Essential Vocabulary for SAT

advance

claim or assert a position or argument.

assert

to make claim

Conjecture (also a noun)

to make a claim based on incomplete information

Posit

assume as fact; create a claim out of it

Proffer

to claim something for acceptance; usually used in legal or formal contexts

speculate

to form a theory or conjecture about a subject without firm evidence. (To make a claim)

Hypothesize

to propose a theory or claim based on limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation.

Bolster

to support of strengthen an claim

Buttress

to support or reinforce an claim, providing additional strength or evidence.

Substantiate

to provide evidence or proof to support a claim or theory.

Concede

to admit or acknowledge a point in an claim, often reluctantly.

Ambivalence

the state of having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas or claims

Skepticism

an attitude of doubt or disbelief towards claims or opinions.

Rebut

to argue against a claim or assertion, typically by providing counter-evidence or reasoning.

refute

to prove a claim or assertion to be false or incorrect, often through evidence or logical argument.

Grapple with

to struggle to think about something

Mull over

to think carefully and deeply about something, often considering options or possibilities.

Ruminate about

to think deeply or repeatedly about something, often reflecting on it over time.

Converge

to come together from different directions or to meet at a common point.

Integrate

to combine one thing with another to form a whole, often bringing together different elements or groups.

intersect

to cross of overlap together (coming together)

Diverge

things moving apart from one another

infer

to deduce a conclusion with evidence or reasoning

surmise

assume that something is true without having evidence to confirm it

attribute

to regard something as being caused by someone or something (provide a source)

cite

refer a source to support a claim or agrument

copious

large amount (plentiful, abundant)

multitude

a large number of people or things

Plethora

excess or overabundance of something

Profusion

an abundance of something (usually lavish)

dearth

scarcity or a lack of something

paucity

a lack of something

disparate

different or distinct

salient

most noticeable or significant

benign

harmless

innocuous

not harmful

Inherent

essential and natural apart of something

innate

naturally present, existing from birth

intrinsic

naturally present from birth

advantageous

providing an advantage

empirical

relying on hard data

faunna

animal life

flora

plant life

hierarchy *adj hierarchical)

system of ranks

Isotope

alternative form of an element

Indigenous

native

inhibit

prevent

Metabolism

the process of converting food to energy

Methodology

system of methods or procedures

Microbial

relating to microscopic organisms

Pigment

color

Predisposed

having a tendency toward

regenerate

regrow

replicate

repeat with same result

saturate

to be completely soaked with

simulation

realistic computer model

stimulus

something that provokes a specific response

Symbiosis

interaction between two organisms living close together, benefits both

Taxonomy

classification system

Trait

characteristic

vegetation

plants

velocity

speed

astronomy

study of stars and planets

botany

study of plants

Cognitive Science, Neuroscience

Science of the brain

Ecology

study of the natural world

Entomology

study of the natural world

Entomology

study of diseases and public health

Epidemiology

study of disease and public health

Genetics

study of genes

Entomology

study of insects

Genetics

study of genes

Geology

study of rocks

Ornithology

study of birds

Paleontology

study of fossils

Zoology

study of animals

Anthropology

study of human behavior and organization, usually on a large scale; can include linguistics, biology, and archaeology

Archaeology

study of historical human activity through recovery

excavation

digging up physical objects

Economics

study of monetary(money) systems

Ethonography

study of individual cultures

Folklore

study of traditional stores and myths

Sociology

study of everyday human social behavior and interactions at a specific time

adept

skilled (positive)

align (oneself with)

support or adopt a position of (positive)

Authentic

genuine

centrality

state of being central or essential (positive)

complement

to complete or perfect (positive)

comprehensive

thorough, complete (NOT to be confused comprehensible (understanding) positive

contingent

dependent upon

Confer

give, grant (positive)

cultivate

to grow (positive)

elucidate

make clear (positive)

esteemed

held in high regard (positive)

invigorating

intensely energizing, exciting (positive)

extant

still in existence; be careful not to confuse this word with extinct (positive)

Fervor

excitement, intensity (positive)

Innovative

new and revolutionary(positive)

mirth

happiness(positive)

mitigate

make less severe(positive)