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← Index: The Root, Prefix & Suffix DecoderChapter 8
Study Guide · Chapter 8

PART F — SPECIALISED / TECHNICAL TERM TABLES

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Every competitive exam vocabulary section eventually strays from root-and-affix words into a different kind of item entirely: a fixed, closed-list fact — the collective noun for a group of lions, the name for the fear of enclosed spaces, the study of birds. These cannot be derived from first principles the way incontrovertible can; they simply have to be known. The tables below gather the most exam-relevant sets in one place, organised for quick revision and cross-referencing back to the roots in Part B (most of the -logy and -phobia words below use roots you've already met).

F1. Collective Nouns for Animals

Animal Collective Noun Animal Collective Noun
Lions Pride Wolves Pack
Fish Shoal / School Crows Murder
Geese (in flight) Skein Geese (on ground) Gaggle
Elephants Herd Owls Parliament
Cattle Drove / Herd Sheep Flock
Bees Swarm Ants Colony
Larks Exaltation Ravens Unkindness
Jellyfish Smack Kangaroos Mob
Toads Knot Frogs Army
Whales Pod Dolphins Pod
Zebras Zeal Rhinoceroses Crash
Peacocks Muster / Ostentation Turkeys Rafter
Ferrets Business Foxes Skulk / Leash
Leopards Leap Tigers Ambush / Streak
Bears Sloth Apes Shrewdness
Baboons Troop Cats (wild) Destruction
Crocodiles Bask Vultures (in flight) Kettle
Vultures (feeding) Wake Hyenas Cackle
Starlings Murmuration Flamingos Stand / Flamboyance
Grasshoppers Cloud Locusts Plague

F2. -logy Words: Fields of Study

Word Field of Study Word Field of Study
Ornithology Birds Entomology Insects
Ichthyology Fish Herpetology Reptiles and amphibians
Etymology Word origins Etiology Causes (esp. of disease)
Cardiology The heart Dermatology The skin
Numismatics* Coins and currency Philately* Stamp collecting
Cartography* Map-making Genealogy Family lineage/ancestry
Seismology Earthquakes Meteorology Weather
Paleontology Fossils, ancient life Archaeology Human history through excavation
Mythology Myths and legends Cosmology The origin and structure of the universe
Anthropology Human societies and cultures Sociology Society and social behaviour
Psychology The mind and behaviour Physiology How living organisms function
Pathology Disease Toxicology Poisons
Geology The physical earth Zoology Animal life
Botany* Plant life Ecology Organisms and their environment
Epistemology The nature of knowledge Etymography* The writing/history of words
Gerontology Ageing Ophthalmology The eye
Otolaryngology The ear, nose, and throat Nephrology The kidneys
Hematology Blood Immunology The immune system
Cryptology Codes and ciphers Graphology Handwriting analysis
Numerology The supposed significance of numbers Astrology The supposed influence of stars/planets on affairs

*Marked entries are conventional field-names that don't literally end in -logy but are grouped here because they're commonly tested alongside this set.

F3. Phobia Words: Fears

Word Fear Of Word Fear Of
Acrophobia Heights Claustrophobia Enclosed spaces
Agoraphobia Open or crowded public spaces Arachnophobia Spiders
Ophidiophobia Snakes Cynophobia Dogs
Xenophobia Foreigners/strangers Nyctophobia Night/darkness
Hydrophobia Water Pyrophobia Fire
Aerophobia Flying Aquaphobia Water (general)
Astraphobia Thunder and lightning Brontophobia Thunder
Glossophobia Public speaking Coulrophobia Clowns
Hemophobia Blood Necrophobia Death/dead things
Mysophobia Germs/dirt Nosophobia Contracting a disease
Trypanophobia Needles/injections Odontophobia Dentists
Ailurophobia Cats Ornithophobia Birds
Entomophobia Insects Apiphobia Bees
Ergophobia Work Gamophobia Marriage
Monophobia Being alone Pantophobia Everything (a general, diffuse dread)
Phonophobia Loud sounds Photophobia Light
Technophobia Technology Xenoglossophobia Foreign languages
Vertiginophobia Vertigo/dizziness Thanatophobia Death (as a concept)
Somniphobia Sleep Claustromania* (not a real fear word — set aside; included only as a caution against guessing suffix-alikes without checking)
Autophobia Being alone/oneself Decidophobia Making decisions

F4. Mania Words: Obsessions and Compulsions

Word Obsession/Compulsion With Word Obsession/Compulsion With
Kleptomania Stealing (compulsive, without material need) Pyromania Fire-starting
Dipsomania Alcohol Egomania Oneself
Monomania A single subject or idea, to an excessive degree Megalomania Power, grandeur, self-importance
Bibliomania Books Nymphomania* (dated clinical term; noted only for exam recognition)
Graphomania Writing, compulsively Trichotillomania Pulling out one's own hair
Oniomania Shopping (compulsive buying) Erotomania The delusional belief that another person is in love with oneself
Melomania Music Logomania Talking, excessively
Dromomania Wandering/travelling compulsively Mythomania Compulsive lying or exaggeration

F5. Homes and Dwellings of Animals

Animal Dwelling Animal Dwelling
Lion Den Bird Nest
Bee Hive Rabbit Burrow/Warren
Fox Den/Earth Beaver Lodge
Horse Stable Dog Kennel
Pig Sty Squirrel Drey
Ant Colony/Anthill Spider Web
Bear Den Otter Holt
Badger Sett Eagle Eyrie

F6. Young Ones of Animals

Animal Young One Animal Young One
Lion Cub Horse Foal
Cow Calf Sheep Lamb
Dog Puppy Cat Kitten
Kangaroo Joey Deer Fawn
Goat Kid Frog Tadpole
Eagle Eaglet Fish Fry
Bear Cub Elephant Calf
Swan Cygnet Pigeon Squab

F7. Sounds Made by Animals

Animal Sound Animal Sound
Lion Roar Dog Bark
Cat Meow/Purr Horse Neigh/Whinny
Cow Moo Sheep Bleat
Snake Hiss Donkey Bray
Wolf Howl Elephant Trumpet
Owl Hoot Crow Caw
Pig Grunt/Oink Frog Croak
Bee Buzz/Hum Duck Quack

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