Flashcards in SAT 4 Deck (58):
1
Ambivalence
uncertainty or fluctuation, especially when caused by inability to make a choice or by a simultaneous desire to say or do two opposite or conflicting things. | Psychology. the coexistence within an individual of positive and negative feelings toward the same person, object, or action, simultaneously drawing him or her in opposite directions. | ambivalencia | the simultaneous existence of two opposed and conflicting attitudes, emotions, etc
2
Impecunious
having little or no money; penniless; poor. | without money; penniless
3
Lucid
easily understood; completely intelligible or comprehensible: a lucid explanation. | characterized by clear perception or understanding; rational or sane: a lucid moment in his madness. | shining or bright. | clear; pellucid; transparent. | readily understood; clear | shining or glowing | (psychiatry) of or relating to a period of normality between periods of insane or irresponsible behaviour
4
Ornate
elaborately or sumptuously adorned, often excessively or showily so: They bought an ornate Louis XIV sofa. | embellished with rhetoric; florid or high-flown: an ornate style of writing. | heavily or elaborately decorated | (of style in writing) overembellished; flowery
5
Salubrious
favorable to or promoting health; healthful: salubrious air. | conducive or favourable to health; wholesome
6
Ambulatory
of, pertaining to, or capable of walking: an ambulatory exploration of the countryside. | adapted for walking, as the limbs of many animals. | moving about or from place to place; not stationary: an ambulatory tribe. | Also, ambulant. Medicine/Medical.
not confined to bed; able or strong enough to walk: an ambulatory patient.
serving patients who are able to walk: an ambulatory care center. | Law. not fixed; alterable or revocable: ambulatory will. | Also called deambulatory. Architecture.
an aisle surrounding the end of the choir or chancel of a church.
the covered walk of a cloister. | of, relating to, or designed for walking | changing position; not fixed | Also ambulant. able to walk | (law) (esp of a will) capable of being altered or revoked
7
Capacious
capable of holding much; spacious or roomy: a capacious storage bin. | capable of holding much; roomy; spacious
8
Impious
not pious or religious; lacking reverence for God, religious practices, etc.; irreligious; ungodly. | disrespectful. | lacking piety or reverence for a god; ungodly | lacking respect; undutiful
9
Orthodox
of, pertaining to, or conforming to the approved form of any doctrine, philosophy, ideology, etc. | of, pertaining to, or conforming to beliefs, attitudes, or modes of conduct that are generally approved. | customary or conventional, as a means or method; established. | sound or correct in opinion or doctrine, especially theological or religious doctrine. | conforming to the Christian faith as represented in the creeds of the early church. | (initial capital letter) of, pertaining to, or designating the Eastern Church, especially the Greek Orthodox Church. | (initial capital letter) of, pertaining to, or characteristic of Orthodox Jews or Orthodox Judaism. | conforming with established or accepted standards, as in religion, behaviour, or attitudes | conforming to the Christian faith as established by the early Church | of or relating to the Orthodox Church of the East
10
Precipitous
of the nature of or characterized by precipices : a precipitous wall of rock. | extremely or impassably steep: precipitous mountain trails. | precipitate. | resembling a precipice or characterized by precipices | very steep | hasty or precipitate
11
Salutary
favorable to or promoting health; healthful. | promoting or conducive to some beneficial purpose; wholesome. | promoting or intended to promote an improvement or beneficial effect: a salutary warning | promoting or intended to promote health
12
Ameliorate
to make or become better, more bearable, or more satisfactory; improve; meliorate. | to make or become better; improve
13
Exonerates
to clear, as of an accusation; free from guilt or blame; exculpate: He was exonerated from the accusation of cheating. | to relieve, as from an obligation, duty, or task. | to clear or absolve from blame or a criminal charge | to relieve from an obligation or task; exempt
14
Ossify
to convert into or cause to harden like bone. | to become bone or harden like bone. | to become rigid or inflexible in habits, attitudes, opinions, etc.: a young man who began to ossify right after college. | to convert or be converted into bone | (intransitive) (of habits, attitudes, etc) to become inflexible
15
Preclude
to prevent the presence, existence, or occurrence of; make impossible: The insufficiency of the evidence precludes a conviction. | to exclude or debar from something: His physical disability precludes an athletic career for him. | to exclude or debar | to make impossible, esp beforehand
16
Sanctimonious
making a hypocritical show of religious devotion, piety, righteousness, etc.: They resented his sanctimonious comments on immorality in America. | Obsolete. holy; sacred. | affecting piety or making a display of holiness
17
Tumult
violent and noisy commotion or disturbance of a crowd or mob; uproar: The tumult reached its height during the premier's speech. | a general outbreak, riot, uprising, or other disorder: The tumult moved toward the embassy. | highly distressing agitation of mind or feeling; turbulent mental or emotional disturbance: His placid facade failed to conceal the tumult of his mind. | a loud confused noise, as of a crowd; commotion | violent agitation or disturbance | great emotional or mental agitation
18
Carping
characterized by fussy or petulant faultfinding; querulous: carping criticism. | petty faultfinding. | to find fault or complain querulously or unreasonably; be niggling in criticizing; cavil: to carp at minor errors. | a peevish complaint. | (intransitive) often foll by at. to complain or find fault; nag pettily | a freshwater teleost food fish, Cyprinus carpio, having a body covered with cycloid scales, a naked head, one long dorsal fin, and two barbels on each side of the mouth: family Cyprinidae | any other fish of the family Cyprinidae; a cyprinid | tending to make petty complaints; fault-finding
19
Desist
to cease, as from some action or proceeding; stop. | (intransitive) often foll by from. to cease, as from an action; stop or abstain | see:
cease and desist
20
Lummox
a clumsy, stupid person. | (informal) a clumsy or stupid person
21
Precocious
unusually advanced or mature in development, especially mental development: a precocious child. | prematurely developed, as the mind, faculties, etc. | of or pertaining to premature development. | Botany.
flowering, fruiting, or ripening early, as plants or fruit.
bearing blossoms before leaves, as plants.
appearing before leaves, as flowers. | ahead in development, such as the mental development of a child | (botany) (of plants, fruit, etc) flowering or ripening early
22
Sanction
authoritative permission or approval, as for an action. | something that serves to support an action, condition, etc. | something that gives binding force, as to an oath, rule of conduct, etc. | Law.
a provision of a law enacting a penalty for disobedience or a reward for obedience.
the penalty or reward. | International Law. action by one or more states toward another state calculated to force it to comply with legal obligations. | to authorize, approve, or allow: an expression now sanctioned by educated usage. | to ratify or confirm: to sanction a law. | to impose a sanction on; penalize, especially by way of discipline. | final permission; authorization | aid or encouragement
23
Turpitude
vile, shameful, or base character; depravity. | a vile or depraved act. | base character or action; depravity
24
Despondent
feeling or showing profound hopelessness, dejection, discouragement, or gloom: despondent about failing health. | downcast or disheartened; lacking hope or courage; dejected
25
Expatriate
to banish (a person) from his or her native country. | to withdraw (oneself) from residence in one's native country. | to withdraw (oneself) from allegiance to one's country. | to become an expatriate: He expatriated from his homeland. | expatriated; exiled. | an expatriated person: Many American writers were living as expatriates in Paris. | resident in a foreign country | exiled or banished from one's native country: an expatriate American | a person who lives in a foreign country | an exile; expatriate person
26
Inadvertent
unintentional: an inadvertent insult. | not attentive; heedless. | of, pertaining to, or characterized by lack of attention. | failing to act carefully or considerately; inattentive | resulting from heedless action; unintentional
27
Luscious
highly pleasing to the taste or smell: luscious peaches. | richly satisfying to the senses or the mind: the luscious style of his poetry. | richly adorned; luxurious: luscious furnishings. | arousing physical, or sexual, desire; voluptuous: a luscious figure. | sweet to excess; cloying. | extremely pleasurable, esp to the taste or smell | very attractive | (archaic) cloying
28
Sanguinary
full of or characterized by bloodshed; bloody: a sanguinary struggle. | ready or eager to shed blood; bloodthirsty. | composed of or marked with blood. | accompanied by much bloodshed | bloodthirsty | consisting of, flowing, or stained with blood
29
Tyro
a beginner in learning anything; novice. | a novice or beginner
30
Castigate
to criticize or reprimand severely. | to punish in order to correct. | (transitive) to rebuke or criticize in a severe manner; chastise
31
Expedient
tending to promote some proposed or desired object; fit or suitable for the purpose; proper under the circumstances: It is expedient that you go. | conducive to advantage or interest, as opposed to right. | acting in accordance with expediency. | a means to an end: The ladder was a useful expedient for getting to the second floor. | a means devised or employed in an exigency; resource; shift: Use any expedients you think necessary to get over the obstacles in your way. | suitable to the circumstances; appropriate | inclined towards methods or means that are advantageous rather than fair or just | something suitable or appropriate, esp something used during an urgent situation
32
Overt
open to view or knowledge; not concealed or secret: overt hostility. | Heraldry. (of a device, as a purse) represented as open: a purse overt. | open to view; observable | (law) open; deliberate. Criminal intent may be inferred from an overt act
33
Sanguine
cheerfully optimistic, hopeful, or confident: a sanguine disposition; sanguine expectations. | reddish; ruddy: a sanguine complexion. | (in old physiology) having blood as the predominating humor and consequently being ruddy-faced, cheerful, etc. | bloody; sanguinary. | blood-red; red. | Heraldry. a reddish-purple tincture. | a red iron-oxide crayon used in making drawings. | cheerful and confident; optimistic | (esp of the complexion) ruddy in appearance | blood-red
34
Amorphous
lacking definite form; having no specific shape; formless: the amorphous clouds. | of no particular kind or character; indeterminate; having no pattern or structure; unorganized: an amorphous style; an amorphous personality. | Petrography, Mineralogy. occurring in a mass, as without stratification or crystalline structure. | Chemistry. not crystalline. | Biology. having structural components that are not clearly differentiated, as the nuclear material in certain bacteria. | lacking a definite shape; formless | of no recognizable character or type | (of chemicals, rocks, etc) not having a crystalline structure
35
Catharsis
the purging of the emotions or relieving of emotional tensions, especially through certain kinds of art, as tragedy or music. | Medicine/Medical, purgation. | Psychiatry.
psychotherapy that encourages or permits the discharge of pent-up, socially unacceptable affects.
discharge of pent-up emotions so as to result in the alleviation of symptoms or the permanent relief of the condition. | (in Aristotelian literary criticism) the purging or purification of the emotions through the evocation of pity and fear, as in tragedy | (psychoanal) the bringing of repressed ideas or experiences into consciousness, thus relieving tensions See also abreaction | purgation, esp of the bowels
36
Expedite
to speed up the progress of; hasten: to expedite shipments. | to accomplish promptly, as a piece of business; dispatch: to expedite one's duties. | to issue or dispatch, as an official document or letter. | Obsolete. ready for action; alert. | to hasten the progress of; hasten or assist | to do or process (something, such as business matters) with speed and efficiency | (rare) to dispatch (documents, messages, etc) | unimpeded or prompt; expeditious | alert or prepared |
37
Overwrought
extremely or excessively excited or agitated: to become overwrought on hearing bad news; an overwrought personality. | elaborated to excess; excessively complex or ornate: written in a florid, overwrought style. | Archaic. wearied or exhausted by overwork. | to cause to work too hard, too much, or too long; weary or exhaust with work (often used reflexively): Don't overwork yourself on that new job. | to work up, stir up, or excite excessively: to overwork a mob to the verge of frenzy. | to employ or elaborate to excess: an appeal for sympathy that has been overworked by many speakers. | to work or decorate all over; decorate the surface of: white limestone overworked with inscriptions. | to work too hard, too much, or too long; work to excess: You look as though you've been overworking. | work beyond one's strength or capacity. | extra or excessive work.
38
Preeminent
eminent above or before others; superior; surpassing: He is preeminent in his profession.
39
Unalloyed
a substance composed of two or more metals, or of a metal or metals with a nonmetal, intimately mixed, as by fusion or electrodeposition. | a less costly metal mixed with a more valuable one. | standard; quality; fineness. | admixture, as of good with evil. | anything added that serves to reduce quality or purity. | to mix (metals or metal with nonmetal) so as to form an alloy. | to reduce in value by an admixture of a less costly metal. | to debase, impair, or reduce by admixture; adulterate. | not mixed or intermingled with any other thing; pure: unalloyed metal, unalloyed pleasure | a metallic material, such as steel, brass, or bronze, consisting of a mixture of two or more metals or of metallic elements with nonmetallic elements. Alloys often have physical properties markedly different from those of the pure metals
40
Analgesic
a remedy that relieves or allays pain. | of, pertaining to, or causing analgesia. | of or causing analgesia | a substance that produces analgesia
41
Caucus
U.S. Politics.
a meeting of party leaders to select candidates, elect convention delegates, etc. a meeting of party members within a legislative body to select leaders and determine strategy. (often initial capital letter) a faction within a legislative body that pursues its interests through the legislative process: the Women's Caucus; the Black Caucus. | any group or meeting organized to further a special interest or cause. | to hold or meet in a caucus. | to bring up or hold for discussion in a caucus: The subject was caucused. The group caucused the meeting. | (mainly US & Canadian) a closed meeting of the members of one party in a legislative chamber, etc, to coordinate policy, choose candidates, etc. such a bloc of politicians: the Democratic caucus in Congress | (mainly US) a group of leading politicians of one party a meeting of such a group | (mainly US) a local meeting of party members | (Brit) a group or faction within a larger group, esp a political party, who discuss tactics, choose candidates, etc | (Austral) a group of MPs from one party who meet to discuss tactics, etc | (NZ) a formal meeting of all Members of Parliament belonging to one political party
42
Maelstrom
a large, powerful, or violent whirlpool. | a restless, disordered, or tumultuous state of affairs: the maelstrom of early morning traffic. | (initial capital letter) a famous hazardous whirlpool off the NW coast of Norway. | a large powerful whirlpool | any turbulent confusion | a strong tidal current in a restricted channel in the Lofoten Islands off the NW coast of Norway
43
Palatable
acceptable or agreeable to the palate or taste; savory: palatable food. | acceptable or agreeable to the mind or feelings: palatable ideas. | pleasant to taste | acceptable or satisfactory: a palatable suggestion
44
Prerogative
an exclusive right, privilege, etc., exercised by virtue of rank, office, or the like: the prerogatives of a senator. | a right, privilege, etc., limited to a specific person or to persons of a particular category: It was the teacher's prerogative to stop the discussion. | a power, immunity, or the like restricted to a sovereign government or its representative: The royal prerogative exempts the king from taxation. | Obsolete, precedence. | having or exercising a prerogative. | pertaining to, characteristic of, or existing by virtue of a prerogative. | an exclusive privilege or right exercised by a person or group of people holding a particular office or hereditary rank | any privilege or right | a power, privilege, or immunity restricted to a sovereign or sovereign government | having or able to exercise a prerogative
45
Savant
a person of profound or extensive learning; learned scholar. | a man of great learning; sage
46
Unctuous
characterized by excessive piousness or moralistic fervor, especially in an affected manner; excessively smooth, suave, or smug. | of the nature of or characteristic of an unguent or ointment; oily; greasy. | having an oily or soapy feel, as certain minerals. | slippery or greasy | affecting an oily charm
47
Analogous
having analogy; corresponding in some particular: A brain and a computer are analogous. | Biology. corresponding in function, but not evolved from corresponding organs, as the wings of a bee and those of a hummingbird. | similar or corresponding in some respect | (biology) (of organs and parts) having the same function but different evolutionary origin: the paddle of a whale and the fin of a fish are analogous Compare homologous (sense 4) | (linguistics) formed by analogy: an analogous plural
48
Caustic
capable of burning, corroding, or destroying living tissue. | severely critical or sarcastic: a caustic remark. | a caustic substance. | Optics.
caustic curve.
caustic surface. | capable of burning or corroding by chemical action: caustic soda | sarcastic; cutting: a caustic reply | of, relating to, or denoting light that is reflected or refracted by a curved surface | Also called caustic surface. a surface that envelops the light rays reflected or refracted by a curved surface | Also called caustic curve. a curve formed by the intersection of a caustic surface with a plane | (chem) a caustic substance, esp an alkali
49
Extol
to praise highly; laud; eulogize: to extol the beauty of Naples. | (transitive) to praise lavishly; exalt
50
Incipient
beginning to exist or appear; in an initial stage: an incipient cold. | just starting to be or happen; beginning
51
Magnanimous
generous in forgiving an insult or injury; free from petty resentfulness or vindictiveness: to be magnanimous toward one's enemies. | high-minded; noble: a just and magnanimous ruler. | proceeding from or revealing generosity or nobility of mind, character, etc.: a magnanimous gesture of forgiveness. | generous and noble
52
Palisade
a fence of pales or stakes set firmly in the ground, as for enclosure or defense. | any of a number of pales or stakes pointed at the top and set firmly in the ground in a close row with others to form a defense. | Botany, palisade parenchyma. | palisades, a line of cliffs. | to furnish or fortify with a palisade. | a strong fence made of stakes driven into the ground, esp for defence | one of the stakes used in such a fence | (botany) a layer of elongated mesophyll cells containing many chloroplasts, situated below the outer epidermis of a leaf blade | (transitive) to enclose with a palisade |
53
Prescient
having prescience, or knowledge of things or events before they exist or happen; having foresight: The prescient economist was one of the few to see the financial collapse coming.
54
Cavalcade
a procession of persons riding on horses, in horsedrawn carriages, in cars, etc. | any procession. | any noteworthy series, as of events or activities. | a procession of people on horseback, in cars, etc | any procession: a cavalcade of guests
55
Extradite
to give up (an alleged fugitive or criminal) to another state or nation at its request. | to obtain the extradition of. | to surrender (an alleged offender) for trial to a foreign state | to procure the extradition of
56
Magnate
a person of great influence, importance, or standing in a particular enterprise, field of business, etc.: a railroad magnate. | a person of eminence or distinction in any field: literary magnates. | a member of the former upper house in either the Polish or Hungarian parliament. | a person of power and rank in any sphere, esp in industry | (history) a great nobleman | (formerly) a member of the upper chamber in certain European parliaments, as in Hungary
57
Palliative
serving to palliate. | something that palliates. | serving to palliate; relieving without curing | something that palliates, such as a sedative drug or agent
58