Please select an activity.

1. Match Meanings                      

2. Use Words in Sentences

3. Latin Root Words

Match Meanings

Can you match the words with their meanings?

(Click here to see the answers!)

1. (drowsy; dull)

2. (person of prominence or influence)

3. (one who is skeptical or distrustful)

4. (hackneyed; trite)

5. (adopt; support)

Use Words in Sentences

Can you correctly use this week's words in the following sentences?

(Click here to see the answers!)

1. A _________ at all times, he was suspicious of all altruistic 
    actions of others.

2. The steel _________ decided to devote more time to city politics.

3. The stifling classroom made Sarah _________ :  she felt as if she 
     were about to nod off.

4. She was always ready to _________ a worthy cause.

5. His frequent use of clichés made his essay _________ .

Latin Root Words

67% of all English words originate from Latin.  

Do you know which of this week's words come from Latin?

1. lethargic (drowsy; dull)

2. magnate (person of prominence or influence)

3. cynic (one who is skeptical or distrustful)

4. banal (hackneyed; trite)

5. espouse (adopt; support)

1. A cynic at all times, he was suspicious of all altruistic 
     actions of others.

2. The steel magnate decided to devote more time to city politics.

3. The stifling classroom made Sarah lethargic:  she felt as if she 
     were about to nod off.

4. She was always ready to espouse a worthy cause.

5. His frequent use of clichés made his essay banal.

Latin Root Words

cynic (one who is skeptical or distrustful) comes from the Latin word 
cynicus which in turn comes from the Greek kunikos meaning doglike.

lethargic (drowsy; dull) comes from the Latin word lethargia meaning 
drowsiness.

banal (hackneyed; trite) comes from Old French, not Latin.

magnate (person of prominence or influence) comes from the Latin 
word magnus meaning great, large.

espouse (adopt; support) comes from the Latin word spondere
meaning to promise solemnly.