Words: The Power Within

1. Words: The Power Within Lesson 7 – Sizing Things Up

2. CIRC • Circulate • Circ+ ate (make, cause) • Dictionary definition – (v) to move continuously through a closed system or area; to move around in a social function to talk with many people; to pass from place to place or from person to person • The teacher circulated around the room while the students were taking their test.

3. CIRC • Circumnavigate • Circum+ nav (sail) • Literal definition – sail around • Dictionary definition – (v)to sail around something, especially the world • Ferdinand Magellan was the first explorer to circumnavigate the world.

4. CIRC – ROUND, AROUND, RING • Circumstance • Circum + stay (stay) • Literal definition – to stay around • Dictionary definition – (n) a fact or condition to an event or action • The rain was an unexpected circumstance that made it impossible to go camping.

5. MAGN • Magnify • Magn + fy(make, do) • Dictionary definition – (v) to make something appear larger than it is, especially with a lens or microscope; to increase greatly • The darkness magnified the risks to the SEAL team as they embarked on their mission.

6. MAGN • Magnificent • Magn + fic (make) + ent (showing) • Literal definition – to make a great showing • Dictionary definition – (adj) impressively beautiful, elaborate, or extravagant • The magnificent cathedral attracted a lot tourists.

7. MAGN – LARGE, GREAT • Magnitude • Magn+ tude (state) • Literal definition – a large state • Dictionary definition – (n) the great size or extent of something • The magnitude of the war cost the small country millions of dollars.

8. MICRO • Microorganism • Micro+ organism • Dictionary definition – (n) an organism that is too small to be seen with the unaided eye • We needed a microscope to look at the microorganisms in Science class.

9. MICRO • Microphone • Micro+ phone (sound) • Dictionary definition – (n) an instrument for converting sound waves into electrical energy variations, which may then be amplified, transmitted or recorded • We did a sound check on each of the microphones before the concert started.

10. MICRO– SMALL, LITTLE • Microscopic • Micro+ scop (look, see) • Dictionary definition – (adj) so small to be visible only with a microscope • The scientists were studying microscopic organisms in the lab in the hopes of finding a cure for several diseases.

11. MINI (MIN) • Miniature • Mini+ ture (state, condition) • Literal definition – small state • Dictionary definition – (n) something that is much smaller than normal, especially a replica or model; (adj) very small • Wolfgang liked to paint miniature car models.

12. MINI (MIN) • Minimize • Min+ tize (make • Literal definition – make small • Dictionary definition – (v) to reduce something, usually unwanted or unpleasant, to the smallest amount or degree • Lebinda took some aspirin so minimize the pain in her ankle from her fall.

13. MINI (MIN) – SMALL, LITTLE • Minute • Min+ ute(quality) • Literal definition – small quality • Dictionary definition – (adj) extremely small; insignificant • The cut was so minute, you could barely see it, so Lebinda did not bother to get a band-aid.

14. SPHER • Spherical • Spher+ al (related to) • Literal definition – related to a globe • Dictionary definition – (adj) shaped like a ball • The first thing we saw when we arrived at was spherical building at Epcot.

15. SPHER • Atmosphere • Atmos (vapor) + sphere • Dictionary definition – (n) the envelope of gases surrounding the earth or another planet; the air in a particular place; the general mood of a place, situation or work of art • The fight between the two teachers created a chilly atmosphere in the teacher’s lounge.

16. SPHER – BALL (GLOBE) • Hemisphere • Hemi (half)+ spher • Dictionary definition – (n) a half of a sphere; a half of the earth, usually divided into northern and southern halves by the equator, or into western and eastern halves by an imaginary line passing through the poles. • Canada is in the northern hemisphere.