SAT Vocab 601-700

calamitous

(of events) having extremely unfortunate or dire consequences; bringing ruin

herald

a person who announces important news; a person or thing viewed as a sign that something is about to happen

variegated

having a variety of colors; marked by variety

locution

a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations; a style of speech or verbal expression

willful

deliberate, voluntary, or intentional; unreasonably stubborn or headstrong

annex

to join or add, esp. to something larger, attach

reticent

disposed to be silent or not to speak freely; reserved

superficial

being or affecting or concerned with a surface; not deep or penetrating emotionally or intellectually; of little substance or significance

deviation

departure from a standard or norm

Protagonist

the leading character, hero, or heroine of a drama or other literary work

mire

an awkward, complex, or embarrassing situation; a soft wet area of land that gives away under the feet

garnish

to provide or supply with something ornamental; to provide (a food) with something that adds flavor, decorative color, etc.

orator

a person who delivers a speech or oration

virtuoso

having or revealing supreme mastery or skill;

noun: a musician who is consummate master of technique and artistry

sentimental

tending to indulge the emotions excessively

unimpeachable

above suspicion; impossible to discredit; impeccable

mercernary

working or acting merely for money or other reward;

noun: a professional soldier hired to serve in a foreign army

audacious

extremely bold or daring; recklessly brave; fearless; disposed to venture or take risks

abrasive

tending to annoy or cause ill will; overly aggressive

witty

amusingly clever in perception and expression

coddle

to treat tenderly; nurse or tend indulgently; pamper

canon

a fundamental principle or rule; and ecclesiastical rule or law enacted by a council or other competent authority

defunct

adj. having ceased to exist or live; no longer in force or use; inactive

impetuous

characterized by undue haste and lack of thought or deliberation; marked by violent force

intermittent

stopping or ceasing for a time; alternately ceasing and beginning again

articulate

expressing yourself easily or characterized by clear expressive language; consisting of segments held together by joints

obtuse

lacking in insight or discernment

eminent

high in station, rank, or repute; prominent; distinguished

leery

wary; suspicious

recommence

to begin; start

menacing

to appear to be frightening, intimidating, or threatening

unperturbed

free from emotional agitation or nervous tension

charlatan

a person who pretends or claims to have more knowledge or skill than he or she possesses

ruthless

without mercy or pity

epitomize

be a perfect example of

dictum

A formal or authoritative statement or assertion

pseudonym

a fictitious name adopted, esp. by an author

disposal

the act or means of getting rid of something; placement or arrangement; the power or opportunity to make use of someone or something

inscrutable

incapable of being investigated, analyzed; impenetrable; not easily understood

ubiquitous

being present everywhere at once

prediscope

to give an inclination or tendency to beforehand

object

goal; purpose

verb: to express or feel disapproval, dislike, or distaste

artistry

artistic workmanship, effect, or quality; great skill

avarice

insatiable desire for wealth; extreme greed for material wealth

concomitant

existing or occurring together; associative

fad

A temporary fashion, notion, manner of conduct etc, especially one followed enthusiastically

calamity

an event resulting in great loss and misfortune

longevity

a long individual life; the length or duration of life; length of service, tenure, etc.

remote

(of a place) situated far from the main centers of population; distant

(of a chance or possibility) unlikely to occur

languish

to lose or diminish in strength or energy

brawn

physical strength, esp. as opposed to intelligence

incandescent

emitting light as a result of being heated; passionate or brilliant

hysterical

marked by excessive or uncontrollable emotion; causing unrestrained laughter

melancholy

characterized by or causing or expressing sadness; grave or even gloomy in character

caricature

a representation of a person that is exaggerated for comic effect

raze

to tear down; demolish; level to the ground

nondescrpit

lacking distinct or individual characteristics; dull and uninteresting;

noun: a person is not easily classified and not very interesting

communal

used or shared in common by everyone in a group

entice

attract or tempt by offering pleasure or advantage

remedy

something that cures or relieves a disease or bodily disorder; a healing medicine, application, or treatment, something that corrects or removes an evil of any kind.

retain

to continue to use, practice, etc.; to continue to hold or have

provident

adj. providing carefully for the future; careful in regard to your own interests

dissipation

act of scattering in various places; dissolute indulgence in sensual pleasure; using or expending or consuming thoughtlessly or carelessly

noncommittal

not involving or revealing commitment to any particular opinion or course of action

unscrupulous

not involving or revealing commitment to any particular opinion or course of action

perquisite

a thing regarded as a special right or privilege enjoyed as a result of one's position

flank

the side of an animal or a person between the ribs and hip; the side of anything, such as a mountain or building

senile

showing a decline or deterioration of physical strength or mental functioning, especially short-term memory and alertness, as a result of old age or disease; mentally or physically infirm with age

rouse

to bring out of a state of sleep, unconsciousness, inactivity; to stir or incite to strong indignation or anger

morass

any confusing or troublesome situation, especially one from which it is difficult to free oneself; entanglement; a soft wet area of low-lying land that stinks underfoot

verve

an energetic style

interleave

to insert something alternately and regularly between the pages or parts of

mirth

gariety or merriment, especially when accompanied by laughter

obliterate

to remove or destroy all traces of; do away with; destroy completely; to blot out or render undecipherable

inane

devoid of intelligence; empty; void

reprieve

a delay from impending punishment, as from execution of a sentence of death; any respite or temporary relief

hypocrisy

(n.) insincerity by virtue of pretending to have qualities or beliefs that you do not really have

whimsy

the trait of acting unpredictably and more from caprice than from reason or judgment; light or fanciful humor

concoct

prepare of cook by mixing ingredients; to devise; make up

equivocal

open to more than one interpretation; (often) intended to mislead

tedium

dullness owing to length or slowness; the feeling of being bored by something tedious

blight

any cause of impairment, destruction, ruin, or frustration

draconian

rigorous; unusually severe or cruel

affected

deeply moved or influenced, esp. by sorrow or grief; speaking or behaving in an artificial way to make an impression

stoic

seemingly unaffected by pleasure or pain; impassive

edifice

a building, especially one of large size or imposing appearance

amalgam

a combination or blend of diverse things

dilatory

wasting time; inclined to waste time and lag behind

influx

the process of flowing in

unwavering

marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable

myopic

lacking foresight or scope; lacking tolerance or understanding narrow-minded

hail

to cheer, salute, or greet; approve enthusiastically; to call out to in order to stop, attract attention, ask aid

repudiate

refuse to acknowledge, ratify, or recognize as valid; reject as untrue, unfounded, unjust

insinuate

to suggest or hint slyly

rampant

violent in action or spirit; raging; furious; having a lush and unchecked growth