Vocabulary Lesson 5: Changes
86 MCGRAW-HILL’S SAT
Today’s roots: rupt break morph form, shape
mut change meta change, beyond❑ immutable(adj) unchangeable (im-not+mutchange)
Emily is an immutablevegetarian. No matter how hard we try, we cannot get her to eat meat.
Synonyms:permanent, inveterate Antonyms:mutable, protean, vacillating, mercurial❑ metamorphosis(n) a transformation (meta-change+morphform)
The old house underwent a metamorphosisfrom a rundown shack into a beautiful cottage.
Synonyms:transformation, mutation, transmogrification❑ rupture(v) to break open (rupt-break)
When the vat of smelly liquid ruptured,we picked up our feet to avoid getting the stuff on our shoes.
Synonyms:burst, fissure, cleave❑ transmute(v) to transform (trans-across+mutchange)
Harry Potter was able to transmutea feather into a frog using a spell he learned in incantations class.
Synonyms:metamorphose, alter, transmogrify❑ amorphous(adj) lacking shape; changeable in form (a-without+morphshape)
Rather than marching in precise formation, the battalion broke down into an amorphousmass of charging soldiers.
Synonyms:shapeless, nebulous, vague, nondescript Antonym:crystalline❑ mercurial(adj) erratic; subject to wild changes in character (from the speedy god Mercury)
Molly is the most mercurialperson in the office; we can never tell if she’ll be the evil Molly or the sympathetic Molly.
Synonyms:fickle, capricious, vacillating Antonyms:immutable, stable❑ protean(adj) capable of assuming different forms (from the form-changing sea god Proteus)
He has changed his position on issues so many times that he is considered the most proteanmember of Congress.
Synonyms:polymorphous, labile Antonyms:immutable, stable❑ mutate(v) to change form (mut-change)
Synonyms:transform, transmogrify❑ fickle(adj) likely to change opinion unpredictably
Synonyms:capricious, vacillating, mercurial❑ fluctuate(v) to vary irregularly (fluxflow)
Synonyms:vacillate, waver❑ vacillate(v) to change one’s mind repeatedly
Synonyms:fluctuate, waver❑ revamp(v) to revise; to renovate (re-again)
Synonyms:refurbish, renovate❑ amend(v) to improve; to remove the faults of
Synonyms:rectify, redress, ameliorate, mitigate