elite prep sat vocab 401-500

circled words

enigma

enigma

something that is puzzling, ambiguous

plight

sad situation

impasse

a dead-end

ostensible

outwardly appearing as such

hovel

a small, miserable dwelling

surmount

to overcome (e.g., an obstacle); to climb to the top of

superfluous

unnecessary; extra

avert

to turn away

proscribe

to prohibit or forbid; to denounce

consanguinity

blood relationship

complicity

involvement as an accomplice in a crime or wrongful act

paucity

smallness of number; scarcity

sycophant

one who seeks favor by flattering people of wealth or influence

tractable

easily managed or controlled

promulgate

to make known by official announcement

annul

to make void or invalid

castigate

to criticize severely, esp. in public

conduit

a channel for conducting fluids; a means by which something is transmitted

wont

accustomed

brook

to tolerate

consecrate

to make or set apart as sacred

espouse

to give loyalty or support to; to adopt

modicum

a small quantity

glib

easy and fluent in conversation or writing, often suggesting insincerity or deceitfulness

rabble

a noisy crowd; the lowest, coarsest class of people

tenuous

weak; thin

nominal

appearing in name only; negligible or of low amount

savant

a well-educated person; a scholar

prescient

knowing things before they occur

excise

to remove by or as if by cutting

dossier

group of documents

conundrum

a riddle or puzzle, esp. one without a solution

bevy

a group, esp. of birds

frowzy

having an uncared-for appearance

aplomb

self-assurance; self-confidence; poise

affable

friendly; easy to talk

prerogative

an exclusive right or privilege, esp. one that is the result of heredity or official position

capricious

erratic; tending to change abruptly

unilateral

one-sided; unequal

crux

an essential or pivotal point, a perplexing difficulty

supple

easily to bend

callous

lacking pity or mercy; unfeeling

apprise

to inform or notify

creed

a system of beliefs, principles, or opinions

denomination

the name for a special class of persons, such as a religious group

obviate

to stop from occurring; to prevent or make unnecessary

replete

well-filled; abundantly supplied