Learn on PengiVocabulary from Classical Roots (Book E)Chapter 4: Business (Lesson 7-8)

Lesson 7: Business

In this Grade 6 vocabulary lesson from Vocabulary from Classical Roots, Book E, students explore 15 words rooted in Latin and Greek origins including QUAERO, MITTO, MEREO, and DUNAMIS, learning terms such as acquisitive, meretricious, meritorious, dynamo, and presumption. The lesson connects classical roots to their modern English meanings through synonym and antonym exercises that reinforce understanding of word relationships and precise usage. Part of Chapter 4's focus on business-related vocabulary, this lesson builds the advanced word knowledge students need for academic reading and writing.

Section 1

Seeking and Questioning (QUAERO)

These words all come from the Latin root QUAERO, meaning 'to seek' or 'to search for,' connecting them to themes of inquiry, complaint, and acquisition.

Key Words

WordDefinition
acquisitive (adj.)Eagerly seeking to obtain things, wealth, or information
inquisition (n.)1. A prolonged inquiry or questioning, especially a harsh investigation on religious or political issues. 2. (capitalized) The special court of the Roman Catholic church in the Middle Ages to combat, suppress, and punish heresy
querulous (adj.)Complaining; irritable; peevish

📝Example Usage:

  • The acquisitive art collector was always searching for new paintings to obtain for her gallery.
  • The babysitter grew tired of the toddler's querulous whining and constant complaints about being bored.

🧠Memory Trick:

  • The acquisitive king faced a harsh inquisition after ignoring his querulous subjects, who were constantly seeking answers.

Section 2

Power and Strength (DUNAMIS)

Stemming from the Greek roots DUNAMIS ('power') and DUNASTHAI ('to be able'), these words relate to energy and powerful successions.

Key Words

WordDefinition
dynamo (n.)1. An electric generator. 2. An extremely forceful, energetic, or hardworking person
dynasty (n.)1. A succession of rulers from the same family group or line. 2. A succession of influential people linked by familial, political, social, or cultural association

📝Example Usage:

  • As a human dynamo, the new manager revitalized the team with her energetic leadership.
  • The Ming dynasty was a powerful succession of rulers from the same family that governed China for centuries.

🧠Memory Trick:

  • The star player, a true dynamo, was the first in a new sports dynasty that dominated the league for years.

Section 3

Sending and Putting Forth (MITTO)

Derived from the Latin root MITTO, meaning 'to send,' these words involve concepts being sent forward, sent away, or sent on a mission.

Key Words

WordDefinition
demise (n.)Death, or the end of existence or operation of something
emissary (n.)A person sent on a special mission
premise (n.)1. A proposition offered as a basis for argument. 2. In logic, each of the first two propositions in a syllogism

📝Example Usage:

  • The invention of streaming services led to the demise of many video rental stores (the end of their existence).
  • The king sent an emissary to the neighboring kingdom to negotiate a peace treaty.
  • The detective's investigation started from the premise that the robbery was an inside job.

🧠Memory Trick:

  • The emissary was sent with a final offer, on the premise that rejecting it would lead to the kingdom's demise.

Section 4

Earning and Deserving (MEREO)

From the Latin root MEREO, meaning 'to earn' or 'to deserve,' these words contrast what is genuinely worthy with what is deceptively flashy.

Key Words

WordDefinition
meretricious (adj.)1. Attention-getting in a vulgar way; tawdry or tacky. 2. Insincere; based on pretense or deception
meritorious (adj.)Praiseworthy; deserving reward or esteem

📝Example Usage:

  • His meretricious apology was full of flashy words but lacked any sincere feeling.
  • The firefighter received a medal for her meritorious service in saving the family from the burning house.

🧠Memory Trick:

  • The committee ignored the candidate's cheap, meretricious promises and gave the award for the truly meritorious work done by his rival.

Section 5

Harbors and Opportunities (PORTUS)

These words come from the Latin root PORTUS, meaning 'harbor' or 'gate,' and relate to taking advantage of an opening or demanding entry.

Key Words

WordDefinition
importune (v.)To make repeated and insistent demands or requests
opportunist (n.)A person (or animal) taking advantage of any chance to achieve an end in a forceful or self-serving way

📝Example Usage:

  • Annoyed by the telemarketers who would importune him daily, he finally unplugged his phone.
  • The corporate raider was a true opportunist, buying up struggling companies in a self-serving way to sell off their assets.

🧠Memory Trick:

  • The aggressive opportunist would importune every wealthy person at the party, relentlessly demanding they fund his risky project.

Section 6

Taking and Assuming (SUMO)

From the Latin root SUMO, meaning 'to take,' these words deal with taking things for granted, taking things under a category, or rules about what one can take or use.

Key Words

WordDefinition
presumption (n.)1. Arrogant; excessive self-assurance; unbecoming boldness. 2. Grounds for belief; assumption or supposition
subsume (v.)To place in a larger category or under a general heading or principle
sumptuary (adj.)Pertaining to or regulating expenditure, often for religious or moral reasons, usually relating to clothing or food

📝Example Usage:

  • The new student had the presumption to correct the teacher on the first day of class (an act of unbecoming boldness).
  • The novel's plot can be subsumed under the general category of 'coming-of-age story.'
  • In colonial America, some communities enacted sumptuary laws to regulate spending on extravagant clothing and parties.

🧠Memory Trick:

  • The leader's presumption was clear when he tried to subsume all local traditions under a single, strict sumptuary code that regulated everyone's clothing.

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Section 1

Seeking and Questioning (QUAERO)

These words all come from the Latin root QUAERO, meaning 'to seek' or 'to search for,' connecting them to themes of inquiry, complaint, and acquisition.

Key Words

WordDefinition
acquisitive (adj.)Eagerly seeking to obtain things, wealth, or information
inquisition (n.)1. A prolonged inquiry or questioning, especially a harsh investigation on religious or political issues. 2. (capitalized) The special court of the Roman Catholic church in the Middle Ages to combat, suppress, and punish heresy
querulous (adj.)Complaining; irritable; peevish

📝Example Usage:

  • The acquisitive art collector was always searching for new paintings to obtain for her gallery.
  • The babysitter grew tired of the toddler's querulous whining and constant complaints about being bored.

🧠Memory Trick:

  • The acquisitive king faced a harsh inquisition after ignoring his querulous subjects, who were constantly seeking answers.

Section 2

Power and Strength (DUNAMIS)

Stemming from the Greek roots DUNAMIS ('power') and DUNASTHAI ('to be able'), these words relate to energy and powerful successions.

Key Words

WordDefinition
dynamo (n.)1. An electric generator. 2. An extremely forceful, energetic, or hardworking person
dynasty (n.)1. A succession of rulers from the same family group or line. 2. A succession of influential people linked by familial, political, social, or cultural association

📝Example Usage:

  • As a human dynamo, the new manager revitalized the team with her energetic leadership.
  • The Ming dynasty was a powerful succession of rulers from the same family that governed China for centuries.

🧠Memory Trick:

  • The star player, a true dynamo, was the first in a new sports dynasty that dominated the league for years.

Section 3

Sending and Putting Forth (MITTO)

Derived from the Latin root MITTO, meaning 'to send,' these words involve concepts being sent forward, sent away, or sent on a mission.

Key Words

WordDefinition
demise (n.)Death, or the end of existence or operation of something
emissary (n.)A person sent on a special mission
premise (n.)1. A proposition offered as a basis for argument. 2. In logic, each of the first two propositions in a syllogism

📝Example Usage:

  • The invention of streaming services led to the demise of many video rental stores (the end of their existence).
  • The king sent an emissary to the neighboring kingdom to negotiate a peace treaty.
  • The detective's investigation started from the premise that the robbery was an inside job.

🧠Memory Trick:

  • The emissary was sent with a final offer, on the premise that rejecting it would lead to the kingdom's demise.

Section 4

Earning and Deserving (MEREO)

From the Latin root MEREO, meaning 'to earn' or 'to deserve,' these words contrast what is genuinely worthy with what is deceptively flashy.

Key Words

WordDefinition
meretricious (adj.)1. Attention-getting in a vulgar way; tawdry or tacky. 2. Insincere; based on pretense or deception
meritorious (adj.)Praiseworthy; deserving reward or esteem

📝Example Usage:

  • His meretricious apology was full of flashy words but lacked any sincere feeling.
  • The firefighter received a medal for her meritorious service in saving the family from the burning house.

🧠Memory Trick:

  • The committee ignored the candidate's cheap, meretricious promises and gave the award for the truly meritorious work done by his rival.

Section 5

Harbors and Opportunities (PORTUS)

These words come from the Latin root PORTUS, meaning 'harbor' or 'gate,' and relate to taking advantage of an opening or demanding entry.

Key Words

WordDefinition
importune (v.)To make repeated and insistent demands or requests
opportunist (n.)A person (or animal) taking advantage of any chance to achieve an end in a forceful or self-serving way

📝Example Usage:

  • Annoyed by the telemarketers who would importune him daily, he finally unplugged his phone.
  • The corporate raider was a true opportunist, buying up struggling companies in a self-serving way to sell off their assets.

🧠Memory Trick:

  • The aggressive opportunist would importune every wealthy person at the party, relentlessly demanding they fund his risky project.

Section 6

Taking and Assuming (SUMO)

From the Latin root SUMO, meaning 'to take,' these words deal with taking things for granted, taking things under a category, or rules about what one can take or use.

Key Words

WordDefinition
presumption (n.)1. Arrogant; excessive self-assurance; unbecoming boldness. 2. Grounds for belief; assumption or supposition
subsume (v.)To place in a larger category or under a general heading or principle
sumptuary (adj.)Pertaining to or regulating expenditure, often for religious or moral reasons, usually relating to clothing or food

📝Example Usage:

  • The new student had the presumption to correct the teacher on the first day of class (an act of unbecoming boldness).
  • The novel's plot can be subsumed under the general category of 'coming-of-age story.'
  • In colonial America, some communities enacted sumptuary laws to regulate spending on extravagant clothing and parties.

🧠Memory Trick:

  • The leader's presumption was clear when he tried to subsume all local traditions under a single, strict sumptuary code that regulated everyone's clothing.

Book overview

Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.

Continue this chapter

Chapter 4: Business (Lesson 7-8)

  1. Lesson 1Current

    Lesson 7: Business

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  2. Lesson 2

    Lesson 8: Business

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