SAT Vocab Words

"pre" = before

preamble

an introduction to a text

presage

to indicate something (usually bad) is about to happen

prescient

knowing something is going to happen before it does

predilection

a special fondness

precipitate

rash, acting before thinking

predicate

to be based on

presentiment

a feeling that something (usually bad) is about to happen

precedent

sets an example for how things are done in the future

pretentious

acting more important than others by pretending to know more

pretense

a claim or assertion not based on fact

predecessor

a person that comes before, previously held a position before passing it onto someone else

precursor

something that comes before anothher

pretext

a reason for something that isn’t the actual reason

precocious

premature development, “precocious puberty”

preclude

to make it impossible for something to happen

tantalize

to torment someone with something they want without ever giving it to them

pyrrhic

describes a victory that comes with a heavy cost

laconic

using as few words as possible when speaking

draconian

extremely strict (laws, rules)

jeremiad

a long speech full of complaints

cicerone

a guide who gives speeches to sightseers

nemesis

one who constantly works to ensure another’s downfall

platonic

describes a close relationship without romance

thespian

an actor

spartan

lacking in comfort or flourishes

juggernaut

an unstoppable, destructive force or thing

maudlin

over self-pitying

hector

to bully (through words)

nonchalant

giving off a sense of calmness and coolness

adroit

skillfull, mentally or with one’s hands

chicanery

trickery, deception

demur

to object to doing something

insouciant

showing a lack of concern or interest

arriviste

a person who is extremely ambitious and has recently acquired wealth or power

parvenu

a person who has recently gained status or celebrity, but may not have earned the prestige or dignity with it

rapport

understanding and similar feelings that exist between people or groups

passé

no longer in fashion

cache

a collection of items hidden or stored away for future use

raconteur

a skilled storyteller

sortie

an attack from a defensive position

gauche

clumsy, socially awkward

sangfroid

utter calmness and composure, especially under pressure

liaison

a person who helps two parties communicate

envoy

a messenger, usually on a diplomatic mission

sans

“without”

filial

relating to the obligations of a son or daughter

droll

odd and therefore amusing

faux pas

an act or comment with embarrassing social consequences

in lieu of

in place of

enfant terrible

a person whose commentary or behavior is aimed to shock

tête-à-tête

a private conversation between two people

savoir vivre

a familiarity and ease with polite society

savoir faire

the skill of saying and doing just the right thing in social situations

esprit de corps

the spirit of belongingness and pride of a tightly knit group

poltergeist

a ghost that supposedly causes noisy disturbances in the environment

kitsch

cheap art whose owners are usually aware of its lack of value

doppelganger

a person who looks remarkably like another person

kaput

no longer functioning

verboten

forbidden, prohibited

zeitgeist

the mood of a particular time period as captured by ideas and culture

schandenfreude

delight taken in another’s misfortune

bildungsroman

a coming of age story