I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Vocabulary List:
#
1
Prefix/Root/Suffix/Etymology
Greek Root: abac- "slab"
Word
abacus
Definition
N. a manual calculator with
counters on rods or in grooves.
Root Share
Abaciscus, abax
2
Latin Root: -fect- "do" or
"make"
affectation
Perfect, effect, confection,
efficacy
3
Greek Prefix: am- "not" or
"without"
Greek Root: brot- "mortal"
Greek Root: chron- "time"
ambrosia
N. speech or conduct not natural
to oneself; an unnatural form of
behavior meant especially to
impress others.
N. the food and drink of the
gods.
N. an error in chronology,
especially a chronological
misplacing of persons, events,
objects or customs in regard to
each other; a person or thing that
is chronologically out of place,
especially one from a former ager
that is incongruous in the
present.
N. an identifying name or title;
designation (e.g. "Doctor"); the
act of calling by name.
N. commendation; praise; an act
of approving formally or officially.
Chronic, chronicle,
chronology, chronometer,
synchronize
4
5
6
anachronism
appellation
Latin Root: prob- "worthy" or
"good"
7
approbation
bilk
8
blithe
9
bourgeoisie
10
cajole
11 Latin Root: clement- "mild"
Clemency
12 Latin Root: mensur"measure"
commensurate
13 Latin Root: contra- "against"
contrapuntal
Ambrotype
Approve, probable,
probation, probe,
reprobate
V. to block the free development
of; frustrate.
V. to cheat out of something
valuable; defraud.
ADJ. carefree and happy and
lighthearted.
N. members of the middle class;
a class or group of people with
social behavior and political
views held to be influenced by
private-property interest; a social
order dominated by capitalists.
V. influence or urge by gentle
urging, caressing, or flattering.
N. leniency and compassion
shown toward offenders.
ADJ. equal in measure or extent;
corresponding in size , extent, or
degree; proportionate.
ADJ. having independent but
harmonically related melodic
parts.
Inclement
Dimension, immense,
measure, commensurable
Contraband, contraception,
contrast, contravene
14
countenance
15
debutante
16 Latin Root: sicc- "dry"
desiccate
N. bearing, demeanor;
expression; mental composure.
N. a young woman making her
debut into society.
V. to dry up.
Desiccation, siccative
V. to preserve food by drying;
dehydrate.
17
droll
18
ecumenical
19
enigma
V. to drain of emotional or
intellectual vitality.
ADJ. having a humorous,
whimsical, or odd quality.
ADJ. worldwide or general in
extent, influence, or application.
ADJ. of, relating to, or
representing the whole body of
churches; promoting or tending
toward worldwide Christian unity
or cooperation.
N. an obscure speech or writing.
N. something hard to understand
or explain.
N. an inscrutable or mysterious
person.
N. a person devoted to refined
sensuous enjoyment.
20
epicure
21 Latin Root: fid- "faith" or
"trust"
22
fidelity
N. the quality of being faithful.
filch
V. to make off with belongings of
others.
23
gauche
ADJ. lacking social polish.
24
genteel
ADJ. marked by refinement in
taste and manners.
25
gentile
N. not Jewish (usually Christian).
26
gilt
27
homely
ADJ. a coating of gold or of
something that looks like gold.
ADJ. suggestive or characteristic
of a place of residence or home.
ADJ. plain or unattractive in
appearance.
Confidante, confident,
perfidious, perfidy, infidel.
28
Hominy
29
inscrutable
30 Latin Root: line- "smear" or
"smudge"
liniment
31
lye
32 Latin Root: magn- "great" or
"large"
magnanimous
33
maraud
34
masochist
35
niche
36 Latin Root: ordin- "order"
ordain
37 Latin Root: palp- "touch"
palpable
38
pandemonium
39
pariah
40 Latin Root: quart- "fourth"
quadroon
41 Latin Root: ranc- "rancidness"
or "grunge" or "bitterness"
42 Latin Root: rauc- "harsh" or
"hoarse"
rancor
raucous
N. Kernels of corn that have been
soaked in a caustic solution (as of
lye) and then washed to remove
the hulls.
ADJ. not readily investigated,
interpreted, or understood;
mysterious.
N. a liquid or semi-liquid
preparation that is applied to the
skin as a medicine or
counterirritant.
N. a strong alkaline liquor rich in
potassium carbonate leached
from wood ashes and used
especially in making soap for
washing.
ADJ. showing or suggesting a
lofty or courageous spirit.
ADJ. showing or suggesting
nobility of feeling and generosity
of mind or spirit.
V. to roam about and raid in
search of plunder.
N. someone who obtains
pleasure from receiving
punishment.
N. a position well suited to the
person who occupies it.
V. to invest officially with
ministerial or priestly authority.
V. to establish or order by
appointment, decree, or law;
enact.
ADJ. capable of being touched or
felt.
N. the infernal regions; hell.
Deletion, indelible
Magnanimity, magnum,
magnify
Preordination, grandorder,
disorder, extraordinaire,
ornery
Palp, palpate, palpitation
N. a wild uproar; tumult.
N. a member of a low caste of
southern India.
N. on that is despised or rejected;
an outcast.
N. a person of one-quarter black
ancestry.
N. bitter deep-seated ill will or
hatred.
ADJ. disagreeably harsh or
strident.
ADJ. boisterously disorderly.
Quart, quartermaster,
quarto, interquartile,
quartet
Rancid
43 Latin Root: neg- "say no"
renege
V. deny or renounce.
44
smidgen
V. to go back on a promise or
commitment.
N. a small amount; a bit.
45
sobriquet
N. a descriptive name or epithet;
nickname.
46
swarthy
ADJ. of a dark color, complexion,
or cast.
47
trammel
N. something impending activity,
progress, or freedom; restraint.
48
troubadour
N. a singer of folk songs
49
Wile
N. skill in outwitting; trickery,
guile.
50
Zapatista
N. a trick or stratagem intended
to ensnare or deceive.
N. a member or supporter of a
Mexican revolutionary force
working for social and agrarian
reforms, which launched a
popular uprising in the state of
Chiapas in 1994.
Negative, renegade