Unit One Vocabulary from Latin and Greek roots

Question 1

Fac

Answer 1

Latin FACERE, FACTUM “to make, do”

Question 2

Discomfit

(dis kem fit) v.

Answer 2

To embarrass and confuse
Although the presence of a large audience discomfited the violinist, she gave a magnificent performance.
syn: perturb ant: relax

Question 3

Edification

(ed e fi ka shen) n.

Answer 3

Improvement or enlightenment
L. aedis, “building,” + factum = to make a building, to build up
Mrs. Marple, an etiquette expert, often gives hints for the edification of her audience.
syn” betterment

Question 4

Malfeasance

(mal fez ens) n.

Answer 4

Misconduct or wrongdoing, especially by a public official
L. mal, “bad,” = facere = doing bad
The reoprter uncovered a complex conspiracy intended to hide the mayor’s latest malfeasance.
syn: betterment

Question 5

Feasible

(fez e bel) adj.

Answer 5

Capable of being accomplished
The Board of Education could not find a feasible solution to the overcrowding of city schools.
syn: possible

Question 6

Surfeit

(sur fet) n.

Answer 6

Condition of being too full; overabundance
L. sur, “over,” + facere = too much made
A surfeit of army boots led to lack of space in the warehouse.
syn: abundance ant: shortage; dearth

Question 7

Opus

Answer 7

Latin OPUS, OPERIS “ work”

OPS, OPIS, “Wealth, power, resource”

Question 8

Magnum Opus

(mag nem o pes) n.

Answer 8

The greatest work of an artist, writer, or composer
L. magnum, “great,” + opus = great work
Wagner’s “Ring Trilogy” is considered by many to be the composer’s magnum opus.
syn: pinnacle

Question 9

Modus Operandi

(mo des a pe ran di) n.

Answer 9

Manner of working
L. modus, “way,” + operandi “of working” = way of working
The criminal’s modus operandiwas one that the police haad seen only rarely in the past.

Question 10

Opulent

(o pu lent) adj.

Answer 10

Possessing or exhibiting great wealth; affluent

Having made his fortunein computer sales, Kit retired to an opulent estate on a private island.

Question 11

ERG

Answer 11

Greek ERGON “work”

Question 12

Synergy

(si ner je) n.

Answer 12

The power that results from the combination of two or more forces
G. syn, “together,” + ergon = working together
The synergy of the two networks allowed for faster and more powerful transmission of information.
syn: confluence

Question 13

Liturgy

(li ter je) n.

Answer 13

A pattern of prayer or worship
G. leiton, “ town gathering,” + ergon = public work
In a traditional Roman Catholic mass, the preist leads the congregation in the liturgy.

Question 14

Lethargy

(le ther je) n.

Answer 14

A state of sluggishness, inactivity, and apathy

Question 15

LABOR

Answer 15

Latin LABOR “work”

Question 16

Laborious

(le bor e es) adj.

Answer 16

Requiring mental or physical effort
Reading the article was so laborious that I left the library exhausted.
syn: industrious

Question 17

Belabor

(be la ber) v.

Answer 17

1. To discuss in too much detail
2. To attack
3. There is no need to belabor this topic; let us talk of othe things.
4. Movie critics belabored that actor for his terrible movies.

Question 18

Elaborate

(e la ber at) v.

Answer 18

To explain in greater detail
L. e, “out of,” + labor = to work out
When asked to elaborate on his proposal for the new park, the mayor said only that it was in the planning stages.