Building Vocabulary from Word Roots Unit 1: Lesson 5 Greek Prefixes: epi-

epi- The Greek prefix epi- means “upon, to, in addition to.” Like other Greek prefixes (a-, an-, eu-, ev-, and dys-), epi- usually attaches to Greek bases and generate vocabulary that is scientific, technical, or medical in nature.

epi- “ upon, in addition to, to” This prefix consistently appears as epi- when it attaches to a base beginning with a consonant. epi + log (word) = epilogue Basic= “in addition to” a “story” Better= a closing statement added to a literary work epi + leps (seize) = epilepsy Basic= bodily tremors “seize” “upon” a person Better= a condition causing a person to have seizures epi + phan (appear) = epiphany Basic= to“appear” “to” Better= a sudden “appearance” that comes “to” us and brings understanding

ep- If the base of the word begins with a vowel or the letter h, we use ep- to make the word easier to pronounce. epi- + hemer (“day”) = ephemeral Basic= “upon” a “day” Better= lasting but one day, fleeting Epi+ hor (look) = ephor Basic= someone who “looks” “upon” Better= a person who oversees something

Practice How do the bolded words use the meanings of epi-? Use context clues to help create a defintions. 1.Citizens across America fear the Ebola epidemic. 2.The earthquake’s epicenter was 20 miles from Bayside, California. 3.When John fell on the concrete, he scraped his epidermis. 4.He was the epitome of strength as he lifted the car to free the woman trapped beneath it. 5.She wrote an epistle with advice for future generations. 6.Before he was executed, the 19 th century Irish hero Robert Emmet said, “Let no man write my epitaph.” 7.Many people believe that happiness is ephemeral and fleeting.

Practice 1.Citizens across America fear the Ebola epidemic. a disease that spreads “upon” the people 2.The earthquakes epicenter was 20 miles from Bayside, California. the exact spot “upon” which the center of the earthquake begins 3.When John fell on the concrete he scraped his epidermis. outer layer of the skin that sits “upon” the “skin” 4.He was the epitome of strength as he lifted the car to free the woman trapped beneath it. “to cut” “upon” the top; the highest value of a feature 5.She wrote an epistle with advice for future generations. a formal letter sent to a reader 6.Before he was executed, the 19 th century Irish hero Robert Emmet said, “Let no man write my epitaph.” a short poem or inscription written upon the headstone of a grave 7.Many people believe that happiness is ephemeral. fleeting, lasting only a day

Practice Use the definitions of the bases, prefixes and suffixes, if provided, and the context of the sentence to determine the meaning of the bolded word. Dear Journal, This morning I had an epiphany about love. I’ve just realized that love is like a sunny morning. You never know when to expect it, but when it happens your heart feels warm. I hope that one day this knowledge of love becomes an epidemic, and everyone becomes infected with its goodness. I know that true love is not ephemeral, instead lasting a life time. (The base phany means “appear”; the base dem means “the people”; and the base hemer means “day.”)

Dear Journal, This morning I had an epiphany about love. I’ve just realized that love is like a sunny morning. You never know when to expect it, but when it happens your heart feels warm. I hope that one day this knowledge of love becomes an epidemic, and everyone becomes infected with it’s goodness. I know that true love is not ephemeral, instead lasting a life time. (The base phany means “appear”; the base dem means “the people”; and the base hemer means “day.”) Practice Use the definitions of the bases, prefixes and suffixes, if provided, and the context of the sentence to determine the meaning of the bolded word. epiphany- a sudden “appearance” that comes “to” us and brings understanding epidemic- a disease that falls “upon” a community of “people” ephemeral- fleeting, “upon” a “day”, lasting only a “day”

Practice Use the definitions of the bases, prefixes and suffixes, if provided, and the context of the sentence to determine the meaning of the bolded word. There is also an epilogue to this journal entry. The epilogue is that after my realization about love, I then began to notice examples of everyone becoming infected with its goodness. I will write about these examples in my future journal entries. My thoughts on this are the epitome, I think, of all I believe love should be, too. It’s what my parents have always taught me. If I could write my own epitaph I would want it to talk about love, so that I could eternally be underneath its symbolic warmth. (The base log means “word”, “speech”, or “reason”; the base tome means “to cut short”, “cut down”, or “cut into”; the base taph means “grave” or “tomb”.

Practice Use the definitions of the bases, prefixes and suffixes, if provided, and the context of the sentence to determine the meaning of the bolded word. epilogue- “words” “added to” the end of something epitome- perfect example epitah- a short poem or inscription written “upon” the headstone of a “grave”

Test Prep Epi- this prefix means ______, ____, _________________ Ms. Beckstedt instructed our class to analyze the epitaph before we began reading the book Fahrenheit 451. On the first page it read, “If they give you ruled paper, write the other way” by Juan Roman Jitnenez. Libby and Katy both raised their hands at the same time to explain what they thought about the opening lines in the book. Define the word epigraph using a definition of the prefix. Basic: Better:

Test Prep Epi- this prefix means upon, to, in addition to Ms. Beckstedt instructed our class to analyze the epitaph before we began reading the book Fahrenheit 451. On the first page it read, “If they give you ruled paper, write the other way” by Juan Roman Jimenez. Libby and Katy both raised their hands at the same time to explain what they thought about the opening lines in the book. Define the word epigraph using a definition of the prefix. Basic: to “write” “upon” or “in addition to” something Better: a quotation from another author at the beginning of a literary work

Test Prep Epi- this prefix means ______, ____, _________________ I have recently developed an interest in science. In class yesterday we discussed different plant species and I was especially intrigued by epiphytes because they do not normally grow in the soil. They manufacture their own food through photosynthesis but obtain moisture through the air or another plant, hence their nickname the “air plant.” Define the word epiphyte using a definition of the prefix. Basic: Better:

Test Prep Epi- this prefix means upon, to, in addition to I have recently developed an interest in science. In class yesterday we discussed different plant species and I was especially intrigued by epiphytes because they do not normally grow in the soil. They manufacture their own food through photosynthesis but obtain moisture through the air or another plant, hence their nickname the “air plant.” Define the word epiphyte using a definition of the prefix. Basic: “upon” a “plant” Better: a plant which grows upon another plant

Divide and Conquer Word:Prefix means:Base means:Word means: epidemicepi=dem= people epicenterepi=cent= center epidermisepi=derm= skin epitomeepi=tom=cut epistleepi=stle=send epitaphepi=taph=grave, tomb ephemeralep=hemer=day epiphanyepi=phan= appear epigramepi=gram= write, draw epithetepi=thet= put, place