1. The intent of the negative comment was to abase the student in front of his peers. Parts: a (from, away); bas (low) Educated Guess: Definition: Literally, to lower or depress, to throw or cast down, applied to passions, rank, office and condition of life Synonyms: Antonyms Variant forms: Context Phrase Abase: verb

2. The king’s army invaded the neighboring countries to amplify his power. Parts: ampl (large);fy (make do) Educated Guess: Definition: To enlarge, to augment, to increase or extend power or authority; to make more complete or full, to exaggerate, to strengthen, to speak or write in great detail Synonyms: Antonyms Variant forms: Context Phrase amplify: verb

3. When the teen told his mother he would be out all night, she responded, “Au contraire, you will not be going out at all tonight. Parts: contra (against) Educated Guess: Definition: A French expression meaning “to the contrary: or “the opposite” Synonyms: Antonyms Variant forms: Context Phrase au contraire – a foreign expression

4. Ernie had studied diligently and completed the test with confidence and celerity. Parts: celer (swift); ity (state, condition) Educated Guess: Definition: Rapidity of motion, quickness, Synonyms: Antonyms Variant forms: Context Phrase celerity - noun

5. The case was decided primarily on conjecture because of the limited physical evidence. Parts:con (together, with); ject (throw);ure (act, process) Educated Guess: Definition: A putting together, a guess; an inference; guesswork. Theorizing or predicting from incomplete or uncertain evidence. Synonyms: Antonyms Variant forms: Context Phrase conjecture - noun

6. The handsome, debonair prince attracted the attention of all the ladies at the dance. Parts: de (from); bon (good); aire (disposition) Educated Guess: Definition: characterized by courtesy and charm Synonyms: Antonyms Variant forms: Context Phrase debonair – (adjective)

7. The severe knee injury ended John’s dreams of playing professional baseball and left him feeling disconsolate. Parts: dis (apart, away); con (together, with); solari(comfort) Educated Guess: Definition: Without comfort. Causing or suggesting discomfort or dejection Synonyms: Antonyms Variant forms: Context Phrase disconsolate - adjective

8. Thousands of teens are enamored with the new pop rock band from Mexico. Parts: en ( inside, within) amor (love) Educated Guess: Definition: To fill with love and desire. To inflame with love Synonyms: Antonyms Variant forms: Context Phrase enamor – verb – usually followed by of or with

9. Before giving permission for the Shakespearean play to be performed at the high school, the administrators insisted that the directors expurgate several questionable scenes. Parts: ex (out); purg (cleanse, purify); ate (make, cause) Educated Guess: Definition: To remove anything considered obscene or otherwise objectionable (from a book, play etc.) Synonyms: Antonyms Variant forms: Context Phrase expurgate - verb

10. The case ended in a mistrial because the jury had reached an impasse. Parts: im (not); passer (to pass) Educated Guess: Definition: A blind alley; A road or passage having no exit. A difficult situation Synonyms: Antonyms Variant forms: Context Phrase impasse - noun

11. The flood of tears conveyed her ineffable joy at winning the full scholarship to college. Parts: in (not); ef (out); fab (talk, speak) Educated Guess: Definition: Beyond expression. Too overwhelmed to be expressed or described in words. Too awesome or sacred to be spoken, as God’s ineffable name. Synonyms: Antonyms Variant forms: Context Phrase ineffable – adj.

12. The child became so intractable that her parents sought professional counseling to help her become a successful student and a law abiding citizen. Parts: in (not) tract (pull); able (capable) Educated Guess: Definition: Difficult to manage. Unruly or stubborn Synonyms: Antonyms Variant forms: Context Phrase intractable – adjective

13. My mother burned scented candles to counteract the malodorous cabbage she was cooking. Parts: mal (bad); odor (smell) ous (full of) Educated Guess: Definition: Having a bad smell; Of bad odor Synonyms: Antonyms Variant forms: Context Phrase malodorous – adj.

14. Samuel Clemens chose Mark Twain as his nom de plum. Parts: non (name); de (from); plum (feather) Educated Guess: Definition: Of French origin meaning penname; a name for writing. The origin is probably associated with the quill, a feather used for writing. Synonyms: Antonyms Variant forms: Context Phrase nom de plum - noun

15. His perfunctory attitude about attending practice prevents him from developing his talent. Parts: per (through); funct (make, do); ory (related to) Educated Guess: Definition: Done or acting routinely and with little care or concern. Done merely out of duty or obligation. Synonyms: Antonyms Variant forms: Context Phrase perfunctory – adj.

16. Our three branches of government limit the President’s power and prevent him or her from becoming a potentate. Parts: potent (power); ate (that which) Educated Guess: Definition: One who has the power and position to rule over others. Synonyms: Antonyms Variant forms: Context Phrase potentate - noun

17. The company’s decision to proliferate their product eventually flooded the market and decreased the price and profit. Parts: prole (offspring); fer (carry, produce); ate (make, cause) Educated Guess: Definition: To create or produce in rapid succession. To increase or produce rapidly in numbers. Synonyms: Antonyms Variant forms: Context Phrase proliferate - verb

18. Hoping for some leniency, the defendant continued to reiterate his regret for the crimes. Parts: re (back, again); iterare ( to do a second time) Educated Guess: Definition: To say something again or a number of times, usually for emphasis or clarity Synonyms: Antonyms Variant forms: Context Phrase reiterate – verb

19. Though she had earned several college degrees, she could never satiate her love of learning. Parts: satis (enough); ate ( make, cause) Educated Guess: Definition: To satisfy an appetite or desire fully. To gratify to excess. Synonyms: Antonyms Variant forms: Context Phrase satiate - verb

20. Should national security supersede the rights of individuals in this country? Parts: super (above. beyond); sed (go) Educated Guess: Definition: To take the place of a person or thing previously in authority or use. To cause to be set aside or displaced; to set aside for something else Synonyms: Antonyms Variant forms: Context Phrase supersede – verb