SAT Elite Vocab Packet

nascent

adj. coming into being; being born

lurid

adj. causing shock or horror; tastelessly vivid; glowing like fire through a haze

tepid

adj. moderately warm; lacking force or enthusiasm

conjecture

n. an inference or conclusion based on incomplete evidence

pious

adj. exhibiting reverence and religious observation

abet

v. to encourage, assist, or support, usually in wrongdoing

interloper

n. one who interferes with the affairs of others; a meddler

blight

n. a plant disease; something that impairs growth, progress, or prosperity

voluble

adj. talkative

proverbial

adj. well-known because widely repeated

codify

v. to organize something (such as laws or rules) into a system

relent

v. to become less severe; to give in

affected

adj. behaving in an artificial way to impress people

colloquial

adj. appropriate to spoken, as opposed to written, language; informal

inept

adj. without skill; absurd or foolish

multifarious

adj. having many different parts of forms; numerous and varied

efficacy

n. the power to produce the desired effect

brusque

adj. abrupt and curt of manner

vacillate

v. to swing back and forth

morose

adj. sour tempered and inclined to be silent

dichotomy

n. a division into two contrasting or non-overlapping parts

propitious

adj. presenting favorable circumstances

eclectic

adj. composed of materials from various sources

quiescent

adj. inactive, often suggesting a temporary state

extol

v. to praise highly and lavishly

emulate

v. to copy someone; to imitate

chauvinism

n. unreasoning and boastful devotion to one’s country or gender

furtive

adj. characterized by secretive behavior

antiseptic

adj. free from germs; thoroughly clean; n. a substance that inhibits the growth of germs

incarcerate

v. to restrict by imprisonment’ to keep in prison

mendacious

adj. lying’ false, esp. habitually

redoubtable

adj. fearsome; formidable

palatable

adj. pleasant or acceptable to the taste

stigma

n. a sign of disgrace; a mark that lowers a reputation

reprehensible

adj. deserving to be severely criticized

lethargic

adj. dull; sluggish; moving slowly

pulpit

n. a podium used for preaching

turbid

adj. cloudy, muddy; in a state of turmoil

altruistic

adj. unselfish; benevolent; caring more for others than oneself

avocation

n. a hobby

raiment

n. clothing

pervade

v. to spread through or be present throughout

penitent

feeling regret

conducive

tending to bring about

vindictive

seeking revenge; marked by a desire to hurt

deference

yielding an opinion, desire, or position to another out of respect

salient

important, prominent, most noticeable

mercenary

greedy; motivated by desire for money

fetid

having a bad odor

prodigal

exceedingly or recklessly wasteful

pertinent

relevant

indubitable

certain; indisputable (literally “not doubtable”)

covert

concealed or disguised; not openly practiced

insidious

subtly harmful; stealthy, sneaky

atrophy

a wasting away, esp. of body tissue

altercation

a heated or noisy argument

foment

to stir up negative feelings, esp. those that lead to violent reaction

purloin

to steal, oft. in violation of trust

caesura

a break or pause

acquiesce

to agree without protest

conscientious

showing care and precison; painstaking

crass

dull-witted; unrefined

spendthrift

one who spends money wastefully

tabulate

to count

adroit

naturally skillful, esp. dealing with difficult circumstances

redolent

aromantic; fragrant; suggestive

denoument

conclusion; resolution; the falling action of a story after its climax

incumbent

necessary or obligatory; a person who currently holds a particular position

wayward

stubbornly going against what is expected or required in order to satisfy one’s own desires

effrontery

bold and insulting behavior

vagary

an erratic notion or action

spurn

to push or drive away contemptuously with or as with the foot

peccadillo

a minor sin

incendiary

causing or capable of causing fire; stirring up toruble

impunity

exemption from punishment or harm

flout

to intentionally and obviously disobey

spate

a large number or amount of something, esp. in a brief time

bravura

a showy display

untenable

indefensible, or impossible to maintain

veneer

an attractive, ultimately misleading outward show; thin layer

prevaricate

to speak or write evasively in order to avoid telling the truth

sedentary

sitting down most of the time

veracious

honest; truthful

venerate

to look upon with respect and honor

raconteur

one who tells stories with skill

vicarious

felt as if one were taking part in the experiences of another

abate

to lessen in amount, intensity or strength

unwieldy

hard to handle or manage, esp. because of size or weight

homely

unattractive, plain looking

rue

to regret

meritocracy

a system in which promotion is based on individual ability or achievement

inveigle

to obtain by flattery

behoove

to be necessary or proper for

inert

unable to move or respond; sluggish

mnemonic

pertaining to or assisting the memory

insipid

uninteresting; having no flavor

anarchronism

something not belonging to a certain time period

malady

a disease; illness; sickness

exact

to demand and obtain by force or authority

inclement

harsh; severe (usually of weather)