Learn on PengiVocabulary from Classical Roots (Book E)Chapter 8: The Law (Lesson 15-16)

Lesson 15: The Law

In this Grade 6 vocabulary lesson from Vocabulary from Classical Roots Book E, students explore 15 law-related words derived from Latin roots including censeo, poena, probo, and vindico. Learners study terms such as subpoena, vindicate, impunity, approbation, and vendetta, tracing each word back to its classical origin to understand meaning and usage. Exercises reinforce skills in identifying synonyms and antonyms and applying vocabulary in context.

Section 1

Judging and Criticizing

Let's explore words that come from the Latin roots CENSEO and CENSOR, which mean 'to give an opinion' or 'to judge'.

Key Words

WordDefinition
censorious (adj.)Faultfinding; severely critical
censure (v.)To criticize harshly

📝Example Usage:

  • The food critic, known for her censorious reviews, could find nothing uncomplimentary to say about the new restaurant.
  • The parliament voted to censure the prime minister for misleading the public.

🧠Memory Trick:

  • The censorious editor felt it was his duty to censure every article for the slightest error.

Section 2

Sending and Commissioning

These words all stem from the Latin root LEGO, meaning 'to commission' or 'to send'.

Key Words

WordDefinition
legate (n.)A representative sent on a special mission, especially one representing the pope
allege (v.)To claim that something is true without necessarily having proof; to advance as an argument or excuse
relegate (v.)To banish to a place of exile; to dismiss to an obscure or inferior position

📝Example Usage:

  • The president sent a trusted legate to negotiate the peace treaty.
  • The company had to relegate the faulty products to a warehouse after they were recalled.

🧠Memory Trick:

  • They will allege that the general was sent as a legate, but in reality, the king planned to relegate him to a faraway post.

Section 3

Punishment and Penalty

Time for some law and order! These words are all about consequences, stemming from the Latin roots POENA and PUNIO, meaning 'penalty' and 'to punish'.

Key Words

WordDefinition
punitive (adj.)Inflicting or intending punishment
impunity (n.)Exemption from punishment or penalty, as a result of a particular act
subpoena (n.)A legal requirement that someone or something appear in court to give or be evidence

📝Example Usage:

  • The celebrity thought his fame would grant him impunity from the law after he broke the rules.
  • The judge issued a subpoena to force the witness to appear in court.

🧠Memory Trick:

  • The defiant witness who ignored the subpoena and hoped for impunity was shocked when the judge ordered punitive fines.

Section 4

Proving and Approving

Let's test out these words, all derived from the Latin PROBO, meaning 'to prove, test, or approve'. They deal with integrity and judgment.

Key Words

WordDefinition
probity (n.)Impeccable integrity; uprightness
approbation (n.)Praise; commendation; official approval
reprobate (n.)A morally decadent person
reproof (n.)An expression of criticism for a fault or misdeed; a scolding

📝Example Usage:

  • The committee gave its official approbation to the new building plans.
  • The gentle reproof from his teacher was more effective than any harsh punishment would have been.

🧠Memory Trick:

  • Known for his probity, the captain gave a stern reproof and withheld his approbation from the lazy reprobate.

Section 5

Avenging and Vindicating

Get ready for some drama! These words come from VINDICO, the Latin root for 'to avenge,' and they all involve clearing a name or seeking revenge.

Key Words

WordDefinition
vindicate (v.)To clear from blame; to exonerate; to prove to be valid
vindictive (adj.)Revengeful; unforgiving
vendetta (n.)A bitter feud, especially one perpetuated by acts of revenge, often between successive generations of two families or clans

📝Example Usage:

  • The long and bloody vendetta between the two families finally ended after three generations.
  • New DNA evidence helped to vindicate the man who had been wrongly imprisoned for twenty years.

🧠Memory Trick:

  • He was not a vindictive person, but he fought to vindicate his family's name and end the long-standing vendetta.

Book overview

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Chapter 8: The Law (Lesson 15-16)

  1. Lesson 1Current

    Lesson 15: The Law

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  2. Lesson 2

    Lesson 16: The Law

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Lesson overview

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Section 1

Judging and Criticizing

Let's explore words that come from the Latin roots CENSEO and CENSOR, which mean 'to give an opinion' or 'to judge'.

Key Words

WordDefinition
censorious (adj.)Faultfinding; severely critical
censure (v.)To criticize harshly

📝Example Usage:

  • The food critic, known for her censorious reviews, could find nothing uncomplimentary to say about the new restaurant.
  • The parliament voted to censure the prime minister for misleading the public.

🧠Memory Trick:

  • The censorious editor felt it was his duty to censure every article for the slightest error.

Section 2

Sending and Commissioning

These words all stem from the Latin root LEGO, meaning 'to commission' or 'to send'.

Key Words

WordDefinition
legate (n.)A representative sent on a special mission, especially one representing the pope
allege (v.)To claim that something is true without necessarily having proof; to advance as an argument or excuse
relegate (v.)To banish to a place of exile; to dismiss to an obscure or inferior position

📝Example Usage:

  • The president sent a trusted legate to negotiate the peace treaty.
  • The company had to relegate the faulty products to a warehouse after they were recalled.

🧠Memory Trick:

  • They will allege that the general was sent as a legate, but in reality, the king planned to relegate him to a faraway post.

Section 3

Punishment and Penalty

Time for some law and order! These words are all about consequences, stemming from the Latin roots POENA and PUNIO, meaning 'penalty' and 'to punish'.

Key Words

WordDefinition
punitive (adj.)Inflicting or intending punishment
impunity (n.)Exemption from punishment or penalty, as a result of a particular act
subpoena (n.)A legal requirement that someone or something appear in court to give or be evidence

📝Example Usage:

  • The celebrity thought his fame would grant him impunity from the law after he broke the rules.
  • The judge issued a subpoena to force the witness to appear in court.

🧠Memory Trick:

  • The defiant witness who ignored the subpoena and hoped for impunity was shocked when the judge ordered punitive fines.

Section 4

Proving and Approving

Let's test out these words, all derived from the Latin PROBO, meaning 'to prove, test, or approve'. They deal with integrity and judgment.

Key Words

WordDefinition
probity (n.)Impeccable integrity; uprightness
approbation (n.)Praise; commendation; official approval
reprobate (n.)A morally decadent person
reproof (n.)An expression of criticism for a fault or misdeed; a scolding

📝Example Usage:

  • The committee gave its official approbation to the new building plans.
  • The gentle reproof from his teacher was more effective than any harsh punishment would have been.

🧠Memory Trick:

  • Known for his probity, the captain gave a stern reproof and withheld his approbation from the lazy reprobate.

Section 5

Avenging and Vindicating

Get ready for some drama! These words come from VINDICO, the Latin root for 'to avenge,' and they all involve clearing a name or seeking revenge.

Key Words

WordDefinition
vindicate (v.)To clear from blame; to exonerate; to prove to be valid
vindictive (adj.)Revengeful; unforgiving
vendetta (n.)A bitter feud, especially one perpetuated by acts of revenge, often between successive generations of two families or clans

📝Example Usage:

  • The long and bloody vendetta between the two families finally ended after three generations.
  • New DNA evidence helped to vindicate the man who had been wrongly imprisoned for twenty years.

🧠Memory Trick:

  • He was not a vindictive person, but he fought to vindicate his family's name and end the long-standing vendetta.

Book overview

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

Continue this chapter

Chapter 8: The Law (Lesson 15-16)

  1. Lesson 1Current

    Lesson 15: The Law

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  2. Lesson 2

    Lesson 16: The Law

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