SAT Crash Course

Question 1

Define:

temerity

(tuh-mer-i-tee)

Answer 1

n. reckless boldness

The temerity of the pirate crew cost them their ship.

Question 2

Define:

depredate

(dep-rih-deyt)

Answer 2

v. to plunder, pillage, destroy
v. to exploit

The Vikings depredated the whole valley.

Question 3

Define:

genuflect

(djen-yoo-flekt)

Answer 3

v. to bend knee to ground (as in worship)
v. to grovel

The king’s subjects genuflected when he entered the room.

Question 4

Define:

wend

(wend)

Answer 4

v. to go, proceed, walk

We wended our way through the market.

Question 5

Define:

pelagic

(puh-ladj-ik)

Answer 5

adj. relating to open seas rather than waters adjacent to land

The pelagic organism was only found in the deepest part of the ocean.

Question 6

Define:

froward

(froh-werd)

Answer 6

adj. intractable, stubbornly disobedient, difficult to manage

The froward mule sat down and refused to move all afternoon.

Question 7

Define:

punctilious

(puhngk-til-ee-uhs)

Answer 7

adj. precise, paying attention to trivialities of etiquette

A secretary who punctiliously records every detail.

Question 8

Define:

aphorism

(af-uh-riz-uhm)

Answer 8

n. a tersely phrased truth or opinion; adage; epigram
n. a brief statement of principle; or general truth

The children had finally learned the meaning of the aphorism “You can’t have your cake and eat it too”.

Question 9

Define:

purloin

(per-loin, per-loin)

Answer 9

v. to steal

The manipulative thief purloined the diamonds after gaining the confidence of their location.

Question 10

Define:

esoteric

(es-uh-ter-ik)

Answer 10

adj. intended for or understood only by a particular group
adj. not publicly disclosed; confidential

The esoteric ideas of the cult failed to enlighten many outsiders.

Question 11

Define:

succor

(suhk-er)

Answer 11

n. relief during a time of struggle

The Red Cross provides succor to refugees in emergency shelters.

Question 12

Define:

protean

(proh-tee-uhn)

Answer 12

adj. readily assuming different forms or characters

Fans regarded the protean actress as capable of playing any role.

Question 13

Define:

callous

(kal-uhs)

Answer 13

adj. insensitive; having no feeling

The callous remark upset the entire family.

Question 14

Define:

proscribe

(proh-skrahyb)

Answer 14

v. to prohibit or forbid as harmful or unlawful

Citizens pushed to proscribe swimming in the polluted lake.

Question 15

Define:

denouement

(dey-noo-mahn)

Answer 15

n. an outcome or solution to a complex series of events

Though public interest slackened after the arsonist was caught, the denouement of the case was just as interesting as the manhunt that had preceded it.

Question 16

Define:

supercilious

(soo-per-sill-ee-uhs)

Answer 16

adj. arrogant, overbearing; displaying condescending superiority over someone else

His supercilious behavior drove away many of his peers.

Question 17

Define:

parley

(pahr-lee)

Answer 17

n. discussion between enemies, often to prepare terms of surrender

The longtime enemies held a parley to work on peace negotiations.

Question 18

Define:

apoplectic

(ap-uh-plek-tik)

Answer 18

adj. furious; enraged; overcome with anger
adj. relating to a stroke

When Jim found out he was fired, he apoplectically stormed out of the office.

Question 19

Define:

simper

(sim-per)

Answer 19

v. to say with a coy smile; to smirk

Dave simpered a feeble attempt at an apology.

Question 20

Define:

miscegenation

(mih-sedj-uh-ney-shuhn)

Answer 20

n. the interbreeding of different races
n. any mixture or hybrid

The school cafeteria served an obscure miscegenation of ingredients as meatloaf.

Question 21

Define:

androgynous

(an-drodj-uh-nuhs)

Answer 21

adj. hermaphroditic
adj. not distinguishable between male and female

The androgynous baby was only identifiable as a boy by its blue clothing.

Question 22

Define:

covey

(kuhv-ee)

Answer 22

n. a family of partridges
n. a small group

Outside the classroom was a covey of giggling schoolgirls.

Question 23

Define:

supine

(adj. soo-pahyn)

Answer 23

adj. inactive, lying on one’s back apathetically
adj. morally slack

The officials exhibited a supine acceptance of corruption.

Question 24

Define:

cozen

(kuhz-uhn)

Answer 24

v. to cheat, beguile, or deceive

The corrupt televangelist cozened money from viewers by lying about charitable intentions.

Question 25

Define:

limpid

(lim-pid)

Answer 25

adj. calm, untroubled, serene
adj. transparent, clear (as of water, air, or crystal)

The family flew a kite down by the limpid blue pond.

Question 26

Define:

refulgent

(rih-fuhl-juhnt)

Answer 26

adj. shining radiantly; brilliant

The refulgent palace seemed out of place amid the poverty of the villages surrounding it.

Question 27

Define:

phlegmatic

(fleg-mat-ik)

Answer 27

adj. hard to excite, calm, sluggish
adj. unemotional, stoic

Pete’s phlegmatic response was difficult for his friends to read.

Question 28

Define:

attenuate

(uh-ten-yoo-eyt)

Answer 28

v. to weaken or reduce in force or value
v. to make small or fine

The medicine attenuated the fever’s effect.

Question 29

Define:

disingenuous

(diss-in-djen-yoo-uhs)

Answer 29

adj. lacking in sincerity or candor

When the oil prospector’s promises were discovered to be disingenuous, he was run out of town.