Every SAT Word Has A History

Question 0

Laconic

Answer 0

Very brief; concise; SUCCINCT; TERSE

Question 1

Draconian

Answer 1

Characterized by very strict laws, rules, and punishments

Question 2

Spartan

Answer 2

Plain; simple; AUSTERE

Question 3

Halcyon

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Sophistry

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Chimerical

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Ostracize

Answer 6

To deliberately exclude from a group

Question 7

Impecunious

Answer 7

Poor; penniless; NOT AFFLUENT

Question 8

Nefarious

Answer 8

Extremely wicked; villainous; vile

Question 9

Jovial

Answer 9

Good-humored; cheerful; JOCULAR

Question 10

Dirge

Answer 10

A funeral hymn; a slow mournful musical composition

Question 11

Maudlin

Answer 11

Tearful; excessively sentimental

Question 12

Quixotic

Answer 12

Foolishly impractical in the pursuit of ideals; impractical idealism

Question 13

Pandemonium

Answer 13

A wild uproar; tumult

Question 14

Martinet

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Fiasco

Answer 15

A complete failure; a DEBACLE

Question 16

Bowdlerize

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Galvanize

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Picayune

Answer 18

Something of small value or importance; petty; trifling

Question 19

Gerrymander

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Maverick

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Juggernaut

Answer 21

An irresistible/unstoppable force that crushes everything in its path

Question 22

Serendipity

Answer 22

An accidental but fortunate discovery

Question 23

Zenith

Answer 23

The highest point; the peak; APEX

Question 24

Nadir

Answer 24

The lowest point; the bottom