Egocentric

Ego (I) + centri (center) =

Adj.

Self-centered

The egocentric snob did not notice that she had hurt a classmate.

Tangible

tang (touch) =

Adj.

Touchable

A paycheck is one of the tangiblerewards of a job.

Demagogue

Demos (people) + agog (leader) =

n.

Corrupt politician

Huey Long was accused of being ademagogue in the 1930’s. He wasassassinated as a result.

Preclude

Pre (before) + clud (close) =

v.

foreclose

The young athlete suffered an injury that will preclude him from participating In the tournament.

Cryptologist

crypt (hidden) + log (study of, science) + ist (one who) =

n.

Code breaker

British cryptologists broke the German Enigma code during World War II.

ethnocentrism

ethno (race or culture) +centri (center) + ism (doctrine or philosophy) =

n.

Racial or cultural prejudice

Ethnocentrism can lead to manyproblems when people do not appreciate the differences in others.

pedagogue

Ped (child) + agog (leader) =

n.

teacher

Middle school students do notlike pedagogues who do not have a sense of humor.

recant

Re (back, again) + cant (sing) =

v.

Retract

When the witness was under oath, he had to recant an earlier falsestatement.

Revoke

Re (back, again) + voc (voice) =

v.

Cancel

If you do not keep your gradesup, your driver’s license willbe revoked.

Pugnacious

Pugn (fight) + ous (full of) =

Adj.

Combative

The pugnacious bully was sent home for fighting.

Incisive

In (in) + cise (cut) =

Adj.

Sharp

Her incisive questions cut deeplyinto the issue.

Diatribe

Dia (across) + trib (pay) =

This reallycomes from Greek for a leaned discussion

n.

Abusive criticism

Hitler often delivered diatribes against the Jews.

anomaly

A (not) + homo (same) =

n.

abnormality

Because the point falls outside ofthe normal range on the graph, itis thought to be an anomaly.

Enumerate

E (out) + numer (number) + (cause)

v.

To list

Beginning with the most important one, please enumerate your reasons.

Circumscribed

Circum (around) + scrib (write) =

Adj.

Limited

You may only select from one of the circumscribed choices.

Intercede

Inter (between) + cede (go) =

v.

mediate

The United States has tried tointercede to help develop a plan forpeace in the Middle East.

Disputatious

Dis (away) + put (think) + ous (full of) =

Adj.

Argumentative

The disputatious player angered the referee.

Loquacious

Loqu (talk) + ous (full of) =

Adj.

Talkative

The loquacious students wereasked to leave the media center.

Abrogate

Ab (away) + rogat (ask) =

v.

Annul

Outdated laws need to beabrogated.

Prescience

Pre (before) + sci (know) =

n.

Foreknowledge

Prescience about HurricaneSandy did not make the clean-upany easier.

Sacrosanct

Sacro (holy) + sanct (holy) =

Adj.

Sacred

Turkey at Thanksgiving is asacrosanct tradition that mostpeople enjoy and will not change.

Androgynous

andro (man) + gyn (woman) +ous (full of) =

Adj.

Masculine and feminine

Many women in the 1920’s hadan androgynous appearance—theywore skirts, had short hair,and smoked.

Acronym

Acro (high) + nym (name) =

n.

Initials-name: This is a wordthat is formed from the first letterof a series of words.

NASA is the acronym for National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Congenital

con (together) + gen (origin) =

Adj

At birth.

The baby was born with acongenital heart defect that couldbe repaired with surgery.

Cacophony

Caco (bad) + phon (sound) =

n.

Bad noise

The cacophony of the horns ofcars at the traffic jam hurt ourears.