SSAT & ISEE Vocabulary II Flashcards
Abbreviate
to shorten a word or a phrase be omitting letters; to shorten the duration of; cut short
Abdicate
to give up a position, throne, duty, authority, claim, responsibility, etc.; to fail to fulfil or to undertake a responsibility or duty
Abhor
to regard with disgust and hatred
Abrasive
showing little concern for other’s feelings; harsh
a substance for cleaning or polishing a surface
Abstain
to voluntarily hold back; to restrain oneself from doing or enjoying something; to not cast a vote or to formally decline a vote
Abysmal
extremely poor, bad, or severe
Accolade
any award granted as a special honor or as an acknowledgement of merit
Accure
to receive a sum of money or a benefit that gradually increases over time; to accumulate or receive such payments or benefits
Acrid
irritatingly strong or unpleasant (smell or taste); extremely or sharply stinging or bitter; bitterly irritating (to the eyes, nose, etc.)
Adjourn
to break off a meeting, legal case, etc. with the intention of resuming later; to put off or postpone; to go somewhere else as a group
Adjunct
a person serving as an associate or assistant of another; something added as a non-essential part
connected or joined to something in an auxiliary or subordinate way; not an essential part
Admonish
to warn or reprimand someone firmly; to caution or advise; to counsel against something; to reprove or scold in a mild and goose-willed manner
Adroit
expert at using the mind, hands, or body; cleverly skillful
Adversary
a person, group, etc. that opposes or attacks an enemy; one’s opponent in a contest or conflict
Adversity
unfavorable fortune or unfortunate circumstances; difficulties or misfortune
Affable
pleasant; easy to approach and talk to; good-natured; showing warmth and friendliness
Affiliate
to bring into a close association; to attach or connect to an organization
a person, branch, or organization officially attached to a larger body
Affirm
to state as a fact; to assert strongly; to offer someone emotional support; to express agreement or commitment
Augment
to make (something) greater in size, number, strength, or extent
Auspicious
giving or being a sign of future success; conducive to success; favored by fortune
Austere
severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance; rigorously self-disciplined and severely moral; having an extremely plain or simple style or appearance
Avaricious
characterized by greed; having or showing extreme greed for wealth or material gain
Banal
devoid of freshness or originality; so lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring`
Bauble
a small, showy trinket or decoration; (historical) a baton formerly used as an emblem by jesters
Boycott
to combine in abstaining from (something) as a means of punishment, protest, intimidation, or coercion
the practice of boycotting; a withdraw from commercial or social relations (with certain groups)
Belated
late, delayed, or detained; coming or happening later than was expected or should have been the case
Benevolence
a desire to do good to others; an act of kindness; a charitable gift; the quality of being well-meaning
Abate
to reduce or lessen the amount, degree, or intensity, etc.; (something negative) to become smaller or less intense
Blustery
(weather) characterized by strong winds; (wind) blowing in strong gusts
Brook
a small, natural stream of fresh water
to tolerate or allow something, esp. dissent or opposition
Burly
(a person) large in bodily size; strong; heavily built
Candid
truthful and straightforward; frank; free from reservation; (of a photograph) taken informally, esp. without the subject’s knowledge
Caustic
capable of burning, corroding, or destroying living tissue; sarcastic in a scathing and bitter way
a caustic substance
Chivalry/ Chivalrous
the combination in or qualities expected of an ideal knight, especially courage, honor, justice, and a readiness to help the weak; courteous behavior towards women
having the qualities of chivalry
Choleric
extremely irritable, bad- tempered, or easily angered
Chronic
(an illness) persisting for a long time or constantly recurring; (a problem) long lasting and difficult to eradicate; (a person) having a particular bad habit
Churlish
rude in a mean-spirited and surly way; difficult to work with or deal with
Clangor
a continuous loud banging noise or ringing sound, esp. made from something metallic being hit or rung
Convey
to take, carry, or transport from one place to another; to communicate (a message or information); to make (an idea or feeling) known or understandable to someone
Copious
having or providing an abundant supply or quantity
Countenance
a person’s face, esp. when considered as expressing a person’s character or mood; support or encouragement
to admit as acceptable or possible
Craft
a skill or ability, esp. in making things by hand; an occupation or trade requiring special skill, esp. manual dexterity; the members of such a trade; skill used in deceiving others; a boat or ship
to exercise skill in making (someone)
Craven
cowardly; contemptibly lacking in courage
Crevice
a narrow fissure or crack, esp. in a rock or wall
Crypt
a cellar, vault, or underground room usually beneath a place of worship which is used as a chapel or burial place
Culpable
deserving blame or censure; blameworthy
Cursory
hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed
Debiliating
tending to weaken or enfeeble; (a disease or condition) making someone very weak
Decree
an edict, law, etc. issued by someone in authority; an order or judgement of a court made after hearing a suit to order (something) by decree
Defile
to tarnish or sully; to desecrate or profane (something sacred); to make unfit for ceremonial use
a steep-sided narrow gorge or passage
Deft
neatly skillful and quick in one’s movements; demonstrating skill and cleverness
Defuse
to remove the triggering detective from a bomb or other explosive to prevent it from exploding; to reduce the danger or tension (in a difficult situation)
Delectable
delicious; highly enjoyable; pleasing to taste
Denote
to be a sign symbol, or symptom of; to indicate or designate; to have as a literal or obvious meaning
Desist
to cease(from an action); to stop or abstain; to refrain
Despondent
downcast or dishearted; in low spirits from loss of hope or courage
Deterrent
a thing that discourages (a person or group) from doing something; a weapon or combination of weapons, es. nuclear, held by one state to discourage enemies from attacking
able to intend to deter
Detrimental
tending to cause harm; injurious
Deviate
to differ or diverge (in belief, throughout, or action); to depart from an accepted standard or convention; to depart from an established course
departing from usual or accepted standards; deviant
Diffident
modest or shy because of a lack of self-confidence
Digress
to depart from the main subject in speech or writing; to wander from one’s path or intended direction
Dilapidated
(a building or object) falling to pieces or in a state of disrepair due to age or neglect
Dilate
to expand; to make or become wider, larger, or more open; to speak or write at length (on a subject)
Din
a loud, unpleasant, prolonged noise to make (someone) learn or remember something by constant repetition; to make a loud, unpleasant, and prolonged noise
Discard
to get rid of (someone or something) as useless or undesirable
a person or thing that has been cast aside; a rejected person or thing
Disdain
a feeling or show of superiority, contempt, and/or dislike
to refuse or reject (something) out of feelings of pride or superiority; to consider to be unworthy of one’s consideration
Dissect
to cut open and examine the structure of a dead animal or plant; to examine (something) critically and minutely
Divulge
to make known (something private or secret); to disclose
Engender
to bring about or give rise to (a feeling, situation, or condition) ; to bring into being
Epicure
a person who cultivates a discriminating palate for the enjoyment of good food and drink; a person who takes particular pleasure in food and drink
Errand
a short journey undertaken in order to deliver or collect something esp. on someone else’s behalf; the purpose or object of an errand
Ethereal
extremely delicate and light in a way that seems to perfect for this world; heavenly or spiritual
Evince
to make evident; to reveal the presence of (a quality or feeling); to be evidence of; to indicate
Exacting
making great demands on one’s skill, attention, or other resources
Exhaustive
comprehensive in scope; examining, including, or considering all elements or aspects; fully comprehensive
Exiled
a prolonged, usually enforced absence from one’s home or country for political or punitive reasons
to expel and bar (sometimes) from their native country for political or punitive reasons
Expunge
erase or remove completely (something unwanted or unpleasant)
Extol
to praise lavishly or enthusiastically; to exalt
Exuberant
filled with or characterized by a lively energy and excitement
Faciliate
to make (an action or process) easier; to assist the progress of (something)
Falter
uncertainty or hesitancy (in speech or action); to start to lose strength or momentum; to move unsteadily or in a way that demonstrates a lack of confidence
Feral
(esp. an animal) having a rugged, unkempt appearance; in a wild state; resembling a wild animal
Foliage
the green leaves of a plant referred to collectively; sprays of leaves used for decoration; an ornamental leaflike design
Foreshadow
to show, indicate, or suggest in advance; to be a warning or indication of (a future event)
Forlorn
pitifully sad and forsaken or lonely; wretched; (an aim or endeavor) unlikely to succeed or be fulfilled; hopeless
Fortuitous
happening by accident or chance rather than design; fortunate
Frigid
very cold in temperature; formal or stiff in behavior or temperament; lacking in affection or warmth
Frivolous
not having any serious purpose or value; (a person) carefree and not serious; unworthy of serious and sensible treatment
Frugal
practicing economy; living without waste; sparing or economical with regard to money or food; simple and plain and costing little
Furbish
to give a fresh look to (something old or shabby); to renovate
Futile
having no useful or effective result; unsuccessful
Garbed
clothes, esp. the distinctive attire of an occupation or profession; style of dress; external appearance, covering, or attire
to dress in distinctive clothes
Garble
to jumble (a story, quotation, etc.) unintentionally; to distort the meaning of (an account, message, text, etc.); to reproduce (a sound) in a confused and distorted way
Glutton
a person devoted to eating and drinking to excess; a person who is excessively fond or always eager for something
Gregarious
(a person) enjoying the company of others; (animals) living together in herds or flocks; (plants) growing in open clusters or colonies
Grovel
to lie or crawl abjectly on the ground with one’s face downwards; to act in an obsequious way when making an apology or asking for a favor
Heriloom
a valuable object that has belonged to a family for generations
Hue
a color or shade; a character or aspect (of something)
Inpervious
not able to be penetrated (by water, light, etc.); not able to be influenced or affected (by something)
Implore
to beg or ask someone earnestly to do something; to plead with
Inarticulate
unable to express oneself fluently or clearly; unclear or incomprehensible; uttered without the use of normal words or syllables
Indictment
a formal charge or accusation or a serious crime; the act of indicting or the state of being indicted; a thing that serves to illustrate that a system or situation is bad and deserves to be condemned
Indignant
feeling or showing irritation; feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is preceived as unfair treatment
Industrious
hard-working, diligent or assiduous
Ingenuity
the quality of being clever, original, and inventive
Inherit
existing in something as a permanent, essential, or characteristic attribute; vested in (someone) as a right or privilege
INnate
existing in (a person or animal) from birth; inborn, natural
Innocuous
having little or no adverse or harmful effect; not harmful or offensive
Inordinate
exceeding normal limits; unusually or disproportionately large; excessive
Insipid
lacking spirit; lacking flavor; lacking vigor or interest
Insurgent
a rebel against the government or authority; a person against a government or authority
rising in active revolt; relating to rebels
inundate
to cover completely with water; to flood; to overwhelm (someone) with things or people to be dealt with
Jocular
characterized by joking and good humor; meant lightly or humorously; humorous or playful
Liability
the state of being responsible for something; a person or thing whose presence or behavior causes embarrassment or puts one at a disadvantage
Linger
to delay or prolong departure; to go in a slow or leisurely manner; to stay in a place longer than necessary because of a reluctant to leave
Loathe
to feel strong hatred or disgust for; to feel intense dislike
Ludicrous
absurd or incongruous to the point of provoking ridicule or laughter; so foolish, unreasonable, or out of place as to be amusing
Malady
a disease or illness; an unhealthy, morbid, or desperate condition
Mayhem
any violent or damaging disorder or confusion; chaos
Melancholy
a tendency to gloominess or depression; a feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause
a sad and pensive state of mind
Misanthrope
a person who dislikes or distrusts other people or mankind in general; a person who avoids human society
Mitigate
to make or become less severe, serious, or harsh; to lessen the gravity of (an offense or mistake)
Mourning
the act of feelings of one who is grieving
the period of time during which a death is officially mourned
Muffle/Muffled
to wrap up or cover for warmth; to cover or wrap up (a source of sound) to reduce its loudness; to make (a sound) quieter or less distinct
(sound) not loud because of being obstructed in some way; muted
Mundane
something ordinary; relating to the world or worldly matters; lacking interest or excitement; of this world rather than a heavenly or spiritual one
Mutable
able to change or tending to change; liable to change
Nonchalant
casually unconcerned or indifferent; feeling or appearing calm and relaxed; not displaying anxiety, interest, or enthusiasm
Nonstalgic
a sentimental yearning for the happiness felt in a former place, time, or situation
Notorious
well-known, typically for some bad or unfavorable quality or deed
Novice
a person who is new to or inexperienced in a certain task, situation, etc.; a beginner
Obese
excessively fat or fleshy; grossly fat or overweight
Odious
highly offensive; deserving or causing hatred; disgusting; extremely unpleasant
Onerous
involving an amount of effort and difficulty that is oppressively burdensome
Opulent
having or indicating wealth; abundant or plentiful; wealthy, rich, or affluent; luxurious or lavish
Orator
a public speaker, especially one who is eloquent and skilled
Ornate
heavily or elaborately decorated; made in an intricate shape or decorated with complex patterns; (literary style) using unusual words and complex constructions; (music) using many ornaments such as grace notes and trills
Ostentatious
characterized by pretentious, showy, or vulgar display; designed to impress or attract attention
Ostracize
to exclude or banish (a person) from a particular group; to punish by temporary exile; (in ancient Greece) to banish from a city for five or ten years by popular vote
Pact
an agreement or compact between two or more parties, nations, etc. for mutual advantage; a formal agreement between individuals or parties
Paltry
ridiculously or insultingly small; petty, trivial
Parched
to deprive or be deprived of water; to make or become dry through intense heat
dried out with heat; extremely thirsty
Peculiar
strange, odd, or unusual; distinct from others; particular or special; belonging characteristically or exclusively to
Penitent
feeling or showing regret for one’s sins or mistakes
a person who repents his sins and seeks forgiveness from God
Pensive
enraging in, involving, or reflecting deep and serious thought, often with a tinge of sadness
Peruse
to read or examing with care; to study; to browse or read through in a leisurely way
Petulant
irritable, impatient, or sullen in a peevish or cranky way; childishly sulky or bad-tempered
Pinnacle
the highest point or level, esp. of fame or success; a high, pointed piece of rock; a small pointed turret built as an ornament on a roof
Platitude
a remark or statement, esp. with moral content that has been used too often to be considered interesting or thoughtful content; a trite, dull, or obvious statement
Plaudit
an expression of enthusiastic approval, praise, or approbation; a round of applause
Plethora
superfluity, excess, or overabundance (of something)
Pliable
easily molded, bent, influenced, or altered; flexible, yielding; adjusting readily to change
Pliers
a gripping tool consisting of two hinged arms which are often serrated
Posterity
Posterity
future or succeeding generations; all of one’s descendants; all future generations of people
Postpone
to put off or delay until a future time; to cause or arrange for something to take place at a time later than was originally planned
Precipice
a point where danger, trouble, or difficulty begins; a precarious situation; a very steep rock face or cliff, especially a tall one
Prim
affectedly proper, precise, or formal; stiffly formal and respectable; feeling or showing disapproval of anything regarded as improper
Profusion
an abundant quantity of something
Pungent
having an acrid taste or smell; mentally stimulating or appealing; (comment, criticism or humor) having a sharp and caustic quantity
Queasy
having the feeling that one is about to vomit; feeling uneasy, uncomfortable, or nervous about something
Quiver
to shake wit a rapid tremulous movement
a slight trembling movement caused by a sudden strong emotion; a case for holding or carrying arrows
Rambling
(writing or speech) lengthy and confused or inconsequential; (a person) aimlessly wandering, lacking a coherent plan; (a building or path) spreading or winding irregularly in various directions; (a plant) profusely climbing, growing over walls
Rampant
unrestrained or violent in behavior, desire, options, etc.; flourishing or spreading unchecked
Rankle
to cause severe and continuous irritation or bitter resentment that persists; to continue to be painful; to fester
Ransack
to search through every part of (a place or receptable) stealing things and causing damage; to search through to find something
Recuperation
the recovery or regaining of something, esp. health or strength/vigor
to recover from sickness or exhaustion, financial loss, or illness
Refrain
to abstain; to stop oneself from doing something
a phrase or verse recurring at intervals in a song or poem; an often repeated comment/complaint
Replete
filled or well-supplied with something; having one’s appetite completely or excessively satisfied by food and drink
Repugnant
repellent to the senses; causing aversion; extremely distasteful; unacceptable; in conflict with; incompatible with
Resilient
able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions; able to resume its original shape after being deformed
Retribution
to act of punishing or taking revenge on someone for wrongdoing; punishment or vengeance
Reverberate
(a loud noise) to resound or echo; (a place) to appear to vibrate or be disturbed because of a loud noise having serious and ongoing effects
Revert
to return to (a former state of being, topic, belief, practice, etc.)
Ridge
a ling narrow raised land formation with sloping sides; a long narrow hilltop, mountain range, or watershed; the edge formed where the two sloping sides of a roof meet
to mark with or form into a ridge or ridges; to form (arable land) into raised strips separated by furrows
Rift
a gap or space made by cleaving or splitting; a serious break in a close friendly relationship
Rigor/Rigorous
the quality of being extremely thorough, exhaustive, or accurate
extremely thorough, exhaustive, or accurate; harsh and demanding
Salient
prominent or striking; most noticeable or important
Scorn
to feel or express open contempt or disdain for a person or thing; to reject (something) in a contemptuous way; to refuse to do something because one is too
proud
the feeling or belief that someone or something is worthless or despicable; contempt
Scruple
internal factors that prevent a person from behaving in a certain way; a doubt or hesitation as to whether a course of action is morally right
to be reluctant to do something that one thinks may be wrong
Secrete
(in a cell, gland, or organ) to generate and release as a substance
Senile
of, relating to, or characteristic of old age; mentally or physically weak; having experienced a loss of mental faculties
Serpent
a literary word for snake; a sly or treacherous person, especially one who exploits a position of trust in order to betray
Shamles
a state of great disorder; a complete mess
Silhouette
the outline of a solid figure as cast by its shadow; the dark outline of someone or something visible against a lighter background
to cast or show as a dark shape or outline against a lighter background
Sleuth
an informal word for a detective, short for sleuthhound
to track or follow; to carry out a search or investigation the manner of a detective
Smolder
smoke coming from a fire that is burning slowly without a flame
burn slowly without flame; show or feel barely suppressed anger, hatred, or another powerful emotion; exist in a suppressed or concealed state
Solace
comfort in misery, disappointment, etc.; something that gives consolation in a time of distress or sadness
to give solace to; to alleviate
Solemn
formal and dignified; not cheerful or smiling; characterized by deep sincerity; performed with religious ceremony
Somber
gloomy dark; shadow; dimly lighted; dark and dull; depressing or dismal; extremely serious; dull in color or tone; oppressively solemn or somber
Superfluous
exceeding what is sufficient or required; not necessary or relevant; extravagant in expenditure
Surly
ill-tempered or rude; unfriendly or hostile; menacingly irritable
Temperamental
easily upset or irritated; liable to unreasonable changes of mood; working erratically and inconsistently
Tenacity
the quality or fact of being very determined; being able to grip something firmly; the quality or fact of continuing to exist
Terse
brief and concise; sparing in the use of words
Thrive
to grow or develop strongly and vigorously; to do well; to prosper, to flourish; to be fortunate or successful
Tranquil
free from commotion, disturbance, or tumult; unaffected by disturbing emotions or thoughts
Translucent
(a substance) allowing light to pass through partially so that persons, objects, etc., on the opposite side are partially visible; semi-transparent
Trepidation
a feeling of fear or agitation about something that may happen; a condition of quaking or trembling
Twine
string made by twisting together fibers of hemp, cotton, etc.,
to cause to wind or spiral around something; (plant) to grow spiraling around a support
Ubiquitous
present, appearing, or found everywhere; having or seeming to have the ability to be everywhere at once
Uncouth
lacking in good manners, refinement, or grace; awkward, clumsy, or unmannerly; lacking sophistication
Unique
existing as the only one or the sole example of its kind; solitary in type or characteristics; having no like or equal
Uproar
a commotion or disturbance characterized by loud noise and confusion; a public expression of protest or outrage
Variable
liable to or capable of change; not consistent or having a fixed pattern
an element, feature, or factor that is liable to vary or change
Venal
easily bribed or corrupted; open to purchase esp. by bribery; willing to sell one’s influence
Virulent
(disease or poison) extremely severe or harmful in its effects; (a pathogen, esp. a virus) highly infectious; injurious, bitter, hostile, etc.
Voracious
devouring or craving food in great quantities; having a very eager approach to an activity
Wily
sly or crafty; skilled at gaining an advantage, especially deceitfully
Wistful
sadly pensive, esp. about something yearned for; having or showing a feeling of vague or regretful longing
