BRONZE EDITION – LESSON 1PUTTING FIRST THINGS FIRST

WORDS: THE POWER WITHIN

CON (CO, COL, COM, COR)

Cooperate Co + operati (work)Literal definition = work together; work withDictionary definition = (v) to act jointly; to

work toward the same endWe need to cooperate if we are to get

anything accomplished.

CON (CO, COL, COM, COR)

CompressCom + press (push)Literal definition = push togetherDictionary definition = (v) to flatten by pressure; to

squeeze; to shorten or abbreviate (n) a pad of absorbent material pressed onto the body to relieve inflammation or to stop bleeding

(v) We need to compress this five-page document into a two-page document.

(n) Keep the cold compress on the bruise to reduce swelling.

CON (CO, COL, COM, COR)

ConcurCon + cur (run)Literal definition = run together; run withDictionary definition = (v) to be of the same

opinion; to agree; to happen at the same time; to coincide

I concur with your decision to give a quiz tomorrow.The swim meet and soccer game concur, so I can only go to one of them.

CON (CO, COL, COM, COR)

CorrodeCor + *rodere (gnaw) *Rodere is the base for rodent

Literal definition = gnaw withDictionary definition = (v) to destroy or damage

slowly by chemical action; to weakenIf you leave old batteries in the remote, they

will eventually corrode the surrounding metal parts.

CON = TOGETHER, WITH

DE

DecreaseDe + crescere (grow)Literal definition = grow down; grow awayDictionary definition = (v) to become smaller

or less in size, intensity, or degree; (n) an instance of becoming smaller or less

(v) My parents decreased my allowance when I didn’t do my chores.

(n) There was a decrease in the number of thefts in Wake County last year.

DE

DescendDe + scandre (climb)Literal definition = climb downDictionary definition = (v) to move or fall

downwardThe airplane descended to 5000 feet as it

prepared to land.

DE

DestructDe + struct (build)Literal definition = build down; build awayDictionary definition = (v) to cause deliberate;

irreparable damage to; to destroyThe bombs destructed what remained of the

abandoned city.We need to destruct these missiles so they do

not fall into the wrong hands.DE = DOWN, AWAY, FROM

IN (IL, IM, IR)

IlliterateIl +litera (words or letters)Literal definition = not words; not lettersDictionary definition = (adj) unable to read

or writeThe illiterate man was unable to read the

assembly directions for the bookcase.

IN (IL, IM, IR)

ImpossibleIm + possibleLiteral definition = not possibleDictionary definition = (adj) not able to

occur, exist, or be doneIt is impossible to sneeze without blinking

or closing your eyes.

IN (IL, IM, IR)

IncredibleIn + cred (believe) + ible (able)Literal definition = not able to believeDictionary definition = (adj) impossible or

difficult to believeBob made an incredible, game-saving

catch in the closing seconds.

IN (IL, IM, IR)

IrresponsibleIr + responsibleLiteral definition = not responsibleDictionary definition = not showing a

proper sense of duty, obligation, or controlThe irresponsible security guard forgot to

lock the front door, and the business was robbed.

IN (IL, IM, IR) = NOT

IN (IL, IM, IR)

IlluminateIl + lumin (light)Literal definition = in light; into lightDictionary definition = (v) to light up; to

decorate with lights; to help clarify or explain

The addition of the ground lights helps to illuminate the path.

Perhaps this explanation will help illuminate the answer to the math equation.

IN (IL, IM, IR)

ImmerseIm +mers (dip)Literal definition = dip in; dip intoDictionary definition = (v) to dip in a liquid; to

involve oneself deeply in a particular activity or interest

Bob filled the sink and immersed his head to cool down after practice.

Sometimes I will immerse myself in a good book and spend hours reading it.

IN (IL, IM, IR)

IncludeIn + clud (close, shut)Literal definition = close in; shut inDictionary definition = (v) to comprise or

contain as part of a wholeThe price of the movie ticket already

includes sales tax.Please include your rubric when you turn

in the final paper.

IN (IL, IM, IR)

IrrigateIr +rigar (water)Literal definition = in water; into waterDictionary definition = (v) to supply water

to land or crops to help growth, usually by means of channels

Farmer Bob built a pond next to his fields so that he could use the water to irrigate his crops.

IN (IL, IM, IR) = IN, INTO

PER

PermitPer + mit (send)Literal definition = send throughDictionary definition = (v) to give

authorization, permission, or consent to; to allow; (n) authorization

(v) I will permit you to enter our secret club if you know the password.

(n) You need a fishing permit to fish in Bob’s lake.

PER

PerpendicularPer + pend (hang)Literal definition = hang through; hang

thoroughlyDictionary definition = (adj) at an angle of

90 degrees to a given, line, plane, or surface.

We practiced drawing perpendicular lines in math class.

PER

PersuadePer + suadere (advise)Literal definition = advise thoroughlyDictionary definition = (v) to cause someone to

do something through reasoning or argument; to convince

We persuaded Bob to let us borrow his brand new XBOX game by telling him we could unlock secret levels.

PER = THROUGH, THOROUGHLY

PRE

PredictPre + dict (speak, say)Literal definition = speak before; say beforeDictionary definition = (v) to say that

something will happen in the future or will be a consequence of something

I was able to predict the winner of the Super Bowl based on how the teams performed during the regular season.

PRE

PrefixPre + fix (place, put)Literal definition = put before; place beforeDictionary definition = (n) an element

placed at the beginning of a word to adjust or qualify its meaning

We can use the meaning of prefixes to help figure out the definitions of words.

PREPrejudicePre + jud (law, judgment)Literal definition = judgment beforeDictionary definition = (n) an opinion that is formed

before having the evidence of its truth or usefulness; one that is not based on reason or actual experience; (v) to make biased

(n) Your prejudice might prevent you from getting to know someone who is really an awesome person.

(v) Don’t prejudice the audience by saying negative things about your opponent.

PRE = BEFORE