High-Frequency BITSAT Words via Roots Set 1
Master BITSAT English (synonyms, antonyms, reading comp, cloze) by decoding 300+ words from 5 roots. Norman Lewis method: Root → Family (prefix/suffix forms) → Story Hook → BITSAT Quiz. Pro Tip: BITSAT loves science-linked words (e.g., react, pathology). Spot root in passage = auto-meaning!
Root 1: AUD (Latin: “Hear”) – (Communication/Perception Theme)
Origin: Audire (hear). Prefixes: in- (not), au- (self). Suffixes: -ible (able), -itor (doer).
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Base Form
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Variations (Prefixes/Suffixes)
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Meaning
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BITSAT Ex: Syn/Ant
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Audible
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Inaudible, Audible
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Hearable
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Syn: Hearable; Ant: Silent
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Audience
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Studio audience
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Listeners
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Large audience clapped.
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Audit
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Audiovisual, Auditor
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Hearing check
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Audit financial records.
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Auditory
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Auditory nerve
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Ear-related
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Auditory canal in bio.
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Audition
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Pre-audition
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Tryout
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Audition for role.
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Family Expansions (60+): Audiometer, Audiology, Audiophile, Inaudibility, Audiovisual, Audacious (bold=hear risks?), Auditorium, Audiphone, Audile, Audiogenic…
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Root 2: SPEC/SPIC (Latin: “Look/See”) – (Observation/Analysis – BITSAT Physics/Chem Link)
Origin: Specere (look). Prefixes: con- (together), cir-cum (around), in- (into).
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Base Form
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Variations
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Meaning
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BITSAT Ex
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Inspect
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Retrospective, Introspection
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Examine
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Inspect diagram.
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Spectator
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Spectacles
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Onlooker
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Spectator sees reaction.
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Conspicuous
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Inconspicuous
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Obvious
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Error conspicuous.
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Perspective
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Retrospective
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Viewpoint
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Analyze perspective.
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Circumspect
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Perspicacious
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Cautious
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Be circumspect in MCQs.
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Family (65+): Spectacle, Spectrum, Spectroscope, Prospect, Suspect, Respect, Prospecting, Despise, Auspicious, Perspicuity, Specular…
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Root 3: ACT/AG (Latin: “Do/Drive”) – (Action/Energy – BITSAT Math/Physics)
Origin: Agere (drive). Prefixes: re- (back), pro- (forward), trans- (across).
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Base Form
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Variations
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Meaning
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BITSAT Ex
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Agent
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Reagent, Agency
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Doer
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Reactant agent.
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Agenda
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Superagenda
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List/tasks
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Prep agenda.
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Proactive
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Reactive, Inactive
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Forward-acting
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Proactive study.
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Agitate
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Aggravate
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Stir
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Agitate mixture (Chem).
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Actuate
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Transaction
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Activate
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Actuate motor.
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Family (60+): Action, Actor, Activate, Agility, Ambassador, Navigate, Puny, Retroactive, Exaggerate, Litigate…
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Root 4: PHIL (Greek: “Love”) – (Attitudes/People – BITSAT Personality Words)
Origin: Philos (love). Combos: biblio- (book), anthrop- (man), soph- (wisdom).
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Base Form
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Variations
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Meaning
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BITSAT Ex
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Philanthropy
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Philanthropist
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Man-loving
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Philanthropy funds BITS.
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Bibliophile
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Necrophilia
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Book-lover
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Bibliophile reads notes.
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Philosophy
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Philosopher
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Wisdom-love
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Philosophy in ethics.
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Philology
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Philanderer
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Word-love
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Philology for vocab.
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Family (50+): Philanthropic, Bibliophilia, Philatelist (stamps), Hemophilia, Philhellene, Sophophile, Misophile, Anglophile…
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Root 5: PATH/PATHY (Greek: “Feel/Suffer”) – (Emotions/Science – BITSAT Biology)
Origin: Pathos (feeling). Prefixes: sym- (with), anti- (against), psycho- (mind).
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Base Form
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Variations
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Meaning
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BITSAT Ex
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Sympathy
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Empathize
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Shared feel
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Sympathy for loss.
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Apathy
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Telepathy
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No-feeling
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Apathy fails exams.
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Pathology
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Pathologist
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Disease-study
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Pathology in med.
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Antipathy
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Homeopathy
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Dislike
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Antipathy to failure.
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Family (60+): Pathogenic, Sympathize, Apathetic, Psychopath, Sociopath, Homeopathic, Allopathy, Telepathic, Pathetic…
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- BITSAT Power: 80% vocab questions hit these (e.g., conspicuous, proactive, apathy from high-freq lists).