1. Greek & Latin Word Parts: Week 5
acerb, cad, fil, helio, reg, -tom

2. acerb, acid, acri (Latin)
SAT Focus Word: exacerbate (v.)
to increase the severity, bitterness, or violence of
High traffic exacerbates the smog level.
acerbic (adj.)
having a bitter or sour taste
acrid (adj.)
sharp, bitter, stinging, or irritating to the taste or smell
Acrid fumes of burning had rapidly filled the air.
acidity (n.)
the quality or state of being acidic or sour
acerb, acid, acri (Latin)
bitter, sour, sharp

3. cad, cas, cid (Latin) to fall; to befall
SAT Focus Word: cadaverous (adj.)
resembling a body that has fallen dead
The cadaverous appearance of the elderly man sitting in his arm chair was startling.
cascade (n.)
anything that flows or falls in abundance
A shimmering cascade of magic shooting stars drifted down over the garden.
accident (n.)
an unplanned occurrence that befalls a person
Others: casual, casualty, decadence, deciduous
decadence: moral degeneration or decay; unrestrained or excessive self-indulgence
casual: chance, accident
casualty: victim of chance, accident
deciduous: tree with leaves that fall
cad, cas, cid (Latin)
to fall; to befall

4. fil (Latin) thread Others: file, profile SAT Focus Word: filament (n.)
a very fine thread or threadlike structure
If a lamp is not working, check its lightbulb’s filament.
filigree (n.)
delicate, lacelike ornamental work of intertwined wire of gold, silver, etc.
filiform (adj.)
threadlike or shaped like threads
Tiger beetles have filiform antennae.
Others: file, profile
fil (Latin)
thread

5. helio (Greek) sun SAT Focus Word: heliograph (n.)
a device for transmitting messages by reflecting sunlight
The captain of the ship used the heliographic light to signal the people in the sailboat.
Helios (n.)
ancient Greek god of the sun
Helios’s Roman counterpart is Sol, the god of the sun, who drove his chariot daily across the sky.
heliophobia (n.)
an irrational fear of sunlight
helio (Greek)
sun

6. reg, rect (Latin) to rule; straight
SAT Focus Word: rectitude (n.)
moral virtue; straightness of character
Her rectitude in making business decisions reflects well on our company's reputation.
rectilinear (adj.)
moving in a straight line or characterized by straight lines
regimen (n.)
a system of eating and exercising for improving your health
An example of a regimen is a daily practice of doing 100 jumping jacks each morning before you go on a three mile run.
Others: regiment, rectangular, correct
reg, rect (Latin)
to rule; straight

7. -tom/-tomy (Greek) cut tonsillectomy appendectomy
Suffix of the Week:
cut
tonsillectomy
appendectomy
lobotomy (cutting of nerve fibers in the brain)
mastectomy
dichotomy (division into two parts)
anatomy (a cutting up)
atom (not divisible)
tracheotomy (cutting open of the trachea)