PSAT PRACTICE 2005

Vocab

Declaimed

to speak aloud in an oratorical manner; make a formal speech

Inquisitive

unduly or inappropriately curious; prying

Inconspicuous

not conspicuous, noticeable, or prominent

Inaugurate

to make a formal beginning of; initiate; commence; begin

Vehement

zealous; ardent; impassioned

Contributed

to give (money, time, knowledge, assistance, etc.) to a common supply, fund, etc., as for charitable purposes

Sustenance

means of sustaining life; nourishment

Enumerated

to mention separately as if in counting; name one by one; specify, as in a list

Harangue

a scolding or a long or intense verbal attack; diatribe

Retracted

to draw back or in

Exposition

the act of expounding, setting forth, or explaining

Demeaned

to lower in dignity, honor, or standing; debase

Itemization

to state by items; give the particulars of; list the individual units or parts of

Erratic

deviating from the usual or proper course in conduct or opinion; eccentric; queer

Munificent

extremely liberal in giving; very generous

Opulent

characterized by or exhibiting great wealth or luxuriousness

Waning

to decrease in strength, intensity, etc.

Straitened

to put into difficulties, especially financial ones

Divestment

to strip or deprive (someone or something), especially of property or rights; dispossess

Corollary

an immediate consequence or easily drawn conclusion

Vocation

a particular occupation, business, or profession; calling

Culmination

highest point; acme

Sinecure

an office or position requiring little or no work, especially one yielding profitable returns

Defies

to challenge the power of; resist boldly or openly

Entails

to cause or involve by necessity or as a consequence

Embodies

to give a concrete form to; express, personify, or exemplify in concrete form

Amalgam

a mixture or combination

Unprecedented

without previous instance; never before known or experienced; unexampled or unparalleled

Benign

having a kindly disposition; gracious

Expenditures

the act of expending something, especially funds; disbursement; consumption

Wary

watchful; being on ones guard against danger

Holistic

of or relating to the medical consideration of the complete person, physically and psychologically, in the treatment of a disease

Commendable

worthy of praise

Sanguine

cheerfully optimistic, hopeful, or confident

Impudent

of, pertaining to, or characterized by impertinence or effrontery

Provincial

belonging or peculiar to some particular province; local

Viscera

the organs in the cavities of the body, especially those in the abdominal cavity

Aperture

an opening, as a hole, slit, crack, gap, etc.

Carapace

a bony or chitinous shield, test, or shell covering some or all of the dorsal part of an animal, as of a turtle

Dogged

persistent in effort; stubbornly tenacious

Rarefied

extremely high or elevated; lofty; exalted

Irate

angry; enraged

Solicitous

anxious or concerned (usually followed by “about, for”, etc., or a clause)

Wistful

characterized by melancholy; longing; yearning

Indignation

strong displeasure at something considered unjust, offensive, insulting, or base; righteous anger

Resignation

an accepting, unresisting attitude, state, etc.; submission; acquiescence

Ambivalence

uncertainty or fluctuation, especially when caused by inability to make a choice or by simultaneous desire to say or do two opposite or conflicting things

Entourage

a group of attendants or associates, as of a person of rank or importance

Obeisance

deference or homage

Cajole

to persuade by flattery or promises; wheedle; coax

Rigmarole

confused, incoherent, foolish, or meaningless talk

Deigning

to think fit or in accordance with one’s dignity; condescend

Embodiment

to give a concrete form to; express, personify, or exemplify in concrete form

Ascertain

to find out definitely; learn with certainty assurance; determine

Unilaterally

relating to, occurring on, or involving one side only

Underscore

to mark with a line or lines underneath; underline, as for emphasis

Potentate

a person who possesses great power, as a sovereign, monarch, or ruler