Building Vocabulary from Word Roots

1
Building Vocabulary from Word Roots

• Unit 1 Lesson 4
• Greek Prefixes eu-, ev-, dys-

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eu-, ev-

• The Greek prefix eu- or ev- means good,well.

3
dys-

• The Greek prefix dys- means bad, improper.
• Like other Greek prefixes (a-, an-), eu-, ev-,
  and dys- usually attach to Greek bases and
  generate vocabulary that is scientific,
  technical, or medical in nature.

4
Eu-

• This prefix consistently appears as eu- when it
  attaches to a base beginning with a consonant.
• eu log (word) eulogy
• (a good word said about someone at a funeral)
• eu pheme (word) euphemism
• (good way to say something that is negative in
  nature)

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Interesting Eu- Words

• Eu calypt (cover) eucalyptus
• (this plant is so named because its buds are
  well covered by cones it is the only food
  source for koala bears)
• Eu gen (birth, produce) Eugene
• (a mans name that literally means well born
  or noble)
• Eu nike (victory) Eunice
• (a womans name that literally means good
  victory one famous woman with this name was
  Eunice Kennedy Shriver, President John F.
  Kennedys sister)

6
Ev-

• If the base of the word begins with a vowel or
  the letter h, we use ev- to make the word easier
  to pronounce.
• There is only one word family in the English
  language that uses the ev- prefix angel
• ev angel (messenger) evangelism
• (bringing good news to others)

7
Dys-

• The dys- prefix is often found in words that
  describe improper functioning of the body
• dys topos(place) dystopia
• (bad community where people often life fearful
  lives)
• dys troph (growth) dystrophy
• (improper growth)

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Do Now! Prefixes eu-, ev-

• The touching eulogy and euphonious music made
  them feel euphoric despite their sadness.
• What kind of event does this sentence describe?
• What is a eulogy? Use the words good or well
  in your definition.
• How would euphonious music sound?
• How is a person feeling if he or she is euphoric?

9
Do Now! Prefix dys-

• They had dysphonia from too much shouting and
  dysentery from too much eating, so they felt
  dysphoric even though their team won the game.
• What kind of event does this sentence describe?
• What does dysphonia probably mean? Use the words
  bad or improper in your definition.
• What do you think dysentery is, if enteron
  means intestine in Greek? Use the words bad or
  improper in your definition.
• How is a person feeling if he or she is dysphoric?

10
Do Now! Prefixes eu-, ev-, dys-

• Use the context clues to determine what each of
  these eu-, ev-, and dys- words has to do with
  good, well or bad, improper.
• The evangelist preached to many people, but the
  televangelist was able to reach millions.
• Second-hand is often a euphemism for used.
• Since he suffered from dyspepsia, he could not
  eat certain foods.
• Some people with dysfunctional kidneys need a
  kidney transplant.
• Eugenics and euthanasia are controversial
  life-and-death issues.

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Greek Bases

• log- word
• thanas- death
• pheme- speech
• phor(pherein)- to bear being
• gen- birth, produce
• phon- voice, sound
• ent(eron)- intestine
• pepsis- digestion
• pne- breathe
• (o)nym- name, word
• angel- messenger