In this Grade 8 lesson from Vocabulary from Latin and Greek Roots, Level XI, students explore four classical roots — Latin SOL ("alone"), Greek MONO ("one"), Latin VULG ("crowd"), and Greek POLY ("many") — and the English vocabulary derived from each. Key terms include solipsism, soliloquy, monotonous, monosyllabic, divulge, polymath, and polyglot, with attention to each word's etymological components. Students build word analysis skills by connecting root meanings to definitions and real-world usage examples.
Section 1
Root: SOL - alone
This group of words comes from the Latin root solus, meaning "alone."
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| solipsism (n.) | The theory that the self is the only reality |
| desolate (adj.) | Deserted and lonely |
| soliloquy (n.) | A literary or dramatic speech spoken by a solitary character |
Section 2
Root: MONO - one
These words all share the Greek root monos, meaning "one."
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| monotonous (adj.) | Unvarying; lacking in variety |
| monosyllabic (adj.) | Having only one syllable |
| monotone (n.) | Sameness of sound, style, manner, or color |
Section 3
Root: VULG - crowd
This set of words is built on the Latin root vulgus, meaning "crowd."
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| divulge (v.) | To make public |
| vulgar (adj.) | Of the common people |
Section 4
Root: POLY, POLL - many
These words are derived from the Greek root polus, meaning "many."
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| polymath (n.) | A person with knowledge of many subjects |
| hoi polloi (n.) | The common people; the masses |
| polyglot (n.) | A person with a knowledge of several languages |
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Section 1
Root: SOL - alone
This group of words comes from the Latin root solus, meaning "alone."
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| solipsism (n.) | The theory that the self is the only reality |
| desolate (adj.) | Deserted and lonely |
| soliloquy (n.) | A literary or dramatic speech spoken by a solitary character |
Section 2
Root: MONO - one
These words all share the Greek root monos, meaning "one."
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| monotonous (adj.) | Unvarying; lacking in variety |
| monosyllabic (adj.) | Having only one syllable |
| monotone (n.) | Sameness of sound, style, manner, or color |
Section 3
Root: VULG - crowd
This set of words is built on the Latin root vulgus, meaning "crowd."
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| divulge (v.) | To make public |
| vulgar (adj.) | Of the common people |
Section 4
Root: POLY, POLL - many
These words are derived from the Greek root polus, meaning "many."
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| polymath (n.) | A person with knowledge of many subjects |
| hoi polloi (n.) | The common people; the masses |
| polyglot (n.) | A person with a knowledge of several languages |
Book overview
Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.
Continue this chapter