SAT 2

Aberration

n. something that differs from the norm

Abject

adj. lowly; miserable; wretched

Abjure

v. to reject; abandon formally

Abnegation

n. self-denial

Abrogate

v. to abolish

Abstruse

adj. difficult to understand

Accede

v. to yield to; to assume an office or dignity

Accost

v. to approach and speak to aggressively

Accretion

n. growth in size or increase in amount

Acumen

n. keen insight; shrewdness

Adamant

adj. unyielding; firm in opinion

Adumbrate

v. to sketch out in a vague way

Aggrandize

v. to increase in power, influence, and reputation

Alacrity

n. brisk and cheerful readiness

Ambivalent

adj. having mixed feelings

Amenable

adj. agreeable

Amorphous

adj. shapeless; vague

Anachronistic

adj. out of date; chronologically misplaced

Anathema

n. a cursed, detested person

Annex

v. to add or attach

Antediluvian

adj. extremely old; antiquated

Antiseptic

adj. clean; sterile; substance that prevents infection

Antithesis

n. the direct opposite; a sharp contrast

Apathetic

adj. feeling or showing little emotion

Apocryphal

adj. of doubtful authenticity

Approbation

n. approval; praise

Arbitrary

adj. unreasonable; based on one's wishes or whims without regard for reason or fairness

Arboreal

adj. relating to trees

Arcane

adj. known or understood by only a few

Archaic

adj. ancient; old-fashioned

Archetypal

adj. the most representative or typical example of something

Arrogate

v. to claim or take without right

Ascetic

n. someone practicing self-denial; austere

Aspersion

n. a damaging or derogatory statement

Assiduous

adj. persistent; attentive; diligent

Atrophy

v. to waste away

Avarice

n. greed

Bane

n. something causing distress or ruin

Bashful

adj. shy; excessively timid

Beguile

v. to deceive; to charm; to enchant

Bereft

adj. deprived of; made unhappy through a loss

Bilk

v. cheat; defraud

Blandishment

n. flattery intended to persuade

Bombastic

adj. pompous in speech and manner

Cajole

v. to persuade with false promises and flattery

Callous

adj. emotionally hardened; unfeeling

Calumny

n. a false and malicious accusation

Camaraderie

n. trust among friends; familiarity; "comrade"

Candor

n. honesty; frankness

Capitulate

v. to surrender

Carouse

v. to party; celebrate; "carousel"

Carp

v. to complain or find fault in a petty or nagging way

Caucus

n. a private meeting of members of a political party

Cavort

v. to leap about in a sprightly manner; romp

Circumlocution

n. an indirect way of expressing something; talking in circles

Circumscribe

v. to limit; restrict

Clamor

n. loud noise

Cleave

v. to cut or split open

Cobbler

n. a person who makes or repairs shoes

Cogent

adj. convincing; reasonable

Cognizant

adj. having knowledge or being aware of; informed; wise

Commensurate

adj. corresponding in size or degree; in proportion

Complement

n. something that completes or makes up a whole

Compunction

n. remorse; regret

Concomitant

adj. accompanying in a subordinate fashion; resulting; consequence of

Conduit

n. a means by which something is transmitted; pipe; channel

Conflagration

n. a large destructive fire

Congruity

n. the quality of being in agreement

Connive

v. to cooperate secretly in wrongdoing; scheme \>:)

Consign

v. to give something over to another's care; transfer

Constitutent

n. a person from a legislator's district

Construe

v. to interpret or analyze something in a particular way

Contentious

adj. quarrelsome; inclined to argue

Contravene

v. to violate or go against

Contrite

adj. feeling regret for having committed some wrongdoing; remorseful

Contusion

n. bruise; injury

Convivial

adj. fond of partying; festive; sociable

Corpulence

adj. fat

Covet

v. to desire something belonging to another

Cupidity

n. greed

Dearth

n. a lack; scarcity

Debacle

n. a complete failure; a total collapse; disaster

Debauch

v. corrupt

Defunct

adj. no longer existing or functioning

Demagogue

n. a leader who appeals to citizens' emotions to obtain power

Denigrate

v. to attack the reputation of; to speak ill of; mock

Derivative

n. something that comes from another source; unoriginal

Despot

n. a dictator with absolute power

Diaphanous

adj. lightweight and transparent

Didactic

adj. intended to teach

Disaffect

v. to cause to lose affection or loyalty

Discomfit

v. to embarrass and confuse

Disparate

adj. fundamentally different; entirely unlike; different

Disrepute

n. disgrace; loss of reputation

Divisive

adj. causing conflict; opposition

Dogmatic

adj. stubbornly opinionated; arrogant

Dour

adj. stern; unyielding; gloomy; ill-humored

Duplicity

n. treachery; deceitfulness

Duress

n. compulsory force or threat

Ebullience

n. intense enthusiasm