Sample lecture Course syllabus
de- : away, down, off, opposite
decelerate (to slow down, reduce speed)
dethrone (to remove from power)
debug (to remove bugs)
derail (to cause a train to leave its tracks accidentally, obstruct)
deflate (to let air out)
degenerate (to decline)
di- : two
diphthong (a sound made by two vowels)
dichotomy (a cut into two separate pieces, disjunction, contradiction)
di-, dif-, dis-: apart, away, not, to the opposite
diffidence (not having confidence, shyness)
digression (a departure from the main issue)
disdain (to consider someone unworthy, scorn)
disappear (to move out of sight)
disfigure (to spoil the attractiveness of)
disingenuous (not candid or sincere)
disinterested (not interested, unbiased)
dissect (to cut apart piece by piece, anatomize, cut up)
divergent (develop in different directions, dissimilar)
dia- : through, between, apart, across
diagnosis (understanding through a detailed review of symptoms)
dialog (conversation between two people)
dialect (regional language)
diatribe (through rubbing → a forceful and bitter verbal attack)
diarrhea (feces in liquid form)
diameter (a straight line passing from side to side through the center)
diaphanous (see through, gossamer)
dys- : abnormal, bad
dyspepsia (abnormal digestion)
dystopia (an imaginary place of total misery)
dyslexia (a reading disorder)
e-, ex : out, away
emissary (a representative of a country sent on a mission)
eject (to throw out forcefully)
enervate (to weaken)
eccentric (out of center, uncommon, irregular)
elicit (to draw out, evoke)
emit (to send out, send forth)
ecto- : outside, external
ectoderm (the outermost layer of cells of an embryo)
ectoplasm (a supernatural viscous substance exuding from ghosts)
ectopic (in an abnormal place or position)
em-, en- : into, inwards
empathy (the state of having taken in another’s feelings)
empower (to put into power)
engorge (to make larger)
envision (to picture in the mind)
enclose (to lock inside)
endemic (within people → locally occurring disease)
endo- : within, inside
endotherm (a creature that can keep its inside temperature fairly constant)
endogenous (having an internal cause or origin)
endorphin (composite word: endogenous + morphine)
epi- : on, upon, over, among, at, after, to, outside
epidemic (upon people → the rapid spread of infectious disease)
epilog (a short speech delivered after a play)
epicenter (the center of something unpleasant)
epiphany (a moment of sudden revelation or insight)
equi- : equal
equidistant (an equal distance from two points)
equanimity (calm temperament, evenness of temper)
equity (the quality of being fair and impartial, justice)
equality (the state of being equal)
equilibrium (a state of physical balance, calmness)
equivocate (to speak ambiguously, quibble)
eu- : good, well
euphemism (replacing an offensive word with an inoffensive one)
euphonious (having a pleasant sound)
euphoria (feeling of well-being)
eulogy (high praise, speech delivered at a funeral)
euthanasia (good death, merciful killing)
ex-, exo-, extra-, extro- : from, out, outside, beyond, former
excavate (to dig out)
exhale (to breathe out)
extract (to pull out)
exodus (a mass departure of people)
expedite (beyond foot → to make an event happen sooner)
exoskeleton (a rigid external covering for the body in some invertebrate animals)
extraordinary (beyond ordinary)
extraterrestrial (outside the Earth)
extrovert (an outgoing person)