SAT Vocab 250-375

jar

to make a harsh sound; to shake by sudden impact

subjugate

to bring under control; to conquer

diligent

painstaking and steady

coalesce

to grow together; to merge into a single body

draconian

extremely harsh and severe

burnish

to polish

vernacular

informal speech; native language

redundant

repeating unnecessarily

metamorphosis

a transformation, as by magic; a marked change in appearance or function

prestige

fame or importance based on reputation or achievements

duplicity

deception; deceitfulness; double-dealing

peruse

to read carefully

disabuse

to free from error or falsehood

transcribe

to copy over, usually into a different form

somber

dark and gloomy or dull

debunk

to expose the falsehood of

staunch

strongly loyal

mortify

to humiliate; to fill with embarrassment

blunder

to move carelessly; a significant error

putrid

in a foul state, as of decaying flesh; rotten

illicit

unlawful; improper

motif

a recurring subject or theme, esp. in a work of art or literature

scrupulous

conscientious and exact; having principles

ruse

an action or device intended to deceive

lineaments

any of the features of the body, usually the face

derelict

deserted, abandoned (of a building); neglectful of a duty (of a person); n. a homeless person

cynical

distrusting others from a sense that everyone's motives are selfish

ingrate

an ungrateful person

caveat

a warning

compound

a building or group of buildings enclosed by a barrier

apprehension

worry or unease

banal

dull or stale; commonplace

rustic

of or living in the country

rejoinder

an answer, esp. to another answer

venial

easily excused or forgiven

apt

appropriate; having a natural tendency

exert

to put forth or bring to bear

exodus

the departure of a large number of people

suffrage

the right to vote

diverge

to depart from a set course or opinion

blithe

frivolous; casual; carefree

indelible

incapable of being removed or erased

arbitrate

to settle a dispute or a fight between two parties

pragmatic

dealing practically with a situation or a thing; based on experience rather than theory

averse

opposed, reluctant; repelled

dismal

causing gloom or depression

circumspect

showing discretion and careful judgment

underscore

to emphasize

sedate

calm; quiet

saline

of or containing common salt

atheist

one who believes that God does not exist

icon

an image; a symbol; a representation of a holy person, esp. in the Orthodox Christian churches

fallacy

a false notion, esp. one based on incorrect reasoning

analogy

a similarity between things that are otherwise dissimilar; a comparison based on such similarity

abject

of the lowest degree; brought low in condition

aristocracy

a hereditary ruling class; a group considered to be superior to the others

relegate

to assign to an obscure place or condition; to send away

ubiquitous

present everywhere

defunct

having ceased to exist or live

circumscribe

to form or mark the limits of; to restrict or limit severely

anarchy

the absence of government

cornucopia

an abundance

extant

currently or actually existing

vigilant

alert and watchful, esp. for what is dangerous

abstinence

the act of voluntarily doing without something

brood

to be deep in thought; to think over moodily and at length

chagrin

feeling of embarrassment because of failure or disappointment

infamous

having a bad reputation

season

to make competent through experience; to accustom

petulant

impatient or irritable, esp. over a minor annoyance

renege

to fail to carry out a promise

hangar

a structure used for housing aircraft

egregious

outstanding for undesirable qualities; remarkably bad

polyglot

one who speaks many languages; adj. speaking many languages

acclimate

to make comfortable in a new environment; to adapt to

incorrigible

unable to be corrected or reformed

frank

open and sincere; straightforward

lucrative

producing wealth; profitable

check

to restrain or block

magnanimous

generous; noble in mind

protégé

one whose welfare, training, or career is promoted by another person

pacify

to make peaceful; to restore calm

insular

narrow in outlook; provincial

eon

a long period of time

obdurate

not easily moved to pity or sympathy

deplore

to feel or express strong disapproval of

larder

a place (e.g., a pantry or cellar) where food is stored

remnant

a small amount left over after the rest has been used; a surviving trace

novel

strikingly new

indigent

poor; needy; destitute

abeyance

a suspension of activity

gripe

to complain constantly or naggingly

mirth

gladness, esp. when expressed as laughter

mausoleum

a huge tomb

forlorn

appearing sad because abandoned; in pitiful condition; almost without hope

tout

to solicit customers; to praise or recommend highly

rhapsody

a state of great happiness; such a state expressed in speech or writing

adjourn

to suspend until a later, stated time

impassive

not feeling emotion; not showing emotion

accrue

to come as a gain; to increase