2/27/2012
1. The abject living conditions in the
refugee camp were worse than anyone had
imagined.
• Abject: adj
• Parts: ab(apart, away); ject(throw
• Educated Guess:
• Definition: Extremely bad, unpleasant, and degrading,
Unhappiness experienced to the maximum degree,
Without pride or dignity
• Synonyms:wretched, contemptible, miserable, degraded
• Antonyms: luxurious, affluent, comfortable, pleasant
• Variant forms: abjection (n) abjectness (n) abjectly (adv)
• Context Phrase: abject poverty, abject humiliation
2. Some people prefer clothes that are
neither masculine nor feminine but
androgynous.
• androgynous: adj
• Parts: andro(man);gyn(woman)ous(full of)
• Educated Guess:
• Definition: Neither distinguishable masculine or feminine
in dress, appearance, or behavior. Having male and
female characteristics in one body
• Synonyms:unisex, asexual
• Antonyms : masculine, feminine
• Variant forms: androgyny (n.)
• Context Phrase
1
2/27/2012
3. Should a defense attorney aver to the jury
that his client is innocent if he knows she is
guilty?
• aver – verb
• Parts: ad (to cause to be); ver (true)
• Educated Guess:
• Definition: To declare confidently or formally as a fact
•
•
•
•
Synonyms: assert, affirm, declare, proclaim, avow
Antonyms : deny, disavow, renounce
Variant forms: na
Context Phrase
4. After the teenager’s arrest for a misdemeanor,
her parents decided to circumscribe all her
privileges, including driving the family car.
• circumscribe - verb
• Parts: curcum (around); scrib(write)
• Educated Guess:
• Definition: To draw a line around; To confine within
borders; To surround with a figure that coincides at every
possible point
• Synonyms: encircle, restrict, limit, confine
• Antonyms: na
• Variant forms:circumscription(noun)
• Context Phrase
2
2/27/2012
5. The salesman plans to consummate the
business deal when he takes the company
president on a golf trip.
• consummate - verb
• Parts:con(together, with);sum (highest);ate (make, cause)
• Educated Guess:
• Definition: To bring to completion, perfection, or
fulfillment; To fulfill a marriage with the first act of
sexual intercourse after the ceremony; of highest degree
• Synonyms:conclude, complete, finish, achieve, perfect
• Antonyms:begin, start, initiate, imperfect, abject
• Variant forms: consummation (noun)consummative (adj)
• Context Phrase: a consummate scholar (adj.)
6. The fallout from a nuclear bomb would
decimate the population in vast areas.
• decimate – (verb)
• Parts: dec (decem-ten); ate (make, cause)
• Educated Guess:
• Definition: To destroy, remove, or kill a large part of; To
dramatically reduce the strength or effectiveness of
something; To select by lot and kill one of every ten
• Synonyms: massacre, destroy
• Antonyms: na
• Variant forms: decimation (n.)
• Context Phrase
3
2/27/2012
7. Choosing to disparage someone else to
make yourself look good usually
backfires.
• disparage - verb
• Parts: dis (apart, away); par (equal); age (action)
• Educated Guess:
• Definition: To speak of as unimportant or small; to
reduce in esteem or rank; To bring discredit or dishonor
upon
• Synonyms:belittle,insult,dishonor,malign, vilify, degrade
• Antonyms :honor, praise, commend, compliment
• Variant forms: disparagement (n) disparagingly
• Context Phrase
8. After years of research, the doctor
concluded that he disease was not acquired
but endogenous.
• endogenous – adj.
• Parts: endo(inside; within); gen(start, origin) ous(full of)
• Educated Guess:
• Definition: Originating or growing within something. As
cells within the wall of a parent cell; Having an internal
cause or origin; not caused by anything external
• Synonyms: internal
• Antonyms : external
• Variant forms: endogenously
• Context Phrase
4
2/27/2012
9. The candidate was so confident of victory
that he chose to extemporize his campaign
speeches rather than to rehearse them.
• Extemporize - (verb)
• Parts: ex (out); tempor (time); ize (make, do)
• Educated Guess:
• Definition: To make, do, or perform something such as a
music selection or a speech without preparation
•
•
•
•
Synonyms: improvise, concoct, ad lib
Antonyms: plan, rehearse, practice
Variant forms: extemporaneously (adv)
Context Phrase
10. The impertinent attitude of the
salesman offended me, so I decided to buy
my car elsewhere.
• impertinent – adj.
• Parts: im(not); per(through); ten(hold, keep); ent (full of)
• Educated Guess:
• Definition: Not showing proper respect; Not to the point;
Not suitable or fitting
•
•
•
•
Synonyms: rude, disrespectful, irrelevant, impudent,
Antonyms: respectful, appropriate, relevant, aproppos
Variant forms: impertinence (n), impertinently (adv)
Context Phrase
5
2/27/2012
11. The parents made emotional pleas on TV
for their son’s safe return; but the inexorable
kidnappers carried out their plans
• inexorable – adj.
• Parts: in(not); ex(out); ora (speak, pray); able(capable of)
• Educated Guess:
• Definition: Not capable of being persuaded by pleading
or request; Impossible to stop or prevent, as inexorable
consequences
• Synonyms: unyielding, relentless, obstinate, intractable
• Antonyms: merciful, compromising, accommodating
• Variant forms: inexorability(n), inexorably (adv)
• Context Phrase
12. After the disaster, the families were
inundated with offers of help from all over the
country.
• inundate – verb
• Parts: in (in, into); und(wave); ate (cause, make)
• Educated Guess:
• Definition: To cover or fill by overflowing;
(Figuratively) to overwhelm with
•
•
•
•
Synonyms: flood, swamp, overwhelm, glut, deluge
Antonyms: drain, deplete
Variant forms: inundation (n)
Context Phrase
6
2/27/2012
13. Caught in the scandal, the governor thought
his mea culpa would win sympathy from the
voters, but thinking he was insincere, they did
not re-elect him.
• mea culpa – n.
• Parts: mea (my) culp( blame, guilt)
• Educated Guess:
• Definition: An acknowledgment of one’s fault or error
•
•
•
•
Synonyms: confession, admission, apology
Antonyms: denial, disavowal
Variant forms: na
Context Phrase
14. Compared to the expensive, elegant
dresses my friends were wearing to the
prom, mine seemed quite nondescript.
• nondescript - adj
• Parts: non (not); de (down,from); script (write)
• Educated Guess:
• Definition: Not distinctive enough to be described;
Lacking distinctive or interesting qualities; Without
individual character or form
• Synonyms: ordinary, common, plain, lackluster
• Antonyms: extraordinary, distinctive, unique, rare
• Variant forms: na
• Context Phrase
7
2/27/2012
15. The outer loop will be built on the
periphery of the city.
• periphery – noun
• Parts: peri(around); pher(carry); y (result of)
• Educated Guess:
• Definition: The outer bounds of any surface or area
•
•
•
•
Synonyms:perimeter,circumference,border,rim, outskirts
Antonyms: na
Variant forms: peripheral (adj)
Context Phrase
16. The diagnosis of another major
medical problem precipitated our decision
to euthanize Fido
• precipitate - verb
• Parts: pre(before); capit(head); ate(cause, make)
• Educated Guess:
• Definition: To cause something; usually bad, to happen suddenly;
unexpectedly, or prematurely; to cause moisture to be deposited
from the atmosphere; Done without careful consideration
•
•
•
•
Synonyms:hurl, expedite, catapult, (adj) sudden, hasty
Antonyms: prevent, halt, hamper, (adj) careful
Variant forms: precipitation (n)
Context Phrase
8
2/27/2012
17. He violated propriety by attending the
wedding without an invitation.
• propriety - noun
• Parts: proprius(one’s own, special, particular) ity (state of)
• Educated Guess:
• Definition: Quality of conforming to conventionally
accepted standards of behavior or morals; condition of
being right
• Synonyms: correctness, properness, decorum, etiquette
• Antonyms inappropriateness, blunder, faux pas
• Variant forms: proprieties (n)
• Context Phrase
18. The many new movies based on
Shakespeare’s plays are evidence of the
renascent interest in classic literature.
• renascent – adj
• Parts: re(back, again); nasc(to be born); ent (full of)
• Educated Guess:
• Definition: Becoming active or popular again; showing
renewed growth or vigor
•
•
•
•
Synonyms: renewed, revived
Antonyms: defunct, obsolete, expired
Variant forms: renascence (n)
Context Phrase
9
2/27/2012
19. The government considered his novel
seditious and imprisoned him for life.
• seditious - adj.
• Parts: sed(sit); ious (full of) (sitting apart from others)
• Educated Guess:
• Definition: Inciting or causing people to rebel against
authority, especially of a state or monarch
•
•
•
•
Synonyms: rebellious, mutinous, riotous, trecherous
Antonyms : patriotic, obedient, conforming, supportive
Variant forms: sedition (noun) seditiously(adv)
Context Phrase
20. The synergy of many committees
made it possible for us to enjoy a
memorable carnival.
• synergy – noun
• Parts: syn (together, with); erg (work); y (result of)
• Educated Guess:
• Definition: The interaction or cooperation of two or more
organisms, substances, or other agents to produce a combined
effect greater than the sum of their separate efforts.
•
•
•
•
Synonyms: collaboration
Antonyms : na
Variant forms: synergism(n) synergetic(adj)
Context Phrase
10