Building Vocabulary from Word Roots

1. Building Vocabulary from Word Roots Unit 1: Lesson 4 Greek Prefixes: eu-, ev-, dys-

2. eu-, ev- The Greek prefix eu- or ev- means “good,well.”

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

4. Eu- • This prefix consistently appears as eu- when it attaches to a base beginning with a consonant. eu + log (word) = eulogy (a “good word” said about someone at a funeral) eu + pheme (word) = euphemism (“good” way to say something that is negative in nature)

5. Interesting Eu- Words • Eu + calypt (cover) = eucalyptus (this plant is so named because its buds are “well” “covered” by cones; it is the only food source for koala bears) • Eu + gen (birth, produce) = Eugene (a man’s name that literally means “well” “born” or noble) • Eu + nike (victory) = Eunice (a woman’s name that literally means “good” “victory”; one famous woman with this name was Eunice Kennedy Shriver, President John F. Kennedy’s sister)

6. Ev- • If the base of the word begins with a vowel or the letter h, we use ev- to make the word easier to pronounce. • There is only one word family in the English language that uses the ev- prefix: “angel” ev + angel (messenger) = evangelism (bringing “good” news to others)

7. Dys- • The dys- prefix is often found in words that describe “improper” functioning of the body dys + topos(place) = dystopia (“bad” community where people often life fearful lives) dys + troph (growth) = dystrophy (“improper” growth)

8. Do Now! Prefixes eu-, ev- The touching eulogy and euphonious music made them feel euphoric despite their sadness. • What kind of event does this sentence describe? • What is a eulogy? Use the words “good” or “well” in your definition. • How would euphonious music sound? • How is a person feeling if he or she is euphoric?

9. Do Now! Prefix dys- They had dysphonia from too much shouting and dysentery from too much eating, so they felt dysphoric even though their team won the game. • What kind of event does this sentence describe? • What does dysphonia probably mean? Use the words “bad” or “improper” in your definition. • What do you think dysentery is, if “enteron” means intestine in Greek? Use the words “bad” or “improper” in your definition. • How is a person feeling if he or she is dysphoric?

10. Do Now! Prefixes eu-, ev-, dys- Use the context clues to determine what each of these eu-, ev-, and dys- words has to do with “good, well” or “bad, improper”. • The evangelist preached to many people, but the televangelist was able to reach millions. • “Second-hand” is often a euphemism for “used.” • Since he suffered from dyspepsia, he could not eat certain foods. • Some people with dysfunctional kidneys need a kidney transplant. • Eugenics and euthanasia are controversial life-and-death issues.

11. Greek Bases • log- word • thanas- death • pheme- speech • phor(pherein)- to bear; being • gen-birth, produce • phon- voice, sound • ent(eron)- intestine • pepsis- digestion • pne- breathe • (o)nym- name, word • angel- messenger