Word Roots & OWS Quiz — EAV02

The root chron (Greek) = time. Examples: chronicle (a record over time), chronology (order of events in time), synchronise (happening at the same time), anachronism (something out of its time). Bios = life; Geo = earth; Psyche = mind. AFCAT uses roots to explain OWS and vocabulary — knowing chron unlocks all time-related words.

Acrophobia = fear of heights. Root: Greek akron (summit/highest point) + phobia (fear). Claustrophobia = confined spaces; Hydrophobia = water (also rabies); Agoraphobia = open spaces/crowds. AFCAT tests all four phobia types — acrophobia (heights) is the most frequently appearing in actual PYQs. Pilots with acrophobia cannot fly!

Bellicose = aggressive; eager to fight. Root: Latin bellum/belli = war. Other words from this root: belligerent (hostile, aggressive), rebel (one who makes war again), antebellum (before the war). AFCAT tests belli- root because of military relevance — belligerent is a direct PYQ synonym/antonym question target.

Misanthrope = a person who hates or distrusts humanity. Root: Greek misos (hatred) + anthropos (human being). Philanthropist = loves humanity; Misogynist = hates women specifically; Polyglot = knows many languages. The mis- root (hatred) also appears in misogynist (mis + gyne = hates women) and misogamist (hates marriage).

The prefix poly (Greek) = many. Examples: polyglot (speaks many languages), polygamy (many marriages), polygon (many angles), polytheism (many gods), polynomial (many terms). Mono/uni = one; bi/di = two; semi/hemi = half. AFCAT tests prefix meanings directly — poly- cluster appears in vocabulary and OWS questions.

Bilingual = able to speak two languages fluently. Root: Latin bi (two) + lingua (tongue/language). Polyglot = many languages; Multilingual = multiple languages (more than two); Ambidextrous = equally skilled with both hands. AFCAT tests: bilingual (2), polyglot (many), multilingual (multiple). The bi- prefix = two (bicycle, biennial, bilateral).

The root ver/veri (Latin) = truth. Examples: verify (to confirm truth), veracious (truthful), verity (truth), verdict (true saying), verisimilitude (appearance of truth), veritable (real/genuine). AFCAT tests this root because 'veracious' (synonym = truthful) appears directly in synonym questions. Don't confuse with verd- (green) or vert- (turn).

Epitaph = words or inscriptions written on a tombstone. Root: Greek epi (upon) + taphos (tomb). Eulogy = funeral speech of praise; Elegy = poem of mourning; Obituary = newspaper notice of death. AFCAT tests this four-word cluster every year — epitaph (tombstone inscription) is the most specific and least confused with eulogy (speech).

The prefix mal (Latin) = bad/evil/wrongly. Examples: malice (desire to harm), malicious (intending harm), malfunction (working badly), malnutrition (bad nutrition), malady (illness). Contrast: bene/bon = good (benefit, benevolent, bonus). AFCAT tests mal- and bene- as opposite prefix pairs. Malevolent (wishing evil) vs benevolent (wishing good) is a direct antonym pair.

Paediatrician = a medical specialist in the health and diseases of children. Root: Greek pais/paidos (child) + iatros (physician). Dermatologist = skin diseases; Gynaecologist = female reproductive health; Cardiologist = heart diseases. AFCAT tests specialist doctor one-word substitutions — paediatrician (children) is the most repeated.

The root phil (Greek) = love/fondness. Examples: philanthropist (loves humanity), bibliophile (loves books), philatelist (loves/collects stamps), philosophy (love of wisdom), anglophile (loves England). Phobia = fear; belli = war; crat/arch = rule. AFCAT uses phil- in multiple OWS questions — philatelist (stamps) is the most tested.

Numismatist = a person who collects or studies coins and medals. Root: Latin numisma (coin). Philatelist = stamp collector; Philologist = studies languages and literature; Bibliophile = book lover. AFCAT pairs philatelist (stamps) and numismatist (coins) as a confusable trap — both hobbies, different subjects.

The suffix -ology (Greek) = the study of. Examples: biology (study of life), psychology (study of mind), chronology (study/ordering of time), geology (study of earth), pathology (study of disease), mythology (study of myths). AFCAT tests -ology directly — 'the study of' is the standard exam answer. -phobia = fear of; -phile = lover of; -ist = practitioner.

Misogynist = a person who hates or is prejudiced against women. Root: Greek misos (hatred) + gyne (woman). Misanthrope = hates mankind (all people); Philanthropist = loves mankind; Misogamist = hates marriage. The mis- root cluster: misanthrope (people), misogynist (women), misogamist (marriage). AFCAT tests all three — misogynist is the most frequent.

The prefix omni (Latin) = all/every. Examples: omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing), omnipresent (present everywhere), omnivore (eats everything). AFCAT tests omni- as it relates to military concepts (omnipotent commander, omnipresent surveillance). Anti = against; semi/hemi = half; null = none.

Polyglot = a person who knows and uses several languages. Root: Greek poly (many) + glotta/glossa (tongue/language). Bilingual = two languages; Philologist = studies language and literature academically; Multilateral = involving many parties/sides (political term). AFCAT directly tested this OWS: 'speaks many languages = polyglot'.

The root duc/duct (Latin) = lead/guide. Examples: conduct (lead together), produce (lead forth), induce (lead in), reduce (lead back), seduce (lead astray), ductile (can be led/moulded). Rupt = break; scrib/script = write; mit/miss = send. AFCAT uses duc- in contextual vocabulary (conduct, product, induct — all military-relevant words).

Democracy = a system of government by the whole population through elected representatives. Root: Greek demos (people) + kratos (rule/power). Autocracy = rule by one person; Oligarchy = rule by a small group; Bureaucracy = rule/administration by officials. AFCAT tests the -cracy suffix cluster: demo (people), auto (self), oligo (few), bureau (office).

The prefix trans (Latin) = across/through/beyond. Examples: transport (carry across), transform (change across/through), transparent (seen through), transgress (step across), transmit (send across). Pre/ante = before; post = after; anti/contra = against. AFCAT uses trans- in technical military vocabulary (transport aircraft, transmission, transition).

Illegible = not clear enough to be read (of handwriting or print). Root: Latin il- (not) + legere (to read). Illiterate = unable to read or write (of a person's education, not the writing itself); Ineligible = not qualified; Legible = can be read clearly (opposite). AFCAT tests illegible vs illiterate — illegible describes the writing; illiterate describes the person.