SAT Vocab 701-800

aberration

the act of departing from the right, normal, or usual course

misgiving

a feeling of doubt, distrust, or apprehension

etiquette

rules governing socially acceptable behavior

uplift

to lift up; to improve socially, culturally, morally, or the like; to exalt emotionally or spiritually

divine

being of such surpassing excellence as to suggest inspiration by the gods; emanating from God

prominent

conspicuous in position or importance; having a quality that thrusts itself into attention

tutelage

instruction; protection of or authority over someone or something

gluttonous

given to excess in consumption of especially food or drink

paragon

an ideal instance; a perfect embodiment of a concept; model of excellence or perfection of a kind; one having no equal

funerary

relating to a funeral or the commemoration of the dead

precursor

a person or thing that comes before another of the same kind; a forerunner

slovenly

negligent of neatness especially in dress and person; habitually dirty and unkempt

sever

to seperate (a part) from the whole, as by cutting or the like

emphatic

forceful and definite in expression or action; sudden and strong

semantics

the meaning, or an interpretation of the meaning, of a word, sign, sentence, etc.

impeneterable

incapable of being pierced through or penetrated; incapable of being understood

touchstone

a basis for comparison; a reference point against which other things can be evaluated

larceny

the act of taking something from someone unlawfully

humdrum

tediously repetitious or lacking in variety; not challenging; dull and lacking excitement;

noun: the quality of wearisome constant, routine, and lack of variety

lambast

censure severely or angrily

pundit

a scholar, expert, or authority

incense

to enrage greatly

presumably

by reasonable assumption

standoffish

somewhat aloof or reserved; cold and unfriendly

coalesce

fuse or cause to grow together; mix together different elements

caucus

a meeting of partly leaders to select candidates, elect convention delegates, etc.; any group or meeting organized to further a special interest or cause

venerable

worthy of reverence on account of great age, religious associations, character, position, etc.

contempt

the feeling that a person or a thing is beneath consideration, worthless, or deserving scorn; the state of being despised; dishonor; disregard for something that should be taken into account

bolster

support and strengthen

propogate

to cause (an organism) to multiply by any process of natural reproduction from the parent stock; to spread (a report, doctrine, practice, etc.) from person to person; disseminate

compulsive

resulting from or relating to an irresistible urge, especially one that is against one's conscious wishes irresistibly interesting or exciting

curtail

to cut short; abridge; reduce

crystallize

to give definite or concrete form to

pesimistic

the tendency to expect the worst and see the worst in all things

frenetic

distracted or frantic; frenzied

quizzical

(of a person's expression or behavior) indicating mild or amused puzzlement

grating

irritating or unpleasant to one's feelings; (of a sound or noise) harsh, discordant, or rasping

thrive

gain in wealth; grow stronger

remnant

a remaining, usually small part, quantity, number, or the like; a trace; vestige

jumble

a confused multitude of things

fluctuation

the quality of being unsteady and subject to changes; a wave motion

wake

a vigil held over a corpse the night before burial; track or path left by anything that has passed

discrusive

passing aimlessly from one subject to another, digressive; rambling; proceeding to a conclusion by reason or argument rather than intuition

interpose

to place between; cause to intervene; get involved, so as to alter or hinder an action

sustenance

a source of materials to nourish the body

muse

to think or meditate in silence, as on some subject

ad-lib

with little or no preparation or forethought; said or done without having been planned or written in advance

insular

narrowly restricted in outlook or scope; suggestive of the isolated life on an island

impoverished

destroyed financially; poor enough to need help from others

querulous

habitually complaining

fidelity

devotion to duties, obligation, etc.; faithfulness

mercantile

relating to or characteristic of trade or trader; profit oriented

oversight

an omission or error due to carelessness; supervision and/or watchful care

conflagration

a very intense and uncontrolled fire

testify

give testimony in a court of law; provide evidence for

lobby

a group of people seeking to influence politicians or public officials on a particular issue;

verb: to solicit or try to influence the votes of members of a legislative body

novice

someone new to a field or activity; amateur

piety

reverence for God or devout fulfillment of religious obligations

hegemony

the dominance or leadership of one social group or nation over others

bypass

a road enabling motorists to avoid a city or other heavy traffic points or to drive around an obstruction

verb: go past or around

coup

a sudden and decisive action in politics, especially one resulting in. a change of government illegally or by force

altruism

the quality of unselfish concern for the welfare of others

surmount

to prevail over; overcome; to lie on top of or rise above

commemorate

call to remembrance; keep alive the memory of someone or thing, as in a ceremony

infidelity

the quality of being unfaithful

bereavement

a period of mourning after a loss, especially after the death of a loved one

intersperse

to scatter here and there or place at intervals among other things; place at intervals in or among

perseverance

steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement

divest

to strip of clothing, ornament, etc.; to strip or deprive (someone or something), especially of property or rights

archive

a collection of historical records and documents about an institution, family, etc.

backfire

to bring a result opposite to that which was planned or expected

quell

overcome or allay; suppress or crush completely

dismantle

to take apart; to demolish or raze; to strip of covering

oration

a formal public speech, especially one delivered on a special occasion, as on an anniversary, at a funeral, or at academic exercises

particular

of or pertaining to a single or specific person, thing, group, class, occasion, etc., rather than to others or all; exceptionally selective, attentive, or exacting; fussy

corroborate

support with evidence or authority or make more certain or confirm; establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts

discriminate

to make a distinction in favor of or against a person or thing on the basis of the group, class, or category to which the person or thing belongs; to recognize or understand the difference (between)

enamor

attract; to charm of captivate

modicum

a moderate or small amount

retrospect

contemplation of things past;

verb: look back upon (a period of time, sequence of events)

ingenious

showing inventiveness and skill; skillful (or showing skill) in adapting means to ends

odyssey

a long wandering and eventful journey

regress

the act of going back; return;

verb: to move backward; go back to a previous state

upstart

a person who has risen suddenly from a humble a position to wealth, power, or a position of consequence;

verb: to start up; spring up, as to one's feet

rarefied

reserved for an elite group; of a high moral or intellectual value; elevated in nature or style

incubate

to develop or produce as if by hatching; give form to; to maintain at a favorable temperature and in other conditions promoting development

falter

the act of pausing uncertainly;

verb: move hesitantly, as if about to give way; be unsure or weak; speak haltingly; walk unsteadily

retort

a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)

evasive

deliberately vague or ambiguous; avoiding or escaping from difficulty or danger

ensure

to secure or guarantee; to make sure or certain; to make secure or safe

conscript

to draft for military or naval service; to compel into service

innovator

a person who introduces new methods, ideas, or products

shun

avoid and stay away from deliberately; stay clear of; expel from a community or group

momentous

of very great significance

archaic

marked by the characteristics of an earlier period; antiquated

cache

a hidden storage space (for money or provisions or weapons)

acclaim

enthusiastic approval;

verb: praise vociferously

amass

collect or gather

fervent

extremely hot; characterized by intense emotion

pummel

strike, usually with the fist