SAT Vocab 1801-1900

dilemma

state of uncertainty or perplexity, especially one with a choice between unfavorable options

inundate

to fill or cover completely, usually with water; fill quickly beyond capacity; to overwhelm

confine

a boundary or bound; (v.) to enclose within bounds; limit or restrict; to shut or keep in; prevent from leaving a place because of imprisonment, illness, discipline, etc.

fortitude

strength of mind that enables one to endure adversity with courage

outspoken

given to expressing yourself freely or insistently; characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion

disincline

to make or be averse or unwilling

revivalist

a person who revives former customs, methods, etc.; a person, especially a member of the clergy, who promotes or holds religious revivals

officious

intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner

assuage

to provide physical relief, as from pain; satisfy (thirst)

diplomatic

skilled in dealing with sensitive matters or people; tactful

knack

a special skill, talent, or aptitude; a special way of doing something

insipid

not pleasing to the sense of taste; lacking interest or significance

court

to try to win the favor, preference, or goodwill of; to seek the affections of; woo

turmoil

disturbance usually in protest; violent agitation

gamut

a complete extent or range; the entire scale of musical notes

frivolous

not serious in content or attitude or behavior

traverse

to travel across; to pass or move over, along, or through

intemperate

given to excessive indulgence, especially for liquors; excessive in behavior

ferocity

the property of being wild or turbulent

bipartisan

representing, characterized by, or including members from two parties or factions

catastrophe

a state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune; great disaster

extemporize

to do or manage something in a makeshift way without preparation

galvanize

to shock or excite (someone), typically into taking action

exotic

strikingly strange or unusual; being or from or characteristic of another place or part of the world

paranoia

a psychological disorder characterized by delusions of persecution or grandeur; baseless or excessive suspicion of the motives of others

prosperity

having good fortune; an economic state of growth with rising profits and full employment

apologist

a person who argues to defend or justify some policy or institution

prognosis

a forecast or prediction; a forecasting of the probable course and outcome of a disease, especially of the chances of recovery

deteriorate

to become worse or disintegrate; grow worse

vicious

grossly immoral; given or readily disposed to evil; reprehensible; blameworthy; wrong

intangible

incapable of being perceived by the sense of touch, as incorporeal or immaterial things; not definite or clear to the mind

sojourn

a temporary stay (e.g., as a guest); (v.) to spend a certain length of time; reside temporarily

regal

of or pertaining to a king; royal

perjury

criminal offense of making false statements under oath

ancillary

furnishing added support

divulge

to make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret

slight

small in amount, degree, etc.; of little importance; (n.) a deliberate discourteous act; (v.) to treat someone with indifference; ignore, especially pointedly or contemptuously

infallible

absolutely trustworthy or sure; incapable of failure or error

reverence

a feeling or attitude of deep respect tinged with awe; veneration

interim

the time between one event, process, or period and another; (adj.) serving during an intermediate interval of time

measured

deliberate and restrained; careful; carefully weighed or considered

reiterate

to say, state, or perform again

negligible

so small as to be meaningless; insignificant; not worth considering

hedonist

someone motivated by desires for sensual pleasures

pastoral

having the simplicity, charm, serenity, or other characteristics attributed to rural areas

erode

to eat into or away; destroy by slow consumption or disintegration

effuse

to pour or flow out; to spread out; diffuse

assail

to attack someone physically or emotionally; attack in speech or writing

suffice

to be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity

candor

the quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech; ability to make judgments free from discrimination or dishonesty

mar

to damage or spoil to a certain extent; render less perfect, attractive, useful, etc.

inclusive

including a great deal, or including everything concerned; comprehensive

recall

to bring back from memory; recollect; remember; summon to return; to revoke or withdraw

thwart

to hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of

morbid

suggesting an unhealthy mental state or attitude; unwholesomely gloomy, sensitive, extreme

crony

a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities

prolific

producing fruit, offspring, etc., in abundance; producing in large quantities

reparation

something done or paid in expiation of a wrong; (usually plural) compensation in money, material, labor, etc.

renowned

celebrated, famous

conspiracy

a secret plan to carry out an illegal or harmful act, esp. with political motivation

itinerary

a proposed route of travel; a guidebook for travelers

absurd

inconsistent with reason or logic or common sense; incongruous; inviting ridicule

stellar

being or relating to or resembling or emanating from stars; pertaining to a preeminent performer, athlete, etc.; outstanding or immense

parry

to turn aside; evade or dodge; to ward off (a thrust, stroke, weapon, etc.), as in fencing

hostile

of, pertaining to, or characteristic of an enemy; antagonistic

derail

to cause to fail or become deflected from a purpose; reduce or delay the chances for success or development of

fallacy

a misconception resulting from incorrect reasoning

squelch

to strike or press with crushing force; to put down, suppress, or silence

engender

to bring about or give rise to; produce or cause

desecrate

to violate or outrage the sacred character of (an object or place)

affirm

to state or assert positively; maintain as true

keen

having a sharp cutting edge or point; sharp, piercing, or biting; extremely sensitive or responsive; having or showing great mental penetration or acumen

provocation

unfriendly behavior that causes anger or resentment

sophomoric

intellectually pretentious, overconfident, conceited, etc., but immature

resilient

recovering readily from adversity, depression, or the like; elastic; rebounds readily

perceptible

recognizable; appreciable

impotent

lacking power or ability; utterly unable; (of a male) unable to reproduce

happenstance

a chance happening or event

reprehensible

bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure; blameworthy

depict

to give a description of; show in, or as in, a picture

anachronistic

chronologically misplaced

exacerbate

to make (pain, disease, emotion, etc.) more intense; aggravate; to exasperate or irritate

remission

a diminution in intensity or degree; forgiveness of sins

predilection

a tendency to think favorably of something in particular; partiality; preference

retroactive

operative with respect to past occurrences, as a statute; retrospective

emote

to show or pretend emotion; to portray emotion in acting

vacuous

devoid of matter; void of expression; lacking in ideas or intelligence

intelligible

capable of being understood; comprehensible

octave

a series or group of eight; a musical interval of eight tones

evocation

the act or instance of calling up or producing (memories, feelings, etc.); cause to appear

compendious

containing or stating the essentials of a subject in a concise form; succinct

meager

deficient in amount or quality or extent

scuttle

to run with quick, hasty steps; scurry

ostentatious

characterized by pretentious, showy, or vulgar display

arboreal

of or pertaining to trees; treelike

antecedent

preceding in time or order; (n.) a preceding circumstance, event, object, phenomenon

quandary

a state of perplexity or uncertainty over what to do in a difficult situation

despair

loss of hope; hopelessness

indulge

to enjoy to excess; give free rein to; give satisfaction to

proponent

a person who argues in favor of something; an advocate