Synonyms: Prefixes from Anglo-Saxon

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ISEE Middle Level Verbal Reasoning › Synonyms: Prefixes from Anglo-Saxon

Questions 1 - 7
1

Choose the answer that most closely matches the word in capital letters.

BEDECK

Festoon

Puncture

Dispute

Inquire

Apprehend

Explanation

The prefix "be-" means to make, to do and “bedeck” means to decorate, to make something look festive. This is close in meaning to “festoon.” To provide further help, “puncture” means pierce; “dispute” means argue against; “inquire” means ask after; “apprehend” means catch or arrest.

2

Synonyms: Choose the answer that most closely matches the word in capital letters.

BESTOW

Confer

Request

Describe

Meander

Enthrall

Explanation

“Bestow” means to give or present something to someone. In this sense, it is most similar to the answer choice “confer,” which means to give an award, to present something. To provide further help, “request” means ask for; “enthrall” means captivate and charm; “meander” describes the indirect, side-to-side movement of something, like a river.

3

Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

BEDEVIL

Harass

Curse

Forage

Threaten

Explanation

To "bedevil" means harass. The best choice is "harass," which means disturb repeatedly. Considering the other choices, "curse" means wish evil upon something, "forage" means search for, and "threaten" means promise danger towards something or someone.

4

Synonyms: Select the one word or phrase whose meaning is closest to the word in capital letters.

BEHOOVE

Be fitting

Be insipid

Be required

Be useless

Be unnecessary

Explanation

"Behoove" means be fitting, right or appropriate. For example, one might say that it behooves you to study hard for the ISEE Verbal section. So, "be fitting" is the correct answer. To help you, "required" means needed, and "insipid" means dull or bland.

5

Synonyms: Select the word or phrase that best matches the word in capital letters.

OUTFOX

Get the better of

Fall over

Last longer than

Defend to the death

Learn to read

Explanation

To "outfox" means to outwit or to get the better of someone. For example, one might write, “He outfoxed his opponent and emerged victorious.”

6

Select the answer choice that is closest in meaning to the word in capital letters.

FOREBODE

Warn

Praise

Befriend

Gesticulate

Collect

Explanation

The Old English prefix fore- means before, in front of, coming before, as in "forecast" which is a prediction of future events. So, "forebode" means to warn of, to herald, to foreshadow. To provide additional help, "befriend" means to make friends with; "gesticulate" means gesture to, motion about, to use dramatic body movements to express an idea.

7

Synonyms: Choose the answer that most closely matches the word in capital letters.

BEDECK

Festoon

Puncture

Dispute

Inquire

Apprehend

Explanation

The prefix "be-" means to make, to do and “bedeck” means to decorate, to make something look festive. This is close in meaning to “festoon.” To provide further help, “puncture” means pierce; “dispute” means argue against; “inquire” means ask after; “apprehend” means catch or arrest.

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