Learn on PengiVocabulary from Latin and Greek Roots, Level XIUnit 13 ~ Unit 15

Ch 5.3 : Unit 15

This group of words comes from the Latin root TRIT, meaning "to rub away, to wear, to crush." Key Words | Word | Definition | | | | | detrimental (adj.) | Causing damage or harm; injurious | | contrite (adj.) | Feeling regret and sorrow; penitent | | trite (adj.) | Boring because of overuse or repetition | | detritus (n.) | Debris; junk | | attrition (n.) | A lowering in number |.

Section 1

Root: TRIT - to rub away, to wear, to crush

This group of words comes from the Latin root TRIT, meaning "to rub away, to wear, to crush."

Key Words

WordDefinition
detrimental (adj.)Causing damage or harm; injurious
contrite (adj.)Feeling regret and sorrow; penitent
trite (adj.)Boring because of overuse or repetition
detritus (n.)Debris; junk
attrition (n.)A lowering in number

Example Usage

  • Skipping breakfast can be detrimental to your concentration in school.
  • Feeling contrite for his harsh words, the boy wrote his friend a long letter of apology.

Word Spark

contrite: Think of feeling truly sorry after accidentally breaking your friend's favorite toy.
trite: Like hearing the same joke so many times that it's not funny anymore.

Section 2

Root: LENI - smooth

These words stem from the Latin root LENIS, meaning "smooth."

Key Words

WordDefinition
lenient (adj.)Not strict; generous
lenitive (adj.)Easing pain or discord

Example Usage

  • The substitute teacher was surprisingly lenient, allowing the students to talk quietly while they worked.
  • The calm music had a lenitive effect on the noisy and crowded waiting room.

Word Spark

lenient: Like when your parents let you stay up thirty minutes past your bedtime on a weekend.
Lenitive: The gentle, soothing touch of a warm cup of tea on a cold evening, easing the tension of the day.

Section 3

Root: MOLL - soft

This word comes from the Latin root MOLLIS, meaning "soft."

Key Words

WordDefinition
mollify (v.)To soothe the feelings of; to appease

Example Usage

  • The politician tried to mollify the angry crowd with a promise to lower taxes.

Word Spark

mollify: Think of calming a crying baby by singing a soft and gentle lullaby.

Section 4

Root: RUD - rough

These words originate from the Latin root RUDIS, meaning "rough."

Key Words

WordDefinition
rudiment (n.)A basic idea or principle
rudimentary (adj.)Undeveloped; very basic or simple

Example Usage

  • Before you write an essay, you must first learn the rudiments of grammar and sentence structure.
  • His knowledge of car repair was rudimentary, so he could only change a tire.

Word Spark

rudiment: The first note of a song, simple yet essential, that lays the foundation for the melody to unfold.
rudimentary: Like using two sticks to make a fire instead of a modern lighter.

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Unit 13 ~ Unit 15

  1. Lesson 1

    Ch 5.1: Unit 13

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  2. Lesson 2

    Ch 5.2 : Unit 14

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  3. Lesson 3Current

    Ch 5.3 : Unit 15

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Section 1

Root: TRIT - to rub away, to wear, to crush

This group of words comes from the Latin root TRIT, meaning "to rub away, to wear, to crush."

Key Words

WordDefinition
detrimental (adj.)Causing damage or harm; injurious
contrite (adj.)Feeling regret and sorrow; penitent
trite (adj.)Boring because of overuse or repetition
detritus (n.)Debris; junk
attrition (n.)A lowering in number

Example Usage

  • Skipping breakfast can be detrimental to your concentration in school.
  • Feeling contrite for his harsh words, the boy wrote his friend a long letter of apology.

Word Spark

contrite: Think of feeling truly sorry after accidentally breaking your friend's favorite toy.
trite: Like hearing the same joke so many times that it's not funny anymore.

Section 2

Root: LENI - smooth

These words stem from the Latin root LENIS, meaning "smooth."

Key Words

WordDefinition
lenient (adj.)Not strict; generous
lenitive (adj.)Easing pain or discord

Example Usage

  • The substitute teacher was surprisingly lenient, allowing the students to talk quietly while they worked.
  • The calm music had a lenitive effect on the noisy and crowded waiting room.

Word Spark

lenient: Like when your parents let you stay up thirty minutes past your bedtime on a weekend.
Lenitive: The gentle, soothing touch of a warm cup of tea on a cold evening, easing the tension of the day.

Section 3

Root: MOLL - soft

This word comes from the Latin root MOLLIS, meaning "soft."

Key Words

WordDefinition
mollify (v.)To soothe the feelings of; to appease

Example Usage

  • The politician tried to mollify the angry crowd with a promise to lower taxes.

Word Spark

mollify: Think of calming a crying baby by singing a soft and gentle lullaby.

Section 4

Root: RUD - rough

These words originate from the Latin root RUDIS, meaning "rough."

Key Words

WordDefinition
rudiment (n.)A basic idea or principle
rudimentary (adj.)Undeveloped; very basic or simple

Example Usage

  • Before you write an essay, you must first learn the rudiments of grammar and sentence structure.
  • His knowledge of car repair was rudimentary, so he could only change a tire.

Word Spark

rudiment: The first note of a song, simple yet essential, that lays the foundation for the melody to unfold.
rudimentary: Like using two sticks to make a fire instead of a modern lighter.

Book overview

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Continue this chapter

Unit 13 ~ Unit 15

  1. Lesson 1

    Ch 5.1: Unit 13

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  2. Lesson 2

    Ch 5.2 : Unit 14

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  3. Lesson 3Current

    Ch 5.3 : Unit 15

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