Name _____________________  

Title and edition of dictionary _______________________________________

This exercise will help familiarize you with your dictionary.  You may use any unabridged (hardbound) dictionary you wish. 

Guide Words

List the two guide words on the page where you would find the word "irrational."

_____________________                              _____________________

Syllables

How many syllables are in the following words?

rhythm                              _____                      cooperation      _____

noticeable                         _____                      constituent        _____

subservient                        _____                      tumultuous        _____

amanuensis                        _____                      reenforce          _____

Pronunciation

 "Nuclear" and "sherbet" are commonly mispronounced.  Write the dictionary symbols for the correct pronunciation of each word.

nuclear                   _____________________           sherbet         _____________________

Stress Marks

Look up the following words and indicate the particular syllable that has the primary stress.  For example, in the word "encyclopedia," the primary stress is on the fourth syllable—or "pe."

exaggerate              _____                                equivocate        ____

nihilism                   _____                                pathogenic        ____

behemoth               _____                                nuance              ____

ragamuffin               _____                                euphony           ____

Inflected Forms:  Past Tense

Look up these verbs and indicate how to form the past tense.  Write the past tense form in the space.  If two forms are listed, indicate both.

benefit                    _____________________           equip     _____________________

pay                         _____________________           prefer     _____________________

light                        _____________________           dive       _____________________

dream                     _____________________           focus      _____________________

Inflected Forms:  Noun Plurals

Look up these nouns to find out how to make them plural.  Write the plural form in the space. If two forms are listed, indicate both.

deer                       _____________________           child       _____________________

woman                   _____________________           sheep     _____________________

shelf                       _____________________           dwarf     _____________________

criterion                  _____________________           medium  (as in radio or TV)  _______

phenomenon           _____________________           alumnus _____________________

Common Abbreviations

What do these abbreviations stand for?

St.   __________                            N   __________               i.e.    __________

bf     _________                              wkly   __________          UFO  __________

std.   _________                             LLD   __________          etc.     __________

DO   _________   and _________

Etymology

Indicate the original language from which these words came.  Be sure to write the entire name of the language, and not the abbreviation.  For example, "Latin," not merely "L."

sentinel                   _______________                           glove             _______________     

algebra                   _______________                           skirt               _______________

wit                          _______________                           hibachi         _______________

emir                        _______________                           tulip             _______________