939 SAT Vocabulary - WIP

939 must-know vocabulary words for the SAT!

Palindrome

n. - a word or phrase that reads the same backward and forward.

Adage

n. - an old saying now accepted as being truthful

Hackneyed

adj. - made common by overuse; cliché

Hyperbole

n. - an exaggeration, not to be taken seriously

Lurid

adj. - glowing through haze

adj. - shocking; sensational

Throe

n. - spasm or pang

Vitiate

v. - to spoil

v. - to cause moral weakness

Precipitate

v. - to cause to happen

adj. - happening quickly

Edify

v. - to instruct and improve the mind

Livid

adj. - discolored, as if bruised

adj. - extremely angry; furious

Eminence

n. - a lofty place

n. - superiority

Vehement

adj. - using great force

adj. - described by strong feelings

Amorphous

adj. - with no shape

adj. - unorganized

Consort

n. - a companion; a spouse

v. - to associate

Immaculate

adj. - perfectly clean, correct

Untoward

adj. - unfortunate

Astringent

n. - a substance that contracts bodily tissues

adj. - harsh; biting

Chary

adj. - cautious

Educe

v. - to draw out

v. - to infer from information

Whet

v. - to sharpen by rubbing

v. - to stimulate

Desposition

n. - a removal from office our power

n. - a testimony

Relegate

v. - to assign to an inferior position

v. - to commit to an action

Lucid

adj. - shiny

adj. - clear-minded

Modulate

v. - to regulate or adjust

v. - to vary the pitch

Hone

n. - something used to sharpen

v. - to sharpen

Cascade

n. - a small series of waterfalls

n. - something falling in a descending arrangement similar to a waterfall

Coy

adj. - modest; bashful

adj. - pretending shyness to attract

Effervescence

n. - liveliness; spirit; enthusiasm

n. - bubbliness

Fervid

adj. - intensely hot

adj. - fervent; impassioned

Imperious

adj. - arrogant

adj. - urgent

Miscreant

adj. - evil

n. - an evil person; villain

Chafe

v. - to annoy; to irritate

v. - to wear away or make sore by rubbing

Duress

n. - imprisonment

n. - the use of threats

Goad

n. - a driving impulse

v. - to push into action

Ideology

n. - speculation

n. - representative way of thinking

Salient

adj. - projecting

adj. - noticeable

Recluse

adj. - solitary

n. - a person who lives in seclusion

Censure

n. - a strong expression of disapproval

Servile

adj. - a slave-like manner

Burlesque

v. - to imitate in a non-serious manner

n. - a comical imitation

Visionary

adj. - not realistic; impractical

Waive

v. - to give up

v. - to put off until later

Prattle

n. - childish babble

v. - to babble while speaking

Auspicious

adj. - of good omen

adj. - sucessful

Fathom

v. - to understand

n. - a nautical unit of depth equal to 6 feet

Ken

v. - to know

n. - one’s understanding

Covetous

adj. - greedy

adj. - eagerly desirous

Malign

adj. - having an evil disposition towards others

v. - to speak evil of

Pensive

adj. - engaged in deep thought

adj. - expressing thoughtfulness with some sadness

Tether

n. - the range or limit of one’s abilities

n. - rope or chain used to keep a boat from drifting or an animal from wandering

Ulterior

adj. - regarding the future

adj. - undisclosed

Wanton

adj. - unmanageable

adj. - unjustifiably malicious

Odium

n. - hatred

n. the disgrace from a hateful action

Superfluous

adj. - excessive

adj. - unnecessary