Unofficial SAT Word Dictionary (A~I)

adventitious

adj. accidental or incidental; not expected or planned; irrelevant Dr. Edward's appointment to Chief of Staff was adventitious to his experience because his brother-in-law was the administrator. Buying new shoes was adventitious to Ethel's shopping trip, considering she went out for groceries.

acrimonious

adj. bitter; nasty; spiteful Alex and Lisa's divorce was beset with acrimonious accusations from each side. Football players make acrimonious comments at their opponents as a means of intimidation, hoping to get the other side upset and throw off their game.

abysmal

adj. bottomless; hopeless Because of the abysmal clutter in Gary's room, his mother decided to keep the door closed. Our country's national deficit is so high as to be abysmal.

addicted

adj. devoting (oneself) habitually or compulsively My mother regrets she allowed herself to become addicted to nicotine. Betty became so addicted to soap operas that she found a night job in order to stay home during the day.

abstract

adj. difficult to understand; impersonal; theoretical Dad's paintings are all abstract, and we can't tell what they are supposed to represent. Christopher's directions to his house were so abstract we were lost for two hours.

acquisitive

adj. eager to possess and collect things; greedy We live in an acquisitive society which views success primarily in terms of material possessions. Mary Ann's children are so acquisitive she can't walk into a store before they start begging for something.

accountable

adj. expected to answer for one's actions; responsible; liable Timothy was accountable for counting the votes after the election. You can't hold the cat accountable for the mess because the dog chased it through the kitchen.

abject

adj. extremely sad; hopeless; defeated Many large cities are homes to abject people who live in cardboard boxes. It is sad to see examples of abject poverty in a wealthy country.

aghast

adj. filled with terror; shocked; feelings of anxiety or fear Jimmy was aghast with shock and surprise when he saw a ghost enter his bedroom through a mouse hole. He looked at her aghast when she unveiled her purple hair.

affable

adj. friendly; easygoing Mrs. Propert has a wonderful personality and is the most affable teacher in the school. No matter what the situation, Zachary's affable attitude toward life made him popular with his friends.

abstruse

adj. hard to understand Chemistry is an abstruse subject of study for many students. Elizabeth's directions for assembling the furniture were incomplete and very abstruse.

acrid

adj. harsh; acidic The acrid smell of smoke coming in through the open window woke us in the middle of the night. The soup of the day was so acrid they should have called it the soup of last week.

aesthetic

adj. having to do with artistic beauty Japanese rock gardens demonstrate aesthetic values typical to a Far Eastern culture. Jeannie molded the ugly lump of clay into an aesthetically pleasing masterpiece. (adv.)

agog

adj. highly excited by eagerness When they first see their presents under the Christmas tree, the children are always agog with joy. Jim was agog and fell from his chair when his name was announced as the winner of the Pulitzer Prize.

aboriginal

adj. native to an area The American Indian is the aboriginal inhabitant of the U.S.A. In Australia, there are groups of aboriginal residents who are called "Aborigines."

agrarian

adj. related to farming and land In its early years, America was an agrarian society. Because New Jersey is a successful agrarian state, it became known as the "Garden State."

adamant

adj. resolute; stubborn; inflexible Nancy's mother was adamant about the curfew; her daughter had to be home by midnight. Marco was adamant in maintaining his innocence, but the jury found him guilty based on circumstantial evidence.

absurd

adj. ridiculously unreasonable, laughable When Jessie's parents asked why she had been out so late, her response was so absurd that they both laughed at her tall tale. In the year 2000, the election process continued for an absurd amount of time.

acute

adj. shrewd; sharp Santiago's acute sense of sight was what made him a great fisherman. Cindy thought she had only a stomachache, but turned out to be acute appendicitis.

adroit

adj. skillful; deft Many fourth graders are more adroit on the computer that their parents are. Mr. Smith adroitly removed Eric from the class before he could cause a problem. (adv.)

acerbic

adj. sour; bitter; severe Mr. Russell's acerbic wit makes students afraid to respond to his questions. Because the oranges were not quite ripe, the juice was acerbic.

aberrant

adj. straying from the correct or normal way Sharon's aberrant way of spelling words cost her the spelling contest. Joe's method of painting his car with his fingers was totally aberrant.

absolute

adj. total; complete In the 1960s Castro declared himself the absolute ruler of Cuba. The cat was absolutely soaked after falling into the pool. (adv.)

adverse

adj. unfavorable; antagonistic The stormy weather was so adverse they called off the Super Bowl. The doctor was surprised to learn his patient had an adverse reaction to aspirin.

abortive

adj. unsuccessful Although they meant well, the children made an abortive effort to clean the kitchen floor with dirty mops. The launching of the Atlantis was aborted because of cold weather. (v.)

affluent

adj. wealthy, rich The affluent couple sat in the first class section of the airplane. In our town, all the affluent families live on the river.

abacus

n. a Chinese device used to perform arithmetic equations by moving beads along rods Betty used her abacus to count her piggy bank's change. The boys entertained the class using their abacus to answer problems.

ablution

n. a cleansing with water or other liquid, especially as a religious ritual; the liquid used in such an act The witch doctor used ablutions of clear water to cleanse the stricken man of his illness. The ablutionary water appeared to help the suffering woman. (adj.)

affliction

n. a condition of pain or suffering; the cause of misery, illness, or suffering Due to the lack of resources and food, malnutrition is one of the common afflictions in Third World countries like Nigeria and Borneo. Osteoporosis is a degenerative bone disease which usually afflicts the elderly. (v.)

adherent

n. a follower of a leader; supporter The political candidate praised his adherents for their support. People who believe in a particular religion are said to be adherents of that faith.

adrenaline

n. a hormone produced by the adrenal gland for stimulation of energy and strength She won the race as one last surge of adrenaline propelled her forward to the finish lane. When he was frightened by the noises emanating from the cemetery, a surge of adrenaline enabled Roscoe to jump a six-foot fence and race down the street.

ague

n. a malarial fever characterized by drastic changes of hot and cold body temperature The hunters returning from South America were struck with an attack of ague. The physician diagnosed the patient as having ague.

affinity

n. a natural attraction; kinship; similarity Max had an affinity for sports and excelled at football, basketball, and tennis. Monkeys have an affinity for climbing, birds for flying, and fish for swimming.

accomplice

n. a person who knowingly aids or abets another in an unlawful act or crime Jerry was charged as an accomplice because he had been in on the murder plan from the start. The teacher realized that the child must have had an accomplice to enable him to get back into the school after dark.

aegis

n. a shield or protection The dentist used a numbing agent as an aegis against the pain that would result when he performed the root canal. The young actress's nasty attitude was her aegis against being hurt.

abeyance

n. a state of not being presently used; temporary suspension or cessation The road repair project is being held in abeyance until agreement is reached on project funding. Hostilities between the two countries have been in abeyance since the peace agreement last June.

affidavit

n. a sworn written statement The defense lawyer had a sworn affidavit claiming his client was playing bridge at a neighbor's home the night of the crime. Roseanne had an affidavit from her neighbor giving her permission to cut down the tree on their mutual property line.

adage

n. a wise saying or proverb; an old familiar saying that expresses folk wisdom He remembered the old adage, "Look before you leap," as he stepped back from the diving board above the pool that contained no water. The old woman had an appropriate adage for every situation.

abbess

n. a woman, commonly called Mother Superior, in charge of a convent of nuns The abbess was very strict, but she was loved by the sisters. The elderly abbess could be counted on to comfort those in need.

acronym

n. a word created from the initials of other words AIDS is an acronym for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. SCUBA is an acronym for Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus.

affront

n. an action intended to insult or offend someone; an injury to one's dignity She saw her fellow lawyers' rejection of her as a personal affront Littering public grounds such as parks and highways is an affront to the community and to the ecology.

accolade

n. an award, an honor; approval, praise You cannot imagine the accolades received by the chemistry teacher from her students when she accidentally blew up the lab and class was canceled for the remainder of the term. The accolades Rachel received for making the Olympic Swim Team were well deserved; she practices four hours a day.

aggrandizement

n. an exaggeration, an appearance of greater power or influence The greatest aggrandizement of the entire evening was when the Russian delegate claimed Russia had won World War II single-handedly. Hitler feigned concern for other countries, but territorial aggrandizement was his true motive.

access

n. authorization or capacity to enter, look at, or use something The only access to the island restaurant is by boat. Our company accountant has access all of our offices and records at any time.

abyss

n. bottomless pit; a profound depth or void The lost spaceship wandered endlessly in the vast abyss of space. After digging for three days through the snow of the avalanche without finding the missing skier, the rescuers faced an emotional abyss of despair.

aftermath

n. events following some occurrence; a consequence of Poverty and economic depression are often the horrendous aftermaths of wars. The logical aftermath of Christmas shopping is a deluge of gifts returned to the stores where they were first purchased as gifts.

adulation

n. extreme flattery or admiration When George met his favorite musician, adulation was clearly written all over George's face. All through her life, Melissa lived in the adulation of her older sister.

affectation

n. false behavior intended to impress Bonnie's affectation was that she personally knew every actor in Hollywood, which was an untruth. When Ray came home from a vacation in England with a British accent, it was obviously an affectation.

acumen

n. mental keenness or sharpness Bill's business acumen was evident even where he was a young boy with a paper route. Mathematical acumen is an asset in the financial world.

agnostic

n. one who believes it is impossible to know whether God exists Although Helen calls herself an atheist, she is really an agnostic because she says really doesn't know. Some scientists are agnostic because they say there is no proof that God exists, yet they admit there is no scientific proof that he does not.

advocate

n. one who supports a cause; one who defends, or pleads on behalf of another He is a strong advocate of capital punishment because he feels it will be a deterrent to criminals. Joslyn advocates equal rights between the sexes, including the right for girls to play on boy's sports teams.

agenda

n. schedule; program While touring Europe, we followed a strict agenda in order to see as much as possible in the time we had. The politician seemed to have no hidden agenda, but after he was elected governor, the voters learned he was a pawn of wealthy industrial interests.

acuity

n. sharpness, keenness of perception, deftness The student showed great acuity in his scientific study of comets. John's acuity at knowing when to hold and when to fold in poker was unsurpassed.

adjunct

n. something connected or added in a subordinate position; an assistant The library was an adjunct to the Blakemore's original home. The general's adjutant is not a adjunct, but a permanent part of his staff command.

advent

n. the arrival of beginning; coming Quills made of bird feathers were the chief writing implement until the advent of steel fountain pens in the mid-19th century. The advent of winter was apparent to Luke the morning he arose and discovered all the fallen leaves on the ground outside his bedroom window.

accouterments

n. the equipment needed for a particular activity or way of life; one's outfit or equipment She has all the accouterments of the successful businesswoman: a luxury car, designer clothes, and a beautiful house. After completing his scuba diving course, Mike needed to purchase the appropriate accouterments to dive on his own.

acme

n. the highest point When he thought the stock market had reached its acme, Mr. Johnson sold his stock. It had been a hot morning, but the sun had not yet reached its acme.

aggregate

n. total; a collection of different things The so-called "Soup de Jour" was actually an aggregate of the restaurant's leftovers. In order to win the election, the Governor knew he must find an aggregate of voters to support his political platform.

accord

v. agree; conform; to grant; bestow upon The time I spent in the Army Reserve away from home accorded me the opportunity to realize how much I miss my wife and children. Mrs. Larson was not in accord with her daughter's wishes to begin dating at the age of twelve. (n.)

abut

v. border upon; to adjoin Texas abuts Mexico on its southern border. The abutting rocks formed a perfect wall for riflemen to defend the castle. (adj.)

affect

v. influence, to impress the mind or move the feelings of emotion The overall joyousness at the birthday party affected the attitude of everyone in a positive way. The author was greatly affected by the uncomplimentary, disastrous reviews of his novel.

abrogate

v. to abolish, repeal, to nullify by authority; to do away with; to end formally Congress abrogated the treaty, saying that it no longer applied. Our town abrogated the old law regarding how many horses a person can have pulling his carriage.

accrue

v. to accumulate over time Bryan's unpaid parking tickets accrued to the point that they would have paid for his college tuition. By the time he was eighteen, he had accrued a good knowledge of computer skills.

ad lib

v. to act, speak and perform spontaneously or off the cuff Unprepared for her monthly budget presentation, Barbara ad-libbed her report. Jack forgot his lines in the middle of the second act and had to ad lib his dialogue with the other actors.

acquiesce

v. to agree passively; comply; consent Thankfully, the bank acquiesced to an extension of my loan. She acquiesced to the thief's demands and handed over her wallet.

afford

v. to allow to have; to provide; to have enough money to buy; to confer upon On my salary, I can barely afford a Honda, much less a Cadillac. The safari tent leaked in numerous places and afforded little protection from the jungle downpour.

accost

v. to approach and speak to someone Jessica was terrified she would be accosted by the dean for her choice of attire. Mel accosted a taxi driver and accused him of taking the long way to the hotel to earn a higher fare.

acclimate

v. to become suitable for a certain situation or use; adapt The football team finally acclimated to the new formations and systems given them by the new coach. Terry and her friends enthusiastically acclimated to the new shorter school day.

abduct

v. to carry off a person, usually by force; to kidnap Charles Lindbergh's son was abducted from his home. Abduction is a serious crime punishable by death if the person abducted is killed. (n.)

afflict

v. to cause suffering or pain It was clear from the boxer's eyes that his main intention was to afflict his opponent. After traveling to Africa, the missionary was afflicted with a rare disease.

affiliate

v. to cause to become part of or to form a close relationship with; to associate or connect with The "Dive and Duck" driving school is affiliated with the United States National Association of Driving Schools. Our local TV news station is an affiliate of NBC news. (n.)

admonish

v. to caution or warn; to criticize or scold mildly but firmly His mother admonished him for eating his birthday cake with his fingers. Jane's parents admonished her for spending all her allowance on shoes.

acquit

v. to decide officially someone is not guilty of a particular crime; to free from an obligation Tanya was acquitted of all criminal charges against her. June acquitted herself well in front of the panel because she had planned her answers beforehand.

affirm

v. to declare something to be true, to confirm or ratify The committee affirmed the statements, so they were entered into the minutes. In a radio address to the nation, President Roosevelt affirmed the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

abase

v. to degrade; to humiliate The president is not willing to admit his mistake and abase himself before the nation. The fire chief abased himself by drinking and driving a fire truck.

abnegate

v. to deny oneself; to reject People on diet programs are expected to abnegate fattening foods. Monks often practice some form of abnegation in hopes of purifying themselves of sins. (n.)

aggrieve

v. to distress or bring grief to; cause to suffer; to treat unfairly The unsafe conditions at the nuclear plant aggrieved the employees because of the obvious dangers. Her son's raucous behavior that caused him to be kicked off the school bus aggrieved Mrs. Williams.

accentuate

v. to emphasize; to make more noticeable; to accent Her dress was tightly belted and accentuated the slimness of her waist. Many women use eyeliner to accentuate their eyes.

abound

v. to exist in large numbers; to be full; to teem Many theories abound about how the earth began. Rabbits abound behind every tree in these woods.

adduce

v. to give as proof; to cite She adduced several significant facts to support her thesis about the nutritional value of peanuts. The defendant was directed to adduce his whereabouts on the night of the crime.

acclaim

v. to give public approval and praise; to approve enthusiastically Critics have acclaimed Peter's new novel, The Hill of Ants, as the best written in this decade. Dr. Smith was universally acclaimed for his contribution to the discovery of a new common cold vaccine.

abhor

v. to hate deeply; detest While most people abhor liver and beets, Zachary loves both. It is generally believed that most women have an abhorrence of mice. (n.)

abominate

v. to hate or loathe intensely The world abominates the use of child labor in Third World countries. Fox hunting is an abomination because it involves torture and death of an animal for sport. (n.)

abet

v. to help someone do something illegal or wrong; to incite, encourage, or aid, especially in wrongdoing Three tax inspectors were accused of aiding and abetting men charged with cheating on their income taxes. When he ran from the scene of a crime, Jonathan was charged with abetting Charlie.

accrete

v. to increase by growth or addition; adhere The Australian coral reef was built up by accretion over thousands of years. (n.) We watched the sand accrete during the days of strong wind.

adjourn

v. to make a pause or rest; suspend until later Because of the hurricane, the city council meeting was adjourned until Tuesday. The judge adjourned the court for a lunch break.

abash

v. to make ashamed or uneasy Being caught listening to her sister's conversation abashed Jen, and she quickly put down the receiver. Pete was not at all abashed when he opened a valentine from Linda.

absolve

v. to make free of blame, obligation, or sin After viewing the evidence, the jury absolved Joe of criminal intent in the auto accident. Catholics attend confession with the purpose of being absolved of sins.

accommodate

v. to provide for; help; adapt; oblige The young gentleman tried to accommodate the older woman by assisting her with her shopping cart. Many immigrants in America try to accommodate themselves to the customs of their new home.

abate

v. to reduce Martha's defeat in the tournament did not abate her zeal for the game. Tom went to a financial consultant to seek advice on how he might abate his burdensome debts.

abbreviate

v. to reduce to a shorter form Bathing suits today are greatly abbreviated compared to those in the 1890s. School was abbreviated today because of the false fire alarm.

abstain

v. to refrain from; denying oneself any action or practice Jean abstained from eating chocolate cake in order to win a bet. Jeff abstained from watching the television for a week after his eye operation.

abide

v. to remain; continue; stay; endure Josh's father always told him if he made a promise, he must abide by it. To survive, soldiers in battle need to have an abiding faith in their fellow soldiers. (adj.)

abjure

v. to repudiate or renounce; to give up He abjured his life of luxury once he saw how the poor people of underdeveloped countries live. Once Jane learned the risks of smoking, she abjured cigarettes for the sake of her health.

abridge

v. to shorten; to condense; to diminish; to curtail For people who don't want to read an entire newspaper, there are clipping services that abridge news stories to specification. A TV abridgment of the movie Gone With the Wind lasts two hours, whereas the original lasts four. (n.)

adumbrate

v. to sketch, to outline, to give a hint of things to come Betty adumbrated the plans for her wedding in June. The president of the Alumni Association adumbrated his scheme to bring in more good athletes.

address

v. to speak to The president made his annual address to Congress. (n.) When James picked up his date, he was careful to address her parents courteously.

abdicate

v. to step down from a powerful position Jason abdicated his position as class president so he could spend more time on his studies. Edward VIII of England abdicated his throne in order to marry a commoner.

abscond

v. to take flight, escape, to leave quickly and secretly The thief absconded from the country with the stolen jewels. Millie's husband absconded from their home and was never heard of again.

accede

v. to yield; give in to a request Bill graciously acceded to our request to have the party at his house. The police acceded to the terrorist's demands for a hamburger from the local drive-thru.