Vocabulary Terms Miss DiMatteo Academic English 10A

Vocabulary Terms Please be familiar with these terms. For each vocabulary term this year, you will need to know: –Denotation –How to use context clues for the word to make it more familiar –Synonyms –Antonyms –How an affix (prefix or suffix) changes the way a word is used

Connotation The range of associations that a word or phrase suggests in addition to its dictionary meaning. The denotation is the dictionary definition of a word. –The 2 bolded words have similar denotations, but which one has a connotation that most nearly fits the sentence? Oblivious to those around him, the father tenderly (smiled, smirked) at his newborn baby through the window of the hospital nursery. Which is the most appropriate word for this sentence?

Denotation The literal or primary meaning of a word, in contrast to the feelings or ideas that the word suggests. Not the connotation Simply just the “dictionary definition” of a word

Multiple Meaning Words Words that have several meanings depending upon how they are used in a sentence. She had a different kind of pencil than mine. Vs. My grandmother is a very kind person.

Context Clues Words and phrases in a sentence, paragraph, and/or whole text, which help reason out the meaning of an unfamiliar word.

Prefix Groups of letters placed before a word to alter its meaning. –Exciting vs. Unexciting –Existent vs. Nonexistent –Place vs. Replace

Suffix Groups of letters placed after a word to alter its meaning or change it into a different kind of word, from an adjective to an adverb, etc. –Celebrate vs. Celebration –Excite vs. Excitedly

Synonym A word that is similar in meaning to another word (e.g., sorrow, grief, sadness). Kind: -considerate -good-hearted -caring

Antonym A word that is the opposite in meaning to another word. Kind: -inconsiderate -thoughtless -mean

Model: Altruistic Definition: (adj.) Having an unselfish concern for others Context Clue Sentence: The altruistic student gave up her personal study time in order to help a struggling student who was new to the building. Synonym: humanitarian, good, benevolent Antonym: Self-centered, selfish

Try it on your own… Using the Vocabulary model handout, complete the worksheet for the following words from our first short story Powder (p. 113) Acquire (v) Tradition (n)