SAT vocabulary

frenzy (U/C)

(an example of) uncontrolled or wild behavior

hankering (C)

a strong wish

avenue to

path to

promenade

a path for walking one, esp one built next to the sea

thoroughfare

a main road, usually with busy traffic

impervious

unable to be affected/not allowin liquid to go through

contraband

goods that are transported into or out of a country illegally or secretly

countermand

to change an order that has been given, esp by giving a new order

caricature

biếm họa

invigorate

to make sb feel fresher, healthier, and more energetic

nefarious

(esp of activities) morally bad

congenial

friendly and pleasant

duplicitous

dishonest in talking

duplicity

dishonest talk or behaviour, esp by saying different things to two people

vindicate

to prove that what sb said or did was right or true, esp after others thought it was wrong

grapple with

try hard to solve st difficult

ricochet

(of a ball/bullet) hit a surface and bounce away at an angle

premeditated

(of a crime or st unpleasant) characterized by forethought and planning

surmise

form an idea or assumption with little evidence

contrive

bring about, create st through trickery; to arrange an event or st with clever planning

innocuous

harmless or mild

verisimilitude to

the quality/appearance of being real

profusion of

an extremely large amount of st

paucity of

the fact that there’s too little of st

buttress

strengthen or defend

nominal

in name only

idiosyncratic

unique

sumptuary laws

historical regulations designed to restrain luxury, extravagance, and consumption based on a person’s social rank

carnage

a killing of large numbers of people, esp during a war

infirmity (U/C)

illness, esp for long periods or because of old age

solicit

to ask sb for money, information, or help

despotism

the rule of a despot (= a ruler with unlimited power and is often cruel and unfair)

fidelity

honest and lasting support, loyalty, the degree to which the detail and quality of the original is copied exactly

abase

to lower in rank, esteem, prestige; to lower physically

abash

to destroy the self-possession and self-confidence of sb

discomfit

hamper, frustrate, confuse sb

discomfiture

the feeling of being confused or embarrassed

equanimity

the state of being calm, esp during difficult times

abhor

to regard with extreme repugnance, to feel hatred or loathing for

accolade

a mark of acknowledgement, an expression of praise

addendum

st added; a supplement to a book

adroit

having/showing skills, cleverness, and resourcefulness in handling difficult situations

aghast

struck with terror, amazement, or horror, shocked and upset

abstemious

marked by restrain esp when eating food or drinking alcohol

acrimonious

angry, caustic, and bitter

abstruse = recondite

difficult to comprehend

acquiesce

to accept or agree reluctantly

ameliorate

to make better or more tolerable; to grow better

appal

to overcome with shock or dismay

consternation

confusion or dismay that throws into confusion

assail

to be attacked violently; to encouter, undertake, and confront energetically; to oppose, challenge, criticize harshly; to be perceived by (a person, a person’s senses, etc.) in a strongly noticeable and unpleasant ways

contusion

injury to tissue usually without laceration

laceration

a torn and ragged wound

contumacious

rebellient, stubbornly disobedient

decapitate

behead

condescension

arrogance, an attitude showcasing that one thinks they are more important and intelligent than others

approbation

formal or official praise

virtuousity

the quality of being extremely skilled at sth

betray

to reveal (one’s feelings/qualities) unintentionally

laxative

having a tendency to loosen, relax; thuốc sổ, nhuận tràng

gladiator

an armed combatant in ancient Rome who fought wild animals, criminals in arenas for public entertainment

senator

thành viên thượng viện

caucus

a formal meeting of politicians/leaders of an organization to discuss a matter

foolhardy

a person who will take unnecessary risks and dangerously brave

pugnacious

=quarrelsome

antidote

thuốc giải

resuscitation

hồi sức

relapse

the state of going back to worse state of health after a period of recovery

stygian

extremely dark, gloomy, relating to the mythical river Styx

cogent

clear, logical, and convincing

fortuitous

by chance, by accident

pyre

a large pile of wood built to burn a dead body during a funeral rite

mortuary

a room or building used to keep dead bodies before the funeral or cremation

centurion

an officier in an army in ancient Rome who is responsible for 100 soldiers

augury

a sign of what may happen in the future

evanescent

disappear quickly from sight, memory, or existence

onerous

causing great difficulty or trouble

pliant

willing to accept change or new ideas

upbraid = reproach

to rail against sb

tentative

not fully worked out or developed; hesitant/uncertain

divulge

to make known (a confidence or secret)

underwrite

thẩm định tài chính

underbid

to offer lower sales to compete with business competitors

stipulate

to cite the law to make a statement

patronize

to treat sb with hidden superiority; to be a frequent customer at a business

enervate

to make sb feel tired and drained

recuperate

to gain back health after illness or injury

repine

to feel sad or complain abt st unpleasant

derision=scorn

sự kinh thường, không xem trọng

ostracism

the act of not including sb in a group/the state of not being included in a group

inveterate

always doing or enjoying st, and unlikely to stop

inveterate

(of a negative feeling) felt for a long time

intersperse in/with

to put st among others