Vocabulary Lesson 23: Root -pel-

Vocabulary Lesson 23:

The Root -pel-

The Latin word root -pel- means "thrust, strike, drive, or call out." It come from the Latin verb pellere and can be spelled pel, pulse, peal, and pul in English words. For example, if you are expelled from school, you are "thrust out." An appeal "calls out" for help. When you are repelled by something, you are "driven away" from it.

Multiple Choice

Who can resist the charm of these appealing little kittens?

• frisky

• repulsive

• sickly

• engaging

Multiple Choice

Who can resist the charm of these appealing little kittens?

• noun

• verb

• adjective

• adverb

Multiple Choice

After appealing to governments for aid for the tsunami survivors, charitable organizations asked the public for donations.

• pleading

• ignoring

• objecting

• thanking

Multiple Choice

After appealing to governments for aid for the tsunami survivors, charitable organizations asked the public for donations.

• noun

• verb

• adjective

• adverb

adjective

• having the power to attract or arouse

• tempting

verb - appeal

• to ask or plead

noun - appeal

​

​appealing

Multiple Choice

The law compels drivers to carry their licenses.

• pulls

• draws

• forces

• spins

Multiple Choice

The law compels drivers to carry their licenses.

• noun

• verb

• adjective

• adverb

Multiple Choice

Because of her compulsion for cleanliness, she spent most of the day cleaning the house.

• noun

• verb

• adjective

• adverb

verb

• to force someone to do something

• to make necessary

noun - compulsion

​

​compel

Multiple Choice

I wonder what impels him to spend all his free time volunteering at the assisted-living home.

• motivates

• stops

• helps

• seeks

Multiple Choice

I wonder what impels him to spend all his free time volunteering at the assisted-living home.

• noun

• verb

• adjective

• adverb

verb

• ​to urge to action usually through moral pressure

• to motivate

​impel

​Compel and impel both imply force, but compel suggests outside force, and impel suggests an inner drive.

Multiple Choice

Mom had a sudden impulse to rearrange the living-room furniture.

• vision

• urge

• hatred

• heartbeat

Multiple Choice

Mom had a sudden impulse to rearrange the living-room furniture.

• noun

• verb

• adjective

• adverb

Multiple Choice

People who tend to be impulsive should stop and think before they act.

• noun

• verb

• adjective

• adverb

noun

• a strong urge or drive

adjective - impulsive

adverb - impulsively

​

​impulse

Multiple Choice

Peals of laughter could be heard from the next room.

• sounds

• whisper

• deep roll

• blast

Multiple Choice

Peals of laughter could be heard from the next room.

• noun

• verb

• adjective

• adverb

Multiple Choice

The bells pealed each hour.

• noun

• verb

• adjective

• adverb

noun

• the loud ringing of bells

• a loud sound

verb - peal

​peal

Multiple Choice

When Ron stepped into the room, his friends pelted him with pillows.

• gifted

• pampered

• struck

• smothered

Multiple Choice

When Ron stepped into the room, his friends pelted him with pillows.

• noun

• verb

• adjective

• adverb

verb

• to strike repeatedly, usually by throwing something

​

​pelt

​Pelt has a homonym that means "the skin of an animal with fur or hair still on it," as in "the bear's pelt."

Multiple Choice

In the 1800s, steam power provided propulsion for most large boats.

• forward motion

• slow motion

• dirty fuel

• static movement

Multiple Choice

In the 1800s, steam power provided propulsion for most large boats.

• noun

• verb

• adjective

• adverb

Multiple Choice

The fins of fish propel them forward.

• noun

• verb

• adjective

• adverb

noun

• force that drive something forward

verb - propel

​

​propulsion

Multiple Choice

The dance floor seemed to pulsate with movement.

• vibrate

• show color

• freeze

• move forward

Multiple Choice

The dance floor seemed to pulsate with movement.

• noun

• verb

• adjective

• adverb

Multiple Choice

During exercise, our pulses speed up.

• noun

• verb

• adjective

• adverb

verb

• to expand and contract, or beat, in a constant rhythm

• to vibrate

noun - pulse

​

​pulsate

Multiple Choice

After heavy rains ended the drought, the city council repealed the rule against watering lawns.

• forced

• reversed

• approved

• announced

Multiple Choice

After heavy rains ended the drought, the city council repealed the rule against watering lawns.

• noun

• verb

• adjective

• adverb

verb

• to officially cancel

• to take back or withdraw

​repeal

Multiple Choice

His crude manners repulsed his peers.

• encouraged

• rejected

• disgusted

• attracted

Multiple Choice

The army repulsed their attackers and regained control of the bridge.

• encouraged

• helped

• defeated

• disgusted

Multiple Choice

The army repulsed their attackers and regained control of the bridge.

• noun

• verb

• adjective

• adverb

Multiple Choice

Darren was offended by his sister's repulsion of his offer to help.

• noun

• verb

• adjective

• adverb

Multiple Choice

Howard finds snakes and worms to be repulsive.

• noun

• verb

• adjective

• adverb

verb

• to cause feelings of disgust or disapproval

• to drive back, or to reject rudely

noun - repulsion

adjective - repulsive

adverb - repulsively

​repulse