1. 1. He spent years training to become certified to adjudicate for the National Orchid Society. Parts: ad(to); judicare (judge); ate (make, do) Educated Guess: Definition: to make a formal judgment or decision about a problem; to judge a competition, to pronounce or declare. Antonyms: na Variant forms: adjudication (n); adjudicative (adj) Context Phrase: Adjudicate – (verb) Synonyms: judge, adjudge

2. 2. The relative who was going to inherit millions of dollars sobbed when the will was adjudicated to be apocryphal and therefore, invalid. Parts: apo (away); crypt (hidden); al (related to) Educated Guess: Definition: Of questionable authorship or authenticity; Of doubtful authenticity, although widely circulated (an urban legend) Antonyms: real, genuine, true, authentic, veritable Variant forms: apocrypha (n) Context Phrase: Apocryphal - adj Synonyms: fake, counterfeit, false, spurious, bogus

3. 3. A good sense of humor and bonhomie contribute to his charming personality. Parts: bon (good); homeo ( man) Educated Guess: Definition: Cheerful friendliness; A pleasant and affable disposition Antonyms: rudeness, insolence, sulkiness, sulleness Variant forms: bonhomous (adj) Context Phrase: Bonhomie- noun Synonyms: geniality, congeniality, amiability

4. 4. Unlike the other successful athletes who became complacent, he continued to practice daily. Parts: com (together); plac (please); ent (full of) Educated Guess: Definition: Showing smug satisfaction with oneself or one’s achievements; Contented to a fault Antonyms: modest, humble, self-effacing Variant forms: Complacence (n) complacently (adv) Context Phrase: Complacent – adj. Synonyms: smug, conceited, proud, vain, arrogant

5. 5. They were fortunate to find a witness who would corroborate their account of the accident. Parts: cor (together, with) robor (strong) ate (make,do) Educated Guess: Definition: To confirm or give support to; to support or confirm with new evidence; to attest the truth or accuracy of Antonyms: deny, reject, refute, disprove, contradict Variant forms:corroboration (n) corroborative (adj) Context Phrase: corroborate - verb Synonyms: confirm, certify, endorse, support, assure

6. 6. Her tendency to make derogatory remarks about everybody and everything offends me. Parts: de (down); rogat (ask) ory (pertaining to) Educated Guess: Definition: Showing a critical and disrespectful attitude; Detracting or disparaging Antonyms: praising, lauding, laudatory, commending Variant forms:derogate(v)derogatorily(adv)derogation(n) Context Phrase: Derogatory - adj Synonyms:belittling, lessening, disparaging, detracting

7. 7. “Until someone can show me the efficacy of this plan, I refuse to vote for it,” said the legislator. Parts:ef (out); fic (make, do); acy (state, quality) Educated Guess: Definition: The ability to produce a desired outcome; The power or capacity to produce a desired outcome. Antonyms: uselessness, futility, inadequacy Variant forms: efficacious(adj) efficaciousness (n) Context Phrase: Efficacy - noun Synonyms: effectiveness, usefulness

8. 8. Memorial garden is a euphemism for cemetery or graveyard. Parts: eu (good); phem(name); ism (belief, doctrine) Educated Guess: Definition: A mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing. Antonyms: na Variant forms: euphemist (n) euphemize (v) Context Phrase: Euphemism - n Synonyms: na

9. 9. Sometimes an attorney’s service will be gratuitous or pro bono if the client is unable to pay. Parts: grat (please, thank, favor);ous (full of) Educated Guess: Definition: given or granted without return or recompense; Given or received without cost or obligation; Unnecessary Antonyms: deserved, warranted, forced, earned Variant forms: gratuitously (adv); gratuitousness (n) Context Phrase: Gratuitous – (adj) Synonyms: free, voluntary, unprovoked, unjustified

10. 10. The humorous remarks seemed incongruous with the sadness of the occasion. Parts: in(not); congrus (agree, meet); ous (full of) Educated Guess: Definition: Not corresponding with or in keeping with the surroundings or other aspects of something; Not consistent with what is logical, customary, or correct. Antonyms:compatible, consistent, agreeable, appropriate Variant forms: incongruity (n); incongruously (adv) Context Phrase: incongruous – adj. Synonyms: absurd, inharmonious, inappropriate

11. 11. A gallon of water could not quench his insatiable thirst after being in the desert so long. Parts: in (not); satis (enough); able (capable of) Educated Guess: Definition: Incapable of being satisfied (usually food or desire) Antonyms: quenchable, satisfiable Variant forms: insatiability (n), insatiableness (n) Context Phrase: Insatiable – ( adj.) Synonyms: greedy, voracious, gluttonous, piggish

12. 12. A moment or two of levity would have made the long lecture more tolerable for the students. Parts: lev (light) ity (state or quality) Educated Guess: Definition: Humor or frivolity, especially the treatment of a serious matter with humor or in a manner lacking due respect, the state of being light Antonyms: gravity, sobriety, seriousness, solemnity Variant forms: na Context Phrase: levity – n. Synonyms: lightheartedness, flippancy, foolishness

13. 13. Transformed into a shrine to Elvis, the basement displayed over 10,000 memorabilia and other evidence of monomania. Parts: mono (one); mania (obsession, craze) Educated Guess: Definition: Pathological obsession with one thing or idea Intent concentration on or enthusiasm for a subject or idea Antonyms: reasonableness, common sense, normalcy Variant forms: monomaniac (n); monomaniacal (adj.) Context Phrase: Monomania - noun Synonyms: obsession, fixation, passion, preoccupation

14. 14. An unethical attorney might choose to pervert the law for his own personal benefit. Parts: per (through, thoroughly); vert (turn) Educated Guess: Definition: To alter something from its original course, meaning, or state to a distortion or corruption of what was first intended;one whose sexual behavior is abnormal (n) Antonyms: edify, elevate, respect, exalt Variant forms: perversion (n) perverted (adj) Context Phrase: Pervert - verb Synonyms: corrupt, debase, distort, subvert, adulterate

15. 15. The king tried to placate the rebellious peasants by offering each a small tract of land. Parts: plac (please); ate (make, do, cause) Educated Guess: Definition: To make someone less angry or hostile, usually by yielding concessions Antonyms: irritate, provoke, agitate, aggravate, incite Variant forms: placation (n); placatory (adj); placater (n) Context Phrase: placate - verb Synonyms: calm, appease, allay, pacify, assuage, mollify

16. 16. Poor academic performance will likely preclude your enrollment in many colleges and universities. Parts: pre (before); clud (close, shut) Educated Guess: Definition: To make impossible by previous action, to prevent from happening. Antonyms: allow permit, include Variant forms: preclusion (n); preclusive (adj.) Context Phrase: preclude - (v) Synonyms: prevent, exclude, prohibit, obviate, forstall

17. 17. The beauty and quietude of the beach at sunrise inspired him to write this poem. Parts: quietus (quiet); tude (state of) Educated Guess: Definition: A state of stillness, calmness, and quiet in a person or place. Antonyms: tumult, commotion, disturbance, uproar Variant forms: na Context Phrase: Quietude - n. Synonyms: tranquility, peacefulness, serenity

18. 18. Impressed by the defendant’s confession and sincere apology, the judge reduced his retribution to community service and probation. Parts: re (back,again); trib (give, assign); tion (act of) Educated Guess: Definition: Punishment that is considered morally right and fully deserved; Something given or demanded in payment; requital, usually for evil Antonyms: reward, recompense Variant forms: retributive (adj.) retributory (adj.) Context Phrase: retribution - noun. Synonyms: punishment, vengeance, revenge, reprisal

19. 19. Although all people should be treated equally in the courts, some verdicts seem more subjective than others. Parts: sub (under); ject (throw); ive (capable, able to) Educated Guess: Definition: Based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes or opinions; Dependent on the mind or on an individual’s perception for existence Antonyms: objective, impartial, factual, fair, real Variant forms: subjectively (adv); subjectivity (n) Context Phrase: Subjective – (adj.) Synonyms: prejudiced, biased, partial, illusory

20. 20. The ubiquitous jeans and t-shirts appear at many social events, even at weddings and funerals. Parts: ubique (everywhere); ous (full of) Educated Guess: Definition: Present, appearing, or found everywhere; Being or seeming to be everywhere at the same time Antonyms: rare, infrequent, unusual, scarce Variant forms: ubiquity (n); ubiquitously (adv) Context Phrase: ubiquitous - adjective Synonyms: omnipresent, prevalent, universal