1. Latin and Greek Root Words Unit 10
CRIMIN, CULP, ONER, ONUS, PROB, PROV
Approbation, Culpable, Culprit, Decriminalize, Exonerate, Incriminate, Mea Culpa, Onerous, Onus, Recrimination, Reprobate, Reprove

2. CRIMIN Latin CRIMEN “crime, charge or crime”
1. Decriminalize v. To do away with legal penalties for
L. de, “away, off,” + crimen (CRIMIN) = (to take) a crime away
Eric is part of a group that is calling upon the government to decriminalize certain drugs.
2. Incriminate v. To reveal guilt or make (someone) appear guilty
L. in, “onto,” + crimen (CRIMIN) = (put) crime onto
If the stolen necklace we found in your drawer doesn’t incriminate you, I don’t know what does.
SYN: Implicate ANT: Acquit

3. CRIMIN Cont’d
3. Recrimination n. An accusation made in reply; a countercharge
L. re, “back,” + crimen (CRIMIN) = charge (made) back
The two friends got into a bitter fight and began hurling recriminations at one another.
SYN: Rebuke

4. CULP Latin CULPARE, CULPATUM “to blame”
4. Culpable adj. Deserving blame
L. culpatum (CULP) + able= able to be blamed
Marshall, who ran the Tilt-a-Whirl, considered himself culpable for the accident at the amusement park.
SYN: Liable ANT: Blameless
5. Culprit n. One responsible for a crime
Police currently have no idea who the culprit behind the fire might be, but they have a long list of suspects.
SYN: Perpetrator

5. CULP Cont’d
6. Mea Culpa interjection Statement uttered to show personal responsibility for a wrong
Directly from Latin mea culpa, “my fault”
“Mea culpa!” said Miguela, with some embarrassment, when she realized that she’d left the car windows down.

6. ONUS/ONER Latin ONUS “burden”
7. Onus n. Burden or obligation
The onus of proving that this man was at the crime scene now rests on the detective.
SYN: Duty
8. Onerous adj. Unpleasant and burdensome
Dr. Lassiter faced the onerous task of telling the patient that his cancer had spread.
SYN: Demanding ANT: Easy

7. ONER/ONUS Cont’d 9. Exonerate v. To prove not guilty
L. ex, “out of,” + onus = out of the burden (of proof)
We feel sure the evidence we have uncovered will exonerate Anna.
SYN: Acquit ANT: Condemn, Convict

8. PROB/PROV Latin PROBARE, PROBATUM “prove good, approve”
10. Approbation n. Praise or approval
L. ad, “towards,” + probare (PROB) = to take approval towards
Ellen won widespread approbation for her work in biomedical research.
SYN: Commendation ANT: Condemnation
11. Reprobate n. A dishonest or immoral person; a scoundrel
L. re, “back, away from,” + probare (PROB) = one away from approval
The reprobates who set fire to the forest must be caught and punished.
SYN: Delinquent

9. PROB/PROV Cont’d 12. Reprove v. To scold or criticize
L. re, “back,” + probare (PROV) = approval back
My aunt Thelma gently reproved me for taking more than my share of dessert.
SYN: Chide ANT: Praise