sat common vocab words

abase

to humiliate, degrade.

abate

to reduce, lessen.

abdicate

to give up a position, usually one of leadership.

abduct

to kidnap, take by force.

aberration

something that differs from the norm.

abet

to aid, help, encourage.

abhor

to hate, detest.

abide

1. to put up with; 2. to remain.

abject

wretched, pitiful.

abjure

to reject, renounce.

abnegation

denial of comfort to oneself.

abort

to give up on a half-finished project or effort.

abridge

1. to cut down, shorten; 2. shortened.

abrogate

to abolish, usually by authority.

abscond

to sneak away and hide.

absolution

freedom from blame, guilt, sin.

abstain

to freely choose not to commit an action.

abstruse

hard to comprehend.

accede

to agree.

accentuate

to stress, highlight.

accessible

obtainable, reachable.

acclaim

high praise.

accolade

high praise, special distinction.

accommodating

helpful, obliging, polite.

accord

an agreement.

accost

to confront verbally.

accretion

slow growth in size or amount.

acerbic

biting, bitter in tone or taste.

acquiesce

to agree without protesting.

acrimony

bitterness, discord.

acumen

keen insight.

acute

1. sharp, severe; 2. having keen insight.

adamant

impervious, immovable, unyielding.

adept

extremely skilled.

adhere

1. to stick to something; 2. to follow devoutly.

admonish

to caution, criticize, reprove.

adorn

to decorate.

adroit

skillful, dexterous.

adulation

extreme praise.

adumbrate

to sketch out in a vague way.

adverse

antagonistic, unfavorable, dangerous.

advocate

1. to argue in favor of something; 2. a person who argues in favor of something.

aerial

somehow related to the air.

aesthetic

artistic, related to the appreciation of beauty.

affable

friendly, amiable.

affinity

a spontaneous feeling of closeness.

affluent

rich, wealthy.

affront

an insult.

aggrandize

to increase or make greater.

aggregate

1. a whole or total; 2. to gather into a mass.

aggrieved

distressed, wronged, injured.

agile

quick, nimble.

agnostic

believing that the existence of God cannot be proven or disproven.

agriculture

farming.

aisle

a passageway between rows of seats.

alacrity

eagerness, speed.

alias

a false name or identity.

allay

to soothe, ease.

allege

to assert, usually without proof.

alleviate

to relieve, make more bearable.

allocate

to distribute, set aside.

aloof

reserved, distant.

altercation

a dispute, fight.

amalgamate

to bring together, unite.

ambiguous

uncertain, variably interpretable.

ambivalent

having opposing feelings.

ameliorate

to improve.

amenable

willing, compliant.

amenity

an item that increases comfort.

amiable

friendly.

amicable

friendly.

amorous

showing love, particularly sexual.

amorphous

without definite shape or type.

anachronistic

being out of correct chronological order.

analgesic

something that reduces pain.

analogous

similar to, so that an analogy can be drawn.

anarchist

one who wants to eliminate all government.

anathema

a cursed, detested person.

anecdote

a short, humorous account.

anesthesia

loss of sensation.

anguish

extreme sadness, torment.

animated

lively.

annex

1. to incorporate territory or space; 2. a room attached to a larger room or space.

annul

to make void or invalid.

anomaly

something that does not fit into the normal order.

anonymous

being unknown, unrecognized.

antagonism

hostility.

antecedent

something that came before.

antediluvian

ancient.

anthology

a selected collection of writings, songs, etc.

antipathy

a strong dislike, repugnance.

antiquated

old, out of date.

antiseptic

clean, sterile.

antithesis

the absolute opposite.

anxiety

intense uneasiness.

apathetic

lacking concern, emotion.

apocryphal

fictitious, false, wrong.

appalling

inspiring shock, horror, disgust.

appease

to calm, satisfy.

appraise

to assess the worth or value of.