SparkNotes 1000 SAT Vocab (Unknown)

abate (v.

to reduce, lessen

abase (v.

to humiliate, degrade

abdicate (v.

to give up a position, usually one of leadership

abduct (v.

to kidnap, take by force

aberration (n.

something that differs from the norm

abet (v.

• to aid, help, encourage

abhor (v.

to hate, detest

abject (adj.

wretched, pitiful

abjure (v.

to reject, renounce

abort (v.

to give up on a half-finished project or effort

abridge (v.

to cut down, shorten

abrogate (v.

to abolish/negate, usually by authority

abide (v.

to put up with

abnegation (n.

denial of comfort to oneself

abstruse (adj.

hard to comprehend

accentuate (v.

to stress, highlight

abscond (v.

to sneak away and hide

absolution (n.

freedom from blame, guilt, sin

abstain (v.

to freely choose not to commit an action

accede (v.

to agree

accommodating (adj.

helpful, obliging, polite

accord (n.

an agreement

accost (v.

to confront verbally

acerbic (adj.

biting, bitter in tone or taste

acquiesce (v.

to agree without protesting

acrimony (n.

bitterness, discord

acumen (n.

keen insight

acute 1. (adj.

sharp, severe

acute 2. (adj.

having keen insight

accretion (n.

the process of growth or increase

adept (adj.

extremely skilled

adhere (n.

to stick to something

admonish (v.

to caution, criticize, reprove

adorn (v.

to decorate

adroit (adj.

skillful, dexterous

adulation (n.

extreme praise

adumbrate (v.

to sketch out in a vague way

adverse (adj.

antagonistic, unfavorable, dangerous

advocate (v.

to argue in favor of something

affinity (n.)a spontaneous feeling of closeness

affront (n.

an insult

aggrandize (v.

to increase or make greater

aggregate 1. (n.

a whole or total

aggregate 2. (v.

to gather into a mass

aggrieved (adj.

distressed, wronged, injured

agnostic (adj.

believing that the existence of God cannot be proven or disproven

alacrity (n.

eagerness, speed

allay (v.

to soothe, ease

altercation (n.

a dispute, fight

amalgamate (v.

to bring together, unite

ambivalent (adj.

having opposing feelings

ameliorate (v.

to improve

amenable (adj.

willing, compliant

amorous (adj.

showing love, particularly sexual

amorphous (adj.

without definite shape or type

anachronistic (adj.

being out of correct chronological order

analogous (adj.

similar to, so that an analogy can be drawn

anarchist (n.

one who wants to eliminate all government

anathema (n.

a cursed, detested person

annul (v.

to make void or invalid

antagonism (n.

hostility

antediluvian (adj.

ancient

anthology (n.

a selected collection of writings, songs, etc.

antipathy (n.

a strong dislike, repugnance

antiquated (adj.

old, out of date

antiseptic (adj.

clean, sterile

antithesis (n.

the absolute opposite

apathetic (adj.

lacking concern, emotion

apocryphal (adj.

fictitious, false, wrong

appalling (adj.

causing/inspiring shock, horror, disgust

approbation (n.

praise

appropriate (v.

to take, make use of

arbiter (n.

one who can resolve a dispute, make a decision

arbitrary (adj.

based on factors that appear random

arbitration (n.

the process or act of resolving a dispute

arcane (adj.

obscure, secret, known only by a few

archetypal (adj.

the most representative or typical example of something

ardor (n.

extreme vigor, energy, enthusiasm

arrogate (v.

to take without justification

ascertain (v.

to perceive, learn

ascribe (v.

to assign, credit, attribute to

aspersion (n.

a curse, expression of ill-will

assail (v.

to attack

assiduous (adj.

hard-working, diligent

assuage (v.

to ease, pacify

astute (adj.

very clever, crafty

augment (v.

to add to, expand

auspicious (adj.

favorable, indicative of good things

austere (adj.

very bare, bleak

avarice (n.

excessive greed

avenge (v.

to seek revenge

aversion (n.

a particular dislike for something

balk (v.

to stop, block abruptly

ballad (n.

a love song

banal (adj.

dull, commonplace

bane (n.

a burden

bard (n.

a poet, often a singer as well

bashful (adj.

shy, excessively timid

beguile (v.

to trick, deceive

benign (adj.

favorable, not threatening, mild