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

For this word, there are two parts that are helpful in coming up with a general meaning of the word, though you must be careful. The “im-” prefix is really the form of “in,” though it changes here because of the way we pronounce “n” when it is followed by “p.” Sometimes “in” can also mean on when used as a prefix. The “-pose” is related to “position,” here meaning something like to place; therefore, we can think of “impose" as being to place upon. Now, to force someone to do something is to place something on them (or to “foist” it on them). It should be noted that “impose” does add an additional shade meaning implying that this imposing is also something of an infliction or a penalty.

When someone is “deposed,” he or she is removed from a position or office in a forceful manner. For instance, one could say, “The insurgents deposed the sitting government and replaced it with their own officers.” The word comes from the prefix “de-,” meaning down from, and “-pose,” meaning to place (as related to “position”). Therefore, "depose" literally means to place down (from its original place). Think of “tearing someone down” from his or her throne. Of all the options, the word “overthrow” matches most closely. Note that a “deposition” might also mean the giving of evidence in court.

The word “repose” is related to words like “impose,” “depose,” and “suppose,” all of which have the base “-pose,” which is related to “position” or “place.” While “repose” does not mean to place back, as one would expect from the “re-” prefix, it does take on a stronger sense of “positioning” or “placement,” meaning rest. Used as a verb, it can mean to be resting or sitting in a single location. It likewise can be used figuratively sense of placing (for example) one’s trust in someone else. Sometimes, you will hear people speak of burying a body as placing that person in “final repose”—that is, in his or her “final resting place.”

Several of the answers appear to be acceptable, given the presence of “face” in the word. The word “efface” is derived from root words related to “face,” but it is necessary to be very careful in considering the word’s roots. The “ef-” prefix is the same as the “ex-” prefix that means out of or away from. To “efface” is “to take the face away” from something. What this means is to remove something, as when one erases it. This is the best option among the answers. One also is said to be "self-effacing" when he or she acts in a way so as to hide his or her worth—as though that person were “erasing” his or her own abilities.

Do not be tempted to thinking “degrade” means the same thing as “downgrade.” Both words contain the “-grade” base, which means step or stage. Likewise, “de-” means down from. This might lead you to think that they both merely mean to force someone "down a step." Nevertheless, “degrading” actions are ones that are contemptuous or disrespectful. They are meant to humiliate those who receive them. For this reason, “humiliating” is the best answer among the others.

The word “atheist” means “one who does not believe in the existence of any god. The “a-” prefix here is privative, making the word to mean the opposite of the base “theist.”

The base itself means “one believing in God.” It is found in other words like “theology” (the study of God or gods) and “pantheism” (the belief that the world and God are identical). Likewise, the “th” becomes “d” in some contexts like “deity” and “deism.” Among the options given, the best is “nonbeliever.” Do not be tricked by the other options that are at most accidentally related to the word “atheist.”

The “-tend” found in the word “distend” is related to the same root found in “extend.” It generally means to stretch or (more broadly) to reach. When one “extends” his or her arm, he or she reaches or stretches it out toward something. When something becomes “distended,” it becomes stretched in the sense of being swollen—as in “a distended stomach” because of disease or gaseous buildup.

The word “edict” comes from the prefix “e-” meaning “out or out of” and “-dict,” which means “to say or speak.” The latter is found in many words like “diction,” “dictate,” “dictionary,” and “benediction” (as well as many, many others). “Edict” thus literally means “something spoken out.” The sense of this “out” is that the thing is proclaimed, particularly by one in authority. For this reason, the option “proclamation” is the best option among those provided.

The word “predict” is very familiar, but let us be careful not to associate it with incorrect meanings (such as “announce” or even “invoke”).

The word is clearly composed of two parts—“pre-” and “-dict.” The former means before (in the temporal sense). The latter means to speak or say. It is related to many English words like “diction,” “dictation,” “valedictorian,” and “edict.”

To "predict" something is to state that something will happen in the future, often as the consequence of something else. To make a pop cultural reference, think of how many people “predict the outcome of the football game.” This means that they try to declare who will be the winner—before the competition even takes place. The word “foretell” merely comes from different roots—clearly meaning to tell before.

Often, one speaks of a “eulogy” being delivered at a funeral, but such speeches are not necessarily limited to those occasions. The word is comprise of the prefix “eu-” and “-logy.” The former means “good.” It is found in the word “euphony,” meaning “good sounding.” The “-logy” portion of “eulogy” means “words” as found in the English word “logic.” For these reasons, “eulogy” generally means a speech given in praise of someone. A panegyric is likewise such a positive speech.

Although the word “pretentious” is related to the word “pretend,” do not be fooled. “Pretend” literally means to stretch forward in the sense of taking or claiming something. The “-tend” means stretch, as is found in “extend.” The “pre-” does not mean before in a temporal sense but instead in the physical sense—e.g. “he stood before the magistrate.” When someone is pretentious, he or she claims to be something that he or she is not, often doing so with much fanfare to draw attention. The word “ostentatious” means much the same, itself being derived from Latin roots meaning to stretch out to show.

The word “gel” and “gelatin” both are derived from a similar base as “congeal.” They all share the general sense of “freezing” or (more broadly) “hardening” from a liquid state. When something “congeals” it “gels together.” (The “con-” prefix means “with,” as you likely know.) In general it means to “to solidify” or “to coagulate” (like blood that thickens and clots). The word “congeal” can be used to describe a group coming together as well, as in, “The parts of the project congealed into a working whole.”

The prefix "fore-" means before, so it makes sense that "forebear" means progenitor or "ancestor." As for the other answers, “descendent” means someone who descends from a particular person or animal; an “outlaw” is a criminal; "discord” means disagreement or conflict; and a “mosaic” is a pattern or picture produced by arranging many small colorful pieces of glass in a ceramic base.

The prefix "over-" means above or superior, so it makes sense that “overbearing” means assuming superiority and acting oppressively and arrogantly towards others. This means that "oppressive" is the correct answer. As for the other answer choices, “monotonous” means boring, uniform, and predictable; “humiliating” means debasing or embarrassing, “atrocious” means appalling, terrible, and disgusting; “deleterious” means harmful.

The prefix "a-" means without and "chromatic" means having to do with color, so “achromatic” means without color or"colorless." As for the other answer choices, "thoughtless" means inconsiderate and not thinking about others; “colorful” means full of color; “thoughtful” means considerate and kind; “metallic” means made of metal.

The prefix "pseudo_-_" means fake or artificial, so it makes sense that a “pseudonym” is a fake name, or an “alias.” A “grievance” is an injustice you feel has been done to you or a problem you might have with something; “fusion” means blend or combination; “diffidence” is lack of self-confidence; and a “prototype” is a first model of something.

To solve this synonym problem you need to rely on your knowledge of Greek prefixes. The prefix ante- means before, so an "antecedent" is something that comes before, also known as a "precursor." To provide further help, a "lamentation" is an expression of mourning; a "frontrunner" is a favorite in a competition; an "outlier" is unusual, outside of the normal reach of data; a "node" is a regional center of human activity.

The prefix eu- in Greek means good, fine. So the word "euphoria" means a state of feeling very good, deep happiness.

The Greek prefix hyper- means too much of, so "hyperactive" means having too much energy, restless. Additionally, "cantankerous" means grumpy, bad-tempered; "rambunctious" means playful and boisterous, rowdy; "macabre" means related to death; "susceptible" means vulnerable, likely to be affected by.