SSAT VOCAB UPPER LEVEL

abdicate

to give up a position, right, or power

abundant

more than enough; plentiful

acclaimed

praised

acute

sharp; shrewd

admonish

(v.) to caution or advise against something; to scold mildly; to remind of a duty

adversary

an enemy, opponent

agenda

Plan of action; purpose

aggrandize

(v.) to increase in greatness, power, or wealth; to build up or intensify; to make appear greater

allege

to assert without proof or confirmation

aloof

reserved, distant

altruism

a concern for others; generosity

ameliorate

to improve

amiable

having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner

androgynous

having both male and female characteristics

antagonistic

opposed; hostile; aggressive

antipathy

strong dislike

apprehension

anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen

ascertain

to find out

aspect

A part that can be considered or viewed

assail

attack, assault

austere

(adj.) severe or stern in manner; without adornment or luxury, simple, plain; harsh or sour in flavor

astute

(adj.) shrewd, crafty, showing practical wisdom

audacious

(adj.) bold, adventurous, recklessly daring

auspicious

favorable; fortunate

authoratative

official, coming from a source that calls for obedience or belief; dictatorial

banal

common, ordinary

belligerent

hostile and aggressive

bemoan

to complain about

benevolent

kindly, charitable

bequest

something left to someone in a will

blatant

obvious

bombastic

(adj.) pompous or overblown in language; full of high-sounding words intended to conceal a lack of ideas

capricious

impulsive and unpredictable

cascade

a waterfall; anything resembling a waterfall

cater

to satisfy the needs of

chagrin

embarrassment; a complete loss of courage

chronic

continuing for a long time

chronicle

a record of events in order of time; a history

coalesce

to come together

competent

having the ability to do what is needed

composure

mental calmness

condemn

to express strong disapproval of

confound

to confuse

conniving

given to or involved in conspiring to do something immoral, illegal, or harmful.

conspicuous

Easily seen or noticed

consume

to use up; devour

contrite

feeling regret for having committed some wrongdoing

conventional

(adj.) in line with accepted ideas or standards; trite

cordial

warm and friendly

corpulent

(adj.) fat; having a large, bulky body

counterfeit

fake; false

crucial

extremely important

depict

(v.) to portray; to represent or show in the form of a picture

deft

skillful, nimble

deviate

to turn aside from a course; to stray

differentiate

(v.) - to distinguish, to make different

discreet

careful about what one says or does

dispel

To scatter about, break up

disparage

to degrade, to speak of someone or something in a negative manner

disperse

to scatter, spread far and wide

docile

(adj.) easily taught, led, or managed; obedient

egress

an exit; a means of going out

elegy

a sorrowful poem or speech

eloquent

persuasive and moving, especially in speech

embodiment

a tangible or visible form of an idea, quality, or feeling

embryonic

undeveloped; rudimentary

emphasize

To give special attention to something, to stress

enigma

a puzzle; a mystery

ephemeral

lasting a very short time

epitome

The best or most typical example

Equity

(n.) the state or quality of being just, fair, or impartial; fair and equal treatment; something that is fair; the money value of a property above and beyond any mortgage or other claim

esoteric

(adj.) intended for or understood by only a select few, private, secret

essential

absolutely necessary

exhilarating

bringing great joy and excitement

feasible

possible, able to be done

feign

to pretend

fickle

(adj.) liable to change very rapidly, erratic; marked by a lack of constancy or steadiness, inconsistent

fleeting

lasting for a very short time; brief

flotsam

floating debris; homeless, impoverished people

fluctuate

to rise and fall; to vary irregularly

foreseen

known beforehand

forge

counterfeit; reproduce fraudulently

formulate

to come up with; devise

foster

to stimulate, promote, encourage

frugal

thrifty, cheap

genial

(adj.) cordial, pleasantly cheerful or warm

germane

(adj.) relevant, appropriate, apropos, fitting

extent

degree or scope

extol

to praise extravagantly

facet

(n.) one aspect or side of a subject or problem

fallacy

a false or mistaken idea

fallow

inactive; unproductive

hasten

hurry; accelerate; rush

hinder

to delay; to stop or prevent from happening

ignoble

dishonorable; shameful

impasse

blocked path; dilemma with no solution

impulsive

Acting or done without forethought

inane

(adj.) silly, empty of meaning or value

incite

to arouse to action

ingress

the act of entering