SAT Vocabulary Unit 2

1. SAT Vocabulary Unit 2

2. WORD FORMS: Easy Tricks - Nouns: make them plural - Verbs: change the tense - Adjectives: make them adverbs ( -ly) - Most nouns can become adjectives and/or adverbs - Most adjectives, adverbs, and verbs can become nouns

3. Approbation • Approbations (n) • Approve (v) • Approved (v) • Approving (v; adj) • Approvingly (adv)

4. Transcend • Transcends (v) • Transcended (v) • Transcending (v) • Transcendent (adj) • Transcendently (adv) • Transcendence (n) • Transcendences (n)

5. Ameliorate • (v) to improve, make better, correct a flaw or shortcoming • Syn: amend, better • Ant: worsen, aggravate, exacerbate

6. Aplomb • (n) poise, assurance, great self- confidence • Syn: composure, self-possession, levelheadedness • Ant: confusion, embarrassment, abashment

7. Bombastic • (adj) pompous or overblown in language; full of high sounding words intended to conceal lack of ideas • Syn: inflated, pretentious • Ant: unadorned, simple, plain, austere

8. Callow • (adj) without experience; immature, not fully developed; lacking sophistication and poise • Syn: green, raw, unfledged, inexperienced • Ant: mature, grown-up, polished, sophisticated

9. *Drivel • (n) aimless talk or thinking; nonsense; (v) to utter nonsense or childish babbling; to waste or fritter away foolishly • Syn: hogwash, balderdash

10. Epitome • (n) a summary, condensed account; an instance that represents a larger reality • Syn: abstract, model, archetype

11. *Exhort • (v) to urge strongly, advise earnestly • Syn: entreat, implore, abjure • Ant: discourage, advise against, deprecate

12. Infringe • (v) to violate, trespass, go beyond recognized bounds • Syn: encroach, impinge, intrude, poach

13. Ingratiate • (v) to make oneself agreeable and thus gain favor or acceptance by others (sometimes used in a critical derogatory sense) • Syn: cozy up to, curry favor with, brown-nose • Ant: alienate

14. Interloper • (n) one who moves in where he or she is not wanted or has no right to be; intruder • Syn: trespasser, meddler

15. *Intrinsic • (adj) belonging to someone or something by its very nature, essential, inherent; originating in a bodily organ or part • Syn: immanent, organic • Ant: extrinsic, external, outward

16. *Inveigh • (v) to make a violent attack in words, express strong disapproval • Syn: rail, harangue, fulminate, remonstrate • Ant: acclaim, glorify, extol

17. *Lassitude • (n) a weariness of body or mind, lack of energy • Syn: fatigue, lethargy, torpor, languor • Ant: energy, vitality, animation, liveliness

18. Millennium • (n) a period of one thousand years; a period of great joy

19. *Occult • (adj) mysterious, magical, supernatural; secret, hidden from view; not detectable by ordinary means; (v) to hide, conceal; eclipse; (n) matters involving the supernatural • Syn: supernatural, esoteric, abstruse, arcane • Ant: mundane, common, public, exoteric

20. Permeate • (v) to spread through, penetrate, soak through

21. Precipitate • (v) to fall as moisture; to cause to bring about suddenly; to hurl down from a great height; to give distinct form to; (adj) characterized by excessive haste; (n) moisture; the product of an action or process • Syn: provoke, produce, reckless, impetuous • Ant: wary, cautious, circumspect

22. Stringent • (adj) strict, severe; rigorously or urgently binding or compelling; sharp, bitter taste • Syn: stern, rigorous, tough, urgent, imperative • Ant: lenient, mild, lax, permissive

23. Surmise • (v) to think or believe without certain supporting evidence; to conjecture or guess; (n) likely idea that lacks definite proof • Syn: infer, gather, presumption