SAT - E's Flashcards
Ebullient
Adj. showing excitement; overflowing with enthusiasm.
Amy’s ebullient nature could not be repressed; she was always bubbling over with excitement.
Ebullience, N.
Eclectic
Adj. composed of elements drawn from disparate sources.
His style of interior decoration was eclectic; bits and pieces of furnishings from widely divergent periods, strikingly juxtaposed to create a unique decor.
Eclecticism, N.
Edify
V. instruct; correct morally.
Although his purpose was to edify and not to entertain his audience, many of his listeners were amused rather than enlightened.
Efface
V. rub out.
The coin had been handled so many times that its date had been effaced.
Effervescence
N. inner excitement or exuberance; bubbling from fementation or carbonation.
Nothing depressed Sue for long; her natural effervescence soon reasserted itself.
Egotistical
Adj. excessively self-centered; self-important; conceited.
Typical egotistical remark: “But enough of this chit-chat about you and your little problems. Let’s talk about what’s really important: Me!”
Elated
Adj. overjoyed; in high spirits.
Grinning from ear to ear, Bonnie Blair was clearly elated by her fifth Olympic gold medal.
Elation, N.
Elegy
N. poem or song expressing lamentation.
On the death of Edward King, MIlton composed the elegy “Lycidas”.
Elicit
V. draw out by discussion.
The detectives tried to elicit where he had hidden his foot.
Eloquence
N. expressiveness; persuasive speech.
The crowds were stirred by Martin Luther King’s eloquence.
Eloquent, Adj.
Elucidate
V. explain; enlighten.
He was called upon to elucidate the disputed points in his article.
Elusive
Adj. evasive; baffling; hard to grasp.
Trying to pin down exactly when the contractors would be finished remodeling the house, Nancy was frustrated by their elusive replies.
Elude, V.
Emaciated
Adj. thin and wasted.
Many severe illnesses leave their victims so emaciated that they must gain back their lost weight before they can fully recover.
Embellish
V. adorn; ornament.
The costume designer embellished the leading lady’s ball gown with yards and yards of ribbon and lace.
Emend
V. correct; correct by a critic.
The critic emended the book by selecting the passages which he thought most appropriate to text.
Emulate
V. imitate; rival.
In a brief essay, describe a person you admire, someone whose virtues you would like to emulate.
Endorse
V. approve; support.
Everyone waited to see which one of the rival candidates for the city council the mayor would endorse.
Endorsement, N.
Enhance
V. increase; improve.
You can enhance your chances of being admitted to the college of your choice by learning to write well; an excellent essay can enhance any application.
Enigma
N. puzzle; mystery.
“What do women want?” asked Dr. Sigmund Freud. Their behavior was an enigma to him.
Enigmatic, Adj.
Enmity
N. ill wiill; hatred.
At Camp David, President Carter labored to bring an end to the enmity that prevented the peaceful coexistence of Egypt and Israel.
Ephemeral
Adj. short-lived; fleeting.
The mayfly is an ephemeral creature; it’s adult-life lasts little more than a day.
Equanimity
N. calmness of temperament; composure.
Even the inevitable strains of caring for an ailing mother did not disturb Bea’s equanimity.
Equitable
Adj. fair; impartial.
I am seeking an equitable solution to this dispute, one that will be fair and acceptable to both sides.
Equivocal
Adj. ambiguous; intentionally misleading.
Rejecting the candidate’s equivocal comments on tax reform, the reporters pressed him to state clearly where he stood on the issue.
Equivocate, V.
Erroneous
Adj. mistaken; wrong.
I thought my answer was correct, but it was erroneous.
Erudite
Adj. learned; scholarly.
Unlike much scholarly writing, Huizinga’s prose was entertaining as well as erudite, lively as well as learned.
Esoteric
Adj. hard to understand; known only to the chosen few.
The New Yorker short stories often include esoteric allusions to obscure people and events.
Eulogy
N. expressoin of praise, often on the occasion of someone’s death.
Instead of delivering a spoken eulogy at Genny’s memorial srevice, Jeff sang a song he had written in her honor.
Euphemism
N. mild-expression in place of an unpleasant one.
The expression “he passed away” is an euphemism for “he died.”
Evanescent
Adj. fleeting; vanishing.
Brandon’s satisfaction in his new job was evanescent, for he immediately began to notice its many drawbacks.
Evascence, N.
Exacerbate
V. worsen; enbitter.
The latest bombing exacerbated England’s already existing bitterness against the IRA, causing the prime minister to break off the peace talks abruptly.
Exalt
V. raise in rank or dignity; praise.
The actor Alec Guinness was exalted to the rank of knighthood by the queen.
Excerpt
N. selected passage (written or musical).
The cinematic equivalent of an excerpt from a novel is a clip from a film.
Also, V.
Execute
V. put into effect; carry out.
The choreographer wanted to see how well she could execute a pirouette.
Execution, N.
Exemplary
Adj. serving as a model; outstanding.
At commencement, the dean praised Ellen for her exemplary behavior as class president.
Exemplify
V. serve as an example of; embody.
For a generation of balletgoers, Rudolf Nureyev exemplified the ideal of masculine grace.
Exhaustive
Adj. thorough; comprehensive.
We have made an exhaustive study of all published SAT tests and are happy to share our research with you.
Exhilarating
Adj. invigorating and refreshing; cheering.
Though some of the hikers found tramping through the snow tiring, Jeffrey found the walk on the cold, crisp day exhilarating.
Exonerate
V. acquilt; exculpate.
The defense team feverishly sought fresh evidence that might exonerate their client.
Expedient
Adj. suitable; practical; politic.
A pragmatic politician, he was guided by what was expedient rather than by what was ethical.
Expediency, N.
Expedite
V. hasten.
Because we are on a tight schedule, we hope you will be able to expedite the delivery of our order.
Explicit
Adj. totally clear; definite; outspoken.
Don’t just hint around that you’re dissatisfied; be explicit about what’s bugging you.
Exploit
V. make use of, something unjustly.
Cesar Chavez fought attempts to exploit migrant farmworkers in California.
Exploitation, Adj.,
Extol
V. praise; glorify.
The president extolled the astronauts, calling them the pioneers of the Spage Age.
Extraneous
Adj. not essential; superfluous.
No wonder Ted can’t think straight! His mind is so cluttered up with extraneous trivia, he can’t concentrate on the essentials.
Extricate
V. free; disentangle.
Icebreakers were needed to extricate the trapped whales from the icy floes that closed in them.
Exuberance
N. overflowing abundance; joyful enthusiasm; flamboyance; lavishness.
I was bowled over by the exuberance of Amy’s welcome.
