SAT 250 10/1

Question 1

abjure

abjuration (n.)

Answer 1

formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure;
‘She abjured alcohol’

Question 2

abrogate

abrogation (n.)

Answer 2

revoke formally;
‘government has abrogated constitutional amendments’
‘government cannot abrogate our right to a free press’

Question 3

acerbic

Answer 3

sour or bitter in taste;
harsh or corrosive in tone;
‘Acerbic speech is like acid, because it is sour and corrodes, or weakens, relationships.’

Question 4

acrimony

acrimonious (adj.)

Answer 4

Acrimony is bitterness, or ill will.

‘Consequently she grew up in an atmosphere of repression and acrimony.’

Question 5

acumen

Answer 5

shrewdness shown by keen insight;
‘Even if you inherit an entire wholesale furniture dynasty from your grandfather, you could end up with nothing if you don’t have his business acumen.’

Question 6

adumbrate
adumbration (n.)
adumbrative (adj.)

Answer 6

describe roughly or briefly or give the main points or summary of; also use adumbrate to mean “foreshadow”
“The scene where the princess dreams of the vampire adumbrates her later discovery that her little brother is, in fact, a vampire.”

Question 7

alacrity

Answer 7

Someone with alacrity shows cheerful willingness and eager behavior, like a kid whose mother has told him he can buy anything in a candy store.

Question 8

anathema

Answer 8

Something that one absolutely and positively cannot stand is anathema. Garlic is anathema to vampires

Question 9

Approbation

Answer 9

Approbation is an official, important-sounding, and somewhat old-fashioned word for approval or praise.
A princess, for example, might only consider marrying a prince that is met with her father’s, the King’s, approbation.

Question 10

antipathy

Answer 10

An antipathy is a deep-seated dislike of something or someone.
I know you love me, but because you are a liar
and a thief, I feel nothing but antipathy for you.

Question 11

arrogate

arrogation (n.)

Answer 11

To arrogate is to take over. When the teacher steps out of the classroom and some bossy girl marches up to the front chalkboard? What she’s trying to do is arrogate the teacher’s authority to herself.

Question 12

ascetic

asceticism (n.)

Answer 12

(n.) someone who practices restraint as a means of self-discipline, usually
religious; (adj.) pertaining to or characteristic of an ascetic
The priest lives an
ascetic life devoid of television, savory foods, and other pleasures.

Question 13

aspersion

Answer 13

An aspersion is a disparaging remark. It almost invariably appears as a plural, following the word “cast” — when you cast aspersions on someone, you are questioning their abilities or doubting them.

Question 14

assiduous
assiduity (n.);
assiduousness (n.)

Answer 14

If you call someone assiduous, it’s a compliment. It means they’re careful, methodical and very persistent. Good detectives are classically assiduous types.

Question 15

blandish

blandishment (n.)

Answer 15

praise somewhat dishonestly, to coax by using flattery

Question 16

boon

Answer 16

Boon means something beneficial to a specific person, entity, or cause. “Getting called out of school on the day of the test was a boon for Sam, as he hadn’t remembered to study.”

Question 17

brusque

brusqueness (n.)

Answer 17

If you ask a salesperson with help finding something and all you get in response is a brusque “Everything’s out on the shelves,” you’ll probably take your business elsewhere. A brusque manner of speaking is unfriendly, rude, and very brief.
The captain’s brusque manner offended
the passengers.

Question 18

buffet

Answer 18

When you see the word buffet, it’s hard not to think “all-you-can-eat.” Although the noun can refer to food set out for self-service, buffet also means “a blow, especially with the hand,” and as a verb “to strike sharply.”

Question 19

burnish

Answer 19

That seductive gleam on that Porsche behind the dealer’s window? It’s called a burnish, a gloss only achieved by loads of polishing.

Question 20

buttress

Answer 20

You can buttress an argument with solid facts or your financial portfolio with safe investments. You may find that giving compliments to everyone you meet buttresses your popularity. To buttress is to sustain or reinforce.

Question 21

cacophony

cacophonous (adj.)

Answer 21

A cacophony is a mishmash of unpleasant sounds, often at loud volume. It’s what you’d hear if you gave instruments to a group of four-year olds and asked them to play one of Beethoven’s symphonies.

Question 22

cajole

cajolery (n.)

Answer 22

To cajole someone is to persuade them by using insincere compliments or promises. If you say “Please, pretty-please, I’ll be your best friend,” when asking for a stick of gum, you are cajoling the gum holder.

Question 23

calumny

calumniate (v.)

Answer 23

Use the noun calumny to characterize verbal attacks that are meant to destroy reputations or friendships. You’ve probably seen political ads during election time that rely on calumny to move voters.

Question 24

capricious

caprice (n.)

Answer 24

Capricious is an adjective to describe a person or thing that’s impulsive and unpredictable, like a bride who suddenly leaves her groom standing at the wedding altar.

Question 25

clemency | clement (adj.)

Answer 25

Say you're playing a role-playing game and you end up in one of the other player's dungeons. You could try begging him for clemency — compassion shown by people in power towards people who rebel or break the law.