The words, their origins and a sample sentence.

1. Vocabulary Words
List One

2. phot/phos
Greek
PHOS, PHOTOS “light”

3. Phototropic
(adj) Tending to grow or move
towards light
Because they are phototropic, daisies
always grow toward the sun.

4. Phosphorescent
adj. Giving off light without heat
Harvey stuck phosphorescent stars
on his ceiling so that it would
resemble the nighttime sky.

5. Photogenic
adj. Attractive in pictures or
photographs
Lucy was so photogenic that total
strangers often asked to take her
picture.

6. LUC
Latin LUX, LUCIS “light”

7. Lucid
adj. Easy to understand, clear
Sophie’s explanation of quantum
physics was so lucid that I
understood everything.

8. Elucidate
v. To make clear by explaining
The attorney asked the witness to
further elucidate the information he
had.

9. Translucent
adj. allowing light to pass through
Through a translucent blue cloth
draped over the window, we could
see the sun.

10. SPEC/SPECT
Latin SPECERE, SPECTUM “to look
at”

11. Circumspect
adj. Careful, mindful of rules and
consequences
The marchers in the protest tried to
be circumspect and not break any
rules.

12. Prospect
n. That which is expected
The prospect of a trip to the dentist
with my bratty kid brother was hardly
thrilling.

13. Specter
n. A ghost or phantom
Hattie seemed to see a specter in
every corner of the dark house.

14. VID/VIS
Latin VIDERE, VISUM “to see, to
look”

15. Invidious
adj. Hateful or spiteful
One candidate made an invidious
speech against his opponent.

16. Providential
adj. Happening by good fortune
Through a providential series of
events, Nigel found himself manager
of the company.

17. Improvise
v. To create without any forethought
or preparation
When Carl lost the cards with his
speech on them, he was forced to
improvise.