SAT Vocabulary for Juniors
Lesson 11
#1 Elixir: n. a supposed remedy for all ailments
syn: medicine; panacea
Everyone wants to drink the elixir from the
mythic Fountain of Youth.
“Love is the energizing elixir of the
universe, the cause and effect of all
harmonies.”
-Unknown
#2 Desiccated: adj. dried up
His weathered, aged features reminded
Nellie of a desiccated prune.
The performance of the famous symphony
was technically perfect, but desiccate
when the critics later reflected on the
show.
#3 Cessation: n. a stopping; a discontinuance
syn: ceasing; end / ant: beginning; commencement
The cessation of pain was a relief for the
wounded adventurer, but Dirk knew that it was
only because he was going into shock.
“It is within this fathoms-long carcass, with its
mind and its notions, that I declare there is the
world, the origin of the world, the cessation of
the world and the path leading to the cessation
of the world”
-Buddha
#4 Juxtapose: v. to place side-by-side for comparison
syn: measure; examine
To portray a subtle difference in culture, the
photographer juxtaposed a bus driver from
America, who wore a polo shirt and slacks,
with a bus driver from Japan, who wore a
fancy uniform with white gloves.
“It's very colorful with many different colors
juxtaposed. That is part of the charm of the
design. Every color goes with every color.”
-Joe Ruggiero
#5 Kinetic: adj. pertaining to motion
We live in a kinetic world in which, always,
somewhere, someone is in motion.
“He was still optimistic, but it was a less
kinetic, a more thoughtful optimism.”
-H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds
#6 Garrulous: adj. talkative
syn: loquacious; verbose / ant: taciturn
After days of silence, the old prospector
suddenly turned into a garrulous
storyteller.
“Old men are garrulous by nature.”
-Marcus Tullius Cicero
#7 Fetish: n. an object that receives respect or devotion
syn: charm; talisman
The shaman made a fetish of the bear
claw, which was thought to retain the
spirit of the animal.
“Independence - is loyalty to one's best
self and principles, and this is often
disloyalty to the general idols and
fetishes.”
-Mark Twain
#8 Scintillate: v. to sparkle; to twinkle; to sparkle
intellectually
With witty remarks and fascinating tales, the
raconteur scintillated as keynote speaker.
“Let us all hope that the dark clouds of racial
prejudice will soon pass away, and that in
some not too distant tomorrow the radiant
stars of love and brotherhood will shine over
our great nation with all their scintillating
beauty.”
-Martin Luther King, Jr
#9 Lachrymose: adj. tearful, weepy
The undertaker hired a professional
mourner who could fake lachrymose
behavior on cue.
The child became lachrymose after being
scolded for taking a cookie without
permission.
#10 Fissure: n. an opening; a groove; a split
A fissure developed in their previously
solid relationship.
“Humor is vague, runaway stuff that
hisses around the fissures and crevices
of the mind, like some sort of loose
physic gas”
-Jonathan Miller
#11 Epitome: n. a typical example
syn: embodiment; archetype
When looking for the epitome of creative
glory, most playwrights select
Shakespeare.
“Indifference, to me, is the epitome of
evil.”
-Elie Wiesel
#12 Languid: adj. sluggish; drooping from weakness
syn: listless; feeble; drooping / ant: robust; vigorous
The fatigued crossing guard slowly lifted and
lowered a languid arm.
“Life without a purpose is a languid, drifting
thing; every day we ought to review our
purpose, saying to ourselves, 'This day let me
make a sound beginning, for what we have
hitherto done is naught!'”
-Thomas Kempis
#13 Delineate: v. to describe, to depict
Professor Thompson hinted at and then
fully delineated her plan for the class
year.
“Do you want to know who you are? Don't
ask. Act! Action will delineate and define
you.”
-Thomas Jefferson
#14 Legerdemain: n. sleight of hand; deception
Misdirection is a key component of a magician’s
legerdemain.
“He already sang as nobody on this earth had
ever sung before; he practised ventriloquism
and gave displays of legerdemain so
extraordinary that the caravans returning to
Asia talked about it during the whole length of
their journey.”
-Gaston Leroux, The Phantom of the Opera
#15 Libertine: n. one who leads an immoral life
syn: hedonist; glutton; epicurean
The marquis was a notorious libertine who
spent his entire fortune on elaborate parties
and lavish luxuries.
“Maidens and modesty, as I have said, wandered
at will alone and unattended, without fear of
insult from lawlessness or libertine assault,
and if they were undone it was of their own will
and pleasure.”
-Miguel Cervantes, Don Quixote