8 th Grade Vocabulary

1. 8th Grade Vocabulary Set 2

2. Prefix mal- means bad or badly • Malpractice, malnourished • Malodorous- having an unpleasant or offensive odor • Ex: The malodorous air suggested a rotting carcass in the vicinity. • Malevolent- doing or desiring to do evil or harm to others • Ex: Mariah Heep, a malevolent clerk at Mr. Smith’s law office, hates David Copperfield with a passion.

3. Prefix cata- comes from Greek kata meaning down or against • Cataclysm- a violent change or sudden upheaval • Ex: The bombing of Pearl Harbor was a great cataclysm in modern history. • Catapult- an ancient military weapon for hurling stones, arrows, or other missiles. • Ex: The invaders used catapults to throw rocks over the walls of the fort. • Catacomb- an underground cemetery. • Ex: The archeologist discovered a catacomb where Christians were buried near Rome, Italy.

4. Latin root cub- means “to lie down” • Incumbent- means “imposed as a duty of obligation”. It also means “holding an office” • Ex: Will the incumbent president win the next election? • Recumbent- means “leaning, reclining, or lying down” • Ex: After the basketball game, the fatigued players assumed recumbent postures. • Succumb- to give in to a greater power; to submit, or yield • Ex: I finally succumbed to the temptation of a second slice of pie. • It can also mean “to die” • Ex: Unfortunately, the animal succumbed to the disease.

5. Latin root rectus means “right” or “straight” • Rectify- means “to set right, correct, or adjust” • Ex: We hope to rectify our errors. • Rectitude- moral integrity; uprightness of moral character • Ex: We can trust people whose rectitude is obvious. • Greek Prefix eu- means “well” or “good” • Eulogy- strong praise or commendation either spoken or written • Euthanasia- painless death for a hopeless, suffering patient; mercy killing. • Euphoria- a feeling of well-being and happiness

6. Greek prefix dys- means “bad” or “difficult”. It is the opposite of the prefix eu- • Dysfunction- an abnormal or impaired functioning. • Ex: Unfortunately, the mechanic found a dysfunction in my car’s alternator. • It can also mean operating in an impaired or abnormal manner • Ex: Psychologists label families dysfunctional when the needs of its members are not met. • Dyslexia- the inability to process words, letters, and numbers in order to read and write effectively • Dyspepsia- indigestion • It can also mean “gloomy, despondent, or irritable”