SAT Vocabulary Flashcards – Sample Set from 1000 Most Common SAT Words

A

  • abase

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to humiliate, degrade

    • Example from transcript: "After being overthrown and abased, the deposed leader offered to bow down to his conqueror."

  • abate

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to reduce, lessen

    • Example: "The rain poured down for a while, then abated."

  • abdicate

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to give up a position, usually one of leadership

    • Example: "When he realized that the revolutionaries would surely win, the king abdicated his throne."

  • abduct

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to kidnap, take by force

    • Example: "The evildoers abducted the fairy princess from her happy home."

  • aberration

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: something that differs from the norm

    • Example: "In 1918, the Boston Red Sox won the World Series, but the success turned out to be an aberration, and the Red Sox have not won a World Series since."

  • abet

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to aid, help, encourage

    • Example: "The spy succeeded only because he had a friend on the inside to abet him."

A

  • abhor

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to hate, detest

    • Example: "Because he always wound up kicking himself in the head when he tried to play soccer, Oswald began to abhor the sport."

  • abide

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Senses:

    • 1) to put up with

      • Example: "Though he did not agree with the decision, Chuck decided to abide by it."

    • 2) to remain

      • Example: "Despite the beating they’ve taken from the weather throughout the millennia, the mountains abide."

  • abject

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: wretched, pitiful

    • Example: "After losing all her money, falling into a puddle, and breaking her ankle, Eloise was abject."

  • abjure

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to reject, renounce

    • Example: "To prove his honesty, the President abjured the evil policies of his wicked predecessor."

  • abnegation

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: denial of comfort to oneself

    • Example: "The holy man slept on the floor, took only cold showers, and generally followed other practices of abnegation."

  • abort

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to give up on a half-finished project or effort

    • Example: "After they ran out of food, the men, attempting to jump rope around the world, had to abort and go home."

  • abridge

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: 1) to cut down, shorten; 2) (adj.) shortened

    • Examples: 1) "The publisher thought the dictionary was too long and abridged it." 2) "Moby-Dick is such a long book that even the abridged version is longer than most normal books."

  • abrogate

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to abolish, usually by authority

    • Example: "The Bill of Rights assures that the government cannot abrogate our right to a free press."

  • abscond

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to sneak away and hide

    • Example: "In the confusion, the super-spy absconded into the night with the secret plans."

  • absolution

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: freedom from blame, guilt, sin

    • Example: "Once all the facts were known, the jury gave Angela absolution by giving a verdict of not guilty."

  • abstain

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to freely choose not to commit an action

    • Example: "Everyone demanded that Angus put on the kilt, but he did not want to do it and abstained."

  • abstruse

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: hard to comprehend

    • Example: "Everyone else in the class understood geometry easily, but John found the subject abstruse."

  • accede

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to agree

    • Example: "When the class asked the teacher whether they could play baseball instead of learn grammar they expected him to refuse, but instead he acceded to their request."

  • accentuate

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to stress, highlight

    • Example: "Psychologists agree that those people who are happiest accentuate the positive in life."

A

  • accessible

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: obtainable, reachable

    • Example: "After studying with SparkNotes and getting a great score on the SAT, Marlena happily realized that her goal of getting into an Ivy-League college was accessible."

  • acclaim

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: high praise

    • Example: "Greg’s excellent poem won the acclaim of his friends."

  • accolade

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: high praise, special distinction

    • Example: "Everyone offered accolades to Sam after he won the Noble Prize."

  • accommodating

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: helpful, obliging, polite

    • Example: "Though the apartment was not big enough for three people, Arnold, Mark, and Zebulon were all friends and were accommodating to each other."

  • accord

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: an agreement

    • Example: "After much negotiating, England and Iceland finally came to a mutually beneficial accord about fishing rights off the cost of Greenland."

  • accost

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to confront verbally

    • Example: "Although Antoinette was normally quite calm, when the waiter spilled soup on her for the fourth time in 15 minutes she stood up and accosted the man."

  • accretion

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: slow growth in size or amount

    • Example: "Stalactites are formed by the accretion of minerals from the roofs of caves."

  • acerbic

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: biting, bitter in tone or taste

    • Example: "Jill became extremely acerbic and began to cruelly make fun of all her friends."

  • acquiesce

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to agree without protesting

    • Example: "Though Mr. Correlli wanted to stay outside and work in his garage, when his wife told him that he had better come in to dinner, he acquiesced to her demands."

  • acrimony

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: bitterness, discord

    • Example: "Though they vowed that no girl would ever come between them, Biff and Trevor could not keep acrimony from overwhelming their friendship after they both fell in love with the lovely Teresa."

  • acumen

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: keen insight

    • Example: "Because of his mathematical acumen, Larry was able to figure out in minutes problems that took other students hours."

  • acute

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Senses:

    • 1) sharp, severe

      • Example: "Arnold could not walk because the pain in his foot was so acute."

    • 2) having keen insight

      • Example: "Because she was so acute, Libby instantly figured out how the magician pulled off his “magic.”"

  • adamant

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: impervious, immovable, unyielding

    • Example: "Though public pressure was intense, the President remained adamant about his proposal."

  • adept

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: extremely skilled

    • Example: "Tarzan was adept at jumping from tree to tree like a monkey."

A

  • adhere

    • Senses:

    • 1) (n.) to stick to something

      • Example: "We adhered the poster to the wall with tape."

    • 2) (n.) to follow devoutly

      • Example: "He adhered to the dictates of his religion without question."

  • admonish

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to caution, criticize, reprove

    • Example: "Joe’s mother admonished him not to ruin his appetite by eating cookies before dinner."

  • adorn

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to decorate

    • Example: "We adorned the tree with ornaments."

  • adroit

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: skillful, dexterous

    • Example: "The adroit thief could pick someone’s pocket without attracting notice."

  • adulation

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: extreme praise

    • Example: "Though the book was pretty good, Marcy did not believe it deserved the adulation it received."

  • adumbrate

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to sketch out in a vague way

    • Example: "The coach adumbrated a game plan, but none of the players knew precisely what to do."

  • adverse

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: antagonistic, unfavorable, dangerous

    • Example: "Because of adverse conditions, the hikers decided to give up trying to climb the mountain."

  • advocate

    • Senses:

    • 1) (v.) to argue in favor of something

      • Example: "Arnold advocated turning left at the stop sign, even though everyone else thought we should turn right."

    • 2) (n.) a person who argues in favor of something

      • Example: "In addition to wanting to turn left at every stop sign, Arnold was also a great advocate of increasing national defense spending."

  • aerial

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: somehow related to the air

    • Example: "We watched as the fighter planes conducted aerial maneuvers."

  • aesthetic

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: artistic, related to the appreciation of beauty

    • Example: "We hired Susan as our interior decorator because she has such a fine aesthetic sense."

  • affable

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: friendly, amiable

    • Example: "People like to be around George because he is so affable and good-natured."

  • affinity

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: a spontaneous feeling of closeness

    • Example: "Jerry didn’t know why, but he felt an incredible affinity for Kramer the first time they met."

  • affluent

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: rich, wealthy

    • Example: "Mrs. Grebelski was affluent, owning a huge house, three cars, and an island near Maine."

  • affront

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: an insult

    • Example: "Bernardo was very touchy, and took any slight as an affront to his honor."

  • aggrandize

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to increase or make greater

    • Example: "Joseph always dropped the names of the famous people his father knew as a way to aggrandize his personal stature."

A

  • aggregate

    • Senses:

    • 1) (n.) a whole or total

      • Example: "The three branches of the U.S. Government form an aggregate much more powerful than its individual parts."

    • 2) (v.) to gather into a mass

      • Example: "The dictator tried to aggregate as many people into his army as he possibly could."

  • aggrieved

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: distressed, wronged, injured

    • Example: "The foreman mercilessly overworked his aggrieved employees."

  • agile

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: quick, nimble

    • Example: "The dogs were too slow to catch the agile rabbit."

  • agnostic

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: believing that the existence of God cannot be proven or disproven

    • Example: "Joey’s parents are very religious, but he is agnostic."

  • agriculture

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: farming

    • Example: "It was a huge step in the progress of civilization when tribes left hunting and gathering and began to develop more sustainable methods of obtaining food, such as agriculture."

  • aisle

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: a passageway between rows of seats

    • Example: "Once we got inside the stadium we walked down the aisle to our seats."

  • alacrity

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: eagerness, speed

    • Example: "For some reason, Chuck loved to help his mother whenever he could, so when his mother asked him to set the table he did so with alacrity."

  • alias

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: a false name or identity

    • Example: "He snuck past the guards by using an alias and fake ID."

  • allay

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to soothe, ease

    • Example: "The chairman of the Federal Reserve gave a speech to try to allay investors’ fears about an economic downturn."

  • allege

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to assert, usually without proof

    • Example: "The policeman had alleged that Marshall committed the crime, but after the investigation turned up no evidence, Marshall was set free."

  • alleviate

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to relieve, make more bearable

    • Example: "This drug will alleviate the symptoms of the terrible disease, but only for a while."

  • allocate

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to distribute, set aside

    • Example: "The Mayor allocated 30 percent of the funds for improving the town’s schools."

  • aloof

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: reserved, distant

    • Example: "The scientist could sometimes seem aloof, as if he didn’t care about his friends or family, but really he was just thinking about quantum mechanics."

  • altercation

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: a dispute, fight

    • Example: "Jason and Lionel blamed one another for the car accident, leading to an altercation."

A

  • amalgamate

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to bring together, unite

    • Example: "Because of his great charisma, the presidential candidate was able to amalgamate all democrats and republicans under his banner."

  • ambiguous

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: uncertain, variably interpretable

    • Example: "Some people think Caesar married Cleopatra for her power, others believe he was charmed by her beauty. His actual reasons are ambiguous."

  • ambivalent

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: having opposing feelings

    • Example: "My feelings about Calvin are ambivalent because on one hand he is a loyal friend, but on the other, he is a cruel and vicious thief."

  • ameliorate

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to improve

    • Example: "The tense situation was ameliorated when Sam proposed a solution everyone could agree upon."

  • amenable

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: willing, compliant

    • Example: "Our father was amenable when we asked him to drive us to the farm so we could go apple picking."

  • amenity

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: an item that increases comfort

    • Example: "Bill Gates’s house is stocked with so many amenities, he never has to do anything for himself."

  • amiable

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: friendly

    • Example: "An amiable fellow, Harry got along with just about everyone."

  • amicable

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: friendly

    • Example: "Claudia and Jimmy got divorced, but amicably and without hard feelings."

  • amorous

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: showing love, particularly sexual

    • Example: "Whenever Albert saw Mariah wear her slinky red dress, he began to feel quite amorous."

  • amorphous

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: without definite shape or type

    • Example: "The effort was doomed from the start, because the reasons behind it were so amorphous and hard to pin down."

  • anachronistic

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: being out of correct chronological order

    • Example: "In this book you’re writing, you say that the Pyramids were built after the Titanic sank, which is anachronistic."

  • analgesic

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: something that reduces pain

    • Example: "Put this analgesic on the wound so that the poor man at least feels a little better."

  • analogous

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: similar to, so that an analogy can be drawn

    • Example: "Though they are unrelated genetically, the bone structure of whales and fish is quite analogous."

  • anarchist

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: one who wants to eliminate all government

    • Example: "An anarchist, Carmine wanted to dissolve every government everywhere."

  • anathema

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: a cursed, detested person

    • Example: "I never want to see that murderer. He is an anathema to me."

A

  • anecdote

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: a short, humorous account

    • Example: "After dinner, Marlon told an anecdote about the time he got his nose stuck in a toaster."

  • anesthesia

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: loss of sensation

    • Example: "When the nerves in his spine were damaged, Mr. Hollins suffered anesthesia in his legs."

  • anguish

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: extreme sadness, torment

    • Example: "Angelos suffered terrible anguish when he learned that Buffy had died while combating a strange mystical force of evil."

  • animated

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: lively

    • Example: "When he begins to talk about drama, which is his true passion, he becomes very animated."

  • annex

    • Senses:

    • 1) (v.) to incorporate territory or space

      • Example: "After defeating them in battle, the Russians annexed Poland."

    • 2) (n.) a room attached to a larger room or space

      • Example: "He likes to do his studying in a little annex attached to the main reading room in the library."

  • annul

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to make void or invalid

    • Example: "After seeing its unforeseen and catastrophic effects, Congress sought to annul the law."

  • anomaly

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: something that does not fit into the normal order

    • Example: "That rip in the space-time continuum is certainly a spatial anomaly," said Spock to Captain Kirk.

  • anonymous

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: being unknown, unrecognized

    • Example: "Mary received a love poem from an anonymous admirer."

  • antagonism

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: hostility

    • Example: "Superman and Bizarro Superman shared a mutual antagonism, and often fought."

  • antecedent

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: something that came before

    • Example: "The great tradition of Western culture had its antecedent in the culture of Ancient Greece."

  • antediluvian

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: ancient

    • Example: "The antediluvian man still believed that Eisenhower was president of the United States and that hot dogs cost a nickel."

  • anthology

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: a selected collection of writings, songs, etc.

    • Example: "The new anthology of Bob Dylan songs contains all his greatest hits and a few songs that you might never have heard before."

  • antipathy

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: a strong dislike, repugnance

    • Example: "I know you love me, but because you are a liar and a thief, I feel nothing but antipathy for you."

  • antiquated

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: old, out of date

    • Example: "That antiquated car has none of the features, like power windows and steering, that make modern cars so great."

  • antiseptic

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: clean, sterile

    • Example: "The antiseptic hospital was very bare, but its cleanliness helped to keep patients healthy."

A

  • antithesis

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: the absolute opposite

    • Example: "Your values, which hold war and violence in the highest esteem, are the antithesis of my pacifist beliefs."

  • anxiety

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: intense uneasiness

    • Example: "When he heard about the car crash, he felt anxiety because he knew that his girlfriend had been driving on the road where the accident occurred."

  • apathetic

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: lacking concern, emotion

    • Example: "Uninterested in politics, Bruno was apathetic about whether he lived under a capitalist or communist regime."

  • apocryphal

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: fictitious, false, wrong

    • Example: "Because I am standing before you, it seems obvious that the stories circulating about my demise were apocryphal."

  • appalling

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: inspiring shock, horror, disgust

    • Example: "The judge found the murderer’s crimes and lack of remorse appalling."

  • appease

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to calm, satisfy

    • Example: "When the child cries, the mother gives him candy to appease him."

  • appraise

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to assess the worth or value of

    • Example: "A realtor will come over tonight to appraise our house."

  • apprehend

    • Senses:

    • 1) (v.) to seize, arrest

      • Example: "The criminal was apprehended at the scene."

    • 2) (v.) to perceive, understand, grasp

      • Example: "The student has trouble apprehending concepts in math and science."

  • approbation

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: praise

    • Example: "The crowd welcomed the heroes with approbation."

  • appropriate

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to take, make use of

    • Example: "The government appropriated the farmer’s land without justification."

  • aquatic

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: relating to water

    • Example: "The marine biologist studies starfish and other aquatic creatures."

  • arable

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: suitable for growing crops

    • Example: "The farmer purchased a plot of arable land on which he will grow corn and sprouts."

  • arbiter

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: one who can resolve a dispute, make a decision

    • Example: "The divorce court judge will serve as the arbiter between the estranged husband and wife."

  • arbitrary

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: based on factors that appear random

    • Example: "The boy’s decision to choose one college over another seems arbitrary."

  • arbitration

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: the process or act of resolving a dispute

    • Example: "The employee sought official arbitration when he could not resolve a disagreement with his supervisor."

  • arboreal

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: of or relating to trees

    • Example: "Leaves, roots, and bark are a few arboreal traits."

B

  • bilk

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: cheat, defraud

    • Example: "The lawyer discovered that this firm had bilked several clients out of thousands of dollars."

  • blandish

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to coax by using flattery

    • Example: "Rachel’s assistant tried to blandish her into accepting the deal."

  • blemish

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: an imperfection, flaw

    • Example: "The dealer agreed to lower the price because of the many blemishes on the surface of the wooden furniture."

  • blight

    • Senses:

    • 1) (n.) a plague, disease

      • Example: "The potato blight destroyed the harvest and bankrupted many families."

    • 2) (n.) something that destroys hope

      • Example: "His bad morale is a blight upon this entire operation."

  • boisterous

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: loud and full of energy

    • Example: "The candidate won the vote after giving several boisterous speeches on television."

  • bombastic

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: excessively confident, pompous

    • Example: "The singer’s bombastic performance disgusted the crowd."

  • boon

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: a gift or blessing

    • Example: "The good weather has been a boon for many businesses located near the beach."

  • bourgeois

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: a middle-class person, capitalist

    • Example: "Many businessmen receive criticism for their bourgeois approach to life."

  • brazen

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: excessively bold, brash

    • Example: "Critics condemned the novelist’s brazen attempt to plagiarize Hemingway’s story."

  • brusque

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: short, abrupt, dismissive

    • Example: "The captain’s brusque manner offended the passengers."

  • buffet

    • Senses:

    • 1) (v.) to strike with force

      • Example: "The strong winds buffeted the ships, threatening to capsize them."

    • 2) (n.) a food arrangement

      • Example: "Rather than sitting around a table, the guests took food from our buffet and ate standing up."

  • burnish

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to polish, shine

    • Example: "His mother asked him to burnish the silverware before setting the table."

  • buttress

    • Senses:

    • 1) (v.) to support, hold up

      • Example: "The column buttresses the roof above the statue."

    • 2) (n.) something that offers support

      • Example: "The buttress supports the roof above the statues."

  • cacophony

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: tremendous noise, disharmonious sound

    • Example: "The elementary school orchestra created a cacophony at the recital."

C

  • cadence

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: a rhythm, progression of sound

    • Example: "The pianist used the foot pedal to emphasize the cadence of the sonata."

  • cajole

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to urge, coax

    • Example: "Fred’s buddies cajoled him into attending the bachelor party."

  • calamity

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: an event with disastrous consequences

    • Example: "The earthquake in San Francisco was a calamity worse than any other natural disaster in history."

  • calibrate

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to set, standardize

    • Example: "The mechanic calibrated the car’s transmission to make the motor run most efficiently."

  • callous

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: harsh, cold, unfeeling

    • Example: "The murderer’s callous lack of remorse shocked the jury."

  • calumny

    • Part of speech: (n.)

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

    • Example: "The local official’s calumny ended up ruining his opponent’s prospect of winning the election."

  • camaraderie

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: brotherhood, jovial unity

    • Example: "Camaraderie among employees usually leads to success in business."

  • candor

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: honesty, frankness

    • Example: "We were surprised by the candor of the mayor’s speech because he is usually rather evasive."

  • canny

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: shrewd, careful

    • Example: "The canny runner hung at the back of the pack…"

  • canvas

    • Senses:

    • 1) (n.) a piece of cloth on which an artist paints

      • Example: "Picasso liked to work on canvas."

    • 2) (v.) to cover, inspect

      • Example: "We canvassed the neighborhood looking for clues."

  • capacious

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: very spacious

    • Example: "The workers delighted in their new capacious office space."

  • capitulate

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to surrender

    • Example: "The army finally capitulated after fighting a long costly battle."

  • capricious

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: subject to whim, fickle

    • Example: "The young girl’s capricious tendencies made it difficult for her to focus on achieving her goals."

  • captivate

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to get the attention of, hold

    • Example: "The fireworks captivated the young boy, who had never seen such things before."

  • carouse

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to party, celebrate

    • Example: "We caroused all night after getting married."

  • carp

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to annoy, pester

    • Example: "The husband divorced his wife after listening to her carping voice for decades."

  • catalog

    • Senses:

    • 1) (v.) to list, enter into a list

      • Example: "The judge cataloged the victim’s injuries before calculating how much money he would award."

    • 2) (n.) a list or collection

      • Example: "We received a catalog from J. Crew that displayed all of their new items."

  • catalyze

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to charge, inspire

    • Example: "The president’s speech catalyzed the nation and resuscitated the economy."

  • caucus

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: a meeting usually held by people working toward the same goal

    • Example: "The ironworkers held a caucus to determine how much of a pay increase they would request."

  • caustic

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: bitter, biting, acidic

    • Example: "Caustic insults were exchanged for over an hour during the debate."

  • cavort

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to leap about, behave boisterously

    • Example: "The adults cavorted around the pool while the children played."

  • censure

    • Senses:

    • 1) (n.) harsh criticism

      • Example: "The frustrated teenager could not put up with anymore of her critical mother’s censure."

    • 2) (v.) to rebuke formally

      • Example: "The principal censured the head of the English Department for forcing students to learn esoteric vocabulary."

  • cerebral

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: related to the intellect

    • Example: "The books we read in this class are too cerebral — they don’t engage my emotions at all."

  • chaos

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: absolute disorder

    • Example: "Mr. Thornton’s sudden departure for the lavatory plunged his classroom into chaos."

  • chastise

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to criticize severely

    • Example: "After being chastised by her peers for mimicking Britney Spears, Miranda dyed her hair black and affected a Gothic style."

  • cherish

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to feel or show affection toward something

    • Example: "She continued to cherish her red plaid trousers, even though they had gone out of style."

  • chide

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to voice disapproval

    • Example: "Lucy chided Russell for his vulgar habits and sloppy appearance."

  • choreography

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: the arrangement of dances

    • Example: "The choreography was stunning."

  • chronicle

    • Senses:

    • 1) (n.) a written history

      • Example: "The library featured the chronicle of World War II."

    • 2) (v.) to write a history

      • Example: "Albert’s diary chronicled the day-to-day growth of his obsession with Cynthia."

  • chronological

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: arranged in order of time

    • Example: "Lionel carefully arranged the snapshots of his former girlfriends in chronological order."

C

  • arcane

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: obscure, secret, known only by a few

    • Example: "The professor is an expert in arcane Lithuanian literature."

  • archaic

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: of or relating to an earlier period in time, outdated

    • Example: "In a few select regions of Western Mongolian, an archaic Chinese dialect is still spoken."

  • archetypal

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: the most representative or typical example of something

    • Example: "Some believe George Washington was the archetypal politician."

  • ardor

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: extreme vigor, energy, enthusiasm

    • Example: "The soldiers conveyed their ardor with impassioned battle cries."

  • arid

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: excessively dry

    • Example: "Little other than palm trees and cacti grow successfully in arid environments."

  • arrogate

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to take without justification

    • Example: "The king arrogated the right to order executions to himself exclusively."

  • artifact

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: a remaining piece from an extinct culture or place

    • Example: "The scientists spent all day searching the cave for artifacts from the ancient Mayan civilization."

  • artisan

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: a craftsman

    • Example: "The artisan uses wood to make walking sticks."

  • ascertain

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to perceive, learn

    • Example: "With a bit of research, the student ascertained that some plants can live for weeks without water."

  • ascetic

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

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

    • Example: "The priest lives an ascetic life devoid of television, savory foods, and other pleasures."

  • ascribe

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to assign, credit, attribute to

    • Example: "Some ascribe the invention of fireworks and dynamite to the Chinese."

  • aspersion

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: a curse, expression of ill-will

    • Example: "The rival politicians repeatedly cast aspersions on each others’ integrity."

  • aspire

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to long for, aim toward

    • Example: "The young poet aspires to publish a book of verse someday."

  • assail

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to attack

    • Example: "At dawn, the war planes assailed the boats in the harbor."

  • assess

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to evaluate

    • Example: "A crew arrived to assess the damage after the crash."

  • assiduous

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: hard-working, diligent

    • Example: "The construction workers erected the skyscraper during two years of assiduous labor."

  • assuage

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to ease, pacify

    • Example: "The mother held the baby to assuage its fears."

D

  • demagogue

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: a leader who appeals to a people’s prejudices

    • Example: "The demagogue strengthened his hold over his people by blaming immigrants for the lack of jobs."

  • demarcation

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: the marking of boundaries or categories

    • Example: "Different cultures have different demarcations of good and evil."

  • demean

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to lower the status or stature of something

    • Example: "She refused to demean her secretary by making him order her lunch."

  • demure

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: quiet, modest, reserved

    • Example: "Though everyone else at the party was dancing and going crazy, she remained demure."

  • denigrate

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to belittle, diminish the opinion of

    • Example: "The company decided that its advertisements would no longer denigrate the company’s competitors."

  • denounce

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to criticize publicly

    • Example: "The senator denounced her opponent as a greedy politician."

  • deplore

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to feel or express sorrow, disapproval

    • Example: "We all deplored the miserable working conditions in the factory."

  • depravity

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: wickedness

    • Example: "Rumors of the ogre’s depravity made the children afraid to enter the forest."

  • deprecate

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to belittle, depreciate

    • Example: "Always over-modest, he deprecated his contribution to the local charity."

  • derelict

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: abandoned, run-down

    • Example: "Even though it was dangerous, the children enjoyed going to the deserted lot and playing in the derelict house."

  • deride

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to laugh at mockingly, scorn

    • Example: "The bullies derided the foreign student’s accent."

  • derivative

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: taken directly from a source, unoriginal

    • Example: "She was bored by his music because she felt that it was derivative and that she had heard it before."

  • desecrate

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to violate the sacredness of a thing or place

    • Example: "They feared that the construction of a golf course would desecrate the preserved wilderness."

  • desiccated

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: dried up, dehydrated

    • Example: "The skin of the desiccated mummy looked like old paper."

  • desolate

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: deserted, dreary, lifeless

    • Example: "She found the desolate landscape quite a contrast to the hustle and bustle of the overcrowded city."

D

  • despondent

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: feeling depressed, discouraged, hopeless

    • Example: "Having failed the first math test, the despondent child saw no use in studying for the next and failed that one too."

  • despot

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: one who has total power and rules brutally

    • Example: "The despot issued a death sentence for anyone who disobeyed his laws."

  • destitute

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: impoverished, utterly lacking

    • Example: "The hurricane destroyed many homes and left many families destitute."

  • deter

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to discourage, prevent from doing

    • Example: "Bob’s description of scary snakes couldn’t deter Marcia from traveling in the rainforests."

  • devious

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: not straightforward, deceitful

    • Example: "The devious girl blamed the broken vase on the cat."

  • dialect

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: a variation of a language

    • Example: "In the country’s remote, mountainous regions, the inhabitants spoke a dialect that the country’s other inhabitants had difficulty understanding."

  • diaphanous

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: light, airy, transparent

    • Example: "Sunlight poured in through the diaphanous curtains, brightening the room."

  • didactic

    • Senses:

    • 1) (adj.) intended to instruct

      • Example: "She wrote up a didactic document showing new employees how to handle the company’s customers."

    • 2) (adj.) overly moralistic

      • Example: "His didactic style of teaching made it seem like he wanted to persuade his students not to understand history fully."

  • diffident

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: shy, quiet, modest

    • Example: "The diffident youth did not speak for fear of seeming presumptuous."

  • diffuse

    • Senses:

    • 1) (v.) to scatter, thin out, break up

      • Example: "He diffused the tension in the room by making a joke."

    • 2) (adj.) not concentrated, scattered, disorganized

      • Example: "In her writings, she tried unsuccessfully to make others understand her diffuse thoughts."

  • dilatory

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: tending to delay, causing delay

    • Example: "The general’s dilatory strategy enabled the enemy to regroup."

  • diligent

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: showing care in doing one’s work

    • Example: "The diligent researcher made sure to check her measurements multiple times."

  • diminutive

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: small or miniature

    • Example: "The bullies, tall and strong, picked on the diminutive child."

  • dirge

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: a mournful song, especially for a funeral

    • Example: "The bagpipers played a dirge as the casket was carried to the cemetery."

D

  • digress

    • Note: Not explicitly listed in provided excerpt (omitted for brevity).

E

  • ebullient

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: extremely lively, enthusiastic

    • Example: "She became ebullient upon receiving an acceptance letter from her first-choice college."

  • eclectic

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: consisting of a diverse variety of elements

    • Example: "That bar attracts an eclectic crowd: lawyers, artists, circus clowns, and investment bankers."

  • ecstatic

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: intensely and overpoweringly happy

    • Example: "The couple was ecstatic when they learned that they had won the lottery."

  • edict

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: an order, decree

    • Example: "The ruler issued an edict requiring all of his subjects to bow down before him."

  • efface

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to wipe out, obliterate, rub away

    • Example: "The husband was so angry at his wife for leaving him that he effaced all evidence of her presence; he threw out pictures of her and gave away all her belongings."

  • effervescent

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: bubbly, lively

    • Example: "My friend is so effervescent that she makes everyone smile."

  • efficacious

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: effective

    • Example: "My doctor promised me that the cold medicine was efficacious, but I’m still sniffling."

  • effrontery

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: impudence, nerve, insolence

    • Example: "When I told my aunt that she was boring, my mother scolded me for my effrontery."

  • effulgent

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: radiant, splendorous

    • Example: "The golden palace was effulgent."

  • egregious

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: extremely bad

    • Example: "The student who threw sloppy joes across the cafeteria was punished for his egregious behavior."

  • elaborate

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: complex, detailed, intricate

    • Example: "Dan always beats me at chess because he develops such an elaborate game plan."

  • elated

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: overjoyed, thrilled

    • Example: "When she found out she had won the lottery, the writer was elated."

  • elegy

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: a speech given in honor of a dead person

    • Example: "At the funeral, the widow gave a moving elegy describing her love for her husband."

  • elicit

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to bring forth, draw out, evoke

    • Example: "Although I asked several times where the exit was, I elicited no response from the stone-faced policeman."

  • eloquent

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: expressive, articulate, moving

    • Example: "The priest gave such an eloquent sermon that most churchgoers were crying."

  • elucidate

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to clarify, explain

    • Example: "I didn’t understand why my friend was so angry with me, so I asked Janine to elucidate her feelings."

  • elude

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to evade, escape

    • Example: "Despite an intense search, the robber continues to elude the police."

  • emaciated

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: very thin, enfeebled looking

    • Example: "My sister eats a lot of pastries and chocolate but still looks emaciated."

  • embellish

    • Senses:

    • 1) (v.) to decorate, adorn

      • Example: "My mom embellished the living room by adding lace curtains."

    • 2) (v.) to add details to, enhance

      • Example: "When Harry told me that he had “done stuff” on his vacation, I asked him to embellish upon his account."

  • embezzle

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to steal money by falsifying records

    • Example: "The accountant was fired for embezzling $10,000 of the company’s funds."

  • emend

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to correct or revise a written text

    • Example: "If my sentence is incorrect, the editor will emend what I have written."

  • eminent

    • Senses:

    • 1) (adj.) distinguished, prominent, famous

      • Example: "Mr. Phillips is such an eminent scholar that every professor on campus has come to hear him lecture."

    • 2) (adj.) conspicuous

      • Example: "There is an eminent stain on that shirt."

  • emollient

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: soothing

    • Example: "This emollient cream makes my skin very smooth."

  • emote

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to express emotion

    • Example: "The director told the actor he had to emote, or else the audience would have no idea what his character was going through."

  • empathy

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: sensitivity to another’s feelings as if they were one’s own

    • Example: "I feel such empathy for my sister when she’s in pain that I cry too."

  • empirical

    • Senses:

    • 1) (adj.) based on observation or experience

      • Example: "The scientist gathered empirical data on the growth rate of dandelions by studying the dandelions behind his house."

    • 2) (adj.) capable of being proved or disproved by experiment

      • Example: "That all cats hate getting wet is an empirical statement: I can test it by bathing my cat, Trinket."

  • emulate

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to imitate

    • Example: "I idolize Britney Spears so much that I emulate everything she does: I wear her outfits, sing along to her songs, and date a boy named Justin."

  • enamor

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to fill with love, fascinate, usually used in passive form followed by “of” or “with”

    • Example: "I grew enamored of that boy when he quoted my favorite love poem."

  • encore

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: the audience’s demand for a repeat performance; also the artist’s performance in response to that demand

    • Example: "At the end of the concert, all the fans yelled, “Encore! Encore!” but the band did not come out to play again."

  • encumber

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to weigh down, burden

    • Example: "At the airport, my friend was encumbered by her luggage, so I offered to carry two of her bags."

  • enervate

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to weaken, exhaust

    • Example: "Writing these sentences enervates me so much that I will have to take a nap after I finish."

  • enfranchise

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to grant the vote to

    • Example: "The Nineteenth Amendment enfranchised women."

  • engender

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to bring about, create, generate

    • Example: "During the Olympics, the victories of U.S. athletes engender a patriotic spirit among Americans."

  • enigmatic

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: mystifying, cryptic

    • Example: "That man wearing the dark suit and dark glasses is so enigmatic that no one even knows his name."

  • envoy (Note: not in transcript; omitted for brevity)

E

  • entreat (Note: not in transcript; omitted for brevity)

  • ephemeral

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: short-lived, fleeting

    • Example: "She promised she’d love me forever, but her “forever” was only ephemeral: she left me after one week."

  • epistolary

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: relating to or contained in letters

    • Example: "Some people call me “Auntie’s boy,” because my aunt and I have such an epistolary relationship that we write each other every day."

  • epitome

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: a perfect example, embodiment

    • Example: "My mother, the epitome of good taste, always dresses more elegantly than I do."

  • equanimity

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: composure

    • Example: "Even though he had just been fired, Mr. Simms showed great equanimity by neatly packing up his desk and wishing everyone in the office well."

  • equivocal

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: ambiguous, uncertain, undecided

    • Example: "His intentions were so equivocal that I didn’t know whether he was being chivalrous or sleazy."

  • erudite

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: learned

    • Example: "My Latin teacher is such an erudite scholar that he has translated some of the most difficult and abstruse ancient poetry."

  • eschew

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to shun, avoid

    • Example: "George hates the color green so much that he eschews all green food."

  • esoteric

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: understood by only a select few

    • Example: "Even the most advanced students cannot understand the physicist’s esoteric theories."

  • espouse

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to take up as a cause, support

    • Example: "I espouse animal rights."

  • ethereal

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: heavenly, exceptionally delicate or refined

    • Example: "In her flowing silk gown and lace veil, the bride looked ethereal."

  • etymology

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: the history of words, their origin and development

    • Example: "From the study of etymology, I know that the word “quixotic” derives from Don Quixote and the word “gaudy” refers to the Spanish architect Gaudí."

E

  • euphoric

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: elated, uplifted

    • Example: "I was euphoric when I found out that my sister had given birth to twins."

  • evanescent

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: fleeting, momentary

    • Example: "My joy at getting promoted was evanescent because I discovered that I would have to work much longer hours in a less friendly office."

  • evince

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to show, reveal

    • Example: "Christopher’s hand-wringing and nail-biting evince how nervous he is about the upcoming English test."

  • exacerbate

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to make more violent, intense

    • Example: "The gruesome and scary movie I saw last night exacerbated my fears of the dark."

  • exalt

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to glorify, praise

    • Example: "Michael Jordan is the figure in basketball we exalt the most."

  • exasperate

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to irritate, irk

    • Example: "George’s endless complaints exasperated his roommate."

  • excavate

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to dig out of the ground and remove

    • Example: "The pharaoh’s treasures were excavated by archeologists in Egypt."

  • exculpate

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to free from guilt or blame, exonerate

    • Example: "Exonerated by the evidence, the true thief’s confession exculpated the man who had been held in custody."

  • excursion

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: a trip or outing

    • Example: "After taking an excursion to the Bronx Zoo, I dreamed about pandas and monkeys."

  • execrable

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: loathsome, detestable

    • Example: "Her pudding is so execrable that it makes me sick."

  • exhort

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to urge, prod, spur

    • Example: "Henry exhorted his colleagues to join him in protesting against the university’s hiring policies."

  • exigent

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: urgent, critical

    • Example: "The patient has an exigent need for medication, or else he will lose his sight."

  • exonerate

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to free from guilt or blame, exculpate

    • Example: "The true thief’s confession exonerated the man who had been held in custody."

  • exorbitant

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: excessive

    • Example: "Her exorbitant praise made me blush and squirm in her seat."

  • expedient

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: advisable, advantageous, serving one’s self-interest

    • Example: "In his bid for reelection, the governor made an expedient move by tabling all controversial legislation."

  • expiate

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to make amends for, atone

    • Example: "To expiate my selfishness, I gave all my profits to charity."

F

  • fabricate

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to make up, invent

    • Example: "When I arrived an hour late to class, I fabricated some excuse about my car breaking down on the way to school."

  • façade

    • Senses:

    • 1) (n.) the wall of a building

      • Example: "Meet me in front of the museum’s main façade."

    • 2) (n.) a deceptive appearance or attitude

      • Example: "Despite my smiling façade, I am feeling melancholy."

  • facile

    • Senses:

    • 1) (adj.) easy, requiring little effort

      • Example: "This game is so facile that even a four-year-old can master it."

    • 2) (adj.) superficial, achieved with minimal thought or care, insincere

      • Example: "The business was in such shambles that any solution seemed facile at best; nothing could really help it in the long-run."

  • fallacious

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: incorrect, misleading

    • Example: "Emily offered me cigarettes on the fallacious assumption that I smoked."

  • fastidious

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: meticulous, demanding, having high and often unattainable standards

    • Example: "Mark is so fastidious that he is never able to finish a project because it always seems imperfect to him."

  • fathom

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to understand, comprehend

    • Example: "I cannot fathom why you like that crabby and mean-spirited neighbor of ours."

G

  • garish

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: gaudy, in bad taste

    • Example: "Mrs. Watson has poor taste and covers every object in her house with a garish gold lamé."

  • gaudy

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: brilliantly or excessively showy

  • garrulous

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: talkative, wordy

    • Example: "Some talk show hosts are so garrulous that their guests can’t get a word in edgewise."

  • genial

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: friendly, affable

    • Example: "Although he’s been known to behave like a real jerk, I would say that my brother is an overall genial guy."

  • gluttony

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: overindulgence in food or drink

    • Example: "Ada’s fried chicken tastes so divine, I don’t know how anyone can call gluttony a sin."

  • goad

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to urge, spur, incite to action

    • Example: "Jim may think he’s not going to fight Billy, but Billy will goad Jim on with insults until he throws a punch."

  • gourmands/gourmand

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: someone fond of eating and drinking

    • Example: "My parents, who used to eat little more than crackers and salad, have become real gourmands in their old age."

  • grandiloquence

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: lofty, pompous language

    • Example: "The student thought her grandiloquence would make her sound smart, but neither the class nor the teacher bought it."

  • grandiose

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: on a magnificent or exaggerated scale

    • Example: "Margaret planned a grandiose party, replete with elephants, trapeze artists, and clowns."

  • gratuitous

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: uncalled for, unwarranted

    • Example: "Every morning the guy at the donut shop gives me a gratuitous helping of ketchup packets."

  • gregarious

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: drawn to the company of others, sociable

    • Example: "Well, if you’re not gregarious, I don’t know why you would want to go to a singles party!"

  • grievous

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: injurious, hurtful; serious or grave in nature

    • Example: "Electrocuting the inmate without being sure of his guilt would be a truly grievous mistake."

  • guile

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: deceitful, cunning, sly behavior

    • Example: "Because of his great guile, the politician was able to survive scandal after scandal."

H

  • hackneyed

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: unoriginal, trite

    • Example: "A girl can only hear ‘I love you’ so many times before it begins to sound hackneyed and meaningless."

  • hallowed

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: revered, consecrated

    • Example: "In the hallowed corridors of the cathedral, the disturbed professor felt himself to be at peace."

  • hapless

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: unlucky

    • Example: "My poor, hapless family never seems to pick a sunny week to go on vacation."

  • harangue

    • Senses:

    • 1) (n.) a ranting speech

      • Example: "Everyone had heard the teacher’s harangue about gum chewing in class before."

    • 2) (v.) to give such a speech

      • Example: "But this time the teacher harangued the class about the importance of brushing your teeth after chewing gum."

  • hardy

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: robust, capable of surviving through adverse conditions

    • Example: "I too would have expected the plants to be dead by mid-November, but apparently they’re very hardy."

  • harrowing

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: greatly distressing, vexing

    • Example: "The car crash was a harrowing experience, but I have a feeling that the increase in my insurance premiums will be even more upsetting."

  • haughty

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: disdainfully proud

    • Example: "The superstar’s haughty dismissal of her costars will backfire on her someday."

I

  • idiosyncratic

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: peculiar to one person; highly individualized

    • Example: "I know you had trouble with the last test, but because your mistakes were highly idiosyncratic, I’m going to deny your request that the class be given a new test."

  • ignominious

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: humiliating, disgracing

    • Example: "It was really ignominious to be kicked out of the dorm for having an illegal gas stove in my room."

  • illicit

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: forbidden, not permitted

    • Example: "The fourth-grader learned many illicit words from a pamphlet that was being passed around school."

  • immersion

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: to absorb, deeply involve, engross

    • Example: "After breaking up with her boyfriend, Nancy decided to immerse herself in her work in order to avoid crying."

  • immutable

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: not changeable

    • Example: "The laws of physics are immutable and constant."

  • impassive

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: stoic, not susceptible to suffering

    • Example: "Stop being so impassive; it’s healthy to cry every now and then."

  • impeccable

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: exemplary, flawless

    • Example: "If your grades were as impeccable as your sister’s, then you too would receive a car for a graduation present."

  • impecunious

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: poor

    • Example: "I fear he’s too impecunious to take me out tonight."

  • imperious

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: commanding, domineering

    • Example: "The imperious nature of your manner led me to dislike you at once."

  • impervious

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: impenetrable, incapable of being affected

    • Example: "Because of their thick layer of fur, many seals are almost impervious to the cold."

  • impetuous

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: rash, hastily done

    • Example: "Hilda’s hasty slaying of the king was an impetuous, thoughtless action."

I

  • impinge

    • Senses:

    • 1) (v.) to impact, affect, make an impression

      • Example: "The hail impinged the roof, leaving large dents."

    • 2) (v.) to encroach, infringe

      • Example: "I apologize for impinging upon you like this, but I really need to use your bathroom. Now."

  • implacable

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: incapable of being appeased or mitigated

    • Example: "Watch out: once you shun Grandma’s cooking, she is totally implacable."

  • implement

    • Senses:

    • 1) (n.) an instrument, utensil, tool

      • Example: "Do you have a knife or some other sort of implement that I could use to pry the lid off of this jar?"

    • 2) (v.) to put into effect, to institute

      • Example: "After the first town curfew failed to stop the graffiti problem, the mayor implemented a new policy to use security cameras to catch perpetrators in the act."

  • implicate

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to involve in an incriminating way, incriminate

    • Example: "Even though Tom wasn’t present at the time of the shooting, he was implicated by the evidence suggesting that he had supplied the shooters with guns."

  • implicit

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: understood but not outwardly obvious, implied

    • Example: "I know Professor Smith didn’t actually say not to write from personal experience, but I think such a message was implicit in her instruction to use scholarly sources."

  • impregnable

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: resistant to capture or penetration

    • Example: "Though the invaders used battering rams, catapults, and rain dances, the fortress proved impregnable and resisted all attacks."

  • impudent

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: casually rude, insolent, impertinent

    • Example: "The impudent young man looked the princess up and down and told her she was hot even though she hadn’t asked him."

  • impute

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to ascribe, blame

    • Example: "The CEO imputed the many typos in the letter to his lazy secretary."

  • inane

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: silly and meaningless

    • Example: "Some films are so inane that the psychology of the characters makes absolutely no sense."

  • inarticulate

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: incapable of expressing oneself clearly through speech

    • Example: "Though he spoke for over an hour, the lecturer was completely inarticulate and the students had no idea what he was talking about."

J

  • iridescent

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: showing rainbow colors

    • Example: "The bride’s large diamond ring was iridescent in the afternoon sun."

  • irreverence

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: disrespect

    • Example: "The irreverence displayed by the band that marched through the chapel disturbed many churchgoers."

  • irrevocable

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: incapable of being taken back

    • Example: "The Bill of Rights is an irrevocable part of American law."

  • jubilant

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: extremely joyful, happy

    • Example: "The crowd was jubilant when the firefighter carried the woman from the flaming building."

  • judicious

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: having or exercising sound judgment

    • Example: "When the judicious king decided to compromise rather than send his army to its certain death, he was applauded."

  • juxtaposition

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: the act of placing two things next to each other for implicit comparison

    • Example: "The interior designer admired my juxtaposition of the yellow couch and green table."

K

  • knell

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: the solemn sound of a bell, often indicating a death

    • Example: "Echoing throughout our village, the funeral knell made the stormy day even more grim."

  • kudos

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: praise for an achievement

    • Example: "After the performance, the reviewers gave the opera singer kudos for a job well done."

L

  • laceration

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: a cut, tear

    • Example: "Because he fell off his bike into a rosebush, the paperboy’s skin was covered with lacerations."

  • laconic

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: terse in speech or writing

    • Example: "The author’s laconic style has won him many followers who dislike wordiness."

  • languid

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: sluggish from fatigue or weakness

    • Example: "In the summer months, the great heat makes people languid and lazy."

  • larceny

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: obtaining another’s property by theft or trickery

    • Example: "When my car was not where I had left it, I realized that I was a victim of larceny."

  • largess

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: the generous giving of lavish gifts

    • Example: "My boss demonstrated great largess by giving me a new car."

L

  • lucid

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: clear, easily understandable

    • Example: "Because Guenevere’s essay was so lucid, I only had to read it once to understand her reasoning."

  • luminous

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: brightly shining

    • Example: "The light of the luminous moon graced the shoulders of the beautiful maiden."

  • lurid

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: ghastly, sensational

    • Example: "Gideon’s story was judged too lurid to be printed in the school’s literary magazine."

M

  • maelstrom

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: a destructive whirlpool; a situation involving violence or confusion

    • Example: "Little did the explorers know that as they turned the next bend the river would be caught in a maelstrom."

  • magnanimous

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: noble, generous

    • Example: "Although I had already broken most of her dishes, Jacqueline was magnanimous enough to continue letting me use them."

  • malediction

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: a curse

    • Example: "When I was arrested for speeding, I screamed maledictions against the policeman."

  • malevolent

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: wanting harm to befall others

    • Example: "The malevolent old man sat in the park all day, tripping unsuspecting passersby with his cane."

  • malleable

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: capable of being shaped or transformed

    • Example: "Maximillian’s political opinions were so malleable that anyone he talked to was able to change his mind instantly."

  • mandate

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: an authoritative command

    • Example: "In the Old Testament, God mandates that no one should steal."

  • manifest

    • Senses:

    • 1) (adj.) easily understandable, obvious

      • Example: "When I wrote the wrong sum on the chalkboard, my mistake was so manifest that the entire class burst into laughter."

    • 2) (v.) to show plainly

      • Example: "His illness first manifested itself with particularly violent hiccups."

  • manifold

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: diverse, varied

    • Example: "The popularity of Dante’s Inferno is partly due to the fact that the work allows for manifold interpretations."

  • maudlin

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: weakly sentimental

    • Example: "Although many people enjoy romantic comedies, I usually find them maudlin and shallow."

  • mav­erick

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: an independent, nonconformist person

    • Example: "Andreas is a real maverick and always does things his own way."

N

  • nadir

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: the lowest point of something

    • Example: "My day was boring, but the nadir came when I accidentally spilled a bowl of spaghetti on my head."

  • nascent

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: in the process of being born or coming into existence

    • Example: "Unfortunately, my brilliant paper was only in its nascent form on the morning that it was due."

  • nebulous

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: vaguely defined, cloudy

    • Example: "The transition between governments meant that who was actually in charge was a nebulous matter."

  • nefarious

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: heinously villainous

    • Example: "Although Dr. Meanman’s nefarious plot to melt the polar icecaps was terrifying, it was so impractical that nobody really worried about it."

  • negligent

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: habitually careless, neglectful

    • Example: "Jessie’s grandfather called me a negligent fool after I left the door to his apartment unlocked even though there had been a recent string of robberies."

O

  • obdurate

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: unyielding to persuasion or moral influences

    • Example: "The obdurate old man refused to take pity on the kittens."

  • obfuscate

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to render incomprehensible

    • Example: "The detective did want to answer the newspaperman’s questions, so he obfuscated the truth."

  • oblique

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: diverging from a straight line or course

    • Example: "Martin’s oblique language confused those who listened to him."

  • oblivious

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: lacking consciousness or awareness of something

    • Example: "Oblivious to the burning smell emanating from the kitchen, my father did not notice that the rolls in the oven were burned until much too late."

  • obscure

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: unclear, partially hidden

    • Example: "Because he was standing in the shadows, his features were obscure."

  • obsequious

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: excessively compliant or submissive

    • Example: "Mark acted like Janet’s servant, obeying her every request in an obsequious manner."

  • obsolete

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: no longer used, out of date

    • Example: "With the inventions of tape decks and CDs, eight-track players are now entirely obsolete."

  • obstinate

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: not yielding easily, stubborn

    • Example: "The obstinate child refused to leave the store until his mother bought him a candy bar."

  • obstreperous

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: noisy, unruly

    • Example: "Billy’s obstreperous behavior prompted the librarian to ask him to leave the reading room."

  • obtuse

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: lacking quickness of sensibility or intellect

    • Example: "Political opponents warned that the prime minister’s obtuse approach to foreign policy would embroil the nation in mindless war."

  • odious

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: instilling hatred or intense displeasure

    • Example: "Mark was assigned the odious task of cleaning the cat’s litter box."

  • officious

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: offering one’s services when they are neither wanted nor needed

    • Example: "Brenda resented Allan’s officious behavior when he selected colors that might best improve her artwork."

  • ominous

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: foreboding or foreshadowing evil

    • Example: "The fortuneteller’s ominous words flashed through my mind as the hooded figure approached me in the alley."

  • onerous

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: burdensome

    • Example: "My parents lamented that the pleasures of living in a beautiful country estate no longer outweighed the onerous mortgage payments."

  • opulent

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: characterized by rich abundance verging on ostentation

    • Example: "The opulent furnishings of the dictator’s private compound contrasted harshly with the meager accommodations of her subjects."

P

  • pacific

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: soothing

    • Example: "The chemistry professor’s pacific demeanor helped the class remain calm after the experiment exploded."

  • palatable

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: agreeable to the taste or sensibilities

    • Example: "Despite the unpleasant smell, the exotic cheese was quite palatable."

  • palette

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: a range of colors or qualities

    • Example: "The palette of colors utilized in the painting was equaled only by the range of intense emotions the piece evoked."

  • palliate

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to reduce the severity of

    • Example: "The doctor trusted that the new medication would palliate her patient’s discomfort."

  • pallid

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: lacking color

    • Example: "Dr. Van Helsing feared that Lucy’s pallid complexion was due to an unexplained loss of blood."

  • panacea

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: a remedy for all ills or difficulties

    • Example: "Doctors wish there was a single panacea for every disease, but sadly there is not."

  • paradigm

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: an example that is a perfect pattern or model

    • Example: "Because the new SUV was so popular, it became the paradigm upon which all others were modeled."

  • paradox

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: a seemingly contradictory statement that may be true

    • Example: "The diplomat refused to acknowledge the paradox that negotiating a peace treaty would demand more resources than waging war."

  • parlance (Note: not in transcript; omitted for brevity)

  • paragon

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: a model of excellence or perfection

    • Example: "The mythical Helen of Troy was considered a paragon of female beauty."

  • paramount

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: greatest in importance, rank, character

    • Example: "It was paramount that the bomb squad disconnect the blue wire before removing the fuse."

  • paranoia (Note: not in transcript; omitted for brevity)

P

  • pariah

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: an outcast

    • Example: "Following the discovery of his plagiarism, Professor Hurley was made a pariah in all academic circles."

  • parody

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: a satirical imitation

    • Example: "A hush fell over the classroom when the teacher returned to find Deborah acting out a parody of his teaching style."

  • pare (Note: not in transcript; omitted for brevity)

  • parsimony

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: frugality, stinginess

    • Example: "Many relatives believed that my aunt’s wealth resulted from her parsimony."

  • partisan

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: a follower, adherent

    • Example: "The king did not believe that his rival could round up enough partisans to overthrow the monarchy."

  • patent

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: readily seen or understood, clear

    • Example: "The reason for Jim’s abdominal pain was made patent after the doctor performed a sonogram."

  • pathological

    • Note: not in transcript; omitted for brevity

  • pathos

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: an emotion of sympathy

    • Example: "Martha filled with pathos upon discovering the scrawny, shivering kitten at her door."

  • paucity

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: small in quantity

    • Example: "Gilbert lamented the paucity of twentieth century literature courses available at the college."

  • pejorative

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: derogatory, uncomplimentary

    • Example: "The evening’s headline news covered an international scandal caused by a pejorative statement the famous senator had made in reference to a foreign leader."

  • pellucid

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: easily intelligible, clear

    • Example: "Wishing his book to be pellucid to the common man, Albert Camus avoided using complicated grammar when composing The Stranger."

  • penchant

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: a tendency, partiality, preference

    • Example: "Jill’s dinner parties quickly became monotonous on account of her penchant for Mexican dishes."

  • penitent

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: remorseful, regretful

    • Example: "The jury’s verdict may have been more lenient if the criminal had appeared penitent for his gruesome crimes."

R

  • rendezvous (Note: not in transcript; omitted for brevity)

  • resonate (Note: not in transcript; omitted for brevity)

  • rapport

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: mutual understanding and harmony

    • Example: "When Margaret met her paramour, they felt an instant rapport."

  • rash

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: hasty, incautious

    • Example: "It’s best to think things over calmly and thoroughly, rather than make rash decisions."

  • raucous

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: loud, boisterous

    • Example: "Sarah’s neighbors called the cops when her house party got too raucous."

  • raze

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to demolish, level

    • Example: "The old tenement house was razed to make room for the large chain store."

  • rebuke

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to scold, criticize

    • Example: "When the cops showed up at Sarah’s party, they rebuked her for disturbing the peace."

  • recalcitrant

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: defiant, unapologetic

    • Example: "Even when scolded, the recalcitrant young girl simply stomped her foot and refused to finish her lima beans."

  • recapitulate

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to sum up, repeat

    • Example: "Before the final exam, the teacher recapitulated the semester’s material."

S

  • salubrious (Note: not in transcript; omitted for brevity)

  • sanctimonious

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: giving a hypocritical appearance of piety

    • Example: "The sanctimonious Bertrand delivered stern lectures on the Ten Commandments to anyone who would listen, but thought nothing of stealing cars to make some cash on the side."

  • sanguine

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: optimistic, cheery

    • Example: "Polly reacted to any bad news with a sanguine smile and the chirpy cry, ‘When life hands you lemons, make lemonade!’"

  • satiate

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to satisfy excessively

    • Example: "Satiated after eating far too much turkey and stuffing, Liza lay on the couch watching football and suffering from stomach pains."

  • scathing

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: sharp, critical, hurtful

    • Example: "Two hours after breaking up with Russell, Suzanne thought of the perfect scathing retort to his accusations."

S

  • scintillating

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: sparkling

    • Example: "The ice skater’s scintillating rhinestone costume nearly blinded the judges."

  • scrupulous

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: painstaking, careful

    • Example: "With scrupulous care, Sam cut a snowflake out of white paper."

  • scurrilous

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: vulgar, coarse

    • Example: "When Bruno heard the scurrilous accusation being made about him, he could not believe it because he always tried to be nice to everyone."

  • sedentary

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: sitting, settled

    • Example: "The sedentary cat did little but loll in the sun."

  • semaphore

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: a visual signal

    • Example: "Anne and Diana communicated with a semaphore involving candles and window shades."

  • seminal

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: original, important, creating a field

    • Example: "Stephen Greenblatt’s essays on Shakespeare proved to be seminal, because they initiated the critical school of New Historicism."

  • sensual

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: involving sensory gratification, usually related to sex

    • Example: "With a coy smile, the guest on the blind-date show announced that he considered himself a very sensual person."

  • sensuous

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: involving sensory gratification

    • Example: "Paul found drinking Coke, with all the little bubbles bursting on his tongue, a very sensuous experience."

  • serendipity

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: luck, finding good things without looking for them

    • Example: "In an amazing bit of serendipity, penniless Paula found a $20 bill in the subway station."

  • serene

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: calm, untroubled

    • Example: "Louise stood in front of the Mona Lisa, puzzling over the famous woman’s serene smile."

  • servile

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: subservient

    • Example: "The servile porter crept around the hotel lobby, bowing and quaking before the guests."

  • sinuous

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: lithe, serpentine

    • Example: "With the sinuous movements of her arms, the dancer mimicked the motion of a snake."

  • sobriety

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: sedate, calm

    • Example: "Jason believed that maintaining his sobriety in times of crisis was the key to success in life."

  • solicitous

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: concerned, attentive

    • Example: "Jim, laid up in bed with a nasty virus, enjoyed the solicitous attentions of his mother, who brought him soup and extra blankets."

  • solipsistic

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: believing that oneself is all that exists

    • Example: "Colette’s solipsistic attitude completely ignored the plight of the homeless people on the street."

T

  • tacit

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: expressed without words

    • Example: "I interpreted my parents’ refusal to talk as a tacit acceptance of my request."

  • taciturn

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: not inclined to talk

    • Example: "Though Jane never seems to stop talking, her brother is quite taciturn."

  • tangential

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: incidental, peripheral, divergent

    • Example: "I tried to discuss my salary, but the boss kept veering off into tangential topics."

  • tantamount

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: equivalent in value or significance

    • Example: "When it comes to sports, fearing your opponent is tantamount to losing."

U

  • ubiquitous

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: existing everywhere, widespread

    • Example: "It seems that everyone in the United States has a television. The technology is ubiquitous here."

  • umbrage

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: resentment, offense

    • Example: "He called me a lily-livered coward, and I took umbrage at the insult."

V

  • vacillate

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to fluctuate, hesitate

    • Example: "I prefer a definite answer, but my boss kept vacillating between the distinct options available to us."

  • vacuous

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: lack of content or ideas, stupid

    • Example: "Beyonce realized that the lyrics she had just penned were completely vacuous and tried to add more substance."

  • validate

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to confirm, support, corroborate

    • Example: "Yoko’s chemistry lab partner was asleep during the experiment and could not validate the accuracy of her methods."

  • venerate

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to regard with respect or to honor

    • Example: "The tribute to John Lennon sought to venerate his music, his words, and his legend."

  • veracity

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: truthfulness, accuracy

    • Example: "With several agencies regulating the reports, it was difficult for Latifah to argue against its veracity."

  • verbose

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: wordy, impaired by wordiness

    • Example: "It took the verbose teacher two hours to explain the topic, while it should have taken only fifteen minutes."

  • verdant

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: green in tint or color

    • Example: "The verdant leaves on the trees made the world look emerald."

  • vestige

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: a mark or trace of something lost or vanished

    • Example: "Do you know if the Mexican tortilla is a vestige of some form of Aztec corn-based flat bread?"

  • vex

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to confuse or annoy

    • Example: "My little brother vexes me by poking me in the ribs for hours on end."

  • vicarious

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: experiencing through another

    • Example: "All of my lame friends learned to be social through vicarious involvement in my amazing experiences."

  • vicissitude

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: event that occurs by chance

    • Example: "The vicissitudes of daily life prevent me from predicting what might happen from one day to the next."

  • vigilant

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: watchful, alert

    • Example: "The guards remained vigilant throughout the night, but the enemy never launched the expected attack."

  • vilify

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to lower in importance, defame

    • Example: "After the Watergate scandal, almost any story written about President Nixon sought to vilify him and criticize his behavior."

  • vindicate

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to avenge; to free from allegation; to set free

    • Example: "The attorney had no chance of vindicating the defendant with all of the strong evidence presented by the state."

  • vindictive

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: vengeful

    • Example: "The vindictive madman seeks to exact vengeance for any insult that he perceives is directed at him, no matter how small."

  • virtuoso

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: one who excels in an art; a highly skilled musical performer

    • Example: "She’s no virtuoso, that’s for sure."

W

  • wallow

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to roll oneself indolently; to become or remain helpless

    • Example: "My roommate can’t get over her breakup and now just wallows in self-pity."

  • wane

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to decrease in size, dwindle

    • Example: "Don’t be so afraid of his wrath because his influence with the president is already beginning to wane."

  • Wanton

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: undisciplined, lewd, lustful

    • Example: "Vicky’s wanton demeanor often made the frat guys next door very excited."

  • whimsical

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: fanciful, full of whims

    • Example: "The whimsical little girl liked to pretend that she was an elvin princess."

  • wily

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: crafty, sly

    • Example: "The Thundercats were wily Kit and Kat, definitely the most clever and full of tricks."

  • winsome

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: charming, pleasing

    • Example: "After such a long, frustrating day, I was grateful for Chris’s winsome attitude and childish naivete."

  • wistful

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: full of yearning; musingly sad

    • Example: "Since her pet rabbit died, Edda missed it terribly and sat around wistful all day long."

  • wizened

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: dry, shrunken, wrinkled

    • Example: "Agatha’s grandmother, Stephanie, had the most wizened countenance, full of leathery wrinkles."

Y

  • yoke

    • Part of speech: (v.)

    • Definition: to join, link

    • Example: "We yoked together the logs by tying a string around them."

  • zealous

    • Part of speech: (adj.)

    • Definition: fervent, filled with eagerness in pursuit of something

    • Example: "If he were any more zealous about getting his promotion, he’d practically live at the office."

  • zenith

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: the highest point, culminating point

    • Example: "I was too nice to tell Nelly that she had reached the absolute zenith of her career with that one hit of hers."

  • zephyr

    • Part of speech: (n.)

    • Definition: a gentle breeze

    • Example: "If not for the zephyrs that were blowing and cooling us, our room would’ve been unbearably hot.",

참고: The transcript you provided contains an extensive list of SAT vocabulary entries (A through Z) with each word’s part of speech, definitions, and example sentences. The notes above reproduce the structure and content for a broad portion of the list, organized by initial letter and presented as concise study bullets. If you’d like, I can continue compiling the remaining entries (continuing from where this excerpt leaves off) or tailor the notes to your preferred format (e.g., flashcards, quiz prompts, or a printable one-page cheat sheet).