SAT Vocab 1101-1200

intrusive

(adj.) tending or apt to intrude; coming without invitation or welcome

inquiry

(n.) a seeking or request for truth, in formation, or knowledge

laud

(v.) praise, glorify, or honor

scrutinize

(v.) examine carefully for accuracy with the intent of verification; to look at critically or searchingly, or in minute detail

prevalent

(adj.) widespread; in general use or acceptance

chisel

(v.) to cut, shape, or fashion by or as if by carving with a chisel, to cheat or swindle

misanthrope

(n.) someone who dislikes people in general

feral

(adj.) wild and menacing

insufferable

(adj.) not to be endured; intolerable; unbearable

skeptical

(adj.) marked by or given to doubt

paternal

(adj.) characteristic of a father; belonging to or inherited from one's father

fraught

(adj.) filled with or attended with; marked by distress

detract

(v.) to take away a part; as from quality, value, or reputation

enigma

(n.) something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained; a difficult problem

indecision

(n.) inability to decide

affluent

(adj.) having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value

microbe

(n.) a microorganism, especially a pathogenic bacterium

indubitable

(adj.) that cannot be doubted; patently evident or certain; unquestionable

obstruct

(v.) to block or close up with an obstacle; to interrupt, hinder, or oppose the passage, progress, course, etc.

unassuming

(adj.) modest

negligent

(adj.) marked by insufficient care or attention

infringe

(v.) to violate or break (a law an agreement, etc.) to encroach or trespass

fanatic

(adj.) marked by excessive enthusiasm for and intense devotion to a cause or idea;

(n.) a person motivated by irrational enthusiasm (as for a cause)

sentient

(adj.) having the power of perception by the senses; conscious

rustic

(adj.) awkwardly simple and provincial; characteristic of the fields or country

censure

(n.) harsh criticism or disapproval

staple

(n.) a basic or necessary item of food

averse

(adj.) (usually followed by 'to') strongly opposed

eclipse

(v.) to overshadow or surpass in importance, power, etc.

formulaic

(adj.) characterized by on in accordance with some forumla

ploy

(n.) a maneuver or stratagem, as in conversation, to gain the advantage

tenure

(n.) the possession or holding on an office or position

rhetoric

(n.) (in writing or speech) the undue use of exaggeration or display; the art or science of all specialized literary uses or language in prose or verse including the figures of speech; the art of making persuasive speeches

salutary

(adj.) tending to promote physical well-being; beneficial to health

vitriolic

(adj.) capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action, harsh or corrosive in tone

duress

(n.) compulsion by use of force or threat

unremitting

(adj.) uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing

exhume

(v.) to reveal or disclose; to dig up (something buried, esp. a corpse)

obligatory

(adj.) required by obligation or compulsion or convention

zenith

(n.) a highest point or state; culmination

embroil

(v.) to involve (a person, oneself, etc.) in trouble, conflict, or argument

channel

(n.) a route through which anything or progresses;

(v.) to direct toward or into some particular course

apprehend

(v.) to arrest and escort into custody; to grasp the meaning of; to expect with anxiety, suspicion, or fear

degenerate

(v.) to fall below a normal or desirable level in physical, mental, or moral, or moral qualities; deteriorate

nirvana

(n.) a place or state characterized by freedom from pain, worry, and the external world

impede

(v.) to restrict or retard in action, progress, etc.

explicate

(v.) to make clear or explicit, explain

felicity

(n.) the state of being happy, especially in a high degree, bliss

obstinate

(adj.) resistant to guidance or discipline; stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing

enfranchise

(v.) grant voting rights; grant freedom to; as from slavery or servitude

elixir

(n.) a panacea; cure-all; sovereign remedy

disclose

(v.) to make known; reveal or uncover

pilfer

(v.) to steal, especially in small quantities

caustic

(adj.) capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action; harsh or corrosive in tone

stagnate

(v.) cease to flow; stand without moving; exist in a changeless situation

deplore

(v.) express strong disapproval or; regret strongly

unfetter

(v.) to free from restraint; liberate

sycophantic

(adj.) attempting to win favor by flattery

aerate

(v.) to expose to the action or effect of air or to cause air to circulate through

preachy

(adj.) tediously or pretentiously didactic arrogantly instructive

invulnerable

(adj.) incapable of being wounded hurt, or damaged

illusory

(adj.) unreal; deceptive; misleading

unfaltering

(adj.) marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable

pungent

(adj.) having an acrid smell or sharp bitter flavor; caustic, biting, or sharply expressive

empathy

(n.) understanding and entering into another's feelings

deleterious

(adj.) harmful; injurious

jaunt

(n.) a journey taken for pleasure

callow

(adj.) young and inexperienced

disingenuous

(adj.) not straightforward or candid

labyrinth

(n.) complex system of paths or tunnels in which it is easy to get lost; any confusingly intricate state of things or events

perpetuate

(v.) cause to continue or prevail

disquieting

(adj.) causing anxiety or uneasiness; distributing

entreat

(v.) ask for or requested earnestly

consort

(n.) a companion, associate, or partner; accord or agreement

expend

(v.) use up, consume fully; pay out

prelude

(n.) something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows

residual

(adj.) pertaining to or constituting a remainder; remaining; leftover

pompous

(adj.) exaggeratedly or ostentatiously dignified or self-important; arrogant

discreet

(adj.) careful to avoid social embarrassment or distress, esp. by keeping confidences secret

conform

(v.) to act in accord with the prevailing standards, attitudes, practices, etc.

permissive

(adj.) tolerant; lenient

tempo

(n.) characteristic rate, rhythm, or pattern of work or activity

exuberant

(adj.) effusively and almost uninhibitedly enthusiastic

deficient

(adj.) inadequate in amount or degree

conviction

(n.) a fixed or firm belief

divergent

(adj.) differing; deviating

wary

(adj.) watchful, cautious, or alert

volatile

(adj.) changeable; mercurial; flighty

teem

(v.) to abound or swarm; be prolific or fertile

itinerant

(adj.) traveling from place to place to work

scandalous

(adj.) disgraceful; shameful or shocking; improper

induct

(v.) introduce; initiate; place ceremoniously or formally in an office or position; admit as a member

ingenuous

(adj.) characterized by an inability to mask your feelings; not devious; lacking in sophistication or worldliness

overture

(n.) a proposal, act, or gesture initiating a relationship, negotiation, etc.

incoherent

(adj.) unable to express yourself clearly or fluently; without logical or meaningful connection

denounce

(v.) to condemn or censure openly or publicly

reciprocate

(v.) to give, feel, etc., in return; interchange

sagacious

(adj.) acutely insightful and wise; skillful in statecraft or management

stalemate

(n.) any position or situation in which no action can be taken or progress made

precipitous

(adj.) extremely or impassably steep; hasty