actually hard sat vocab 1

analgesic

A medicine or substance that relieves pain.

ancillary

Providing necessary support to the primary activities or operation; subordinate.

annex

To attach or add something, especially to a larger or more important thing.

anodyne

Not likely to cause offense or disagreement; bland; also, a pain-relieving medicine.

antecedent

A thing or event that existed before or logically precedes another.

antediluvian

Extremely old-fashioned, outdated, or belonging to the period before the biblical flood.

antipathy

A deep-seated feeling of aversion or dislike.

antiseptic

Scrupulously clean; also, a substance that prevents infection.

antithetical

Directly opposed or contrasted; mutually incompatible.

paucity

The presence of something in only small or insufficient quantities; scarcity.

apocryphal

A story or statement of doubtful authenticity, although widely circulated as true.

apotheosis

The highest point in the development of something; the culmination or climax.

appeased

Pacified or placated by acceding to demands; satisfied.

appraise

To assess the value, quality, or performance of something.

apprise

To inform or tell someone about something.

approbation

Approval or praise from an authority or the public.

arbiter

A person with ultimate authority to settle a dispute or judge a matter.

arbitrary

Based on random choice or personal whim, rather than reason or system.

arbitration

The use of an independent third party to settle a dispute.

aboreal

Relating to or living in trees.

arresting

Striking, eye-catching, or causing one to stop and notice.

artifice

Clever or cunning devices or expedients, especially to trick or deceive.

abase

To behave in a way that belittles or degrades oneself.

aberration

A departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically an unwelcome one.

abrogate

To repeal or do away with a law, right, or formal agreement.

abstruse

Difficult to understand; obscure.

abut

To touch or lean upon; to border on.

accede

To agree to a demand, request, or treaty.

accord

An official agreement or treaty; also, to give or grant someone power or status.

accost

To approach and address someone boldly or aggressively.

accretion

The process of growth or increase, typically by the gradual accumulation of additional layers or matter.

acerbic

Sharp and forthright, especially in tone or manner; bitter.

acolyte

A person who assists a priest in a religious service; an assistant or follower.

acquiesce

To accept or comply passively or without protest.

acrimony

Bitterness or ill feeling in speech or behavior.

acumen

The ability to make good judgments and quick decisions, typically in a particular domain.

adumbrate

To outline or give a faint indication of something; to foreshadow.

aesthete

A person who has or affects a heightened sensitivity to beauty, especially in art.

affable

Friendly, good-natured, and easy to talk to.

agglomeration

A mass or collection of things; an assemblage.

aggrandize

To make something appear greater or more powerful than it really is.

aggrieved

Feeling resentment at having been treated unfairly.

alacrity

Brisk and cheerful readiness or eagerness.

amenable

Open and responsive to suggestion; easily persuaded or controlled.

amorous

Showing, feeling, or relating to sexual desire or romantic affection.

ascribe

To attribute something to a particular cause, source, or origin.

asperity

Harshness of tone or manner; roughness of surface.

aspersions

An attack on the reputation or integrity of someone or something.

assail

To attack physically or violently; to criticize strongly.

atone

To make amends or reparation for a wrong or sin.

attenuate

To reduce the force, effect, or value of something.

attrition

The process of reducing something's strength or effectiveness through sustained attack or pressure.

augment

To make something greater by adding to it; to increase.

augury

A sign of what will happen in the future; an omen.

avarice

Extreme greed for wealth or material gain.

axiomatic

Self-evident or unquestionable.

baleful

Threatening harm or evil; ominous.

balk

To refuse to proceed or to act; to hesitate.

beatific

Blissfully happy; appearing saintly or giving spiritual blessing.

befuddled

Unable to think clearly; confused.

behold

To see or observe (someone or something).

belie

To fail to give a true notion or impression of something; to disguise or contradict.

bellicose

Demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight.

belligerent

Hostile and aggressive; engaged in war.

benighted

In a state of pitiful or contemptible intellectual or moral ignorance.

benign

Gentle, kind, or harmless in effect.

bequeath

To leave personal property to someone by a will; to pass something on.

bereavement

The state of having lost a loved one through death.

beseech

To ask someone urgently and fervently to do or give something.

besmirch

To damage the reputation of someone or something; to slander.

bifurcated

Divided into two separate branches or parts.

bilious

Bad-tempered or irritable; also relating to bile.

bilk

To cheat or defraud someone, especially of money.

blandish

To coax or persuade someone with flattery.

blithe

Showing a casual and cheerful indifference or ignorance.

boon

A thing that is helpful or beneficial.

boorish

Rough and bad-mannered; coarse.

brevity

Concise and exact use of words in writing or speech.

brusque

Abrupt or offhand in manner or speech.

bucolic

Relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life.

buffet (v)

To strike or hit repeatedly and violently.

burnish

To polish by rubbing; to make shiny.

buttress

A support or prop; to provide support or reinforcement.

calculable

Able to be measured, estimated, or determined.

caliber

The quality of someone's character or the level of their ability.

calumny

The making of false and defamatory statements about someone.

camaraderie

Mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together.

canny

Astute and shrewd, especially in business or financial matters.

canonical

According to or ordered by church law; recognized as being authentic or established.

cantankerous

Bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative.

capacious

Having a lot of space inside; roomy.

capitulate

To cease resisting; to surrender.

capricious

Given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior.

captious

Tending to find fault or raise petty objections.

carouse

To drink alcohol and enjoy oneself with others in a noisy, lively way.

carp

To complain or find fault continually about trivial matters.

castigate

To reprimand someone severely.

caucus

A meeting of the members of a political party to decide policy or select candidates.

caustic

Able to burn or corrode organic tissue; sarcastic in a scathing and bitter way.

cavalier

Showing a lack of proper concern; offhand or dismissive.