SAT Week 5 Vocabulary

wizened (adj.)

wrinkled from aging

corrode (v.)

to eat into; destroy gradually, as by a chemical process

florid (adj.)

flushed with rosy color; overdecorated

enervate (v.)

to weaken

rash (adj.)

showing boldness or haste without judgment

dogma (n.)

a specific set of ideas or beliefs, especially religious or asserted to be absolutely true

germane (adj.)

fitting and appropriate

tinge (n.)

a faint coloring; a trace amount

addendum (n.)

a supplement; something added at end of book or document

auspicious (adj.)

showing signs of a favorable outcome; marked by favorable circumstances

epicure (n.)

one with refined tastes, especially in food and wine

quintessence (n.)

a pure substance or essence of something

placebo (n.)

a substance, often presented as a medicine, that has an effect because of a patient’s expectations rather than because of an active ingredient

blanch (v.)

to turn pale

exhaustive (adj.)

thorough

ascribe (v.)

to attribute to a specific source

hazard (n.)

a risk of being harmed; something that presents such a risk

ruminate (v.)

to ponder at length

demagogue (n.)

a leader who obtains power by appealing to the emotions and prejudices of the people

burgeon (v.)

to sprout or grow rapidly

lank (adj.)

long and slender; lean

revert (v.)

to return to a former condition

repudiate (v.)

to reject as invalid or untrue

nomad (n.)

one who has no permanent home

contempt (n.)

a feeling that something is low or disgusting

dubious (adj.)

causing doubt; questionable

berate (v.)

to scold severely and at length

verbose (adj.)

wordy

abash (v.)

to embarrass

incontrovertible (adj.)

impossible to dispute

prudent (adj.)

marked by careful planning

imminent (adj.)

impending; threatening; likely to happen

loquacious (adj.)

very talkatibe

brittle (adj.)

rigid; likely to break

aptitude (n.)

an inherent capacity for learning, understanding, or performing

mishap (n.)

an unlucky or unfortunate accident

omnibus (adj.)

including or dealing with many items at once

omnibus (n.)

a volume or reprinted works of a single author or of reprinted works on a single theme

stipend (n.)

a fixed and regular payment

recapitulate (v.)

to summarize; to paraphrase

conviction (n.)

a strong belief or opinion

paradox (n.)

a statement or situation that appears contradictory

prognosticate (v.)

to predict

preclude (v.)

to make impossible; to prevent the occurrence of

rampant (adj.)

unrestrained

nemesis (n.)

one who inflicts justified or great punishment; a source of harm or ruin

tautology (n.)

needless repetition of an idea in different words (for example, “widow woman”); a statement that is logically true no matter what (for example, the committee’s term shall last one year or until it ends)

paragon (n.)

an example of perfection

stringent (adj.)

imposing strict standards of performance; constricted

livid (adj.)

extremely angry; discolored, as from a bruise; pale, ashen

enmity (n.)

the bitter attitude or feelings of an enemy or of mutual enemies

insolent (adj.)

boldly disrespectful in speech or behavior; impertinent; impudent

arrogant (adj.)

having more pride and self-importance than is proper

slipshod (adj.)

marked by carelessness or casual attention to detail; sloppy

voracious (adj.)

devouring; extremely hungry

embark (v.)

to set off on a long trip

found (v.)

to establish; to set up on a firm basis

parry (v.)

to deflect an attack

purse (v.)

to contract into wrinkles of folds; to pucker

convoke (v.)

to call together in a meeting

lurch (v.)

to sway or tip abruptly to one side; to stagger

vim (n.)

energy; enthusiasm

pristine (adj.)

remaining in a pure state

anathema (n.)

someone or something that is hated

tortuous (adj.)

winding, twisted

clamor (n.)

a loud and continuous noise

frivolous (adj.)

of little importance

perfunctory (adj.)

done without care or interest or merely as a form or routine

buttress (adj.)

to prop up or support

faculty (n.)

a natural ability to do something

malodorous (adj.)

smelling very bad

elaborate (adj.)

detailed; carefully thorough

elaborate (v.)

to develop with care or at greater length

turgid (adj.)

excessively ornate or complex in style; swollen, as from fluid

modest (adj.)

limited in amount, extent, etc.

ascertain (v.)

to discover with certainty, as through examination

rescind (v.)

to take back or cancel

prodigious (adj.)

wonderful; amazing; very big

saccharine (adj.)

overly or sickeningly sweet

wary (adj.)

cautious; on guard

umbrage (n.)

offense or resentment (used with “take”)

segregate (v.)

to separate into groups or parts

august (adj.)

inspiring awe or admiration, especially because of high rank or character

discreet (adj.)

careful about what one says or does; circumspect; done, said, or placed so as to attract little notice

intimate (v.)

to make known subtly; to hint

rouse (v.)

to wake or provoke

morsel (n.)

a small piece, especially of food

cacophony (n.)

a harsh, jarring sound

disinterested (adj.)

free from bias

girth (n.)

the distance around something; circumference

skew (v.)

to place at an angle; to cause bias in or distort

skew (adj.)

asymmetric; distorted or biased

toxic (adj.)

poisonous; dangerous

verity (n.)

a widely-accepted truth

incoherent (adj.)

not sticking together; not logically connected

impetus (n.)

an impelling or originating force

increment (n.)

an increase in quantity

increment (v.)

to increase

dismay (v.)

to destroy courage or resolution; to cause to los enthusiasm, to disillusion

assimilate (v.)

to take in as one’s own; to absorb; to adapt or adjust to the customs, etc. of a group