Vocab Workout - Set 1 Flashcards

The popular odium of attorneys is often unmerited.

Root: odi (from Latin odium, meaning “hatred”)

I make a habit of giving honest opinions, but I try to avoid being officious with my friends.

Prefix: ob- (from Latin, meaning “toward” or “against”); Root: facere (from Latin, meaning “to do” or “to make”); Suffix: -ious (forming adjectives, meaning “full of” or “having the qualities of”)

The windows became so dirty they were almost opaque.

Root: opaqu (from Latin opacus, meaning “shady” or “dark”)

The students waited for an opportune moment to surprise their teacher with the bouquet of flowers they had prepared.

Prefix: ob- (from Latin, meaning “toward” or “against”); Root: port (from Latin portus, meaning “harbor” or “port”)

The student’s essay was full of superfluous phrases that needed to be deleted.

Prefix: super- (from Latin, meaning “above” or “beyond”); Root: flu (from Latin fluere, meaning “to flow”); Suffix: -ous (forming adjectives, meaning “full of”)

It had been my understanding that the new tax code supersedes the old one, but actually both are in vigor simultaneously.

Prefix: super- (from Latin, meaning “above” or “beyond”); Root: sed (from Latin sedere, meaning “to sit”)

The higher-ups tried to supplant rebellious teachers with conformists.

Prefix: sub- (altered to sup- before certain consonants, meaning “under” or “below”); Root: plant (from Latin plantare, meaning “to plant”)

The churchgoers then bowed their heads and supplicated God to answer their prayers.

Prefix: sub- (altered to sup- before certain consonants, meaning “under” or “below”); Root: plic (from Latin plicare, meaning “to fold”)

Through sheer determination, he was able to surmount his disadvantages and win the contest outright.

Prefix: sur- (from Old French, meaning “over” or “above”); Root: mount (from Latin montare, meaning “to climb”)

Since they were not allowed to speak, the couple exchanged surreptitious glances from across the room.

Prefix: sub- (altered to sur- before certain consonants, meaning “under” or “secretly”); Root: rapt (from Latin rapere, meaning “to seize”); Suffix: -ious (forming adjectives, meaning “full of”)

synonyms: shame, dishonor; disgust, detestation, contempt, aversion, revulsion

He faced odium from his peers after the project failed due to his oversight.

The odium directed at the politician was palpable after the controversial decision.

officious (uh-fish-us)

adj. prone to giving unwanted advice

synonyms: blurred, darkened, lusterless; baffling, cryptic, clouded, unclear, ambiguous

The opaque curtains kept the room completely dark even during midday.

His explanation was so opaque that no one in the class could follow his logic.

opportune (opp-er-tune)

adj. happening under fitting circumstances

synonyms: extra, excessive, overdone, redundant, unnecessary, surplus

Her apology seemed superfluous, as the issue had already been resolved.