Upper Level SSAT Vocabulary

androgynous

having features of both sexes; suitable for both male and female

annex

to add to, attach: to incorporate; an attachment or addition

apprehension

anxiety or fear about the future

assured

guaranteed; promised confidently

assent

to express agreement; agreement

austere

severe or stern in manner; without adornment or luxury, simple, plain; harsh or sour in flavor

bastion

a fortified place, stronghold

bemoan

lament; moan for; express sorrow or disapproval of

Brash

Prone to act in a hasty manner; impudent

blunt

frank or honest without sensitivity: very frank or straightforward and showing no delicacy or consideration; having a dull point or edge; not sharp

brazen

shameless, impudent; made of brass

cater

to satisfy the needs of, try to make things easy and pleasant; to supply food and service

censor

expurgate; removing objectionable words and/or material; Strong or vehement expression of disapproval

Composure

Control over one's emotions; steadiness of manner; tranquility; COLLECTEDNESS

Creed

A formal statement of religious belief or confession of faith.

Confound

(verb) confuse; puzzle

Condemn

Express complete disapproval

Confer

have a conference in order to talk something over; to consult, talk over, exchange opinions; to present as a gift, favor, or honor

Conspicuous

Easy to notice; obvious

Decree

To command, to declare; TO ORDER

deft

(adj.) skillful, nimble

Discreet

Showing tact, respect, and restraint in speech or behavior.

Dismayed

struck with fear, dread, or consternation

Dispel

To clear away; to remove or get rid of, as if by scattering.

Disparage

To degrade, to speak of someone or something in a derogatory manner.

Drastic

Extreme; harsh or intense

Drenched

soaked or very wet

Egress

An exit; a means of going out

Elongate

(v.) to grow in length, become longer; to extend the length of

Tedious

Monotonous; (adj.) long and tiresome

Crony

Associate; a close friend or companion

Liable

Legally responsible

Intact

whole

Refuse

anything discarded or rejected as worthless; trash

Abode

housing that someone is living in

Mar

to damage the appearance of sthing especially by drawing or writing on it

Intermittenly

from time to time, occasionally, periodically; happening on and off, at intervals

Impose

Require

Alias

other name

Stench

a distinctive odor that is offensively unpleasant

Increment

(n.) an enlargement, increase, addition

Vestige

A trace or evidence of something that once existed

Misconstrued

interpretted erroneously

Extenuating

mitigating

Collusion

connivance

Subservient

Compliant and obedient to authority

Lasso

a long noosed rope used to catch animals

Tenuous

flimsy; having little substance or strength, flimsy, weak; UNSOUND

Mousy

timid; shy

Adulterate

Dilute; make impure by adding inferior or tainted substances

Vie

compete

Divert

1. entertain; 2. distract; 3. cause a detour

Leery

suspicious

Intrigue

cause to be interested or curious; Plot

Embryonic

in an early stage of development

Ephemeral

(adj.) lasting only a short time, short-lived

Epitome

A summary, condensed account; an instance that represents a larger reality

Exalt

To glorify, to praise, to raise in rank

Exile

Being forced to live somewhere other than ones own country

Fickle

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

Flotsam

(n.) floating debris; homeless, impoverished people

Forge

Furnace where metal is heated; COUNTERFEIT

Germane

relevant to the subject at hand; appropriate in subject matter

Glean

To gather bit by bit; to gather small quantities of grain left in a field by the reapers; GARNER

Glint

a momentary flash of light; (n) a sparkle

Falter

(v.) to hesitate, stumble, lose courage; to speak hesitatingly; to lose drive, weaken, decline; WAVER

Fathom

(1) To come to/ understand; (2) A unit of water depth

Feisty

Irritable; quarrelsome; full of spirit

Homely

lacking in physical beauty or proportion; (adj.) ordinary; plain; simple

Inane

Empty; shallow or silly; (adj) silly, empty of meaning or value

Infiltrate

(v.) to pass through or gain entrance to gradually or stealthily

Ingress

Entrances or a means to enter.

Innocuous

(adj.) harmless, inoffensive; insignificant

Intermission

a break between acts of a play or performance during which people are sent out for snacks or stretch breaks

Jest

a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter

Laudatory

Expressing admiration or praise

Lucrative

(adj.) bringing in money; profitable

Menace

a threat or the act of threatening

Mirage

An optical illusion caused by atmospheric conditions

Nag

to keep complaining to somebody about their behaviour or keep asking them to do something; a horse

Notorious

Famous for something bad

Null

make ineffective by counterbalancing the effect of

Overt

(adj) open, not hidden, expressed or revealed in a way that is easily recognized

Pact

A formal agreement between two countries; a bargain

Invaluable

Too valuable to measure; priceless

Rife

(adj.) common, prevalent, widespread, happening often; full, abounding; plentiful, abundant, replete

Shroud

1. a cover for dead body, 2. to cover; veil

Dowdy

(adj) poorly dressed, shabby; lacking smartness and good taste

Tacit

silent; not talkative; understood

writ

law

cummerbund

a broad sash worn as a waistband, especially in formal wear

Ulcer

A deep loss of skin surface that may extend into the dermis; may cause periodic bleeding and the formation of scars.

Surly

Bad-tempered, hostile, unfriendly, or rude

Divinity

The quality or character of being godlike.

Asylum

A place of retreat or security

Token

(1) Sign or symbol; SYMBOL; EXPRESSION; REPRESENTATION; (2) Existing in name or appearance only, without depth, or significance; NOMINAL; SUPERFICIAL; MEANINGLESS

Buoyant

(adj) able to float easily; able to hold things up; cheerful or hopeful

Manic

A mood disorder marked by a hyperactive, wildly optimistic state

Domain

(n) territory over which rule or control is exercised

Bazaar

A market consisting of a street lined with shops; a place where miscellaneous items are sold