www.SoundKeepers.com

Printable SAT Vocabulary Builder - List 9

SAT - Flashcards - Multiple Choice Questions - SHOW ME LIST 9

#WordsDefinitions
1 staid (adjective satellite) characterized by dignity and propriety

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

2 flax (noun) plant of the genus Linum that is cultivated for its seeds and for the fibers of its stem

(noun) fiber of the flax plant that is made into thread and woven into linen fabric

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

3 unobtrusive (adjective) not obtrusive or undesirably noticeable; "a quiet, unobtrusive life of self-denial"

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

4 capricious (adjective satellite) determined by chance or impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason; "a capricious refusal"; "authoritarian rulers are frequently capricious"; "the victim of whimsical persecutions"

(adjective satellite) changeable; "a capricious summer breeze"; "freakish weather"

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

5 inane (adjective satellite) complacently or inanely foolish

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

6 recidivism (noun) habitual relapse into crime

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

7 ferocity (noun) the property of being wild or turbulent; "the storm's violence"

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

8 regal (adjective satellite) belonging to or befitting a supreme ruler; "golden age of imperial splendor"; "purple tyrant"; "regal attire"; "treated with royal acclaim"; "the royal carriage of a stag's head"

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

9 ameliorate (verb) get better; "The weather improved toward evening"

(verb) to make better; "The editor improved the manuscript with his changes"

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

10 circuitous (adjective satellite) deviating from a straight course; "a scenic but devious route"; "a long and circuitous journey by train and boat"; "a roundabout route avoided rush-hour traffic"

(adjective satellite) marked by obliqueness or indirection in speech or conduct; "the explanation was circuitous and puzzling"; "a roundabout paragraph"; "hear in a roundabout way that her ex-husband was marrying her best friend"

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

11 servile (adjective) submissive or fawning in attitude or behavior; "spoke in a servile tone"; "the incurably servile housekeeper"; "servile tasks such as floor scrubbing and barn work"

(adjective) pertaining to or involving slaves; "the servile wars of Sicily"

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

12 disparate (adjective satellite) including markedly dissimilar elements; "a disparate aggregate of creeds and songs and prayers"

(adjective satellite) fundamentally different or distinct in quality or kind; "such disparate attractions as grand opera and game fishing"; "disparate ideas"

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

13 unkempt (adjective satellite) not properly maintained; "an unkempt garden"; "native vistas and unkempt rambling paths"

(adjective satellite) not neat or cared for; slovenly; "his unkempt appearance"

(adjective satellite) not neatly combed; "wild unkempt hair"

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

14 novice (noun) someone new to a field or activity

(noun) someone who has entered a religious order but has not taken final vows

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

15 assiduous (adjective satellite) marked by care and persistent effort; "her assiduous attempts to learn French"; "assiduous research"; "sedulous pursuit of legal and moral principles"

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

16 deviance (noun) deviate behavior

(noun) a state or condition markedly different from the norm

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

17 ponderous (adjective satellite) having great mass and weight and unwieldiness; "a ponderous stone"; "a ponderous burden"; "ponderous weapons"

(adjective satellite) slow and laborious because of weight; "the heavy tread of tired troops"; "moved with a lumbering sag-bellied trot"; "ponderous prehistoric beasts"; "a ponderous yawn"

(adjective satellite) labored and dull; "a ponderous speech"

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

18 innocuous (adjective satellite) lacking intent or capacity to injure; "an innocent prank"

(adjective) not injurious to physical or mental health

(adjective satellite) not causing disapproval; "it was an innocuous remark"; "confined himself to innocuous generalities"; "unobjectionable behavior"

(adjective satellite) unlikely to harm or disturb anyone; "harmless old man"

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

19 splenetic (adjective satellite) very irritable; "bristly exchanges between the White House and the press"; "he became prickly and spiteful"; "witty and waspish about his colleagues"

(adjective) of or relating to the spleen

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

20 instigate (verb) serve as the inciting cause of; "She prompted me to call my relatives"

(verb) provoke or stir up; "incite a riot"; "set off great unrest among the people"

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

21 redolent (adjective satellite) having a strong distinctive fragrance; "the pine woods were more redolent"- Jean Stafford

(adjective satellite) serving to bring to mind; "cannot forbear to close on this redolent literary note"- Wilder Hobson; "a campaign redolent of machine politics"

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

22 intermittent (adjective satellite) stopping and starting at irregular intervals; "intermittent rain showers"

(adjective satellite) stopping and starting at regular intervals

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

23 inevitable (noun) an unavoidable event; "don't argue with the inevitable"

(adjective) incapable of being avoided or prevented; "the inevitable result"

(adjective satellite) invariably occurring or appearing; "the inevitable changes of the seasons"

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

24 engulf (verb) engross (oneself) fully; "He immersed himself into his studies"

(verb) flow over or cover completely; "The bright light engulfed him completely"

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

25 histrionic (adjective satellite) characteristic of acting or a stage performance; often affected; "histrionic gestures"; "an attitude of melodramatic despair"; "a theatrical pose"

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

26 diatribe (noun) thunderous verbal attack

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

27 pacifist (noun) someone opposed to violence as a means of settling disputes

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

28 foster (noun) United States songwriter whose songs embody the sentiment of the South before the American Civil War (1826-1864)

(verb) help develop, help grow; "nurture his talents"

(verb) bring up under fosterage; of children

(verb) promote the growth of; "Foster our children's well-being and education"

(adjective satellite) providing or receiving nurture or parental care though not related by blood or legal ties; "foster parent"; "foster child"; "foster home"; "surrogate father"

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

29 proximity (noun) the property of being close together

(noun) a Gestalt principle of organization holding that (other things being equal) objects or events that are near to one another (in space or time) are perceived as belonging together as a unit

(noun) the region close around a person or thing

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

30 erudite (adjective satellite) having or showing profound knowledge; "a learned jurist"; "an erudite professor"

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

31 adversity (noun) a stroke of ill fortune; a calamitous event; "a period marked by adversities"

(noun) a state of misfortune or affliction; "debt-ridden farmers struggling with adversity"; "a life of hardship"

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

32 urbane (adjective satellite) marked by wide-ranging knowledge and appreciation of many parts of the world arising from urban life and wide travel; "the sophisticated manners of a true cosmopolite"; "urbane and pliant...he was at ease even in the drawing rooms of Paris"

(adjective satellite) characterized by tact and propriety

(adjective satellite) showing a high degree of refinement and the assurance that comes from wide social experience; "his polished manner"; "maintained an urbane tone in his letters"

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

33 intrepid (adjective satellite) invulnerable to fear or intimidation; "audacious explorers"; "fearless reporters and photographers"; "intrepid pioneers"

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

34 flinch (noun) a reflex response to sudden pain

(verb) draw back, as with fear or pain; "she flinched when they showed the slaughtering of the calf"

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

35 emergence (noun) the act of coming (or going) out; becoming apparent

(noun) the act of emerging

(noun) the becoming visible; "not a day's difference between the emergence of the andrenas and the opening of the willow catkins"

(noun) the gradual beginning or coming forth; "figurines presage the emergence of sculpture in Greece"

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

36 philanthropist (noun) someone who makes charitable donations intended to increase human well-being

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

37 polemicist (noun) a writer who argues in opposition to others (especially in theology)

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

38 umbrage (noun) a feeling of anger caused by being offended; "he took offence at my question"

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

39 deposition (noun) the act of deposing someone; removing a powerful person from a position or office

(noun) the act of putting something somewhere

(noun) (law) a pretrial interrogation of a witness; usually done in a lawyer's office

(noun) the natural process of laying down a deposit of something

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

40 abrogate (verb) revoke formally

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

41 arbitrary (adjective) based on or subject to individual discretion or preference or sometimes impulse or caprice; "an arbitrary decision"; "the arbitrary rule of a dictator"; "an arbitrary penalty"; "of arbitrary size and shape"; "an arbitrary choice"; "arbitrary division of t

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

42 disseminate (verb) cause to become widely known; "spread information"; "circulate a rumor"; "broadcast the news"

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

43 profane (verb) violate the sacred character of a place or language; "desecrate a cemetary"; "violate the sanctity of the church"; "profane the name of God"

(verb) corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality; "debauch the young people with wine and women"; "Socrates was accused of corrupting young men"; "Do school counselors subvert young children?"; "corrupt the morals"

(adjective satellite) characterized by profanity or cursing; "foul-mouthed and blasphemous"; "blue language"; "profane words"

(adjective satellite) grossly irreverent toward what is held to be sacred; "blasphemous rites of a witches' Sabbath"; "profane utterances against the Church"; "it is sacrilegious to enter with shoes on"

(adjective satellite) not holy because unconsecrated or impure or defiled

(adjective) not sacred or concerned with religion; "sacred and profane music"; "children being brought up in an entirely profane environment"

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

44 skeptic (noun) someone who habitually doubts accepted beliefs

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

45 derogatory (adjective satellite) expressive of low opinion; "derogatory comments"; "disparaging remarks about the new house"

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

46 flaw (noun) defect or weakness in a person's character; "he had his flaws, but he was great nonetheless"

(noun) an imperfection in a device or machine; "if there are any defects you should send it back to the manufacturer"

(verb) add a flaw or blemish to; make imperfect or defective

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

47 spurn (verb) reject with contempt; "She spurned his advances"

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

48 euthanasia (noun) the act of killing someone painlessly (especially someone suffering from an incurable illness)

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

49 hedonism (noun) an ethical system that evaluates the pursuit of pleasure as the highest good

(noun) the pursuit of pleasure as a matter of ethical principle

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

50 clemency (noun) leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice; "he threw himself on the mercy of the court"

(noun) good weather with comfortable temperatures

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

51 scrutinize (verb) of accounts and tax returns; with the intent to verify

(verb) to look at critically or searchingly, or in minute detail; "he scrutinized his likeness in the mirror"

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

52 tactful (adjective satellite) showing skill and sensitivity in dealing with people; "by diplomatic conduct he avoided antagonizing anyone"; "a tactful way of correcting someone"; "the agency got the kid-glove treatment on Capitol Hill"

(adjective) having or showing a sense of what is fitting and considerate in dealing with others; "she was tactful enough not to shatter his illusion"; "a tactful remark eased her embarrassment"

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

53 forbear (noun) a person from whom you are descended

(verb) not do something; "He refrained from hitting him back"; "she could not forbear weeping"

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

54 precarious (adjective satellite) affording no ease or reassurance; "a precarious truce"

(adjective satellite) fraught with danger; "dangerous waters"; "a parlous journey on stormy seas"; "a perilous voyage across the Atlantic in a small boat"; "the precarious life of an undersea diver"; "dangerous surgery followed by a touch-and-go recovery"

(adjective satellite) not secure; beset with difficulties; "a shaky marriage"

(adjective satellite) dangerously insecure; "a precarious footing on the ladder"

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

55 compassion (noun) the humane quality of understanding the suffering of others and wanting to do something about it

(noun) a deep awareness of and sympathy for another's suffering

Look up this word at: (Dictionary.com | Thesaurus.com )
Source: WordNet 2.0 Copyright 2003 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.