SAT Vocabulary Unit 3 Jerome Shostak’s Vocabulary Workshop.Sadlier-Oxford,NY.2005

abominate

abominate  Verb: to have an intense dislike or hatred for  Loathe  Abhor  Despise  Detest

acculturation g

acculturation  Noun: The resulting blend of cultures (traits, social patterns, etc.) of one group with another group  Adaptation

adventitious

adventitious  Adjective: resulting from chance rather than from an inherent cause or character  Accidental  Non-essential  Acquired (not congenital) [in medicine]  Extrinsic  Incidental

ascribe

ascribe  Verb: to assign or refer to (as a cause, or a source)  Attribute  Credit  Impute

circuitous

circuitous  Adjective: roundabout, not direct  Indirect  Meandering  Winding

commiserate

commiserate  Verb: to sympathize with, have pity or sorrow for, share a feeling of distress  Empathize  Feel sorry for

enjoin

enjoin  Verb: to direct or order  To prescribe a course of action in an authoritative way.  Command  Bid  Charge  Adjure

expedite

expedite  Verb: to make easy, cause to progress faster  Accelerate  Facilitate  Speed up

expiate

expiate  Verb: to make amends, make up for, avert  Atone  Make amends for  Make reparation

ferment

ferment  Noun: a state of great excitement, agitation, or turbulence  Commotion  Turmoil  Unrest  Verb: to be in such a state; or work up to such a state  To make alcohol by chemical reaction

inadvertent

inadvertent  Adjective: resulting from or marked by lack of attention  Unintentional  Accidental  Unconsidered

nominal

nominal  Adjective: existing in name only, not real;  Too small to be considered or taken seriously  Trifling  Titular  Token  Inconsequential

noncommittal

noncommittal  Adjective: not decisive or definite; unwilling to take a clear position or to say yes or no  Cagey  Uninformative  Playing it safe  Playing it close to the vest

peculate

peculate  Verb: to steal something that has been given into one’s trust  To take improperly for one’s own use  Embezzle  Defraud  Misappropriate

proclivity

proclivity  Noun: a natural or habitual inclination or tendency (especially of human behavior)  Propensity  Penchant  Natural bent

sangfroid

sangfroid  Noun: composure or coolness, especially in trying circumstances  Poise  Self-assurance  Equanimity : flickr.com/.../in/set /

seditious

seditious  Adjective: resistant to lawful authority  Having the purpose of overthrowing an established government  Mutinous  Rebellious  Subversive

tenuous

tenuous  Adjective: thin, slender, not dense  Lacking clarity or sharpness  Of slight importance or significance  Lacking a sound basis  Poorly supported  Flimsy, vague, hazy  Insubstantial

vitriolic

vitriolic  Adjective: bitter, sarcastic  Highly caustic or biting (like a strong acid)  Acerbic  Withering  Mordant

wheedle

wheedle  Verb: to use coaxing or flattery to gain some desired end  Cajole  Inveigle  Soft-soap  Sweet-talk