sat vocab

abase

to humiliate, degrade

aberration

something that differs from the norm

abjure

to reject, renounce

abnegation

denial of comfort to oneself

abrogate

to abolish, usually by authority

abscond

to sneak away and hide

accretion

slow growth in size or amount

acerbic

biting, bitter in tone or taste

acquiesce

to agree without protesting

acrimony

bitterness, discordac

adroit

skillful, dexterous

adumbrate

to sketch out in a vague way

affront

an insult

aggrieved

distressed, wronged, injured

agnostic

believing that the existence of god cannot be proven or disproven

alacrity

eagerness, speed

altercation

a dispute, fight

amalgamate

to bring together, unite

amenable

willing, compliant

amorous

showing love, particularly sexual

anachronistic

being out of correct chronological order

analgesic

something that reduces pain

anarchist

one who wants to eliminate all government

annex

to incorporate territory or space

antediluvian

ancient

antipathy

a strong dislike, repugnance

antiseptic

clean, sterile

antithesis

the absolute oppositean

apathetic

lacking concern, emotion

apocryphal

fictitious, false, wrong

appropriate

to take, make use of

arable

suitable for growing crops

arbiter

one who can resolve a dispute, make a decision

arbitration

the process or act of resolving a dispute

arcane

obscure, secret, known only by a few

archetypal

the most representative or typical example of something

arrogate

to take without justification

ascetic

practicing restraint as a means of self-discipline, usually religious

assail

to attack

assiduous

hard-working, diligent

asylum

a place of refuge, protection, a sanctuary

atone

to repent, make amends

atrophy

to wither away, decay

auspicious

favorable, indicative of good things

austere

very bare, bleak

balk

to stop, block abruptly

banal

dull, commonplace

bard

a poet, often singer

beguile

to trick, deceive

behemoth

something of tremendous power or size

bereft

devoid of, without

beseech

to beg, plead, implore

bilk

cheat, defraud

blandish

to coax by using flattery

brazen

excessively bold, brash

buffet

to strike with force

burnish

to polish, shine

cacophony

tremendous noise, disharmonious sound

calamity

an event with disastrous consequences

callous

harsh, cold unfeeling

calumny

an attempt to spoil someone else’s reputation by spreading lies

candor

honesty, frankness

capitulate

to surrender

capricious

subject to whim, fickle

carouse

to party, celebrate

carp

to annoy, pester

caucus

a meeting usually held by people working toward the same goal

caustic

bitter, biting, acidic

cavort

to leap about, behave boisterously

censure

harsh criticism

circumlocution

indirect and wordy language

circumspect

cautious

clairvoyant

to perceive things normal people cannot

clamor

loud noise

clandestine

secret

cleave

to divide into parts

clemency

mercy

cloying

sickeningly sweet

coagulate

to thicken, clot

coalesce

to fuse into a whole

cognizant

aware, mindful

collateral

secondary

colossus

a gigantic statue or thing

commensurate

corresponding in size or amount

commodious

roomy

compunction

distress caused by feeling guilty

concede

to accept as valid

conciliatory

friendly, agreeable

concomitant

accompanying in a subordinate fashion

condone

to pardon, deliberately overlook

conduit

a pipe or channel through which something passes

confection

a sweet, fancy food

conflagration

great fire

confluence

a gathering together

congenial

pleasantly agreeable

congruity

the quality of being in agreement

connive

to plot, scheme

consecrate

to dedicate something to a holy purpose

consign

to give something over to another’s care

construe

to interpret