SAT Week 6

bleak (adj.)

gloomy and somber; dreary

comprise (v.)

to include; to contain; to be composed of

denounce (v.)

to speak out against; to accuse publicly

recrimination (n.)

a reply to one charge with a countercharge

meticulous (adj.)

extremely or excessively careful about details; finicky

coalition (n.)

an alliance, especially a temporary one

succulent (adj.)

full of juice; highly enjoyable

transcend (v.)

to exceed; to go beyond or above the limits

fervid (adj.)

extremely emotional; passionate

veer (v.)

to change direction

repress (v.)

to hold back; to put down by force

charge (n.)

a responsibility; someone or something entrusted to the care of another

confiscate (v.)

to seize (private property) by or as if by someone in authority

stamina (n.)

resistance to fatigue or hardship; endurance

virtuoso (n.)

one with great skill, especially in music or the arts

ostentatious (adj.)

showy; pretentious

wan (adj.)

sickly pale; colorless

amorphous (adj.)

without definite shape; shapeless; unorganized

sordid (adj.)

extremely dirty; morally corrupt

protract (v.)

to extend the duration of; to prolong

incessant (adj.)

never pausing; continuous; without a stop

indigenous (adj.)

native, occurring naturally

idiom (n.)

a style or manner of expression peculiar to an individual or group; an expression that cannot be understood from the individual meanings of its words (for example, “keep tabs on”)

ersatz (adj.)

artificial; not genuine; fake

woe (n.)

deep distress or misery; misfortune

mentor (n.)

a counselor or teacher

stygian (adj.)

gloomy and dark; infernal or hellish

chasten (v.)

to correct by punishment or criticism; to restrain

lacerate (v.)

to rip, cut, or tear; to cause deep emotional pain

domestic (adj.)

relating to the home or family; relating to one’s own country

stealthy (adj.)

moving with quiet caution; intending to avoid notice

prolific (adj.)

producing a lot

rudder (n.)

the hinged plate at the back and bottom of a boat, used for steering

venerable (adj.)

worthy of honor and respect by reason of dignity, age, etc.

circumvent (v.)

to go around, bypass; to surround

symbiotic (adj.)

involving a close relationship of mutual dependence

muse (v.)

to meditate; to consider thoughtfully

covenant (n.)

a binding agreement

farce (n.)

a comedy based on crudely humorous, unlikely situations; something absurd or ridiculous as an obvious pretense

impetuous (adj.)

characterized by sudden emotion, energy, etc.; impulsive and passionate

revel (v.)

to delight, to enjoy (used with “in”)

innocuous (adj.)

harmless

illegible (adj.)

unable to be read

legacy (n.)

something passed down to a descendant

cascade (n.)

a waterfall or series of small waterfalls; a succession of stages, processes, or units

impinge (v.)

to have an effect on something, especially a negative one; to encroach

decipher (v.)

to read or interpret something confusing or illegible; to convert from a code

pugilist (n.)

a boxer

inalienable (adj.)

not able to be taken away or transferred to others

premeditate (v.)

to think out, plan, or scheme beforehand

bestow (v.)

to present or give (used with “on”)

supercilious (adj.)

feeling or showing proud contempt; smug; arrogant

conflate (v.)

to bring together; to merge into a composite whole

belittle (v.)

to put down; to speak of contemptuously

avid (adj.)

having a passionate desire

sloth (n.)

laziness

temperate (ad.)

consistent; moderate; without extremes

succumb (v.)

to give in or yield

incognito (adv.)

in disguise

synthesis (n.)

the combination of separate parts into a unified whole

ulterior (adj.)

lying beyond what is evident, revealed, or claimed

infuriate (v.)

to cause to become very angry; to enrage

chasm (n.)

a large gap

entity (n.)

something that exists and can be recognized as a distinct unit

laudable (adj.)

worthy of praise

proclivity (n.)

a natural or habitual tendency or inclination

office (n.)

a duty or function assigned to someone

amicable (adj.)

showing friendliness or good will

cantankerous (adj.)

bad-tempered; quarrelsome

perspicacious (adj.)

having keen perception or understanding

gross (adj.)

total, entire; glaringly obvious, flagrant

sanctimonious (adj.)

pretending holiness; hypocrtically devout

shoddy (adj.)

inferior or cheap

nonchalant (adj.)

seemingly unconcerned or indifferent

expedient (adj.)

suitable for a purpose; convenient

trowel (n.)

a flat-bladed tool used for spreading cement

dislodge (v.)

to force out of a concealed position

loath (adj.)

unwilling, reluctant

zenith (n.)

maximum; the highest point

dank (adj.)

unpleasantly damp

dormant (adj.)

inactive, but capable of being active

haggard (adj.)

appearing tired and thin, as from anxiety, disease, hunger, etc.

masonry (n.)

stonework or brickwork

dilettante (n.)

one who engages an art with only superficial skill; an amateur

jocular (adj.)

characterized by joking

antipathy (n.)

a feeling of strong repulsion or aversion

quarry (n.)

a hunted bird or animal; prey

ingenuous (adj.)

innocent; naive

implicate (v.)

to incriminate; to show or suggest involvement

paternal (adj.)

relating to or characteristic of a father

aver (v.)

to affirm or declare

liberal (adj.)

generous; giving freely

perennial (adj.)

lasting through the years

levy (v.)

to impose or collect, usually taxes

prevail (v.)

to triumph over; to be or become most common

prowess (n.)

superior skill or ability

abdicate (v.)

to willingly give up the position of king, queen, etc.; to choose not to fulfill a role or duty

accord (n.)

agreement

palpable (adj.)

capable of being handled, touched, or felt; easily perceived

spontaneous (adj.)

occurring naturally or without forethought