DSAT Vocab Set 2

Abate

To reduce in intensity; to lessen

Abscond

To escape, run away, or let go of something

Bereft

Lacking something needed or wanted; mourning the death of a loved one

Corroborate

To support with evidence or authority

Contrue

To construct or interpret meaning out of a sentence or words

Didactic

Something that is intended to be taught

Dogma

Something considered an established opinion (belief or set of morals)

Embezzle

To take something (money of property) dishonestly for one’s own use

Abnegate

To deny or to give up the right or privilege to something

Brevity

Something or event that is short in length or duration

Capitulate

To surrender on terms agreed upon in advance

Dearth

Lack or absence of something

Defunct

Extinct or no longer functioning

Expedite

To speed up the process or progress of an event

Fortuitous

Fortunate or lucky

Gratuitous

Something that is required by the circumstances but done or provided freely

Allue

To refer to something indirectly (used in literature)

Berate

To scold someone strongly

Cache

A secure place that is used to store objects secretly

Extort

To take something forcefully from a person

Flagrant

So bad as to be impossible to overlook

Hubris

A heightened sense of self-pride or overconfidence

Incumbent

Someone who occupies a particular position or place

Linchpin

Someone or something that holds together multiple pieces or people together

Bane

Something capable of causing destruction or ruin

Covet

Want or desire

Eclectic

Composed of elements drawn from various sources; can be used to refer to a person who pursues an eclectic method or approach

Fallacy

A false or mistaken idea

Hapless

Unfortunate

Idiosyncrasy

A way of behaving or thinking that is characteristic of a person; unique

Noxious

Something that is harmful or destructive

Ostensible

To demonstrate or exhibit

Abhor

To hate something

Ambiguity

Something that can be understood or interpreted in more than one manner

Contenious

Inclined towards argument or dispute

Delegate

A representative; to entrust work or responsibility to another person

Equivocal

Something that is unclear or uncertain in its meaning

Hegemony

The social,culture, ideological, or economic influence exerted by a dominant group

Impute

To blame someone unjustly

Licentious

Someone who disregards moral, ethical or legal restraints

Maxim

Universal truth, fundamental principle, or rule of conduct, or proverb

Nadir

The lowest point of something

Opine (Opinion)

To put forth one’s point of view about something

Paradigm

An example showing how something is to be done; a model

Partisan

A person who is strongly devoted to a particular cause or group

Quaint

Something marked by beauty; skillful design or old fashioned

Requisition

To require or demand something, especially by an authority

Solicit

To approach with a request or plea, to make a petition to, especially a judicial body

Abet

To support or encourage

Complacent

Accepting something after being self-satisfied

Debunk

To expose the falseness of a fact

Impetuous

Impulsive

Multifarious

Something or an event that has multiple variety

Penchant

Having persistent knack or interest in something

Prerogative

An exclusive or special right, power, or privilege

Relegate

To banish or send into exile; to carry out a decision

Sanctity

The quality of being holy or sacred

Sanguine

To be sure and certain of something; something that has the color of blood

Serendipity

The gift of finding valuable things not looked for

Torpid

Someone lacking in energy or enthusiasm

Ubiquitous

Existing or being everywhere at the same time

Veracity

Being true

Vilify

To utter slanderous and abusive statements against

Warrant

To give proof of the authenticity or truth of something

Apprehend

To arrest someone; recognize the meaning of an idea or a thing

Bias

To possess an inclined outlook towards an object or an idea

Capitalize

To profit from a resource or an opportunity

Dispel

To drive away something (can also be a belief system or a myth)

Elicit

To draw out an answer or explanation often by skillful questioning or discussion.

Empirical

Something capable of being derived, verified, or disproved by observation or experiment

Extraneous

Alien; something that exists or comes from outside

Incite

To move to action; to make something happen

Litigate

To decide and settle in a court of law

Ostracism

The state of being outcasted or barred from a community or group

Pejorative

A word or phrase that has negative connotations

Prosecute

To carry on a legal action against an accused person to prove his or her guilt; to follow up to the end.

Refute

To deny or disregard

Serrptitious

Done, made or acquired by stealth and secrecy

Tirade

A long violent angry speech

Torrent

A violent or forceful flow of wind or water

Advocate

To support or argue for a cause

Analogy

A comparison of two otherwise unalike things based on resemblance of a particular aspect; widely used in literature

Articulate

To explain something clearly

Credible

Something that can be trusted on the basis of logic or rationale

Doctrine

Something that can be trusted on the basis of logic or rationale

Emulate

To try to be like or better than something

Espouse

To take up and support as a cause; to marry someone

Foil

A very thin sheet of metal; something or someone that serves as a contrast to another

Grandiloquent

A lofty, extravagant, or bombastic style, especially used in literature

Heterogeneous

Something originating from an outside source; something consisting of different elements from various sources

Insurgent

Someone who revolts against civil authority or an established government; a rebel

Placid

Free of disturbance; calm

Prompt

Something that asks someone to do or operate; being ready and quick to act

Quixotic

Impractical especially in the foolish pursuit of ideals

Sanctuary

A safe or a sacred place

Spur

Impulsive; to move to action

Travesty

An inferior imitation of something

Undermine

To weaken or ruin secretly or gradually

Utilitarian

Someone who believes that the value of something lies in its usefulness

Vestige

A trace or mark left by something