Chapter 4: Every SAT Word Has A History

Question 1

DRACONIAN

Answer 1

Characterized by very strict laws, rules, and punishments

Question 2

LACONIC

Answer 2

Very brief; concise; SUCCINCT; TERSE

Question 3

SPARTAN

Answer 3

Plain; simple; AUSTERE

Question 4

HALCYON

Answer 4

Idyllically calm and peaceful; an untroubled golden time of satisfaction,
happiness, and tranquility

Question 5

SOPHISTRY

Answer 5

A plausible but deliberately misleading or FALLACIOUS argument
designed to deceive someone

Question 6

CHIMERICAL

Answer 6

Given to fantastic schemes; existing only as a product of an unchecked
imagination; impossible

Question 7

OSTRACIZE

Answer 7

To deliberately exclude from a group

Question 8

IMPECUNIOUS

Answer 8

Poor; penniless; NOT AFFLUENT

Question 9

NEFARIOUS

Answer 9

Famous for being wicked; villainous; vile

Question 10

JOVIAL

Answer 10

Good-humored; cheerful; JOCULAR

Question 11

DIRGE

Answer 11

A funeral hymn; a slow, mournful, LUGUBRIOUS musical composition

Question 12

MAUDLIN

Answer 12

Tearful; excessively sentimental, but not MAWKISH

Question 13

QUIXOTIC

Answer 13

Foolishly impractical in the pursuit of ideals; impractical idealism

Question 14

PANDEMONIUM

Answer 14

A wild uproar; tumult

Question 15

MARTINET

Answer 15

A strict disciplinarian; a person who demands absolute adherence to forms
and rules

Question 16

FIASCO

Answer 16

A complete failure; a DEBACLE

Question 17

BOWDLERIZE

Answer 17

To remove or delete parts of a book, song or other work that are
considered offensive; to EXPURGATE

Question 18

GALVANIZE

Answer 18

To electrify; to stir into action as if with an electric shock

Question 19

PICAYUNE

Answer 19

Small value or importance; petty; trifling

Question 20

GERRYMANDER

Answer 20

To divide a geographic area into voting districts so as to give unfair
advantage to one party in elections

Question 21

MAVERICK

Answer 21

An independent individual who does not go along with a group or party; a
nonconformist

Question 22

JUGGERNAUT

Answer 22

An irresistible force that crushes everything in its path

Question 23

SERENDIPITY

Answer 23

An accidental but fortunate discovery

Question 24

ZENITH

Answer 24

The highest point; the peak; APEX

Question 25

NADIR

Answer 25

The lowest point; the bottom