Preparation for an

American University
Program

Vocabulary • a-, ac-, ad-, af-, ag-, al-, an-,

Workshop
ap-, as-, at- to, toward, near, in
addition to
o aside (adverb): to or
toward the side
 a + side
o accompany (verb): to go
with someone as a
companion
 ac + com + pan +
Prefixes y
o adjust (verb): to correct,
Prefixes and suffixes were originally to move closer to a
words themselves but they are now correct position
groups of letters added to words or to  ad + just
roots to create new words. Prefixes [pre o affix (verb): to attach to
(before) + fix (fasten) = fasten before] something, to fasten
are groups of letters placed before words  af + fix
or roots. Prefixes modify or extend the o aggression (noun):
meanings of words and roots. Following hostile behavior towards
is a list of commonly used prefixes and someone or something
sample vocabulary.  ag + gress + ion
o allocate (verb): to
INDEX: A B C D E I M N O P R S distribute to specific
TU people or for specific
purposes
Back to Vocabulary Workshop  al + loc + ate
o annihilate (verb): to
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destroy
 an + nihil + ate
o associate (verb): to join
with
 as + soci + ate
o attend (verb): to look
after, to go to
 at + tend

• a-, an- not, without

 o apolitical (adjective):
without interest in politics
 a + polit + ic + al
o anemia (noun): the
condition (disease) of not
having enough red blood
cells
 an + em + ia • bi- two
o biped (noun): a two-
• ab-, abs- away from, off footed animal
o abrupt (adjective):  bi + ped
unexpected change o biennial (adjective):
 ab + rupt happening every two
o absolve (verb): to be set years bi + enni + al
free from one's actions or
obligations
 ab + solve

• ante- before
o anterior (adjective):
before or near the front
 ante + rior

• anti- against
o antipathy (noun): dislike,
• cat-, cata-, cath- down, with
opposite feeling
o category (noun): a class
 anti + path + y
or set to which a thing
belongs
• auto- self
 cate + gor + y
o automotive (adjective):
o catalogue (noun): a book
related to self-propelled
or pamphlet that lists and
machines
describes
 auto + mot + ive
 cata + log + ue
o catheter (noun): a
medical device used to
tranfer fluids cath +eter

• circum- around
o circumvent (verb): to
manage to get around a
situation
 circum + vent

• co-, cog-, col-, com-, con-, cor

together, with
 o cohesiveness (noun): the
ability to stick together
 co + hes + ive +
ness
o cognate (adjective):
related, similar in nature
 cog + nate
o collaborate (verb): to
work together
 col + lab + or +
ate
o commitment (noun): to
entrust, to put into a place
 com + mit + ment
o convenient (adjective):
handy, nearby
 con + veni + ent
o correct (verb): to set
right, to be right
 cor + rect
• contra- against, opposite
o contradict (verb) to state
the opposite
 contra + dict
• de- to do the opposite, to take
away from
o decrease (verb): to grow
smaller, to become less
 de + cre + ase
• di-, dif-, dis- apart, separate, two,
opposite, not
o divide (verb): to separate
into two or more parts
 di + vide
o differ (verb): to be unlike
 dif + fer
• dis- not, opposite of, exclude
o distrust (verb): to have
no confidence or trust
 dis + trust
• e-, ex- out, out of, from
o emit (verb) to send out
 e + mit
o expel (verb): to force out
ex + pel
• en-, em- put into
o enamor (verb): to cause
to love, to "put" someone
"into" love
 en + am + + or
o empower (verb): to give
power, to put into power
em + pow + er
• epi-, upon, beside, over
o epilogue (noun): the
concluding section of a
play or literary work
 epi + logue
• extra- beyond
o extraordinary
(adjective): going beyond
normal
 extra + ordin +
ary

• il-, im-, in-, ir, not, in
o illegible (adjective):
cannot be read
 il + leg + ible
o imposter (noun):
someone who poses as
someone else
 im + post + er
o inaction (noun): lack of
motion, idle
 in + act + ion
o irresolute (adjective):
uncertain about hot to act,
undecided, not having a
solution
 ir + re + solute
• in-, im-, il- in, into
o instead (adverb): in place
of, an alternative
 in + stead
o import (verb): to bring
into a country from
another country
 im + port
• inter- between, among
o interject (verb): to throw
something (usually a
comment) between other
things
 inter + ject
• intro- into
o introspection (noun): to
look into one's own
thoughts and feelings
 intro + spect + ion
• mal- bad
o malfunction (noun):
when something does not
work properly
 mal + funct + ion
• mis- wrong
o misconduct (noun):
wrong doing, bad
behavior
 mis + con + duct
• mono- one
o monologue (noun): a
dramatic performance or
speech given by one actor
 mono + logue
• multi- many
o multiply (verb): to
increase in number
 multi + ply
• non- not, no
o nonsense (noun):
something that has no
meaning or makes no
sense
 non + sense
• ob-, oc-, of-, op- toward, against,
in the way
o obtain (verb): to gain or
get, to get a hold of
 ob + tain
o occur (verb): to happen,
to come to mind
 oc + cur
o offer (verb): to attempt to
give, to propose, to try to
hand out
 of + fer
o oppose (verb): to be
against, to stand in the
way of something
 op + pose
• over- excessive, above
o overwork (verb): to have
too much work
 over + work
• para- beside
o paradox (noun): a
statement that seems true
and contradictory at the
same time
 para + dox
• per- through
o persecute (verb): to go
after, to pursue
 per + secute
• post- after
o postpone (verb): to put
off to a later time, to
delay
 post + pone
• pre- before
o precede (verb): to go
before, to come in front
of
 pre + cede
• pro- for, foward
o propel (verb): to push
forward
 pro + pel
• re- back, again  sup + port
o readmit (verb): to allow o survive (verb): to live, to
in again live through something,
 re + ad + mit to exist
 sur + vive
• retro- backward o sustain (verb): to keep
o retrospect (noun) to look up, to hold up,
back at past events  sus + tain
 retro + spect
• super- over, above
o superimpose (verb): to
place something on top of
something else
 super + im + pose

• syn-, sym- together, at the same

time
o synchronous (adjective):
happening at the same
time
 syn + chron + ous
• se- apart, move away from o sympathy (noun):
o secede (verb): to
sharing another person's
withdraw from an feelings, compassion
organization  sym + path + y
 se + cede

• semi- half
o semiannual (adjective):
occurring twice a year
 semi + annu + al

• sub-, suc-, suf-, sup-, sur-, sus

under, beneath, near, from below,
secretly, above, up
o submarine (adjective):
underwater
• trans- across, beyond, change
 sub + mar + ine
o transform (verb): to
o succeed (verb): to do
change shape
well, to come after
 trans + form
 suc + ceed
o suffice (verb): to be
• tri- three
enough o tripod (noun): a three-
 suf + fice
legged stand
o support (verb): to hold
 tri + pod
up, too keep up
• un- not, against, opposite
o unceasing (adjective):
never ending, continuous
 un + ceas + ing

• uni- one
o uniform (adjective):
having the same form or
consistancy
 uni + form
Vocabulary
Workshop
• -acy, -cy
o Noun: state or quality
 privacy: the state
of being alone
 priv + acy
 infancy: the state
Suffixes of being a baby or
young child
Suffixes are groups of letters attached to
 in + fan +
the ends of roots, words, and word
cy
groups. Suffixes serve a grammatical
function. A suffix can indicate what part
• -age
of speech (noun, verb, adjective, adverb)
o Noun: activity, or result
to which the word belongs. Suffixes can
of action
also modify and extend meaning. The
 courage : having
following suffixes are grouped beneath
the spirit to
the grammatical function they perform.
overcome fear
 cour + age
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Home Page, vocabulary, prefixes, or • -al
suffixes. o Noun: action, result of
action
 referral : the
action of directing
a person to
NOUNS another place,
person or thing
 re + ferr +
Nouns perform the function of naming. al
Nouns name persons, places animals or
things, as well as groups, ideas and • -an
qualities. In a sentence, nouns can be o Noun: person
subjects, objects, or appositives.  artisan : a
craftsperson
INDEX: A D E F I M N O S U Y  arti + san

• -ance, -ence
o Noun: action, state,
quality or process
  resistance : the  de + pend
action of opposing + ent
something
 re + sist + • -ate
ance o Noun: state, office,
 independence: fuction
the state of not  candidate : a
being under the person nominated
control of others, for an office or
free, self- position
governing  candid +
 in + de + ate
pend +
ence • -ation
o Noun: action, resulting
• -ancy, -ency state
o Noun: state, quality or  specialization :
capacity the result of being
 vacancy : an distinguished by
empty room or one quality or
position ability
 vac + ancy  spec + ial
 agency: the + iz +
capacity to exert ation
power or
influence, a
position or person
that performs a
function
 ag + ency

• -ant, -ent
o Noun: an agent,
something that performs
the action
 disinfectant : an • -dom
agent that destroys o Noun: place, state of
germs, somthing being
that cleans  wisdom :
 dis + in + possessing
fect + ant knowledge
 dependent: a  wis + dom
thing supported by
another, a thing
determined by
another
• -er, -or
o Noun: person or thing • -ian, an
that does something o Noun: related to, one that
 porter : a person is
who carries things  pedestrian : a
 port + er person who walks
 collector: a  ped + estr
person who + ian
collects or gathers  human: a person
things  hum + an
 col + lect
+ or • -ia
o Noun: names, diseases
 phobia : an
illogical fear of
something
 phob + ia

• -iatry
o Noun: art of healing
 psychiatry :
branch of
medicine that
• -ful deals with the
o Noun: an amount or mind and
quanity that fills emotions
 mouthful : an  psych +
amount that fills iatry
the mouth
 mouth + • -ic, ics
ful o Noun: related to the arts
and sciences
 arithmetic : a
branch of math
that usually deals
with non-negative
numbers
 arithm + et
+ ic
  economics: the  formalism : a
social science belief in sticking
related to studying to prescribed
business forms or artistic
 eco + nom styles
+ ics  form + al
+ ism
• -ice
o Noun: act • -ist
 malice : the desire o Noun: person or member
to do evil  podiatrist : a foot
 mal + ice doctor
 pod + iatr
• -ing + ist
o Noun: material made for,
activity, result of an • -ite
activity o Noun: product or part
 flooring : a  graphite : a black
material made for material used in
floors making pencils
 floor + ing  graph + ite
 swimming: the
activity of • -ity, ty
swimming or o Noun: state or quality
moving through  lucidity : clear
water thinking
 swim(m) +  luc + id +
ing ity
 building: the  novelty:
result of making a something new or
structure unusual
 build + ing  nov + el +
ty
• -ion
o Noun: condition or action • -ive
 abduction : the o Noun: condition
action of carrying  native : a person
someone away by born in a specific
force place
 ab + duct  nat + ive
+ ion

• -ism
o Noun: doctrine, belief,
action or conduct
 o Noun: condition or
activity
 valor : bravery,
courage
 val + or

• -ment • -ory
o Noun: condition or result o Noun: place for, serves
 document : an for
official paper  territory : an area
usually showinf around a place
proof or evidence  territ + ory
of something
 docu +
ment

• -ship
o Noun: status, condition
 relationship : the
• -ness
state of being
o Noun: state, condition,
related or
quality
connected to
 kindness : the
something or
quality of being
someone
kind or nice
 re + lat +
 kind +
ion + ship
ness

• -ure
• -or
 o Noun: act, condition, INDEX: A E I U
process, function
 exposure : the
condition of being
exposed or
unprotected
 pos + ure

• -ate
o Verb: cause to be
 graduate : to give
a degree to, to
pass from one
stage to the next
• -y  gradu +
o Noun: state, condition, ate
result of an activity
 society :
companionship
 soci + et +
y
 victory: the result
of winning
something
 vict + or +
y

• -ed
o Verb: past tense
 attained :
Back to Vocabulary Workshop something that has
Home Page, vocabulary, prefixes, or been reached or
suffixes. grasped
 at + tain +
ed
VERBS • -en
Verbs make statements about nouns, ask o Verb: to cause to become
 moisten : to cause
questions, give commands, or show
states of being. Verbs can be active or to become moist
passive. Verbs also show tense or time or damp
 moist + en
of action.
• -er, -or
o Verb: action
 ponder : to think
about
 pond + er
 clamor: to make
noise, to call for
loudly
 clam + or

• -ure
o act
 Verb:
conjecture : to
come to a
conclusion by
supposition or
guesswork
 con + ject
+ ure

• -ify
o Verb: cause
 specify : to name
Back to Vocabulary Workshop
or indicate in
detail Home Page, vocabulary, prefixes, or
 spec + ify suffixes.

• -ing
o Verb: present participle ADJECTIVES
 depicting :
showing, Adjectives describe or modify nouns.
describing with Adjectives tell the reader more about the
images or pictures noun used in the sentence.
 de + pict +
ing INDEX: A E F I L O Y

• -ize
o Verb: cause
 fantasize : to
dream about
something, to
create images in
the mind
 fant + as +
ize
• -able, -ible  convenient: at
o Adjective: worth, ability hand, easy to use
 solvable : able to  con + ven
be solved or + ient
explained
 solv + able • -ar, -ary
 incredible: not o Adjective: resembling,
able to be related to
believed, amazing  spectacular :
 in + cred + related to
ible something that is
eye-catching or
• -al, -ial, -ical amazing
o Adjective: quality,  spectac +
relation ul + ar
 structural :  unitary : related
related to the to units or single
physical make up groups
of a thing representing
 struct + quantities
ure + al  unit + ary
 territorial:
related to nearby • -ate
or local areas o Adjective: kind of state
 territ + or  inviolate : not
+ ial disturbed, pure
 categorical:  in + viol +
related to a ate
category, aboslute
 cate + gor
+ ical

• -ant, -ent, -ient

o Adjective: kind of agent,
indication
 important :
marked by worth
 im + port
+ ant
 dependent: • -ed
determined or o Adjective: having the
relying upon quality of
something else  terraced : having
 de + pend terraces or steps
+ ent  terrac + ed
• -en
o Adjective: material
 silken : made
from silk, a fiber
produced by
worms
 silk + en

• -er • -ic
o Adjective: comparative o Adjective: quality,
 brighter : more relation
light  generic : related
 bright + er to a whole group
 gener + ic
• -est
o Adjective: superlative • -ile
 strongest : having o Adjective: having the
the most strength qualities of
 strong +  projectile :
est something thrown
with an outside
force
 pro + ject
+ ile

• -ing
o Adjective: activity
 cohering : the act
of sticking
together
 co + her +
• -ful ing
o Adjective: having, giving,
marked by • -ish
 fanciful : marked o Adjective: having the
by imagination character of
 fanci + ful  newish : modern,
recent
 new + ish

• -ive, -ative, -itive

o Adjective: having the
quality of
 festive : having
the quality of a
festival or party
  fest + ive o Adjective: having the
 cooperative : quality of, relating to
being able or  adventurous :
willing to work charcterized by
with another the desire to seek
person or thing new experiences
 co + oper or risks
+ ative  ad + vent
 sensitive: easily + ur + ous
felt, responsive to  courageous :
the senses characterized by
 sens + courage, brave
itive  cour + ag
+ eous
 verbose: having
more words than
needed
 verb + ose
 fractious:
characterized by
being difficult or
troublesome
 fract +
ious
• -less
o Adjective: without,
missing
 motiveless : a
reason for
someone to do
something
 mot + ive
+ less

• -y
o Adjective: marked by,
having
 hungry : having
hunger, marked
by a desire
 hungr + y

• -ous, -eous, -ose, -ious

Back to Vocabulary Workshop effortlessly
Home Page, vocabulary, prefixes, or smooth
 flu + ent +
suffixes.
ly

ADVERBS
Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives and
other adverbs.

INDEX: F L W

• -ward
o Adverb: in a direction or
manner
 homeward :
toward home
 home +
ward

• -wise
• -fold o Adverb: in the manner of,
o Adverb: in a manner of, with regard to
marked by  timewise : with
 fourfold : being regard to time
four times as great  time +
 four + fold wise

• -ly
o Adverb: in the manner of
 fluently : marked
by ease of
movement,