S Flashcards
Sacrosanct
(adj) sacred, inviolable, not to be trespassed on or violated; above any criticism
Sagacious
(adj) wise; showing good judgment and foresight
Salubrious
(adj) healthful, promoting health
Sanguine
(adj) cheerfully optimistic, hopeful; reddish, ruddy (as in rosy-red cheeks indicating health or vitality)
Satiate or Sate
(v) to fully satisfy; to go beyond satisfying to the point of excess (possibly inducing disgust, tiredness, etc.)
Scant
(adj) not enough or barely enough
Scathing
(adj) severe, injurious; bitterly harsh or critical (as a remark)
Secular
(adj) not religious or holy; pertaining to worldly things
Sedulous
(adj) persevering, persistent, diligent in one’s efforts
Skirt
(v) border, lie along the edge of , go around; evade
Sentient
(adj) conscious; experiencing sensation or perceiving with the senses
Slew
(n) a large number or quantity
Solicitous
(adj) concerned or anxious (about another person), expressing care; eager or desirous; very careful
Slight
treat as though not very important; snub, ignore (verb); an act of treating in this way, a discourtesy (noun)
soporific
(adj, n) causing sleep; sleepy, drowsy (adj); something that causes sleep (noun)
spartan
(adj) very disciplined and stern; frugal, living simply, austere; suggestive of the ancient Spartans
spate
(n) sudden outpouring or rush; flood
Specious
(adj) seemingly true but actually false; deceptively attractive
Sportive
(adj) playful, merry, joking around, done “in sport” (rather than intended seriously)
stark
(adj) complete, total, utter; harsh or grim; extremely simple, severe, blunt, or plain
stoic or stoical
(adj, n) indifferent to pleasure or pain, enduring without complaint (adj); person indifferent to pleasure or pain (noun)
stolid
(adj) unemotional, showing little emotion, not easily moved
Stymie or Stymy
(v, n) block, hinder, or thwart (verb); an obstacle (noun)
Subjective
(adj) existing in the mind or relating to one’s own thoughts, opinions, emotions, etc.; personal, individual, based on feelings
Substantiate
(v) support with evidence or proof; give a material existence to
Supplicate
(v) pray humbly; ask, beg, or seek in a humble way
Surfeit
(n) excess, excessive amount, overindulgence
Surmise
(v) guess, infer, think, or make an opinion with incomplete information
Sycophant
(n) servile flatterer, parasitic person, one who fawns in order to get ahead
