SSAT/ISEE Word Families List
Home > SSAT Test > SSAT Prep >
The words in this list are grouped in "families," by their stems. The stems are arranged in alphabetical order. If you need help with words other than those listed here, check your dictionary or thesaurus.
AQUA, AQUE: water
aquarium—a tank for fish and water plants
aquatic—having to do with water
aqueous—watery
subaqueous—under water
AUTO: self
autobiography—the story of one's life, written by oneself
autograph—a person's own signature
automatic—self-operating
automation—a system in which machinery does most of the work itself
BIBLIO: book
bibliography—a list of books used for reference
bibliolatry—worship of books
BIO: life
antibiotics—medicines that work against harmful life-forms in the body
biography—the story of a person's life
biology—the study of various life-forms
symbiosis—mutual interdependence of two different living organisms
CAP, CEP, CEPT: take
accept—to take in
capture—to take by force; to take prisoner
exception—something taken or left out
inception—the act of taking something in; a beginning
ED, CEDE, CEED, CESS: go, move
accede—to move toward; to grant
concede—to go with; admit
concession—an admission
exceed—to go over or outside of
excess—going over certain limits
intercede—to move between
precede—to go before or ahead of
proceed—to move forward
recede—to move back
secession—the act of moving apart; separation from the whole
CHRON: time
anachronism—something contrary to a particular era
chronometer—a tool that measures time
CIDE, CIS: cut
decide—to act; to cut off from further consideration
excise—to cut out or away
incision—a cut
CLUDE, CLUS: close, shut
exclude—to close or shut out
exclusive—having the quality of shutting out
include—to shut or close in
recluse—a person who shuts him- or herself away from others
seclude—to shut apart from
COG, COGN: knowledge of
cognizant—the quality of being knowledgeable
incognito—unknown; disguised
recognition—the act of knowing again; recalling
CUR, CURS: run
concurrent—running with; at the same time
cursory—the quality of running through quickly
precursor—a forerunner
recurrent—running again
DUCE, DUCT: lead
abduct—to lead away; to kidnap
conducive—having the quality of leading together; persuasive
deduce—to lead from; to conclude
introduce—to lead into
reduction—the act of leading backward; a loss
FACT, FECT, FICT: make, do
affectation—something made up; a pretense
defect—something made apart from the ordinary
effect—something done outwardly; a change
fictitious—made up; not true
FER: carry, bring
conference—the state of bringing together; a meeting
differ—to carry apart; to disagree
ferret—to force out of hiding; to search about
infer—to bring in; to conclude
offer—to carry out
preference—the act of bringing first or before
reference—the act of carrying back
transfer—to carry across
FLECT, FLEX: bend, turn
circumflex—an accent mark that is bent over a letter
flexible—able to be bent or changed
genuflect—to bend the knee to the floor
reflect—to bend or turn something back
reflex—a return movement; a response
FRING, FRACT: break
fracture—a break in something hard
infraction—the breaking of a rule
infringe—to break into
refract—to break up
GRAPH, GRAM: picture, writing
diagram—information in picture form
epigram—a brief piece of writing
graph—information in picture form
seismograph—a picture record of earth movements
telegram—communication using sound and writing
telegraph—communication with sounds that are translated into writing
GREG: group, gather
aggregation—a group
congregate—to gather together
gregarious—having the characteristic of getting along well in a group; social
segregate—to group apart; to keep groups separate
GRESS, GRAD: move
aggressive—the characteristic of moving toward something
degrade—to move down
graduate—to move from one level of prestige, proficiency, or experience to a
higher one
ingredient—something that is moved into something else
progress—to move forward
regress—to move backward
upgrade—to move up
HYDR: water
dehydrate—to remove water from
hydrant—something that gives out water
hydraulic—relating to water power
hydrogen—water gas
hydrology—the study of water
hydrophobia—fear of water
hydrotherapy—cure by water
JECT: throw
conjecture—something thrown together; a guess
dejected—thrown down
eject—to throw out
inject—to throw in
projectile—an object to throw forward
subjected—thrown under
JUNCT: join
conjunction—a word that joins parts of sentences together
enjoin—to join into; to enforce
injunction—an enjoining action
junction—a joining of two parts of something
JURIS: law, justice
jurisdiction—sphere of legal authority
jurisprudence—legal science
jurist—an expert in law
LOGUE: speaking, speech
dialogue—speech between two people
epilogue—a short ending speech
eulogy—a speech of praise
monologue—one person's speech
prologue—a speech given as a foreword
LOQ, LOC: talk, speak
colloquy—talking together
elocution—clear speech
interlocutors—speakers
loquacious—the quality of being talkative
LUDE, LUS: play
allude—to refer to casually or indirectly
allusion—a reference to
delude—to deceive; to mislead
elude—to escape through cleverness
prelude—an introductory period before a main event
MAND: order, command
countermand—an order placed against another order
mandate—command
mandatory—ordered or required
remand—to order back
MANU: hand
manicure—care of the hands
manifest—as from an open hand; made obvious
manipulate—to handle
manual—a handbook; done by hand and not by machine
manuscript—a document written by hand
MEM, MENT: mind, memory
commemorate—to remember with
demented—out of one's mind
mention—a call to mind
reminisce—to call back memories
MIS, MISS, MIT: send
commit—to send together
dismiss—to send away
emit—to send out
remission—the state of being sent back
submit—to send under
transmit—to send across
PED, POD: foot
biped—an animal that walks on two feet
impede—to put a foot against; to obstruct
pedestrian—a person who is walking
podiatrist—a foot doctor
tripod—an object with three feet
PEL, PULSE: drive, push
dispel—to drive away
expel—to push out
impulse—to drive or push in
propel—to push forward
repel—to push back
PEND, PENSE: hang, weigh
appendix—part that hangs; a portion of a book usually found in the back
dispense—to apportion
expenditure—a sum paid out
impending—hanging over something
suspend—to hang from
PLAC: please
implacable—not able to be pleased or appeased
placate—to please
placebo—an inactive medicine designed to please or satisfy
placid—quiet, pleasing
PLI, PLIC: fold
implicate—to involve
pliable—easily folded or influenced
PONE, POSE, POSIT: place or put
components—units to be put together
depose—to put down
exponent—something or someone who puts something forth
oppose—to place against
proponent—a person who puts something forward; an advocate
PORT: carry, bring
deportation—the act of carrying out or away from
export—to carry trade out of a country
import—to carry trade into a country
report—to carry back
transport—to carry across
RECT, REG: to rule or lead, straight
erect—straightened upward
rectify—to straighten out; to correct
rectitude—moral uprightness
regulate—to rule
RUPT: break
disrupt—to break through or down
erupt—to break out
rupture—a break
SCEND, SCENT: climb
ascend—to climb up
condescend—to climb down with
descent—downward slope
transcend—to climb beyond
SCRIBE, SCRIPT: write
describe—to write about
inscription—something written in something else
prescription—written before receiving
proscribe—to write something out; to ban
SEC, SECT: cut
bisect—to cut in two
dissect—to cut apart
sector—a cutting or part of a whole
SERT: declare, state
assert—to state firmly
insert—to place within
SERVE: keep, save
conserve—to save (together)
preservation—the state of maintaining as before
reservation—something kept or saved aside
SIST: stand, set
desist—to stand away
inconsistent—not standing together; changing
insistent—having the quality of standing firmly
SPEC, SPECT: see, look
aspect—a way of looking at something
prospective—forward looking; future
spectrum—something seen broadly
speculate—to look at mentally
TAIN, TEN: hold
contain—to hold together
containment—the state of being held together
detain—to hold aside
retain—to hold back
tenacious—holding powerfully
TERM: end, limit
exterminate—to eliminate
interminable—not able to be ended; unending
terminate—to end
terminus—ending place
TORT: twist
contort—to twist together
distortion—something that twists away from the truth
extort—to twist away or out of
TRACT: draw, drag
attract—to draw toward
distraction—something that draws attention away from something else
extract—to draw out
intractable—not easily drawn or persuaded
protracted—drawn out
VENE, VENT: come
advent—a coming
circumvent—to avoid by going around
convene—to come together
intervene—to come between
VINCE, VICT: conquer, overcome
convince—to conquer
invincible—not able to be conquered
victor—conqueror
VOLVE, VOLU: roll, turn
convoluted—rolled or twisted together
evolution—the act of rolling forth; a gradual development
involve—to draw in
revolution—a rolling back; an overturning
More Information
- SSAT AND ISEE UPPER VOCABULARY LIST
- SSAT AND ISEE MIDDLE LEVEL VOCABULARY LIST
- SSAT ELEMENTARY LEVEL AND ISEE LOWER LEVEL VOCABULARY
- What's on the SSAT?
- Common Suffix Word Part List
- Common Stem Word Part List
- Common Prefix Word Part List
- TOP 10 STRATEGIES TO RAISE YOUR SSAT/ISEE SCORE
- 2015-2016 SSAT Test Dates
- How is the SSAT test scored?