Using Prefixes, Suffixes, and Roots to Identify Synonyms - ISEE Middle Level Verbal Reasoning

The Latin prefix max- means greatest, best. So, the "maximum" is the greatest possible number of something, the largest something can be. "Smallest" is an antonym to "greatest."

The Latin prefix regu- means related to rules or law, as in "regime" which means government, a collection of rulers. So, to "regulate" means to enforce the rules, to control the actions of.

The Latin prefix avia- means bird, as in "aviary" which is a place where birds are kept. So, this problem is a little more confusing than usual, but can still be solved using logic. An "aviator" must have something in common with a "bird," well an "aviator" is a pilot. Pilots and birds can both fly. This happens sometimes with the English language due to the complexity of the origin of some words, but more often than not you can determine the meaning of words using logic and an understanding of prefixes, suffixes, and roots of words.

The Latin prefix sub- means under, beneath, as in "submerge" which means to go under water. So, "substandard" means below standard, not good enough, of poor quality. Additionally, "grand" means impressive, magnificent, great; "jaunty" means cheerful, having a good-natured personality.

The Latin prefix super- means better, higher. So, "superior" means better than something else or best. "Worse" is an antonym to "better." "Hotter" and "colder" are antonyms for each other, and they are used to discuss degrees of heat. "Softer" is a relative adjective used to describe tactile feel.

The Latin prefix ami- means love, as in "amorous" which means showing romantic feelings towards, expressing love. So, "amity" means friendship, a loving relationship. Additionally, "hardship" means difficulty; "devastation" means destruction, complete ruin, immense damage; the "location" of something is where something is; a "reaction" is a response to something someone says or does.

The word "commemorate" comes from Latin roots meaning roughly to remember together. The "com-" prefix is a form of "cum-" or "con-" that we find in words like "community," "cumulative," and "congregation." It means together or with. When we commemorate something or someone, we remember that person or thing together as a group. In doing this, we honor that which we commemorate. Think of annual ceremonies that commemorate events like September 11, 2001 (to honor its victims) or the signing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence.

Whenever we "intend" something, we actively will to do that thing. An intentional action is one that doesn't "just happen", as when we accidentally have our hands slip from a surface because it is slippery. In contrast, an intentional action is something chosen. Thus, when something is "intended," it was "meant"; that is, you can say either, "I intended to do that," or, "I meant to do that."

Among the options provided, only "premeditated" expresses this idea of meaning to do an action. The word "pre-meditated" contains hints regarding its meaning. The suffix "pre-" almost always means before. The idea of "meditation" in this word is not about the practice of religious or non-religious meditation but, instead, about thinking in general. A premeditated action is one that we planned ahead of time. We think about these things before we do them; we "pre-meditate" about them. This is close to "intending," at least for the purposes of this question.

The word "antecedent" may be a bit difficult; however, let's use some roots to help understand it. The prefix "ante-" means before. In certain card games, people will place a bet before they even receive any cards and know what their hand is or will be. This kind of bet is called "ante." Similarly, when we talk about the southern states of the United States from before the U.S. Civil War, we refer to the "antebellum" South. The "bellum" portion means war. Therefore, "antebellum" means before the war.

Now, the second half of "antecedent" comes from Latin roots meaning to fall. It is related to the word "cadence," which refers to the beat in music or the pitch of someone's voice (how it rises and falls, so to speak).

Thus, after a long digression, we have the meaning of "antecedent": it means to fall before. Hence, "prior" is an excellent option!

The prefix of the word "converge" is "con-", which is a form of the general prefix for "with" or "together," namely "con- / cum- / com- / etc." Whenever things "converge," they come together into a group. For example, you could say, "The people converged on the small town, overwhelming it with their great numbers." This means that the people all came together in the small town.

Only the option "unite" expresses the idea of coming together or of being one group.

Whenever something subsides, it lessens in its strength or force. The prefix "sub-" means "under." The "-side" portion of the word comes from the Latin root for "to sit." This same root is found in words like "sedentary" and "sedate." Something that "subsides" starts to "sit under"—not in a literal sense, of course! It just means that the thing in question lessens. The only option among those provided that expresses the idea of lessening is "slacken." When a rope slackens, it becomes less tight. The general idea of slackening is that of becoming less or looser. Hence, this is an acceptable synonym for "subside," at least among the options provided.

Whenever something is "excessive," it is too much. Thus, whenever someone is fined for "excessive speed," this means that the person was driving far too quickly. Thus, in general, to "exceed" means to go over or to be bigger. Whenever one thing surpasses another, it "goes over" it (or becomes "more" than it). The prefix "sur-" means over. Thus, the word really could mean "to pass over"!

“Redoubtable” is an adjective that means “formidable” when referring to a person, so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “formidable.” That means that “pathetic” cannot be the correct answer, because “pathetic” means “arousing pity,” making it a near antonym, not a synonym, of “redoubtable.” “Daunting,” however, is an adjective that means “intimidating,” and because “daunting” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “redoubtable,” “daunting” is the correct answer.

When someone "surpasses" something such as a world record in running, it means they "exceed" the previously set limit or expectation. The other answer chocies are as follows: to "summit" is to reach the peak; to "regress" is to go backwards; to "undermine" is to weaken; and to "neutralize" is to counteract.

"Loathsome" means deserving of hatred or repulsive, so "hateful" is the correct answer, as "hateful" can mean deserving hatred. To help you, "senile" means physically and/or mentally weakened with age, someone who is "sleazy" is gross and immoral, and "joyful" means very happy.

"Churlish" means rude. The best choice is "rude" since it is a part of the definition of "churlish." Considering the other choices, "childish" means immature, "congealed" means changed into a solid state, and "fusty" means old-fashioned.

Stay as close as possible to the original word, for there are many tempting wrong answers. When something is "formless," it has no definite shape. This certainly is the case for "gaseous" things (since they are "gas like"). Also, "inconsistent" speech is lacking the general form that speech should have. That is, it lacks proper consistency. The word "amorphous" literally means without form. The word "morph" means take on a new form or shape. The prefix "a-" means without, as in "atypical," meaning not typical or without features that are typical.

The suffix "-less" means lacking, so "selfless" means concerned with the needs of others and not selfish, making “considerate" the correct answer. “Appalling” means disgusting, horrendous, or dreadful; “dominating” means in control; “accredited” means officially recognized or given credit for; and “frank” means candid and honest.

An "anglophone" is someone who speaks English. The prefix anglo- always suggets at a relationship between the word and England, and the suffix -phone relates to language or speaking. To provide further help, "ill-equipped" means not prepared.