PSAT Vocab

Acrid

Sharp, pungent (smells and tastes)

Boorish

ill-mannered

Cynical

Believing that people act only our of selfish motives

Epistle

a letter

Heresy

against orthodox opinion

Lance

spear, spike, javelin

Obscure

difficult to understand, partially hidden

Poignant

deeply moving, strongly affecting the emotions

Respite

a break, intermission

Terse

concise, to the point

Acrophobia

fear of heights

Bourgeois

middle class

Debility

weakness, incapacity

Epistolary

concerned with letters, through correspondence

Hiatus

Interruption, pause

Languid

tired, slow

Obscured

hidden, covered, burried

poised

calm, collected, self-possessed

Resplendent

shining, glowing

Therapeutic

medicinal, curative

acuity

sharpness (mental/visual)

Braggart

someone who boasts

Debunking

exposing false claims or myths

Epitomized

typified, characterized, personified

Hidebound

rigid in opinions

Languish

decay, fade away, get weaker

Obsequious

servile, submissive

Polemical

causing debate or argument

Restorative

a tonic

Thwart

prevent, frustrate

Adamant

forceful, inflexible

Brawny

Muscular

Decathlon

ten event competition

Equivocate

speak ambiguously

Hieroglyphics

picture-writing

Larceny

theft robbery stealing

Obsession

a domination concern

Ponderous

weighty, slow and heavy

Retention

preservation, withholding

Timorous

cowardly, fearful

Adroit

skillful

Brevity

briefness

Decorum

dignified, decent, correct behavior

Err

make a mistake

Hinder

obstruct

Largess

generosity

Obsolete

no longer valid

Pontificate

speak pompously, dogmatically

Reticent

restrained, holding something back, uncommunicative

Tirade

stream of verbal abuse

Adulation

strong admiration, worship

Bristle

to show irritation

Decoy

lure, trap, trick

Erratic

wandering, irregular

Histrionic

theatrical, exaggerated

Laud

praise

Obstreperous

noisy and boisterous

Portend

foretell

Retraction

withdrawal, cancellation of a statement

Titter

giggle quietly

Adversity

hardship

Broach

start to discuss, approach

Deference

Respect

Esoteric

obscure and difficult to understand

Hoary

old

Lavish

on a grand scale, wasteful, luxurious

Obtuse

mentally dull

Portent

foretell

Revere

worship

Tome

large book

Advocate

support

Brusque

blunt, abrupt

Defoliate

cause leaves to fall off

Espouse

promote, take up, support

Hone

sharpen, increase, perfect

Lax

careless, not strict

Obviate

avoid, make unnecessary

Poseur

someone who puts on an act

Riddled

full of (holes)

Torpid

inactive, lazy, stagnant

Aesthetic

concerning art or beauty

Bulwark

fortification, barricade, wall

Defunct

no longer in existence

Etymology

study of word origins

Hyperbole

grossly exaggerated expression

Legend

Key to a map/Myth or story

Odious

hateful

Posterity

future generations

Rife

common, widespread

Torpor

dormancy, sluggishness

Affable

friendly, social, easygoing

Bureaucracy

administration marked by hierarchical authority

Degradation

deprivation, poverty, debasement

Eulogy

praise

Hypochondriac

a person obsessed with health;having imaginary illnesses

Legion

in large numbers

Officious

domineering;intrusive; meddlesome

Posthumous

after death

Rigor

thoroughness

Totter

walk unsteadily