VOR Vor comes from the Latin verb vorare and means “to eat.” The ending –ivorous shows up in words that refer to eaters of certain kinds of food. Unit 4.1

Carnivorous (adj.): meat / flesh-eating Carnivorous (adj.): meat / flesh-eating Herbivorous (adj.): plant-eating Herbivorous (adj.): plant-eating Unit 4.1

Omnivorous (adj.): 1. Feeding on both animals and plants. 2. Intensely interested in everything. Omnivorous (adj.): 1. Feeding on both animals and plants. 2. Intensely interested in everything. Voracious (adj.): 1. Having a huge appetite; 2. Very eager Voracious (adj.): 1. Having a huge appetite; 2. Very eager Unit 4.1

Frugivorous means “fruit-eating,” and granivorous means “grain- eating.” These are fairly easy to understand – others can get pretty complex: insects that feed on the sap of plants, for instance, are phytosuccivorous Notes

CARN CARN is a root word from the Latin carn meaning “flesh.” Unit 4.2

Carnage (n.): Great destruction of life (as in a battle); slaughter Carnage (n.): Great destruction of life (as in a battle); slaughter Carnal (adj.): Having to do w/bodily pleasures Carnal (adj.): Having to do w/bodily pleasures Unit 4.2

Carnival (n.): 1. A season of merrymaking just before Lent; an occasion for festivities and excess; 2. A traveling group that presents a variety of amusements. Carnival (n.): 1. A season of merrymaking just before Lent; an occasion for festivities and excess; 2. A traveling group that presents a variety of amusements. Unit 4.2

Incarnation (n.): 1. A particular physical form or version of something; 2. A person showing a trait to a marked degree. Incarnation (n.): 1. A particular physical form or version of something; 2. A person showing a trait to a marked degree. Unit 4.2

Notes Carnivore, from yesterday’s word, means “an eater of meat.” Unit 4.2

CRED CRED is from the Latin verb credere meaning “to believe” Unit 4.3

Credence (n.): Mental acceptance of something as true or real; belief Credence (n.): Mental acceptance of something as true or real; belief Unit 4.3

Creditable (adj.): Worthy of praise Creditable (adj.): Worthy of praise Credulity (n.): Readiness or willingness to believe on the basis of little evidence Credulity (n.): Readiness or willingness to believe on the basis of little evidence Unit 4.3

Creed (n.): 1. A statement of the basic beliefs of a religious faith; 2. A set of guiding principles or beliefs Creed (n.): 1. A statement of the basic beliefs of a religious faith; 2. A set of guiding principles or beliefs Unit 4.3

Notes Notes We have a good credit rating when institutions believe in our ability to repay a loan. Unit 4.3

FID FID is from the Latin fides meaning “faith” Unit 4.4

Affidavit (n.): A sworn statement made in writing. Affidavit (n.): A sworn statement made in writing. Diffident (adj.): 1. Lacking confidence; 2. Cautious or unassertive Diffident (adj.): 1. Lacking confidence; 2. Cautious or unassertive Unit 4.4

Fiduciary (adj.): 1. Having to do w/a confidence or trust; 2. Held in trust for another. Fiduciary (adj.): 1. Having to do w/a confidence or trust; 2. Held in trust for another. Unit 4.4

Perfidy (n): Faithless-ness, disloyalty, or treachery Perfidy (n): Faithless-ness, disloyalty, or treachery Unit 4.4

Notes An infidel is someone who lacks a particular kind of religious faith. Unit 4.4

CURR/CURS CURR/CURS is from the Latin currere meaning “to run” Unit 4.5

Concurrent (adj.): Happening or operating at the same time. Concurrent (adj.): Happening or operating at the same time. Cursory (adj.): Hastily and often carelessly done. Cursory (adj.): Hastily and often carelessly done. Unit 4.5

Discursive (adj.): Passing from one topic to another. Discursive (adj.): Passing from one topic to another. Precursor (n.): One that goes before and indicates the coming of another. Precursor (n.): One that goes before and indicates the coming of another. Unit 4.5

Notes Current refers to running water in a stream or river. An excursion is a trip from one place to another. Unit 4.5

PED PED is from the Latin ped, the stem of pes, meaning “foot” Unit 4.6

Related Words Expedient (adj.):Suitable for bringing about a desired result, often w/o regard for what is fair or right. Expedient (adj.):Suitable for bringing about a desired result, often w/o regard for what is fair or right. Unit 4.6

Expedite (v.):To speed up the process or progress of. Expedite (v.):To speed up the process or progress of. Impediment (n.): Something that interferes with movement or progress Impediment (n.): Something that interferes with movement or progress Unit 4.6

Pedestrian (adj.): Commonplace, ordinary, or unimaginative. Pedestrian (adj.): Commonplace, ordinary, or unimaginative. Unit 4.6

Notes Pedestrian, of course, is someone who travels on foot. But the sense of this word is actually from its original meaning. To be pedestrian was to be drab or dull, as if plodding along on foot rather than speeding on horseback or by coach.

FLECT/FLEX FLECT/FLEX comes from flectere, the Latin verb meaning “to bend” Unit 4.7

Deflect (v.): To turn aside, esp. from a straight or fixed course. Deflect (v.): To turn aside, esp. from a straight or fixed course. Flexor (n.): A muscle that bends a part of the body, such as an arm or a leg. Flexor (n.): A muscle that bends a part of the body, such as an arm or a leg. Unit 4.7

Genuflect (v.): To kneel on one knee and then rise as an act of respect. Inflection (n.): A change in pitch, tone, or loudness of the voice Unit 4.7

Notes Things that are flexible can be bent. When light is reflected, it is bent and bounces back to us. Unit 4.7

POST POST comes from the Latin word meaning “after” or “behind”. Unit 4.8

Posterior (adj.): Situated twd. or on the back; rear. Posterior (adj.): Situated twd. or on the back; rear. Posthumous (adj.): 1. Published after the death of the author; 2. Following or happening after one’s death. Posthumous (adj.): 1. Published after the death of the author; 2. Following or happening after one’s death. Unit 4.8

Postmodern (adj.): Having to do w/a movement in art, architecture, literature that is a reaction against modernism and that calls for the reintroduction of traditional elements and techniques as well as elements from popular culture. Postmodern (adj.): Having to do w/a movement in art, architecture, literature that is a reaction against modernism and that calls for the reintroduction of traditional elements and techniques as well as elements from popular culture. Unit 4.8

Postmortem (adj.): 1. Occurring after death; 2. Following the event. Postmortem (adj.): 1. Occurring after death; 2. Following the event. Unit 4.8

Notes A postscript is a note that comes after a completed letter (afterthought). To postdate a check is to give it a date after the date when it was written. Unit 4.8