SAT Vocabulary

my own definitions L

abhor

to hate and detest

abominate

to hate and loathe

abridge

to shorten, condense, diminish, or curtail (reduce/restrict)

abstruse

hard to understand

abut

to border upon, to adjoin

abyss

bottomless pit, depth or void

accolade

award, praise, honor, approval

adjunct

an addition, a part of, an assistant, a component of

affidavit

a sworn written statement

affinity

a natural attraction; kinship; similarity

aftermath

events following an event, a consequence of

aggrandize

to increase in size, cause to appear greater in power, influence

ajar

partially open

alienate

to make hostile; to cause to feel unwelcome or estranged

alleviate

to make less severe, to relieve, to lessen

allure

to entice, to tempt

aloof

distant, reserved, uninvolved

also-ran

one defeated in a competition, the loser

altercation

a heated argument

alternative

the choice between possibilities, a situation presenting such a choice

ambiance

mood, feeling, atmosphere, vibe

amenable

agreeable, pleasant, willing to give in to the wishes of another

amplify

to make larger, louder, or more powerful

antecedent

going before, preceding, an event preceding another

anterior

situated in front

appalling

filling with dismay/distress, causing horror, shocking

aptitude

learning capacity, natural ability

archaic

belonging to an earlier ancient time, outdated

arduous

hard, tiring

artisan

a worker skilled in a craft

askew

to one side, crooked, awry (unordinary), look of contempt (scorn)

aspire

to seek, attain, or achieve a goal

assuage

to soothe, to make less severe, to satisfy, ease, lessen (like alleviate)

astute

able to quickly judge things clearly, intelligent

asunder

in separate parts; apart from each other in position

atrophy

to wither away

atypical

not typical; abnormal

austere

stern in manner, without excess, severely simple and plain

badger

to tease, annoy, harass persistently

ballistics

the study of the dynamics or flight characteristics of projectiles

balm

something that heals/comforts; soothing; oil or ointment

beget

to give birth to; to create

beleaguer

to besiege; to trouble persistently; to surround or harass

bereave

to deprive and make empty esp. by force; to deprive by force

beset

to harass; to surround

bizarre

extremely unconventional or far-fetched; hella weird

blather

to talk nonsensically (making little sense)

bleak

depressing, discouraging, harsh, cold

bludgeon

to hit with heavy impact; a heavy club

bucolic

rural or rustic (plain/simple) in nature, country-like

bullwark

defensive wall; something serving to defend

cache

hiding place or stuff in hiding place

cacophany

harsh sounds

cajole

to coax/persuade someone to do something they dont wanna do L

callous

apathetic; insensitive

callow

immature and inexperienced

candor

truthfulness; sincere honesty

capacious

roomy; spacious

castigate

to criticize/scold harshly; correct wrongdoing

catapult

to launch; a device for throwing objects

catharsis

emotional/psychological cleansing that brings relief or renewal

caucus

meeting of political party to make decisions

cerebral

relating to brain or intellect (basically smart)

certify

to confirm/verify formally

chasm

a deep opening in earth surface; a gorge; differences of opinion, interests, loyalties

chattel

item of personal moveable property; a slave

chide

to scold; to voice disapproval

chronic

continuing for a long time; continuous

circa

at, in, or of approximately; at an estimated historical time period (always time)

citadel

a fortress overlooking a city; a stronghold (can be figurative)

claimant

a person making a claim

cloister

a tranquil, secluded place

commodious

spacious; roomy; capacious

comprise

to consist of; to include, to contain, to be made up of

congenial

pleasant to be around; social, agreeable

connoisseur

an expert, particularly in matters of art and taste

consensus

general agreement

coterie

a circle of close associates or friends

countenance

a person’s face, especially the expression

coup

violent overthrow of a government by a small group; a victorious accomplishment

couture

fashion designs; clothes created by fashion designers

cower

to cringe in fear; to shrink away

cranny

a small opening as in a wall or rock face (nook or cranny)

craven

cowardly

creditor

a person or entity to whom money is owed

criterion

a standard or rule by which something can be judged; a basis for judgement

cubism

style of art which the subject is cubey or shapey

curtail

to abridge; to lessen usually by cutting away from

curvilinear

formed, bound, or characterized by curved lines

damper

one that depresses or restrains; a dulling or deadening influence

dauntless

fearless; inintimidated

dearth

scarcity; lack

debacle

a sudden tragic downfall; collapse or failure

debase

to lower in quality, character, or value

decree

an order having the force of law

deduce

to come to a conclusion by reasoning from the evidence

defame

to slander; take away a good name

deft

skillful, dexterous

demagogue

a leader who obtains power by appealing to emotions and prejudices of the people

demonic

one who works devilishly, having a persistent force or drive; fiendish