Sat Word List 1

Front 1

Timorous

Back 1

shy; timid

Examples:

The normally obnoxious bully became timorous in the presence of Mr. Boyle.

Ella has trouble meeting people at parties because she is so timorous.

Front 2

Tacit

Back 2

implied but not actually expressed

Examples:

By not saying that we couldn’t go to the concert, our parents gave us tacit approval to go.

Your acceptance of my decision to take this job was tacit because you said nothing to dissuade me from taking it.

Front 3

Obscure

Back 3

relatively unknown; or to conceal or make indistinct

Examples:

The man in front of me was so tall that his head obscured my view of the movie.

That’s a really obscure author you’ve quoted; perhaps you should pick someone more well-known.

Front 4

Ephemeral

Back 4

lasting for a markedly brief time

Examples:

The joy he felt at finishing his first draft was ephemeral; once he realized how much work was left to do he adopted a much more sober attitude.

Her fame was ephemeral because three days later someone broke her record for the 50-yard dash.

Front 5

Suppressed

Back 5

subdued; kept from being circulated

Examples:

The author’s new book was suppressed because the dictator thought it was too critical of his regime.

My need for daily exercise was suppressed by a pesky stomachache.

Front 6

Surreptitious

Back 6

done by secretive means

Examples:

The secret agent had to be surreptitious when he planted the listening devices at enemy headquarters.

My friends must have been surreptitious when planning my surprise party because I was totally surprised.

Front 7

Wane

Back 7

to decrease gradually in intensity; decline

Front 8

Truncated

Back 8

shortened; cut off

Examples:

Since the class had only a week left in the semester, the teacher assigned a truncated version of the longer lesson she had planned.

Our vacation was truncated when I came down with the flu and had to stay in bed

Front 9

Sanction

Back 9

to give official authorization or approval to

Examples:

The students were happy when the principal agreed to sanction the use of calculators in math classes.

My father sanctioned my new later curfew, so I can go with you to the later movie.

Front 10

Reticent

Back 10

adj. quiet; reserved; reluctant to express thoughts and feelings

Examples:

Hugh is a rather reticent fellow who will rarely speak his mind unless you pry.

Mathilda was considered too reticent to be the company's PR representative; they needed someone comfortable with speaking in public.

Front 11

Viscous

Back 11

adj. thick; sticky

Front 12

Canon

Back 12

n. an established set of principles or code of laws, often religious in nature

Front 13

Belie

Back 13

v. to give a false impression of, to misrepresent

Examples:

Larry's boyish face belies a great deal of business and personal experience.

Anna's frail appearance belies a great deal of strength and stamina.

Front 14

Opaque

Back 14

adj. impenetrable by light; not reflecting light

Examples:

It is important for bathroom doors to be relatively opaque; it would be rather awkward if they were transparent.

Some emeralds are clear and some are opaque; the ones that are clear are more valuable.

Front 15

Garner

Back 15

v. to gather and save

Examples:

Mr. Smith lost the election because he was unable to garner enough votes.

Many civil-right leaders garner enough public support that eventually the government is forced to listen.