Learn on PengiVocabulary from Latin and Greek Roots, Level IXUnit 9 ~ Unit 12

Ch 3.2: Unit 10

In this Grade 6 vocabulary lesson from Vocabulary from Latin and Greek Roots, Level IX, students study the Latin and Greek roots BEN, CORD, ANIM, and MAL to build understanding of words like benevolent, discord, equanimity, magnanimous, and malicious. Each root is taught through its original meaning — such as bene meaning "well" and malus meaning "bad" — helping students decode unfamiliar words and recognize patterns across related terms. The lesson is part of Unit 10 within the Chapter 3 sequence and includes contextual sentence exercises to reinforce accurate word usage.

Section 1

Root: BEN - well, good

This group of words is built on the Latin root BEN, meaning "well" or "good," and they all relate to kindness and positive outcomes.

Key Words

WordDefinition
benevolent (adj.)Kindly; favorable towards
benign (adj.)Causing no harm
benefactor (n.)A person who gives friendly aid

Example Usage

  • The zookeeper's benevolent attitude helped calm the frightened kangaroo.
  • The class was relieved when the teacher announced that the difficult pop quiz was benign and would not affect their final grades.

Word Spark

  • benevolent: Think of a grandparent slipping you a cookie when your parents aren't looking.
  • benefactor: Imagine a secret donor paying for new uniforms for your entire sports team.

Section 2

Root: CORD - heart

This group comes from the Latin root CORD, meaning "heart," and these words describe agreement, disagreement, or friendliness.

Key Words

WordDefinition
accord (n.)Sameness of opinion; agreement
discord (n.)Lack of agreement; disharmony
cordial (adj.)Warmly friendly and polite

Example Usage

  • After a long debate, the city council finally reached an accord on the new park's design.
  • The band broke up because of the discord between the lead singer and the guitarist over creative differences.

Word Spark

  • discord: Like two people trying to share headphones but wanting to listen to different songs.
  • cordial: The way you greet your favorite aunt at a family gathering with a big hug.

Section 3

Root: ANIM - spirit

These words share the Latin root ANIM, meaning "spirit," and relate to feelings, generosity, and calmness of mind.

Key Words

WordDefinition
animosity (n.)Anger or hostility
equanimity (n.)Evenness of mind or spirit; calm
magnanimous (adj.)Generous in spirit

Example Usage

  • Even after the tough game, the winning team captain was magnanimous and praised his opponent's skill.
  • The firefighter faced the dangerous situation with equanimity, calmly rescuing the people inside.

Word Spark

  • animosity: That feeling between you and a sibling after they've taken the last piece of pizza.
  • equanimity: Like a chess master who doesn't show any emotion, whether winning or losing.

Section 4

Root: MAL - bad

This final group stems from the Latin root MAL, meaning "bad," covering all things negative, from gloomy days to harmful intentions.

Key Words

WordDefinition
dismal (adj.)Causing great sadness or pessimism
malevolent (adj.)Wishing harm towards; hostile
malicious (adj.)Intended to hurt or harm

Example Usage

  • The team's mood was dismal after losing the championship game in the final seconds.
  • Spreading that false rumor about the new student was a truly malicious act.

Word Spark

  • dismal: Like looking out the window on a gray, drizzly day with nothing fun to do.
  • malevolent: The look a cartoon villain gives right before revealing their evil plan to the hero.

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Unit 9 ~ Unit 12

  1. Lesson 1

    Ch 3.1: Unit 9

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  2. Lesson 2Current

    Ch 3.2: Unit 10

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  3. Lesson 3

    Ch 3.3: Unit 11

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  4. Lesson 4

    Ch 3.4: Unit 12

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Lesson overview

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Section 1

Root: BEN - well, good

This group of words is built on the Latin root BEN, meaning "well" or "good," and they all relate to kindness and positive outcomes.

Key Words

WordDefinition
benevolent (adj.)Kindly; favorable towards
benign (adj.)Causing no harm
benefactor (n.)A person who gives friendly aid

Example Usage

  • The zookeeper's benevolent attitude helped calm the frightened kangaroo.
  • The class was relieved when the teacher announced that the difficult pop quiz was benign and would not affect their final grades.

Word Spark

  • benevolent: Think of a grandparent slipping you a cookie when your parents aren't looking.
  • benefactor: Imagine a secret donor paying for new uniforms for your entire sports team.

Section 2

Root: CORD - heart

This group comes from the Latin root CORD, meaning "heart," and these words describe agreement, disagreement, or friendliness.

Key Words

WordDefinition
accord (n.)Sameness of opinion; agreement
discord (n.)Lack of agreement; disharmony
cordial (adj.)Warmly friendly and polite

Example Usage

  • After a long debate, the city council finally reached an accord on the new park's design.
  • The band broke up because of the discord between the lead singer and the guitarist over creative differences.

Word Spark

  • discord: Like two people trying to share headphones but wanting to listen to different songs.
  • cordial: The way you greet your favorite aunt at a family gathering with a big hug.

Section 3

Root: ANIM - spirit

These words share the Latin root ANIM, meaning "spirit," and relate to feelings, generosity, and calmness of mind.

Key Words

WordDefinition
animosity (n.)Anger or hostility
equanimity (n.)Evenness of mind or spirit; calm
magnanimous (adj.)Generous in spirit

Example Usage

  • Even after the tough game, the winning team captain was magnanimous and praised his opponent's skill.
  • The firefighter faced the dangerous situation with equanimity, calmly rescuing the people inside.

Word Spark

  • animosity: That feeling between you and a sibling after they've taken the last piece of pizza.
  • equanimity: Like a chess master who doesn't show any emotion, whether winning or losing.

Section 4

Root: MAL - bad

This final group stems from the Latin root MAL, meaning "bad," covering all things negative, from gloomy days to harmful intentions.

Key Words

WordDefinition
dismal (adj.)Causing great sadness or pessimism
malevolent (adj.)Wishing harm towards; hostile
malicious (adj.)Intended to hurt or harm

Example Usage

  • The team's mood was dismal after losing the championship game in the final seconds.
  • Spreading that false rumor about the new student was a truly malicious act.

Word Spark

  • dismal: Like looking out the window on a gray, drizzly day with nothing fun to do.
  • malevolent: The look a cartoon villain gives right before revealing their evil plan to the hero.

Book overview

Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.

Continue this chapter

Unit 9 ~ Unit 12

  1. Lesson 1

    Ch 3.1: Unit 9

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  2. Lesson 2Current

    Ch 3.2: Unit 10

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  3. Lesson 3

    Ch 3.3: Unit 11

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  4. Lesson 4

    Ch 3.4: Unit 12

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