Sat Vocabulary- Key Words To Know (In Progress)

Front 1

As you go through this set of words, try to
A) identify the root of the word
B) define the word
C) give a sentence example using the word

Back 1

If you can achieve A, B, and C, you'll ace the SAT.

Front 2

amoral

Back 2

root= A= without

means: without a moral sense; not concerned with right or wrong

That amoral savage ate our chihuahua last night.

Front 3

atrophy

Back 3

root= A= without/not

means: a wasting away; a progressive decline; esp of body/muscle tissue

His mental atrophy was evident to everyone. He insisted he was Shakespeare though he never learned English.

Front 4

asymmetrical

Back 4

root= A= not

means: not symmetrical; both sides of an object/outline not balanced

The lady's asymmetrical dress made her appear a triangle in a sea of curvy shapes.

Front 5

anarchy

Back 5

anarchy= AN= without

means: without a ruler/rules/laws; possibly chaotic

Mrs. Smith was away from school, sick with the flu; there was anarchy in classroom 102.

Front 6

anesthetic

Back 6

root= AN= without

means: capable of producing anesthesia (sensation of no sensation) esp. to dull pain before an operation

Emotionally and physically devastated by the car crash, the patient desired nothing but an anesthetic.

Front 7

anonymity

Back 7

root= an= without

means: the state/quality of being anonymous- not known

Her delightful anonymity in the French village made Jackie to things she'd never dreamed of.

Front 8

anomaly

Back 8

root= A= not

means: something that is not normal; a deviation from the standard.

The frowning woman was an anomaly in Happy Land.

Front 9

acid

Back 9

root= AC= sharp, sour

means: a chemical substance, typically a sour-tasting corrosive liquid

In some countries, women are punished for their misdeeds with acid thrown in their faces.

Front 10

acerbic

Back 10

root= AC= sharp

means: sharp and forthright; esp., someone's manner of speaking/their comment.

The acerbic film critic despised Ebert and Roeper for their "lenience" and "butt-kissing."

Front 11

exacerbate

Back 11

root= AC= sharp

means: make a problem or a bad situation worse; i.e., sharpen the pain

When she accidentally poured vodka on the flames, she exacerbated the forest fire.

Front 12

acute

Back 12

root= AC= sharp

means: that a bad or difficult situation is experienced to an especially bad or severe degree. Also; a sharpness; e.g., in mind, thought,

After the trampoline accident, he festered in acute pain.

She's an intellectually acute woman with an knack for seeing future trends.

Front 13

acuity

Back 13

root= AC= sharp

means: sharpness/keenness of perception

The maestro had the greatest acuity of hearing in the country.

Front 14

acumen

Back 14

root= AC= sharp

means: sharpness and depth of perception/thinking; esp., in practical matters (e.g. business, etc.)

His business acumen won him the election, not his political connections.

Front 15

acrid

Back 15

root= ACR= sharp

means: sharp/harsh & unpleasant taste/odor

I've travelled the world. I've eaten some horrible things, but the most acrid fruit is definitely the durian. It smells of rotting flesh!

Front 16

acrimony

Back 16

root= ACR= sharp

means: harsh or bitter sharpness; esp., in manner, speech, or disposition

When he tried to raise a point, she responded with so much acrimony he never dared speak again.

Front 17

abdicate

Back 17

ROOT= AB= part, away

means: to part from, to fail to fulfill or take on a duty/responsibility

The king abdicated the throne when he realized the position would put his life in jeopardy.

Front 18

aberration

Back 18

ROOT= AB= away

means: a move away from what is normal, usual, expected; esp., an unwelcome departure from the norm

For her, such a low grade on an essay was an aberration.

Front 19

abject

Back 19

ROOT= AB= away

means: sunk to a low state or condition; cast down in spirit; expressed in a humble or ingratiating way

Many people in India live in abject poverty.

Front 20

abjure

Back 20

ROOT= AB= away, part

means: to move away from or part with something under oath; to renounce solemnly

The Quakers are a religious sect known to abjure such comforts in life as electricity, plumbing, and luxurious food.

Front 21

ablution

Back 21

ROOT= AB= away

means: the washing of one's body or body part, esp. as part of a religious rite

Before they pray, Muslims perform an ablution (i.e. they wash their hands and face).

Front 22

abnegate

Back 22

ROOT= AB= away, part from

means: deny or renounce; move away from some belief or thing

After fighting with the Stevenson family for decades, the countess finally abnegated any claims to Old Stevenson's fortune.

Front 23

abhor

Back 23

ROOT= AB= away

means: to hate intensely; to loathe

Animal rights activists abhor the way people raise animals and eat meat.

Front 24

abortive

Back 24

ROOT= AB= away/apart

means: failing to produce to the intended result

The plan was abortive; not only did it lack the necessary funding but the manpower, as well.

Front 25

abrogate

Back 25

ROOT= AB= away

means: repeal or do away with

The Canadian government has abrogated old treaties that are unfair to FIrst Nations citizens.

Front 26

absolve

Back 26

ROOT= AB= away/apart

means: declare someone free of guilt, blame, responsibility

Many Catholic Christians go to confession to be absolved of their sins.

Front 27

abscond

Back 27

ROOT= AB= away

means: to leave hurriedly and secretly, typically to avoid attention or arrest

The spy absconded to his native country as soon as he read the acrimonious telegram.

Front 28

abstemious

Back 28

means: not self-indulgent

The Puritans are the most abstemious of Christians.

Front 29

abstruce

Back 29

means: difficult to understand, obscure

His speech was abstruse; they all thought him mad.

Front 30

annul

Back 30

means: to revoke, end

They annulled the will once they realized the man had signed it while drunk.

Front 31

aversion

Back 31

means: a strong dislike or disinclination of something

I have an aversion to eating horse meat.

Front 32

adhere

Back 32

Root= AD/A=to, towards

means: to give support or maintain loyalty; to stick to

"If they do not adhere to the rules," the director said, "their necks will be cut and heads will roll."

Front 33

adjacent

Back 33

Root= AD/A= to, towards

means: not distant, nearby; immediately preceding or following

Their house is adjacent to a wooded park; they have serious raccoon problems.

Front 34

admonish

Back 34

Root= AD/A= to, towards

means: to indicate duties or obligations to/ to express warning or disapproval esp. in a warm, friendly manner

When admonished by their mother to eat more vegetables, the children made faces.

Front 35

adroit

Back 35

Root= AD/A= to, towards

means: having or showing skill or cleverness in handling something/a situation

The investigator is adroit at detecting a liar.

Front 36

advent

Back 36

Root= AD/A= to, towards

means: a coming into being or use

The advent of personal computers meant the steady expansion of social networks across national boundaries.

Front 37

abet

Back 37

Root= AD/A= to, towards

means: to actively encourage; to assist in the achievement of a purpose

If you abet serious crimes like murder, your punishment may be just as harsh as the criminal's.

Front 38

abeyance

Back 38

Root= AD/A= to, towards

means: temporary inactivity

Our travel plans were held in abeyance due to the resurgence of zombies.

Front 39

adjunct

Back 39

Root= AD/A= to, towards

means: something joined or added to another thing but not essentially a part of it

Reading great books can be used as an adjunct to writing practice, but it alone is not enough to improve your writing.

Front 40

accede

Back 40

means: assent or agree to a demand, request, or treaty

The Germans had no choice but to accede to the demands of the Versailles Treaty.

Front 41

accretion

Back 41

means: the process of growth or increase, typically by the gradual accumulation of additional layers or matter

Due to the accretion of mineral sediments over centuries, fossils are hidden deep underground.

Front 42

acquiesce

Back 42

means: accept something reluctantly without protest

I acquiesce that your dress is prettier than mine.

Front 43

affluent

Back 43

means: rich, having a lot of money

We think we are poor. No, we are affluent.

Front 44

aggrandize

Back 44

means: increase the power, status, or wealth of

Her creative mind led her to paint shocking pictures; these pictures led to her steady aggrandizement.

Front 45

aggregate

Back 45

means: a whole formed by combining several (typically disparate) elements

The building was an aggregate of different architectural designs.

Front 46

allude

Back 46

means: suggest or call attention to indirectly; hint at

Her friend signed frequently, alluding to her boredom.

Front 47

ascribe

Back 47

means: to attribute, credit, or assign

His poor health was ascribed to his poor eating habits.

Front 48

aspersion

Back 48

means: an attack on the reputation or integrity of someone or something

After hearing reports on the mayor's alleged substance abuse, many citizens cast aspersions on him.

Front 49

assail

Back 49

means: make a concerted or violent attack on

Pirates are known for their many assails on travelers, murdering and looting incessantly.