SAT Words 22-26
Root 5
22. auspicious
The cars were not selling
well, not a particularly
auspicious start for a
special edition.
auspicious
• (aw-SPIH-shuss) adjective
• Sounds like: our space shoes
•
Picture… two astronauts just landing on the planet
Neptune. Looking out the window of their spaceship,
they see that they are surrounded by a frozen lake. In
order to accomplish their mission, they must cross the
ice and return to the spaceship quickly. One astronaut
thinks it’s going to be very difficult. The other pulls out
two pairs of special boots fitted with large ice skate
blades. “This will be easy,” he says. Then, gesturing to
the boots, “Our space shoes!”
• Other forms: auspiciousness (noun);
auspiciously (adv.)
• Definition: taking place under promising
conditions; likely to succeed
23. austere
The pies' dark crusts have an
irredeemably doughy chew, and
their filling is austere beef without
a hint of spice.
austere
• (aw-STEER) adjective
• Sounds like: our steer
• Picture… a rancher giving a tour of
his ranch: “And this is our steer. He
lives in this simple barn, eats plain
dry grass, and frowns a lot. We’re
not sure why.”
• Other forms: austerity (noun);
austerely (adverb)
• Definition: stern; plain; without
luxuries
24. averse
Investors these days are
averse to risky emergingmarket government debt.
averse
• (ah-VERSE) adjective
• Looks exactly like: a verse
• Picture… a young boy running from the
classroom, screaming “Poetry! I can’t listen to
poetry! Not even a verse!” (Averse sounds a little
like reverse, so also think of a person going in
reverse to avoid something.)
•
Note: Don’t confuse with “adverse,” which means
unfavorable. Strong rains may produce adverse
conditions for golf. A golfer may be averse to playing in
the rain.
• Definition: feeling repelled; wanting to
avoid
25. banal
This should have been
a thriller but instead is
totally banal.
banal
• (ba-NAHL) adjective
• Looks like: ban Al
• Picture… a club’s members wanting to
keep Al from joining. “I say we ban Al,”
says one. “He’s too boring.”
• Other form: banality (noun)
• Definition: boring; trite; insipid
26. benediction
There was a time when this
place breathed actual
benedictions and was a
home of active peace.
benediction
• (ben-neh-DIK-shun) noun
• Sounds like: Benedict shine
• Picture… Benedict, who always says good and
encouraging things to people, so that they walk
away from him shining with happiness.
• Note: Any word beginning with the prefix
“bene-” has a positive meaning, and usually
refers to a good result (or benefit).
• Definition: good wishes; a blessing
Root 5: fal, fall, fals,
fail, fault
Yes, employees are getting
more and more brazen in
their efforts to falsify
employers' drug tests.
fal, fall, fals, fail, fault
• Meaning: false, mistake, fail
• Sample words: falsify, fallible,
default, fallacy