SAT Vocab letters K,L,M

Knell

the solemn sound of a bell, often indicating death

laceration

a cut, tear

laconic

terse in speech or writing

languid

sluggish from weakness or fatigue

larceny

obtaining another’s property by theft or trickery

largess

the generous giving of lavish gifts

latent

hidden, but capable of being exposed

legerdemain

deception

libertarian

advocating principles of liberty and free will

licentious

displaying a lack of moral or legal restraints

limpid

clear, transparent

linchpin

something that holds separate parts together

lithe

graceful, flexible

litigant

someone engaged in a lawsuit

lurid

ghastly, sensational

maelstrom

a destructive whirlpool which rapidly sucks in objects

magnanimous

noble, generous

manifold

diverse, varied

maudlin

weakly sentimental, shallow

maverick

an independent, nonconformist person

mawkish

characterized by sick sentimentality

maxim

a common saying expressing a principle of conduct

medley

a mixture of different things

mendacious

having a lying, false character

mercurial

characterized by rapid change or temperamentality

modicum

a small amount of something

modulate

to pass from one state to another, especially in music

mollify

to soften in temper

morass

a wet swampy bog; figuratively something that traps and confuses

mores

the moral attitudes and fixed customs of a group of people

morose

gloomy or sullen

mundane

concerned with the world rather than with heaven, commonplace

munificence

generosity in giving

mutable

able to change

myriad

consisting of a very great number