Barron's book vocab

List of vocab words from Barron's Digital SAT Study Guide

Abject

Often used to describe negative things and heighten their negativity. It describes the highest level of loneliness, poverty, or sadness a person could reach.

Abode

Place where people live

Abstract

Something intangible that exists as only an idea or something real that represents a feeling

Acknowledge

To notice and make sure it knows that it has been noticed

Adapt

Change to fit a specific situation

Admonition

The scolding one might received if they have done something wrong

Affluent

To be very well off financially

Agitate

To work up or disturb

Aggrandize

To make something grander than it already is

Aggregate

To build up parts to create a whole

Alternation

Taking turns

Amicable

To get along with someone

Analogous

Two things can be compared to one another that helps clarify something about one of the things being compared

Analogy

Comparison between two items using like or as

Anomaly

Something strange or out of the usual pattern of things

Antipathy

Very negative feeling toward another person or thing

Apparition

Something that suddenly appears

Arbitrary

Based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system

Ascertain

To find it out or to confirm it

Aspire

Working toward a lofty goal

Autocratic

Someone in charge has all the power

Automated

Something was changed to make it work by itself

Beget

To take steps to bring something into existence or an action that leads to something

Benevolent

To be kind

Bestow

To give to someone. Often used with titles and honors

Biological

Describing something related to the study of life or related to life itself

Calibrate

To adjust something so that it runs the way it should

Calisthenics

Type of exercise that relies on body weight

Capacity

A measure of some ability

Celestial

Something that has to do with outer space

Censure

To give someone a formal reprimand

Circulation

Refers to anything moving back and forth or around in a predictable pattern

Coerce

To get someone to do something by threat of force

Cognition

The ability to understand something

Colloquial

Everyday language

Commercial

Buying and selling of goods

Complementary

Something goes well with the thing around it

Complimentary

Something that is provided free of charge

Conflate

To blend two ideas into one

Conjure

To bring something up

Consensus

When everyone agrees to something

Consequence

Result of an action taken

Conservator

Person whose job it is to preserve something

Constitution

Someone’s bodily health or how something is put together. Also the government version

Contingent

Something that relies on other factors to come to be

Conventional

Something that follows the traditional rules that are set up

Convey

TO get something across

Convoke

To call a meeting

Convulsion

A physical movement

Cooperatively

Working in a cooperative manner

Cultivate

To bring up or to try and make something grow or exist

Dawdle

Lag behind

Decipher

To figure something out

Deficient

When something isn’t enough

Degrade

To break something down over time

Demur

To politely say no to something or avoid it

Desolation

Total abandonment, emptiness, and destruction

Despoil

Taking away anything of value

Deter

To stop something from happening

Disenfranchise

To take away someone’s right to vote

Disparity

Inequality or a difference between two things

Disseminate

To pass out or ensure the spread of something

Dissimilar

Things that are not the same

Diverge

When two things move apart

Doctrine

A sincerely held belief, often religious or political

Doldrums

A time in which nothing happens, an area of water that is not moving. Something that just is not good

Domestic

Something related to the home

Dominion

Control or authority over someone or something

Dubious

To be doubtful and uncertain

Earnest

Someone is showing they are serious. They believe what they are saying and find it important that you recognize that

Eddy

When water or air moves swiftly in a circular motion

Effectual

The desired result has been achieved through an action

Efficacy

How effective something is

Efficient

Something done in the most direct way possible using the least amount of time and resources to get the best result

Embellish

To add details or flair to something

Emit

To give off

Empathize

To feel what someone is feeling

Endearing

To create warm feelings toward themselves

Endeavor

To try something

Endow

To give. Used for massive donations or rights given to people because of birth or citizenship

Enhance

To make something better or clearer

Enterprise

The process of undertaking big or difficult tasks

Entice

To convince someone to do something through the promise of reward

Entrenched

To be dug in, refuse to move, especially when it comes to thoughts and ideas

Ephemeral

Something short-lived

Evince

To show one’s feelings

Expenditure

A spending of money or other resources

Explanatory

Something explains another thing

Extensive

Something widespread or far-reaching, thorough

Feature

Part of an item that is designed for a specific use

Feeble

To be weak

Fetter

to hold someone back from what they want to do or accomplish

Finite

Something has a definitive beginning and ending

Fiscal

Something having to do with money and the economy

Florid

Flushed face

Former

The one of something before or in the past

Forum

Location or a meeting where people can talk about their thoughts, ideas, and opinions

Frantic

Desperate or desperation

Frequent

Often

Fundamental

Basics