Past SAT Vocab

acquiesced

1) Accepted or complied without protest (acquiesced to the terms).

2) (Law) Consented tacitly by silence or inaction.

abut

1) To touch or share a boundary with; adjoin (the lots abut the river).

2) (Construction/Architecture) To rest against or be supported by (beams abut a wall).

3) (Surveying) To border upon along a specified line or feature.

abate

1) To decrease in force, amount, or intensity; subside (storms abated).

2) To reduce or lessen something (abate noise/taxes).

3) (Law) To nullify, suspend, or diminish a proceeding, claim, or nuisance.

contrivances

1) Devices, schemes, or artful means belonging to/used by someone (“the contrivances of the author”).

2) (Rhet.) Deliberate narrative or stylistic artifices employed by (the contrivances of satire).

3) (Mech./Tech.) Mechanisms or gadgets developed by (the contrivances of early engineers).

oscillated

1) Moved back and forth in a regular rhythm (the pendulum oscillated).

2) (Physics/EE) Varied periodically about a central value (signal amplitude oscillated).

3) (Figurative) Alternated between states or opinions (oscillated between hope and doubt).

forsake

1) To abandon or desert someone or something (forsake friends/ideals).

2) To renounce or give up (forsake a habit/claim).

3) (Lit./Biblical) To leave entirely; quit (archaic/lofty tone).

opaque

1) Not allowing light to pass through; not transparent.

2) Difficult to understand; obscure or abstruse (opaque prose).

3) (Chem./Mat.) Impervious to radiation/particles.

4) (Computing) Whose internal structure is hidden or unspecified (opaque pointer/type).

proxy

1) (n.) An authorized agent or substitute acting for another (vote by proxy).

2) (n.) A figure or variable used as an indirect measure of another (education as a proxy for income).

3) (n.) (Computing/Networking) An intermediary server relaying requests (HTTP proxy).

4) (adj.) Acting as a substitute or stand-in (proxy war/measure).

5) (v.) To act or vote on someone’s behalf; to route through an intermediary (proxy traffic).

contrivance

1) A cleverly planned device, scheme, or artifice.

2) The act of devising or inventing; ingenuity in planning.

3) (Lit./Crit.) An artificial plot device that strains plausibility.

4) A mechanical appliance or gadget.

convergence

1) The act of coming together from different directions; meeting point.

2) (Math.) Property of a sequence/series approaching a limit.

3) (Biology/Evolution) Independent evolution of similar traits in unrelated lineages (convergent evolution).

4) (Tech/Media) Integration of distinct systems or services into a unified platform (media/telecom convergence).

5) (Neurosci/Phys.) Input from multiple sources terminating on a single neuron or pathway.

denotes

1) Indicates or is a sign of; signifies (a red light denotes “stop”).

2) (Semantics/Logic) Refers to the primary, literal meaning of a term (denotation vs. connotation).

3) (Math) Is used as a symbol for (θ denotes the angle).

proponents

1) Advocates or supporters of a cause, theory, or proposal.

2) (Law, some jurisdictions) Parties who put forward a document or claim (e.g., a will).

components

1) (n.) Constituent parts of a whole (machine, system, argument).

2) (n., Math/Vector) Scalar or vector parts along specified axes (x- and y-components).

3) (n., Electronics) Discrete parts such as resistors, capacitors, ICs.

4) (n., Chem/Materials) Substances/phases in a mixture or alloy.

5) (n., Software/UI) Reusable modules or widgets.

6) (adj.) Constituent; composing (“component parts”).

attest

1) To provide or serve as clear evidence of; demonstrate (results attest success).

2) To declare or certify formally as true (attest under oath).

3) (Hist./Docs) To witness and sign a document’s execution.

partition

1) (n.) A division into parts; a separating structure or segment.

2) (n., Math) A way of expressing a set or integer as nonoverlapping parts (set/number partition).

3) (n., Computing) A logically separated section of storage (disk partition).

4) (v.) To divide or separate into parts; to apportion.

invoke

1) To call on a rule, principle, precedent, or authority in support.

2) To put into effect or cause to be applied (invoke sanctions/procedures).

3) (Computing) To call or execute a function or method.

4) (Ceremonial/Rhet.) To appeal to a deity/ideal for aid or inspiration.

attrition

1) Gradual reduction through continuous loss (staff attrition).

2) Wearing down by friction or erosion (literal or figurative).

3) (Military) Strategy of exhausting an enemy over time.

4) (Theology) Imperfect contrition from fear of punishment.

sporadically

1) At irregular intervals; occasionally and without predictable pattern.

2) (Med./Genetics) Occurring in isolated, non-inherited instances.

begrudgingly

1) With reluctance or resentment; unwillingly though done anyway.

2) With minimal enthusiasm or generosity (begrudgingly offered help).

partitioned

1) Divided into parts or sections (a partitioned dataset).

2) (Comp.) Allocated to a distinct logical region (partitioned memory/disk).

epitome

1) A perfect example or embodiment of a quality or type (“the epitome of grace”).

2) A summary or condensed account (formal/literary).

3) (Hist.) An abridgment of a larger work.

quintessential

1) Representing the purest or most typical example of a quality or class.

2) (Philos./Hist.) Relating to the “fifth essence” (archaic/specialist).

circumspection

1) Careful consideration of all circumstances; prudence.

2) Caution in speech or action to avoid risk or offense.

universal

1) (adj.) Applicable to all cases or people; general and all-encompassing (universal rights).

2) (adj., Logic/Math) Quantified as “for all” (universal quantifier ∀).

3) (adj., Ling.) Found across languages (linguistic universal).

4) (n., Phil.) A general property or type instantiated by particulars (the universal of “redness”).

indices

1) Alphabetical or systematic lists for reference (book/research indices).

2) (Math) Exponents or subscripts; also plural of “index number.”

3) (Econ./Finance) Statistical measures tracking levels/prices (price indices, stock indices).

4) (CS/DB) Data structures that accelerate lookup (database indices).

discrepancy

1) A lack of agreement or consistency between accounts, figures, or facts.

2) (Stats/Measurement) Observed difference versus an expected or standard value.

3) (Crit./Logic) A divergence that calls for explanation or reconciliation.

perceptible

1) Capable of being perceived by the senses or the mind; noticeable.

2) Slight but detectable (a perceptible increase in temperature).

and as such

1) Consequently; in that capacity or by that very fact (“He is a minor and, as such, cannot sign.”).

2) Functions as a discourse connector invoking the status of the antecedent as the reason for the conclusion.

ubiquitous

1) Present, appearing, or found everywhere; pervasive.

2) (Computing/Design) Seamlessly available across contexts or devices (ubiquitous computing).

3) (Markets/Networks) Near-universal adoption or coverage.

copious

1) Abundant; plentiful in number or quantity (copious notes/evidence).

2) Yielding a large output (copious rainfall/tears).

3) (Rhet., older) Wordy; verbose (“a copious style”).

unambiguous

1) Having only one clear meaning; not open to multiple interpretations.

2) (Logic/CS/Linguistics) Formally free of structural ambiguity (unambiguous grammar/spec).

preliminary

1) (adj.) Preparatory; preceding the main matter or event (preliminary report).

2) (n.) An initial round, step, or document before the principal one (the preliminaries).

sporadic

1) Occurring at irregular intervals; occasional and scattered.

2) (Medicine/Genetics) Arising randomly; not inherited or endemic (sporadic cases).

3) (Math, group theory) Relating to the “sporadic simple groups” (specialist).

equivocal

1) Open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous.

2) Deliberately vague or evasive.

3) Uncertain or of questionable character (“equivocal results”).

4) (Med/Lab) Indeterminate test outcome requiring confirmation.

redeemable

1) Capable of being exchanged or converted for value (redeemable coupons/points).

2) (Finance) Subject to being bought back or paid off (redeemable bonds/shares).

3) Morally capable of reform or atonement (a redeemable character).

subdued

1) Quiet, muted, or restrained in style, color, or manner (subdued lighting).

2) Calm or depressed in mood; not lively.

3) Brought under control or overcome (a subdued rebellion).

tangential

1) Only slightly related; digressive or off to the side of the main point.

2) (Geometry) Touching a curve at a single point; relating to a tangent.

3) (Physics/Mech.) Directed along a tangent (tangential velocity/force).

integral

1) (adj.) Essential or necessary to completeness (“integral to the plan”).

2) (adj.) Made up of whole, undivided parts; unified.

3) (Math) Of or related to an integer; whole-number (integral values/solutions).

4) (Math, n.) The result of integration; an antiderivative or definite integral ∫.

5) (Eng./Control) Involving accumulation over time (integral term in PID control).

forecast

1) (n.) A prediction or estimate of future conditions (weather/earnings forecast).

2) (v.) To predict on the basis of data or analysis; project (to forecast demand).

3) (Met./Econ.) Official outlooks issued by agencies or analysts.

extemporaneous

1) Done, spoken, or performed without advance preparation; impromptu.

2) Prepared in outline but delivered without a full script (extemporaneous speaking).

3) (Pharmacy/Med.) Compounded on the spot for a specific patient (extemporaneous preparation).

implicate

1) to show someone was involved in a crime, 2) to imply something with out directly saying it.

incipient

beginning to exist or appear

abate

the reduce the intensity

idiosyncratic 

peculiar or unique to an individual

entrench

fix firmly or securely

proclivity

inclination

sagacity

quality of being discerning, wisdom