Analogies: Determining Meaning from Prefixes - SSAT Elementary Level Verbal

The prefix "dys_-_" is a negation prefix; this means it takes the original meaning of the word “functional” (working) and causes it to mean the opposite, so “dysfunctional” means not working. To solve this analogy, then, you need to determine which of the answer choices means the opposite of “endorse.” “Endorse” means give support to, so the best available antonym is “undermine,” a word that means work to prevent someone from succeeding or something from occurring or working. None of the other answer choices work as antonyms of "endorse": "support" is a synonym of "endorse"; “demonstrate” means show someone or a group how to do something by example; “pretend” means fake; and “harangue” means rebuke, scold, or tell-off.

The “medieval” period of history occurred between the ninth and fifteenth century CE in Europe and Asia. As it is a period of history, it can be said to be an “era.” To solve this analogy, you have to determine which of these categories “Mediterranean” fits into. It is worth noting that the prefix "med_-_" means middle, so the “medieval” period was so named because it was a middle period between antiquity and the modern day, while the Mediterranean sea was so named for being in the middle of Europe and Africa—that is, between the two continents. So, because the Mediterranean is a sea just as "medieval" is an era, "sea" is the correct answer.

Here, the prefix "un-" applied to the word "common"results in the word "uncommon,"which means the opposite of common. Something that is uncommon is therefore "rare."

Given that "uncommon" and "rare" mean the same thing, the correct answer choice will be one in which the two words also mean the same thing. Something that is "spontaneous"is not planned. Therefore, the answer choice "unplanned is to spontaneous" is the correct answer.

To solve this analogy, you have to understand the meaning of the prefixes "un_-_" and "dis-."Both prefixes are used to negate the meaning of a word. They take the original meaning and make it the opposite, so "unpleasant" means not pleasant. "Nice" is the opposite of "unpleasant," so to solve this analogy, you need to find the opposite of "dishonest." "Dishonest" means not honest, so the correct answer must mean something like "honest." The correct answer is therefore "truthful." To provide further help, "terrifying" means scary, and "serene" means peaceful.

This analogy requires you to use your knowledge of negating prefixes. "Un-"and "dis_-_" both mean not; they each take the meaning of the original word and make it mean the opposite. So "disconnected" means not connected. "Separated" is very similar to this meaning, so to solve this analogy, you have to find a word that is similar in meaning to "unfulfilled." "Unfulfilled" means not fulfilled or not satisfied, so the correct answer is "dissatisfied." To provide further help, "misplaced" means lost, "misunderstood" means incorrectly understood, and "satisfied" means happy with something.

To solve this analogy you have to rely on you understanding of prefixes. The prefix post- means after, so to "postpone" something is to delay something to be done later. To solve this analogy then you have to determine which one of these words is something that you do "before" something else. The prefix pre- means before, so the correct answer is "prevent." "Prevent" means to stop something from happening before it happens. To provide further help, "permit" means to allow; "determine" means to figure out.

To solve this analogy you are going to need to rely on your understanding of prefixes. The prefix psych- means mind, to do with the human mind. So, "psychology" is the study of the mind. To solve this analogy then you have to determine what "astronomy" is, to do this you need to use the prefix astro-, which means star, or space. "Astronomy" is the study of stars and outer space.

The prefix oct- means eight, so an "octagon" is a shape with eight sides. To solve this analogy you need to consider the meaning of the prefix tri-. It means three. So, a "triangle" is a shape with three sides.

A “century” is one hundred consecutive years, so to solve this analogy, you have to determine how many years a “millennium” is. The correct answer is a "thousand.” The prefix "cent_-" means hundred, and likewise, the prefix "mil-"_ means thousand. Just think of "centipedes" and "millipedes" if you think you might get these confused. The key here is not to be confused by the fact that "millennium" does not refer to a span of a "million" years, despite "million" also beginning with "mil-."

You use scissors to cut, so to solve this analogy, you need to pick out an answer choice that is a verb that describes what you do with a needle. The correct answer is to “inject” something. The prefix "in_-_" means put into, so “inject” means to put something, usually a liquid, into something else. To provide further help, “induce” means force or cause to be, and “imply” means suggest.

One would expect to be able to get books from a library, so to solve this analogy, you need to pick out an answer choice that is an object you would expect to be able to get from a bakery. You might expect to be able to get bakery from a bakery, so "bread" is the correct answer. None of the other answers make sense in the blank as something you might expect to get from a bakery; while you might expect to find an oven and a kitchen in a bakery, you wouldn't expect to be able to take these things with you like books from a library, so those answer choices are incorrect.

A “diameter” is a line running through the center of a circle from one side to the other. A “radius” is half the diameter, so to solve this analogy you have to determine which answer choice means half a circle. The correct answer is “semicircle.” The prefix "semi-" means half and the prefix "dia-" means through, across, over. To provide further help, the “circumference” is the length around the outside of a circle; a “sphere” is a three-dimensional circle; “parallel” means running alongside, having the same slope; “perpendicular” means running on opposite slopes and is the opposite of "parallel."

The suffix "-cycle" suggests a wheeled vehicle and the prefixes tell you how many wheels that vehicle has. So a “_tri_cycle” is a three-wheeled vehicle and a “_uni_cycle” is a one-wheeled vehicle. Similarly, a "bicycle" is a two-wheeled vehicle.

The prefixes "in-," "im-," and "dis_-"_ are all negationprefixes. This means they take the original meaning of the word and cause it to mean the opposite. “Credulous” means believing, naïve, gullible, so “incredulous” must mean disbelieving, skeptical, doubtful. To solve this analogy, you have to determine which of these answer choices is the opposite of “credit,” which means to give recognition for some achievement. The correct antonym is “discredit,” which means harm the reputation of, prove wrong. To provide further help, “dismantle” means to take apart; “innate” means natural, inherent; “impossible” means not possible.

The prefix “tele_-“_ means over a long distance, so a “telephone” is a device that you use to call over a long distance and a “telescope” is a device that you used to see over a long distance. Notice how the root “phone” means having to do with a device that relates to sound, as in “megaphone” or “gramophone,” and the root “scope” means having to do with a device that relates to seeing, as in “microscope” or “periscope.”

The root "ped" means related to legs, walking, or feet. A “biped” is a two-legged animal. The prefix ­"bi_-" means related to the number two. So, to solve this analogy, you have to determine how many legs a “quadruped” has. The correct answer is “four,” because the prefix ­"quad-_" means related to the number four.

The prefix sub- means going under, beneath so a “submarine” is something that travels under water and a “subway” is something that travels underground. The suffix -marine often suggests at a relationship with water.

"Loyal" is an antonym of "disloyal," so you need to pick out an answer choice that is an opposite of "dull." "Dull" can mean either boring or not sharp, so "exciting" is the correct answer, because "exciting" is an opposite of "boring." To help you, "munificent" means generous; and "guilty" means feeling bad about something bad that you did.

A triangle is a three-sided shape, so to solve this analogy, you have to determine how many sides a square has. The correct answer is that a square has “four” sides. The prefix "tri_-"_ usually means that the word will relate in some way to the number three.