Learn on PengiVocabulary from Classical Roots (Book E)Chapter 4: Business (Lesson 7-8)

Lesson 8: Business

In this Grade 6 vocabulary lesson from Vocabulary from Classical Roots Book E, students study Latin and Greek roots including ACER, ACUS, EMO, KRATOS, PECUNIA, and PORTO to unlock the meanings of fifteen business and social vocabulary words. Students learn terms such as acerbic, exacerbate, acrimony, acumen, pecuniary, impecunious, technocracy, plutocrat, and peremptory through synonym and antonym exercises. The lesson builds both language precision and contextual reading skills within the Chapter 4 Business unit.

Section 1

ACER, ACUO: Sharp & Bitter

Let's sharpen our minds with words that cut deep, taste sour, or describe intense feelings. These terms all derive from roots meaning 'sharp' or 'bitter.'

Key Words

WordDefinition
acerbic (adj.)Sour or bitter in taste; harsh or sharp in speech, manner, or temper
acrid (adj.)Bitterly pungent or harsh in taste or smell; sharply stinging
exacerbate (v.)To increase the severity of something; to intensify irritation or violence
acrimony (n.)Bitter, sharp animosity, especially in behavior or speech
acumen (n.)Keenness of insight and discernment; sagacity
acute (adj.)Very discerning; quickly alert to impressions; severe; intense

📝Example Usage:

  • The critic's review was so acerbic that it only served to exacerbate the writer's feelings of failure.
  • She had an acute sense of smell and immediately noticed the acrid odor of smoke, a situation that filled the room with acrimony.

Section 2

EMO: To Buy, To Take

Time to 'take' control of your vocabulary! These words come from the root 'emo,' meaning 'to buy' or 'to take,' and often involve concepts of seizing priority or buying back something lost.

Key Words

WordDefinition
peremptory (adj.)Urgently commanding; officious or arrogantly dictatorial; not allowing contradiction or further disagreement
preempt (v.)To take precedence over someone or something already arranged or in place; to seize priority
redemption (n.)Deliverance from sin; atonement for guilt; retrieval; reclamation; reformation

📝Example Usage:

  • The CEO's peremptory memo left no room for debate among the employees.
  • A breaking news story will often preempt the regularly scheduled television show.

Section 3

KRATOS: Power

Who holds the power? These words use the Greek root 'kratos' to talk about systems of government and influential people.

Key Words

WordDefinition
technocracy (n.)Government or social systems that put technological theories into practice
plutocrat (n.)A member of a governing wealthy class or a person whose wealth grants political influence

📝Example Usage:

  • In the sci-fi novel, a technocracy had replaced the old government, with engineers making all the decisions.
  • The newspaper investigation revealed that a single plutocrat was secretly funding the campaigns of several major politicians.

Section 4

PECUNIA: Money

Let's talk money! Both of these words come from 'pecunia,' the Latin word for money, and describe financial situations.

Key Words

WordDefinition
pecuniary (adj.)Relating to money or necessary payment of it
impecunious (adj.)Lacking money; penniless

📝Example Usage:

  • The company offered a significant pecuniary reward for information leading to the recovery of the stolen data.
  • After losing his job, the once-successful investor became impecunious.

Section 5

PORTO: To Carry

How do you carry yourself? These words are built on the Latin root 'porto,' meaning 'to carry,' and relate to how one behaves or what something claims to be.

Key Words

WordDefinition
comportment (n.)Behavior; demeanor; mode of bearing or movement
purport (v.)To claim; to profess (without giving proof); to appear to be

📝Example Usage:

  • A soldier's disciplined comportment is expected, even when off-duty.
  • The document purported to be an original copy of the declaration, but experts quickly proved it was a fake.

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Chapter 4: Business (Lesson 7-8)

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    Lesson 7: Business

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Section 1

ACER, ACUO: Sharp & Bitter

Let's sharpen our minds with words that cut deep, taste sour, or describe intense feelings. These terms all derive from roots meaning 'sharp' or 'bitter.'

Key Words

WordDefinition
acerbic (adj.)Sour or bitter in taste; harsh or sharp in speech, manner, or temper
acrid (adj.)Bitterly pungent or harsh in taste or smell; sharply stinging
exacerbate (v.)To increase the severity of something; to intensify irritation or violence
acrimony (n.)Bitter, sharp animosity, especially in behavior or speech
acumen (n.)Keenness of insight and discernment; sagacity
acute (adj.)Very discerning; quickly alert to impressions; severe; intense

📝Example Usage:

  • The critic's review was so acerbic that it only served to exacerbate the writer's feelings of failure.
  • She had an acute sense of smell and immediately noticed the acrid odor of smoke, a situation that filled the room with acrimony.

Section 2

EMO: To Buy, To Take

Time to 'take' control of your vocabulary! These words come from the root 'emo,' meaning 'to buy' or 'to take,' and often involve concepts of seizing priority or buying back something lost.

Key Words

WordDefinition
peremptory (adj.)Urgently commanding; officious or arrogantly dictatorial; not allowing contradiction or further disagreement
preempt (v.)To take precedence over someone or something already arranged or in place; to seize priority
redemption (n.)Deliverance from sin; atonement for guilt; retrieval; reclamation; reformation

📝Example Usage:

  • The CEO's peremptory memo left no room for debate among the employees.
  • A breaking news story will often preempt the regularly scheduled television show.

Section 3

KRATOS: Power

Who holds the power? These words use the Greek root 'kratos' to talk about systems of government and influential people.

Key Words

WordDefinition
technocracy (n.)Government or social systems that put technological theories into practice
plutocrat (n.)A member of a governing wealthy class or a person whose wealth grants political influence

📝Example Usage:

  • In the sci-fi novel, a technocracy had replaced the old government, with engineers making all the decisions.
  • The newspaper investigation revealed that a single plutocrat was secretly funding the campaigns of several major politicians.

Section 4

PECUNIA: Money

Let's talk money! Both of these words come from 'pecunia,' the Latin word for money, and describe financial situations.

Key Words

WordDefinition
pecuniary (adj.)Relating to money or necessary payment of it
impecunious (adj.)Lacking money; penniless

📝Example Usage:

  • The company offered a significant pecuniary reward for information leading to the recovery of the stolen data.
  • After losing his job, the once-successful investor became impecunious.

Section 5

PORTO: To Carry

How do you carry yourself? These words are built on the Latin root 'porto,' meaning 'to carry,' and relate to how one behaves or what something claims to be.

Key Words

WordDefinition
comportment (n.)Behavior; demeanor; mode of bearing or movement
purport (v.)To claim; to profess (without giving proof); to appear to be

📝Example Usage:

  • A soldier's disciplined comportment is expected, even when off-duty.
  • The document purported to be an original copy of the declaration, but experts quickly proved it was a fake.

Book overview

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

Continue this chapter

Chapter 4: Business (Lesson 7-8)

  1. Lesson 1

    Lesson 7: Business

    LearnPractice
  2. Lesson 2Current

    Lesson 8: Business

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