psat 17

repartee

a quick witty reply, spirited conversation

ribald

vulgar or indecent language

salubrious

favorable to health

ruminate

to muse upon

sangfroid

extraordinary composure in the face of danger

saturnine

sullen, gloomy, depressed

sylvan

wooded; forest-like

synergy

the combined force of two distinct elements that is more powerful than each alone

temporize

to compromise, to draw something out in order to gain time

timorous

fearful, easily frightened

usury

lending money at a high interest rate

vacuous

empty, lacking intelligence

veneer

façade, coating, outward appearance

verdant

covered with green plants, leafy

vicarious

acting for another, sharing in an experience of another through the imagination

wont

custom, habit

zephyr

a gentle breeze

aphasia

loss of speech

arrant

notoriously without moderation

claque

an audience paid to clap, an obsequious audience