AMBI/AMPHI “ambi” from Latin and “amphi” from Greek means “on both sides” or around” Unit 3.1

Related Words Ambiguous (adj): 1. Doubtful or uncertain especially from being obscure or indistinct. 2. Unclear in meaning because of being understandable in more than one way. Ambiguous (adj): 1. Doubtful or uncertain especially from being obscure or indistinct. 2. Unclear in meaning because of being understandable in more than one way. Unit 3.1

Related Words Ambient (adj): Existing or present on all sides. Ambient (adj): Existing or present on all sides. Unit 3.1

Related Words Ambivalent (adj): 1. Holding opposite feelings and attitudes at the same time toward someone/thing. Ambivalent (adj): 1. Holding opposite feelings and attitudes at the same time toward someone/thing. 2. Continually wavering between opposites or alternate courses of action.

Related Words Amphitheater (n): 1. An oval or circular building with an open area ringed by rising tiers or seats used in ancient Rome for contests or spectacles. Amphitheater (n): 1. An oval or circular building with an open area ringed by rising tiers or seats used in ancient Rome for contests or spectacles. 2. A large modern theater or stadium. Unit 3.1

An ambidextrous person can use the right and left hand equally well. An amphibian, such as a frog or salamander, is able to live and breathe both on land and in the water. Notes

EP / EPI From Greek, this root means “upon,” “besides,” “attached to,” “over,” “outer,” or “after” Unit 3.2

Related Words Ephemeral (adj): 1. Lasting a day only. 2. Lasting a very short time. Ephemeral (adj): 1. Lasting a day only. 2. Lasting a very short time. Unit 3.2

Related Words Epiphyte (n): A plant that obtains its nutrients from the air and rain and usually grows on another plant for support. Epiphyte (n): A plant that obtains its nutrients from the air and rain and usually grows on another plant for support.

Related Words Epitaph (n): An inscription on a grave or tomb in memory of the one buried there. Epitaph (n): An inscription on a grave or tomb in memory of the one buried there. Unit 3.2

Related Words Epithet (n): 1. A descriptive word or phrase occurring with or in place of the name of a person or thing. 2. An insulting or demeaning word or phrase. Epithet (n): 1. A descriptive word or phrase occurring with or in place of the name of a person or thing. 2. An insulting or demeaning word or phrase. Unit 3.2

The epidermis is the outer layer of the skin, overlying the inner layer or “dermis.” An epicenter is the portion of the earth’s surface directly over the focus of an earthquake. Notes

HYPO / HYP A prefix meaning “under,” “beneath,” “down,” or “below normal.” Unit 3.3

Related Words Hypochondriac (n): A person unduly concerned with health and often suffering from delusions of physical disease. Unit 3.3

Related Words Hypocrisy (n): A pretending to be what one is not or to feel what one does not really feel Unit 3.3

Related Words Hypothermia (n): Subnormal temperature of the body. Unit 3.3

Related Words Hypothetical (adj): 1. Involving an assumption made for the sake of argument or for further study or investigation. 2. Imagined for purposes of example. Unit 3.3

Many –hypo words are medical. A hypodermic needle injects medication under the skin. Hypotension, or low blood pressure can be just as dangerous as hypertension. Notes

THERM From the Greek word meaning “warm” Unit 3.4

Related Words Thermal (adj): 1. Of, relating to, or caused by heat. 2. Designed to insulate in order to retain body heat. Thermal (adj): 1. Of, relating to, or caused by heat. 2. Designed to insulate in order to retain body heat. Unit 3.4

Related Words Thermocline (n): The region in a body of water that divides the warmer, oxygen-rich surface layer from the colder, oxygen-poor deep water. Thermocline (n): The region in a body of water that divides the warmer, oxygen-rich surface layer from the colder, oxygen-poor deep water. Unit 3.4

Related Words Thermocouple (n): A device for measure temperature that makes use of the way different metals respond to heat. Thermocouple (n): A device for measure temperature that makes use of the way different metals respond to heat. Unit 3.4

Related Words Thermonuclear (adj): Of or relating to the changes in the nucleus of atoms with low atomic weight, such as hydrogen, that require a very high temperature to begin. Thermonuclear (adj): Of or relating to the changes in the nucleus of atoms with low atomic weight, such as hydrogen, that require a very high temperature to begin. Unit 3.4

A thermometer measures the amount of warmth in a body, the air, or an oven; a thermostat makes sure the temperature stays at the same level. Notes

POLY A Greek root meaning “many” Unit 3.5

Related Words Polychromatic (adj): Showing a variety or a change of colors; multi- colored. Polychromatic (adj): Showing a variety or a change of colors; multi- colored. Unit 3.5

Related Words Polyglot (n): 1. One who can speak/write several languages. 2. Having or using several languages. Polyglot (n): 1. One who can speak/write several languages. 2. Having or using several languages.

Related Words Polymer (n): A chemical compound formed by a reaction in which 2+ molecules combine to form larger molecules with repeating structural units. Polymer (n): A chemical compound formed by a reaction in which 2+ molecules combine to form larger molecules with repeating structural units. Unit 3.5

Related Words Polyphony (n): Music containing 2+ independent but harmonious melodies. Polyphony (n): Music containing 2+ independent but harmonious melodies. Unit 3.5

Polygamy is marriage in which one has many spouses, or at least more than the legal limit of one. A polygraph is an instrument that reveals whether someone is lying by recording variations in many different bodily pulsations. Notes

PRIM From the Latin word for “first” Unit 3.6

Related Words Primal (adj): 1. Original or primitive. 2. First in importance. Primal (adj): 1. Original or primitive. 2. First in importance. Primiparous (adj): 1. Bearing a first offspring. 2. Having borne only one previous offspring. Primiparous (adj): 1. Bearing a first offspring. 2. Having borne only one previous offspring. Unit 3.6

Related Words Primogeniture (n): An exclusive right of inheritance belonging to the eldest son of a single set of parents. Primogeniture (n): An exclusive right of inheritance belonging to the eldest son of a single set of parents. Unit 3.6

Related Words Primordial (adj): 1. First created or developed 2. Existing in or from the very beginning. Primordial (adj): 1. First created or developed 2. Existing in or from the very beginning. Unit 3.6

A primer is a book of first instruction on a subject. A primate is a bishop or archbishop of the first rank – but also a monkey or ape. Notes

HOM/HOMO Comes from the Greek word for “same.” It can also mean “one and the same,” “similar,” or “alike.” Unit 3.7

Related Words Homonym (n): One of 2+ words pronounced and/or spelled alike but different in meaning. Homonym (n): One of 2+ words pronounced and/or spelled alike but different in meaning. Unit 3.7

Related Words Homogenous (adj): 1. Of the same or a similar kind. 2. Of uniform structure or com- position throughout. Homogenous (adj): 1. Of the same or a similar kind. 2. Of uniform structure or com- position throughout.

Related Words Homologous (adj): Developing from the same or a similar part of a remote ancestor. Homologous (adj): Developing from the same or a similar part of a remote ancestor. Unit 3.7

Related Words Homophone (n): One of 2+ words pronounced alike but different in meaning or derivation or spelling. Homophone (n): One of 2+ words pronounced alike but different in meaning or derivation or spelling. Unit 3.7

A homograph is one of 2+ words spelled alike but different in meaning or derivation or pronunciation. Notes

DIS From Latin, this root can mean: “apart,” “do the opposite of,” “deprive of,” “not,” or “exclude or expel from” Unit 3.8

Related Words Diffraction (n): 1. The bending or spreading of a beam of light esp. when it passes thru a narrow opening or is reflected from a ruled surface. 2. Similar changes in other waves, such as sound waves. Diffraction (n): 1. The bending or spreading of a beam of light esp. when it passes thru a narrow opening or is reflected from a ruled surface. 2. Similar changes in other waves, such as sound waves. Unit 3.8

Related Words Dissension (n): Disagreement in opinion. Dissension (n): Disagreement in opinion. Disseminate (v): To spread widely as if by sowing seeds. Disseminate (v): To spread widely as if by sowing seeds. Unit 3.8

Related Words Dissipate (v): 1. To cause to spread out to the point of vanishing; disperse. 2. To spend wastefully or foolishly; squander. Dissipate (v): 1. To cause to spread out to the point of vanishing; disperse. 2. To spend wastefully or foolishly; squander. Unit 3.8

The meaning of this root can be seen in words such as disbar, disunion, disagreeable, or disannul. The meaning of this root can be seen in words such as disbar, disunion, disagreeable, or disannul. Notes