SAT Master Word list #33-34 Reivew

pretext

pretext

N. excuse.

prevail

V. induce; triumph over.

prevalent

ADJ. widespread; generally accepted.

prevaricate

V. Iie.

prey

N. target of a hunt; victim.

privation

N. hardship; want.

probe

V. explore with tools.

problematic

ADJ. doubtful; unsettled; questionable; perplexing.

proclivity

N. inclination; natural tendency.

procrastinate

V. postpone; delay or put off.

prod

V. poke; stir up; urge.

prodigal

ADJ. wasteful; reckless with money.

prodigious

ADJ. marvelous; enormous.

prodigy

N. marvel; highly gifted child.

profane

V. violate; desecrate; treat unworthily.

profound

ADJ. deep; not superficial.

profusion

N. (1) abundant quantity; (2) lavish expenditure.

prognosis

N. forecasted course of a disease; prediction.

proletarian

N. member of the working class; blue collar person.

proliferation

N. rapid growth; spread; multiplication.

prolific

ADJ. abundantly fruitful.

prologue

N. introduction (to a poem or play).

prolong

V. make longer; draw out; lengthen.

prominent

ADJ. conspicuous; notable; sticking out.

promote

V. help to flourish; advance in rank; publicize.

prompt

V. (1) bring about or cause an action or feeling; (2) cue someone to speak.

prone

ADJ. (1) inclined to; (2) prostrate.

propagate

V. multiply; spread.

propensity

N. natural inclination.

prophetic

ADJ. foretelling the future.

propitiate

V. appease.

propitious

ADJ. favorable; fortunate; advantageous.

proponent

N. supporter; backer; opposite of opponent.

propriety

N. fitness; correct conduct.

prosaic

ADJ. dull and unimaginative; matter-of-fact; factual.

proselytize

V. convert to a religion or belief.

prosperity

N. good fortune; financial success; physical well-being.

protégé

N. person receiving protection and support from a patron.

protocol

N. diplomatic etiquette.

prototype

N. original work used as a model by others.

protract

V. prolong.

protrude

V. stick out.

provident

ADJ. displaying foresight; thrifty; preparing for emergencies.

provincial

ADJ. (1) pertaining to a province; (2) limited in outlook; unsophisticated.

provisional

ADJ. tentative.

provocative

ADJ. arousing anger or interest; annoying.

prowess

N. extraordinary ability; military bravery.

proximity

N. nearness.

proxy

N. authorized agent.

prudent

ADJ. cautious; careful.

prune

V. cut away; trim.

pseudonym

N. pen name.

psyche

N. soul; mind.

puerile

ADJ. childish; immature.

punitive

ADJ. punishing.

puny

ADJ. insignificant; tiny; weak.

purge

V. remove or get rid of something unwanted; free from blame or guilt; cleanse or purify.

purported

ADJ. alleged; claimed; reputed or rumored.

quadruped

N. four-footed animal.

quagmire

N. soft, wet, boggy land; complex or dangerous situation from which it is difficult to free oneself.

quail

V. cower; lose heart.

quaint

ADJ. odd; old-fashioned; picturesque.

qualified

ADJ. (1) made fit (by training, experience) to do a specific job; (2) limited in some

manner.

qualms

N. misgivings; uneasy fears, especially about matters of conscience.

quandary

N. dilemma.

quarantine

N. isolation of person or place to prevent spread of infection.

quarry

N. victim; object of a hunt.

quarry

V. dig into.

quell

V. extinguish; put down; quiet.

quench

V. douse or extinguish; assuage or satisfy.

query

N. inquiry; question.

quibble

N. minor objection or complaint.

quiescent

ADJ. at rest; dormant; temporarily inactive.

quintessence

N. purest and highest embodiment.

quixotic

ADJ. idealistic but impractical.

quizzical

ADJ. teasing; bantering; mocking; curious.

quorum

N. number of members necessary to conduct a meeting.

rabid

ADJ. like a fanatic; furious.

rally

V. call up or summon (forces, vital powers, etc.); revive or recuperate.

ramble

V. wander aimlessly (physically or mentally).

ramification

N. branching out; subdivision.

ramify

V. divide into branches or subdivisions.

rampant

ADJ. growing in profusion; unrestrained.

rancor

N. bitterness; hatred.

random

ADJ. without definite purpose, plan, or aim; haphazard.

rant

V. rave; talk excitedly; scold; make a grandiloquent speech.

rapacious

ADJ. excessively greedy; predatory.

rapport

N. emotional closeness; harmony.

rapt

ADJ. absorbed; enchanted.

ratify

V. approve formally; confirm; verify.

ratiocination

N. reasoning; act of drawing conclusions from premises.

rationale

N. fundamental reason or justification; grounds for an action.

rationalize

V. give a plausible reason for an action in place of a true, less admirable one; offer an excuse.

raucous

ADJ. harsh and shrill; disorderly and boisterous.

rave

N. overwhelmingly favorable review.

raze

V. destroy completely.

reactionary

ADJ. recoiling from progress; politically ultraconservative.

realm

N. kingdom; field or sphere.

rebuff

V. snub; beat back.