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

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 attachesto a base beginning with a consonant.

epi + log (word) = epilogue Basic= “in addition to” a “story”

Better= a closing statement added to a literary workepi + leps (seize) = epilepsy

Basic= bodily tremors “seize” “upon” a personBetter= a condition causing a person to have

seizuresepi + 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”) = ephemeralBasic= “upon” a “day” Better= lasting but one day, fleeting

Epi+ hor (look) = ephorBasic= someone who “looks” “upon”Better= a person who oversees something

PracticeHow 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 19th century Irish hero Robert Emmet said, “Let no man write my epitaph.”

7. Many people believe that happiness is ephemeral and fleeting.

Practice1. 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 19th 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

PracticeUse 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.”)


• 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”


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”.

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”.


• 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 PrepEpi- 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” somethingBetter: a quotation from another author at the beginning

of a literary work

Test PrepEpi- 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 PrepEpi- 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 ConquerWord: Prefix means: Base means: Word means:

epidemic epi= dem= people

epicenter epi= cent= center

epidermis epi= derm= skin

epitome epi= tom=cut

epistle epi= stle=send

epitaph epi= taph=grave, tomb

ephemeral ep= hemer=day

epiphany epi= phan= appear

epigram epi= gram= write, draw

epithet epi= thet= put, place

Documents

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