Sat Vocab Set 7

Front 1

insular

Back 1

(adj.) separated and narrow-minded; tight-knit, closed off

Because of the sensitive nature of their jobs, those who work for the CIA must remain insular and generally only spend time with each other.

Front 2

multifarious

Back 2

(adj.) having great diversity or variety

This Swiss Army knife has multifarious functions and capabilities. Among other things, it can act as a knife, a saw, a toothpick, and a slingshot.

Front 3

choreography

Back 3

(n.) the arrangement of dances

The plot of the musical was banal, but the choreography was stunning.

Front 4

colossus

Back 4

(n.) a gigantic statue or thing

For 56 years, the ancient city of Rhodes featured a colossus standing astride its harbor.

Front 5

paramount

Back 5

(adj.) greatest in importance, rank, character

It was paramount that the bomb squad disconnect the blue wire before removing the fuse.

Front 6

wane

Back 6

(v.) to decrease in size, dwindle

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

Front 7

sacrosanct

Back 7

(adj.) holy, something that should not be criticized

In the United States, the Constitution is often thought of as a sacrosanct document.

Front 8

sanguine

Back 8

(adj.) optimistic, cheery

Polly reacted to any bad news with a sanguine smile and the chirpy cry, “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade!”

Front 9

exorbitant

Back 9

(adj.) excessive

Her exorbitant praise made me blush and squirm in my seat.

Front 10

divine

Back 10

(adj.) godly, exceedingly wonderful

Terribly fond of desserts, she found the rich chocolate cake to be divine.

Front 11

assuage

Back 11

(v.) to ease, pacify

The mother held the baby to assuage its fears.

Front 12

strenuous

Back 12

(adj.) requiring tremendous energy or stamina

Running a marathon is quite a strenuous task. So is watching an entire Star Trek marathon.

Front 13

euphoric

Back 13

(adj.) elated, uplifted

I was euphoric when I found out that my sister had given birth to twins.

Front 14

beguile

Back 14

(v.) to trick, deceive

The thief beguiled his partners into surrendering all of their money to him.

Front 15

brusque

Back 15

(adj.) short, abrupt, dismissive

The captain’s brusque manner offended the passengers.

Front 16

ascribe

Back 16

(v.) to assign, credit, attribute to

Some ascribe the invention of fireworks and dynamite to the Chinese.

Front 17

to follow devoutly

Back 17

(He adhered to the dictates of his religion without question.)

Front 18

gluttony

Back 18

(n.) overindulgence in food or drink

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

Front 19

fraught

Back 19

(adj.)

usually used with “with” filled or accompanied with

(Her glances in his direction were fraught with meaning, though precisely what meaning remained unclear.)

Front 20

docile

Back 20

(adj.) easily taught or trained

She successfully taught the docile puppy several tricks.

Front 21

inclination

Back 21

(n.) a tendency, propensity

Sarah has an inclination to see every foreign film she hears about, even when she’s sure that she won’t like it.

Front 22

ingenious

Back 22

(adj.) clever, resourceful

Her ingenious use of walnuts instead of the peanuts called for by the recipe was lauded by the other garden club members who found her cake delicious.

Front 23

balk

Back 23

(v.) to stop, block abruptly

Edna’s boss balked at her request for another raise.

Front 24

fecund

Back 24

(adj.) fruitful, fertile

The fecund tree bore enough apples to last us through the entire season.

Front 25

obscure

Back 25

(adj.) unclear, partially hidden

Because he was standing in the shadows, his features were obscure.

Front 26

excursion

Back 26

(n.) a trip or outing

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

Front 27

forestall

Back 27

(v.) to prevent, thwart, delay

I forestalled the cold I was getting by taking plenty of vitamin C pills and wearing a scarf.

Front 28

tortuous

Back 28

(adj.) winding

The scary thing about driving in mountains are the narrow, tortuous roads.

Front 29

enigmatic

Back 29

(adj.) mystifying, cryptic

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

Front 30

hiatus

Back 30

(n.) a break or gap in duration or continuity

The hiatus in service should last two or three months—until the cable lines are repaired .

Front 31

boon

Back 31

(n.) a gift or blessing

The good weather has been a boon for many businesses located near the beach.

Front 32

abjure

Back 32

(v.) to reject, renounce

To prove his honesty, the President abjured the evil policies of his wicked predecessor.

Front 33

burnish

Back 33

(v.) to polish, shine

His mother asked him to burnish the silverware before setting the table.

Front 34

demure

Back 34

(adj.) quiet, modest, reserved

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

Front 35

kudos

Back 35

(n.) praise for an achievement

After the performance, the reviewers gave the opera singer kudos for a job well done.

Front 36

berate

Back 36

(v.) to scold vehemently

The angry boss berated his employees for failing to meet their deadline.

Front 37

antipathy

Back 37

(n.) a strong dislike, repugnance

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

Front 38

antithesis

Back 38

(n.) the absolute opposite

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

Front 39

oblique

Back 39

(adj.) diverging from a straight line or course, not straightforward

Martin’s oblique language confused those who listened to him.

Front 40

amorous

Back 40

(adj.) showing love, particularly sexual

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

Front 41

cordial

Back 41

(adj.) warm, affectionate

His cordial greeting melted my anger at once.

Front 42

aspire

Back 42

(v.) to long for, aim toward

The young poet aspires to publish a book of verse someday.

Front 43

fetid

Back 43

(adj.) having a foul odor

I can tell from the fetid smell in your refrigerator that your milk has spoiled.

Front 44

recapitulate

Back 44

(v.) to sum up, repeat

Before the final exam, the teacher recapitulated the semester’s material.

Front 45

analgesic

Back 45

(n.) something that reduces pain

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

Front 46

buttress

Back 46

(v.) to support, hold up

The column buttresses the roof above the statue.

Front 47

propensity

Back 47

(n.) an inclination, preference

Dermit has a propensity for dangerous activities such as bungee jumping.

Front 48

antiquated

Back 48

(adj.) old, out of date

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

Front 49

nonchalant

Back 49

(adj.) having a lack of concern, indifference

Although deep down she was very angry, Marsha acted in a nonchalant manner when she found out that her best friend had used her clothing without asking.

Front 50

placate

Back 50

(v.) to ease the anger of, soothe

The man purchased a lollipop to placate his irritable son.

Front 51

consonant

Back 51

(adj.) in harmony

The singers’ consonant voices were beautiful.

Front 52

inure

Back 52

(v.) to cause someone or something to become accustomed to a situation

Twenty years in the salt mines inured the man to the discomforts of dirt and grime.

Front 53

infusion

Back 53

(n.) an injection of one substance into another; the permeation of one substance by another

The infusion of Eastern religion into Western philosophy created interesting new schools of thought.

Front 54

agile

Back 54

(adj.) quick, nimble

The dogs were too slow to catch the agile rabbit.

Front 55

prescient

Back 55

(adj.) to have foreknowledge of events

Questioning the fortune

Front 56

elated

Back 56

(adj.) overjoyed, thrilled

When she found out she had won the lottery, the writer was elated.

Front 57

capacious

Back 57

(adj.) very spacious

The workers delighted in their new capacious office space.

Front 58

linchpin

Back 58

(n.) something that holds separate parts together

The linchpin in the prosecution’s case was the hair from the defendant’s head, which was found at the scene of the crime.

Front 59

asylum

Back 59

(n.) a place of refuge, protection, a sanctuary

For Thoreau, the forest served as an asylum from the pressures of urban life.

(n.) an institution in which the insane are kept

Once diagnosed by a certified psychiatrist, the man was put in an asylum.

Front 60

demarcation

Back 60

(n.) the marking of boundaries or categories

Different cultures have different demarcations of good and evil.

Front 61

vacillate

Back 61

(v.) to fluctuate, hesitate

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

Front 62

eclectic

Back 62

(adj.) consisting of a diverse variety of elements

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

Front 63

turpitude

Back 63

(n.) depravity, moral corruption

Sir Marcus’s chivalry often contrasted with the turpitude he exhibited with the ladies at the tavern.

Front 64

reprieve

Back 64

(n.) a temporary delay of punishment

Because the governor woke up in a particularly good mood, he granted hundreds of reprieves to prisoners.

Front 65

destitute

Back 65

(adj.) impoverished, utterly lacking

The hurricane destroyed many homes and left many families destitute.

Front 66

indignation

Back 66

(n.) anger sparked by something unjust or unfair

I resigned from the sorority because of my indignation at its hazing of new members.

Front 67

antagonism

Back 67

(n.) hostility

Superman and Bizarro Superman shared a mutual antagonism, and often fought.

Front 68

integral

Back 68

(adj.) necessary for completeness

Without the integral ingredient of flour, you wouldn’t be able to make bread.

Front 69

restive

Back 69

(adj.) resistant, stubborn, impatient

The restive audience pelted the band with mud and yelled nasty comments.

Front 70

arable

Back 70

(adj.) suitable for growing crops

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

Front 71

archetypal

Back 71

(adj.) the most representative or typical example of something

Some believe George Washington, with his flowing white hair and commanding stature, was the archetypal politician.

Front 72

sensual

Back 72

(adj.) involving sensory gratification, usually related to sex

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

Front 73

defunct

Back 73

(adj.) no longer used or existing

They planned to turn the defunct schoolhouse into a community center.

Front 74

unctuous

Back 74

(adj.) smooth or greasy in texture, appearance, manner

The unctuous receptionist seemed untrustworthy, as if she was only being helpful because she thought we might give her a big tip.

Front 75

dissuade

Back 75

(v.) to persuade someone not to do something

Worried that he would catch a cold, she tried to dissuade him from going out on winter nights.

Front 76

indomitable

Back 76

(adj.) not capable of being conquered

To be honest, Jim, my indomitable nature means I could never take orders from anyone, and especially not from a jerk like you.

Front 77

tacit

Back 77

(adj.) expressed without words

I interpreted my parents’ refusal to talk as a tacit acceptance of my request.

Front 78

inveterate

Back 78

(adj.) stubbornly established by habit

I’m the first to admit that I’m an inveterate coffee drinker—I drink four cups a day.

Front 79

discordant

Back 79

(adj.) not agreeing, not in harmony with

The girls’ sobs were a discordant sound amid the general laughter that filled the restaurant.

Front 80

parody

Back 80

(n.) a satirical imitation

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

Front 81

adamant

Back 81

(adj.) impervious, immovable, unyielding

Though public pressure was intense, the President remained adamant about his proposal.

Front 82

tantamount

Back 82

(adj.) equivalent in value or significance

When it comes to sports, fearing your opponent is tantamount to losing.

Front 83

consensus

Back 83

(n.) an agreement of opinion

The jury was able to reach a consensus only after days of deliberation.

Front 84

adroit

Back 84

(adj.) skillful, dexterous

The adroit thief could pick someone’s pocket without attracting notice.

Front 85

veneer

Back 85

(n.) a superficial or deceptively attractive appearance, façade

Thanks to her Chanel makeup, Shannen was able to maintain a veneer of perfection that hid the flaws underneath.

Front 86

colloquial

Back 86

(adj.) characteristic of informal conversation

Adam’s essay on sexual response in primates was marked down because it contained too many colloquial expressions.

Front 87

approbation

Back 87

(n.) praise

The crowd welcomed the heroes with approbation.

Front 88

felicitous

Back 88

(adj.) well suited, apt

While his comments were idiotic and rambling, mine were felicitous and helpful.

(adj.) delightful, pleasing

I spent a felicitous afternoon visiting old friends.

Front 89

refute

Back 89

(v.) to prove wrong

Maria refuted the president’s argument as she yelled and gesticulated at the TV.

Front 90

tremulous

Back 90

(adj.) fearful

I always feel a trifle tremulous when walking through a graveyard.

Front 91

oblivious

Back 91

(adj.) lacking consciousness or awareness of something

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.

Front 92

exacerbate

Back 92

(v.) to make more violent, intense

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

Front 93

pallid

Back 93

(adj.) lacking color

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

Front 94

subjugate

Back 94

(v.) to bring under control, subdue

The invading force captured and subjugated the natives of that place.

Front 95

attain

Back 95

(v.) to achieve, arrive at

The athletes strived to attain their best times in competition.

Front 96

incorrigible

Back 96

(adj.) incapable of correction, delinquent

You can buy Grandma nicotine gum all you want, but I think that after sixty-five years of smoking she’s incorrigible.

Front 97

culpable

Back 97

(adj.) deserving blame

He was culpable of the crime, and was sentenced to perform community service for 75 years.

Front 98

enthrall

Back 98

(v.) to charm, hold spellbound

The sailor’s stories of fighting off sharks and finding ancient treasures enthralled his young son.

Front 99

soluble

Back 99

(adj.) able to dissolve

The plot of the spy film revolved around an untraceable and water-soluble poison.

Front 100

abdicate

Back 100

(v.) to give up a position, usually one of leadership

When he realized that the revolutionaries would surely win, the king abdicated his throne.