VOCAB SAT PREP

FOR THE SAT

abase

(v.) to humiliate

abate

(v.) to reduce

abdicate

(v.) to give up a position, usually one of leadership

abduct

(v.) to kidnap

aberration

(n.) something that differs from the norm

abet

(v.) to help

abhor

(v.) to hate

abide

1. (v.) to put up with

2. (v.) to remain

abject

(adj.) pitiful

abjure

(v.) to reject

abnegation

(n.) denial of comfort to oneself

abort

(v.) to give halfway on something

abridge

(v.) to shorten

abrogate

(v.) to abolish, usually by authority

abscond

(v.) to sneak away and hide

absolution

(n.) freedom from blame, guilt, sin

abstain

(v.) to choose not to commit an action

abstruse

(adj.) hard to comprehend

accede

(v.) to agree

accentuate

(v.) to stress

accessible

(adj.) obtainable

acclaim

(n.) high praise

accolade

1. (n.) high praise

2. (n.) special distinction

accommodating

(adj.) helpful, obliging, polite

accord

(n.) an agreement

accost

(v.) to confront verbally

accretion

(n.) slow growth in size or amount

acerbic

(adj.) bitter

acquiesce

(v.) to agree without protesting

acrimony

1. (n.) bitterness

2. (n.) discord

acumen

(n. )keen insigh

acute

1. (adj.) sharp

2. (adj.) having keen insight

adamant

(adj.) unyielding

adept

(adj.) skilled

adhere

to follow devoutly

admonish

1. (v.) to caution

2. (v.) criticize

adorn

(v.) to decorate

adroit

(adj.) skillful

adulation

(n.) extreme praise

adumbrate

(v.) to sketch out in a vague way

adverse

(adj.) unfavorable, dangerous

advocate

1. (v.) to argue in favor of something

aerial

(adj.) related to the air

aesthetic

(adj.) artistic

affable

(adj.) friendly

affinity

(n.)a spontaneous feeling of closeness

affluent

(adj.) rich

affront

(n.) an insult

aggrandize

(v.) to increase

aggregate

1. (n.) a whole

2. (v.) to gather into a mass

aggrieved

(adj.) distressed

agile

(adj.) quick, nimble

agnostic

(adj.) questioning God's existence

agriculture

(n.) farming

aisle

(n.) a passageway between rows of seats

alacrity

(n.) eagerness, speed

alias

(n.) a false name or identity

allay

(v.) to soothe

allege

(v.) to assert, usually without proof

alleviate

(v.) to relieve

allocate

1. (v.) to distribute

2. (v) to set aside

aloof

(adj.) distant

altercation

(n.) a dispute

amalgamate

(v.) to bring together

ambiguous

(adj.) uncertain

ambivalent

(adj.) having opposing feelings

ameliorate

(v.) to improve

amenable

(adj.) willing

amenity

(n.) something that increases comfort

amiable

(adj.) friendly

amicable

(adj.) friendly

amorous

(adj.) showing love

amorphous

(adj.) without definite shape or type

anachronistic

(adj.) not in chronological order

analgesic

(n.) something that reduces pain

analogous

(adj.) similar to

anarchist

(n.) one who wants to eliminate all government

anathema

(n.) a cursed, detested person

anecdote

(n.) a short, humorous account

anesthesia

(n.) loss of sensation

anguish

(n.) torment

animated

(adj.) lively

annex

1. (v.) to incorporate territory or space

2. (n.) a room attached to a larger room or space

annul

(v.) to make void

anomaly

(n.) something that does not fit into the normal order

anonymous

(adj.) being unknown

antagonism

(n.) hostility

antecedent

(n.) something that came before

antediluvian

(adj.) ancient

anthology

(n.) a selected collection of writings, songs, etc

antipathy

(n.) a strong dislike

antiquated

(adj.) old