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

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.

In the word "dismiss," the "dis-" prefix is functioning to mean away, and the "-miss" portion derives from the Latin for to send, so it makes sense that "dismiss" means send away or ignore. "Ignore" is thus the correct answer. Considering the other answer choices, “demand” means ask for forcefully as if the person being queried has no other choice; “question” means ask or cast doubt on; “introduce” means bring something up, like an idea or a person, for the first time; and “conclude” means determine or finish.

If you connected the adjective, "pacific," with the Pacific Ocean, you made a proper connection, though it probably didn't help you with the definition, as all of the options could describe that body of water. More helpful would be the related words "pacify" and "peace." These could lead you to connect the word "pacific" with its correct meaning of peaceful and calming.

The Latin root "duct" means to lead. You may, for example, have seen an "aqueduct," which literally "leads water" in a particular direction. Someone or something that is "ductile" is "able to be led," in the sense of being easily influenced or bendable. This is also the meaning of the word "pliant." "Rigid" is an antonym.

A "memento" is a souvenir or a reminder of past events, so "reminder" is the correct answer. To help you, a "catchphrase" is a repeated saying associated with an individual or a character, "rancorous" means unforgiving or angry, and "heretical" means dissenting from the popular or traditional opinion, unorthodox, or going against established religious ideas.

"Beneficial" means useful or helpful, so "helpful" is the correct answer. To help you, "deleterious" is a synonym of harmful, and both words are antonyms of "beneficial." To further help you, "sarcastic" means humorous, ironic and not serious, and "suspicious" means doubtful.

"Pacify" means make calm or bring peace to, so "calm" (here used as a verb) is the correct answer. To help you, "despise" means hate deeply, and "bewilder" and "confound" are synonyms which both mean confuse.

"Unruly" is an adjective that means "disorderly and disruptive and not amenable to discipline or control." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "disruptive." "Well-behaved" cannot be the correct answer, then, because "well-behaved" is an antonym of "disruptive." "Rowdy," however, is an adjective that means "noisy and disorderly," and because "rowdy" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "unruly," "rowdy" is the correct answer.

"Imperceptible" is an adjective that means "impossible to perceive," so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "impossible to perceive." So, "prominent" cannot be the correct answer because one meaning of "prominent" is "situated so as to catch the attention; noticeable," making it an antonym of "imperceptible." "Undetectable," however, is an adjective that means "not able to be detected," and because it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "imperceptible," "undetectable" is the correct answer.

"Compile" means collect into a volume or a list, so "organize" would be the best choice here. "Disperse," meaning scatter, has the opposite meaning.

The word "prescient" means having knowledge of things before they happen. The best choice is "foreknowing," as it shares the same definition as "prescient." Considering the other choices, "do" means perform an act, "science" is knowledge gained from systematic study, and "sentient" means conscious.

A "misnomer" is an inaccurate name. The best choice is "inaccurate name," as it is part of the definition of "misnomer_."_ This is fitting as a misnomer is a mistake in naming something. Considering the other options, "nominate" means suggest for an honor, "miss" means fail or fail to meet, and "snore" means breathe with harsh sounds while asleep.

Something that is "minuscule" is very small. Therefore, "small" is the correct answer.

"Resolve" has several meanings, one of which is to decide. For example, one might write, "After getting sick from eating too many cookies, Brad resolved to never eat cookies again." So, since "resolved" means decided, "decided" is the correct answer.

If someone is "unwelcome," they are not wanted or not welcome. You can figure this out, because "un-" means not, so "unwelcome" means not welcome. So, "unwanted," which means not wanted, is the correct answer, because it is closest in meaning to "unwelcome."

To "encapsulate" something means to surround it or include it. Think of a capsule of medicine; the capsule surrounds or includes the medicine inside it. So, "include" is the correct answer.

"Prescience" is the quality of knowing what is going to happen; foresight. To provide further help, a "potentate" is a powerful leader; "dread" means fear and "loathe" means hate; "amorous" is a feeling of love.

"Misogyny" is the hatred of women. A misogynist is a man who hates and mistreats women.

"Malodorous" means bad-smelling. Whenever you see -odor you can guess that the word has something to do with smells, likewise the prefix -mal means bad. To provide further help, "malevolent" means bad-natured, evil; and "benevolent" means good-natured, kind.