1. Eliza Doolittle’s affectation at the ambassador’s ball convinced everyone that she was rich.

• Parts: af (to); fect (make, do); ation (act of)

• Educated Guess:

• Definition: Behavior, speech, or writing that is artificial and designed to impress; A studied display of real or pretended feelings.

• Antonyms: naiveté, simplicity, naturalness

• Variant forms: na

• Context Phrase:

• Affectation – (n)

• Synonyms:pretension, airs,posturing, pose, pompousness

2. Sometimes it is better to ignore an asinine remark than to acknowledge it with a response.

• Parts: as(jackass, ass); ine (belonging to, resembling)

• Educated Guess:

• Definition: extremely stupid or foolish

• Antonyms: sensible, intelligent, keen, insightful

• Variant forms: na

• Context Phrase:

• asinine – adj.

• Synonyms: doltish, childish, fatuous, silly, idiotic

3. Desperate to save their child’s life, the parents defied the advice of the FBI and capitulated to the kidnapper’s demands.

• Parts: capitulum>capit (head); ate (make, cause)

• Educated Guess:

• Definition: To stop resisting an opponent or unwelcome demands; To give up all resistance; To come to terms with

• Antonyms:resist, defy, oppose, refuse, fight

• Variant forms:capitulation (n); capitulator (n)

• Context Phrase:

• Capitulated- verb

• Synonyms: surrender, acquiesce, comply, yield

4. Even with its concomitants of intense pressure to win and grueling hours, his ambition is to coach a major university team.

• Parts: con (together); comitari (companion);ant (make)

• Educated Guess:

• Definition: Something that naturally accompanies or follows; Existing or occurring concurrently (adj)

• Antonyms: na

• Variant forms: concomitantly (adv)

• Context Phrase:

• concomitant (n)

• Synonyms:(n) side effect,(adj) accompanying, associated

5. The neighborhood covenant requires permission from the committee before adding a fence.

• Parts: co (together); ven (come); ant (that which)

• Educated Guess:

• Definition: A binding agreement made by two or more parties; A formal, sealed agreement/contract; An agreement that brings out a relationship between God and his people

• Antonyms: na

• Variant forms:covenantal (adj); covenantally (adv)

• Context Phrase:

• Covenant – (n)

• Synonyms: agreement, contract, compact

6. Her personality is an interesting dichotomy of generosity and egoism.

• Parts: dicho (two); tom (cut); y (result of)

• Educated Guess:

• Definition: Division into two usually contradictory parts or opinions

• Antonyms: combination

• Variant forms: dichotomous (adj); dichotomize (v)

• Context Phrase:

• dichotomy - noun

• Synonyms: split

7. The yelling and waving of the opposing fans did not disconcert our player on the foul line.

• Parts: dis (apart, away); con (together, with); cert (sure)

• Educated Guess:

• Definition: To disturb the composure of; To frustrate by throwing into disorder

• Antonyms: calm, soother, placate, pacify, conciliate

• Variant forms: disconcertedly (adv); disconcertion (n)

• Context Phrase:

• Disconcert – verb

• Synonyms: agitate, fluster, upset, unsettle, ruffle, rattle

8. Rushing water blocked the egress the miners had planned to use to escape an emergency.

• Parts: e (out); gress (step, walk, go)

• Educated Guess:

• Definition: The path or opening by means of which one goes out; The action of going out; To go out or to leave (v)

• Antonyms: entry, entrance

• Variant forms: egression (n)

• Context Phrase:

• egress – v.

• Synonyms: exit, emergence, exodus

9. If the evidence exculpates the defendant, the prosecution must share it with the defense.

• Parts: ex (out); culp (blame, guilt)

• Educated Guess:

• Definition: To show or to declare that someone is not guilty of wrongdoing

• Antonyms:accuse,indict, impeach, implicate, incriminate

• Variant forms: exculpatory (adj); exculpation (n)

• Context Phrase:

• Exculpate – verb

• Synonyms: vindicate, exonerate, absolve, acquit

10. She received the Humanitarian of the Year Award for her indefatigable work for orphans.

• Parts:in(not);de(down);fatigare(fatigue); able(capable of)

• Educated Guess:

• Definition: Incapable of being tired out; persisting tirelessly

• Antonyms: lethargic, lazy, indolent

• Variant forms: indefatigability (n); indefatigably (adv)

• Context Phrase:

• indefatigable – adj.

• Synonyms: tireless

11. The insouciant attitude of some students negatively affects their prospects to attend college.

• Parts: in(not); soucier (worry); ant (characterized by)

• Educated Guess:

• Definition: Lacking concern; Blithely unconcerned

• Antonyms: attentive, cautious, apprehensive

• Variant forms: insouciance (n); insouciantly (adv)

• Context Phrase:

• Insouciant – ( adj.)

• Synonyms: carefree, indifferent, nonchalant, apathetic

12. Would you choose the Pieta, the David, or painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel as the magnum opus of Michangelo?

• Parts: magnum (great); opus (work)

• Educated Guess:

• Definition: A great work, especially a literary or artistic masterpiece; The greatest single work of an artist, writer, or composer

• Antonyms: na

• Variant forms: Plural is magnum opuses,or magnum opera

• Context Phrase:

• Magnum opus (n)

• Synonyms: masterpiece, piece de resistance

13. Thinking her life was entirely too mundane, she decided to try skydiving and spelunking.

• Parts: mund (world); ane (pertaining to)

• Educated Guess:

• Definition: Lacking interest or excitement; Of this earthly world rather than a heavenly or spiritual one

• Antonyms: interesting, exciting, thrilling, adventurous

• Variant forms: mundanely (adv); mundaneness (n)

• Context Phrase:

• mundane – adj.

• Synonyms: ordinary, banal, monotonous, dull, routine

14. Campaigns are so expensive that some people think only plutocrats can afford to run for office.

• Parts: pluto (wealth); crat (rule, government)

• Educated Guess:

• Definition: A person whose power comes from his or her wealth

• Antonyms: na

• Variant forms: plutocracy (n); plutocratic (adj)

• Context Phrase:

• plutocrat - n

• Synonyms: aristocrat, elite

15. We must plan now to procure the food and medical supplies needed by the refugees.

• Parts: pro (forth, forward, before), cur (care)

• Educated Guess:

• Definition: To obtain something, especially with care or effort; To persuade or cause someone to do something

• Antonyms: lose, forfeit, fail

• Variant forms: procurement (n), procurable (adj.)

• Context Phrase:

• procure - (verb)

• Synonyms: acquire, attain, obtain, accomplish, produce

16. My manager will rebuke an employee for being one minute tardy to work.

• Parts: re (back, again); bukein (to beat)

• Educated Guess:

• Definition: To express sharp disapproval or criticism of someone because of his/her actions; An expression of sharp disapproval or criticism (n)

• Antonyms: praise, commend, approve, laud, reward

• Variant forms: rebukingly (adv); rebuker (n)

• Context Phrase:

• Rebuke - verb

• Synonyms: reprove, scold, reprimand, reproach, chide

17. The captured soldiers were coerced to recant their support of the war

• Parts: re (back); cant (sing)

• Educated Guess:

• Definition: To say that none no longer holds an opinion or belief, especially one considered heretical

• Antonyms: declare, confirm, affirm, assert, avow

• Variant forms: recantation (n); recanter (n)

• Context Phrase:

• recant – (verb)

• Synonyms: deny, rescind, revoke, retract

18. My grandfather lacked a formal education, but many people recognized his sagacity and sought his advice on

every subject from disciplining children to buying land.

• Parts: sagax (wise), ity (state, quality)

• Educated Guess:

• Definition: The quality of having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment

• Antonyms: foolishness, stupidity, misjudgment, fatuity

• Variant forms: sagacious (adj); sagaciously (adv)

• Context Phrase:

• sagacity - noun

• Synonyms: wisdom, insight, discernment, perspicacity

19. The college freshman learned to subsist on pizza and peanut butter sandwiches.

• Parts: sub (under); sist (stand, stay)

• Educated Guess:

• Definition: To maintain or support oneself, especially at a minimum level; to keep oneself alive; To maintain or support with provisions.

• Antonyms: succumb, die, fail

• Variant forms: subsistence (n); subsistent (adj.)

• Context Phrase:

• Subsist – verb

• Synonyms: exist, survive

20. Her unremitting determination to find a cure for the disease was finally successful.

• Parts: un (not); re (back, again); mitt (send)

• Educated Guess:

• Definition: Never relaxing or slackening

• Antonyms:intermittent, sporadic, periodic, occasional

• Variant forms: unremittingly (adv); unremittingness (n)

• Context Phrase:

• unremitting - adj.

• Synonyms: persistent, incessant, relentless, continuous