ELITE SAT VOCAB 126-250

deference

n. yielding an opinion, desire, or position to another out of respect

salient

adj. important, prominent, most noticeable

unseemly

adj. not decent or proper

remorse

n.sadness or regret for what one has done

mercenary

adj. greedy; motivated by desire for money

fetid

adj. having a bad odor

drab

adj. dull or dreary; monotonous

prodigal

adj. exceedingly or recklessly wasteful

patronize

v. to sponsor or support; to be kind or helpful in a snobbish way, as if dealing with an inferior

plausible

adj. appearing worthy of belief or trust

allure

n. the poser to attract with something desirable

lenient

adj. inclined to not be strict

pertinent

adj. relevant

serene

adj. calm and peaceful

indubitable

adj. certain; indisputable (literally "not doubtable")

inaugurate

v. to formally bring into office at the beginning of a term

covert

adj. concealed or disguised; not openly practiced

solace

n. comfort in a time of distress

insidious

adj. subtly harmful; stealthy, sneaky

atrophy

n. a wasting away, esp. of body tissue

altercation

n. a heated or noisy argument

forment

v. to stir up negative feelings, esp. those that lead to violent action

purloin

v. to steal, oft. in violation of a trust

caesura

n. a break or pause

acquiesce

v. to agree without protest

conscientious

adj. showing care and precision; painstaking

crass

adj. dull-witted, unrefined

impart

v. to give a portion of; to make known

spendthrift

n. one who spends money wastefully

tabulate

v. to count

adroit

adj. naturally skillful, esp. dealing with difficult circumstances

dexterous

adj. skillful with the hands or mind

redolent

adj. aromatic; fragrant; suggestive

foreboding

n. a sense of impending evil, esp. one without definite cause

denouement

n. conclusion; resolution; the falling action of a story after its climax

subsidy

n. monetary assistance

prevalent

adj. dominant; widespread

incumbent

adj. necessary or obligatory; n. a person who currently holds a particular position

mimic

v. to copy closely, esp. with intent to ridicule

beacon

n. a signaling light; a source of guidance or inspiration

supplant

v. to take the place of

scythe

n. a long-handled, bladed instrument used for harvesting crops

shard

n. a fragment of a brittle substance, e. g., glass or pottery; a small piece of something

wayward

adj. stubbornly going against what is expected or required in order to satisfy one's own desire

effrontery

n. bold and insulting behavior

vagary

n. an erratic notion or action

agile

adj. quick and easy in movement; mentally alert

glut

n. an oversupply

cursory

adj. superficially done; performed rapidly

spurn

v. to push or drive away contemptuously with or as with the foot

comply

v. to yield or act in accordance with requests, conditions, etc.

peccadillo

n. a minor sin

incendiary

adj. causing or capable of causing fire; stirring up trouble

impunity

n. exemption from punishment or harm

proficient

adj. very skillful, esp. through training

precede

v. to go before

benefactor

n. one who helps and supports others

flout

v. to intentionally and obviously disobey

erode

v. to wear away slowly

spate

n. a large number or amount of something, esp. in a brief time

imbue

v. to inspire; to permeate; to fill with a mood or tone

credulous

adj. tending to believe too easily

bravura

n. a showy display

omniscient

adj. all-knowing

untenable

adj. indefensible, or impossible to maintain

veneer

n. an attractive, ultimately misleading outward show; thin layer

legible

adj. capable of being read or deciphered

recount

v. to tell in detail

prevaricate

v. to speak or write evasively in order to avoid telling the truth

sedentary

adj. sitting down most of the time

veracious

adj. honest; truthful

venerate

v. to look upon with respect and honor

raconteur

n. one who tells stories with skill

leaning

n. a preference or inclination

premature

adj. happening, done, arriving, or existing before the proper time

vicarious

adj. felt as if one were taking part in the experiences of another

pique

v. to arouse (interest, curiosity, etc.); to irritate

abate

v. to lessen in amount, intensity or strength

maternal

adj. characteristics of a mother

decorum

n. polite behavior

pretentious

adj. claiming dignity or importance, esp. when undeserved

unwieldy

adj. hard to handle or manage, esp. because of size or weight

homely

adj. unattractive, plain looking

impromptu

adj. without preparation

visceral

adj. instinctive; relating to the internal organs

staccato

adj. composed of abrupt, disconnected parts or sounds

rue

v. to regret

meritocracy

n. a system in which promotion is based on individual ability or achievement

inveigle

v. to obtain by flattery

behoove

v. to be necessary or proper for

austere

adj. stern or sever in appearance; without luxury

inert

adj. unable to move or respond; sluggish

mnemonic

adj. pertaining to or assisting the memory

censor

v. to prevent from becoming known or circulated; n. an official editor of material

imposing

adj. impressive by virtue of size, power, or manner

hectic

adj. characterized by intense activity

sully

v. to dirty or tarnish, esp. by disgracing

insipid

adj. uninteresting; having no flavor

anachronism

n. something not belonging to a certain time period

malady

n. a disease; illness; sickness