PSAT study

Apotheosis

the highest point in the development of something

Appropriation

money or assets designated for a special purpose

concession

a thing that is granted, especially in response to demands

endorsement

an act of giving one's pubic approval of support to someone or something

faction

a small, organized group within a larger group

proponent

one who supports a theory, proposal, or project

recusal

excusing oneself from a case or situation because of a conflict of interest of lack of impartiality

sanction

1. a threatened penalty for disobeying a law or rule.

2. official permission or approval for an action.

veto

a rejection of a law, decision, or proposal

capitulate

cease to resist an opponent or an unwelcome demand; surrender

disavow

to den responsibility for, knowledge of, or support for something

initiate

1. to cause something to begin

2. to signal the acceptance of someone into a group by a special ceremony

pique

to stimulate interest or curiosity

prevaricate

to speak falsely or misleadingly

resuscitate

to revive someone or something from unconsciousness, apparent death, or obscurity

reverberate

a loud noise repeated several times as an echo

secede

to withdraw formally from an alliance, federation, or association

sequester

to remove or withdraw into solitude or retirement

adhere

1. to stick to or be attached to firmly

2. to believe in and follow the practices of

contaminate

to make something impure by exposure or by addition of a poisonous or polluting substance

incite

to encourage violent or unlawful behavior

legitimize

to make something legal or acceptable

mollify

to appease anger or anxiety

refute

1. to prove to be wrong or false

2. to deny or contradict

rejuvenate

to restore vigor, youthfulness, and freshness

scrutinize

to examine closely and thorougly

usurp

to take a position of power or importance legally or by force

adamant

refusing to be persuaded or to change one’s mind

bilatera

involving two groups or countries

consequential

1. following as a result of effect

   1. important

futile

incapable of producing any useful result

impartial

not favoring one more than another

inevitable

certain to happen

latent

present but not visible, apparent, or actualized

malevolent

with harmful intent

universal

of, affecting, or done to all people or things in the world or in a particular group

adroit

clever or skillful with the hands or the mind

ethnic

relating to a population subgroup with a common cultural tradition

fastidious

concerned about accuracy and detail

feckless

lacking initiative or strength of character

implacable

unable to be appeased, changed or stopped

mandatory

required by law or rules

obdurate

refusing to change one’s opinion or action

relevant

appropriate and connected to the matter at hand

tangible

real or actual, rather than imaginary

acumen

mental sharpness, able to make good judgement and quick decisions

autocracy

a system of government ruled by one person with absolute power

ideology

a system of ideas and ideals forming the basis of economic and political theory

impediment

a hindrance or obstruction in doing something

integrity

adherence to moral and ethical principles

nihilism

the rejection of religious and moral principles, belief that life is meaningless

obituary

a notice of death including a brief biography of the deceased person

pejorative

a remark or word expressing contempt or disappointment

sedition

incitement of discontent or rebellion against a government

apocalyptic

describing the complete destruction of the world

corrosive

a substance causing damage by chemical action

eloquent

fluent or persuasive in speaking and writing

exculpatory

to clear from blame, fault, or guilt

internecine

relating to a conflict within a group, organization, or country

irreconcilable

impossible to find agreement with or to deal with

lackadaisical

lacking vigor, determintation, and enthusiasm

raucous

making a loud, harsh, and disturbing noise

sequential

arranged in logical order

effervescent

lively, high spirited, enthusiastic

mawkish

excessively sentimental, often in a silly way

parsimonious

frugal to the point of stinginess

perspicacious

having mental perception and understanding

spurious

not genuine, authentic, true, or sincere

surreptitious

marked by stealth and secrecy

tantamount

equal in value, meaning, or effect

truculent

easily annoyed and always ready to argue or fight

visceral

instinctive feelings not based on reason or logic

impertinently

not showing proper respect

inconspiciously

not noticable or prominent

ingeniously

creatively or imaginatively

inquisitively

given to inquiry, research or asking questions

judiciously

in a way that shows good judgement

obnoxiously

highly objectionable or offensively

reluctantly

feeling or showing hesitation, aversion, or unwillingness

solemnly

in a dignified and thoughtful way

unethically

against proper rules of conduct or morality

acknowledge

to admit the existence or truth of

accost

to approach and address someone in a bold or aggressive way

compensate

to pay for work done, for something lost or damaged, or for some inconvenience

decimate

to reduce drastically, especially in number

defer

to put off or delay

justify

to show to be just or right

litigate

using the judicial process to decide and settle something

malign

to speak about or criticize in a harmful way

obfuscate

to make obscure or unclear

copious

abundant in supply or quantity

culinary

related to the kitchen or cooking

ebullient

overflowing with cheerfulness, enthusiasm, or excitement

frugal

showing economy in the use or money and/or resources

grandiose

excessively grand or ambitious

heterogeneous

consists of diverse or incongruous elements