McGRAW-HILL'S SAT
82
Vocabulary Lesson l: Get to the Pointl
Today's roots:
co-, concis
together, with
cut
brev
cur
brief
run, course
brief and to the point (con- altogether + cls cut)
concise (adj)
Ricky, try to be a bit more concise in this paper; the assignment was for a three-pagepaper; yours was 106.
Antonyms: prolir, discursive, protracted, circumlocutory, rterbose
Synonyms: succinct, tuse
disposed to using few words (from Latin term for Spartans, who spoke little)
laconic (adj)
I've known Lucy for ten years, but she'sso laconic that I hardly know anything about her past.
Antonyms: gatulouqloquacious
Synonyms: taciturn, reticent
succinct
(adj)
spoken or written in a clear and precise manner
Becausecommercial time during the Super Bowl mns over $3 million per minute, it's good to be succinct.
Antonyms:prolix, discurshte, protracted, circumlocutory, perbose
Synonyms: tuse, concise
brasquc (adj)
rudely abrupt
My girlfriend tends to be brusque when she'smad; shejust tells me to "talk to the hand."
Synonyms: curt, abruTtt, petulant
abridse (v)
to shorten a written text
The dictionary was 1,400pageslong before it was abridged by the publishers to 850 pages.
Antonyms: augment, ampffi, protract
Synonym: abbrertiate
brerrity (n)
quality of succinct expression (brev-brtet+ -#y quality of)
Speechesat the Academy Awards are not known for their brevity they often go on long past their allotted time.
Synonyms: conciseness, pithiness, succinctttcs s, laconism
conspire (v) to plan together secretly to commit an illegal act (con- together + -spire breathe)
Synonyms: cotladc, collab orat e
cotrcur (v) to agree (con- together + eur rcrn)
Synonyms: accor 4 harmonize, cohcre
concord Gt) a state of harmony (con- together + tord heart)
Synonyms: unanbnity, consensus
existing at birth (con- together + genborn)
consenital (adj)
Synonyms: innatq inborn
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schism (n) a division into political or religious factions (crs cut)
Synonyms:factioz, rift , dfuergerce
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incisive (adj) having or indicating keen insight (in- in + cls cut)
Synonyms: acute, keen, astute, canny, perspicacious, judicious, shrewd
:IdAPTER 3 / BUILDING AN IMPRESSIVE
VOCABULARY
83
Vocabulary Lesson 2: Think Before You fudge
Today's roots:
--u judicious
iud
iur
judge
oath, law
I.g
scrut
law
to examine
(adj)
showing sound judgment; prudent (iud- judge + -ious full o0
After much thought, I decided that the most judicious thing to do was to avoid the swamp full of alligators.
Svnonyms:,pnrdent, sensibl.e.,circumspect, sagacious
Antonyms: improdden4 rash
adjudicate (v) to hear and judge a case (iud- judge + -ate to do)
-t Sometimeswhen my two children fight, I feel like I'm adjudicating a capital crime rather than settling a quarrel.
J astute (adj)
shrewd; keen
The young Sherlock Holmes was quite the astute investigator; he always unraveled even the toughest mysteries.
Syronyms: sagacious, shrqttd, incisive, canny, perspicacious
AntonSrms:lta.curorts,vapid, obtuse
J scrutinize (v)
to examine carefully (scruta examine + -ize to do)
Before buying an apple, scrutinize it to be sure that it has no bruises.
Slrronyms: analyzc, pqase
J prasmatic
(adj)
concerned with practical outcomes
The architectschosea solarium designthat was lessaestheticthan pragmatic:it was not beautiful, but it kept heatingand
lighting costsdown.
)
ptjure
(v)
to lie under oath (per- through + jur oath)
The mobstertold blatant lies while on the stand,perjuring himself to keep his padners out of jail.
Synonym:prettaricate
-t
prudent (adj)
using good judgment
(prudentiaknowledge)
It would not be prudent to sneak out of your room again tonight; your parents will ground you if they catch you!
Synonyms:/zdicious, sensihlc
Antonyms: improviden| rash
-t
-.x
iurbprudntce
(n)
iurisdiction (n)
Synonym: damain
the science or philosophy of law (iur- law + prudentia knowledge)
the sphere of authority or control (iur-law + dictio declaration)
J odjure (v)
to command solemnly, as under oath (ad- to + iur oath)
Synonyms:enioitt, enttut, beseech
-t adiud.ge (v) to determine based upon law (ad- to + jud j:dge)
Synonym: adjudicate
J acumcn (n)
keenness ofjudgment
(acus sharp)
Synonyms:dbcernment, perspicaciq, slrewdtrcss
J
inscrutable (adj)
beyond comprehension or examination
Synony'rns:enigmatic, rccondite, abstruse
--J
allegation (n)
a formal accusation (ad- to + legaredispute)
Synonyrns:contention, assertiott charge
(in- not + scruta examine)
McGRAW-HILL'S SAT
84
Vocabulary Lesson 3: Letts Talk About
Iocu, loqu talk
verb word
Today's roots:
tr
lt
circum
e-, ex-
around
out
well spoken (e- out + loqu talk)
eloquent (adi)
She is an eloquent spokeswomanfor animal rights; she conveysher ideaswith great easeand fluidity.
Antonym:inarticulate
Synonyms:mticulate,fluent
tr
very talkative (loqu- talk+ -ious full o0
loquacious (adil
That guy never stopstalking; now I understandwhy they call him "Loquacious Larry"l
Antonyms: laconic, taciturn, teticent
Synonyms:garrulous, voluble
evasive speech; talking around the subject (circum- around + loqu talk)
The politician had perfectedthe art of circumlocution; he knew exactlyhow to avoid answeringdirect questions.
(n)
circumlocution
Synonym:ertasion
n
colloquiat (adj)
tr
gtandiloquent
conversational; using everyday language (co- togethet +loqu talk)
I like ProfessorThompsonbecauseshe is so colloquial; yesterdayshesaid my thesisidea was "really cool."
speaking in a pompous manner (grand- great + loqu talk+ -ent adiective)
His speechwas pompous and grandiloquent; it seemedhe was just trying to use as many big words as possible.
Synonl'rns: po ntifical, p ortent ous
(adj)
expressive delivery of public speech (e- out + loqu talk + -tion noun)
Jamesis adept at elocution; his expressionsand mannerismsadd a new level of meaning to his words'
D elocution (n)
tr
ganulous
(adj)
talkative
Karl is alwaysready to talk about any subject,no matter how trivial, but at paities he is evenmore garnrlous.
Synonyms: loquacious, voluble
tr
to speak pompously (ltontifex high priest)
pontificate (v)
Symonyms:declaiw sermonizf, dagmatizc
tr
verbose (adj)
wordy (verb- word + -ose full o0
Synonyms:protis, discursite, digressive
Q verbatim (adv)
word for word (verb- word)
I followed the recipeverbatim.
a
infrablc
(adi
unable to be expressed in words (in- not + effari utter)
Try as he might to expresshis love in a poem, his feelingsseemedineffable'
J
tansentinl (adj)
only superficially relevant; off-topic
Slmonl.rns:hrelev ant, hrcidental, immaterinl
Q tout (v)
to promote or praise energetically
Sy'rronyms: accl.aim, herald, laud
O anecdate (n) a short and often humorous story
Don't confusewithantidote (n), a remedy.
O discursive (adj)
straying from the topic (dls- away + ctrr-t course)
Synonyms: digressive, dcsultory
CHAPTER3 / BUILDING AN IMPRESSIVE
VOCABULARY
85
Vocabulary Lesson 4: ..Good, Thankstt
Today's roots:
ben, bene, bon good
grat to please, thank
benefactor (n)
EU
vole
good
wish
one who supports or helps another (bene-good+fact to make)
Mr. King is the benefactor who generouslydonatedthe money for the new children'swing in the hospital.
Synonyms:pftilanthropist, Ttatron
Antonyms: ma.lefactor, nemcsis, antagonist, adversary
benisn (adil
harmless (bene good)
She was relieved to find out that her tumor was benign.
Synonym:innocuous
Antonyms:malignnn\virul,ent
bencvolcnt (adj)
kind; considerate (bene- good + vole wish)
The benevolent Cub Scout did his good deedfor the day when he helped a motorist changea tire.
Synonyms:gracious, altruistic, magnanimous
Antonyms: malcvobnt, malicious, inimical, penicious
bencdiction (n)
an expression of good wishes (bene- good + dictus declaration)
At the reception,the father of the bride offered a benediction, wishing the couple never-endinglove and happiness.
Synonyms:ble.ssing,sanction
Antonyms:curse, mabdiction, execration
euphcmism (n)
the substitution of an inoffensive term for an offensive one (eu- good + pheme speech)
journalist
A good
avoidsthe euphemisms of war, like "ordnance"for bombs and "collateral damage"for casualties.
eulog (n) a praising tribute (eu- good+logia discourse) (Although associated with funerals, "eulogy" has
a positive tone.)
His touching eulogy for his fallen friend left all the mourners weeping.
Synonyms:encomium, Iaudation, extolment, pacan
Antonyms: dcnunciation, execration, censure
ingratiate (v)
to put oneself in good favor with another (in- in + gral to please)
When starting at a new school,Mary sought to ingratiate herselfwith her classmatesby being excessivelynice.
Synonyms:flatter, whcedlc, toady, cajob
beneficiary (n)
one who receives benefis (bene- good+7tc to make)
Synonyms;fteir, recipient, bgatee
gratuity (n) a small payment in gratitude (grat- tha*)
Don't confusewith gratuitous (adj) unnecessary
gratis (adj)
free of charge (grat- thank)
He let me borrow his car gratis.
gratify (v)
to please (grat- please)
Synonyms:appease, mollify, indulge
euphoria (n)
a feeling of extreme happiness (eu- good)
S1'nonyms:elation, rapfiffe, iubilation, ecstasy
euphonious (n)
sweet sounding (eu- good+ phon sound)
Synonyms: mellifluous, dalcet, ffical
McGRAW-HILL'S SAT
86
Vocabulary Lesson 5: Changes
ruPt
mut
Today's roots:
morph form, shape
meta change, beyond
break
change
unchangeable (im- rrot + mut change)
B immutahlc (adj)
Emily is an immutable vegetarian. No matter how hard we try, we cannot get her to eat meat.
Antonyms: mutablc, protean, tacillating, mercurial
Synonyms:permanen4 itarcterate
o
matamorphosds (n)
a transformation
(meta- change +morph form)
The old house underwent a metamorphosis from a rundown shack into a beautifirl cottage.
Synonyms: fiansformation, mutation, transmogrification
tr
tobreak open (rupt- break)
rupture(v)
When the vat of smelly liquid ruptured, we picked up our feet to avoid getting the stuff on our shoes.
S1'nonyms:burst, fissute, cl.eave
tr
(v)
transmute
to transform
(trans- across + mut change)
Harry Potter was able to transmute a feather into a frog using a spell he learned in incantations class.
Synonyms: mctamorphose, aker, transmogrify
o
lacking shape; changeable in form (a- without +morph shape)
Rather than marching in precise formation, the battalion broke down into an arnorphous mass of charging soldiers.
Antonym: crystallinc
Synonyms: shapebss, nebuloug eaguc, nondescript
amorphous (adj)
D mscuriat
(adj)
erratic; subject to wild changes in character (from the speedy god Mercury)
Molly is the most mercurial person in the office; we can never tell if she'll be the evil Molly or the sympathetic Molly.
Antonyms: immutablc, stable
Synonyms:f ckle, capficious, oacillating
tr
protean (adj)
o
mutate (v)
capable of assuming different forms (from the form-changing sea god Proteus)
He has changedhis position on issuesso many times that he is consideredthe most protean member of Congress.
Antonyms:immutabb,stahlc
Synonyms:polymorphous, Iahib
to change forrn (mut- change)
Synonyms: transfonn, transmogrify
a
fickb (adj) likely to change opinion unpredictably
Synonyms: capricious, vacitlating mercurial
o
flucante (v) to vary irregularly
Synonyms: oacitlate, w aver
B vacillate (v)
(flux flotv)
to change one's mind repeatedly
Synonyms: flz ctuate, w aner
o
revamp (v)
to revise; to renovate (re- again)
Synonyms: refurb ish, reno! ate
B amend (v)
to improve; to remove the faults of
Synonyms: rectify, redress, amcliorate, mitigate
CHAPTER3 / BUILDING AN IMPRESSIVE
VOCABULARY
87
Yocabulary Lesson6: One Boring World
Today's roots:
J
voc empty
mund world
luclcnqed(adj)
uni one
anima spirit, mind
overused; trite
This film was a hacheyed remake with a storyline thathas been done a hundred times.
Synonyms:tritqprosaic,buul
AntonJms:original,flnd
J
mwdanc(adj)
orilinary; typical (mund-world)
Havingworked foryears behinda desk, she wanted to leave themundaneworldbehindforexoticadventrres
synonyms: routine, uoflcnday, banal
Antonyms:singulu, draordhtay,
sub&nu
J
abroad.
(adil
vaanus
lacking substance (vac- empty)
His latest book is widely criticized as vacuous and unintelligent
Synonyms: htmw, asinine,fatuous
Ananyrns:pofotmd, flrot drt@
J prosaia (aAj)
unimaginative;
deq
ordinary
I dont understand why his oration was selectedas the besc itwas so pr-oeaic that I neady feil asleep.
synonyms: mundanc' pedestriot
Antonyms: lmnataw. qufuatic,wr&nsigat
J
insipid
(adj)
uninteresting;
dull; without flavor Qn- not+ sapue taste)
cbristine is the life of the party, but Tom is as insipid as they come; harrdlyanyone wants to ralk with hirnSynonyms:bland' nonde,sctipt, vapid
Antonyms:engigfttg" a@t@targ" pdryant
3 banal(adj)
ordinary; rrivial
That show used to be my favorite, but its story lines became so banal that I could no longer stand it.
Synonyms: hacbreyet fiite
Antonyrms:dtaordlnuy,
singlu, sttilfune
3 pedastrian(adj)
commonplace;ordinar5r
Synon5rms:prosaic, banal wpid
J
ilormant
(adj)
inactive; sleeping (dormiresleep)
Synonyms: incrt, fallaw
J
uunimoas
(adj)
in firll agreement (un- one+animamind)
Synon5rms:cottcordant, concqteA
J
miform
(adj)
unvarying; always the sanie (un- one +fonna
for-ul
Synonym: homoganeous
J
equanimity (n) the quality of being even-tempered
Synon5rms:comlxrst te, impaturbability, qlotrt
J
(adj)
magnnnhroas
noble of heart; generous; forgiving
Synonyms:philmthtopic, altraistie) nsciful
(equa- same+animamind)
(tnagna- grc31t+ aninta. mind)
i
:
l
I
88
McGRAW-HILL'SSAT
\f ur:*mt+bp.--d,fi
Bry Le:os+*rt ?v The fi{g.emgqe*'$
'["r.rciaytsr0r.]ts:
swngu,is blood
efueiJer bile
rireJcn
snln,{r
biack
spirit, mind
In medieval Europe, it was widely believed that one's health and disposition were largely determined by the balance of four bodily liquids called "humours": blood (sang), phlegm, black bile (melancholer), and yellow bile
(chobr).
A sansuinc(adj)
cheerfr.rllyoptimistic (sanguisblood)
After acing his final, David was sanguine about his prospects for a good overall course grade.
SynonSmrs:blithe, buyott
Antonyms: motrrse, forlorn, mclancholy, sullen
(adj)
A plrlcgmntic
sluggish
His prolonged illness turned Julio from a spry, happy bon vivant into a morose and phlegmatic bore.
Slmonyms: longaonous, bthugic,
toryid
AntonJrms:vigorous, vibrant, halc, spry
J
melancholy (adj)
J
clnlsic
sad, depressed (melan-black+ choler bile)
She has been so melancholy ever since shebroke up with her boyfriend; sometimes she is eventoo depressedto talk with
herfriends.
Synon5rms:mtrrose' des,pondeflt, disconsolate, sullen
Anton5ms: blithe, buoyant, sanguine
(adil
easily angered (choler-bile +-ic characterized by)
Genat mom is really nice but her dad is choleric; he freaks out about the smallest things.
Synon5rms:irasciblc, fractious, biTious, sTflanetic
(adj)
Q recalcitranr
stubbornly resistant to authority
(re-back+
calcitrarekic$
Christine is a talented volleyball player, but she'sso recalcitrant that our coach often keepsher on the bench.
Synonyms: refiactory, it*actabb
Anton5rms:campliont, docilc, tractabb, ohsequious, obeisant
J
letharyic
(adj)
sluggish; dully apathetic
After three weeks of fuctoring polynomials, my entire class becamelethargic; we were bored to death!
Synon5rms:languorous, phlegmatic, torpid
Anton5ms: vigoroas, tibrant, hale, spry
A splnctic
(adj)
irritable; easily angered (splen- spleen)
Synonyms: bilious, choleric
A qusulous
(adj)
.lisposed to complaining
Synonyms:peeuisft, captious, catping" cartiling
A irolorous (adj)
marked by or expressive of sorrow or patn (dotor- pan)
Synonyms:hrgubrious, dol$ul
A animosity
(n)
Synon5ms:
hostility; ill-will
(animosusbold)
Nrtagordsrt, baidiouszcss
A pusillanimous
(adil
cowardly @usilhs- weak+animaspirit)
Synonyrns:timorous, craven, dottudly
A lassitude (n)
Synon5rms:
feeling ofweakness orlistlessness
languor, torynr, stutr or