SAT Vocab Prep

aerial

existing, happening, or operating in the air

ambivalence

the state of having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone

anon

an abbreviation for anonymous used to refer to someone whose identity is unknown

acquisition

the act of obtaining or acquiring something, like a company or a new skill

attribute

a quality or characteristic that is inherent in or ascribed to someone or something

beneficiary

a person or entity designated to receive benefits or advantages from a particular source, such as a trust or life insurance policy

benign

gentle and kindly; not harmful to the environment or society

bureaucratic

relating to the business of running an organization, or government; often characterized by excessive red tape and lack of efficiency

buttress

a structure built against a wall to support or reinforce it

circumvent

to find a way around an obstacle or to overcome a problem in a clever way

conducive

making a certain situation or outcome likely or possible

conjecture

an opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information

contrive

to create or bring about an object or situation by deliberate use of skill and artifice

corollary

a proposition that follows from (and is often appended to) one already proved; a natural consequence or result

dearth

a scarcity or lack of something

discernible

able to be perceived or recognized; noticeable

disconcerting

causing one to feel unsettled or confused

ditty

a short and simple song or poem

doth

an archaic third person singular form of 'does', used mainly in poetry and historical texts

dulcet

(especially of sound) sweet and soothing

edifice

refers to a large and imposing building or structure, typically one that is grand or monumental in nature

engulf

to completely surround or cover something/someone

epitomizing

embodying or representing the essence or ideal example of a particular quality, characteristic, or concept

equanimity

a state of mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in difficult situations

exalt

to praise or honor someone or something highly, often in a lofty or elevated manner

fanciful

something that is imaginative or whimsical, often characterized by elaborate or unrealistic ideas or fantasies

foreground

the area of a visual composition that appears closest to the viewer, typically containing the main subject or subjects of the image

foretells

predicting or forecasting future events or outcomes based on signs

germinate

to come into existence and develop (seeds do this)

guild

a professional organization or association, typically made up of individuals working in the same trade or industry

haphazard

something done or happening in a disorderly or random manner, lacking organization or planning

imminent

something that is about to happen or occur very soon

inauguration

the formal ceremony or event marking the beginning or commencement of a new period, such as the start of a political leader's term in office or the opening of a new establishment

inexplicable

something that cannot be explained or understood through logical reasoning or analysis used in a negative context

innocuous

something that is harmless, not likely to cause any harm or danger

interminable

something that is seemingly endless or never-ending in duration

invertebrate

are animals that do not possess a backbone or spinal column

iridescent

a phenomenon in which surfaces appear to change color as the angle of view or the angle of illumination changes

laced

something that has been adorned or embellished with decorative elements or interwoven with another material

languish

a state of declining or deteriorating in strength, health, or vitality

latent

something that is present but not yet developed, evident, or active

manifesto

a public declaration of principles, intentions, or policies, typically issued by a government, organization, or political party

mirth

a feeling of joy, amusement, or happiness, often expressed through laughter or cheerful behavior

mystifying

utterly bewildering or perplexing

nanotubes

cylindrical structures composed of carbon atoms arranged in a unique hexagonal lattice pattern

nebulous

unclear, vague, or ill-defined

nondescript

something is not easily described, or belongs to no particular class or kind

nuanced

characterized by subtle shades of meaning or expression

ornamental

decorative objects or elements that are used to enhance the appearance or aesthetics of something

paucity

the presence of something only in small or insufficient quantities or amounts; scarcity

portraiture

the art of creating portraits

posit

to assume as a fact; put forward as a basis of argument or put in position

pragmatic

practical, especially when making decisions

premeditated

thought out or planned beforehand

preponderance

a superiority in weight, power, importance, or quantity

presupposes

to assume something is true before having proof or to take something as a given

profusion

great quantity; lavish display or supply

recant

to formally or publicly withdraw or renounce a previous statement or testimony

receptor

a cell or group of cells that receives stimuli

repressed by

restrained, inhibited, or oppressed

reprise

a repeated passage in music

repudiate

refuse to accept or be associated with

ricochet

rebound one or more times off a surface

Rosetta Stone

a black basalt stone with inscriptions in Greek, demotic, and hieroglyphic scripts that helped decipher Egyptian hieroglyphics

rotunda

a round building or room, especially one with a dome

rudimentary

involving or limited to basic principles

situate

to fix or build something in a certain place or position

subsist

to maintain or support oneself, especially at a minimal level

supposition

an uncertain belief

surmise

suppose that something is true without having evidence to confirm it

tenuous

very weak or slight; can also refer to slender or insubstantial

tenure

the conditions under which land or buildings are held or occupied

transcending

going beyond the range or limits; surpassing

unanimity

agreement by all people involved; consensus

ungainliness

having an awkward appearance

unobtrusive

not conspicuous or attracting attention

verisimilitude

being believable, or having the appearance of being true

waive

to refrain from insisting on or using

wayward

difficult to control or predict because of unusual or perverse behavior