How to Master the Vocabulary : Root Words | SSC CGL Tier-2 2017 (Part-3)

Dear Students, Vocabulary represents one of the most important skills necessary for teaching and learning a foreign language. It is the basis for the development of all the other skills: reading comprehension, listening comprehension, speaking, writing, spelling and pronunciation. And to learn vocabulary is pretty much difficult task in itself. Today, In this article, we will discuss the most effective ways to memorise vocabulary words. You need to learn the etymology of the words. In Every Govt. job Competitive Exams in India, English Section is very important and critical. Without scoring good marks in English Section, you can not qualify any exam.

This Root List can boost your knowledge of words, and that can help you get more questions right. No one can predict exactly which words will show up on your test, but there are certain words that the test-makers favor. The Root List gives you the component parts of many typical words that are asked in SSC and Bank Exams. Knowing these words can help you because you may run across them on your Exams. Also, becoming comfortable with the types of words that pop up will reduce your anxiety about the test.

Knowing roots can help you in two more ways. First, instead of learning one word at a time, you can learn a whole group of words that contain a certain root. They’ll be related in meaning, so if you remember one, it will be easier for you to remember others. Second, roots can often help you decode an unknown vocab word. If you recognize a familiar root, you could get a good enough grasp of the word to answer the question.

Etymology (et’-a-MOL’-a-jee) deals with the origin or derivation of words. When you know the meaning of a root (for example, Latin ego, I or self), you can better understand, and more easily remember, all the words built on this root. Learn one root and you have the key that will unlock the meanings of up to ten or twenty words in which the root appears. Learn ego and you can immediately get a handle on egocentric, egomaniac, egoist, egotist, and alter ego. Learn anthropos (Greek, mankind), and you will. quickly understand, and never forget, anthropology, misanthropy, anthropoid, anthropocentric, anthropomorphic, philanthropy, and anthropophobia. Meet any word with anthropo- in it, and you will have at least some idea of its meaning.

In the etymological approach to vocabulary building:

• You will learn about prefixes, roots, and suffixes, so You will be able to figure out unfamiliar words by recognizing their structure, the building blocks. from which they are constructed-

• You will be able to construct words correctly by learning to put these building blocks together in the proper way-and

•You will be able to derive verbs from nouns, nouns and verbs from adjectives, adjectives from nouns, etc.-and do all this correctly.

Learn how to deal with etymology and you will feel comfortable with words-you will use new words with self-assurance-you will be able to figure out thousands of words you hear or read even if you have never heard or seen these words before. That’s why the best approach to new words is through etymology:-as you will discover for yourself as soon as you start reading the below given root words. Use these tricks, as well as other exercises that we will provide based on these notes, as aids to learning. “No one is perfect, no one learns in the exact same way or at the same rate as anyone else. Find the optimum technique and speed for your unique learning patterns-and then give yourself every opportunity to exploit your actual, latent, and potential abilities.” 

16. CIS: TO CUT
scissors: cutting instrument for paper
precise: definitely stated or defined
exorcise: to seek to expel an evil spirit by a ceremony
incision: a cut, gash, or notch
incisive: penetrating, cutting

17. DEM: PEOPLE
democracy: government by the people
epidemic: affecting at the same time a large number of people, and spreading from person to person
endemic: peculiar to a particular people or locality
pandemic: general, universal
demographics: vital and social statistics of populations

18. FORE: BEFORE
foresight: care or provision for future
foreshadow: be a warning or indication of ( a future event)
forestall: to prevent by advance action
forthright: straightforward, outspoken, decisive

19. GEN: BIRTH, CREATION, RACE, KIND
generous: giving or given freely
genetics: the study of heredity and variation among animals and plants
gender: classification roughly corresponding to the two saxes and sexlessness
carcinogenic: producing cancer
congenital: existing or as such from birth
progeny: offspring, descendants
miscegenation: interbreeding of races

20. HETERO: DIFFERENT
heterosexual: of or pertaining to the sexual orientation toward members of the opposite sex; relating to different sexes
heterogeneous: of other origins: not originating in the body
heterodox: different from the acknowledged standard: holding unorthodox opinions or doctrines

21. HYPO: UNDER, BENEATH, LESS THAN
hypodermic: relating to the parts beneath the skin
hypochondriac: one affected by extreme depression of mind or spirits often centered on imaginary physical ailments
hypocritical: affecting virtues or qualities one does not have
hypothesis: assumption subject to proof

22. IDIO: ONE’S OWN
idiot: an utterly stupid person
idiom: a language, dialect, or style of speaking particular to a people
idiosyncrasy: the peculiarity of temperament; eccentricity

21. LOC/LOG/LOQU: WORD, SPEECH
dialogue: conversation, esp. in a literary work elocution: the art of clear and expressive speaking prologue: an introduction to the poem, play etc.
eulogy: speech or writing in praise of someone
colloquial: or ordinary or familiar conversation
grandiloquent: pompous or inflated in language
loquacious: talkative

22. MAG/MAJ/MAX: BIG
magnify: to increase the apparent size of
magnitude: the greatness of size, extent, or dimensions
maximum: the highest amount, value, or degree attained
magnate: a powerful or influential person
magnanimous: generous in forgiving an insult or injury
maxim: an expression of general truth or principle

23. MAL/MALE: BAD, ILL, EVIL, WRONG
malfunction: failure to function properly
malicious: full of or showing malice
malign: to speak harmful untruths about, to slander
malady: a disorder or disease of the body
maladroit: clumsy, tactless
malapropism: humorous misuse of a word
malfeasance: misconduct or wrongdoing often committed by a public official
malediction: a curse

24. OMNI: ALL
omnibus: an anthology of the works of one author or of writings on related subjects
omnipresent: everywhere at one time
omnipotent: all powerful
omniscient: having infinite knowledge

25. PAN: ALL, EVERYONE
panorama: an unobstructed and wide view of an extensive area
panegyric: formal or elaborate praise at an assembly
panoply: a wide-ranging and impressive array or display
pantheon: a public building containing tombs or memorials of the illustrious dead of a nation
pandemic: widespread, general, universal

26. PERI: AROUND
perimeter: the border or outer boundary of a two-dimensional figure
periscope: an optical instrument for seeing objects in an obstructed field of vision
peripatetic: walking or traveling about; itinerant

27. PHIL: LOVE
philosophy: the rational investigation of the truths and principles of being, knowledge, or conduct
philatelist: one who loves or collects postage stamps
philology: the study of literary texts to establish their authenticity and determine their meaning
bibliophile: one who loves or collects books

28. THEO: GOD
atheist: one who not believe in a deity or divine system
theocracy: a form of government in which a deity is recognized as the supreme ruler
theology: the study of divine things and the divine faith
apotheosis: glorification, glorified ideal

29. VOR: TO EAT
voracious: having a great appetite
carnivorous: meat-eating
omnivorous: eating or absorbing everything