SSAT Deck 4

lively

full of life and energy; active and outgoing.

livid

furiously angry.

longevity

long life.

lucrative

producing a great deal of profit.

lukewarm

(of liquid or food that should be hot) only moderately warm; tepid.

lull

calm or send to sleep, typically with soothing sounds or movements.

luminous

giving off light; bright or shining.

lunge

a sudden forward thrust of the body, typically with an arm outstretched to attack someone or seize something.

maestro

a distinguished conductor or performer of classical music./a distinguished figure in any sphere.

malice

the desire to harm someone; ill will.

malignant

evil in nature or effect; malevolent./(of a disease) very virulent or infectious.

maritime

connected with the sea, especially in relation to seaborne trade or naval matters.

marvel

be filled with wonder or astonishment./a wonderful or astonishing person or thing.

meager

(of something provided or available) lacking in quantity or quality./(of a person or animal) lean; thin.

median

the median value of a range of values.

mediator

a person who attempts to make people involved in a conflict come to an agreement; a go-between.

meditate

think deeply about (something).

meek

quiet, gentle, and easily imposed on; submissive.

melancholy

a feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause.

mellow

(especially of a sound, flavour, or colour) pleasantly smooth or soft; free from harshness./(of a person's character) tempered by maturity or experience.

menacing

suggesting the presence of danger; threatening.

mentor

an experienced and trusted adviser.

merciful

showing or exercising mercy.

mercury

the chemical element of atomic number 80, a heavy silvery-white metal which is liquid at ordinary temperatures.

merge

combine or cause to combine to form a single entity.

mesmerizing

capturing one's complete attention as if by magic.

meteorology

the branch of science concerned with the processes and phenomena of the atmosphere, especially as a means of forecasting the weather.

methodical

done according to a systematic or established procedure.

meticulous

showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise.

mettle

a person's ability to cope well with difficulties; spirit and resilience.

mildew

a thin whitish coating consisting of minute fungal hyphae, growing on plants or damp organic material such as paper.

mimic

imitate (someone or their actions or words), especially in order to entertain or ridicule.

mine

an excavation in the earth for extracting coal or other minerals.

mirage

an optical illusion caused by atmospheric conditions, especially the appearance of a sheet of water in a desert or on a hot road caused by the refraction of light from the sky by heated air.

mischievous

causing or showing a fondness for causing trouble in a playful way.

misconstrue

interpret (a person's words or actions) wrongly.

misguided

having or showing faulty judgement or reasoning.

misogynist

a person who dislikes, despises, or is strongly prejudiced against women.

mitigate

make (something bad) less severe, serious, or painful.

modest

unassuming in the estimation of one's abilities or achievements.

moist

slightly wet.

momentous

of great importance or significance, especially in having a bearing on future events.

monarch

a sovereign head of state, especially a king, queen, or emperor.

monotone

(of a voice or other sound) unchanging in pitch; without intonation or expressiveness.

motif

a decorative image or design, especially a repeated one forming a pattern./a dominant or recurring idea in an artistic work.

muffle

wrap or cover for warmth./cover or wrap up (a source of sound) to reduce its loudness.

mule

the offspring of a donkey and a horse (strictly, a male donkey and a female horse), typically sterile and used as a beast of burden.

multitude

a large number of people or things.

mumble

say something indistinctly and quietly, making it difficult for others to hear.

municipality

a town or district that has local government.

murky

dark and gloomy, especially due to thick mist.

naïve

(of a person or action) showing a lack of experience, wisdom, or judgement.

narcissist

a person who has an excessive interest in or admiration of themselves.

nationalization

the transfer of a major branch of industry or commerce from private to state ownership or control.

negligent

failing to take proper care over something.

nemesis

a long-standing rival; an arch-enemy.

nibble

take small bites out of.

nimble

quick and light in movement or action; agile.

noble

belonging by rank, title, or birth to the aristocracy./having or showing fine personal qualities or high moral principles.

nocturnal

done, occurring, or active at night.

nonchalant

(of a person or manner) feeling or appearing casually calm and relaxed; not displaying anxiety, interest, or enthusiasm.

nostalgia

a sentimental longing or wistful affection for a period in the past.

notorious

famous or well known, typically for some bad quality or deed.

novice

a person new to and inexperienced in a job or situation.

nullify

make legally null and void; invalidate.

oath

a solemn promise, often invoking a divine witness, regarding one's future action or behaviour.

objective

(of a person or their judgement) not influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering and representing facts.

obligate

require or compel (someone) to undertake a legal or moral duty.

obliging

willing to do a service or kindness; helpful.

obliterate

destroy utterly; wipe out.

oblivion

the state of being unaware or unconscious of what is happening around one.

oblivious

not aware of or concerned about what is happening around one.

obscene

offending against moral principles; repugnant.

obscure

not clearly expressed or easily understood.

obsession

the state of being obsessed with someone or something.

obsolete

no longer produced or used; out of date.

obvious

easily perceived or understood; clear, self-evident, or apparent.

ointment

a smooth oily substance that is rubbed on the skin for medicinal purposes or as a cosmetic.

omen

an event regarded as a portent of good or evil.

omit

leave out or exclude (someone or something), either intentionally or forgetfully.

onslaught

a fierce or destructive attack.

opaque

not able to be seen through; not transparent.

oppressed

subject to harsh and authoritarian treatment.

optimize

make the best or most effective use of (a situation or resource).

orbit

the curved path of a celestial object or spacecraft round a star, planet, or moon, especially a periodic elliptical revolution.

ordeal

a very unpleasant and prolonged experience.

oscillating

move or swing back and forth in a regular rhythm.

outcast

a person who has been rejected or ostracized by their society or social group.

outlandish

looking or sounding bizarre or unfamiliar.

ovation

a sustained and enthusiastic show of appreciation from an audience, especially by means of applause.

overblown

made to seem more impressive or important than is the case; exaggerated or pretentious.

overt

done or shown openly; plainly apparent.

pacifist

a person who believes that war and violence are unjustifiable.

pact

a formal agreement between individuals or parties.

painstaking

done with or employing great care and thoroughness.

palpable

(of a feeling or atmosphere) so intense as to seem almost tangible./able to be touched or felt.

panhandler

a person who stops people in the street and asks them for food or money.

panorama

an unbroken view of the whole region surrounding an observer.

paradox

a seemingly absurd or contradictory statement or proposition which when investigated may prove to be well founded or true.

parameter

a limit or boundary which defines the scope of a particular process or activity.