1. Latin and Greek Root Words Unit 15
CLAM, CLAIM, DIC, DICT, LOC, LOQU, VOCA
Advocate, Benediction, Clamorous, Colloquial, Declaim, Dictate, Eloquent, Equivocate, Evocative, Exclamatory, Locution, Malediction

2. DIC/DICT Latin DICERE, DICTUM “to say, to order”
1. Dictate (a) v. To speak aloud in order that one’s words may be copied or recorded
(b) v. To give an order; to make necessary
(a) Regina dictated a letter for her secretary.
(b) Our current circumstances dictate that we conserve money and resources.
SYN: Demand ANT: Allow
2. Malediction n. A recital or words intended to harm; a curse
L. male, “badly,” + dicere (DIC) = speaking badly (of one)
To Claudia, Leo’s angry words were practically a malediction.

3. DIC/DICT Cont’d 3. Benediction n. A blessing
L. bene, “well,” + dictum (DICT) = to speak well
A local rabbi started the ceremony by giving a benediction to the audience.

4. LOC/LOQU Latin LOQUI, LOCUTUS “to speak”
4. Locution n. Style or action of speaking
Nothing about Francis’ careful locution betrayed his nervousness.
5. Eloquent adj. Powerful and expressive
Brenda composed an eloquent tribute for her younger sister’s wedding.
SYN: Articulate ANT: Unclear

5. LOC/LOQU Cont’d
6. Colloquial adj. Of or related to informal speech; conversational
L. con, “together,” + loqui (LOQU) = When the residents of Stoneville were interviewed on television, they dropped some of their colloquial expressions in favor of more formal language.
SYN: Idiomatic

6. VOCA Latin VOCARE, VOCATUM “to call”
7. Evocative adj. Calling forth a vivid image or impression
L. e, “out of,” + vocatum (VOCA) = to call out (of memory or mind)
The novel features an evocative description of a lakeside town in Michigan.
SYN: Suggestive
8. Equivocate v. To use misleading or confusing language
L. equi, “equal,” + vocere (VOCA) = to say (two things) equally
Because Shonda felt it her duty never to equivocate to a client, she made a point of discussing both sides of every problem.
SYN: Evade

7. VOCA Cont’d 9. Advocate (a) v. To argue in favor of
(b) n. A disagreement or argument
L. ad, “toward,” + vocere (VOCA) = to call to toward
(a) The senator plans to advocate capital punishment for those convicted of murder.
SYN: Recommend ANT: Oppose
(b) As an advocate of careful financial planning, I cannot go along with your plan to invest in a bubble-gum factory.
SYN: Supporter ANT: Enemy

8. CLAM/CLAIM Latin CLAMARE, CLAMATUM “to shout or call”
10. Exclamatory adj. Having a forceful, excited, or emotional tone
L. ex, “out of,” + clamare (CLAM) = shouting out
Mr. Litt is famous for the exclamatory style of his speeches.
11. Declaim v. To speak loudly and with feeling
L. de, “down from,” + clamare (CLAM) = to shout down from
Martin declaimed upon the subject of tax hikes until he was blue in the face.

9. CLAM/CLAIM Cont’d
12. Clamorous adj. Characterized by a loud noise or outcry
The pianist entered the auditorium to clamorous applause.
SYN: Ear-splitting ANT: Quiet