SAT Vocabulary Unit 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

ApprobationApprobations (n)Approve (v)Approved (v)Approving (v; adj)Approvingly (adv)

TranscendTranscends (v)Transcended (v)Transcending (v)Transcendent (adj)Transcendently (adv)Transcendence (n)Transcendences (n)

Ameliorate

(v) to improve, make better, correct a flaw or shortcoming

Syn: amend, better Ant: aggravate, exacerbate 

Aplomb

(n) poise, assurance, great self- confidence

Syn: composure, levelheadedness Ant: confusion, embarrassment

Bombastic

(adj) pompous or overblown in language; full of high sounding words intended to conceal lack of ideas

Syn: inflated, pretentious Ant: simple, plain

Callow

(adj) without experience; immature, not fully developed; lacking sophistication and poise

Syn: unfledged, inexperienced Ant: mature, polished

*Drivel

(n) aimless talk or thinking; nonsense; (v) to utter nonsense or childish babbling; to waste or fritter away foolishly

Syn: hogwash, balderdash

Epitome

(n) a summary, condensed account; an instance that represents a larger reality

Syn: model, archetype

*Exhort

(v) to urge strongly, advise earnestly Syn: entreat, implore Ant: discourage,deprecate

Infringe

(v) to violate, trespass, go beyond recognized bounds

Syn: encroach, poach

Ingratiate

(v) to make oneself agreeable and thus gain favor or acceptance by others (sometimes used in a critical derogatory sense)

Syn: curry favor with, brown-nose Ant: alienate

Interloper

(n) one who moves in where he or she is not wanted or has no right to be; intruder

Syn: trespasser, meddler

*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

*Inveigh

(v) to make a violent attack in words, express strong disapproval

Syn: harangue, remonstrate Ant: acclaim, extol

*Lassitude

(n) a weariness of body or mind, lack of energy

Syn: lethargy, torpor Ant: energy, vitality

Millennium

(n) a period of one thousand years; a period of great joy

*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, arcane Ant: mundane, common

Permeate

(v) to spread through, penetrate, soak through

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, reckless Ant: wary, cautious

Stringent

(adj) strict, severe; rigorously or urgently binding or compelling; sharp, bitter taste

Syn: stern, tough Ant: lenient, permissive

Surmise

(v) to think or believe without certain supporting evidence; to conjecture or guess; (n) likely idea that lacks definite proof

Syn: infer, presumption