SAT II Flashcards
Balk
(v) to stop/block abruptly
Edna’s boss balked at her request for another raise.
Abase
(v) to humiliate/degrade
After being overthrown and abased, the deposed leader offered to bow down at his conqueror
Cadence
(n) a rhythm, progression of sound
The pianist used the foot pedal to emphasize the cadence of the Sonata
Dearth
(n) a lack, scarcity
An eager reader, she was dismayed by the dearth of classic books at the library.
Ebullient
(adj) extremely lively, enthusiastic
She became ebullient upon receiving an acceptance letter from first-choice college.
Fallacious
(adj) incorrect, misleading
Emily offered me cigarettes on the fallacious assumption that I smoked
Garish
(adj) gaudy, in bad taste
Mrs. Watson has poor taste and covers every object in her house with a garish gold lame.
Hapless
(adj) unlucky
My poor, hapless family never seems to pick a sunny week for a holiday
Idolatrous
(adj) excessively worshipping one object or person
Some Exo fans are idolatrous towards Exo, deeming them flawless.
Judicious
(adj) having or exercising sound judgment
When the judicious king decided to compromise rather send his army to a certain death, he was applauded.
Knell
(n) the solemn sound of a bell, often indicating a death
Echoing throughout our village, the funeral knell made the stormy day even more grim.
Laceration
(n) a cut, tear
Because he fell off his bike into a rosebush, the paperboy’s skin was filled with lacerations
Maelstrom
(n) a destructive whirlpool which rapidly sucks in objects
Little did the explorers know that as they turned the next bend of the calm river a vicious maelstrom would catch their boat.
Nadir
(n) the lowest point of something
My day was boring, but the nadir came when I accidentally spilled a bowl of spaghetti on my head.
Obdurate
(adj) unyielding to persuasion or moral influences
The obdurate old man refused to take pity on the kittens.
Pallid
(adj) lacking colour
Dr. Van Helsing feared that Lucy’s pallid complexion was due to an unexplained loss of blood.
Pejorative
(adj) derogatory, uncomplimentary
An international scandal ensued after a famous senator made pejorative comments towards the Emir of Qatar.
Quandary
(adj) a perplexed, unresolvable state
Carlos found himself in a quandary: should he choose mint chocolate or vanilla?
Rancid
(adj) having a terrible taste or smell
Rob was double-dog-dared to eat the rancid egg salad sandwhich.
Sagacity
(n) shrewdness, soundness of perspective
With remarkable sagacity, the wise old man predicted and thwarted his children’a evil plans.
Tacit
(adj) expressed without words
I interpreted my parents’ refusal to talk as a tacit acceptance of my request.
Umbrage
(n) a resentment, offense
He called me a lily-livered coward and I took the umbrage as an insult.
Vacillate
(v) To fluctuate, hesitate
I prefer a definite answer but my boss kept vacillating between the distinct options available to us.
Wily
(adj) crafty, sly
Though they were not the strongest of the Thundercats, wily Kit and Kat were definitely the most clever and full of tricks.
Yoke
(v) To join, link
We yoked together the logs by tying a string around them.
Petulance
(n) rudeness, irritability
The Nanny resigned after she could no longer tolerate the child’s petulance.
Diaphanous
(adj) light, airy, transparent
Sunlight poured in through the diaphanous curtains, brightening the room.
Equivocal
(adj) ambiguous, uncertain, undecided
His intentions were so equivocal that I didn’t know whether he was being chivalrous or sleazy.
Eschew
(v) to shun, avoid
George hates the colour green so much that he eschews all green food,
Exigent
(adj) urgent, critical
The patient has an exigent need for medication, or else he will lose his eyesight.
