SAT 24 Flashcards
tawdry- adj.
cheap and gaudy. He won a few tawdry trinkets in Coney Island.
tarry- v.
delay; dawdle. We can’t tarry if we want to get to the airport on time.
tedious- adj.
boring; tiring. The repetitious nature of work on the assembly line made Martin’s job very tedious. Tedium, n.
tempestuous- adj.
stormy; impassioned, violent. Racket-throwing tennis star John McEnroe was famed for his displays of tempestuous temperament.
temporal- adj.
not lasting forever; limited by time; secular. At one time in our history, temporal rulers assumed that they had been given their thrones by divine right.
tenacious- adj.
holding fast. I had to struggle to break his tenacious hold on my arm.
tenuous- adj.
thin; rare; slim. The allegiance of our allies is based on such tenuous ties that we have little hope they will remain loyal.
tenure- n.
holding an office; time during which such an office is held. A special recall election put a sudden end to Gray Davis’s tenure in office as governor of California.
tepid- adj.
lukewarm, To avoid scalding the baby, make sure the bath water is tepid, not hot.
thespian- adj.
pertaining to drama. Her success in the school play convinced her she was destined for a thespian career. Also n.
timorous- adj.
fearful; demonstrating fear. His timorous manner betrayed the fear he felt at the moment.
titter- n.
nervous laugh. Her aunt’s constant titter nearly drove her mad. Also v.
torrid- adj.
passionate; hot or scorching. Harlequin Romances publish torrid tales of love affairs, some set in torrid climates.
traduce- v.
expose to slander. His opponents tried to traduce the candidate’s reputation by spreading rumors about his past.
transcendent- adj.
surpassing; exceeding ordinary limits; superior. For that amateur chef, dining at the four-star restaurant was a transcendent experience: the meal surpassed his wildest dreams.
transitory- adj.
impermanent; fleeting. Fame is transitory: today’s rising star is all too soon tomorrow’s washed-up-has-been. Transitoriness n.
travail- n.
painful physical or mental labor; drudgery; torment. Like every other high school student she knew, Sherry hated the yearlong travail of cramming for the SAT. also v.
treatise- n.
article treating a subject systematically and thoroughly. He is preparing a treatise on the Elizabethan playwrights for his graduate degree.
trenchant- adj.
forceful and vigorous; cutting. With his trenchant wit, Richie cuts straight to the heart of the matter, panning a truly dreadful play.
truculence- n.
aggressiveness; ferocity. Tynan’s reviews were noted for their caustic attacks and general tone of truculence. Truculent adj.
