2-syllable words
arrive
compete
complete
decide
define
describe
divide
escape
explode
explore
include
invade
ore
outside
suppose
surprise
tadpole
translate
3-syllable words
crocodile
navigate
telephone
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Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Silent e in c-v-c-e Words
Target
1-syllable words
bale
brace
bride
chime
choke
cite
clone
close
clove
cone
core
daze
dome
dove
fake
fare
fate
flame
fume
fuse
glaze
glide
grate
hale
hare
hose
mare
mate
pace
scene
swipe
tone
tote
truce
wage
52
2-syllable words
abode
abuse
alcove
arcade
astute
azure
cascade
collide
compose
comprise
concrete
console
consume
corrode
costume
cyclone
defuse
delete
deplete
depose
derive
despise
device
devote
discrete
embrace
engrave
estate
exhale
exile
expose
extreme
feline
folktale
frustrate
future
grenade
ignore
immune
impose
inflame
irate
leisure
module
outrage
reside
revise
schedule
subscribe
supreme
surname
terrace
termite
tribute
trombone
turnpike
unite
vaccine
volume
voyage
3-syllable words
absolute
aggravate
appetite
carnivore
centipede
circulate
civilize
concentrate
congregate
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Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Silent e in c-v-c-e Words
contemplate
dedicate
delegate
designate
dominate
emigrate
exercise
finalize
formulate
herbivore
hesitate
hibernate
homicide
illustrate
immigrate
incubate
operate
overrate
organize
paraphrase
parasite
renovate
submarine
sympathize
tangerine
undermine
4-syllable words
accommodate
domesticate
incorporate
subordinate
telecommute
Challenge
1-syllable words
bane
bode
chafe
chide
cite
clone
gale
haze
hone
jute
mete
mode
muse
name
raze
tome
2-syllable words
abate
abide
atone
estate
fissure
glucose
graphite
secrete
syndrome
turbine
composite
composure
germinate
gyroscope
regicide
synchronize
4-syllable words
desegregate
eradicate
espionage
gesticulate
3-syllable words
attribute
cellophane
cellulose
chromosome
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Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Words Not Spelled as They Sound
Words Not Spelled
as
They Sound
There are many spelling demons in the English language,
but the spelling of some words is particularly hard to fathom.
Here are words that are tricky because they sound so little
like they are spelled.
Easy
ache
acre
aisle
are
choir
eighth
gypsy
hymn
island
laugh
often
one
restaurant
route
though
through
Tuesday
Wednesday
weird
why
women
amateur
asthma
campaign
chauffeur
colonel
conscience
conscious
conscientious
corps
diaphragm
etiquette
fatigue
faucet
foreign
feud
fuel
genius
gymnasium
hygiene
jewelry
lacquer
lieutenant
mortgage
naughty
nuisance
pageant
pamphlet
penicillin
physician
pneumonia
reservoir
rhyme
rhythm
schedule
sergeant
subtle
surveillance
technique
theater
unanimous
unique
vague
yacht
Target
54
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Chapter 1: Words That Cause Problems
Words Not Spelled as They Sound
Challenge
archaeologist
archaeology
archaic
arctic
champagne
coercion
drought
gourmet
liaison
hieroglyphics
hemorrhage
isthmus
larynx
lingerie
maneuver
pharaoh
panache
phlegm
psychiatric
psychic
psychology
queue
reminisce
rendezvous
sacrilegious
tuition
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55
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources
Chapter 2
Vocabulary
Development
“ I’m teaching my students
how to use word parts
to determine the meaning
of unfamiliar words.
My textbook contains
some prefixes, suffixes,
and roots, and I need
additional ones.
”
O
ne way to create new words is to add together word parts.
A combining form is a word part that is combined with
one or more other combining forms or a free-standing word to
form a new word. Some combining forms always take the initial
position. These are commonly called prefixes. Some always
take the final position. These are commonly called suffixes.
Some can take either position or appear in the middle of a word.
These are often referred to as roots.
Another way to build new words is to add together two or more
whole words. These compound words may be hyphenated (icecold), written with a space between the two words but treated
as one entity (ice cream), or closed up with no space between
the original words (airplane).
Sometimes words are shortened. A clipped word is a shortened
form of a word in which the end syllables are dropped (pop
music for popular music). An abbreviation is a shortened form
of a word or phrase used when writing to represent the whole
word (Mr. for Mister). An acronym is a word formed from the
initials or other parts of several words. With an acronym, you
say the word formed by the letters (radar, for radio detecting
and ranging). An initialism uses only letters from the word.
With an initialism, you say the letters (CD for compact disc).
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Prefixes
Prefixes
A prefix is a letter or group of letters added to a word or root
to change its meaning.
Easy
Latin
Prefix
Meaning
How It Works
Example
non-
not; lacking; without
non + fat = nonfat; without fat
ondairy, nonfiction, n
nonsense, nonstick
pre-
before; in front of; superior to
pre + view = preview; look at before or ahead of time
recook, predict, preface,
p
pretest
re-
again; back; reverse the
action of
re + make = remake; make again
redo, rerun, return, review Old English
Prefix
Meaning
How It Works
Example
mis-
bad; badly; wrongly
mis + fortune = misfortune; bad
fortune
misbehave, misguided,
misspelled, mistake
un-
not; the opposite of
un + fair = unfair; not fair
unable, uncover, unknown, untrue
Prefix
Meaning
How It Works
Example
anti-
against; opposed to; preventing or counteracting
anti + labor = antilabor; against
labor unions antibacterial, antidote; antifreeze, antisocial
auto-
self
auto + biography = autobiography;
biography; story of one’s own
life
autocracy, autograph,
automatic, automobile, autonomous
deca-
ten
deca + gon = decagon; a ten-
sided figure
decade, decameter, decathlon
Target
Greek
58
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Prefixes
Prefix
Meaning
How It Works
Example
mono-
one; alone; single
mono + tone = monotone; a
single, unchanging tone
monogram, monolith, monologue, monopoly
octa + gon = octagon; an
eight-sided figure
octave, octet, octogenarian, octopus
How It Works
Example
oct-, octa-, eight
octo-
Latin
Prefix
Meaning
bi-
t wo; twice; on two sides; bi + monthly = bimonthly; occurring bicycle, bilingual, bisect, occurring every two; every two months
biweekly
occurring twice during a period
co-, col-, together with; joint; to
com-, con-, the same degree
cor-
con + vene = convene; to come
together
copilot, collate, communication, correlate
de-
from; down; reverse the
action of
de + code = decode; to reverse the
action of coding; to translate a
coded message
debrief, demerit, decrease, derail
deci-
one-tenth
eci + mate = decimate; to destroy
d
every tenth part
decibel, decimal, deciliter,
decimeter
dis-
ot; opposite of; lack of; n
away from
dis + band = disband; to do the
opposite of forming a band; to
break up a band or move apart
disbelieve, discharge, disconnect, dislike
equa-,
equi-
equal; equally
equi + distant = equidistant; equally equation, equator, equinox, equitable
distant
em-, en-
ut into or on; cover; p
make; subject to;
intensifier
en + throne = enthrone; put on the
throne; crown
embark, empower, enable, endanger ex- (with hyphen)
former
ex- + convict = ex-convict; former
convict
ex-mayor, ex-senator,
ex-president, ex-wife
e-, ex-
out; beyond; away from; ex + pel = expel; to push out, banish, eject, emit, excavate,
without
or eject
exceed, exclude, exhale
il-, im-,
in-, ir-
not; lack of
il + legal = illegal; not legal
impartial, immature,
insecure, irregular
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Prefixes
60
Prefix
Meaning
How It Works
Example
im-, in-
in; into; within
in + duct = induct; lead or bring
into
immerse, immigrate, inborn, income
inter-
between
inter + national = international;
between nations
interact, intercoastal,
intermingle, interstate
intra-
within; inside
intra + city = intracity; within a large city
intramural, intradermal, intrastate, intravenous
mal-
bad; badly; wrong; ill
al + adjusted = maladjusted;
m
poorly adjusted
malcontent, malady, malaise, malaria
multi
many
ulti + cultural = multicultural;
m
relating to many cultures
multilingual, multimillionaire,
multiform, multiple
ob-, oc-,
of-, op-
before; against; over;
totally
ob + scure = obscure; cover; over
object, occur, offer, oppose
per-
t hrough; throughout;
completely; very thoroughly
per + ceive = perceive; understand perfect, perform, permeate,
or grasp thoroughly
permit
post-
after; later
ost + script = postscript; written
p
afterward or at the end of a letter
posterior, posthumous, postpone, postwar
pro-
for; forward
pro + ceed = proceed; go ahead
rogress, promote, p
pronounce, propose
sub
under; beneath; to a
sub + ject = subject; place under
lesser degree, bordering someone else’s authority
sublet, submerge,
substandard, subway
super-,
supr-
above; beyond; over
super + natural = supernatural;
beyond the normal
superhighway, superscript,
supersonic, supreme
trans-
across; over; beyond
t rans + continental = transconti-
nental; crossing the continent
transact, transfer,
translate, transportation
tri-
three
t ri + angle = triangle, a figure with
three angles
triceps, tricycle, trillion,
tristate
uni-
one; only
uni + cycle = unicycle; one cycle; one wheel
uniform, unity, unique
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Prefixes
Old English
Prefix
Meaning
How It Works
Example
by-
near; side; secondary or
incidental to the main
product
by + stander = bystander; person
standing at the sidelines or looking on
bylaw, bypass, byproduct, byway fore-
before; ahead of; front
f ore + ground = foreground; the front or nearest part of a scene
forearm, forecast, foretell,
forewarn
mid-
middle
id + stream = midstream; the
m
middle of the stream
midnight, midpoint, midterm, midway
over-
above; over; upper; outer; over + weight = overweight; above
superior; passing above, normal weight
beyond, or across; too
much
overcharge, overdue,
overflow, oversee
self-
by oneself; within; automatic
self-confidence, selfish, self-made, self-winding
under-
beneath; too little; below under + ground = underground;
normal
beneath the surface of the ground
self + centered = self-centered;
centered on
underage, underneath, underwater, underweight
Challenge
Greek
Prefix
Meaning
How It Works
Example
acro-
high; topmost; at the extremity
acro + phobia = acrophobia; a fear
of heights
acrobat, acronym, acropolis, acrostic
ambi-, amphi-
both; around; about
ambi + biguous = ambiguous; having ambidextrous, ambivalent, amphibious, amphitheater two or more possible meanings; unclear
di-
two; double; twice
i + chromatic = dichromatic;
d
having two colors
dichotomy, diffract,
dilemma, dissect
dia-
through; throughout;
apart; between
dia + lect = dialect; local language
used throughout a region
diagram, diagonal, diameter, dialogue
endo-
within
e ndo + biotic = endobiotic; living
within the body
endocardial, endocentric, endocrinology, endodermis
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Prefixes
62
Prefix
Meaning
How It Works
Example
epi-
upon; over; on the outside
epi + dermis = epidermis; the outside of the skin
epicenter, epidemic,
epidural, epilogue
hemi-
half
hemi + cycle = hemicycle; a half
cycle
hemihedral, hemisphere,
hemispheroid, hemitrope
hetero-
different
hetero + nym = heteronym; a word
spelled the same as another but
with a different meaning
heterochromatic,
heterogeneous
hex-,
hexa-
six
hexa + gon = hexagon; a figure with hexagram, hexahedral,
six sides
hexameter, hexapod
homo-
same, equal to, like
omo + genize = homogenize; to
h
make the same throughout
macro-,
macr-
large; long
macro + economics = macro-
macrobiotics, macroclimate,
economics; the field of economics macrocosm, macroscopic
dealing with all the forces at work in an economy, or the large picture
mega-
especially large; great;
powerful; mighty; one
million
mega + dose = megadose; an
especially large dose
megahertz, megalith,
megaphone, megavitamin
meta-
change in; after; going beyond or higher; behind; between
meta + galaxy = metagalaxy;
beyond or transcending a
galaxy; all galaxies and all
intergalactic matter
metabolize, metafiction,
metamorphic, metaphor
micro-
very small; minute;
micro + biology = microbiology;
the study of very small forms of life
microbe, microcomputer,
microorganism, microprocessor
mono-
one; single
ono + lingual = monolingual;
m
speaking one language
monogamy, monograph,
monotone, monotonous
neo-
new; young; recent, latest
neo + logism = neologism; a new
word or new meaning for a word
neoclassic, neoconservative, Neolithic, neonatal
paleo-
ancient; early
aleo + lithic = Paleolithic; relating
p
to an early cultural period from
about 2 million to 10 million B.C.
paleoanthropology,
paleography, paleontology,
Paleozoic
pan-
all; every; universal
an + theon = pantheon; a temple
p
where all gods are worshipped
pan-American, pan-Asian,
pandemonium, pantheism
homochromatic, homogeneous, homograph,
homonym
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Prefixes
Prefix
Meaning
How It Works
para-
a t the side of; in a secondary position; beyond; characterized
by
para + legal = paralegal; a person
parallel, paramedic,
who works in a secondary position paranormal, parasite
to a lawyer; an aide to a lawyer penta-
five
enta + gon = pentagon; a five-
p
sided figure
peri-
a round; about; enclosing; peri + scope = periscope; a tube for peridontics, perimeter, peripatetic, periphery
near
viewing the surrounding areas
poly-
any; much, excessive; poly + chromatic = polychromatic;
m
having more than one color
more than
polydactyl, polygamy,
polyglot, polygon
proto-
first
proto + type = prototype; the first
of its kind that serves as a model
protocol, protohuman, protolithic, proton
pseudo-
false; deceptive; sham
seudo + science = pseudoscience; pseudomorph, pseudonym,
p
pseudointellectual,
a sham or false science
pseudonymous
sest-,
sex-
six
sest + et = sestet; poem of six lines sestina, sexagenarian,
sextet, sextuple
syl-, sym-, with; together
syn-, sys- tele-
syn + chronize = synchronize; to
happen at the same time
Example
pentacle, pentagram, pentameter, pentarchy
syllable, sympathy,
synonym, system
f ar away; at, over, or from tele + scope = telescope; a device
for seeing things far away
a distance
telegenic, telephone,
teleport, televise
Prefix
Meaning
How It Works
Example
ab-, abs-
from; away
a b + duct = abduct; lead or take
away; kidnap
abdicate, abject, absolve, absorb
ante-
before; in front of; prior to
ante + bellum = antebellum; before anteroom, antecedent, the war, particularly the Civil War antedate, antemeridian bene- good; well
ene + factor = benefactor; a person benediction, beneficiary, b
who does good for another; patron benefit, benevolent
circum-
around; about; on all sides
circum + scribe = circumscribe; to
draw to line around; to limit
Latin
circumference, circum-
navigate, circumstance, circumvent
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Prefixes
Prefix
Meaning
How It Works
Example
contra-, contro-
against; opposed to;
opposite of
contra + dict = contradict; say the
opposite of
contraband, contradiction,
contrary, controversy
counter-
against; opposite of
c ounter + attack = counterattack; attack a force that has attacked you counteract, counterfit, counterclockwise, counterproductive
demi-,
semi-
half; less than usual semi + circle = semicircle; half
circle
demigod, demitasse,
semiannual, semiformal
extra-,
extr-, extro-
outside; beyond
extra + curricular = extracurricular; extraordinary, extravagant,
beyond or outside normal extremity, extrovert
curriculum
infra-
beneath; below
infra + sonic = infrasonic; below the infrared, infrahuman, infrastructure audible range of sound
medi-,
medio-
middle; half; between
medi + eval = medieval; referring to median, mediate, medium, the Middle Ages
mediocre
omni-
all; everywhere
omni + potent = omnipotent; all
powerful
retro-
backward; back; contrary retro + active = retroactive; to make retrofit, retrograde, active or apply to an earlier or back retrospective, retroversion
to; behind
period
ultra-
beyond; more than; excessive
omnidirectional, omnipresent, omniscient, omnivore
ultra + sonic = ultrasonic; above the ultraconservative, ultra-
range of sound that can be heard modern, ultranationalism, ultraviolet
by the human ear
Old English
64
Prefix
Meaning
How It Works
Example
a-, an-
not; without
a + moral = amoral; without morals
anarchy, apathy, atypical,
atonal
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Suffixes
Suffixes
A suffix is a letter or group of letters added to the end of a
word or root to form a new word and usually to change the
part of speech. Adding a suffix often involves some spelling
change to the base word.
Easy
Old English
Suffix
Forms
-ar, -er, a noun
-or
Meaning
How It Works
someone who; something
that; native of
act + or = actor; someone baker, New Yorker,
who acts sailor, scholar
Examples
-er
a comparative more than (comparing two
things) adjective or
adverb
kind + er = more kind than colder, quicker, taller, wiser
-est
a superlative most (compares three or
more things)
adjective or
adverb
kind + est = kindest, the
most kind
-ful
an adjective
f ull of; having the quality
of; able to cause
harm + ful = harmful; able beautiful, careful, to cause harm doubtful, pitiful
-less
an adjective
ithout; not able to be
w
color + less = colorless; without color countless, soundless,
spotless, weightless
-ly
-ness
an adverb or adjective a noun
in the manner of; in the
order of; every; like; having
the characteristics of
year + ly = yearly;
happening every year
daily, neatly, quickly, slowly
state of; quality of
g ood + ness = goodness;
quality of being good happiness, kindness,
newness, soundness
How It Works
Examples
fastest, loudest, shortest, smartest
Target
Greek
Suffix
Forms
Meaning
-ic
an adjective
aving the characteristics hero + ic = heroic; having
h
of; causing the qualities of a hero alphabetic, horrific, numeric, scientific
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Suffixes
Suffix
Forms
Meaning
How It Works
Examples
-ish
an adjective or noun
having characteristics
of; somewhat native of
gray + ish = grayish;
somewhat gray
childish, reddish,
selfish, Swedish
-ist
a noun
a person who; that which
piano + ist = pianist; artist, dentist,
person who plays the piano extremist, specialist
-meter a noun
device for measuring;
measure
thermo + meter = thermometer; device for
measuring temperature
barometer, diameter,
pentameter, perimeter
-scope a noun
a n instrument for seeing
tele + scope = telescope;
instrument for seeing distances microscope,
kaleidoscope, periscope,
stethoscope
Latin
66
Suffix
Forms
Meaning
How It Works
Examples
-able
-ible
an adjective
capable of; likely to; worthy of; that can or will
do + able = able; that can
be done
enjoyable, laughable,
likeable, sensible
-al, -ial an adjective or of; related to; having the
characteristics of; the
a noun
process of
person + al = personal;
related to a person; private
manual, nocturnal, reversal, seasonal
-ant, -ent
depend + ent = dependent; attendant, defiant,
someone who depends on resistant, superintendent
other
a noun or
adjective someone who; agent of;
performing the tasks of;
having the qualities of
-ation, a noun
-ion,
-sion, -tion
act of; state of; process of communicate + ion = communication; act
of communicating
action, appreciation,
division, revision -cian, -ian
a noun
a person who practices or magic + ian = magician;
person who performs
performs a skill or art
magic
dietician, mathema-
tician, musician,
physician
-ese
a noun or adjective
native of; language of
China + ese = Chinese; language of China
Burmese, Cantonese, Japanese, Portuguese,
Vietnamese
-fy
a verb
make
beauty + fy = beautify; make beautiful
clarify, justify,
magnify, simplify
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Suffixes
Suffix
Forms
Meaning
How It Works
Examples
-ile
an adjective
r elated to; capable of; suitable for
mob + ile = mobile; capable of moving
docile, juvenile,
puerile, senile
-ity, -ty a noun
s tate of; quality of being;
instance of
creative + ity = creativity; ability, loyalty, state of being creative
nationality, possibility
-ive, -ative,
-itive
an adjective
causing; tending to do
something; having the
quality of
sense + itive = sensitive; tending to sense or feel
things strongly
conservative,
creative, destructive,
instructive
-ment
a noun
a ction of; process of; result of; degree of being
enchant + ment = enchantment; action or
or state of feeling enchanted
achievement,
enjoyment, government,
retirement full of; having the qualities of
joy + ous = joyous; full of joy
generous, glorious, mysterious, nervous
-ous, an adjective
-eous, -ious
Old English
Suffix
Forms
Meaning
How It Works
Examples
-en
an adjective
made of; added to
ax + en = made of wax
w
flaxen, silken, wooden, woolen
-hood
a noun
place; time; period; state of; quality of; group of
boy + hood = boyhood;
period when one is a young boy
adulthood, childhood, neighborhood, priesthood
-like
an adjective
similar to; resembling
home + like = homelike;
resembling home
childlike, deathlike,
dreamlike, lifelike
-ship
a noun
c ondition of; state of;
quality of being; art or
skill of
hard + ship = hardship;
condition of being hard;
difficulty
authorship, dicta-
torship, friendship,
leadership
-ward
an adjective or in the direction of
adverb
-y
an adjective
down + ward = downward; backward, homeward,
in the direction of down onward, upward
c haracterized by; inclined stick + y = sticky; tending curly, dirty, happy,
itchy
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Suffixes
Challenge
Greek
How It Works
Suffix
Forms
Meaning
-asis, -esis, -osis
a noun
action; condition; process hypno + osis = hypnosis;
condition of being hypnotized
-cy
a noun
a ction; function; rank;
condition or fact of being
bankrupt + cy = bankruptcy; delicacy, democracy,
condition of being papacy, supremacy bankrupt
-ism
a noun
act of; state of; system;
manner; school of
terror + ism = terrorism;
act of creating terror
-itis
a noun
disease; inflammation of;
excessive preoccupation
with tonsil + itis = tonsillitis;
arthritis, bronchitis,
inflammation of the tonsils laryngitis, neuritis
-ize
a verb
ake; cause to become;
m
subject to; engage in
theory + ize = theorize;
generalize, sanitize,
engage in forming theories penalize, verbalize
-mania a noun
exaggerated enthusiasm;
madness; uncontrollable
desire
pyro + mania = pyromania; balletomania, egomania
uncontrollable desire to, kleptomania, megalomania
set fire to things
-ology; a noun
-logy
study of; science of; branch of learning
bio + logy = biology; study archeology, astronomy,
of all forms of life
physiology, psychology
-phobia
a noun
fear; hatred arachno + phobia = arachnophobia; fear
of spiders
acrophobia, claustrophobia, hydro phobia,
necrophobia
Forms
Meaning
How It Works
Examples
-ance, a noun
-ancy state of; quality of; act of;
process of
rely + ance = reliance;
state of relying
appearance, defiance,
hesitancy, truancy
-ary, -ory
relating to; having the
qualities of; place where
or for
sense + ory = sensory;
relating to the senses
dictionary, dormitory,
sanctuary, secondary
Examples
stasis, hypothesis, synthesis, thesis
communism, cubism,
heroism, pluralism
Latin
Suffix
68
a noun or
adjective
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Suffixes
Suffix
Forms
Meaning
How It Works
-ate
a verb
cause; make; provide or
treat with
vaccine + ate = vaccinate; calculate, evaluate, provided with or treated notate, validate with a vaccine
-cide
a noun
kill; killing; killer
f ratri + cide = fratricide; killing one’s brother
herbicide, homicide,
pesticide, suicide -ence,
-ency
a noun
state of; quality
depend + ence = dependence; state of depending on others
absence, evidence, independence
transparency
-ery
a noun
place to or for; practice
of; product of; collection
of; condition of green + ery = greenery;
collection of plants
brewery, eatery,
robbery, scenery -ice
a noun
condition of; state of
coward + ice = cowardice; avarice, jaundice,
justice, malice state of being cowardly
-tude
a noun
state of; condition of; instance of being
magni + tude = magnitude; altitude, gratitude,
condition of being impor- multitude, platitude
tant or of great size
-ure
a noun
state of being; process of; seize + ure = seizure; state censure, culture,
of being seized legislature, literature
condition of; result of; office of; collected body of
Examples
Old English
Suffix
Forms
Meaning
How It Works
Examples
-dom
a noun
quality of; state of; realm of; power of
king + dom = kingdom;
realm of the king
boredom, freedom,
serfdom, wisdom
Old French
Suffix
Forms
Meaning
How It Works
Examples
-ee
a noun
one who is receiving the
action or performing the
action
employ + ee = employee; person who is employed
evacuee, referee,
refugee, trainee
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Roots
Roots
A word root is the basic meaningful part of a word from
which other words are built. A root cannot stand alone as a
word but needs a prefix and/or suffix added to it.
Easy
Greek
Root
Meaning
graph
written; drawn; recorded graph + ic + s = graphics; drawings
autograph, biography,
geography, graphically,
photography
Root
Meaning
How It Works
Example
dic, dict
speak; say; tell
re + dict + ion = prediction; the act dictator, dictionary,
p
of foretelling; forecast
indicate, verdict
ject
throw; cast
re + ject + ion = rejection; being cast dejected, injection, project, reject
out or thrown out
port
carry
trans + port + ation = transportation deport, portable, reporter, teleport the carrying of goods and people
across distances
Root
Meaning
How It Works
Example
bio
life; of living things
micro + bio + logy = microbiology;
study of very tiny living things
autobiography, biography,
biology, bioengineering, biofeedback
chron, chrono
time
syn + chron + ize = synchronize;
make the same time
chronic, chronology,
chronological, chronometer
gen
birth; race; product of
g en + erate = generate; give birth to generation, generic, homogeneous, progeny
or create
geo
earth
g eo + logy = geology; study of the
earth
How It Works
Example
Latin
Target
Greek
70
geochemistry, geography, geode, geologist
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Roots
Root
Meaning
How It Works
Example
gram
written; letter; recorded
mono + gram = monogram; one or
more letters standing for a name
electrocardiogram, grammar, grammatical,
telegram
path, pass
disease; suffering; feeling
sym + path + etic = identifying with compassion, empathy,
with someone else’s suffering
passionate, pathology
phil
love
hil + osophy = philosophy; love of
p
learning
bibliophile, Francophile,
philanthropist, philosopher
phon, phono
sound
tele + phone = telephone; a device
for carrying the sound of the
human voice over distances microphone, phoneme,
phonetic, symphony photo
of or produced by light
photo + graph = photograph; a
picture taken with light
photocopy, photoengraving, photokinesis, telephoto
sci
know
omni + sci + ent = omniscient; all knowing
conscientious, conscious, pseudoscience, scientific
therm
heat
ypo + therm + ia = hypothermia;
h
very low body temperature
thermal, thermodynamics,
thermometer, thermos
Root
Meaning
How It Works
Example
alter
other alter + ate = alternate; every
other one
alter ego, alternative, alternator, unalterable
anni, annu,
enni
year semi + annu + al = semiannual;
happening every
anniversary, annuity,
biannual, centennial half year
aqua, aque
water
aqua + rium = aquarium; tank filled aquaplane, aquamarine,
with water for fish
aqueduct, subaquatic
aud, audi
hear, hearing
aud + ible = audible; able to be
heard
audience, auditor, auditorium, inaudible
cap, capt,
ceive, cept
take; seize
capt + ure = capture; seize
captivate, deceive, intercept,
receive
capit, capt
head; principal, most
important
capit + al = capital; the head or seat captain, capitalize,
of government
decapitation
Latin
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71
Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Roots
Meaning
Root
cede, move; yield; give up
ceed, ced, cess
72
How It Works
Example
re + cede = recede; move away; withdraw
cessation, depression,
recess, succession
civ
public; citizen
civ + ic = civic; relating to citizens
civil, civilian, civilization, uncivil
clam, claim
shout; cry out
ex + clam + ation = exclamation; something shouted out
clamor, proclaim, reclaim
clud, cluse
shut
re + clus + ive = reclusive; shutting
yourself off from others
conclusion, exclusive,
include, seclude
cred
believe; belief
c red + ible = credible; believable
credit, credulous,
incredible, incredulous
cur, curs
run
r e + cur + sive = recursive; running
again and again; repeating itself
concurrent, cursive, cursory, precursor
derm
skin
e pi + derm + is = epidermis; the outer part of the skin
dermatology, hypodermic,
pachyderm, taxidermist
doc
lead
oc + ile = docile; easily taught d
or lead
doctor, doctrine, documentary, indoctrinate
dorm
sleep
orm + itory = dormitory; place
d
where a group of people sleep
dormant, dormancy, dormouse, nondormant
duc, duct
lead
a que + duct = aqueduct; a pathway educate, induct, reduce, viaduct
for leading water
fac, fact,
fec, fic
make; do fact + ory = factory; a place where
things are made
fer
carry; bear
t rans + fer = transfer; carry across; ferry, inference, refer, referee
move, or relocate
flect, flex
bend
re + flect = reflect; bend back or
reproduce an image
deflect, flexibility, inflex- ible, reflection
form
shape
re + form = reform; form again or
change for the better
deform, information,
reformatory, uniform facsimile, fictional, infect,
manufacture
fract, frag break
f ract + ure = fracture; a break, split, fragile, fragment, infraction, refract
or crack
hab, habit live; have, hold
in + hab + it = inhabit; live in
abitant, habitat, h
habitation, inhabitable
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Roots
Root
Meaning
How It Works
Example
junct
join
junct + ion = junction; the point
where two things meet or join
adjunct, conjunction, disjunctive, injunction jud, judi,
judic, jur, juris
aw
judic + ial = judicial; relating to
the law
judiciary, jurist, juror,
prejudicial
lab
work
c ol + lab +orate = collaborate; work collaboration, elaboration,
together
laboratory, laborious
leg, legis
law
legis + lature = legislature; place
where laws are made
illegal, legal, legitimate, illegitimate
liber
free
liber + ate = liberate; make free
liberal, liberation, liberalize,
liberty
loc, loco
place
loc + ation = location; place
islocate, localize, locate,
d
relocation
magn, magni
large; great
magni + fy = magnify; make larger
magnanimous, magnification,
magnificent, magnitude
man, manu
hand
manu + al = manual; done by hand
emancipate, manicure,
manufacture, manuscript
mand
order
c ounter + mand = countermand; give an order that makes invalid
a previous order
commander, demand,
mandate, reprimand mar, mari, sea
mer
sub + mar + ine = submarine; a
s hip that goes under the sea
aquamarine, marina,
mariner, mermaid
mem
mind
re + mem + brance = remembrance; commemorate, memo-
bringing to mind; honoring memory randum, memorialize, migr, migra
wander; move; change
im + migr + ate = immigrate; move to emigrant; immigration,
another country
migration, migratory
miss, mit
send
t rans + miss + ion = transmission;
send across space; broadcast
admission, emit, missile,
omission
mob, mot,
mov
move
im + mob + ile = immobile; not movable; motionless
automobile, emotion,
mobility, removable
nat
to be born; birth
n + nat + ural = unnatural; not
u
arising from nature or birth
native; nativity, preternatural, supernatural nomen, nomin
name
nomin + ate = nominate; name
someone for order
cognomen, nomenclature,
nominee, nominal
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Roots
Root
Meaning
How It Works
nov
new
ovel + ty = novelty; something new innovate, nova, novel,
n
and different
renovation
numer
number
umer + ical = numerical; using
n
numbers
enumerate, enumerable,
numerator, numerous
pac
peace
ac + ify = pacify; make peaceful
p
pacific, pacifier, pacifist,
pacifism
ped, pod
foot
ed + estrian = pedestrian; someone centipede, pedestal, p
who gets from place to place on foot octopod, podiatrist pel, puls
drive; urge
re + pel = repel; drive back
c ompulsion, expel, impulse,
propulsion
pend, pens
hang, weigh
sus + pens + ion = suspension;
supporting framework for something that hangs, such as a
bridge
dispense, expend,
pendulum, impending pon, pos
put, place
post + pone + ment = postponement; component, deposit,
opposition, posture placed at a later date; delayed
pop
people
n + pop + ulated = unpopulated;
u
not filled with people
depopulate, populace,
popularity, unpopular port
carry
t rans + port = transport; carry across a distance
deportation, export,
import, portage
put
quer,
ques, quir, quis
think; suppose; estimate;
reckon; consider
ask
com + put + ation = computation; calculation or final reckoning
computer, dispute,
reputation, repute
in + quir + y = inquiry; questions
about; formal investigation
inquisitive, query, quest,
question
rupt
break, tear
inter + rupt = interrupt; break into
a conversation
corrupt, disruption, erupt,
rupture
scrib, script
write
pre + script + ion = prescription;
written request or order for medication
conscript, describe,
inscription, scribble s ign + al = signal; a mark or indication to do something
consignment, insignia, resignation, significant
sign, signi mark; indication
74
Example
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Roots
Root
Meaning
How It Works
Example
spec,
spect
look
in + spect + ion = inspection; a
formal look or investigation of
something
introspective, perspective,
spectacles, spectator sphere
ball; sphere
emi + sphere = hemisphere; half
h
sphere
atmosphere, spherical,
spheroid, stratosphere
spir
breath; courage
r e + spir + ation = respiration; breathing in and out
aspire, inspiration,
perspiration, spiritual
spond, spons
answer
re + spons+ ible = responsible; being answerable for something
correspond, despondent,
irresponsible, sponsor stru, struct
build; arrange
de + struct + ion = destruction; act of tearing down what was built or
arranged
construction, instruct,
instructure, structure tact, tang
touch
t ang + ible = tangible; able to be
touched
contact, intact, tactile,
intangible
terr, terra
earth; land
e xtra + terr + estrial = extraterrestrial;
beyond the earth
terra cotta, territorial,
terrace, terrarium
tract
pull; drag
r e + tract + ion = retraction; some-
thing pulled or taken back
attractive, contract, detract, subtract vac
empty
e + vac + uate = evacuate; empty of
people; leave
vacancy, vacate, vacuous, vacuum
vid, vis
see
e + vid + ence = evidence; proof that
that allows a person’s guilt to be
seen
envision, revise, television,
videocassette Challenge
Greek
Root
Meaning
How It Works
Example
anthr, anthro, anthrop
man
phil + anthrop + ist = philanthropist;
person who gives money away to
help humankind anthropology, anthropomorphic
misanthropic, philanthropy
arch
chief, first, ruler
mon + arch + y = monarchy; govern-
ment with one ruler, usually a king
or queen
archbishop, archeology,
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Roots
76
Root
Meaning
How It Works
Example
aster,
astr
star
astro + nomy = astronomy; study of
stars and star systems
asteroid, astrologist,
astronaut, disaster bibl, bibli, biblio
book
biblio + graphy = bibliography; list
biblical, bibliographer,
of books and other works consulted bibliomania, bibliophile
chrom, chromo
color
mono + chrom + atic = monochromatic; chromosphere, chromosome,
having one color
monochrome, polychromatic
cosm
universe; world
icro + cosm = microcosm; m
a miniature
cosmic, cosmonaut, cosmopolitan, macrocosm
cycl, cyclo ring; circle; wheel
i + cycle = bicycle; a machine with
b
two wheels
cyclical, cyclone, recycle,
tricycle
dem,
demo
people
demo + cracy = democracy; government by the people
demography, epidemic,
pandemic
dox
belief, opinion; praise p
ara + dox = paradox; two seemingly doxology, heterodoxy,
contradictory opinions or beliefs
orthodox, orthodoxy dyna, dynam,
dynamo
strength; power
dynam + ic = dynamic; showing force aerodynamic, dynamite,
and power; full of energy
dynamo, hydrodynamics
gam
marriage
ono + gam + y; one marriage
m
bigamist, bigamy, polygamist,
polygamy
gnos
know
ia + gnos + is = diagnosis; knowing
d
the cause of a disease
agnostic, diagnostician,
Gnostic, prognosis
helio
sun
elio + trope = heliotrope; a plant
h
that turns to the sun
heliocentric, heliograph, heliostat, heliotherapy
hemo
blood
emo + stat = hemostat; something
h
used to stop bleeding
hemoglobin, hemophilia,
hemorrhage, hemotoxin
hydr, hydra, hydro
water
hydro + phobia = hydrophobia; fear
of water
dehydrated, hydrodynamics,
hydroelectricity, hydrothermal
lex
word; speech
lexi + con = lexicon; special words used in a field of study
alexia, dyslexic, lexical, lexicographer
lith
stone
ono + lith = monolith; one large
m
stone standing by itself
lithography, lithosphere, megalith, neolithic
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Roots
Root
Meaning
How It Works
Example
log, logue
word; speaking
ono + logue= monologue; speech m
by one person
catalog, dialogue, epilogue,
logical
morph
shape
a + morph + ous = amorphous; having anthropomorphic,
metamorphosis, morphology,
no set shape
polymorph
onym
name
a n + onym + ous = anonymous; without a name; unsigned or
unidentified
acronym, antonym,
pseudonym, synonymous
ortho
straight; upright; correct
un + ortho + dox = not conforming
t o correct or proper beliefs
orthodontics, orthography,
orthopedics, orthotics
poli
city; state
etro + poli + tan = metropolitan;
m
referring to a large urban area,
usually including a city and its
suburbs
cosmopolitan, police,
policy, politician
psych, psycho
mind; spirit
psycho + logy = psychology; the
s cience of the human mind and
mental states
psychic, psychoanalysis,
psychopath, psychotherapy
soph
wise
s oph + omore = sophomore; “wise
fool”; a second-year student
philosophy, philosopher,
sophisticated, sophomoric tox
poison
tox + ic = toxic; poisonous
a ntitoxin, intoxication, toxicology, toxin
Root
Meaning
How It Works
Example
agr, agri, agro
field
agri + culture = agriculture; science agrarian, agribusiness,
or field of farming
agrochemical, agronomy
anim
life, spirit
anim + ate = animate; make lively;
give life to
animal, inanimate,
magnanimous, reanimate
belli
war
elli + cose = bellicose; given to
b
warlike or aggressive behavior
antebellum, belligerent, rebel, rebellion
brei,
brev, brevi
short
ab + brevi + ate = abbreviate;
shorten
abbreviation, brief,
breviary, brevity
Latin
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Roots
78
Root
Meaning
How It Works
Example
card, cardio, cord, cor
heart
cardio + logy = cardiology; field of
medicine specializing in the heart
cardiac, cordial, electrocardiogram, encourage
carn, carni
flesh
carni + vore = carnivore; flesh-
eating mammal
carnage, carnival,
carnivorous, reincarnation
centr, centri, contro
central; center
con + centr + ic = concentric; with
the same center or midpoint
centrifugal, centrist,
eccentric, egocentric
cogn
know
r e + cogn + ize = recognize; know
again; identify
cognition, cognomen, incognito, recognition
corp
body
in + corp + orate = incorporate; legally corpulent, corporeal,
corpse, corpus
form an organization
cura, cure care
ani + cure = manicure; treatment
m
to care for hands and nails
curative, curator, pedicure,
incurable den, dent, tooth
dont
dent + al = dental; relating to the
teeth
dentist, dentures,
orthodontist, periodontal
domin
omin + ate = dominate; master or
d
subdue someone or something; control
domineer, dominion,
indomitable, predominate don, donat give
donat + ion = donation; a gift
donor, condone, donate, pardon
fid, feder
faith; trust
c on + fid + ence = confidence; faith
in yourself
bona fide, federation,
fidelity, infidel
fin
end; final; limit
fin + ish = finish; end
define, final, finite, infinite
frater, fratri
brother
frater + nity = fraternity; a society of confraternity, fraternal,
men who act like brothers
fratricide, fraternize
grat
pleasing; favor; oblige g rat + itude = gratitude; the state of
feeling pleased; appreciation
gratis, gratuitous, gratuity, ingratitude luc, lum, lumin
light
il + lumin + ate = illuminate; shed light on
lucid, luminescence,
luminous, translucent
mater, matri
mother
mater + nal = maternal; showing the
characteristics of a mother
maternity, matrimony,
matriarch, matriarchy
mon
advise; warn
re + mon + ition = premonition; p
warning about a future event
admonish, admonishment,
monitor, monument
master
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Roots
Meaning
Root
How It Works
Example
mor, mori, death
mort
im + mort + al = immortal; not able
t o die; lasting forever
immortality, morbid,
moribund, mortality
mut
change
im + mut + able = immutable; not able commute, mutant, mutate,
mutation
to be changed
pater, patri-
father
patri + ot = patriot; a person loyal
to the fatherland or homeland
paternal, patricide,
repatriate, unpatriotic
reg, regi
rule, guide, straight
regi + cide = regicide; killing of the
ruler
regal, regent, regime, regiment
sacr, secr
holy; secret
s acri + lege = sacrilege; violating
something considered holy
consecrate, desecrate,
sacrifice, sacred
sens, sent feel
c on + sens + us = consensus; joint
feeling or opinion
consent, resentment, sensory, sentiment somn sleep
in + somn + ia = insomnia; inability to insomniac, somnambulate,
sleep
somnambulist, somnolent
soror
sister
s oror + ity = sorority; a group of
women who act like sisters
sororal, sororate, sororicide,
tempo
ime
c on + tempo + rary = contemporary;
living at the same time
extemporary, tempo,
temporize, temporary
ten, tens
pull; stretch
e x + tens + ion = extension; expansion or addition
extend, pretend, tension,
tenuous
tort, tors
twist
c on + tort + ion = contortion; twisting distort, retort, torsion, torture
of the body
ven, vent
meet
c on + vent + ion = convention; meeting of a large group of people
advent, event, invention,
venture
vert, vers
turn
re + vers + al = reversal; turning
around or back
advertise, convert,
extrovert, version
vict, vinc
conquer
c on + vict + ion = conviction; finding
someone guilty; conquering doubts
about a person’s innocence
convince, evict, invincible,
victory
vig, vit, viv
life
viv + id = vivid; lively
vigorous, vitamin,
vivacious, vivisection
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Compound Words
Compound Words
A compound word consists of two or more words joined
together to form a new word. Compound words can be closed
up with no space between the two original words, hyphenated, or written with a space between the original words.
Easy
Amount
every
everybody
everyday
everyone
everything
everywhere
no
nobody
no one
nothing
nowhere
some
somebody
someday
somehow
someone
someplace
something
sometime
sometimes
somewhat
somewhere
Animals
bird
birdbath
birdcage
birdcall
birddog
bird feed
birdhouse
birdseed
birdshot
bird’s nest
bird watcher
bluebird
redbird
snowbird
cat
catbird
80
catbird seat
cat burglar
catcall
catfight
catfish
catgut
catnap
cat’s cradle
cat’s-eye
cat’s paw
cattail
dog ear
dogfight
dogfish
doggie bag
doghouse
dog paddle
dogsled
dog tag
hangdog
seeing-eye dog
watchdog
dog
dog biscuit
dogcart
dog collar
dog days
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Compound Words
Home and Furniture
bath
bathmat
bathrobe
bathroom
bathtub
bathwater
bed
bedbug
bedchamber
bedclothes
bedcover
bedpost
bedroll
bedroom
bedside
bedsitter
bedsore
bedspread
bedspring
bedtime
chair
armchair
side chair
clock
alarm clock
clock radio
clock-watching
clockwork
digital clock
grandfather clock
door
backdoor
doorbell
doorknob
doorstep
doorstop
doorway
front door
floor
floorboard
floor cloth
floor lamp
floor plan
room
bathroom
bedroom
dining room
living room
table
coffee table
end table
side table
tablecloth
table linen
tablespoon
table lamp
tabletop
tableware
wall
wall hanging
wallpaper
wall plug
wall-to-wall
window
window box
windowpane
window seat
window shade
windowsill
People and Family Relationships
baby
baby boom
baby boomer
baby carriage
baby grand
babysit
babysitter
baby tooth
brother
brother-in-law
stepbrother
child
childbirth
child care
child labor
childproof
child’s play
father
father-in-law
fatherland
grandfather
grandfather clock
great-grandfather
stepfather
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81
Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Compound Words
folk
folk dance
folklore
folk music
folksinger
folk song
folktale
man
manhandle
manhole
manhunt
manpower
menfolk
men’s wear
men’s room
mother
grandmother
great-grandmother
motherboard
mother hen
mother-in-law
motherland
motherlode
stepmother
parent
grandparent
great-grandparent
stepparent
sister
sister-in-law
stepsister
teen
teenage
teenager
woman
womanpower
women’s movement
women’s rights
women’s room
women’s wear
Time
day
day bed
daybreak
daycare
daydream
day job
day labor
daylight
daylily
daylong
daypack
dayroom
day school
day shift
daytime
day-tripper
daywear
82
night
night blindness
nightclothes
nightgown
nightlight
nightlong
night owl
night school
night shift
night shirt
nightstand
night table
nighttime
night watch
nightwear
spring
spring break
spring-cleaning
spring fever
springtime
summer
summerhouse
summer school
summertime
winter
winter break
wintergreen
winterkill
wintertime
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Compound Words
Transportation
boat
boathouse
boat people
boat train
motorboat
rowboat
sailboat
bus
bus driver
busload
bus stop
car
carfare
carjack
car phone
carpool
carport
car seat
car sick
car wash
railcar
sidecar
sports car
plane
airplane
biplane
monoplane
seaplane
stardust
starfish
starfish flower
star fruit
stargazer
starlight
starry-eyed
solar wind
solar year
truck
truck driver
truck farm
truckload
truck stop
Target
Celestial Words
moon
moonbeam
moon blindness
moon-faced
moonlight
moonquake
moonrise
moonscape
moonstone
moonstruck
moonwalk
lunar
lunar month
lunarscape
lunar year
star
starburst
star-crossed
solar
solar battery
solar cell
solar day
solar flare
solar heating
solar house
solar month
solar panel
solar system
solar power
sun
sunbeam
sunblock
sunburn
sunburst
sundial
sundown
sun porch
sunrise
sunscreen
sunset
sunshade
sunshine
sunspot
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Compound Words
Colors
black
blackball
black bear
blackberry
blackbird
blackboard
black cherry
black eye
black-eyed pea
black-eyed Susan
blackfish
black hole
blacklist
blackmail
black market
blackout
blacksmith
blacktop
black widow
blue
bluebell
blueberry
bluebird
bluebonnet
blue cheese
blue chip
blue-collar
bluefish
bluegrass
blue jeans
84
blue moon
blueprint
blue ribbon
bluestone
green
greenbelt
green card
greengrocer
greenhouse
green light
greens keeper
green tea
orange
orangeade
orange juice
orange stick
orangewood
red
redbird
red blood cell
red-blooded
redbreast
red carpet
redfish
red flag
red-handed
redhead
red herring
red-hot
red-letter
red maple
white
white birch
white blood cell
white bread
whitecap
white chocolate
white-collar
whitefish
white flag
white heat
white-hot
white knight
whiteout
white noise
white pages
white paper
white space
white tie
whitewash
white water
yellow
yellowbird
yellow fever
yellowfin tuna
yellow jacket
yellow journalism
yellow pages
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Compound Words
Food
bread
breadbasket
breadboard
breadbox
breadline
bread pudding
breadstuff
breadwinner
rye bread
white bread
cheese
cheeseburger
cheesecake
cheesecloth
grilled cheese
chicken
chicken breast
chicken feed
chicken-fried
chicken run
chicken wire
fish
fishcake
fish farm
fish fry
fish head
fishhook
fishing rod
fishnet
fishpond
fish stick
fishtail
food
food poisoning
food processor
food pyramid
food service
food stamps
foodstuff
food web
meat
meatball
meatloaf
meat market
milk
ice milk
milk shake
milk toast
malted milk
Human Body
arm
armband
armchair
armhole
armrest
blood
blood bank
blood donor
bloodhound
bloodshed
bloodshot
bloodstream
bloodthirsty
blood vessel
cold-blooded
hot-blooded
warm-blooded
earmuffs
earring
brain
brainchild
brainstorm
brainwash
eye
eyeball
eye bank
eyebrow
eye-catching
eye chart
eyedropper
eyeglasses
eyehole
eyelash
eyelid
eye opener
eyeshade
brow
browbeat
eyebrow
highbrow
lowbrow
ear
earache
eardrum
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Compound Words
eyesight
eyestrain
eyewitness
starry-eyed
face
barefaced
face cloth
face-off
faceplate
face-saver
face-to-face
finger
finger hole
fingernail
finger-paint
fingerpick
fingerprint
fingertip
foot
barefoot
football
footbath
foot bridge
foot fault
foot gear
foothill
foothold
footlights
footlocker
footloose
footpad
footpath
footprint
footrace
foot soldier
footsore
footstep
footstool
86
footwear
footwork
hand
backhand
handbag
handball
handbill
handbrake
handcar
handcart
handclasp
handcuff
hand-me-down
handpick
handsaw
handshake
handspring
handstand
hand-woven
handwriting
head
headache
headband
headboard
head cold
headcount
headdress
headfirst
headgear
headlamp
headlight
headline
headmaster
headphone
headpiece
headrest
headroom
headscarf
headshake
headshot
headstand
head-to-head
heart
downhearted
heartache
heart attack
heartbeat
heartbreak
heartburn
heart disease
heart failure
heartfelt
heart rate
heartsick
heartstring
heartwarming
nose
noseband
nosebleed
nosedive
nosepiece
nose-ring
toe
toecap
toe dance
toehold
toenail
toe shoe
waist
waistband
waistcoat
waistline
waist pack
wrist
wristband
wristwatch
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Compound Words
Position
down
down-and-out
downbeat
downcast
downdraft
downfallen
downfield
downgrade
downhearted
down-home
downlink
download
down payment
downplay
downright
downriver
downscale
downshift
downside
downsize
downspin
downstage
downstairs
downstream
downswing
down-to-earth
downtown
downturn
downwind
up
up-and-coming
upbeat
up-close
update
updraft
upend
upfront
upgrade
uphill
upland
uplift
uplink
upload
upraise
uprising
upriver
upside
upstage
upstairs
up-tempo
upturn
upwind
center
center back
center field
center fielder
centerfold
centerline
center of gravity
centerpiece
center spread
center stage
side
countryside
flipside
sideband
sidebar
sideboard
sidecar
side chair
side dish
side effect
sidekick
sideline
sideslip
sidestep
sidestroke
sideswipe
sidetrack
sideways
high
high beam
highbrow
highchair
high country
high-end
high-flying
high frequency
high-grade
high ground
high-handed
high horse
highlander
highlands
highlight
high profile
high-rise
high-risk
high road
high school
high seas
high-strung
highway
high wire
low
low beam
lowbrow
low country
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Compound Words
low-end
low-frequency
low-grade
low ground
lowland
low profile
low-rise
low-risk
low road
in
indoors
inland
inroad
inside
out
outbuilding
outdoors
outhouse
outland
outpost
outside
front
front-end
frontline
front list
frontmatter
front office
frontrunner
front yard
waterfront
back
backache
backbone
back country
backdate
backdoor
88
backdrop
back-end
backfield
backfire
backflip
background
backhand
backlash
backlist
backlog
backmatter
back office
backpack
backrest
backroom
back-seat driver
backslide
backspace
backstab
backstage
backstairs
back story
backstroke
backswing
backtalk
backwater
backwoods
backyard
first
first aid
first base
first class
first edition
firsthand
first night
first-rate
second
second base
second best
second class
second-guess
secondhand
secondhand smoke
second-rate
second wind
end
back-end
bitter end
endgame
end line
end matter
endnote
endpaper
end plate
endplay
end product
end run
end table
end use
end user
end zone
front-end
last
last-born
last-ditch
last-gasp
last hurrah
last laugh
last minute
last names
last rites
last straw
last word
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Compound Words
Temperature
cold
cold-blooded
cold call
cold cream
cold feet
cold front
cold pack
cold-shoulder
cold sore
cold war
cool
cooldown
coolheaded
cooling tower
hot
hotbed
hot-blooded
hotcake
hothead
hothouse
hot line
hotlink
hot plate
hot seat
hot spot
hot tub
hot-water bottle
warm
warm-blooded
warmed-over
warm front
warm-hearted
warming pan
warm-up
Weather
ice
ice age
iceberg
iceboat
icebound
icebreaker
icecap
icefall
ice field
ice floe
ice fog
ice-free
icehouse
ice pack
ice storm
rain
rainbow
rain check
raincoat
rain date
rainfall
rain forest
rain gauge
rainmaking
rainsquall
rainstorm
rainwater
rainwear
snow
snowball
snowbank
snow blindness
snow blower
snowbound
snowcap
snow cover
snowdrift
snowfall
snowfield
snowflake
snow goose
snow line
snowmaker
snowmelt
snowplow
snowshoe
snowslide
snowstorm
snowsuit
snow tire
wind
wind farm
windmill
windscreen
wind shear
windshield
windsock
windstorm
windsurf
windswept
wind tunnel
wind turbine
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Compound Words
Target
Four Elements
air
airbag
airborne
airbrake
airbrush
air chamber
air conditioning
air-cool
air cover
aircraft
airfield
airflow
airfoil
air force
airlift
airline
airlock
airplane
air pocket
airpower
air pressure
air raid
airsick
airspace
airstrip
air taxi
airtight
airwave
earth
earthborn
earthbound
earthenware
90
earthquake
earth-shaking
earth tone
earthworm
fire
fire alarm
fire ant
firearm
fireball
firebird
fireboard
fireboat
firebomb
firebox
firebrand
firecracker
fire department
fire door
fire drill
fire engine
fire escape
fire extinguisher
firefighter
firefly
fireguard
firehouse
fire hydrant
firelight
fireplace
fireplug
fireproof
fire sale
fire station
fire storm
fire tower
firetrap
firewall
fireworks
water
water ballet
waterbed
water bird
water biscuit
waterborne
water buffalo
water bug
watercolor
watercourse
water cycle
waterfowl
waterfront
water gate
water level
waterline
waterlogged
watermark
water polo
water-repellent
watershed
water supply
watertight
waterwheel
waterworks
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Compound Words
Connection
free
free agent
free-associate
free association
freeborn
freedom fighter
freedom rider
free enterprise
free-fall
free flight
free-floating
free-for-all
freeform
freehand
freeload
free market
free-range
free skating
free speech
free-spoken
freestanding
freestyle
freethinker
free trade
free verse
freeway
free will
free world
death benefit
death mask
death rate
death squad
deathtrap
death warrant
life jacket
lifeline
life mask
life preserver
life-size
lifespan
lifestyle
life support
lifetime
tied
tieback
tie beam
tiebreaker
tie clasp
tie-in
tie line
tie rod
tie tack
tie-up
Life and Death
dead
dead air
deadbeat
deadbolt
dead end
dead heat
dead language
deadline
deadlock
dead reckoning
dead spot
dead weight
death
deathbed
life
lifeblood
lifeboat
life cycle
life expectancy
life form
lifeguard
life insurance
live
livelong
livestock
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Compound Words
Media
computer
computer age
computer crime
computer graphics
computer language
computer literacy
computer science
computer virus
news
news agency
newsbreak
newscast
news conference
news flash
news group
newsletter
newsmagazine
newsmaker
newspaper
newsprint
news radio
news release
newsroom
newsstand
newsweekly
newswire
newsworthy
civil law
civil rights
civil servant
civil service
civil war
stateroom
state’s evidence
stateside
statesperson
states’ rights
statewide
radio
radiophone
radiophoto
radiotelegraph
radiotelephone
radio wave
Places
city
city council
city desk
city editor
city hall
city room
cityscape
cityslicker
city-state
citywide
civil
civil defense
civil disobedience
civil engineer
92
county
county agent
county fair
county seat
countywide
state
statecraft
statehouse
country
back country
country club
country cousin
country music
countryside
countrywide
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Clipped Words
Clipped Words
A clipped word is a short word formed from a longer word
by dropping one or more syllables.
Easy
Clipped
Standard
Clipped
Standard
bike
hippo
phone
bicycle
hippopotamus
telephone
photo
plane
rhino
photograph
airplane
rhinoceros
Clipped
Standard
Clipped
Standard
ad
auto
bra
burger
bus
champ
con
dorm
e-mail
exam
ex
advertisement
automobile
brassiere
hamburger
omnibus
champion
convict
dormitory
electronic mail
examination
ex-husband or ex-wife
ex-con
exec
ex-convict
executive
an
flu
fridge
gas
grad
gym
fanatic
influenza
refrigerator
gasoline
graduate
gymnasium
lab
limo
lunch
math
memo
movie
pants
pen
pike
pop
prom
ref
sitcom
sub
taxi
teen
tie
tux
van
vet
laboratory
limousine
luncheon
mathematics
memorandum
moving picture
pantaloons
penitentiary
turnpike
popular
promenade
referee
situation comedy
submarine
taxicab
teenager
necktie
tuxedo
caravan
veterinarian; veteran
Target
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Clipped Words
Challenge
Clipped
Standard
Clipped
Standard
amp
cab
cam
cap
carb
cat
chemist
coed
condo
co-op
amplifier
cabriolet
camera
capital letter
carbohydrate
catamaran
alchemist
coeducational
condominium
cooperative apartment building or
business
decaffeinated
demonstration
double
facsimile
medications
mum
perk
prenup
psych
quad
recap
rehab
scrip
specs
stats
stereo
synch
typo
varsity
vent
webcam
zoo
chrysanthemum
perquisite
prenuptial agreement
psychology
quadrangle
recapitulate
rehabilitation
prescription
specifications
statistics
stereophonic
synchronize
typographical error
university
ventilator
Web camera
zoological gardens
decaf
demo
dub
fax
meds
94
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Common Abbreviations
Common Abbreviations
An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word used
primarily in writing to represent the whole word.
Easy
Streets and Roads
Days of the Week
Abbreviation
Whole Word
Abbreviation
Whole Word
Mon.
Tues.
Weds.
Thurs.
Fri.
Sat.
Sun.
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Ave.
Blvd.
Dr.
Pl.
Rd. St.
Avenue
Boulevard
Drive
Place
Road
Street
Titles of Address
Months*
Abbreviation
Whole Word
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
Jun.
Jul.
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
January
February
March
April
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
* There is no abbreviation for May.
Abbreviation
Whole Word
Capt.
Col.
Dr.
Gen.
Hon.
Jr.
Lt.
Mr.
Mrs.
Captain
Colonel
Doctor
General
Honorable
Junior
Lieutenant
Mister
Mistress (for a married woman)
Ms. (pronounced
“miz,” for women who
prefer not to be called
Mrs. or Miss)
Professor
Reverend
Senior
Sergeant
Ms.
Prof.
Rev.
Sr.
Sgt.
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Common Abbreviations
Target
U.S./United States
Time
Abbreviation
Whole Word
Abbreviation
Whole Word
A.M.
ante meridiem, “before midday”
post meridiem, “after
midday”
anno Domini, “in the
year of our Lord”
before Christ
before the common era
common era
AL
AK
AZ
AR
CA
CO
CT
DE
FL
GA
HI
ID
IL
IN
IA
KS
KY
LA
ME
MD
MA
MI
MN
MS
MO
MT
NE
NV
NH
NJ
NM
NY
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
P.M.
A.D.
B.C.
B.C.C.
C.E.
Time Zones in U.S.
Abbreviation
Whole Word
EDT
EST
CDT
CST
MDT
MST
PDT
PST
AKDT
AKST
HADT
Eastern Daylight Time
Eastern Standard Time
Central Daylight Time
Central Standard Time
Mountain Daylight Time
Mountain Standard Time
Pacific Daylight Time
Pacific Standard Time
Alaskan Daylight Time
Alaskan Standard Time
Hawaiian-Aleutian Daylight Time
Hawaiian-Aleutian
Standard Time
Daylight Saving Time
HAST
DST
96
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Common Abbreviations
U.S./United States
Measurements U.S. System
Abbreviation
Whole Word
Length
NC
ND
OH
OK
OR
PA
RI
SC
SD
TN
TX
UT
VT
VA
WA
WV
WI
WY
DC
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
District of Columbia
federal district (Washington D.C.)
Abbreviation
Whole Word
in.
ft.
yd.
rd.
fur.
mi. inch
foot
yard
rod
furlong
mile
AS
FM
GU
MH
MP
PW
PR
VI
American Samoa
Federated States of
Micronesia
Guam
Marshall Islands
Northern Mariana
Islands
Palau
Puerto Rico
U.S. Virgin Islands
Area
Abbreviation
Whole Word
sq. ft.
sq. yd.
sq. rd.
sq. mi.
square foot
square yard
square rod
square mile
Volume
Abbreviation
Whole Word
cu. ft.
cu. yd.
cubic foot
cubic yard
Capacity
Abbreviation
Whole Word
tsp. tbsp.
oz.
c.
pt.
qt.
gal.
teaspoon
tablespoon
ounce
cup
pint
quart
gallon
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Common Abbreviations
Weight
Volume
Abbreviation
Whole Word
Abbreviation
Whole Word
dr.
oz.
lb.
cwt
T
dram
ounce
pound
hundredweight
ton
m3 dm3
cc or cu cm
or cm3
cubic meter
cubic decimeter
cubic centimeter
Measurements Metric System
Length
Abbreviation
Whole Word
m
dm
cm
mm
dam
hm
km
meter
decimeter
centimeter
millimeter
dekameter
hectometer
kilometer
Area
98
Abbreviation
Whole Word
sq cm or cm2
sq km or km2
ha
square centimeter
square kilometer
hectare
Capacity
Abbreviation
Whole Word
l
dl
cl
ml
dal
hl
kl dm3
liter
deciliter
centiliter
milliliter
dekaliter
hectoliter
kiloliter
cubic decimeter
Weight
Abbreviation
Whole Word
g
dg cg
mg
kg
hg
dag
t
gram
decigram
centigram
milligram
kilogram
hectogram
dekagram
metric ton
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Common Abbreviations
Challenge
Countries of the World
The following two-letter and three-letter codes
were established by the International Organization
for Standardization (ISO). Country codes are often
used at the end of international URLs.
Africa
2-Letter Code 3-Letter Code Whole Word
2-Letter Code 3-Letter Code Whole Word
DZ AD BJ BW BF BI CM CV CF TD KM CD DZA AND BEN BWA BFA BDI CMR CPV CAF TCD COM COD CG COG LS LR LY MG MW ML MR MU MA MZ NA NE NG RW ST LSO LBR LBY MDG MWI MLI MRT MUS MAR MOZ NAM NER NGA RWA STR CI DJ EG GQ ER ET GA GM GH GN GW KE CIV DJI EGY GNQ ERT ETH GAB GMB GHA GIN GNB KEN SN SC SL SO ZA SD SZ TZ TG TN UG ZM ZW SEN SYC SLE SOM ZAF SDN SQZ TZA TGO TUN UGA ZMB
ZWE Algeria
Angola
Benin
Botswana
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Central African
Republic
Chad
Comoros
The Democratic
Republic of the
Congo
The Republic of
the Congo
Ivory Coast
Djibouti
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Gabon
Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Kenya
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Madagascar
Malawi
Mali
Mauritania
Mauritius
Morocco
Mozambique
Namibia
Niger
Nigeria
Rwanda
Sao Tome and
Principe
Senegal
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Africa
Sudan
Swaziland
Tanzania
Togo
Tunisia
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Common Abbreviations
Asia
100
2-Letter Code 3-Letter Code Whole Word
2-Letter Code 3-Letter Code Whole Word
AF AR AZ BH BD BT KH CN CY TP GE IN ID IR IQ IL JR JO KZ KP LB MY MV MN MM NP OM PK PH QA RU LBN MYS MDV MNG MMR NPL OMN PAK PHL QAT RUS SA
SG LK SY TW TJ TH TR SAU SGP LKA SYR TWN TJK THA TUR TM AE TKM ARE UZ VN YE UZB VNM YEM AFG ARM AZE BHR BGD BTN KHM CHN CYB TMP GEO IND IDN IRN IRQ ISR JRN JOR KAZ PRK KR KOR KW KG LA KWT KGZ LAO Afghanistan
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Bhutan
Cambodia
China
Cyprus
East Timor
Georgia
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Democratic
Peoples Republic
of Korea (North
Korea)
Republic of Korea
(South Korea)
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lebanon
Malaysia
Maldives
Mongolia
Myanmar
Nepal
Oman
Pakistan
Philippines
Qatar
Russia (also
Europe)
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
Sri Lanka
Syria
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Thailand
Turkey (also
Europe)
Turkmenistan
United Arab Emirates
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Yemen
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Common Abbreviations
Australia and Pacific Islands
2-Letter Code 3-Letter Code Whole Word
2-Letter Code 3-Letter Code Whole Word
AU BN FJ KI MH FM NR NZ PW PG PLW PNG WS SB TO TV VU WSM SLB TON TUV VUT AUS BRN FJL KIR MHI FSM NRU NZL Australia
Brunei
Fiji
Kiribati
Marshall Islands
Micronesia
Nauru
New Zealand
Palau
Papua New
Guinea
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu
Europe
2-Letter Code 3-Letter Code Whole Word
2-Letter Code 3-Letter Code Whole Word
AL AD AT BY BE BO ALB AND AUT BLR BEL BIH BG HR CZ DK EE FI FR DE GR HU IS IE IT LV LI LT BGR HRV CZE DNK EST FIN FRA DEV GRC HUN ISL IRL ITA LVA LIE LTU LU MK MT MD MC NL
NO PL PT RO RU LUX MKD MLT MDA MCO NLD NOR POL PRT ROM RUS SM SK SI ES SE CH TR UA GB SMR SVK SVN ESP SWE
CHE TUR UKR GBR VA VAT Albania
Andorra
Austria
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malta
Moldova
Monaco
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia (also
Asia)
San Marino
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey (also Asia)
Ukraine
United Kingdom
(Great Britain)
Vatican City
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Common Abbreviations
North America, Central America, and the Caribbean
2-Letter Code 3-Letter Code Whole Word
2-Letter Code 3-Letter Code Whole Word
AI AG AIA ATG AW BS BB BZ BM CA CR CU DM DO ABW BHS BRB BLZ BMU CAN CRI CUB DMA DOM HN JM MX NI PA KN HND JAM MEX NIC PAN KNA LC VC LCA VCT TT TTO TC TCA SV GL GD GT HT SLV GRL GRD GTM HTI US BG USA VGB VI VIR Anguilla
Antigua and Babuda
Aruba
the Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Bermuda
Canada
Costa Rica
Cuba
Dominica
Dominican Republic
El Salvador
Greenland
Grenada
Guatemala
Haiti
Honduras
Jamaica
Mexico
Nicaragua
Panama
Saint Kitts and
Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and
the Grenadines
Trinidad and
Tobago
Turks and Caicos
Islands
United States
Virgin Islands
(British)
Virgin Islands
(U.S.)
South America and Antarctica
102
2-Letter Code 3-Letter Code Whole Word
2-Letter Code 3-Letter Code Whole Word
AR BO BR CL CO EC FK GF GY PY PE SR UY VE
GUY PRY PER SUR URY VEN Guyana
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname Uruguay
Venezuela
AQ ATA Antarctica
ARG
BOL BRA CHL COL ECU FLK
GUF Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
Columbia
Ecuador
Falkland Islands
French Guiana
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Acronyms and Initialisms
Acronyms
and
Initialisms
Acronyms and initialisms are special types of abbreviated
words. An acronym is a new word formed from the initial
letters of the original words. The word that is formed is
pronounced (for example, radar). An initialism is formed
from the letters of one or more words. For initialisms, the
letters are pronounced (for example, CD).
Easy
Acronyms (pronounce word)
Initialisms (pronounce letters)
New Word
Initial letters/Original words
Letters
Word(s)
radar RAdio Detecting And Ranging
scuba elf-Contained Underwater
S
Breathing Apparatus
sonar SOund NAvigation and Ranging
UNESCO nited Nations Educational,
U
Scientific, and Cultural Organization
UNICEF nited Nations (International)
U
Children’s (Emergency) Fund
CD C.O.D. FAQ IOU P.S. TV TGIF Compact Disc
Cash On Delivery
Frequently Asked
Questions
I Owe You
Post Script
TeleVision
Thank God (or Goodness)
It’s Friday
ZIP (code) Zone Improvement Plan
Target
Acronyms (pronounce word)
New Word
Initial letters/Original words
New Word
Initial letters/Original words
AIDS cquired Immune Deficiency A
Syndrome
PIN Personal Identification Number
AWOL Absence WithOut Leave
NATO orth Atlantic Treaty N
Organization
FEMA ederal Emergency MAnagement
F
Organization
snafu Situation Normal All Fouled Up
laser ight Amplification by the L
Stimulated Emission of Radiation
Teflon Tetrafloroetylene resin
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103
Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Acronyms and Initialisms
Initialisms (pronounce letters)
Letters
Words
Letters
Words
AAA merican Automobile A
Association
IRS Internal Revenue Service
ABC merican Broadcasting A
Company
MIA Missing In Action
MO ASAP
As Soon As Possible
odus Operandi (method of
M
operating)
ATM Automatic Teller Machine
NAACP ational Association for the
N
Advancement of Colored People
BLT acon Lettuce and Tomato
B
sandwich
NBC National Broadcasting Company
CBS Columbia Broadcasting System
PBS Public Broadcasting System
CIA Central Intelligence Agency
RIP Rest In Peace
DA District Attorney
RSVP epondez S’il Vous Plait
R
(please respond)
CPR CardioPulmonary Resuscitation
POW Prisoner Of War
DJ Disc Jockey
SAT DNA DeoxyriboNucleic Acid
cholastic Achievement (or
S
Aptitude) Test
DVD Digital Video Disc
SUV Sports Utility Vehicle
FBI Federal Bureau of Investigation
URL Uniform Resource Locator
FCC ederal Communications F
Commission
VCR Video Cassette Recorder
VIP Very Important Person
FTC Federal Trade Commission
VJ Video Jockey
IQ Intelligence Quotient
Q-and-A Question-and-Answer
Combination Acronym and Initialism
CD-ROM 104
ompact Disc Read Only C
Memory
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Acronyms and Initialisms
Challenge
Acronyms (pronounce word)
New word
Initial letters/Original words
New word
Initial letters/Original words
BASIC eginner’s All-purpose B
Symbolic Instruction Code
Ginny Mae
overnment National Mortgage
G
Association
CAD Computer-Aided Design
HUD CAT Computerized Axial Tomography
epartment of Housing and
D
Urban Development
DOS Disc Operating System
NAFTA orth American Free Trade
N
Agreement
Initialisms (pronounce letters)
Letters
Words
Letters
Words
AI Artificial intelligence
GNP Gross National Product
AKA Also Known As
GPA Grade Point Average
BBC
British Broadcasting System
GPS Global Positioning System
CEO Chief Executive Officer
LCD
Liquid Crystal Display
CFO Chief Financial Officer
LED Light Emitting Diode
DNA DeoxyriboNucleic Acid
NEA National Endowment for the Arts
EU European Union
Combination Acronym and Initialism
JPEG oint Photographic Experts
J
Group
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Words From Mythology
Words From Mythology
Greek , Roman, and Norse myths have provided a rich source
of words in English, including the days of the week, character
traits, and scientific concepts.
Easy
Days
Word
Origin
Meaning
Sunday
from Sunne, Norse goddess of the sun
the Sun’s day; first day of the week
Monday
from Mani, the Norse god of the moon
the Moon’s day; second day of the week
Tuesday
from Tyr or Tiu, the Norse god of war
third day of the week
Wednesday
from Woden, king of the Norse gods and god of the hunt
fourth day of the week
Thursday
from Thor, the Norse god of thunder
fifth day of the week
Friday
from Freyja, the Norse goddess of love
sixth day of the week
Saturday
f rom Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture who reigned during the Golden Age
seventh day of the week
Word
Origin
Meaning
January
f rom Janus, the Roman god of doorways, who had two faces—one looking backward and one forward
first month of the year
March
from Mars, the Roman god of war
third month of the year
May
from Maia, in Greek mythology, one of the
seven daughters of Atlas, and the mother of Mercury fifth month of the year Months
June
106
f rom Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage, who was queen and wife of Jupiter;
sixth month of the year
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Words From Mythology
Flora and Fauna
Word
Origin
Meaning
floral
from Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers
of, relating to, or showing flowers
hyacinth
from Hyacinthus, a Spartan youth beloved
by the Greek gods, a plant that has a thick stem with small flowers that grow in long clusters
iris
from the Greek, goddess of the rainbow
a plant with long, thin leaves and large
purple, white, or yellow flowers
mint
from Minthe, a Greek nymph transformed
into an herb by the goddess Persephone an herb whose leaves have a strong scent and are used for flavoring
narcissus
from Narcissus, the Greek youth who fell in love with his own image in a pool of water, fell in and drowned, and was
turned into a flower
a plant that has yellow or white flowers
and long, thin leaves (a daffodil is a kind of narcissus) peony
from Paeon, the physician to the gods in Greek mythology
a garden plant with large flowers that
may be red, pink, or white
Word
Origin
Meaning
Asia
f rom the Greek goddess Asia, the mother
of Atlas
the world’s largest continent
atlas
f rom the Greek Titan condemned to
stand at the end of the world and hold up the sky
a book of maps
Europe
from the princess Europa, in Greek
mythology, who was abducted by Zeus and carried from Phoenicia to Crete the world’s second-smallest continent,
after Australia
ocean
from Oceanus, Greek god of the great
waters the entire body of salt water that covers
most of the earth’s surface
volcano
from Vulcan, the Roman god of fire and blacksmiths
a mountain with vents through which molten lava, ash, cinders, and gas erupt
Word
Origin
Meaning
Mercury
f rom the Roman god Mercury, the fleet-
footed messenger of the gods and of business
planet closest to the Sun
Geography
Planets
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Words From Mythology
Word
Origin
Meaning
Venus
from Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty
second planet from the Sun
Mars
from Mars, the Roman god of war
fourth planet from the Sun
Jupiter
from Jupiter, the Roman god who was ruler of the other Roman gods
fifth planet from the Sun
Saturn
from the Roman god Saturn, the father
of Jupiter
sixth planet from the Sun
Uranus
from the Greek god Uranus, who was the
earliest and supreme god
seventh planet from the Sun
Neptune
from the Roman god of the sea, Neptune
eighth planet from the Sun
Pluto
from the Roman god of the underworld, Pluto
a dwarf planet, formerly classified as the ninth planet from the Sun
Target
Appearance, Character Traits, and Behavior
108
Word
Origin
Meaning
Achilles’ heel
from the Greek hero Achilles, whose when he was a baby, dipped him in
magical water to protect him, but did not remove her hand from his heel
weak spot
berserk
from legendary Norse warrior, Old
Berserkr, known for his ferociousness and frenzy in battle
violent, upset, and destructive hector
from Hector, the Trojan prince killed by Achilles
bully; threaten
jovial
from Jove, another name for Jupiter, the chief Roman god
cheerful; jolly
Junoesque
from Juno, the Roman queen of the
gods and wife of Jupiter
stately and imposing juvenile
from Juventus, Roman god of youth
young; immature
lunatic
from Luna, Roman goddess of
the moon
someone who is crazy Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources
Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Words From Mythology
Word
Origin
Meaning
martial
from Mars, the Roman god of war
warlike
mercurial
from the Roman god Mercury, the
fleet-footed messenger of the gods and of business
quick and changeable in mood panic
from the Greek god Pan, the god of sheep and of dark woods and fields
sudden, intense fear
promethean
from the Greek Titan Prometheus, who stole fire from the gods
wildly creative; defiant and bold
tantalize
from the Greek king Tantalus, who was condemned to stand in water that he
couldn’t drink, with fruit above him that he couldn’t reach
to tempt someone without letting that person have what he or she desires
Objects, Occupations, and Other Things
Word
Origin
Meaning
ambrosia
f rom ambrosia, the food of the gods, thought to give immortality to those who eat it
a sweet treat with oranges and flaked coconut
calliope
from Kalliope, the Greek muse with a
beautiful voice, who watched over epic poetry
a keyboard instrument like an organ but fitted with steam whistles
cereal
from Ceres, Roman goddess of grain
a breakfast food
chronology
from Chronos, Roman god of time
order of events
kraken
from the Norse sea monster, the Kraken
a sea monster
mentor
from Mentor, a trusted advisor to
Odysseus
an advisor; someone who takes you under his/her wing
merchandise from the Roman god Mercury, the
fleet-footed messenger of the gods and of business
things that are bought and sold
merchant
from the Roman god Mercury, the
fleet-footed messenger of the gods and of business
someone in the business of selling things museum
from the nine Muses in Greek mythology, who presided over the
arts and sciences
a place for viewing and studying objects of
artistic, historic, and scientific interest
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Words From Mythology
Word
Origin
Meaning
music
from the nine Muses in Greek mythology, who presided over the arts and sciences
the arrangement of sounds to create an artistic piece
pontoon
from Pontus, the Greek god of the sea
a type of floating structure or bridge
siren
from the Sirens, Greek sea nymphs
who lured sailors to their doom
an alarm or distress signal terminal
from Terminus, the Roman guardian
of boundaries
an end point or station
typhoon
from Typhon, a rebellious Greek god who ruled destructive volcanoes and storms
a hurricane or violent tropical storm in the
western Pacific or Indian Ocean
zephyr
from Zephyrus, the Greek god of the
west wind
a gentle breeze Qualities, Magnitude, and Ideas
110
Word
Origin
Meaning
colossal
from the Colossus of Rhodes, a huge
statue of the Greek god Apollo
extremely large and awe inspiring cupidity
from Cupid, the god of love and son of
the Roman goddess Venus
greed; intense desire discord
from Discordia, the Roman goddess
of disagreement
disagreement; strife fortune
from Fortuna, the Roman goddess
of luck
luck; fate; destiny fury
from the Furies, three Greek goddesses
who sought out and punished wrongdoers
anger and rage herculean
from Hercules, the Greek hero of
exceptional strength who accomplished twelve seemingly impossible tasks
demanding great strength and effort iridescent
from Iris, the Greek goddess of the rainbow
brilliant; sparkling; showing the colors of the rainbow
Midas touch
from Midas, who, in Greek myths,
turned everything he touched into gold
the ability to make huge amounts of money Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources
Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Words From Mythology
Word
Origin
Meaning
narcissism
from Narcissus, the Greek youth who
fell in love with his own image in a pool
of water
intense self-love and admiration odyssey
from Odysseus, the Greek hero who,
after the Trojan War, traveled for many
years to get back to his home
a long voyage filled with adventures Olympian
from Mt. Olympus, the home of the
Greek gods
exalted; majestic panacea
from Panacea, a daughter of Aesculpius,
the Greek god of medicine
a cure-all or universal remedy saturnine
from the Roman god Saturn, the father
of Jupiter
dark and threatening Stygian
from the River Styx in the underworld
of Greek mythology
dark, gloomy, and forebidding titanic
from the Titans, the family of giants
who, in Greek mythology, originally ruled the heavens
colossal; extraordinarily large and strong Challenge
Character Types
Word
Origin
Meaning
Adonis
from the beautiful youth loved by the
Greek goddess Aphrodite
a strikingly beautiful man amazon
from the women warriors of Greek mythology
a particularly strong, tall, and aggressive
woman
Cassandra
from the daughter of King Priam and
Queen Hecuba of Troy
a person who predicts misfortunes but is not believed
nemesis
from Nemesis, the Greek goddess of
justice or vengeance
someone who keeps pursuing another to get justice; a force that cannot be beaten
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Words From Mythology
Science and Health
112
Word
Origin
Meaning
arachnid
from Arachne, a Greek girl changed into a spider by Athena
a spider
chimera
from a fire-breathing monster in Greek mythology made up of a goat, a lion,
and a serpent
a highly fanciful illusion; or an organism made
up of different genetic tissues
echoic
from Echo, the Greek nymph who pined
away for her lover until only her voice
remained
relating to the repetition of sound by reflection of sound waves off a surface electricity
from Electra, the daughter of
Agamemnon, who, in Greek mythology,
avenged her father’s death
a phenomenon arising from the behavior of electrons and protons fauna
from Fauna, the Roman goddess of
birth and fertility
the animal life in a particular region flora
from Flora, the Roman goddess of
spring and flowers
the plant life in a particular region
helium
from Helios, the Greek titan who was
the sun god
the lightest element hygiene
from Hygeia, the Greek goddess of
health and cleanliness
the science dealing with health and cleanliness
hypnosis
from Hypnos, the Greek god of sleep
the technique of putting someone in an induced, trancelike condition
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Words Based on Names of People
Words Based
on
Names
of
People
Many words have been coined from the names of people.
Often, these people invented, discovered, or did something
special that brought about the word. Words coined from
people’s names are called eponyms.
Easy
Word
Person
Meaning
America
from Amerigo Vespucci, one of the European explorers of the New World
the great landmasses that make up what is
now North America, Central America, and
South America
braille
from Louis Braille, a French teacher
of the blind who was himself blind
a system of writing consisting of raised dot-formed letters that can be read by touch
cardigan
from James Thomas Brudenell, seventh
Earl of Cardigan, an English soldier
who led the Charge of the Light Brigade and whose soldiers wore this type of garment
a longed-sleeved buttoned sweater without
a collar
Morse code
from the American inventor of the telegraph, Samuel Finley Breese Morse
a dot-dash code system used by telegraphers to send messages
sandwich
from John Montagu, the fourth Earl
of Sandwich, who reputedly put slices
of meat between bread so that he could keep gambling without being interrupted by eating
two or more slices of bread with a filling in-between teddy bear
f rom Theodore Roosevelt, 26th president
of United States and noted outdoorsman, who reputedly refused to shoot a bear cub
a stuffed toy bear valentine
from St. Valentine, an early Christian
martyr whose feast day falls on Feb. 14,
the day, according to some old legends, when birds begin to mate
a holiday during which sweethearts express affection Word
Person
Meaning
argyle
from the Duke of Argyle
Target
a brightly colored diamond-shaped cloth
pattern resembling the Argyle Clan tartan
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Words Based on Names of People
114
Word
Person
bloomers
f rom Amelia Jenks Bloomer, an
American feminist and social reformer
who wore these pantaloons
full, loose trousers that are gathered at the ankle or knee bobby
f rom Sir Robert Peel, the British Home Secretary who reorganized the London
police force
a police officer; a member of the London
police force bowie knife
from Col. James Bowie, a Texas patriot
and soldier, who popularized the knife
and marketed it under his name
a knife with a double-edged blade that curved to a point
boycott
f rom Charles Cunningham Boycott, an
Irish landlord whose tenants refused to pay rents and who was refused services in local stores in protest against harsh conditions
to avoid trade or refuse to deal with, as a protest
Bunsen burner
from Robert Wilhelm Bunsen, who
invented it
used in most chemistry labs, a burner that mixes gas with air to produce a hot flame
colt
from Samuel Colt, who invented this gun
a six-shooter or revolver
derby
from Edward Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby,
who had a strong interest in horse racing
a dome-shaped felt hat also called a bowler t hat was created to look like the bowler hats
the English wore at the Derby (a horse race,
also named for him)
derrick
from Godfrey Derrick, a 16th-century
English executioner known for his strength
a crane for lifting heavy objects derringer
from Henry Derringer, the Philadelphia
gunsmith who invented it
a small, stubby, easily hidden pistol
diesel
from Rudolf Diesel, a German engineer
who built the engine that bears his name
a type of internal combustion engine Ferris wheel
from George Washington Gail Ferris
whose invention debuted at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893
a giant wheel with passenger-carrying cars
that revolves on a stationary axis or stand
gibberish
from Geber, or Jabir ibn Hayyan, an Arabian
alchemist who, as a precaution against being charged with sorcery, wrote in seemingly unintelligible code
nonsense language guillotine
from Dr. Joseph-Ignace Guillotin, a French a machine with a sharp sliding blade used
physician who proposed its use during the for beheading people
French Revolution
hooligan
from Patrick Hooligan, a rowdy 19th-
century criminal and thug
Meaning
a ruffian or other violent thug Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources
Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Words Based on Names of People
Word
Person
Meaning
leotard
from Jules Leotard, a 19th-century French
aerial gymnast
a close-fitting one-piece garment worn by dancers and gymnasts
Levi’s
from Levi Strauss, a San Francisco
manufacturer who made these sturdy pants during the Gold Rush
jeans; dungarees lynch
from Charles Lynch, a Virginia planter
who formed a secret band to punish
people accused of crimes
to hang someone for a crime without benefit of a trial macintosh
from Charles Macintosh, a Scottish
chemist who patented a method for making waterproof garments
a kind of raincoat magnolia
from Pierre Magnol, a French physician
and botanist who classified plants
an evergreen tree with showy flowers mason jar
from John L. Mason, an American
manufacturer who invented and patented
them
a heavy glass jar used for home canning and preserving maverick
from Samuel Augustus Maverick, a Texas
lawyer and rancher who claimed ownership of any unbranded cattle
unbranded cattle; a nonconformist pasteurize
from Louis Pasteur, a French scientist who
invented the process of pasteurization
a process to purify and preserve milk by heating and rapid cooling
ritzy
from César Ritz, Swiss restaurateur and hotel manager who built a lavish hotel
classy, lavish, expensive
shrapnel
from Henry Shrapnel, an English military officer who invented a specific type of exploding projectile
fragments of an exploding artillery shell or bomb
sideburns
from General Ambrose Burnside, who wore the hair on the side of his face in a
distinctive way (originally called burnsides)
long hair growing on the side of a man’s face silhouette
from Etienne de Silhouette, a French
finance minister, who placed severe restrictions on spending and whose name became associated with being cheap
an outline image filled in with black spaldeen
from Alfred Goodwell Spalding, who established manufacturing standards for baseballs and baseball equipment
a rubber ball
Stetson
from John Batterson Stetson, a hatmaker who specialized in cowboy hats
a hat with a tall crown and wide brim, often
called a 10-gallon hat
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Words Based on Names of People
Challenge
116
Word
Person
Meaning
bowdlerize
from Thomas Bowdler, editor of an
expurgated edition of Shakespeare
to censor or delete written material considered improper or bawdy
camellia
from George Joseph Kamel, a botanist
who described the plant he found in the Philippines
a beautiful flowering plant chauvinism
from Nicolas Chauvin of Rochefort, a French soldier who was extremely patriotic and nationalistic
excessively patriotic or loyal to a group
curie
from Marie and Pierre Curie, French chemists and codiscoverers of radium
a unit of measure for radioactivity
doily
from a London linen merchant named Doily, Doiley, Doylet, or Doyly
a mat made of lace draconian
from Draco, Athenian ruler and lawgiver who established extremely harsh penalties for crime
harsh application of law or rules
dunce
from John Duns Scotus, a 13th and 14th
centuries philosopher whose work was
later mocked
a fool or blockhead
forsythia
from William Forsyth, a Scottish gardener who brought the plant to England from China
a shrub with bright yellow flowers
gerrymander from Elbridge Gerry, Governor of
Massachusetts, who approved a politically
inspired plan to reshape voting districts
to manipulate or change electoral districts to benefit the party in power kaiser
from Julius Caesar, Roman general and
dictator
emperor; ruler (also czar; tsar) kelvin scale
from William Thompson, Lord Kelvin, a Scottish scientist who invented this scale
a scale for measuring temperature
klieg lights
from John H. and Anton T. Kliegl, who invented the high-intensity lights used in the early days of filmmaking
high-intensity lights
macadam
from John Loudon McAdam, a road
engineer who built these small crushed-stone or gravel roads
a smooth road surface made from stones mixed with asphalt or tar
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Words Based on Names of People
Word
Person
Meaning
macadamia
from Dr. John Macadam, Secretary
of the Victoria Philosophical Institute
a type of tree with nuts mach number from Ernst Mach, a German scientist who investigated supersonic speed
the ratio of the speed of an object and the
speed of sound in air
machiavellian from Niccolò Machiavelli, who, in his book
The Prince, asserted that a ruler may use
any means available to maintain power
scheming; using unscrupulous methods to maintain power madeleine
from Madeleine Paulmier, a French pastry
chef who created these cakes
a small shell-shaped cake mansard
from Nicolas François Mansart, aka
Mansard, a French architect and designer
a type of roof that accommodates high- ceiling attics
martinet
from Colonel Jean Martinet, a French
officer and strict disciplinarian
a strict, overbearing disciplinarian marzipan
from Franz Marzip, a German confectioner
a sweet treat made of almond paste and
sugar
mausoleum
from King Maussollus of ancient Persia,
whose wife ordered a huge monument erected to him after his death
a large tomb mercerize
from John Mercer, an American industrialist
who invented this method for treating
cotton cloth
to treat cotton fabric in a way that strengthens it and gives it a silky luster mesmerize
from Franz Anton Mesmer, an early
Austrian hypnotist
to put in a trace-like state; to hypnotize or hold spellbound
minié ball
from Captain Claude Étienne Minié, a French soldier who invented a new kind of lead bullet
a cone-shaped lead bullet
Molotov
cocktail
from Vyacheslav Molotov, a Russian
a crude bomb; a gasoline-filled bottle with
statesman who claimed that the bombs the a rag fuse
Russians were dropping on the Finns were only food and drink
Neanderthal
from Joachim Neander, a poet who wrote
in praise of the glory of creation and for whom the Neanderthal (valley) was named
an early form of Homo sapiens nicotine
from Jean Nicot, the French ambassador to Portugal when tobacco was first brought to Europe from the New World
a byproduct of the combustion of tobacco
obsidian
from Obsius, an ancient Greek explorer
who first described it
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Words Based on Names of People
118
Word
Person
Meaning
ohm
from Georg Ohm, a German scientist who
studied electric currents
a unit of electrical resistance pompadour
from Madame de Pompadour, a French noblewoman who was a Parisian fashion
leader and who wore her hair this way
a hairstyle in which hair is swept up from the forehead petri dish
from Julius Richard Petri, a German
scientist who invented this laboratory dish
a flat glass or plastic dish with a loose cover
quisling
from Vidkun Quisling, a fascist who became ruler of Norway after the Nazis invaded the country during World War II
a traitor who is a puppet of the enemy raglan sleeve
from Fitzroy James Henry Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan, a courageous 18th-century British soldier who wore a loose-fitting coat with sleeves extending to the neck
a style of sleeve that is cut so that it
extends to the neck
saxophone
from Antoine Joseph Sax, a Belgian
musical instrument maker
a valved brass instrument spinet
from Giovanni Spinetti, a Venetian musical a small, upright piano
instrument maker
spoonerism
from the Reverend William Archibald Spooner, who was famous for his slips of
the tongue
a one-line phrase in which the initial
letters of words are switched tawdry
from St. Audrey (also known as St.
Etheldreda) who was honored by holding fairs on her saint’s day during which lace scarves and necklaces were sold as souvenirs
cheaply made; gaudy
thespian
from Thespis, a sixth-century Greek poet
an actor
Vandyke
from Sir Anthony Van Dyck, a Flemish
painter who depicted noblemen sporting this distinctive style of beard
v-shaped beard
volt
from Count Alessandro Giuseppe Antonio
Anastasio Volta, an Italian scientist who invented the first electric battery
a unit of measure of electric force
zeppelin
from Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, a
German designer and Civil War veteran of
the Union Army who developed this airship
a rigid, lighter-than-air aircraft Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources
Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Words Based on Places
Words Based
on
Places
Many words have been coined based on the names of
places. Often these words refer back to where the item
was invented, made, or first found. Words based on places
are called toponyms.
Easy
Word
Place
Meaning
Bermuda shorts
from Bermuda
knee-length pants bologna
from Bologna, Italy
a type of lunch meat
cheddar cheese
from Cheddar, England
a type of hard cheese
china
from China
porcelain dishes
frankfurter
from Frankfurt, Germany
a hot dog
hamburger
from Hamburg, Germany or
New York
a meat patty lumber
from Lombardy, Italy
wood from trees that have been cut down
magnet
from Magnesia, Asia Minor
a piece of metal that has the power to draw iron or steel
palace
from the Palatine Hill, Rome, Italy a grand residence for monarchs pistol
from Pistoia, Italy
a gun
Word
Place
Meaning
academy
from the Academia, Athens,
Greece
a school
angora
from Ankara, Turkey
wool from a goat or rabbit
arsenal
from the Arsenale, Venice, Italy
a place where weapons are stored
baked Alaska
from Alaska, U.S.A.
a dessert of cake and ice cream with a meringue topping
bikini
from the Bikini Atoll in the
South Pacific
a scanty two-piece bathing suit Target
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Words Based on Places
120
Word
Place
blarney
from a stone in the Blarney Castle, flattery and smooth, but insincere, talk Cork, Ireland
Brazil nut
from Brazil, South America
a type of tree with edible nuts
Brussels sprouts
from Brussels, Belgium
a type of vegetable
Cajun
from Acadia, Canada
a Louisiana native who is a descendent of
French Canadians
calico
from Calicut, India
a type of coarse cloth
cantaloupe
from Cantalupo, Italy
a type of melon
cashmere
from Kashmir, India
wool from a goat
champagne
from the province of Champagne,
France
a sparkling wine
Charleston
from Charleston, South Carolina
a type of dance
dalmatian
from Dalmatia, Croatia
a type of dog
denim
from Nîmes, France (de Nîmes)
a coarse cloth used for jeans
duffel bag
from Duffel, Belgium
a large canvas bag
fez
from Fes, Morocco
a flat-topped hat with a tassel
forum
from the Forum in Rome, Italy
a meeting place or public square
gauze
from Gaza in the Middle East
a thin, filmy cloth
ghetto
from the island of Ghetto, Venice, Italy
a racially segregated area or area where specific groups are forced to live
italics
from Italy
a slanted typeface
jersey
from the Isle of Jersey, England
a knitted sweater
java
from Java, Indonesia
coffee
lima bean
from Lima, Peru
a type of edible flat pod; butter bean
limburger cheese
from the Limburg province,
Holland
a type of pungent cheese limerick
from Limerick, Ireland
a humorous five-lined poem
limousine
from Limousin, France
a luxurious vehicle usually driven by a chauffeur
lobby
from the lobby to the British House of Commons, London,
England
to influence political representatives to vote a
certain way or support a specific cause
Meaning
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Words Based on Places
Word
Place
Meaning
Louisville slugger
from Louisville, Kentucky
a baseball bat
mackinaw
Macinac City, Michigan
a thick woolen blanket or a coat made from
this cloth
manila paper
from Manila, the Philippines
a thick paper or cardboard
mayonnaise
from Port Mahon, Minorca, Spain
a dressing made from egg yolks
milliner
from Milan, Italy
a hat maker
muslin
from Mosul, Iraq
a sturdy cotton fabric
rhinestone
from the Rhine River in Europe
artificial gems
romaine
from Rome, Italy
a type of lettuce
Roman numeral
from Rome, Italy
a ny of the symbols used by the ancient Romans to represent numbers
spa
from Spa, Belgium
a resort or other place offering health-related
activities and treatments
Swiss cheese
from Switzerland
a type of cheese characterized by holes
suede
from Sweden
a type of velvety-surfaced leather
wiener
from Vienna, Austria
a frankfurter
Word
Place
Meaning
argosy
from Rugusa, Dalmatia (rugusa corrupted to argosy)
a large merchant ship or fleet of ships
bohemian
from the Kingdom of Bohemia in Northern Europe
a person with an unconventional lifestyle
coliseum
from the Colosseum in Rome, Italy
a large arena or theater for a sporting event
damascene
from Damascus, Syria
to create a design with wavy patterns on metal
damask
from Damascus, Syria
a cotton or linen patterned fabric
dumdum bullet
from the Dum-Dum Arsenal in
Bengal, India
a bullet that expands on impact homburg
from Homburg, Germany
a soft, felt hat
Challenge
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Words Based on Places
122
Word
Place
Meaning
india ink
from India
a type of black ink
japan
from Japan
to decorate with a black enamel
jimsonweed
derived from Jamestown-weed,
Jamestown, Virginia
a tall poisonous weed laconic
from Laconia, Sparta, Greece
terse; not verbose; using few words
Leyden jar
from Leyden, Holland
an early form of a capacitor
Linzer torte
from Linz, Austria
a pastry with a raspberry filling
madras
from Madras, India
a fabric with a striped or checked pattern
maelstrom
from the Maelstrom, a whirlpool
off the west coast of Norway
a large whirlpool magenta
from Magenta, Italy
a reddish-purple color
mecca
from Mecca, Saudi Arabia
a center of activity that draws many people
meringue
from Mirengen, Switzerland
a confection made of egg whites whipped with sugar
organdy
from Urgendi, Turkestan
a cotton or silk lightweight fabric used for dresses
panama hat
from Panama
a brimmed hat made from plaited leaves
parmesan from Parma, Italy
a type of cheese
rialto
from the Rialto in Venice, Italy
a marketplace or theater district
romanesque
from Rome, Italy
r elating to a style of architecture that combines Roman and Byzantine elements
roquefort
from Roquefort, France
a type of blue-veined cheese
sienna
from Siena, Italy
a reddish color
venetian blinds
from Venice, Italy
a window covering with slats that can be adjusted to let light in or keep it out
verdigris
from Greece (literally “green of Greece”)
a greenish color found on copper and brass
that has oxidized
worsted
from Worsted, England
a type of close-woven woolen cloth
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Words From Wars
Words From Wars
Words entered English from different wars. Sometimes a
new word was coined. Sometimes the meaning of the word
was extended to cover a new object or situation.
Easy
Word
War
Meaning
ace
dogfight
dog tag
GI
jeep
tank
from World War I
from World War I
from World War I
from World War II
from World War II
from World War I
an expert fighter pilot
an aerial battle between fighter pilots
a metal identification tag worn by a soldier
a soldier who has enlisted
an open four-wheel-drive vehicle
an armored vehicle
Word
War
Meaning
A-bomb
airlift
AWOL
beachhead
from WWII
from the Spanish Civil War
from the Civil War
from World War I
an atomic bomb
to transport soldiers or other people by air
blitz (blitzkrieg)
brainwash
brass hat
concentration camp
from World War II
from the Korean War
from World War I
from World War II
doughboy
draftee
gestapo
gung ho
joystick
from World War I
from the Civil War from World War II
from World War II
from World War I
Target
absent without leave
territory held on the enemy shoreline and used as a launching point for an attack
an intense, heavy air raid
to impose beliefs through torture or intensive
indoctrination
high-ranking military officer
a prison where people are kept under extremely
harsh conditions
a soldier
someone conscripted or drafted into military
service
Nazi secret police
extremely brave, loyal, and eager
an airplane’s control stick
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123
Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Words From Wars
Word
War
Meaning
kamikaze
mushroom cloud
nosedive
R and R
radar
shell shock
storm trooper
trench coat
U-boat
walkie-talkie
warhorse
watch cap
war correspondent
from World War II
from World War II
from World War I
from World War II
from World War II
from World War I
from World War II
from World War I
from World War I
from World War II
from the Civil War
from World War I
from the Civil War
Japanese suicide bombers
the cloud caused by an atomic explosion
a steep dive or swooping downward of an aircraft
leave granted for rest and recuperation
an acronym for radio detecting and ranging
combat fatigue caused by exposure to shell fire
a member of the Nazi militia
a belted, military-style raincoat
a German submarine
a portable radio set used for communication
an experienced veteran a knitted cap
someone who reports on a war
Word
War
Meaning
balaclava
bazooka
cravat
fifth columnist
flattop
genocide
medivac
pillbox
pipsqueak
sabotage
stalag
strafe
from the Crimean War
from World War II
from the Thirty Years
War
from the Spanish
Civil War
from World War II
from World War II
from the Korean War
from World War I
from World War I
from World War II
from World War II
from World War I
a woolen garment covering the head and neck
a gun that fires rockets
a neckerchief or scarf Challenge
124
a secret agent or saboteur an aircraft carrier
the planned extermination of an entire race or group of people
an acronym for a vehicle used for medical evacuation
a shelter for a machine gun
a small, fast artillery shell
to deliberately destroy weapons and equipment
a prisoner-of-war camp
to attack with heavy machine-gun fire from a low-flying airplane
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Portmanteau Words
Portmanteau Words
In his nonsense poem “Jabberwocky” from Through the
Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There, Lewis Carroll
coined new words by blending sounds from two familiar
words. The new word carries the meaning of both the
original words and is called a portmanteau word. The
process continues to this day.
Easy
Word
Combined Words
Meaning
brunch
carjack
motel
scrunch
slosh
smog
splatter
squiggle
breakfast + lunch
car + hijack
motor + hotel
squeeze + crunch
slop + slush
smoke + fog
splash + spatter
squirm + wiggle
a late-morning meal
to hijack or forcibly take a car from someone
a casual hotel for motorists
to crush tightly together
to spill or splash in a clumsy manner
pollution caused by a mixture of fog and smoke
to spatter and splash something
a wavy line
Word
Combined Words
Meaning
aerobatics
biopic
chocoholic
chortle
chunnel
emoticon
guesstimate
heliport
moped
motorcade
paratrooper
prissy
prequel
shopaholic
slithy
workaholic
aeroplane + acrobatics
biography + picture
chocolate + alcoholic
chuckle + snort
Channel + tunnel
emotion + icon
guess + estimate
helicopter + airport
motor + pedal motor + cavalcade
parachute + trooper
prim + sissy
precede + sequel
shop + alcoholic
slimy + lithe
work + alcoholic
spectacular stunts performed by airplanes
a movie about a real-life person
someone who likes chocolate too much
noisy, hearty laughter
the tunnel through the English Channel
a picture used to express emotion
an estimate based on guessing
an airport for helicopters
bicycle with a motor
a parade or procession of cars and other vehicles
a soldier who parachutes into battle
excessively prim and proper
a sequel that tells what happened before
someone who likes to shop too much
slippery and thin
someone who works too hard and too much
Target
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125
Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Portmanteau Words
Challenge
126
Word
Combined Words
Meaning
advertorial
animatronics
aquacise
biotech
camcorder
contrail
cyborg
edutainment
infomercial
netizen
pixel
advertisement + editorial
animation + electronics
aqua + exercise
biology + technology
camera + recorder
condensation + trail
cybernetic + organism
education + entertainment
information + commercial
Internet + citizen
picture + element
an editorial written for the purpose of advertising a product or service
cartoons and other animated computer graphics
exercise routines performed in water
the use of biology and biological processes for production
a portable video camera and recorder
the visible trail of vapor left by an aircraft
a creature that is part human and part machine
entertainment created for educational purposes
a commercial designed to give a lot of information
citizen of the Internet; Internet user
a computer picture element or image
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Words Shakespeare Added to the Language
Words Shakespeare Added to the Language
Through his plays and poems, Shakespeare is credited with
adding many words to the English language. In some cases, he
coined new words. In other cases, he used an existing word as
a different part of speech or joined two existing words. In still
others, he gave an existing word a new meaning. Shakespeare
also gave words from other languages new English forms, and
he added prefixes and/or suffixes to existing words to form new
words. Some scholars, though, are dubious about the number of
words attributed to Shakespeare, claiming that he can be credited
only with the earliest written examples of the use of these words
that we have. In other words, the words may have been in use
before, but no written examples of them exist.
Easy
Word
Usage/Meaning
Shakespeare Connection
alligator
a noun meaning an aquatic reptile
said by Balthasar in Romeo and Juliet
bandit
a noun meaning thief, robber
said by the Duke of Suffolk in Henry VI, Part II
bedroom
a noun meaning space with a bed for
sleeping
said by Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream
bet
a verb meaning to wager
said by Shallow in Henry IV, Part II
blanket
a verb meaning to cover
said by Edgar in King Lear
bump
a noun meaning a lump or raised bruise
said by Nurse in Romeo and Juliet dawn
a noun meaning sunrise
said by King Henry in Henry V
eyeball
a noun meaning the round mass of
the eye
said by Oberon in A Midsummer
Night’s Dream
farmhouse
a noun meaning a dwelling on a farm
said by the Host in The Merry Wives
of Windsor
hint
a noun meaning a clue
said by Othello in Othello
hush
an adjective meaning quiet or still
said by the First Player in Hamlet
leapfrog
a noun meaning a game
said by King Henry in Henry V
moonbeam
a noun meaning light from the moon
said by Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Words Shakespeare Added to the Language
Word
Usage/Meaning
Shakespeare Connection
puppy dog
a noun meaning a young canine
said by Philip in King John
roadway
a noun meaning a street or path
said by Prince Hal in Henry IV, Part II
unreal
an adjective meaning imaginary
said by Macbeth in Macbeth
watchdog
a noun meaning a dog that guards
said by Ariel in The Tempest
Word
Usage/Meaning
Shakespeare Connection
accused
a noun meaning a person suspected of
a crime
said by the King in Richard II aerial
an adjective meaning in or of the air
said by Montano in Othello
amazement
a noun meaning surprise
said by Philip in King John
arouse
a verb meaning to awaken
said by the Captain in Henry VI, Part II
backing
a noun meaning support
said by Falstaff in Henry IV, Part I
barefaced
an adjective meaning obvious
said by Macbeth in Macbeth
beached
an adjective meaning having a shore
said by Titania in A Midsummer
Night’s Dream
birthplace
a noun meaning a place where a person
is born
said by Coriolanus in Coriolanus
bloodstained
an adjective meaning colored by blood
said by Martius in Titus Andronicus blushing
an adjective meaning flushing of the face
said by York in Henry VI, Part III buzzer
a noun meaning a noisemaker
said by Claudius in Hamlet
caked
a verb meaning to encrust or harden
said by Timon in Timon of Athens champion
a verb meaning to defy
said by Macbeth in Macbeth
cloud-capped
an adjective meaning topped with clouds
said by Prospero in The Tempest coldblooded
an adjective meaning unfeeling
said by Constance in King John
compromise
a verb meaning betray
said by Shylock in The Merchant of Venice
countless
an adjective meaning too numerous to count said by Marcus Andronicus in Titus Andronicus
Target
128
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Words Shakespeare Added to the Language
Word
Usage/Meaning
Shakespeare Connection
courtship
a noun meaning the activity of courting or wooing
said by the Princess in Love’s Labour’s Lost
critic
a noun meaning one who analyzes or evaluates said by Berowne in Love’s Labour’s Lost
design
a noun meaning a plan or target
s aid by Don Adriano de Armado in Love’s Labour’s Lost
dialogue
a verb meaning to talk together or hold a
conversation
said by the Maid in A Lover’s Complaint
downstairs
an adverb meaning toward the lower floors
said by Prince Hal in Henry IV, Part I drug
a verb meaning to add a toxic substance
or narcotic to a food or drink
said by Lady Macbeth in Macbeth elbow
a verb meaning to nudge or prod
said by Kent in King Lear
employer
a noun meaning a person who uses someone
or something
said by Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing
exposure
a noun meaning the act of uncovering or
leaving unprotected
said by Nestor in Troilus and Cressida fancy-free
an adjective meaning free from the power
of love
said by Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream
film
a verb meaning to coat or cover thinly
said by Hamlet in Hamlet
flawed
an adjective meaning weakened or damaged
said by Edgar in King Lear
fortune-teller
a noun meaning one who professes to
predict the future
said by Antipholus of Ephesus in The Comedy of Errors
full-grown
an adjective meaning mature, fully developed said by John Gower in Pericles gloomy
an adjective meaning dark or shadowy
said by Joan la Pucell in Henry VI, Part I
gossip
a noun meaning someone given to loose
talk about friends
said by the Abbess in The Comedy of Errors
green-eyed
an adjective meaning envious
said by Portia in The Merchant of Venice
homicide
a noun meaning killer
said by Reignier in Henry VI, Part I
hurry
a verb meaning move quickly
said by Adriana in The Comedy of Errors
ill-starred
an adjective meaning unfortunate
said by Othello in Othello
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Words Shakespeare Added to the Language
130
Word
Usage/Meaning
Shakespeare Connection
ill-tempered
an adjective meaning having a bad temper,
unwholesome
said by Brutus in Julius Caesar label
a verb meaning to brand
said by Olivia in Twelfth Night
laughable
an adjective meaning humorous
said by Salarino in The Merchant of Venice
lonely
an adjective meaning isolated
said by Coriolanus in Coriolanus
lower
a verb meaning to reduce in height or
standing
said by Mark Antony in Antony and Cleopatra
luggage
a noun meaning possessions, baggage
said by Prince Hal in Henry IV, Part I madcap
an adjective meaning zany, foolish
said by Maria in Love’s Labour’s Lost
majestic
an adjective meaning having dignity or
grandeur
said by Cassius in Julius Caesar manager
a noun meaning someone or something
that controls
said by Don Armado in Love’s Labour’s Lost
marketable
an adjective meaning saleable, attractive
said by Celia in As You Like It
mimic
a noun meaning a double, lookalike
said by Puck in A Midsummer
Night’s Dream
mountaineer
a noun meaning people who live in mountains, hillbillies
said by Cloten in Cymbeline noiseless
an adjective meaning silent
said by the King in All’s Well That Ends Well
obscene
an adjective meaning repulsive, gross, indecent
said by Ferdinand in Love’s
Labour’s Lost ode
a noun meaning a type of poem
said by Dumaine in Love’s Labour’s Lost
outbreak
a noun meaning a sudden eruption
said by Polonius in Hamlet
partner
a verb meaning to link or join with another
said by Jachimo in Cymbeline
puke
a verb meaning to vomit
said by Jaques in As You Like It
quarrelsome
an adjective meaning contentious, likely
to bicker
said by Grumio in The Taming of the Shrew
radiance
a noun meaning brilliance
said by Helena in All’s Well That Ends Well
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Words Shakespeare Added to the Language
Word
Usage/Meaning
Shakespeare Connection
rant
a verb meaning to speak out loudly
said by Hamlet in Hamlet
retirement
a noun meaning the giving up of a position
said by the The Earl of Douglas in
Henry IV, Part I
rival
an adjective meaning completing
s aid by Theseus in A Midsummer
Night’s Dream
scuffle
a noun meaning aggressive actions, fights
said by Philo in Antony and Cleopatra
secure
a verb meaning to make safe, to guarantee
said by Queen Margaret in Henry VI, Part II
shooting star
a noun meaning a meteor glowing from
atmospheric friction
said by the Earl of Salisbury in Richard II
skim milk
a noun meaning milk with cream removed
said by Hotspur in Henry IV, Part I
soft-hearted
an adjective meaning sympathetic to
a fault
said by Queen Margaret in Henry VI, Part II
submerge
a verb meaning put underwater
s aid by Cleopatra in Antony and
Cleopatra
superscript
a noun meaning address
s aid by Holofernes in Love’s Labour’s Lost
swagger
a verb meaning to assume an attitude above
one’s station
said by Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream
tardiness
a noun meaning lateness, slowness
said by the King of France in King Lear
torture
a verb meaning to hurt for a cause
said by Simpcox in Henry VI, Part II
tranquil
an adjective meaning quiet, temperate, still
said by Othello in Othello unaware
an adverb meaning unknowingly,
inadvertently
said by Venus in Venus and Adonis
unchanging
an adverb meaning not varying, always
the same
said by York in Henry VI, Part III
undervalue
a verb meaning to give a lower rating or
worth than justified
said by Bassanio in The Merchant of Venice
varied
an adjective meaning different, changing,
showing different examples of something
said by Marcus in Titus Andronicus
well-behaved
an adjective meaning courteous, polite
conduct
said by Mistress Ford in The Merry
Wives of Windsor
wormhole
a noun meaning the burrow of a worm
said by Lucrece in The Rape of Lucrece
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Words Shakespeare Added to the Language
Word
Usage/Meaning
Shakespeare Connection
worthless
an adjective meaning without value
said by the Earl of Warwick in Henry
VI, Part III
zany
a noun meaning a wild uncontrolled
person, mimic, clown
said by Berowne in Love’s Labour’s
Lost
Word
Usage/Meaning
Shakespeare Connection
academe
a noun meaning a school or place of learning
said by Ferdinand in Love’s Labour’s Lost
addiction
a noun meaning habit
s aid by the Archbishop of Canterbury
in Henry V
anchovy
a noun meaning small fish of the herring
family
said by Peto in Henry IV, Part I assassination
a noun meaning a planned murder
said by Macbeth in Macbeth
bedazzle
a verb meaning confuse with brilliance
said by Kate in The Taming of the
Shrew
besmirch
a verb meaning to smear or stain
said by Laertes in Hamlet
castigate
a verb meaning to punish or rebuke
severely
said by Apemantus in Timon of Athens
cater
a verb meaning to act as provider of food
said by Adam in As You Like It cow
a verb meaning to intimidate, to frighten
said by Macduff in Macbeth
dauntless
an adjective meaning fearless
s aid by King Lewis XI in Henry VI, Part III
dickens
a noun meaning heck, devil
s aid by Mistress Page in The Merry
Wives of Windsor
discontent
a noun meaning unhappiness, dissatisfaction
said by Saturninus in Titus Andronicus
engagement
a noun meaning commitment or pledge
said by Brutus in Julius Caesar
epileptic
an adjective meaning the condition of
having epilepsy; to be jerky, uncontrolled
said by Kent in King Lear fitful
an adjective meaning relating to a disease;
troubled; disturbed
said by Macbeth in Macbeth
Challenge
132
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Words Shakespeare Added to the Language
Word
Usage/Meaning
Shakespeare Connection
foppish
an adjective meaning foolish, silly
said by the Fool in King Lear
frugal
an adjective meaning not wasteful
s aid by Mistress Page in The Merry
Wives of Windsor
gallantry
a noun meaning politeness, bravery
said by Paris in Troilus and Cressida go-between
a noun meaning a messenger
s aid by Falstaff in The Merry Wives of Windsor
grovel
a verb meaning to kowtow, to humble
oneself
said by Eleanor in Henry VI, Part II hobnob
a verb (hob, nob) meaning to socialize with
said by Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night humor
a verb meaning to satisfy, to indulge
said by Moth in Love’s Labour’s Lost inauspicious
an adjective meaning ill-omened, unlucky
said by Romeo in Romeo and Juliet invulnerable
an adjective meaning indestructible, not
able to be hurt
said by King Philip in King John
jaded
an adjective meaning bored, disinterested
said by Suffolk in Henry VI, Part II jet
a verb meaning to intrude
said by Aaron the Moor in Titus Andronicus
lackluster
an adjective meaning dull, mediocre
said by Jaques in As You Like It lustrous
an adjective meaning shining, glossy
said by the Clown in Twelfth Night
metamorphose
a verb meaning to change
s aid by Proteus in The Two Gentlemen
of Verona
negotiate
a verb meaning to bargain
said by Claudio in Much Ado About
Nothing
obsequiously
an adverb meaning with deep respect and deference
said by Lady Anne in Richard III
pedant
a noun meaning teacher
said by Hortensio in The Taming of the Shrew
petition
a verb meaning to request
s aid by Mark Antony in Antony and
Cleopatra
premeditated
an adjective meaning considered, planned
said by the Bishop of Winchester in Henry VI, Part I
remorseless
an adjective meaning without guilt or
sympathy
said by King Henry VI in Henry VI, Part II
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Words Shakespeare Added to the Language
134
Word
Usage/Meaning
Shakespeare Connection
sacrificial
an adjective meaning worshipful, relating to a sacrifice or offering
said by the Poet in Timon of Athens savagery
a noun meaning wild, violent behavior
said by Salisbury in King John
stealthy
an adjective meaning secretive, hidden
said by Macbeth in Macbeth
unearthly
an adjective meaning not of this planet
said by Dion in The Winter’s Tale
unpublished
an adjective meaning secret, not issued
said by Cordelia in King Lear unwillingness
a noun meaning the quality of being
unwilling; disinclination
said by Richard in Richard II
vaulting
an adjective meaning soaring overarching
said by Queen Margaret in Henry VI,
Part II
vulnerable
an adjective meaning open to harm
said by Macbeth in Macbeth
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Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Words Coined From Literature and Movies
Words Coined From
Literature and Movies
Just as many words from Shakespeare’s works have
become part of the English language, new words
from literature and movies have also become part of
the lexicon.
Easy
Word
Origin
Meaning
robot
coined by Karel Capek in R.U.R.
a machine programmed to carry out human-like tasks and activities
scrooge
Ebenezer Scrooge, a character in A
Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
an extremely stingy and miserly
person
sherlock
Sherlock Holmes, the detective in Arthur
Conan Doyle’s mysteries
a detective Word
Origin
Meaning
Big Brother
George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four
a dictator or a dictatorship that
watches everything one does
Target
broken-hearted coined by William Tyndale, English translator of the Bible, in Luke 4:18
inconsolable; grief-stricken
Camelot
the site of King Arthur’s legendary court
any ideal place
cantankerous
coined by Oliver Goldsmith in She Stoops
to Conquer
cranky; bad-tempered Catch-22
coined by Joseph Heller in the novel Catch-22
a situation or problem that can’t be
solved
doublethink
coined by George Orwell in Nineteen
Eighty-Four
believing two contradictory things at
the same time
eleventh hour
the Bible, Matthew 20:1-16
the latest possible time
elfin
coined by Edmund Spenser in The Fairie Queene
like an elf
fedora
Fedora Romanoff, a leading character in
Victorien Sardou’s play Fedora
a soft felt hat
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135
Chapter 2: Vocabulary Development
Words Coined From Literature and Movies
Word
Origin
Meaning
freelance
coined by Sir Walter Scott in Ivanhoe
knights who sold their services to any master
good Samaritan the Bible, Luke 10:30-85
a stranger who stops to help another
newspeak
coined by George Orwell in Nineteen
Eighty-Four
language used to mislead the public
pollyanna
the main character in M. Porter’s novel Pollyanna
someone who is foolishly optimistic
Shangri-la
coined by James Hilton in Lost Horizon
a paradise on Earth
underdog
a popular 19th-century song by David Barker
called “The Under-Dog in the Fight”
a person expected to lose Word
Origin
Meaning
braggadocio
coined by Edmund Spenser in The Fairie Queene
a braggart; excessive boasting
dust devil
coined by F.M. Parker in Skinner
a small dust storm or whirlwind
gargantuan
originally a character from French folktales but made popular by François Rabelais in Gargantua and Pantagruel
enormous; gigantic
jeremiad
Jeremiah, a Hebrew prophet from the
Old Testament
a long mournful tale of trouble and woe lilliputian
the Lilliputians in Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s
Travels
tiny; little; of no importance malapropism
Mrs. Malaprop in Richard Sheridan’s The Rivals
a mistake in which one important-
sounding word is confused with another
pandemonium
coined by John Milton in Paradise Lost
chaos
paparazzi
Signore Paparazzo, a photographer in
Federico Fellini’s film La Dolce Vita
a freelance photographer of celebrities quixotic
coined by Miguel de Cervantes in Don
Quixote de la Mancha
having an over romantic view of life; lofty-minded and impractical
replicant
Ridley Scott’s movie Blade Runner
an android; a bioengineered being
thought police
George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four
people who control or try to control
what others think
Challenge
136
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Chapter 3
Words From
Other Languages
“We’re studying the
influence of other
languages on English.
I need some examples
of English words that
come from many
different languages,
not just from Spanish
and French.
”
T
his chapter explores the history of English by focusing on
words and phrases derived from other languages. More
than twenty languages are represented in the lists that follow,
enriching students’ knowledge of their influence on English. While
some of the words have changed in spelling and/or pronunciation
as they have been adopted into English, students may notice
that others have remained in their original form.
Because we use Latin and Greek roots to build words, the English
language owes a great debt to these two languages. In addition,
many Latin words in particular have passed into English through
several other languages. Share with students the following example
from Building Your Vocabulary (Scholastic, 2002):
The English word delicatessen came from
a German word, delikatessen, which came from
a French word, délicatesse, which came from
a Latin word, delicatus, which means “pleasing.”
The Greek and Latin words included in the lists in this chapter are
either ones that appear pretty much as they do in their original
language or ones that can be traced more directly back to the
original language. You may wish to show students the word
origin information that is typically included in a dictionary entry so
that they can continue to study word origins on their own.
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137
Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages
African Languages/Arabic
Words From African Languages
Easy
Word
Meaning
Word
Meaning
banana
cola
a fruit
a drink
yam
a vegetable
Word
Meaning
Word
Meaning
aardvark
dashiki
a mammal with a long snout
a brightly colored, loose-
fitting garment
a thick, spicy stew
a dance
safari
samba
zombie
a hunting trip or trip to see animals
a dance
the living dead
Target
gumbo
marimba
Challenge
Word
Meaning
Word
Meaning
apartheid
dengue
kraal
a system of racial segregation
an infectious disease
a rural village
raffia
veld
a type of fiber made from leaves
grassland
Words From Arabic
Easy
Word
Meaning
Word
Meaning
ghoul
magazine
a ghost or phantom
a weekly or monthly publication
an embalmed body wrapped in cloth
sofa
zero
a couch
nothing
mummy
138
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Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages
Arabic/Australian
Target
Word
Meaning
Word
Meaning
admiral
algebra
alcohol
assassin
a commander
a field in mathematics
a fermented beverage
killer, especially of an important
person
fried balls of ground, spiced chickpeas
a dip of mashed chickpeas
a spirit
grilled meat and vegetables on a stick
kohl
a dark powder often used as eyeliner
a type of sponge
a place thought to be a center of activity
a torrential rainstorm
the leader of an Arab tribe
a ruler
a tax on imported and sometimes
exported goods
falafel
hummus
jinni
kebab
loofah
mecca
monsoon
sheik
sultan
tariff
Challenge
Word
Meaning
Word
Meaning
caliph
casbah
a Muslim ruler
the older section of a North African town
a one- or two-masted sailing ship
a sweetened drink or potion
a ruler
a holy man who lives by begging
fatwa
hegira
kismet
intifada
jihad
mufti
a religious decree
a flight or escape
fate
an uprising
a military campaign or holy war
civilian clothes worn by a military person
dhow
elixir
emir
fakir
Words From Australian
Easy
Word
Meaning
Word
Meaning
kangaroo
a mammal with a pouch
koala
an animal resembling a small bear
Meaning
Word
Meaning
dingo
a wild dog
Target
Word
boomerang a weapon made from a curved piece
of wood
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Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages
Australian/Chinese
Challenge
Word
Meaning
Word
Meaning
billabong
a water hole
didgeridoo
a musical instrument
Words From Chinese
Easy
Word
Meaning
Word
Meaning
china
chop suey
chow mein
tableware made of porcelain
vegetable dish with fish or meat
fried noodle dish with shredded
meat
a spicy, tomato-based sauce
tea
wok
wonton
a drink made from dried leaves
a metal pan for stir-frying
a dumpling
Word
Meaning
Word
Meaning
dim sum
ginseng
gung ho
kowtow
kumquat
kung fu
small portions of various dishes
a root often used in Chinese medicine
very eager and excited
kneel and touch head to floor;
to fawn over
a small citrus fruit
a martial art used for self-
defense
mahjong
mandarin
soy
tofu
typhoon
yang
yin
a type of board game
the highest-ranked public official
sauce made from beans
bean curd
a violent windstorm
sun; masculine principle
moon; feminine principle
ketsup
Target
Challenge
Word
Meaning
Word
Meaning
feng shui
s ystem of beliefs about people’s
relationship with the environment
a flat-bottomed boat
tai chi
a form of physical exercise and
meditation
the way or guiding principle
sampan
140
tao
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Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages
Dutch
Words From Dutch
Easy
Word
Meaning
Word
Meaning
cookie
skate
sled
a little, flat cake
to glide across ice
a small vehicle with runners for
moving over ice and snow
an open vehicle with runners pulled
by a horse over ice or snow
a between-meals treat
snoop
stove
tulip
waffle
walrus
wiggle
to pry or spy
an appliance on which one cooks
a flower
a type of pancake
a sea mammal
twist and jiggle
Word
Meaning
Word
Meaning
bluff
coleslaw
cruise
cruller
decoy
duffel
easel
to pretend or fake
a salad of sliced cabbage
a voyage by water
a small cake of fried dough
a lure or snare
a type of woolen material; a bag
a device for holding a painter’s canvas
knack
splinter
stoop
yacht
a special talent or clever way of doing something
a cucumber that has been
soaked in brine
a small, thin piece of wood
a small porch or staircase
a type of boat
sleigh
snack
Target
pickle
Challenge
Word
Meaning
Word
Meaning
maelstrom
mannequin
mart
roster
a violent whirlpool
a life-size dummy
a store
a list
schooner
scone
sloop
smelt
a fast sailing ship
a small cake of baked bread
a single-masted ship
to melt or fuse in order to produce metal
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Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages
French
Words From French
Easy
Word
Meaning
ballet
beret
cafe
chauffeur
a type of dance
a soft, flat hat
a place that serves coffee
someone who drives someone else’s car
corduroy
a type of ribbed fabric
coupon
a piece of paper giving the bearer
certain benefits, such as a discount
crayon
a colored stick, often of wax, used
for drawing
margarine
food product usually made from
vegetable oils
mayonnaise a beaten mixture of oil and egg white
Word
Meaning
menu
omelette
picnic
a list of food items being served
an egg dish
a casual meal eaten outside,
often sitting on the grass
portrait
a picture of a person
restaurant a place that serves food
masquerade a party at which masks and costumes are worn
touché
word used to show a person has
scored or made a point
unique
one of a kind
Target
Word
Meaning
Word
Meaning
ambiance
arabesque
attaché
atmosphere or mood of a place
a type of dance position
a military or governmental agent; a
civil servant
a steel blade attached at the muzzle
of a gun
marshland; swampland
a small, informal restaurant
a nightclub or restaurant where
people can enjoy a floor-show
a hidden store of things
to disguise or conceal
a type of stew
a plastic cartridge containing magnetic tape
a small, two-doored car
a messenger
crochet
a type of needlework done with a
hooked needle
a game played on grass
a small meat or potato ball
coated with bread crumbs
a small piece of dried bread
style of cooking
remains; rubbish
first appearance
a bypass or route taken around
something
an ambassador
a repeated performance or part
of it that is repeated
a system of appropriate behavior
a man engaged to be married
a woman engaged to be married
bayonet
bayou
bistro
cabaret
cache
camouflage
casserole
cassette
coupé
courier
142
croquet
croquette
crouton
cuisine
debris
debut
detour
diplomat
encore
etiquette
fiancé
fiancée
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Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages
French
Word
Meaning
Word
Meaning
gaffe
gourmet
a noticeable mistake; blunder
a person with knowledge and love
of good food
a sauce for soaking meat before
cooking
a light purple color
a personal account of one’s life
a type of written agreement for borrowing money for property
rebellion against legal authority
inexperienced and too trusting
born
out of date
a sign or tablet
a mixture of flowers and herbs
walk
a young person who receives guidance from an older person
publicity
queue
quiche
advertising
line
a pie made with a filling of
eggs and cream
a tool
a body of work that can be
performed
an artificial lake
summary of education, experience, and qualifications
income from business
cooked quickly in butter or oil
a light baked dish made with egg whites
a memento or reminder of a particular place or event
fashion; trend
flavor; enthusiasm; enjoyment
for life
Word
Meaning
Word
Meaning
abattoir
accoutrements
adroit
apropos
a place where animals are
slaughtered
accessories; clothing or equipment
skillful
appropriate for a particular situation
ultra-modern
unimpressed
middle-class; conventional, materialistic, and boring
a dead end
bundle of papers relating to a particular topic
rank or level
entourage
entrepreneur
followers or associates
someone who sets up his/her
own business to make money
someone acting as a messenger
for another country
spying
skill; flair
awkward; vulgar
without preparation
lack of concern; calm and untroubled manner
plot or scheme
a person who links or coordinates others
suggesting death; gruesome; chilling
marinade
mauve
memoir
mortgage
mutiny
naïve
née
passé
plaque
potpourri
promenade
protégé
ratchet
repertoire
reservoir
résumé
revenue
sauté
soufflé
souvenir
vogue
zest
Challenge
avant-garde
blasé
bourgeois
cul-de-sac
dossier
echelon
envoy
espionage
finesse
gauche
impromptu
insouciance
intrigue
liaison
macabre
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Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages
French/German
Word
Meaning
Word
Meaning
maladroit
nuance
nonchalant
panache
piquant
raconteur
repartee
clumsy; awkward
a very slight difference
casual; calm and unconcerned
style and self-confidence
spicy
a storyteller
witty banter
rapport
regime
renaissance
rendezvous
ricochet
sabotage
sachet
bond of understanding
government in power
rebirth of culture
meeting
to rebound or bounce back
subversive, destructive act
a little package of scent
Words From German
Easy
Word
Meaning
Word
Meaning
dachshund
delicatessen
a type of dog with a long body
a shop selling prepared cooked
meats, relishes, cheeses, etc.
100 cents; a unit of money
a hotdog
a small domesticated rodent
a patty of chopped meat
a school for young children or
grade before first grade
knapsack
noodle
polka
a backpack
a strip of pasta
a type of fast dance
Word
Meaning
Word
Meaning
blitz
bratwurst
heavy and swift air bombardment
a sausage made of spiced pork or veal
a European alpine plant
a table game
a musical instrument
a married woman
a young or unmarried woman
secret police
gesundheit
glitz
glockenspiel
kaiser
kaput
kitsch
knockwurst
liverwurst
a kind of blessing or wish when
someone sneezes
glamour; glitter
a percussion instrument
emperor or ruler
broken; ruined
tacky or lowbrow
short, thick sausage
a liver sausage
dollar
frankfurter
hamster
hamburger
kindergarten
pretzel
a crisp bakery product usually
shaped like a knot
pumpernickel a coarse, dark bread
wiener
a hot dog
yodel
a type of singing
Target
edelweiss
foosball
flugelhorn
frau
fräulein
gestapo
144
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Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages
German
Word
Meaning
Word
Meaning
linzer torte
loden
a type of cake with fruit
a thick, dark-green woolen cloth
German air force
to take property by force
a noisy and mischievous ghost
a breed of dog
a backpack
a dish of shredded, sour cabbage
a type of rough-haired terrier
an unstressed vowel sound
an unscrupulous or contemptible
person, coward
schmooze
snorkel
spritz
stein
streusel
waltz
wurst
zwieback
to meet and talk informally
a breathing tube used for diving
squirt or spray
a large beer mug
a pastry with a sweet crumbly
topping
a rich cake made with eggs and
ground nuts
a type of dance or dance music
a sausage
a type of bread that is baked
and then toasted
Luftwaffe
plunder
poltergeist
rottweiler
rucksack
sauerkraut
schnauzer
schwa
shyster
torte
Challenge
Word
Meaning
Word
Meaning
angst
cobalt
doppelgänger
ersatz
feldspar
fest
flak
gestalt
anxiety and worry
a metallic element
a double
fake or imitation
a metamorphic rock
a get-together or celebration
bursting or shells from artillery
big or total picture; the whole
form
a rock resembling granite
backcountry, remote region
cannon with medium-length barrel
territory needed for a country to expand
lederhosen
leitmotif
meerschaum
muesli
knee-length leather trousers
a recurring theme
a tobacco pipe
a cereal of untoasted, rolled
oats, nuts and dried fruit
an armored vehicle such as a tank
German empire
extravagant talk; a sales pitch
a diacritical mark
forbidden
a longing to travel
an extremely talented child
spirit of the time
gneiss
hinterland
howitzer
lebensraum
panzer
Reich
spiel
umlaut
verboten
wanderlust
wunderkind
zeitgeist
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Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages
Greek
Words From Greek
Easy
Word
Meaning
Word
alphabet
buffalo
chorus
church
crocodile
the letters in a language
a type of cattle with horns
a group of singers
a place of worship
a large reptile
hippopotamus a large mammal that lives
in rivers
rhinoceros
a large mammal with one or
two horns on its nose
rhythm
beat
Word
Meaning
Word
Meaning
academy
acoustic
agony
amnesia
amoeba
athlete
a school
relating to sound
struggle and pain
the inability to remember one’s past
a one-celled organism
someone who plays sports and
other physical activities
a disaster
a mixture of clay and chemicals
complete disorder
a person in a story
government by the people
a prehistoric and extinct reptile
a serious play
management of resources
an inscription, particularly one on
a tombstone
a place equipped for sports
the story of the past
horizon
oint where the sky seems to
p
touch the earth
a foot race of about 26 miles
the study of numbers and how they work
to wander
a person who repairs machines
rhythmically organized tones
that create a musical quality
a city
a type of performance in which
characters are portrayed
through physical movements
something difficult to understand
a seer
a hymn or song of praise
understanding and compassion
a drama that ends unhappily or
in which the main character is
brought to ruin
Meaning
Target
catastrophe
ceramic
chaos
character
democracy
dinosaur
drama
economy
epitaph
gymnasium
history
146
marathon
mathematics
meander
mechanic
melody
metropolis
mime
mystery
prophet
psalm
sympathy
tragedy
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Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages
Greek/ Hindi
Challenge
Word
Meaning
Word
Meaning
abyss
an extremely deep chasm; a void
acme
the peak or perfection
holocaust
martyr
agora
marketplace
allegory
t he use of characters to represent ideas
alpha
the beginning
anathema
something that is reviled
anarchy
chaos and disorder
aristocracy
members of the noble class
asbestos
cosmos
dogma
epiphany
a type of heat-resistance mineral
the ordered universe
doctrine
a revelation
thesis
massive slaughter of people
a person who suffers willingly
for a cause
sadness
a multitude
a large stone that serves as a
monument
the end
to exclude
mockery
a mark of shame or disgrace
the pattern or rules of a language
a proposition
Word
Meaning
melancholy
myriad
obelisk
omega
ostracize
sarcasm
stigma
syntax
Words From Hindi
Easy
Word
Meaning
bangle
bandanna
cot
a bracelet
a scarf
a folding bed
pajamas
shampoo
sleeping attire
a cleanser for hair
Target
Word
Meaning
bungalow
a simple one-storied house or cottage
calico
a patterned, coarse cotton cloth
chintz
a brightly colored, printed, glazed
fabric
dinghy
a small boat
Word
dungarees
khaki
loot
swami
thug
veranda
Meaning
jeans
a dull brownish-yellow color
plunder
a religious leader
a brutal person
a porch
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Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages
Hindi/Italian
Challenge
Word
Meaning
chutney
cummerbund
a relish
a pleated sash worn for formal
dress
riding breeches
a relentlessly destructive force
a Hindu prince
jodhpurs
juggernaut
maharaja
Word
maharani
pundit
swami
tandoori
Meaning
a Hindu princess
a critic
a religious teacher
a dish cooked in a clay oven over charcoal
Words From Italian
Easy
Word
Meaning
bandit
broccoli
macaroni
motto
pasta
an outlaw; a thief
a green vegetable
a type of pasta
a statement expressing goals
noodles made from flour, eggs,
and water
a large musical instrument with a keyboard
piano
Word
pizza
solo
spaghetti
violin
volcano
Meaning
flat bread with cheese and sauce
alone
a type of pasta
a stringed instrument
an opening from which molten
rock erupts from the earth
Target
148
Word
Meaning
balcony
ballot
bravo
casino
confetti
fiasco
finale
ghetto
gondola
a terrace
a system of voting
excellent; well-done
a public place for gambling
streamers of colored paper
total failure
the end
a segregated area of a city
a long, narrow boat
Word
graffiti
grotto
influenza
lava
maestro
malaria
mandolin
Meaning
ritings and drawings made w
on walls
a cave
a respiratory disease
molten rock from a volcano
a master
a disease transmitted by mosquitoes
a stringed instrument
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Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages
Italian/Japanese
Word
Meaning
marina
a harbor; a place where boats are docked
a floor midway between the first
and second floors
a dramatic work that is sung
mezzanine
opera
Word
soprano
studio
torso
zany
Meaning
a singer with a high voice
a workroom for an artist
the trunk of the body
comical
Challenge
Word
Meaning
a cappella
s inging without musical accompaniment
in the open air
quick and lively
appetizer
a melody that is sung by one person
alone or two people together
coffee with hot milk
a musical composition
a gradual increase in the volume of music
an important woman singer, especially one who is arrogant
a system of government headed by a dictator
disguised
alfresco
allegro
antipasto
aria
cappuccino
concerto
crescendo
diva
fascism
incognito
Word
libretto
madrigal
paparazzi
portfolio
regatta
sonata
staccato
stiletto
stucco
svelte
trattoria
vendetta
virtuoso
Meaning
the text for an opera
a song
photographers who pursue celebrities
a flat case for holding papers
a boat race
a type of classical music
short, rapid notes
a dagger
a plaster coating used for outer
walls
slender
a small, simple restaurant or tavern
a feud
an expert or particularly skillful
person
Words From Japanese
Easy
Word
Meaning
haiku
judo
a poem of three lines with a total
of 17 syllables
a martial art similar to wrestling
Word
karate
Meaning
a martial art that uses kicks and
punches
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Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages
Japanese/Latin
Target
Word
Meaning
banzai
bonsai
futon
hibachi
honcho
jujitsu
a Japanese battle cry
a miniaturized tree or shrub
a sleeping mat
a grill
the person in charge
a martial art that relies on wrestling techniques
a style of comic or graphic book
a fighter trained as an assassin
the art of paper folding
manga
ninja
origami
Word
sake
samurai
sashimi
sushi
tofu
tsunami
tycoon
Meaning
an alcoholic beverage made from rice
a warrior
thin slices of raw fish
raw fish and rice
a food made from bean curd
a giant wave caused by an underground earthquake
a powerful business magnate
Challenge
Word
Meaning
aikido
kabuki
karaoke
a martial art
a form of drama
entertainment where a person
sings along with a prerecorded
song
an American whose parents came
from Japan
nisei
Word
shogun
shiatsu
sumo
tatami
Meaning
a ruler
a type of massage
a type of wrestler
a straw mat
Words From Latin
Easy
150
Word
Meaning
alibi
arena
exit
index
minus
excuse or explanation
enclosed area for a sporting event
way out
a listing showing topics
reduced by
Word
pro
quota
recipe
rex
versus
Meaning
for
allowed amount
instructions for preparing food
king
against; opposed to
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Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages
Latin
Target
Word
Meaning
alias
ante
apex
cursor
data
focus
forum
assumed name
bet; to put up in advance
highest point
pointer
information
concentrate attention on
a place or opportunity for meeting
and discussing
fungus
a type of organism
habitat
environment
media
mass communication
memento
souvenir
memorabilia things that help you remember a
person or event
memorandum a brief communication
Word
minutia
nil
opus
par
pleb
re
sic
sinister
stet
subpoena
thesaurus
veto
via
Meaning
little details
nothing
work
standard or average
common person
regarding
thus; so
evil; wicked
keep or restore
an order for someone to appear in court
a collection of synonyms and
sometimes antonyms
vote against
by way of
Challenge
Word
Meaning
acumen
keenness of judgment
addendum
something added
affidavit
sworn statement
anima
spirit; inner self
atrium
entrance hall
auspices
guidance; protection
cadaver
dead body
caveat
credo
warning; caution
belief
crux
heart of the matter
decorum
dementia
good manners
a disease that causes mental
deterioration
therefore
ergo
Word
erratum
exemplar
fiat
genus
gratis
gravitas
honorarium
hiatus
impetus
inertia
juvenalia
limbo
Meaning
error
example
formal authorization
the ranking between species and family
free
seriousness
money paid to someone who gives a speech
pause; break
drive; momentum
inactivity
work done when a writer or artist
was young
dividing line
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Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages
Latin/Native American Languages
Word
Meaning
lacuna
matrix
a gap; something missing
the situation from which something originates
small amount
customs and habits
connection or link
modicum
mores
nexus
Word
persona
placebo
stratum
tenet
verbatim
Meaning
character or assumed role
drug without any active ingredients, used in a test situation
level
principle
exactly as said
Words From Native American Languages
Easy
Word
Meaning
chipmunk
igloo
moccasin
a small striped rodent
a dwelling made of packed snow
a type of soft shoe made of
leather
a hooded jacket
parka
Word
papoose
tomahawk
wampum
wigwam
Meaning
a young child or baby
a small weapon with a sharp blade
polished beads used for money
a type of hut
Target
Word
Meaning
hickory
husky
kayak
pecan
squash
a type of tree
a breed of dog used to pull sleds
a lightweight canoe
a type of edible nut
a vegetable
Word
succotash
toboggan
totem
Meaning
a dish made of corn and lima
beans
a narrow sled without runners
a carving representing an animal
or object important to a tribe
Challenge
152
Word
Meaning
anorak
a long jacket with a hood
Word
wickiup
Meaning
a type of hut
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Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages
Portuguese/Russian
Words From Portuguese
Easy
Word
Meaning
Word
Meaning
samba
a dance
zebra
a wild animal similar to a
horse that has black and
white stripes on its body
Word
Meaning
Word
Meaning
commando
a military unit that conducts dangerous raids
pagoda
a Buddhist temple
Word
Meaning
Word
Meaning
junta
mangrove
military rule
a type of tree or shrub
peon
tapioca
a farmworker or menial worker
a starch from the root of the cassava plant
Word
Meaning
Target
Challenge
Words From Russian
Easy
Word
Meaning
czar
sable
a Russian ruler
an animal prized for its fur
sputnik
an artificial satellite
Target
Word
Meaning
babushka
blintz
borscht
a head scarf
a thin pancake
a soup made from beets
Word
cosmonaut
cossack
kremlin
Meaning
a Russian astronaut
a peasant
a Russian citadel or fortress
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153
Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages
Russian/Sanskrit
Word
Meaning
mammoth
shaman
steppe
a hairy, extinct elephant
a sage or spiritualist
prairieland
Word
tundra
yurt
Meaning
permanently frozen, treeless land
a tent
Challenge
Word
Meaning
glasnost
gulag
perestroika
pogrom
a policy of openness and cooperation
a labor camp
a restructuring of government
an officially sanctioned system of
persecution
Word
politburo
samovar
troika
Meaning
the executive branch of the Communist government
a tea urn
a carriage drawn by three horses
Words From Sanskrit
Easy
Word
Meaning
om
a sacred syllable used in prayers
and chants
Word
yoga
Meaning
a discipline or system that includes breathing exercises
and postures
Target
154
Word
Meaning
karma
mandala
fate
a circular design representing the
universe mantra
Word
nirvana
yogi
Meaning
a state of enlightenment; paradise
a person who practices yoga
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Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages
Sanskrit/Scandinavian Languages
Challenge
Word
Meaning
ashram
avatar
a retreat
someone who embodies certain
principles or a figure that represents a person
duty or truth
dharma
Word
raga
swastika
tantra
Meaning
a form of music
a religious symbol that later
became a fascist symbol
sacred books
Words From Scandinavian Languages
Easy
Word
Meaning
flounder
mink
a type of flatfish
an animal prized for its fur
Word
ski
Meaning
a sport in which people glide
down mountains on narrow
strips of wood, metal, or plastic
Target
Word
Meaning
slalom
smorgasbord
a downhill ski race
a buffet
Word
wicker
Meaning
aterial woven from twigs or
m
weeds
Challenge
Word
Meaning
fjord
a long, narrow body of water surrounded by steep cliffs
a protective glove
tiny creatures that are eaten by
baleen whales and other marine
animals
gauntlet
krill
Word
ombudsman
tungsten
gravlax
lingonberry
Meaning
a government official responsible
for investigating complaints
a metallic element
thin slices of cured salmon
a type of red berry
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155
Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages
Spanish
Words From Spanish
Easy
Word
Meaning
adios
alligator
amigo
barrio
good-bye
a large reptile with sharp teeth
a friend
a section of a city where Spanishspeaking people live
a wild horse
a tortilla wrapped around a filling
a small donkey
a gentle wind
a pod of the pepper plant
a sweet treat made from cocoa
butter and milk
a roll of tobacco leaves
an insect that is a household pest
an animal that is somewhat similar to a wolf
strips of meat served on a soft
tortilla
a celebration
bronco
burrito
burro
breeze
chili
chocolate
cigar
cockroach
coyote
fajita
fiesta
Word
flamingo
guitar
hombre hurricane
mosquito
patio
potato
ranch
salsa
siesta
sombrero
taco
tamale
tobacco
tomato
tortilla
Meaning
a long-legged pink bird
a stringed instrument
man
a violent wind storm
an insect
an outdoor living area
a white tuber cooked as a vegetable
a farm where livestock are raised
a spicy sauce
an afternoon nap
a hat
a tortilla with filling
fried meats and vegetables in a
corn husk
dried leaves that are smoked
a type of fruit often used in salads
thin, flat bread
Target
Word
Meaning
adobe
armadillo
a brick made from straw and earth
an animal with hard plates covering its body
a large fleet of ships
a gulch or gorge
a type of fruit
a predatory fish
a grocery store
boldness; display of courage
a cowboy
armada
arroyo
avocado
barracuda
bodega
bravado
buckaroo
156
Word
cafeteria
cantina
cannibal
canyon
cargo
corral
crimson
Meaning
a coffee shop or informal
restaurant
an eating place that also sells
liquor
a person who eats other humans
a valley with a river running
through it bordered by steep
cliffs
freight
a fenced area for livestock
deep red
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Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages
Spanish
Word
Meaning
desperado
flotilla
galleon
a desperate outlaw
a fleet of ships
a large sailing ship with three
masts
a cowboy
a dish made from mashed avocados
a large farm or ranch
a hanging bed made of ropes
a tropical lizard
a large cat similar to a leopard
a type of spicy chili
dried meat
a rope used to catch and tie up
livestock
a rope used to catch livestock
a bullfighter
flat, tableland
a wild horse
nothing
a spice
gaucho
guacamole
hacienda
hammock
iguana
jaguar
jalapeño
jerky
lariat
lasso
matador
mesa
mustang
nada
oregano
Word
pampas
papaya
plaza
poncho
puma
quesadilla
rodeo
rumba
savanna
silo
stampede
tango
toreador
tornado
vanilla
vamoose
Meaning
grass-covered plains
a tropical fruit
a public square
an outer garment or blanket with
a slit for the head that is worn
over the shoulders
a mountain lion
a fried tortilla stuffed with cheese
a competition with bronco riding
and cattle roping
a type of dance
plains
a barn or cylinder used to store
grain or animal feed
headlong rush of animals
a type of dance
a bullfighter who fights on horseback
a destructive wind storm
a flavoring
to leave in a hurry
Challenge
Word
Meaning
abalone
a marine creature with a pearly
shell
a fan
someone whose skin and hair lack
pigmentation
a changing room or bath house
a large vulture
a Spanish conqueror
a pier or a boat dock
a type of dance
dung; bird or bat droppings
a pear-shaped fruit
aficionado
albino
cabana
condor
conquistador
embarcadero
fandango
guano
guava
Word
guerrilla
machete
machismo
mariachi
palmetto
peccadillo
pimiento
platinum
renegade
Meaning
a soldier who takes part in
irregular warfare
a knife with a broad blade
exaggerated masculinity
a type of street band
a type of palm
a small mistake or offense
a type of sweet red pepper
a precious metal that is silver-white
an outlaw
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157
Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages
Turkish
Words From Turkish
Easy
Word
Meaning
coffee
fez
a hot beverage
a brimless hat
Word
sherbet
yogurt
Meaning
a frozen dessert made from fruit
a type of fermented milk product
Target
Word
Meaning
bulgur
caftan
divan
harem
khan
grain; dried cracked wheat
a loose-fitting robe
a sofa
private quarters for women
a ruler
Word
kiosk
kismet
minaret
mullah
shish kebab
Meaning
a stall or booth
fate
a slender tower
a scholar or teacher
meat and vegetables on a skewer
Challenge
158
Word
Meaning
baklava
dervish
a dessert
a member of a religious order noted for its devotional dancing
Word
janissary
Meaning
a soldier or member of an elite
group of supporters
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Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages
Yiddish
Words From Yiddish
Easy
Word
Meaning
bagel
a bread roll shaped in a ring
Word
matzo
Meaning
unleavened bread
Target
Word
Meaning
klutz
knish
kosher
a clumsy person
a seasoned potato cake
following specific religious rules
for preparing and selling food
complain
kvetch
Word
maven
nosh
pastrami
schnozzle
yarmulke
Meaning
an expert
snack
smoked, seasoned beef
nose
a skull cap
Challenge
Word
Meaning
chutzpah
golem
kaddish
mensch
self-confidence; bravado
a clay creature brought to life
a prayer for the dead
a decent and honorable person
Word
nebbish
schlepp
shtick
tchotchke
Meaning
a weak and timid person
to drag or carry
act or routine
knick-knack, trinket
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Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages
French Phrases
French Phrases
Easy
Phrase
Meaning
à la carte
f rom a menu that prices each
item separately
topped with ice cream
with melted cheese
à la mode
au gratin
Phrase
déjà vu
nom de plume
Meaning
the feeling of having seen or done something before
pen name
Target
Phrase
Meaning
bon appétit
bon vivant
good appetite; enjoy the meal
a person who enjoys life and
lives with style
carte blanche
license to do whatever one
wants without consequences
double entendre a remark with a double meaning
en route
on the road
esprit de corps team spirit
Phrase
femme fatale
hors d’oeuvre
in lieu of
nouveau riche
tour de force
Meaning
a very attractive woman who
breaks many men’s hearts
an appetizer served before the
main meal
instead of
people who have become rich
recently
masterful work or skill
Challenge
Word
Meaning
au pair
bon mot
cause célèbre
live-in domestic helper
a witty remark
a famous or notorious case or cause
stroke of kindness
the taking of power by force, as
in military coup
required or necessary
a prodigy or remarkable person
as a whole; all together
something already done or accomplished
coup de grâce
coup d’état
de rigueur
enfant terrible
en masse
fait accompli
160
Word
Meaning
faux pas
f alse step; embarrassing social
mistake or blunder
fin de siècle
end of the century
joie de vivre
joy of life; enthusiasm
laissez-faire
little control on free enterprise
noblesse oblige rights and responsibilities
coming from being high born
nouveau riche
people who have become rich
recently
par excellence the very best
pièce de
résistance
the best part of something
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Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages
French Phrases/Latin Phrases
Word
Meaning
raison d’être
savoir faire
reason for being; justification
confidence; flair in social situations
Word
tête-à-tête
Meaning
f ace-to-face or private conversation
Latin Phrases
Easy
Phrase
Meaning
et cetera
(etc.)
ex libris
in toto
and other things
from the library
completely
Phrase
per diem
vice versa
Meaning
by the day
the opposite; the other way
around
Target
Phrase
Meaning
ad hoc
f ormed for a specific occasion or situation
to the point of nausea; sickening
in good faith
seize the day
with honors
from many, one
ad nauseum
bona fide
carpe diem
cum laude
e pluribus unum
ex post facto
habeas corpus
in media res
magna cum laude
done after the fact
you must have the body
in the middle of things
with high honors
Phrase
mea culpa
nota bene
per capita
persona non grata
postmortem
pro bono
summa cum laude
tempus fugit
terra firma
Meaning
the blame is mine
note well
per each head; per person
a person who isn’t welcome;
someone unacceptable
after death
for the public good
with highest honors
time flies
firm land; solid ground
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Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages
Latin Phrases
Challenge
Phrase
Meaning
ad hominem
a ppealing to personal considerations
with no limit
school you formerly attended
conceived beforehand; self-evident
other self; close friend
let the buyer beware
in fact
a contrived solution or ending ad infinitum
alma mater
a priori
alter ego
caveat emptor
de facto
deus ex
machina
et alia (et al.)
in absentia
162
and other things
in the absence of
Phrase
Meaning
in vitro
in glass; in an artificial environment
by that very fact
ipso facto
lingua franca
language used by most people;
commonly used language
modus operandi way of working
quid pro quo
this for that
non sequitur
it does not follow
rara avis
rare bird; something rarely encountered
tabula rasa
a blank slate
terra incognita unknown or unexplored land
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Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages
Spanish-English Cognates
Spanish-English Cognates
Spanish-English cognates share the same Latin root. They
look and sound very similar. In fact, in some cases, they
are identical. Knowing cognates is a useful strategy for
learning a new language.
Easy
Spanish Word
English Word
Spanish Word
English Word
acto actor actriz aire altar banco banda bandido barra blusa bota bote capa capital capitán copia correcto danza eco error falso fama familia flor act
actor
actress
air
altar
bank
band
bandit
bar
blouse
boot
boat
cape
capital
captain
copy
correct
dancing
echo
error
false
fame
family
flower
forma gas gigante globo honor hospital horrible idea letra línea lista mapa marcha natural número océano palma pasta patio perla rancho té tren form; shape
gas
giant
globe
honor
hospital
horrible
idea
letter
line
list
map
mark
natural
number
ocean
palm
paste; pasta; dough
patio
pearl
ranch
tea
train
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163
Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages
Spanish-English Cognates
Target
164
Spanish Word
English Word
Spanish Word
English Word
abnormal abrupto
absorber academia accidente acento aceptar activo acusar adaptar adjustar admitir adoptar atleta atención atractivo audiencia autobús autor avenida balcón balón banquero bicicleta biografía
border calendario candidato clínica combinar convicto crear cuarto curioso abnormal
abrupt; steep
absorb
academy
accident
accent
accept
active
accuse
adapt
adjust
admit
adopt
athlete
attention
attractive
audience
bus
author
avenue
balcony
ball
banker
bicycle
biography
border
calendar
candidate
clinic
combine
convicted
create
quarter
curious
cuestión cupón debatir decidir decisión decorar diferencia dirección efecto elegante elevar emigrante emoción energía ensalada eterno fabuloso famoso favorable festivo generoso glorioso gratitud hábito historia honoria humano identidad ilusión imperfecto importante imposible industria información question
coupon
debate
decide
decision
decorate
difference
direction
effect
elegant
elevate; raise
emigrant
emotion
energy
salad
enternal
fabulous
famous
favorable
festive; merry
generous
glorious
gratitude
habit; custom
history
honorary
human being
identity
illusion
imperfect
important
impossible
industry
information
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Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages
Spanish-English Cognates
Spanish Word
English Word
Spanish Word
English Word
lapso lección libertad lustre magnifico magnitud manual manuscrito máximo medicina memoria mérito mínimo nacional necesario negativo nervioso novela objecto ocasión ocupado lapse; mistake
lesson
liberty
luster; shine
magnificent
magnitude
manual; by hand
manuscript
maximum
medicine
memory
merit; worth
minimum
national
necessary
negative
nervous
novel
object
occasion
occupied
opinión palacio pasado permiso plantar policia religión satisfactorio secreto selección teatro telescopio televisión temperatura último unidad urbano vacante vena victoria visión opinion
palace
past
permission
plant
police
religion
satisfactory
secret
selection
theater
telescope
television
temperature
ultimate
unity
urban
vacant
vein
victory
vision
Spanish Word
English Word
Spanish Word
English Word
absoluto abismo absurdo acelerar aceptación admiración adolesencia ambulancia asociación astrónomo atracción absolute
abyss
absurd
accelerate
acceptance
admiration
adolescence
ambulance
association
astronomer
attraction
auténtico automático bárbaro beneficio biología bulevar calcular celebración competencia contribución cooperación authentic
automatic
barbarian
benefit
biology
boulevard
calculate
celebration
competition
contribution
cooperate
Challenge
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Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages
Spanish-English Cognates
166
Spanish Word
English Word
Spanish Word
English Word
cuota curiosidad decimo defecto departamento descender destino elástico electricidad facilidad facultad fatiga festividad fractura generosidad grotesco habitante hemisferio historiador hospitalidad humanidad imaginativo imitación imperativo imperio inmediatamente justicia quota
curiosity
tenth
defect; fault
department
lower
destiny
elastic
electricity
facility; ease
faculty
fatigue
festivity
fracture; break
generosity
grotesque
inhabitant
hemisphere
historian
hospitality
humanity
imaginary
imitation
imperative
empire
immediately
justice
juventud lenguaje majestad maravilloso metropolitano nacionalidad naturalmente obediente objetivo oportunidad pacifico pavimento percepción realidad recientemente recreación referencia satélite sobrenatural solidario turista tradicional tragedia universidad vacaciones vehiculo youth
language
majesty
marvelous
metropolitan
nationality
naturally
obedient
objective
opportunity
pacific; peaceful
pavement
perception
reality
recently
recreation
reference
satellite
supernatural
solidarity; unity
tourist
traditional
tragedy
university
vacation
vehicle
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Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages
British-American Words and Terms
British-American Words
and
Terms
Even though the British and Americans share the same
language, some words and phrases are different.
Easy
British Word
American Word
British Word
American Word
biscuit
chips dustbin flat football hire holiday jug lift cookie
fries
trash can
apartment
soccer
rent
vacation
pitcher
elevator
mate mum post pram sweets tap telly tin trousers friend
mom
mail
baby carriage
candy
faucet
TV
can
pants
British Word
American Word
British Word
American Word
banger banknote bank cashier
bonnet boot carrier bag car park caravan constable sausage
bill
teller
car hood
car trunk
shopping bag
parking lot
motor home; trailer
police officer (especially one on
foot patrol)
stove
potato chips
detour
period
ice lolly jello jelly jumper loo lorry motorway nappy pavement petrol plaster postal code push chair queue rasher popsicle
jelly
jam
sweater
bathroom
truck
highway
diaper
sidewalk
gas
band-aid
zip code
stroller
line
slice of bacon
Target
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Chapter 3: Words From Other Languages
British-American Words and Terms
British Word
American Word
British Word
American Word
row rucksack scone take-away argument
backpack
biscuit
takeout
torch trolley wardrobe windscreen flashlight
cart
closet
windshield
British Word
American Word
British Word
American Word
aubergine bed sit braces chemist cinema commercial traveler
draughts drawing pin
dressing gown
flyover fortnight ground floor kerosene knickers macintosh nought pinafore plimsolls public school return ticket eggplant
studio apartment
suspenders
pharmacy
movie theater
traveling
salesperson
checkers
thumbtack
robe
overpass
two weeks
first floor
paraffin
underpants
raincoat
nothing
jumper
gym shoes
private school
round-trip ticket
roundabout rubber runner beans serviette silencer sitting room solicitor surgery swimming costume
tea towel toll motorway trainers turnups tube vacuum flask verge (of road) waistcoat wellies zebra crossing traffic circle
eraser
stringbeans
napkin
muffler
living room
lawyer
doctor’s office
bathing suit
dish towel
turnpike; toll road
sneakers
cuffs
subway
thermos bottle
shoulder
vest
galoshes; boots
crosswalk
Challenge
168
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Chapter 4
Word Differences
and Wordplay
“ I’m showing my
students the
importance of
choosing the best
word when writing.
I need some more
examples of shades
of difference among
synonyms.
”
E
nglish is a very versatile language and, with the
help of the lists in this chapter, it is possible for
students to avoid tired words and choose the best
word or phrase to make meaning clear when speaking
or writing. When it’s really frosty outside, why say
it’s cold? Why say blue when a more precise description
may warrant sapphire or indigo? Continue to challenge
students to refine their word choices and elaborate
in their writing by using words that show shades
of meaning.
Exploring some of the more playful aspects of
language, such as regionalisms, onomatopoeia, and
idioms, can foster a curiosity about language and
encourage students to take more risks with their
writing. You may want to invite students to illustrate
or act out a favorite idiom and ask the rest of the class
to identify it. Because these expressions often pose
difficulties for the students who take them literally, be
sure to discuss the actual meaning of an idiom and
give concrete examples of when they might use it.
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Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay
Shades-of-Difference Words
Shades-of-Difference Words
English is rich in synonyms. However, synonyms are often not exactly
alike. Most carry meaning under the main meaning. Finding the right
word makes good writing better. It’s important to understand the shades
of difference in words in order to choose the best synonym to fit a context
and match a purpose. In the lists below, the first word in each group has
the most general meaning.
Easy
cold
chilly
freezing
frosty below average temperature
cold enough to make you uncomfortable or shiver
extremely cold
cold enough to cause frost to form
run
dash
jog race
sprint
comfortable feeling at ease and relaxed
cozy
feeling pleasantly warm and homey
snug
feeling warm and protected
cry bawl sob weep
whimper
170
to shed tears
to cry noisily
to make gasping sounds while
crying
to cry, often quietly
to cry weakly, make whining sounds
mean
cruel
nasty
vicious
old
ancient
antique
not nice; unkind
deliberately unkind
very unpleasant; spiteful
extremely cruel
the opposite of young
very old; from the distant past
valuable because of its age, rarity,
and beauty
pretty
beautiful
cute
lovely
pleasing to look at
very good-looking
sweet and pleasing; delightful
gracefully delicate and pleasing
shout
bellow
holler
roar
to move at a fast pace
to move quickly and suddenly
to run at a slow, steady pace
to move very quickly as if in a competition
to move quickly for a short distance
to cry out or say something loudly
to shout in a deep, loud voice
to call out or shout in order to tell
someone something
to cry out, especially in anger or excitement
talk babble chat discuss to speak
to talk without making sense
to talk in a friendly and casual way
to talk in a purposeful way, particularly in order to make a decision
walk amble stride trudge to move by using your legs and feet
walk slowly and leisurely
to walk by taking long steps
to walk slowly and wearily
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Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay
Shades-of-Difference Words
Target
bad
naughty wicked evil blame accuse criticize denounce condemn
badly behaved
badly behaved and causing mischief,
but without meaning serious harm
badly behaved and morally wrong
foul; purposefully causing trouble
f ind fault with or think someone
responsible for a wrongdoing
charge someone with a wrongdoing
or crime
point out someone’s faults
speak out publicly against someone
judge that someone is guilty and
deserves punishment
brave not afraid
courageous consciously facing danger boldly
by drawing on inner strength
having no fear in the face of danger
fearless heroic showing the bravery and daring
typical of a hero
busy bustling hectic lively full of activity
full of energy and noise
too busy; frantic
full of energy and life
childlike
childish
immature juvenile
common average mundane ordinary not special
typical of a group
common and often boring
usual and customary; not distinguishable from others
confident
ehaving in a way that shows b
faith in yourself
behaving in a forceful and sometimes belligerent manner
behaving in a strong, firm, and
self-confident manner
behaving in an overly self-
confident and arrogant manner
aggressive assertive cocky
confuse puzzle baffle cheap ot willing to give or spend money
n
freely
economical careful to spend money in the most
advantageous way
miserly greedy and unwilling to give or
spend money
stingy not generous; giving or spending
as little money as possible
thriftyspending money cautiously and
sensibly
like a child
behaving in a way more appropriate to a child than an adult
not yet fully developed; not developed to a level appropriate
for one’s age
appropriate for young people or
children
mystify depressing dreary gloomy dismal to mix someone or something up
to confuse someone and make
that person feel unsure
to make someone feel very confused and helpless
to make something seem too
mysterious to understand
causing feelings of sadness
dull and depressing
dark and cheerless
depressing and hopeless
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Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay
Shades-of-Difference Words
disagree argue bicker debate to have different opinions
to express different opinions, often
angrily
to argue about something unimportant in a bad-tempered way
to talk formally and at length about
different positions
error s omething that is not correct or is
misunderstood
blunder a serious or embarrassing error or
mistake
a clumsy mistake made in a social
gaffe situation
mistake an error that results from carelessness
a slight mistake
slip intelligent bright clever shrewd smart wise laugh chortle chuckle giggle friend s omeone you are close to and get
along with well
ally someone you bond with for mutual
aid and support to reach a shared
goal
someone you work with
colleague confederate someone you join with to carry out
a plot or conspiracy
funny amusing droll hilarious 172
witty causing laughter
pleasant and entertaining
funny because it is odd or strange
very funny; causing outbursts of
laughter
clever, stylish, and amusing
happy blissful content gleeful joyous the opposite of sad
serenely happy
pleased and satisfied
very happy and pleased because of something that has happened
full of great joy and happiness
snicker love adore idolize worship pile clutter jumble hodgepodge mess polite civil courteous well-mannered
quick in thinking; able to reason
effectively
able to learn quickly and easily
mentally quick, ingenious, and
original
showing keen judgment, partic-
ularly in business dealings and
politics
quick in thinking and able to take
care of yourself
able to make good decisions on
the basis of what you know
t o make sounds expressing amusement
to laugh in a noisy and gleeful way
to laugh quietly or to yourself
to laugh quietly in a silly or childish way
to laugh in a disrespectful way
to care deeply about someone
to love and honor someone intensely
to deeply admire and respect
someone
to treat someone as though that
person were a god
a number of things heaped together
an untidy pile of things
an untidy and disorganized pile of things
a pile of unrelated things
an untidy and usually dirty pile of things
showing good manners
polite in a cold and formal manner
polite, gracious, and considerate
showing proper behavior and
good manners
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Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay
Shades-of-Difference Words
pretend deceive feign t o make believe something is true
or real that isn’t
to pretend something in order to
trick or frighten someone
to mislead someone deliberately
to fake, imitate, or copy something
rain
drizzle pour sleet drops of water from the sky
light but steady rain
heavy rain
frozen rain
rude coarse uncouth unrefined vulgar not polite; disagreeable
displaying a lack of taste and refinement
bad-mannered, clumsy, and graceless
not acting in a socially acceptable way
crude and obscene
bluff scared frightened; afraid
feeling shock, dismay, and alarm
aghast horrified feeling revulsion, disgust, and shock
terrified feeling overpowering and often
paralyzing fear
shiny brilliant dazzling luminous lustrous bright, glossy, and reflecting light
extremely bright
spectacularly bright; stunning
glowing; startlingly bright
with a soft shine
shy bashful not comfortable around people
self-conscious and awkward
around people
pretending self-consciousness
around people
reserved and restrained because of
a lack of confidence
nervous around people
coy diffident timid strange alien exotic foreign surprise amaze astonish astound thin skinny slender svelte trim not common or usual
outside normal experience
strikingly unusual and suggestive
of foreign countries
from another place or country
to fill someone with sudden wonder
to make someone feel very surprised
to make someone feel overwhelmingly surprised
to make someone feel extreme
surprise and shock
without extra fat on your body
thin in an unhealthy and unpleasant
way
thin in a graceful and attractive way
particularly slim and attractive
slim and fit
truthful expressing feeling and opinions in
an honest way
blunt expressing feelings and opinions
freely and openly without regard for
their effect on others
candid expressing feelings and opinions in an open, sincere, and straightforward manner
frank expressing feelings and opinions in
an open, honest, and forceful way
worried agitated anxious distraught hysterical feeling concerned and troubled
worried, nervous, and upset; unable to rest
worried and afraid that something
bad will happen
overly worried and distressed
panic-stricken
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Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay
Shades-of-Difference Words
Challenge
able capable competent skilled equipped to do something
able to do a particular task
having the skills necessary to do a
particular task
having a special ability to do a particular task
agreement accord consensus pact an understanding or arrangement
a treaty or settlement
general, widespread agreement
an agreement to do something
annoyed bothered irked vexed mildly disturbed or displeased
annoyed and feeling put-upon
annoyed and wearied
annoyed and angered
apparent blatant easy to see and understand
exceedingly obvious; impossible to hide
conspicuous easy to see because it attracts attention
obvious easy to see and understand because nothing is hidden
average typical
mediocre run-of-the-mill; okay but not
very good
neither good nor bad
middling standard up to the norm for acceptability
and quality
careful accurate meticulous painstaking 174
showing care; thorough
without error
extremely careful and precise
showing great care and attention
to detail
constant steady; always present
continualhappening again and again at
regular intervals
continuous happening without interruption
for a long period of time
persistent continuing relentlessly for a long
period of time
dishonest calculating not honest; lying and cheating
scheming and acting in order to
get the advantage
devious and scheming
conniving deceitful purposefully misleading or untruthful
mendacious chronically lying
destroy to ruin completely
annihilate to wipe out so completely it no
longer exists; to vanquish
decimate to kill every tenth person; to kill a
large part of a group/population
to cause widespread damage
devastate to kill brutally and mercilessly
slaughter early premature untimely eerie gruesome macabre morbid ahead of time
before the expected or advisable
time
at a bad or inconvenient time; happening too soon
strange and frightening
focusing on cruelty and injury in
order to cause horror and shock
focusing on the horror of death and decay
dark and gloomy in an unhealthy
and unwholesome way
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Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay
Shades-of-Difference Words
judge arbitrate mediate referee t o form an opinion of someone or something
to act as judge in a dispute
to help both sides of a dispute
reach an agreement
to decide a contest, particularly in sports
pity s orrow caused by someone else’s
misfortune or pain
compassion concern for the suffering of others
and a desire to help
sympathy a feeling of sharing the suffering
and pain of others
empathy strong identification with the pain
and suffering of others
praise commend eulogize extol express approval and admiration
praise in a formal way
praise highly
praise enthusiastically and with
great admiration
real not artificial
reliable; trustworthy
authentic being what it claims to be
genuine unadulterated not changed in any way
shorten abbreviate abridge truncate to reduce the length or duration of
to shorten by removing parts of
to shorten by cutting parts or summarizing
to shorten by cutting off the final part
showy gaudy garish ostentatious tawdry making an impressive display
loud, flashy, and extravagant
crudely ornate and showy
pretentiously showy
cheap and showy
usual customary normal; common; ordinary
conforming to established customs and procedures
done on a regular and frequent
basis
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175
Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay
Adjectives That Show Degree
Adjectives That Show Degree
Some synonyms for adjectives compare the degree or
extent of a quality, such as how much of something there
is or how bad or good something is. In the lists below, the
last word in each group shows the superlative.
Easy
adjective
comparative
superlative
adjective
comparative
superlative
bad cool good little
worse cold better less worst
frigid
best
least
lukewarm many warm more
much more hot
most (countable
things)
most (an amount
you cannot count)
adjective
comparative
superlative
adjective
comparative
superlative
big full grand great greatest loud huge packed
magnificent terrific maximum ear-splitting immense
stuffed
majestic
superb
ultimate
deafening
necessary risky tired top weak wild essential serious weary apex feeble fierce indispensable
critical
exhausted
zenith
decrepit
ferocious
adjective
comparative
superlative
adjective
comparative
superlative
difficult disastrous disliked eager interesting challenging calamitous hated enthusiastic absorbing grueling
catastrophic
detested
avid
fascinating
plentiful terrible unappealing unhappy urgent abundant appalling repellent dejected vital profuse
abysmal
hideous
disconsolate
imperative
Target
Challenge
176
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Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay
Color Words
Color Words
English is rich in words that name different shades or
variations of primary and secondary colors. As a result,
we can choose the exact word we need to describe a
color. Some color words are derived from objects that
are that precise color, such as ruby and periwinkle.
Others come from words in other languages, such as
cerise and puce (French).
Easy
black brown gray orange purple rose tan yellow
blue gold green pink red silver white
Target
apricot aquamarine auburn azure beige bronze buff canary champagne cherry chestnut copper coral cream crimson ebony emerald fawn fuchsia indigo ivory pale yellowish orange
greenish blue
deep coppery red or reddish brown
sky blue
creamy brown
deep yellowish brown
pale yellowish pink
bright intense yellow
pale brownish gold
strong bright red to purplish red
deep reddish brown
reddish brown
deep orangey pink or reddish orange
pale yellow to yellowish white
deep, rich purplish red
deep brownish black
intense yellowish green
pale, soft yellowish brown
brilliant deep purplish pink
blue violet
pale yellowish white
khaki lavender lilac magenta mahogany maroon mauve navy olive peach pearl periwinkle plum ruby russet rust sable saffron sage salmon light brown
pale purple
pinkish purple
brilliant reddish purple
deep reddish brown
brownish red or purple
light pinkish purple
dark blue
deep yellowish green
creamy yellowish orange
yellowish white
pale purplish blue
dark reddish purple
deep, intense red tinged with
purple
brownish red
reddish brown
black or grayish, yellowish brown
deep yellowish orange
grayish green
pinkish orange
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Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay
Color Words
sapphire scarlet slate tangerine taupe brilliant intense blue
deep red
black tinged with purple or gray
bright orange or reddish orange
deep brownish gray
tawny teal topaz turquoise violet light brown or brownish orange
greenish blue
dark brownish yellow
bright greenish blue or bluish green
deep purplish blue
heliotrope henna hoary madder ocher perse puce reseda sienna sorrel terra cotta titian ultramarine umber vermilion violet or purplish red
rich reddish brown
silvery gray or snow white
reddish orange
yellowish orange or brown
dark grayish blue or purple
purplish red or pink
dull grayish green
earthy reddish brown
brownish orange or light brown
reddish brown
bright reddish gold
deep brilliant blue
earthy brown
bright red or reddish orange
Challenge
alabaster amethyst aubergine burgundy carmine celadon cerise cerulean chartreuse cinnabar citrine citron claret cyan ecru 178
translucent white
bluish purple
dark purple
deep red
deep purplish red
pale grayish green
deep purplish red
sky blue
intense yellowish green
deep red tinged with orange
dark greenish yellow
grayish green
dark purplish red
deep greenish blue
pale grayish, yellowish brown
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Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay
Euphemisms
Euphemisms
A euphemism is a softer, blander word used in place of
a harsher, blunter word. A euphemism often covers up
an offensive or distasteful quality clearly conveyed by the
original word.
Easy
Original Word
Euphemism
Original Word
Euphemism
dead die garbage deceased
pass away
waste
problem old age old person challenge
golden years
senior citizen
Original Word
Euphemism
Original Word
Euphemism
burial ground
c emetery; memorial
park
challenged
sanitation worker
waste management
refuse collection area
terminate
insane asylum poor prison rerun superintendent used car sanatorium; psychiatric hospital
underprivileged
correctional institution
encore performance
custodial engineer
preowned vehicle
Original Word
Euphemism
Original Word
Euphemism
attack, raid bathroom burial civilian causalities crime conquer conquest killed by own troops imitation lie incursion
facility
interment
collateral damage
antisocial behavior
pacify
pacification
friendly fire
faux
fabrication
old-fashioned picky poorly behaved retreat rude slum retro
discriminating
maladjusted
strategic withdrawal
socially maladjusted
economically disadvantaged area
misappropriation of
funds
military action
Target
disabled garbage collector garbage collection garbage dump kill Challenge
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179
Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay
Regionalisms
Regionalisms
Many common objects are called different things in different
locations or parts of the country. Words like this are called
regionalisms. Sometimes the exact places where a regionalism is used may be difficult to pinpoint. Some can be isolated
to one area, such as the Southeast or Midwest. Others pop
up around the country in places that are far apart, such as
in Boston, the Midwest, and California. In the lists below, the
most commonly or widely used term is listed first.
Easy
bag
poke
sack
coke
pop
soda
tonic
Target
drinking fountain
bubbler
frying pan
fry pan
skillet
spider
garage
carport
grocery cart
buggy
shopping wagon
grocery store
bodega
corner market
mini-mart
180
highway
freeway
expressway
the I
thruway
porch
gallery
stoop
veranda
margarine
oleo
rubberband
gumband
elastic
milk shake
frappe
remarkable
bodacious
pancakes
battercakes
flapjacks
griddlecakes
hotcakes
johnnycakes
sofa
couch
davenport
submarine (sandwich)
Cuban sandwich
grinder
hero
hoagie
Italian sandwich
poor boy (or po’ boy)
sprinkles
jimmies
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Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay
Regionalisms
Challenge
andiron
dog iron
orphaned calf
dogie
detergent
washing powder
squad car
cruiser
patrol car
prowl car
gazebo
belvedere
pagoda
summerhouse
garden folly
traffic circle
rotary
roundabout
turn signal
blinker
directional signal
valley
hollow
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Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay
Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia Words
Some words imitate sounds. They can be the sounds
made by animals, people, or things. You would think
these words would be standard from language to
language, but they are not. For example, in English a cat
says, “meow,” in Danish, “mjav,” in Japanese, “nyaa,”
and in Bengali, “meu.”
Easy
baa
beep
boo-hoo
bow-wow
buzz
choo choo
clop
cock-a-doodle-doo
ding-dong
gobble
hee-haw
meow
moo
neigh
oink
ouch
peep
quack
tick-tock
tweet
whoo
woof
coo
crackle
croak
crunch
duh
eek
fizz
growl
grr
hiss
jingle
mew
plop
pow
ribbit
screech
smack
snarl
snort
splash
splat
squawk
squeal
swoosh
thud
thump
twitter
wham
whinny
whoosh
whizz
yelp
zap
caw
cha-ching
gurgle
hmmm
humph
ka-boom
mumble
pitter-patter
poof
rustle
sizzle
slurp
thunk
tsk-tsk
twang
vroom
whiffle
yadda yadda yadda
yahoo
Target
achoo
arf
bong
bonk
brr
burp
chirp
clang
clickety clack
clink
clip clop
clunk
Challenge
ahem
argh
baroom
blah blah blah
bleet
boing
bray
182
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Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay
Nouns and Adjectives for Animals
Nouns
and
Adjectives
for
Animals
Many of the names of animals are based on Old English
words. Often we form an adjective by adding a suffix to
the noun. Sometimes, though, an adjective is formed
from the Latin word for the animal. For example, a dog
displays canine behavior. Usually, the Latin form of the
adjective carries the meaning “relating to or characteristic
of” and has a more scientific application.
Easy
noun
adjective
adjective
(Latin form)
cat dog catty doggish feline
canine
noun
adjective
ape bee bird bull cow donkey fish noun
adjective
adjective
(Latin form)
horse horsy equine
adjective
(Latin form)
noun
adjective
adjective
(Latin form)
ape-like bee-like bird-like bullish cow-like donkey-like fishy simian
apian
avian
taurine
bovine
asinine
piscine
lion monkey rabbit snake spider pig wolf lion-like monkey-like rabbity snakelike spidery piggish wolfish leonine
simian
lapine
serpentine
arachnoid
porcine
lupine
noun
adjective
adjective
(Latin form)
noun
adjective
adjective
(Latin form)
badger bear calf deer eagle fox goat badger-like bearish calf-like deer-like eagle-like foxy goaty musteline
ursine
vituline
cervine
aquiline
vulpine
caprine
hare hog lizard rodent sheep squirrel worm hare-like hoggish lizard-like rodent-like sheep-like squirrelly wormy leporine
suilline
saurian
murine
ovine
sciurine
vermian
Target
Challenge
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Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay
Palindromes
Palindromes
Palindromes are words that read the same backward
and forward.
Easy
bib
dad
deed
did
eye
hah
mom
noon
pap
peep
pep
pip
pop
pup
sees
sis
tat
tot
toot
wow
eve
gag
gig
kook
level
ma’am
madam
pull up
put up
redder
shahs
solos
repaper
reviver
rotator
rotor
sagas
stats
tenet
Target
aha
civic
denned
dewed
eke
Challenge
deified
kayak
race car
radar
184
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Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay
Idioms
Idioms
An idiom is a group of words that takes on a special meaning
that is different from the meaning of each individual word.
These expressions are easy for native speakers to understand but pose difficulties for nonnative speakers, who tend
to take them literally. Idioms are often fresh and colorful,
but when they become overused, they become cliches.
Easy
Idiom
Meaning
Example of Idiom
Example of Meaning
an arm and a leg
a great deal; a lot of money
The present cost an arm and a leg.
The present cost a lot
of money.
apple of one’s eye
someone or something one
adores or likes
a lot
Janina was the apple
of her father’s eye.
Janina was adored by
her father.
a bee in one’s
bonnet
something you can’t
help thinking about
She had a bee in her
bonnet about getting
a kitten.
She couldn’t help thinking about getting a kitten.
catch cold
contract or develop
a cold
Dress warmly so that
you don’t catch cold.
Dress warmly so that
you don’t develop a cold.
catch one’s breath
to rest
The acrobats didn’t have
time to catch their breath between acts.
The acrobats didn’t have
time to rest between acts.
cry wolf
give a false alarm
If you cry wolf too often,
people won’t pay atten-
tion when you are really
in trouble.
If you give a false alarm
too often, people won’t
pay attention when you are really in trouble.
drop the ball
fail to do something
I was depending on her
to order the supplies, but
at the last minute she dropped the ball.
I was depending on her to order the supplies, but at the last minute
she failed to do it.
have one’s cake and
eat it too
use something but still have it
She couldn’t decide
hether to spend money
w
on the sweater or not,
since she wanted to have her cake and eat it too.
She couldn’t decide
whether to spend money
on the sweater or not, since she wanted to buy
the sweater but also
keep the money.
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Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay
Idioms
Idiom
Meaning
Example of Idiom
Example of Meaning
feather in one’s cap
reward; honor;
prize For Anita, winning the
soccer game was a feather in her cap.
For Anita, winning the
soccer game was an
honor.
get cold feet
lose one’s nerve
ack got cold feet and J
didn’t ask Eliza to the
concert.
Jack lost his nerve and
didn’t ask Eliza to the concert.
get up on the wrong side of bed
be in a bad mood
“Stay out of his way,”
said Chris, “since it
looks like he got up on
the wrong side of bed.”
“Stay out of his way,”
said Chris, “since he’s
in a bad mood.” hands down
easily; without effort The team won the soccer
game hands down.
The team won the soccer game easily.
head over heels
completely;
overwhelmingly
In the movie, the two stars
were head over heels
in love.
In the movie, the two stars were overwhelmingly
in love.
keep one’s fingers crossed
hope
Keep your fingers crossed
that I pass the tryouts.
Hope that I pass the tryouts.
last straw
final annoyance
Your eating my piece of
pie is the last straw. I
won’t put up with your behavior anymore.
Your eating my piece of pie is the final annoyance. I won’t put up with your
behavior anymore.
lend a hand
help
Please lend me a hand with my chores.
Please help me with my
chores.
let the cat out
of the bag
let a secret be known Be careful you don’t let
the cat out of the bag
and tell her about the
surprise party.
Be careful you don’t let
her know the secret and
tell her about the surprise party.
make up something
create; fib or lie
The little boy made up a story to explain the
missing cookies.
The little boy fibbed to
explain the missing cookies.
on the ball
alert; competent
The new coach was certainly on the ball; he didn’t miss anything.
The new coach was
certainly alert; he
didn’t miss anything.
When she won the blue
ribbon, she was the
picture of happiness.
When she won the blue ribbon, she was a perfect
example of happiness.
picture of (something) perfect example of
186
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Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay
Idioms
Idiom
Meaning
Example of Idiom
Example of Meaning
piece of cake
very easy
fter studying so hard, A
getting an A on the test
was a piece of cake.
After studying so hard,
getting an A on the test was very easy.
pull one’s leg
tease; fool or trick
ncle James didn’t mean Uncle James didn’t mean U
it; he was just teasing you. it; he was just pulling your leg.
put the cart before the horse
do something in the
wrong order
Getting paid before you
do the chore is putting
the cart before the horse
Getting paid before you
do the chore is the wrong
order.
ring a bell
remind of something
hat name doesn’t ring
T
a bell.
That name doesn’t remind me of anything.
take a catnap
sleep for a short
period of time
Lisa took a catnap before Lisa slept for a short period
going to the movies.
of time before going to the
movies.
Idiom
Meaning
Example of Idiom
Example of Meaning
ball is in your court
is your turn to do something
“I’ve made my final offer,”
the CEO said, “and now
the ball is in your court.”
“I’ve made my final offer,” the CEO said, “and now
it’s your turn to do some-
thing.”
bark up the wrong tree
follow the wrong course of action
The reporter who followed a false lead was barking
up the wrong tree.
The reporter who followed
a false lead was following
the wrong course of
action.
beat around the bush
avoid talking about
a topic
Leslie was embarrassed
so she tried to beat around the bush.
Leslie was embarrassed so she tried to avoid talk-
ing about the problem.
breathe a word of
tell anyone
Don’t breathe a word of
this to the newspapers.
Don’t tell the newspapers.
bite the hand that
feeds you
harm someone who helps you
Be careful what you say
a bout your advisor.
Remember that you shouldn’t bite the hand
that feeds you.
Be careful what you say
about your advisor. Remember that you
shouldn’t harm someone who helps you.
Target
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187
Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay
Idioms
188
Idiom
Meaning
catch red-handed
catch someone in
The police caught the
the midst of commit- thief red-handed.
ting a crime or another wrongdoing
The police caught the
thief in the midst of
committing the crime. come out in the wash
work out all right
Stick with it and your
problems will all come
out in the wash.
Stick with it and your problems will all work out all right.
cover a lot of ground
discuss a lot of topics
Let’s get started right
away since we have to
cover a lot of ground in this meeting.
Let’s get started right away since we have to discuss a lot of topics
in this meeting.
face the music
accept punishment or The defendant confessed The defendant confessed
and was resolved to face and was resolved to
unpleasant conse-
accept punishment.
quences
the music.
fighting chance
good chance or
possibility
She had a fighting chance She had a good chance of winning the election.
of winning the election.
from the bottom of one’s heart
sincerely
I thank you from the
bottom of my heart.
get off on the wrong
foot
begin badly
Don’t get off on the wrong Don’t begin badly by doing foot by doing something something foolish on the
foolish on the first day
first day of school. of school.
get off to a flying start
begin well
he guests were all excited The guests were all excited
T
to be there, and the party to be there, and the party began well.
got off to a flying start.
go overboard
do too much; be
excessive
Don’t go overboard when Don’t be excessive when buying treats for the party. buying treats for the party.
go to the dogs
ruin; deteriorate
badly
The aging actor was The aging actor was
fearful of letting his
fearful of letting his appearance go to the dogs. appearance deteriorate
badly.
have egg on one’s face
be embarrassed
because of an error
Layla had egg on her face Layla was embarrassed
after she realized her
after she realized her
mistake.
mistake.
have second thoughts
have doubts about aime had second J
thoughts about buying that computer game.
Example of Idiom
Example of Meaning
I thank you sincerely.
Jaime had doubts about
buying that computer game.
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Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay
Idioms
Idiom
Meaning
Example of Idiom
Example of Meaning
hit the nail on the head
be exactly right
ou hit the nail on the
Y
head with that answer.
You were exactly right with that answer.
knocked off one’s feet
overwhelmingly
surprised
Since my sister is away
at college, I was knocked
off my feet when she
showed up at my birthday
party.
Since my sister is away
at college, I was over- whelmingly surprised when she showed up at my birthday party.
off the hook
freed from obligations Since Yolanda agreed to Since Yolanda agreed to take over the job, you are take over the job, you are or responsibility
freed from responsibility.
off the hook.
once in a blue moon
rarely
streak of luck like that
A
happens only once in a
blue moon.
A streak of luck like that happens only rarely. par for the course
usual; typical
uring the winter months, D
it was par for the course for three or four students
to be out sick.
During the winter months,
it was usual for three or
four students to be out sick.
raise eyebrows
make others surprised or feel disapproval
The way the star was dressed was bound to
raise some eyebrows.
The way the star was
dressed was bound to make some people disapprove.
snake in the grass
a treacherous person
He posed as his friend, but
he was really a snake in
the grass waiting for the
opportunity to betray him.
He posed as his friend, but he was really a treacher- ous person waiting for
the opportunity to betray
him.
don’t waste your breath
don’t bother to say
something because it won’t make a difference.
Don’t waste your breath
trying to convince him to change his vote.
Don’t bother to try to
convince him to change
his vote because it won’t
make a difference.
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189
Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay
Idioms
Challenge
190
Idiom
Meaning
Example of Idiom
Example of Meaning
bend one’s ear
talk too much to someone; be overly chatty and annoying
At the dinner party, the
person on my left bent
my ear all night, telling me
about his problems.
At the dinner party, the
person on my left talked
too much and annoyed
me, telling me about his
problems.
eye of the storm
center of a problem or controversy
The candidate found herself in the eye of the storm.
The candidate found
herself in the center
of the controversy.
feet of clay
have hidden faults
The reporter set out to
prove that the esteemed politician really had feet of clay.
The reporter set out to prove that the esteemed
politician really had
hidden faults.
green-light a project
give approval for a
The board of directors
project to move ahead decided to green-light the project.
The board of directors decided to give approval
for the project to move
ahead.
give someone a blank
check
let someone spend as much as necessary;
unlimited funds
The business tycoon gave
the relief organization a blank check to provide housing for the flood victims.
The business tycoon gave
the relief organization
unlimited funds to provide
housing for the flood victims.
have a bone to pick
have a matter to discuss or argue about
After reading her comment
in the newspaper, he
stormed into her office
and said, “I have a bone to pick with you.”
After reading her comment
in the newspaper, he
stormed into her office and said, “I have a matter
to discuss with you.”
have a vested interest in be personally
interested in
As your mentor, I have a
vested interest in your success.
As your mentor, I am
personally interested in
your success.
heartbeat away from
extremely close to; next in line for
He was a heartbeat away from winning the presidency.
He was extremely close to
winning the presidency.
horse of a different color
completely new and
different
The solution you just
proposed is a horse
of a different color.
The solution you just
proposed is completely
new and different.
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Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay
Idioms
Idiom
Meaning
Example of Idiom
in a dead heat
tied
t the end of the show,
A
At the end of the show, the two contestants were the two contestants were tied.
in a dead heat.
in one fell swoop
in one swift action
in the black
making money
In one fell swoop, the
company closed down 20 plants across the country.
The new company
president is credited with
strategies that made the
company operate in the
black.
in the red
losing money
The books show that the The books show that the
company is losing money.
company is in the red.
jog one’s memory
help one remember
Does this note jog your memory?
Does this note help you
remember?
lesser of two evils
the better of two poor choices
Neither option was what
she wanted, but she
picked the lesser of
two evils.
Neither option was what
she wanted, but she
picked the better of two poor choices.
make allowances for
consider something when making a decision or doing something; take into consideration
The judges made
allowances for the age
differences of the contestants.
The judges considered
the age differences of
the contestants.
meeting of minds
reach agreement
After arguing for several After arguing for several
hours, they had a meeting hours, they reached
agreement.
of minds.
on a shoestring
with very little money They started their
They started their
business on a shoestring. business with very
little money.
opening gambit
s omething said or done to secure a
position or advantage
As an opening gambit, she
said she would increase health-care benefits for all employees.
Example of Meaning
In one swift action, the company closed down
20 plants across the
county.
The new company
president is credited with strategies that made the company operate success- fully and make money.
To secure her position, she said at the beginning
that she would increase health-care benefits for all employees.
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191
Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay
Idioms
192
Idiom
Meaning
Example of Idiom
Example of Meaning
out of one’s depth
involved in something that is too difficult
The newly promoted
executive felt out of his
depth when the employees went on strike.
The newly promoted
executive was involved in something that was too
difficult for him to handle when the employees went on strike.
put a spin on
twist something to one’s advantage
His supporters put a spin His supporters twisted the
on the results from the
results from the poll to
poll.
his advantage.
put to bed
complete work on and send off
They put the newspaper to bed and sent it off to
the presses.
They completed work on
the newspaper and sent
it off to the presses.
read loud and clear
understand
something that was said completely
You don’t have to keep
hinting about what
present you want, since I read you loud and clear.
You don’t have to keep
hinting about what
present you want, since I
understand what you said completely.
shed light on help someone under- The students asked the
teacher to shed light
stand something
on the problem.
shot in the dark
wild guess
e didn’t really know the We didn’t really know the
W
answer, but we took a
answer, but we took a wild guess.
shot in the dark.
stand on ceremony
wait for a formal invitation
Rosalie didn’t stand on
ceremony but went up and introduced herself to the government official.
The students asked the
teacher to help them
understand the problem.
Rosalie didn’t wait for a
formal invitation but went
up and introduced herself
to the government official.
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Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay
Words That Come in Nonreversible Pairs
Words That Come
in
Nonreversible Pairs
Some idiomatic expressions are made up of word pairs that
always occur in a certain order. Sometimes the two words in
the pair are separated by the word and or or.
Easy
back and forth
black and blue
cat and mouse
huff and puff
knick-knack
in and out
over and under
up and down
upside down
high and low
hot and cold
in and out
life and death
last in, first out
loud and clear
make or break
odds and ends
over and out
over and under
pins and needles
pros and cons
question and answer
rain or shine
sink or swim
sooner or later
straight and narrow
to and fro
tooth and nail
topsy-turvy
touch and go
wear and tear
willy-nilly
fast and furious
first and foremost
flotsam and jetsam
hale and hearty
hard-and-fast
hem and haw
high and dry
house and home
hurly-burly
hoity-toity
kith and kin
law and order
life and death
nuts and bolts
onward and upward
rant and rave
sick and tired
take it or leave it
straight and narrow
trials and tribulations
up-and-coming
wax and wane
Target
an arm and a leg
around and about
bells and whistles
better or worse
bow and arrow
do or die
down and dirty
down and out
far and away
far and wide
give and take
head over heels
Challenge
aches and pains
all or nothing
armed and dangerous
be all and end all
blood and guts
bread and circuses
by and large
cap and gown
cease and desist
crash and burn
crimson and clover
dog and pony show
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193
Chapter 4: Word Differences and Wordplay
Two-Part Verbs
Two-Part Verbs
Some verbs form an idiom when followed by an adverb or
preposition. This type of two-part verb is called a phrasal.
Easy
add up
back down
back up
go over
hear from
hear of
hold on
lie down
put on
run away
show up
slow down
slow up
catch up
dress down
dress up
give back
give up
look after
point out
pull out
pull through
rinse off
save up
send over
take after
take back
take down
take in
talk back
talk over
throw away
throw out
turn into
try on
try out
wash up
drop off
drop out
fall through
hand down
hand over
hold off
make over
play down
push across
rule out
see through
stand by
think over
think through
turn into
wear down
wear off
wear out
work out
Target
break down
bring on
bring out
burn down
burn up
get around
call off
call up
calm down
carry on
carry out
catch on
Challenge
bear up
brush off
burn out
buy out
buy up
clean out
close down
die down
die off
drop by
194
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Chapter 5
Jargon and
Technical Words
“ My students know all
the basic geography
terms. But they’re about
to do a research project
and I’d like to first give
them an idea about
the more challenging
words they’re sure
to encounter.
”
E
very field has its own jargon or special language.
It is made up of the technical terms used in that
field and the special meanings given to everyday terms.
This chapter provides lists of words used in different
professions. One of the goals of these lists is to help
students understand that some words have special
meanings that are different from their everyday meanings.
For example, the noun beat is usually understood as the
regular rhythm of a piece of music or of one’s heart.
However, the area or subject that a newspaper reporter
covers is also called a beat.
You may wish to use some of these words to illustrate
other concepts. Include crescendo, soprano, or
a cappella in a discussion about the influences other
languages have had on English. Try antibiotics, microorganism, abnormal, or malnutrition when discussing
Greek and Latin prefixes. Or, even use fastball, ballpark,
or home plate in a lesson about compound words.
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195
Chapter 5: Jargon and Technical Words
Business
Business Words
Easy
budget
company
cost
customer
debt
employee
employer
expense
instruction manual
loan
loss
manager
manufacture
plant
product
profit
salary
service
staff
supervisor
tax
value
wage
workforce
competition
corporation
counterfeit
credit
deduction
earnings
finance
flyer
forecast
interest
interview
investment
marketing
nonprofit organization
overhead
patent
payroll
press release
principal
procedure
promotion
proposal
résumé
retail
revenue
service industry
stock
stockholder
bottom line
buy-out
cash flow
CEO (chief executive
officer)
CFO (chief financial
officer
commission
commodity
CPA (certified public
accountant)
depreciation
equity
gross
insurance
inventory
leverage
liability
liquidity
net
operating income
portfolio
proprietor
stock option
subsidiary
turnover
Target
accounting
advertising
agenda
assembly line
balance sheet
benefits
bond
brochure
capital
checking account
Challenge
accounts payable
accounts receivable
accrual
allocation
annual report asset
audit
bankruptcy
billing
board of directors
196
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Chapter 5: Jargon and Technical Words
Media
Media Words
Easy
actor
artist
artwork
audience
camera
character
costume
cut
design
DVD (digital video disc)
director
focus
movie
newspaper
performer
photography
plot
prime time
prop
recording
schedule
script
set
setting
special effects
studio
theater
documentary
editing
fade
format
frame
genre
image
long shot
long take
mainstream
mix
multimedia
multiplex
narration
network
option
pan
perspective
photo-realism
point of view
production
projection
propaganda
ratings
real time
realistic
sound effects
treatment
voice-over
wipe
wrap
zoom
cinematography
continuity
demographics
deregulation
digital
docudrama
focal length
HDTV (high-definition
television)
melodrama
morphing
niche
objectivity
persona
public domain
repertoire
synergy
verisimilitude
vertical integration
Target
acoustics
archive
brand
cable
cinema
broadcast
clip art
commercial
cropping
disc
dissolve
Challenge
aesthetics
analog
articulation
avant-garde
biopic
broadband
censorship
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197
Chapter 5: Jargon and Technical Words
Computer and Technology
Computer Words
and
Technology Words
Easy
back up
bookmark
boot
byte
clip art
command
control key
cursor
data
directory
document
drag
e-mail
font
format
keyboard
input
Internet
offline
online
menu
monitor
output
password
paste
search
server
software
store
tab
Web site
window
emoticon
header
host
hypertext
keyword
interface
link
modem
network
pixel
platform
program
programmer
search engine
spam
threaded discussion
URL (universal resource locator)
virus
Web log
wikibook
worm
file extension
FTP (file transfer protocol)
HTML (hypertext
markup language)
ISP (Internet service
provider)
list server
metasearch engine
netiquette
netware
newsgroup
packet jam
PDF (portable document format)
phish
plug-in
spider
Web crawler
XML (extensible
markup language)
Target
blog
browser
bulletin board
cache
database
digital
domain
download
Challenge
bandwidth
Boolean operators
CGI (common gateway
interface)
CSE (custom search
engine)
cookie
cyberspace
198
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Chapter 5: Jargon and Technical Words
Geography
GGeography
eography Words
Words
Easy
agriculture
axis
canyon
climate
compass
coast
continent
desert
equator
forest
fossil
gas
geographer
globe
grasslands
habitat
hemisphere
island
lake
latitude
lava
longitude
ocean
peninsula
pond
prairie
region
resource
sphere
temperature
tundra
valley
wetlands
erosion
eruption
extinction
fault
fissure
geological era
geologist
geyser
glacier
global warming
gorge
greenhouse gases
groundwater
iceberg
igneous
landform
landslide
layer
magma
mantle
mesa
metamorphic
meteor
meteorite
mineral
mudslide
permafrost
plate
plateau
precipitation
projection
rift valley
savanna
sedimentary
seismograph
smog
steppe
strait
tectonic plates
temperate
terrain
volcano
watershed
weathering
bituminous
cartographer
climatic zone
crevasse
deposition
escarpment
estuary
geopolitical
lithosphere
loam
loess
megapolis
moraine
nebula
paleontologist
plate tectonics
strata
topography
tributary
trilobite
Target
acid rain
arid
arroyo
atmosphere
bedrock
bog
butte
canyon
core
crater
crust
delta
dormant
earthquake
epicenter
Challenge
accretion
aquifer
archipelago
atoll
bayou
biodegradable
biome
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199
Chapter 5: Jargon and Technical Words
Music/Health
Music Words
Easy
alto
bass
bar
chorus
duet
flat
instrument
key
lyrics
note
quartet
quintet
rest
rhythm
scale
sharp
solo
soprano
staff
trio
harmony
interlude
interval
keyboard
measure
medium
melody
meter
mode
octave
orchestra
percussion instruments
pitch
range
refrain
register
rondo
score
sequence
string instruments
tempo
tenor
treble
woodwinds
crescendo
diminuendo
forte
fugue
moderato
modulation
mezzo forte
mezzo piano
mezzo soprano
piano
pianissimo
presto
signature
syncopation
tonic
cold
cough
cure
cut
diet
disease
flu
heart
injury
limb
lung
medicine
muscle
pain
patient
skeleton
tooth
wound
Target
baritone
brass instruments
chord
clef
composer
conductor
dynamics
ensemble
Challenge
a cappella
adagio
allegro
andante
chromatic scale
coda
Health Words
Easy
ache
bandage
blood
bone
checkup
chest
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Chapter 5: Jargon and Technical Words
Health/Art
Target
abnormal
addiction
allergy
artery
asthma
bacteria
bladder
blood cell
blood pressure
blood vessel
calcium
capillary
circulatory system
cancer
carbohydrate
cartilage
contagious
chronic
digestive system
disorder
endocrine system
fatigue
fungus
general practitioner
gland
hormone
immune system
immunity
infectious
injection
joint
ligament
lymphatic system
malnutrition
medication
microbe
muscular system
nervous system
nutrition
operation
prescription
protein
respiratory system
reproduction system
skeletal system
specialist
spinal cord
stress
surgery
temperature
tendon
tissue
trauma
vaccination
vein
virus
bulimia
cardiovascular
cholesterol
communicable disease
congestion
dehydration
DNA (deoxyribonucleic
acid)
esophagus
HIV (human immune
deficiency virus
intravenous
irritant
malignant
metabolism
microorganism
mucus
noninvasive
obesity
pathogen
protozoa
psychiatry
psychology
psychotherapy
syndrome
light
line
horizontal
painting
statue
sculpture
shadow
space
spiral
vertical
wavy
zigzag
architecture
acrylic
background
collage
column
complementary color
Challenge
AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome)
anorexia
antibody
antibiotic
antigen
autoimmune disease
bronchia
Art Words
Easy
color
curve
diagonal
drawing
figure
Target
abstract
arch
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Chapter 5: Jargon and Technical Words
Art/Measurement
composition
design
dimension
dome
exterior
foreground
harmony
hue
interior
landscape
minaret
mobile
motif
mosaic
mural
oil paint
palette
panorama
pastel
photography
primary color
secondary color
texture
three-dimensional
two-dimensional
watercolor
diptych
egg tempura
engraving
etching
expressionism
fauvism
flying buttress
fresco
gothic
grotesque
impressionism
installation
kinetic
luminosity
minimalism
negative space
nonrepresentational
opacity
perspective
performance art
positive space
realism
relief
symmetry
length
mile
minute
month
ounce
pint
pound
quart
ruler
tape measure
tablespoon
teaspoon
time
ton
volume
weight
width
yard
year
degree
estimation
Fahrenheit
fraction
gram
kilogram
kilometer
line segment
linear
liter
meter
metric system
milliliter
millimeter
percentage
ratio
temperature
U.S. customary system
vertex
Challenge
aesthetics
allegory
assemblage
batik
Byzantine
ceramics
chiaroscuro
conceptual art
cubism
Measurement Words
Easy
cup
day
depth
foot
gallon
hour
inch
Target
acre
angle
balance
capacity
Celsius
centimeter
decimal
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Chapter 5: Jargon and Technical Words
Measurement/Sports
Challenge
acceleration
ampere
angstrom
apothecary weight
candela
conversion
coulomb
cubic
density
dram
equivalence
farad
furlong
gill
hectare
henry
hertz
joule
kelvin
lumen
luminance
lux
metric ton
mole
newton
ohm
pascal
peck
rod
scale
square
tesla
velocity
volt
watt
weber
coach
glove
kick
mask
mitt
pass
shin guards
spikes
team
trainer
pitcher
umpire
fastball
fly ball
foul
forward
frontcourt
fumble
goalie
goal line
goaltender
halfback
halftime
home plate
home run
kickoff
infield
inning
league
leftfield
lineup
match
offense
outfield
punt
quarterback
referee
right field
signal
stadium
strike
tackle
timeout
touchdown
tournament
traveling
underdog
winger
Sports Words
Easy
ballpark
base
batter
bleachers
block
Target
arena
backcourt
baseline
block
bullpen
bunt
centerfield
court
curveball
defense
down
dribble
dugout
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203
Chapter 5: Jargon and Technical Words
Sports
Challenge
battery
blitz
defensive
designated hitter
double-team
204
gridiron
interception
offensive
on deck
penalty box
pigskin
pinch hitter
point spread
possession
reception
relief pitcher
rosin
rotation
slider
zone defense
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Chapter 5: Jargon and Technical Words
Writers on Words
Writers
on
Words
Easy
“When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather scornful
tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more
nor less.”
“The question is,” said Alice, “whether you can make words
mean so many different things.”
“The question is,” said Humpty Dumpty, “which is to be
master—that’s all.”
—Lewis Carroll
Sticks and stones may break our bones, but words will break
our hearts.
—Robert Fulghum
Target
All words are pegs to hang ideas on.
—Henry Ward Beecher
Often when I write, I am trying to make words do the work of
line and colour. I have the painter’s sensitivity to light. Much
(perhaps the best) of my writing is verbal painting.
—Elizabeth Bowen
Writing cannot express all words, words cannot encompass all ideas.
—Confucius
Words are the thread on which we string our experiences.
—Aldous Huxley
Gradually from naming an object we advance step by step until
we have traversed the vast distance between our first stammered
syllable and the sweep of thought in a line of Shakespeare.
—Helen Keller
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Chapter 5: Jargon and Technical Words
Writers on Words
The difference between the almost right word and the right
word is really a large matter—’tis the difference between the
lightning bug and the lightning.
—Mark Twain
The English language is nobody’s special property. It is the property of the imagination; it is the property of the
language itself.
—Derek Walcott
Challenge
Words are things, and a small drop of ink, falling like dew upon
a thought, produces that which makes thousands, perhaps
millions, think.
—Lord Byron
A word is not a crystal, transparent and unchanged, it is the skin
of a living thought, and may vary greatly in color and content
according to the circumstances and the time in which it is used.
—Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes
Words are . . . the most powerful drug used by mankind.
—Rudyard Kipling
Words have weight, sound and appearance; it is only by
considering these that you can write a sentence that is good to look at and good to listen to.
—W. Somerset Maugham
Wit has truth in it; wisecracking is simply calisthenics with words.
—Dorothy Parker
. . . I . . . believe that words can help us move or keep us
paralyzed, and that our choices of language and verbal tone
have something—a great deal—to do with how we live our lives
and whom we end up speaking with and hearing; and that we
can deflect words, by trivialization, of course, but also by
ritualized respect, or we can let them enter our souls and mix
with the juices of our minds.”
—Adrienne Rich
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Notes
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources
Notes
Instant Word Lists for Teaching Reading and Writing © e2 Publishing Services, LLC. Published by Scholastic Teaching Resources