McGraw-Hill EDUCATION SAT 2016

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The SAT Reading Test: Vocabulary

Why is vocabulary important on the SAT Reading, Writing, and Essay tests?

Although the SAT no longer includes strictly vocabulary-focused questions—such as antonym, analogy, or sentence completion questions—vocabulary-building is still an essential component of improving your SAT Reading, SAT Writing, and SAT Essay scores. The new SAT assesses your effective vocabulary by asking you to comprehend, analyze, and write about extended college-level passages that may include vocabulary from the humanities, like iconoclast, aesthetic, and colloquial; vocabulary from the physical and human sciences, like catalyst, catharsis, and anomaly; and vocabulary from rhetoric, like apologist, polemic, and advocate.

According to the College Board, numerous SAT Reading and Writing questions will assess

whether students are able to interpret the meanings of relevant words and phrases in context and/or analyze how word choice influences meaning, shapes mood and tone, reflects point of view, or lends precision or interest.

Sound intimidating? It’s not. Here’s how to build an effective vocabulary for the SAT:

• Spend one hour per week making 30 flashcards of new words and/or roots from this chapter, using the formats described below.

• Spend 10 minutes per night, at least three nights per week reviewing the flashcards.

Daily Flashcard Study Methods

Sentence Method: Your friend reads you the word, and you give its definition and use it in a sentence different from the one on the front of the card. Try to come up with a different sentence each time.

Root Method: Your friend reads you the word, and you identify and define its roots and affixes and give examples of other words that share the root or affixes.

Crossword Method: Your friend reads you the definition and first letter of the word, and you give the word.

Mnemonic Method: For obscure words, teach your friend a clever mnemonic trick—like a crazy picture or sound association—for remembering its meaning.

1 THE LANGUAGE OF IDEAS AND LEARNING

abstract (adj) ab- away + tractus pulled

existing as an idea but not as a tangible experience : For over a thousand years, mathematicians regarded subtracting a large number from a small one as impossible because the concept of negative numbers was too abstract.

Form: abstraction = something that exists only as an idea

Root family: [tract] retraction (a pulling back), protract (to extend in time), tractor (vehicle that pulls farm instruments), detract (reduce the value of someone or something), tractable (manageable)

anthropology (n) anthro human + -ology study

the study and comparison of human cultures : The Amazon basin has long been a focus of anthropological research because of its many isolated indigenous tribes.

Root family: [anthro] misanthrope (one who distrusts all people), philanthropy (generosity to charitable causes), anthropomorphic (having human form), anthropocentric (pertaining to the belief that humans are the center of the universe)

Don’t confuse with: archaeology (the study of ancient civilizations), paleontology (the study of fossils)

comprehensive (adj) com- together + prehendere to grasp

thorough and complete; covering all relevant subjects : My doctor gave me a comprehensive physical examination.

Synonyms: exhaustive, encyclopedic

Root family: [prehens] reprehensible (morally objectionable), apprehensive (fearful)

Don’t confuse with: comprehensible (understandable)

Mnemonic: To avoid confusing comprehensive with comprehensible, focus on the roots and, especially, the suffixes. Recall that –ible or –able means “able to be”; for instance, defensible means “able to be defended.” Therefore, comprehensible means “able to be grasped by the mind (prehendere = to grasp), while comprehensive means “encompassing (or grasping) everything relevant.”

construe (v) con- together + struere to build

to interpret in a particular way : Some opinion polls are unreliable because their biased phrasing encourages people to construe issues to conform to the ideology of the pollster.

Form: misconstrue = to interpret incorrectly

Root family: [con-, co-, com-, col-] conjecture (guess), consensus (general agreement), conspire (to plot together), coalesce (to come together), coherent (forming a united whole), compliant (willing to obey), confluence (a place at which two things merge)

Root family: [stru, stroy, stry] destroy (put an end to by attacking), instruct (to teach), industry (manufacturing activity), obstruct (impede)

Don’t confuse with: construct (to build)

discerning (adj) dis- apart + cernere to separate

showing a keen ability to distinguish subtle elements : Elena has a very discerning palate for olives and can even tell in what region of Italy they were grown.

Forms: discern = to recognize and distinguish, discernment = keen judgment, discernible = perceivable

Synonyms: discriminating, judicious, astute, percipient, perspicacious

Root family: [dis-] disparate (very different; variegated), discrepancy (a lack of compatibility between facts or claims), disseminate (to cast widely), disperse (to spread or scatter), diffuse (spread over a wide area)

Root family: [cern, cert, cret, cre] ascertain (find something out for certain), certain (known for sure), certify (formally attest or confirm), discretion (behavior to avoid offense or revealing private information; freedom to make decisions)

discriminating (adj) dis- apart + crimen judicial decision

showing good taste or judgment : Our interior designer has a discriminating eye for bold fabrics.

Forms: indiscriminate = done without careful judgment

Synonyms: discerning, judicious, astute, percipient, perspicacious

Root family: [crim] criminal (one who commits a crime), recrimination (counteraccusation), crime (illegal act)

Usage: The word discrimination generally has a negative connotation because of its association with unfair practices like racial or sexual discrimination and because of its connection, via the Latin root crimen (judicial decision) with words like crime and criminal. Discriminating, however, has a generally positive connotation because it is associated with an expert’s judicious ability to distinguish good things from bad.

disseminate (v) dis- widely + semen seed

to cast (something, usually information) widely, as seed is scattered : The rumor was disseminated almost instantaneously over the Internet.

Form: dissemination = the process or act of spreading information widely

Synonyms: promulgate, propagate, circulate

Root family: [dis-] disconcerting (unsettling), disparate (very different; variegated), discrepancy (a lack of compatibility between facts or claims), disperse (to spread or scatter), dispel (to drive away; to eliminate), diffuse (spread over a wide area)

Root family: [semin] seminary (a college to prepare clergy), seminal (serving as a primary influence on later works), seminar (a discussion-based class)

Don’t confuse dissemination with disinformation (incorrect or misleading information)

Mnemonic: Picture a farmer casting seed widely (dis = widely + semen = seed).

erudite (adj) e- not + rudis untrained, unwrought

having or showing great learning or knowledge : Professor Jacoby could be engagingly erudite without seeming pompous.

Form: erudition = an expression of great learning or knowledge; the quality of having great learning or knowledge

Root family: [rud] rudiment (a most basic element or undeveloped first form of something), rudimentary (basic or undeveloped), rude (ill-mannered)

Synonyms: scholarly, cerebral, learned

Don’t confuse with: eradicate (to destroy completely)

indoctrinate (v) in- in + docere to teach

to teach someone to accept a set of beliefs uncritically : The parents were concerned that the guest speaker was going to indoctrinate their children.

Forms: doctrine = a set of beliefs held by a political, philosophical, or religious group

Synonyms: proselytize, inculcate, propagandize

Root family: [doc, dox] doctrinaire (seeking to impose rigid doctrine), orthodox (conforming strictly to traditional teachings), docile (compliant and easy to instruct), paradox (a self-contradictory statement or situation)

insular (adj) insula island

isolated from cultural and intellectual influences outside one’s own experience : The farming village was too insular for Madeleine, who wanted to experience the outside world.

Form: insularity = the quality of being culturally isolated

Root family: [insula] insulation (the state of being protected from loss of heat, electrical conduction, or unpleasant effects, or the materials or situations that provide such protection), isolate (to set apart from others), island (land mass surrounded by water), peninsula (land mass surrounded on three sides by water)

Mnemonic: An insular community is insulated from outside influences.

orthodox (adj) orthos right, straight + docere to teach

conforming strictly to traditional teachings : Doctor Altbaum is respectfully skeptical of treatments that have not been tested via orthodox trials.

Forms: orthodoxy = authorized theory or practice, unorthodox = straying from conventional teachings

Root family: [ortho] orthogonal (at right angles), orthopedics (the branch of medicine dealing with correcting bone and muscle deformities), orthodontics (the treatment of the misalignment of teeth)

Root family: [doc, dox] doctrinaire (seeking to impose rigid doctrine), indoctrinate (to teach someone to accept a set of beliefs uncritically), docile (compliant and easy to instruct)

Images pedantic (adj) pedante schoolmaster (< pais child)

inclined to show off one’s learning or knowledge; acting like a know-it-all : Jennifer’s pedantic displays in class earned her the scorn of her classmates.

Forms: pedant = a know-it-all; pedantry = the quality or practice of being a know-it-all

Root family: [ped] pediatrician (a children’s doctor), pedagogy (the art of teaching)

Mnemonic: The word pedant derives from pedagogue (schoolmaster, or literally “leader of children”), so a pedant is anyone who acts like a know-it-all schoolmaster. Or, for a wacky visual mnemonic, picture a gigantic pet ant that comes to school and raises his hand all the time because he knows all the answers.

Don’t confuse words that derive from ped (foot)—like pedestrian, podiatrist, and pedal—with words that derive from pais (child)—like pediatrician, pedagogy, and pedant.

peruse (v) per- thoroughly + use use

to read thoroughly and carefully : Pitifully few of the congressmen perused the bill before signing it.

Form: perusal = the act of reading thoroughly

Root family: [per-] perfect (as good as can be), perpetuate (to help to continue for an extended period of time), perfunctory (carried out with a minimum of effort), perturb (to make uncomfortable or anxious)

Don’t confuse with: carouse (drink alcohol abundantly, merrily, and boisterously), pursue (to follow in order to catch or attack)

Mnemonic: It’s common to mistake perusal with cursory (casual) reading when in fact it means careful reading. Remember that it derives from per which means “thoroughly,” so to peruse means to “use thoroughly.”

postulate (v)

[POS chew late] assume the existence or truth of something as a basis for reasoning : Copernicus postulated that the simplest explanation for planetary motion was probably the best explanation.

Form: postulate (n) [POS chew let] = an assumption made for the purpose of reasoning

Synonyms: posit, presume, hypothesize

Don’t confuse with: pustule (a small pimple)

provincial (adj)

unsophisticated or narrow-minded; particular to the narrow views of an isolated community : Glen’s comments reflected his provincial political views rather than an understanding of the national interest.

Form: provincialism = narrow-mindedness or lack of sophistication

Synonyms: parochial

Don’t confuse with: providential (opportune; involving benevolent divine intervention)

Mnemonic: A province is a small region within an empire, so someone who has never been beyond his or her province is provincial.

revelation (n)

a fact revealed in a surprising way : The biography provided many interesting revelations.

Form: revelatory = revealing something previously unknown

Synonym: epiphany

Don’t confuse with: revelry (noisy festivities)

2 THE LANGUAGE OF ARGUMENT, REASONING, AND PERSUASION

advocate (v) ad- for + vocare to call, to give voice

[AD vo kate] to provide public support for a person, cause, or policy : Gina is a tireless advocate for human rights and freedom.

Form: advocate (n) [AD voh kit] = one who advocates

Root family: [ad-] allude (to hint at indirectly), aspire (to strive for a lofty goal), adhere (stick fast (to)), acquiesce (to comply reluctantly), annul (to declare invalid)

Root family: [voc, vok] evocative (bringing strong images or feelings to mind), revoke (to take back), provocative (causing anger or annoyance), equivocate (to speak ambiguously and noncommittally)

Mnemonic: To advocate is to give voice to (vocare = to call) someone or something.

Don’t confuse with: abdicate = to step down from a position of power

Images apologist (n) apo- away + logos word, study

one who argues for a particular, often controversial, position : We were surprised to discover that a few of the history professors seemed to be apologists for fascism.

Forms: apology = an argument for a particular position, apologetics = the study or practice of arguing for a particular position

Synonym: polemicist

Root family: [apo-] apostasy (the renunciation of a religious belief), apocryphal (having doubtful authenticity)

Root family: [log] eulogy (a praising speech), epilogue (afterword), anthology (a collection of literary works)

Don’t confuse with: apologizer (one who expresses regret); apologizers regret their positions, but apologists do not.

appease (v) pais peace

to yield to demands in order to conciliate : We must not appease belligerent dictators.

Form: appeasement = the act of conciliating

Synonyms: propitiate, pacify, mollify, placate

Root family: [pac, peas] pacify (to calm), pact (a peace agreement)

Usage: See usage note at pacify in section 4.

bolster (v)

to strengthen or support : The case was bolstered by the testimony of three eyewitnesses.

Synonyms: fortify, augment, buttress

Don’t confuse with: booster (one who promotes something), holster (a handgun holder)

buttress (n) or (v)

[1] (n) a projecting support for a building, usually of stone or brick; any strong support : Each buttress on the cathedral was over forty feet long.

Synonym: bulwark

[2] (v) to provide with support or justification : The prince’s claim to the throne was buttressed by papal decree.

Synonyms: fortify, augment, bolster

cajole (v)

to persuade through flattery or coaxing : Theo could not be cajoled into accepting the position.

Form: cajolery = flattery designed to persuade

Synonyms: wheedle, coax, inveigle

circumlocutory (adj) circum around + loqui to talk

inclined to speak evasively; speaking as if to avoid the subject : We expected the candidate to give a circumlocutory and politically correct answer to the question, but were surprised to hear her give a direct and candid response.

Form: circumlocution = evasive speech

Synonym: periphrastic (peri- around + phrasis speech)

Root family: [circum] circumspect (cautious), circuitous (roundabout)

Root family: [loqu, locu] loquacious (talkative), colloquial (conversational), eloquent (well-spoken), obloquy (verbal abuse)

circumscribe (v) circum around + scribere to write or draw

to define the limits of something, often an issue or problem : Although the Reimann Hypothesis has yet to be proven, many mathematicians believe that the problem is so well circumscribed that it soon will be.

Synonym: encompass

Root family: [circum] circumspect (wary, cautious)

Root family: [scrib, script] inscribe (to write on or carve into something indelibly), description (a spoken or written representation of a person, event, or object)

Don’t confuse with: circumstance (general situation or condition), circumspect (cautious)

cohesive (adj) co- together + haerere to stick

forming a united whole : A good jazz band must be cohesive, because its members must communicate instantaneously with subtle musical and gestural cues.

Form: cohesion = the act of forming a united whole

Synonym: coherent

Root family: [con-, co-, com-, col-] consensus (general agreement), conspire (to plot together), coalesce (to come together), compliant (willing to obey), confluence (a place at which two things merge)

Root family: [her, hes] adhesive (glue-like substance), coherent (clear and rational), inherent (existing as an inseparable attribute), adherent (a faithful believer in a particular practice or philosophy)

Don’t confuse with: adhesive (a glue-like substance)

Usage: See usage note at coherent in section 5.

conjecture (n) con- together + ject thrown

a guess based on incomplete information : Our controversial conjecture on the nature of the newly discovered planet turned out to be correct.

Form: conjectural = based on conjecture

Synonyms: speculation, postulation

Root family: [con-, co-, com-, col-] conformist (one who conscientiously complies with the standards of a group), conventional (according to common practice), consensus (general agreement), conspire (to plot together), coalesce (to come together), coherent (forming a united whole), confluence (a place at which two things merge)

Root family: [ject] objective (based on fact), subjective (based on opinion), reject (to throw back), eject (to throw outward)

Mnemonic: A conjecture is an idea that is “thrown together” (con (together) + ject (throw)) from incomplete evidence, rather than determined definitively.

consensus (n) con- together + sentire to feel

[1] general agreement : The senators were happy to finally reach consensus on the bill.

Synonyms: concord, unanimity

[2] the generally held opinion on a matter : The consensus was that David was the better player.

Root family: [sens, sent] sentient (having the ability to feel), sensation (the experience of feeling), dissent (disagreement with conventional views)

Don’t confuse with: census (an official survey of a population), concession (something granted due to a demand)

contentious (adj)

causing or likely to provoke an argument : Carl’s accusation was as contentious as it was false.

Forms: contend (with) = struggle to surmount, contend (for) = struggle to win (something), contention = disagreement; an assertion made in an argument, contentiousness = argumentativeness

Synonyms: belligerent, bellicose, pugnacious, truculent

Don’t confuse with: content (adj) (satisfied)

credulous (adj) credere to believe

willing to believe : None of Dave’s friends were credulous when he said he was going to start his own business.

Forms: incredulous = unwilling to believe, credulity = willingness to believe, incredulity = skepticism

Synonyms: gullible, ingenuous

Root family: [cred] credence (acceptance as true; believability), credit (good faith, particularly with regard to financial loans), credible (believable)

criteria (n, pl) kritikos judge

principles or standards by which something is judged or decided : The candidate did not meet our criteria for a management position.

Form: criterion (n, sing) = a single standard or principle by which something is judged or decided

Root family: [crit] critic (one who judges the merit of something; one who expresses a negative opinion), critique (a detailed evaluation), diacritic (a symbol above or below a letter indicating its pronunciation)

Usage: Remember that criteria is the plural of criterion.

cursory (adj) currere to run

hasty and superficial : Marco was only able to take a cursory glance at the report before making his presentation.

Synonyms: perfunctory, desultory

Root family: [cur] cursive (written so that adjacent characters are connected), courier (messenger), curriculum (a course of study), incur (to become subject to something because of one’s own actions), precursor (a forerunner; a substance from which something else is formed)

Don’t confuse with: cursive (written such that letters run together), curse (a solemn utterance intended to bring harm; a swear)

Mnemonic: If you perform a cursory reading, you just run through it quickly and hastily (currere = to run).

debunk (v)

to expose the falseness of a belief : Harry Houdini debunked all of the mediums who claimed to be able to talk to his dead mother.

Form: debunker = one who debunks; bunk = nonsense

Synonyms: refute, invalidate

Don’t confuse debunker with bunker (reinforced underground shelter; sand hazard on a golf course).

delineate (v) de- completely + lineare to create with lines

to describe or portray precisely : The committee delineated the rules by which future officers would be chosen.

Forms: delineation = the process or act of describing something precisely

Root family: [line] collinear (on the same line), alignment (the process of arranging in a line), lineage (family tree)

Don’t confuse with: lineage (family tree)

Usage: Because of their common root lineare (to create with lines), delineate is often confused with outline. But while outline means to sketch briefly, delineate means nearly the opposite: to describe precisely and in detail.

dispel (v) dis- away + pellere to force

to drive away; to eliminate a rumor, misconception, or bad feeling : Even the trip to the fair did not dispel Jerome’s sadness.

Synonyms: banish, allay, quell

Root family: [dis-] disconcerting (unsettling), disdain (feeling that something is unworthy), discredit (harm the reputation of something or someone), disparate (very different; variegated), discrepancy (a lack of compatibility between facts or claims), disseminate (to cast widely), disperse (to spread or scatter)

Root family: [pul, pel] expel (to force out), repel (to drive back), propel (to exert a forward push), compel (to force someone to do something)

Don’t confuse with: disperse (to scatter)

disputatious (adj) dis- apart + putare to reckon

[1] (of a person) fond of having heated arguments : Ron was ostracized from the group because of his disputatious attitude.

[2] (of a situation) likely to cause an argument : The meetings became more disputatious over time, forcing the group to disband.

elucidate (v) lux light

to make clear; to shed light on : The mysterious disappearance was elucidated by the discovery of the ransom note.

Root family [luc, lum] lucid (clear), illuminate (to shed light on), luminary (a person who inspires others), translucent (allowing light through, but not transparently)

Synonym: explicate

Don’t confuse with: elusive (hard to catch)

Mnemonic: When you elucidate something you make it more lucid.

enticement (n)

something that attracts or tempts, particularly because it offers pleasure or advantage : The school offered an iPod as an enticement to the student who sells the most candy bars.

Form: entice = to attract or tempt

Synonyms: lure, bait

enumerate (v) e- out + numerus number

to list one by one : We calmly enumerated our complaints to the committee.

Form: enumeration = the process of listing one by one

Synonym: itemize

Root family: [numer] denumerable (countable), innumerable (uncountably infinite), numerous (plentiful)

Don’t confuse with: remunerate (to pay for services rendered)

Images equivocate (v) equi- same + vocare to call

to speak ambiguously so as to avoid commitment : Sheila complained about her boyfriend’s tendency to equivocate when the conversation turned to marriage.

Forms: equivocation = the use of noncommittal language, equivocal = noncommittal, unequivocal = clear and unambiguous

Synonyms: dither, waver, waffle

Root family: [voc, vok] advocate (to provide vocal support (for)), provoke (to cause a strong negative response), revoke (to officially take back), evocative (having the effect of drawing out emotions or ideas), invoke (to bring to bear)

Mnemonic: Politicians frequently equivocate about issues, that is, give “equal voice” (equi-vocare) to both sides so as not to offend any potential voters.

exhortation (n) ex- out + hortari to encourage

a strong plea, usually through an urgent speech : The mayor’s exhortation that we conserve water seems to have fallen on deaf ears.

Forms: exhort = to encourage vehemently

Root family: [ex-] extol (to praise highly), extemporaneous (without planning), exuberant (filled with liveliness and energy)

Don’t confuse with: extortion (the practice of obtaining something by threat), excitation (application of energy or stimulation), exertion (great effort)

Mnemonic: In Horton Hears a Who, the tiny Whos living on a speck of dust ask Horton to save them. They are exhortin’ when they ask Horton.

exonerate (v) ex- out, from + onus burden

to absolve someone of blame or fault : The testimony of the eyewitnesses exonerated the defendant.

Synonyms: absolve, acquit, exculpate, vindicate

Root family: [onus, oner]: onus (burden), onerous (burdensome)

Don’t confuse with: exaggerate (to overstate), exasperate (to irritate (someone))

Mnemonic: To exonerate is to take the burden (of guilt) from someone (ex- = from + onus = burden).

fallacious (adj) fallere to deceive, to be untrue

based on a mistaken belief or unsound reasoning : The argument presented by the defense is fallacious because it is founded on an invalid assumption.

Form: fallacy = a mistaken belief or example of unsound reasoning

Synonyms: specious, spurious

Root family: [fall, fals] fallible (capable of making errors), fault (an unsatisfactory feature), fail (to be unsuccessful)

Don’t confuse with: ferocious (savagely cruel), felicitous (well-chosen for the circumstances)

harangue (n)

a lengthy and bombastic speech : The dictator’s harangues were designed to inspire fear as much as patriotism.

Synonyms: tirade, rant, diatribe

Don’t confuse with: harass (to intimidate; to bother in an aggressive and annoying way), heresy (an anti-orthodox act or belief)

Usage: See usage note at tirade in this section.

Mnemonic: Imagine a vivid scene, from your own experience, when one person was really chewing someone else out. Then imagine that the person yelling is also throwing meringue pies at him (or her), to add injury to insult.

incongruous (adj) in- not + con together + ruere to fall

not consistent with expectations or surroundings : An incongruous football-shaped telephone sat amid the otherwise tasteful and expensive auction items.

Form: incongruity = something out of place or out of keeping

Synonyms: dissonant, jarring, anomalous, discordant, anachronistic

Don’t confuse with: not congruent (not having the same shape and size)

induce (v) in- in + ducere to lead

[1] to bring about : The doctor had to induce vomiting after Helen accidentally swallowed drain cleaner.

Synonyms: instigate

[2] to persuade to do something : The clever advertisements induced many customers to come see what the store had to offer.

Synonyms: wheedle, cajole, coax

[3] to derive by inductive (from specific instances to general principles) reasoning : From my experiences in the hotel, I have induced that the people of Jamaica are unusually friendly.

Form: induction = the process of drawing general conclusions from specific instances

Root family: [in-] inundate (to flood), infer (to conclude from evidence), incisive (showing keen judgment), ingratiate (to curry favor), inherent (existing as an inseparable element), invoke (to bring to bear), indoctrinate (to teach doctrine), infiltrate (to gain access secretly)

Don’t confuse with: induct (to admit someone into an organization in a formal ceremony)

inexorable (adj)

[1] (of an eventuality) unpreventable : We cannot stop the inexorable march of time.

Synonyms: relentless, inevitable, irrevocable, unremitting

[2] (of a person) impossible to persuade : She was inexorable in her belief in the defendant’s innocence.

Form: inexorability = inevitability

Synonyms: obdurate, staunch, obstinate, recalcitrant, intransigent

infer (v) in- into + ferre to bring, to bear

to conclude from evidence : The fossil record allows us to infer the existence of reptiles during this era.

Form: inference = a conclusion drawn by reasoning from evidence; the process of reaching such a conclusion

Root family: [in-] inundate (to flood), incisive (showing keen judgment), ingratiate (to curry favor), inherent (existing as an inseparable element), invoke (to bring to bear), indoctrinate (to teach doctrine), induce (to bring about), infiltrate (to gain access secretly)

Root family: [fer] fertile (productive), defer (to put off until later; to submit to the authority of another), coniferous (cone-bearing), aquifer (rock formation that carries groundwater)

Usage: Don’t use infer when you mean imply (suggest). Although a fingerprint at a crime scene might imply guilt, only a person can infer that guilt.

insinuate (v)

to suggest or hint at something, usually something morally dubious : The lawyers released the racy photographs in order to insinuate that the defendant was not as morally upright as he claimed to be.

Form: insinuation = a sly hint

Don’t confuse with: instigate (to initiate an event or action)

intransigent (adj)

stubbornly unwilling to compromise or agree with someone : The peace talks reached an impasse when the rebels became intransigent with their demands.

Form: intransigence = reluctance to compromise or agree

Synonyms: obdurate, staunch, obstinate, recalcitrant

Don’t confuse with: intransitive ((of a verb) not taking a direct grammatical object)

Usage: See usage note at tenacious in section 4.

irresolute (adj) ir- not + re- (intensive) + solvere to loosen

hesitant; showing a lack of certainty or determination : This irresolute and inept congress seems unable to put aside its petty bickering and do what is best for the country.

Form: resolute = determined and unwavering; resolve = determination to do something; resolution = determination

Synonyms: wavering, equivocating, dithering, ambivalent

Root family: [solv, solu] absolve (to free from blame), dissolve

Don’t confuse with: low resolution

Mnemonic: The words solve, solution, resolve, and resolution derive from the Latin solvere (to loosen, to break into parts). To solve a problem almost always involves analyzing it first, that is, breaking it into parts. Similarly, it’s easier to make a saltwater solution if you break the salt into smaller pieces, and the resolution of your television or computer screen depends on how many pieces, or pixels, it is broken into. Because people have historically liked to institutionalize solutions to big problems, the term resolution came to mean not just the action of solving a problem (the pact provided a temporary resolution to the conflict), but also the formal decision that resulted from it (the legislature passed a resolution declaring its commitment to balancing the budget), and then the commitment required to stick to that decision (she maintained her resolution to abstain from chocolate).

Images litigious (adj)

unreasonably prone to suing as a means of settling disputes : I try to appease my customers whenever they are angry, because I know how litigious our society is.

Forms: litigiousness = tendency to settle dispute with lawsuits, litigate = to settle a dispute with a lawsuit, litigant = someone involved in a lawsuit

Don’t confuse litigate with mitigate (to make a situation less severe).

Mnemonic: After someone lit my gate on fire, I decided to litigate.

obstinate (adj)

stubbornly refusing to change one’s position : He obstinately refused to accept the plea bargain.

Form: obstinacy = strong reluctance to change

Synonyms: obdurate, staunch, intransigent, recalcitrant

Don’t confuse with: obstreperous (noisy and difficult to control)

Usage: See usage note at tenacious in section 4.

Mnemonic: Imagine Nate the obstetrician stubbornly refusing to deliver a baby.

partisan (adj)

prejudiced in favor of a particular party, typically a political one : I don’t watch cable news because it is so partisan.

Forms: nonpartisan = unbiased, bipartisan = (of a legislative action) partaken by members of two different parties

Don’t confuse with: partition (a process of dividing into parts; a physical barrier between areas)

Usage: See usage note at objective in section 18.

placate (v) placare to please

to pacify with conciliatory gestures : The angry customer could only be placated by the offer of a full refund and a sincere apology.

Forms: implacable = unable to be appeased

Synonyms: propitiate, conciliate, appease, mollify

Root family: [plac, plais] complacent (self-satisfied), implacable (unable to be pleased), placid (peaceful), placebo (a sugar pill used as a control in a medical experiment), pleasant

Don’t confuse with: placid (peaceful)

Usage: See usage note at pacify in section 4.

precedent (n) pre- before + cedere to go

a previous occurrence that is used as an example, particularly in a legal context : There are few precedents for truly interactive textbooks.

Form: precedence = the condition of being more important, unprecedented = unheard of before a recent or hypothetical occurrence

Root family: [pre-] premeditated (planned in advance), precocious (having exceptional ability at an early age)

Root family: [ced, ces] concession (something surrendered), recede (move back from a previous position), secede (withdraw from a formal union or alliance), proceed (go forth)

Don’t confuse with: president (head of a republican state; head of an organization)

prevalent (adj) pre- before + valere to have power

abundant and widespread in a particular area : Be careful—poison ivy is prevalent in this forest.

Form: prevail = to be victorious; to be the most powerful, prevalence = widespread abundance

Synonyms: prolific, profuse, copious

Root family: [pre-] precedent (a previous example), premeditated (planned in advance), precocious (having exceptional ability at an early age)

Root family: [val] ambivalent (having mixed feelings), valence (the power of an atom to make bonds with other atoms), valor (courage and nobility in the face of danger)

Don’t confuse with: relevant (connected and appropriate to the matter at hand)

propensity (n) pro- forward + pendere to hang

a natural inclination to behave a certain way : Warner has a propensity for needless exaggeration.

Root family: [pro-] protracted (lasting longer than expected), prophecy (prediction), promote (further the progress of something; raise in rank), progeny (offspring), reciprocate (to respond in kind)

Root family: [pond, pend, pens] pendant (a piece of jewelry hanging from a necklace), impending (about to happen; imminent), dependent (requiring something or someone for support), appendix (a table or other supporting matter at the end of a book; a vestigial sac on the large intestine), ponderous (heavy)

Don’t confuse with: preposterousness (absurdity)

Mnemonic: If you have a propensity for something, you are propelled toward it with great intensity.

provocative (adj) pro- forward + vocare to call

[1] intended to cause a strong negative emotional response : Daniel’s protest was designed to be provocative, rather than informative.

Form: provocation = action intended to annoy or anger

Synonyms: vexing, galling, incendiary, inflammatory

[2] intended to arouse sexual desire : The school dress code imposes severe restrictions on provocative clothing.

Synonyms: alluring, seductive

Root family: [voc, vok] revoke (to take back), evocative (bringing strong images or emotions to mind), advocate (to give public support), avocation (hobby), equivocate (to speak ambiguously), vocation (calling; chosen career)

Don’t confuse with: evocative (bringing strong images or emotions to mind)

Usage: Provocative and evocative have very similar meanings, but provocative is usually reserved to describe something that elicits emotions that are not desired or appropriate, while evocative describes something that elicits emotions to enrich an experience.

pugnacious (adj) pugnare to fight

quarrelsome; prone to fighting : Senator McGinley was a pugnacious defender of his causes, but a sweet and gentle man outside of chambers.

Form: pugnacity = belligerence; tendency to pick fights

Synonyms: belligerent, bellicose, contentious, truculent

Root family: [pug] impugn (to attack as invalid or dishonest), pugilist (prize fighter), repugnant (extremely distasteful)

Mnemonic: Imagine a combative little pug dog.

qualify (v) qualis of what kind

[1] to moderate a statement to make it less extreme : I should qualify my statement so that I don’t seem to be advocating total anarchy.

[2] to meet a necessary condition (for) : Carlos qualified for the state tennis tournament.

Form: qualification = a moderation of a previous statement; an accomplishment or quality that makes a person suitable for a position or activity

Synonyms: temper, moderate

Don’t confuse qualify (a statement) with qualify (for a position or privilege).

rebut (v)

to respond to an accusation by asserting or proving it false; refute : The candidate spent as much time rebutting her opponent’s accusations as she did describing her own positions.

Form: rebuttal = an act of refutation

Synonyms: repudiate, discredit

Don’t confuse with: rebuff (to reject ungraciously)

recalcitrant (adj) re- back + calcitrare to kick with the heel

stubbornly uncooperative : The entire kindergarten class was finger-painting, save for one recalcitrant toddler.

Synonyms: obdurate, staunch, obstinate, intransigent, steadfast

Root family: [re-] reprehensible (deserving of condemnation), recluse (a person who lives a solitary lifestyle), refute (to prove something false), revoke (to take back), renounce (to give up or put aside publicly), reciprocate (to respond in kind), resigned (accepting of an undesirable situation), regress (to return to a less developed state)

Don’t confuse with: calcified ((as of a fossil) hardened into stone, particularly one consisting of calcium compounds)

Usage: See usage note at tenacious in section 4.

Mnemonic: What do the words calcium, calculator, chalk, and recalcitrant have in common? They all derive from the Latin root calx, which means “limestone,” a mineral composed primarily of calcium carbonate, or “heel,” perhaps because the heel is likewise very hard. From this root came calculus, which means “small pebble,” and calcitrare, which means “to kick back with the heel.” Calculate derives from the practice of accounting with pebbles, and recalcitrant derives from the tendency of mules to kick back with their heels rather than obey.

refute (v) re- back + futare to beat

to prove something false : Just because a claim has yet be refuted does not mean that it is true.

Forms: refutation = the process of proving something wrong, irrefutable = proven beyond a shadow of a doubt

Synonyms: debunk, invalidate

Root family: [re-] revoke (to take back), renounce (to give up or put aside publicly), reciprocate (to respond in kind), resigned (accepting of an undesirable situation), regress (to return to a less developed state), relegate (to place in a lower rank)

Don’t confuse with: refuse (to decline (something))

resolute (adj)

unwaveringly purposeful and dutiful : Despite the threat of violence, the marchers were resolute about making their voices heard.

Form: resolve (n) = unwavering commitment to a principle, resolution = statement of determination, irresolute = hesitant

Synonym: steadfast

Don’t confuse with: high-resolution ((of an optical device or image) exceedingly clear down to very fine details)

Usage: See usage note at tenacious in section 4.

rhetoric (n)

[1] the art of persuasion through language : He was an expert orator, skilled in rhetoric.

Forms: rhetorical = intended for persuasive effect, rhetorician = one who is adept at the language of persuasion

Synonyms: argumentation, forensics, oratory, disputation

Usage: A rhetorical question (such as Who would ever buy such a lousy car?) is not merely a question that is not answered, but one whose answer is assumed by the speaker or writer, because that question is being used to persuade and not to inquire. That is, the question is being used for rhetorical effect.

[2] language that is persuasive but insincere or meaningless : His speech was dismissed as mere rhetoric.

Synonyms: bombast, grandiloquence

specious (adj)

seemingly plausible, but actually incorrect : Beck’s specious theories are informed more by hysteria than by reason.

Synonyms: spurious, fallacious

Don’t confuse with: species (a classification of similar organisms that can interbreed)

Mnemonic: A specious claim is one that should make you su-spicious.

speculation (n) specere to look

a guess based on meager evidence : The theory was based more on speculation than on fact.

Forms: speculate = to form a theory without firm evidence, speculative = based on flimsy evidence

Synonyms: conjecture, surmise, postulation

Root family: [spec] introspective (meditative), circumspect (cautious), inspect (to examine closely)

Don’t confuse with: inspection (close examination)

steadfast (adj)

dutifully firm and unwavering : The steadfast soldier held his post for days without sleeping.

Form: steadfastness = resolute refusal to waver

Synonym: resolute

Usage: See usage note at tenacious in section 4.

strident (adj)

annoyingly loud and harsh, particularly when presenting a point of view : The political operatives were instructed to take very strident tones at the town hall meeting, to make it seem as if their views were widely held.

Form: stridency = harshness in presenting one’s views

Synonyms: vociferous

Don’t confuse with: stride (to walk briskly), trident (a three-pronged pitchfork)

Mnemonic: Imagine a protester striding with a trident and shouting strident slogans during a protest march.

Images subjective (adj) sub under + ject thrown

based on personal feelings or opinions : Movie reviews are highly subjective.

Root family: [ject] objective (based on fact), conjecture (guess), reject (to throw back), eject (to throw outward)

Mnemonic: In late Middle English, subjective originally meant “submissive, as a royal subject to a king or queen,” but evolved to mean “pertaining to the points of view that were brought by the subjects to the monarch.”

Usage: In modern usage subjective is the opposite of objective (based on fact rather than opinion).

substantiate (v)

provide evidence for : The scientists could not substantiate their hypothesis, because they could not replicate the results of their experiment.

Form: substantive = significant because it is based in reality

Synonyms: vindicate, corroborate, authenticate

Don’t confuse with: substandard (less than the norm in quality)

tenuous (adj) tenuare to make thin, to stretch

flimsy; very weak or slight (esp. pertaining to a link, argument, or relationship) : The link between lowering taxes and stimulating business is more tenuous than most people think.

Root family: [ten] extend (to stretch forward), pretend (to act as if something is so when it is not), pretentious (affecting an exaggerated importance), contend (with) (to struggle to defeat), attenuate (to reduce the force or effectiveness of something)

Don’t confuse with: tense (taut)

Mnemonic: A tenuous connection is a real stretch (tendere = to stretch).

tirade (v)

a long, angry, and critical speech : His tirades against communism are well known.

Synonyms: harangue, rant, diatribe

Don’t confuse with: torrent (a strong and sudden stream)

Usage: Tirade, harangue, rant, and diatribe are similar, but offer different shades of meaning. Tirade is the most general of these, describing any long, critical speech; a harangue is particularly bombastic, usually inflaming the passions of listeners, and is the primary tool of the demagogue; a rant is primarily an instrument of catharsis, allowing the speaker to blow off steam, but not necessarily persuade or do harm; a diatribe is more tiresome—while a harangue can arouse passion, and a rant can be entertaining to watch, a diatribe is neither inspiring, informative, nor entertaining.

viable (adj) vivere to live

capable of working successfully : We did not want to invest in a company that had not yet shown that it was viable.

Synonyms: feasible

Root family: [viv, vita] convivial (lively and friendly), revive (bring back to life), vivid (inducing clear images in the mind), bon vivant (a person who enjoys a lively and social lifestyle), vivacious (full of lively energy)

Don’t confuse with: enviable (worthy of envy), verifiable (able to be proven true or accurate)

vindicate (v) vin force + dictum declaration

to clear of blame or suspicion : Victor was vindicated when another suspect confessed to the crime.

Form: vindication = the process of clearing someone of blame or suspicion

Synonyms: exonerate, exculpate

Root family: [dict] vindictive (vengeful), dictatorial (tyrannical), dictum (formal declaration), benediction (blessing), malediction (curse)

Don’t confuse with: vindictive (vengeful)

Mnemonic: The words vindictive and vindicate are easy to confuse because they both derive from the Latin vindex (from vin, “force” and dictum, “declaration”), which means “avenger.” But they describe different aspects of vengeance: to vindicate means “to avenge by proving innocent,” while vindictive means “consumed with vengeance.”

zealot (n)

a fanatic; one who is uncompromising and vehement in pursuing ideals : The party zealots had taken over the meeting, so compromise had become impossible.

Forms: zeal = feeling of deep passion for an ideal, zealous = passionate for one’s ideals

Don’t confuse zealous (passionate) with jealous (envious)

3 THE LANGUAGE OF DISSENT, CRITICISM, AND REBELLION

adversary (n) ad- to + vertere to turn

a committed enemy or opponent : The lawsuit turned former friends into adversaries.

Forms: adversarial = inclined to picking fights, pugnacious, adverse = unfavorable, harmful

Synonyms: rival, contender, antagonist

Root family: [ad-] allude (to hint at indirectly), aspire (to strive for a lofty goal), adhere (stick fast (to)), advocate (to provide vocal support for), acquiesce (to comply reluctantly), annul (to declare invalid)

Root family: [vers, vert] diverse (various), diversion (entertainment), adverse (harmful), subvert (undermine), averse (opposed), versatile (adaptable to different functions)

antipathy (adj) anti- against + pathos feeling

deep-seated dislike : Despite the long-standing antipathy between their families, Romeo and Juliet believed their love would triumph.

Synonyms: aversion, animus, antagonism, enmity, loathing, abhorrence

Root family: [path] sympathy (feeling of sorrow for the misfortunes of another), pathology (the science of the causes and course of diseases), apathetic (lacking concern), empathy (the ability to share the feelings of others)

Don’t confuse with: apathy (lack of concern)

audacious (adj)

willing to take bold risks : Desperate to score points, the audacious quarterback called a trick play against the coach’s wishes.

Form: audacity = boldness

Synonyms: impudent, impertinent, insolent, intrepid

Don’t confuse with: mendacious (lying)

averse (adj) ab- away + vertere to turn

having a strong dislike : Although many considered Will a daredevil, he was actually scrupulous in his planning and highly averse to senseless risk.

Form: aversion = strong dislike

Synonyms: antipathetic

Root family: [ab-] abhor (to regard with hate and disgust), abstruse (very difficult to understand), absolve (to free from guilt or blame), abstemious (self-disciplined and restrictive with regard to consumption)

Root family: [vers, vert] adversary (enemy), diverse (various), diversion (entertainment), subvert (undermine), adverse (harmful), versatile (adaptable to different functions)

Don’t confuse with: adverse (harmful)

belligerent (adj) bellum war

hostile and aggressive : We might take your suggestions more seriously if you were not so belligerent when you presented them.

Form: belligerence = hostility and aggression

Synonyms: pugnacious, bellicose, contentious, truculent

Root family: [bell] rebellion (act of violent resistance), bellicose (war-mongering), antebellum (characteristic of the culture in the southern United States prior to the Civil War)

berate (v)

to scold angrily : The coach berated us for not keeping in shape during the off-season.

Synonyms: reproach, censure, rebuke, admonish, chastise, upbraid, reprove

Don’t confuse with: irate (very angry)

Usage: See usage note at rebuke in this section.

cantankerous (adj)

grouchy and argumentative : Mrs. Grieves was a cantankerous old woman who would scream at us from her porch for not wearing shoes.

Synonyms: irascible, curmudgeonly, churlish, peevish, fractious, ornery

Images circumspect (adj) circum around + specere to look

wary; cautious : Ken’s unpleasant experiences with telemarketers made him circumspect about answering the phone.

Form: circumspection = caution, wariness

Synonyms: wary, vigilant, leery, skeptical

Root family: [circum] circumscribe (to define the limits of something), circuitous (roundabout), circumlocution (evasive speech)

Root family: [spec] speculation (guess based on insufficient evidence), introspective (meditative), inspect (to examine closely)

Don’t confuse with: circumscribe (to define the limits of something)

Mnemonic: Those who are circumspect are always “looking around” (circum = around + specere = to look) to make sure they are not in danger.

clamor (n) clamare to cry out

an uproar, usually from a crowd showing disapproval : The guards were awakened by a clamor at the gate.

Form: clamor (v) = to raise an outcry, usually in a group

Root family: [clam, claim] acclaim (to praise publicly), proclaim (announce publicly and officially)

Don’t confuse with: clamber (to climb awkwardly)

condescend (v) con- together + de- down + scandere to climb

to act superior to someone else : Teachers should give clear instructions and not condescend to their students.

Forms: condescending = acting superior or arrogant, condescension = looking down on others

Synonyms: patronize, deign

Root family: [con-, co-, com-, col-] conventional (according to common practice), conjecture (guess), convoluted (complicated), coalesce (to come together), coherent (forming a united whole), confluence (a place at which two things merge)

Root family: [de-] deplore (to express strong disapproval), denounce (declare as bad), debase (reduce in value), denigrate (criticize unfairly), deference (submission to the authority of another)

Root family: [scend, scal] transcend (to rise above something), ascend (to climb), escalate (to increase in intensity or magnitude), echelon (level or rank)

encroach (v)

to intrude on a territory or domain : The teachers were beginning to worry that the school board was encroaching on their right to teach as they see fit.

Form: encroachment = intrusion on a territory or domain

Synonyms: trespass, impinge

Don’t confuse with: reproach (to reprimand)

estranged (adj) extra outside of

no longer emotionally close to someone; alienated : After being estranged for many years, the couple finally reconciled.

Form: estrangement = the state of being alienated

Synonym: alienated

Root family: [extra] extraneous (irrelevant to the subject at hand), extravagant (excessive, particularly in spending), extraterrestrial (from beyond Earth)

evade (v) e- out of + vadere to go

to escape or avoid, usually through clever means : The fighter pilot was able to evade the missile with his deft maneuvers.

Forms: evasion = the act of escaping or avoiding, evasive = with the intention of cleverly avoiding something

Synonyms: elude, avoid, skirt

Root family: [vad, vas] invade (to intrude on a region and occupy it), pervasive (widespread)

Don’t confuse with: invade (to intrude on a region and occupy it)

flout (v)

openly disregard (a rule or convention) : It was shocking how openly Gino flouted school rules.

Synonyms: defy, contravene, breach

Don’t confuse with: flaunt (to show off)

Mnemonic: Imagine a flautist (flute-player) playing loudly in the middle of the library, obviously flouting the rule of silence.

Images heresy (n)

a belief or act that contradicts religious orthodoxy : The Republican senator’s vote for the tax increase was regarded as an unforgiveable heresy.

Forms: heretic = a person guilty of heresy, heretical = having the qualities of heresy

Synonyms: blasphemy, apostasy, heterodoxy, dissension, iconoclasm

Don’t confuse with: harangue (a bombastic speech)

Mnemonic: The first person in beauty school to sport a Mohawk was guilty of hair-esy.

iconoclast (n) eikon likeness + klan to break

(literally a “breaker of icons”) one who attacks cherished beliefs : The Cubist movement consisted of bold iconoclasts shattering the definition of art and reassembling its pieces in disarray.

Synonyms: heretic, skeptic, infidel, renegade

Root family: [clas] pyroclastic relating to the breaking of rocks by volcanic eruptions)

Don’t confuse with: idiosyncrasy (a quirky mannerism)

Mnemonic: Imagine an iconoclast as someone making religious icons crash to the floor.

indignant (adj) in- not + dignus worthy

angered by unjust treatment : Perry became indignant at the suggestion that he was cheating.

Form: indignation = anger at unjust treatment

Synonyms: aggrieved, affronted, disgruntled

Root family: [in-, im-] insipid (flavorless), insuperable (impossible to overcome), inert (lacking vigor), interminable (unending), innocuous (harmless), indefatigable (untiring), ineffable (inexpressible in words), inscrutable (beyond understanding), impassive (unemotional), incongruous (not consistent with expectations)

Root family: [dign, dain] dignity (state of being worthy of respect), dignify (to make worthy), disdain (contempt), deign (to do something that one considers beneath one’s dignity)

Don’t confuse with: indigenous (native), indignity (a circumstance or treatment that makes one feel humiliated)

instigate (v)

bring about or initiate (an action or event) : The regime instigated a brutal crackdown on intellectuals.

Form: instigator = one who brings about an action or event

Synonyms: goad (to provoke or annoy someone into action), incite

Don’t confuse with: investigate (to examine in order to determine the truth of a situation)

Usage: Although instigate is nearly synonymous with cause, it has a more negative and intentional connotation than does cause. A crime is instigated by its perpetrators, but a beautiful cirrus cloud is caused by ice crystals forming in the upper atmosphere.

insurgent (n) in- into + surgere to rise

a rebel : We were attacked by armed insurgents.

Form: insurgency = campaign of rebellion

Synonyms: rebel, insurrectionist, subversive, incendiary

Root family: [surg] resurgence (a revival of activity or popularity), resurrection (the act of rising again)

malign (v) malignus tending to evil

to speak harmful untruths about : I am disgusted by political commercials that merely malign the candidate’s opponent, rather than offering constructive information.

Synonyms: disparage, denigrate, revile, vilify, slander

Root family: [mal] malignant (disposed to causing harm or suffering), malicious (full of spite), malevolence (evil intent)

Don’t confuse with: malignant (disposed to causing harm or suffering)

maverick (n)

a person who thinks independently : Lowell Weicker was a maverick Republican senator who later ran as an independent and was elected governor of Connecticut.

Synonyms: nonconformist, individualist, eccentric, dissident

Images misanthrope (n) mis bad + anthropos mankind

one who dislikes and avoids humans : Ebenezer Scrooge was a miserly and miserable misanthrope until he learned the value of friends and family.

Form: misanthropic = characterized by a hatred of mankind

Synonym: cynic (one who believes that all people are fundamentally selfish and dishonorable)

Root family: [anthro] anthropology (the study of human cultures), philanthropy (generosity to charitable causes), anthropomorphic (having human form), anthropocentric (pertaining to the belief that humans are the center of the universe)

Don’t confuse with: malapropism (a mistaken use of a word for a similar-sounding one, as in, He is a vast suppository (rather than repository) of information.)

rancor (n) rancidus stinking

deep-seated resentment : The rancor endured from their acrimonious divorce.

Form: rancorous = characterized by deep-seated resentment

Synonyms: malice, animosity, antipathy, enmity, acrimony, vitriol

Root family: [ranc] rancid (stinking due to staleness or rot)

Don’t confuse rancorous with raucous (annoyingly noisy)

rebuke (v)

to express sharp and stern disapproval for someone’s actions : His wife rebuked him for staying out too late.

Synonyms: reproach, censure, reprove, admonish, chastise, upbraid, berate

Don’t confuse with: rebut

Usage: There are many ways to express disapproval. To admonish is to go easy on the wrongdoer, emphasizing advice over scolding; to reprove or reproach is to criticize with a little more force, chiefly to encourage someone to stop whatever he or she is doing wrong. To censure is to scold formally and in public. To rebuke is to scold harshly and sternly, often with a tone of sharp revulsion or condescension; to berate is scold in particular harsh and unreasonable terms, with the intention of belittling.

renounce (v) re- back + nuntiare to announce

to give up or put aside publicly : He renounced his membership in the club when he heard that it would not allow women as members.

Form: renunciation = an act of renouncing

Synonym: relinquish

Root family: [re-] refute (to prove something false), revoke (to take back), reciprocate (to respond in kind), resigned (accepting of an undesirable situation), regress (to return to a less developed state), relegate (to place in a lower rank)

Root family: [nunc, nounc] announce (declare publicly), denounce (to rebuke publicly), enunciate (to pronounce clearly)

reprehensible (adj) re- back + prehendere to grasp

deserving of condemnation : David’s reprehensible behavior during practice earned him a benching for the next two games.

Synonyms: deplorable, despicable, repugnant

Root family: [re-] recluse (a person who lives a solitary lifestyle), refute (to prove something false), recalcitrant (stubbornly uncooperative), revoke (to take back), renounce (to give up or put aside publicly), regress (to return to a less developed state), relegate (to place in a lower rank)

Root family: [prehens] comprehensive (thorough and complete), apprehensive (fearful)

Don’t confuse with: apprehensive (fearful), comprehensible (understandable)

Mnemonic: A reprehensible act is one that any good person would want to take back (re- back + prehendere to grasp).

reprove (v)

to reprimand : The teacher reproved Jonah for insulting Caroline in front of the class.

Form: reproof = a reprimand

Synonyms: reproach, censure, rebuke, admonish, chastise, upbraid, berate

Don’t confuse with: disprove (to prove false), prove again

Usage: See usage note at rebuke in this section.

Images revoke (v) re- back + vocare to call

to take back a formal decree, decision, or permission : Glen’s hunting license was revoked soon after the shotgun accident.

Forms: irrevocable = unable to be taken back

Root family: [re-] recluse (a person who lives a solitary lifestyle), refute (to prove something false), renounce (to give up or put aside publicly), reciprocate (to respond in kind), regress (to return to a less developed state), relegate (to place in a lower rank)

Root family: [voc, vok] evocative, advocate, provocative, equivocate

Synonyms: rescind, annul, countermand, repeal

subvert (v) sub- under + vertere to turn

to undermine the authority or power of another : The opposition planned to subvert the Democrats and thwart the lawmaking process.

Forms: subversion = an act that serves to undermine the authority or power of another, subversive = having the effect or intension of undermining the authority or power of another

Synonyms: destabilize, sabotage

Root family: [sub-] submissive (meekly obedient), surreptitious (secret), subjugate (to dominate), subterfuge (trickery)

Root family: [vers, vert] adversary (enemy), diverse (various), diversion (entertainment), adverse (harmful), averse (opposed), versatile (adaptable to different functions)

supplant (v)

to replace in importance or relevance : The old economic system was supplanted by a more sustainable one.

Synonyms: supersede, override

vilify (v) vilis worthless

to denounce someone bitterly : After her callous remarks about the poor, Michelle was vilified in the press.

Form: vilification = the act or process of denouncing bitterly

Synonyms: disparage, denigrate, revile, malign, slander

Root family: [vil] vile (profoundly unpleasant), revile (to criticize angrily)

Don’t confuse with: verify (to demonstrate something to be true)

Mnemonic: To vilify is to treat someone like a villain. (Actually, vilify and villain have different roots, but it’s a pretty good way to remember the word.)

vindictive (adj) vin force + dictum declaration

showing a deep desire for revenge : The vindictive tone of the letter showed that Tom harbored deep resentments.

Form: vindictiveness = desire for revenge

Synonyms: vengeful, spiteful, rancorous

Root family: [dict] vindicate (to clear of blame), dictatorial (tyrannical), dictum (an authoritative pronouncement), benediction (blessing), malediction (curse)

Don’t confuse with: vindicate (to clear of blame), verdict (official ruling of a court)

4 THE LANGUAGE OF POWER AND SUBMISSION

acquiesce (v) ad- to + quiescere to rest

to accept an unpleasant situation or comply to a demand reluctantly : Since the rest of the family wanted to drive to the beach, I stopped my protests and acquiesced.

Form: acquiescent = being inclined to acquiesce

Root family: [ad-] allude (to hint at indirectly), aspire (to strive for a lofty goal), adhere (stick fast (to)), advocate (to provide vocal support for)

Root family: [quies, quiet] quietude (a state of calmness), quiescence (a state of dormancy), disquiet (anxiety)

Don’t confuse with: acquaintance (a passing knowledge; a person one knows only slightly), aquatic (pertaining to water and particularly the creatures that live in it)

Mnemonic: When someone keeps badgering you noisily over and over to do something, you can make a (more) quiet scene by just acquiescing.

Images capitulate (v) capit head

to surrender; to stop resisting : The corporation finally capitulated to the labor union’s demands.

Form: capitulation = the act of surrendering

Synonym: concede

Root family: [cap, capit] capital (city that serves as administrative seat), decapitate (remove the head), captain (a person in command of a team, ship, or similar organization)

Don’t confuse with: recapitulate (or recap) (summarize and restate)

coerce (v) co- together + arcere to restrain

to force someone to do something by use of threats : I will not be coerced into betraying my friends.

Form: coercion = the act of forcing someone against his or her will

Root family: [con-, co-, com-, col-] conformist (one who conscientiously complies with the standards of a group, conventional (according to common practice), consensus (general agreement), conspire (to plot together), coalesce (to come together)

Root family: [erc] exercise (physical activity)

Don’t confuse with: co-opt (to divert something to a role other than it was intended for), commerce (the activity of buying and selling)

concession (n) con- together + cedere to yield, to go

[1] the act of admitting reluctantly that something is true : I will make the concession that you have a point.

[2] something surrendered, as land or a right : The territory was gained as a concession from a neighboring country after the war.

Form: concede = to yield

Root family: [ced, ces] precedent (a previous occurrence used as an example), recede (move back from a previous position), secede (withdraw from a formal union or alliance), proceed (go forth)

Don’t confuse with: consensus

Don’t confuse with: concession stand. Most people associate the word concession with concession stands, such as those that sell food at sporting events and assume that concession means food. However, in this context, the term concession refers to the fact that the owner of the venue (a company or town, perhaps), conceded to another party the right to sell food on its property. That is, the stadium owner granted a concession for someone else to run a stand.

contrite (adj) con- together + tritus rubbed

remorseful; full of regret : Harold felt contrite after insulting Jacqueline and bought her flowers to make amends.

Form: contrition = an expression or feeling of remorse

Synonyms: penitent, chastened, rueful

Root family: [trit] attrition (a wearing down via sustained attack), trite (worn out; overused)

Don’t confuse with: content (adj) (satisfied), trite (worn out: overused)

Don’t confuse contrition with attrition (a wearing down via sustained attack).

Mnemonic: The word contrite comes from the Latin word contritus which means “ground to pieces,” from con- (together) + terere (to rub). This may be because the feeling of guilt—of contrition—feels like a grinding in the stomach.

deference (n) de- down + ferre to bring

respect for or submission to the authority or opinion of another : The villagers showed their deference by removing their hats as the duke’s coach passed them.

Forms: deferential = showing humility and respect, defer (to) = to submit to the authority or opinion of another

Synonyms: capitulation, submissiveness, acquiescence

Root family: [de-] decadent (excessively self-indulgent), derivative (imitative of someone else’s work), deplore (to express strong disapproval), denounce (declare as bad), detract (reduce the value of something), debase (reduce in value), denigrate (criticize unfairly), condescend (to act superior to someone else)

Don’t confuse with: difference (a point or way in which things are not the same), deferment (postponement)

Mnemonic: To defer can also mean “to postpone (a decision).” It is easy to confuse the two meanings of defer, particularly when you are thinking about applying to college. To keep the two straight, pay attention to the preposition that follows: if you are deferred from a college, the decision about your acceptance has been postponed to a later date; however, when you defer to another person, you are submitting to his or her authority or opinion.

demagogue (n) demos people + agogos leading

a leader who persuades followers through emotional populist appeal rather than rational argument : The nation had grown tired of its demagogues and elected a well-educated technocrat as its new leader.

Form: demagoguery = speechmaking by a political leader that appeals to popular prejudices

Root family: [dem] democracy (government elected by and representative of the people), demographics (the study of human populations), epidemic (a widespread occurrence of a disease)

Root family: [agog] pedagogy (the art of teaching), synagogue (a Jewish house of worship)

despot (n) potentia power

a (usually cruel) ruler with absolute power : The colonists regarded King George as a despot.

Forms: despotism = the cruel exercise of absolute power, despotic = having the qualities of a despot

Root family: [poten] potentate (powerful ruler), impotence (ineffectiveness), potency (strength), omnipotent (all-powerful)

Don’t confuse with: depot (a railroad or bus station, or a large storage area)

dictatorial (adj) dicere to declare

characteristic of a ruler with total power; tyrannical : Kevin was voted out of office because the other members objected to his dictatorial style.

Form: dictate (v) = to lay down authoritatively

Synonyms: autocratic, peremptory, overweening, overbearing, imperious

Root family: [dict] vindictive (vengeful), malediction (curse), dictum (command), benediction (blessing)

diffident (adj) dis- away + fidere to trust

lacking in self-confidence; shy and modest : Kate had to overcome her natural diffidence in order to audition for the musical.

Form: diffidence = lack of self-confidence

Root family: [dis-] disconcerting (unsettling), dispassionate (not influenced by strong emotions), disparate (very different; variegated), discrepancy (a lack of compatibility between facts or claims), disseminate (to cast widely)

Root family: [fid] fidelity (faithfulness), confidence (faith in oneself), perfidious (untrustworthy), infidel (nonbeliever)

Don’t confuse with: indifferent (lacking concern), different, deferent (respectful of the authority of others)

Mnemonic: To avoid confusing it with words like different and deferent, focus on the root fidere (to trust): one who is diffident lacks confidence.

domineering (adj) dominus lord, master

arrogantly overbearing : Some admired Dave’s confidence, but others considered him arrogant and domineering.

Form: domineer = to act in a domineering manner

Synonyms: imperious, overbearing, dictatorial, despotic

Root family: [domit, domin] dominate (to have power over), dominion (sovereignty; control), domain (an area controlled by a ruler; a specific sphere of knowledge), predominant (acting as the most important or dominant element), indomitable (unconquerable)

eminent (adj)

famous and respected in a particular domain : George is an eminent pediatric oncologist.

Forms: eminence = fame; recognized superiority, preeminent = well known as being superior

Don’t confuse with: imminent (about to happen : The black clouds indicated that the storm was imminent), emanate (to spread out from : His confidence emanated from him like warmth from a fire), immanent (inherent : The rights of all humanity are immanent in the Constitution)

Mnemonic: Eminem was one of the first eminent white hip hop-artists.

enthralling (adj) thrall slave

fascinating; captivating : The circus provided an enthralling array of exotic acts.

Forms: enthrall = to captivate, enthrallment = state of captivation

Synonyms: enchanting, beguiling, mesmerizing

Don’t confuse with: appalling (shocking)

Mnemonic: Thrall was an old Norse word meaning “slave,” so to enthrall someone was to acquire great power over someone, as a master over a slave.

Usage: Enthralling, enchanting, beguiling, and mesmerizing offer different shades of meaning to “captivating.” Enthralling derives from the Norse word for “slave,” so it suggests a captivation almost against one’s will; enchanting describes captivation as if by spell or charm (see incantation); beguiling likewise suggests the power of charm, but perhaps with deceitful motives; mesmerizing connotes a hypnotic power, since it derives from 18th century Austrian physician Franz Anton Mesmer whose theories led to the development of hypnosis.

exploitative (adj)

intended to take selfish advantage of a situation or person : A free market system should allow new companies to exploit the changing demands of consumers.

Form: exploit (v) [ex PLOIT] = to make full use of, often in a selfish way

Don’t confuse with: exploit (n) [EX ploit] (a bold feat)

hierarchy (n) hieros sacred + arkhes ruler

a power structure in which members are ranked by status : Helen has spent many years working her way up the hierarchy of her law firm.

Form: hierarchical = pertaining to or characteristic of a hierarchy

Synonym: pecking order

Root family: [hiero] hieroglyphics (stylized and symbolic writing as found in ancient Egypt), hieratic (pertaining to priests)

Root family: [arch] monarchy (government ruled by a king or queen), autarchy (government ruled by an individual with absolute power), matriarchy (social order in which the female line of descent is predominant), anarchist

imperious (adj) imperare to command

bossy and domineering : Glenda became resentful of her manager’s imperious demands.

Synonyms: peremptory, overweening, overbearing, dictatorial, tyrannical

Root family: [imper, emper] imperialist (one who believes in the value of expanding an empire), empire (domain of a particularly ruler), imperial (royal)

Don’t confuse with: impious (lacking reverence), impervious (unable to be affected), imperial (royal)

impervious (adj) im- not + per- through

not able to be influenced (by) : Jonah was seemingly impervious to the swarming gnats.

Synonym: insusceptible (to)

Root family: [per-] perspicacious (showing keen insight), permeable (allowing liquids or gases to pass through), pervasive (widespread in a certain area)

Don’t confuse with: imperious (domineering)

Mnemonic: A good raincoat is impervious to rain because it does not let water through (im- not + per through).

indelible (adj) in- not + delere to destroy, to eliminate

forming an enduring impression; unforgettable : The ink created an indelible stain on my tie.

Synonyms: ineradicable, ingrained, enduring

Root family: [in-, im-] interminable (unending), indefatigable (untiring), ineffable (inexpressible in words), inscrutable (beyond understanding)

Root family: [delet] delete (to remove completely), deleterious (harmful)

Don’t confuse with: inedible (repulsive to eat)

insolent (adj)

rude and disrespectful : Craig grew from an insolent adolescent into a well-mannered young adult.

Form: insolence = rudeness and disrespectfulness

Synonyms: impertinent, impudent

Don’t confuse with: indolent (lazy)

Mnemonic: Picture the insole of your shoe making really rude and disrespectful remarks to you about your foot odor.

Images insubordination (n) in- not + sub- under + ordinare to rank

an act of defying authority; disobedience : The captain was irate about the act of insubordination by his first mate.

Forms: subordinate = lower in rank, subordination = the act of placing something in a position of lesser importance

Synonyms: mutiny, recalcitrance

Root family: [sub-] submissive (meekly obedient), subvert (to undermine the authority of another), surreptitious (secret), subjugate (to dominate)

Root family: [ord] ordinal (relating to a ranking or order), ordain (to decree from a high authority)

Don’t confuse subordination with subornation (the act of bribing someone to perform a criminal act, especially perjury)

mandate (n) manus hand + dare to give

an official order or commission to do something : We objected to our teacher’s mandate that we all write our essays according to her rigid formula.

Form: mandatory = required, usually by official order

Root family: [man] manipulate (to control skillfully), maneuver (a skillful movement), manual (done by hand rather than automatically)

Root family: [dar, don, dos, dot, dow] donation (charitable gift), endow (to donate funds to establish a position or project), antidote (a medicine to counteract a poison), dose (a recommended quantity of medicine), anecdote (a humorous or instructive story), dowry (property or money given to a husband by a bride’s family), pardon (to forgive), rendition (the act of sending a foreign criminal to another country for interrogation)

Don’t confuse with: mendacious (lying)

obtrusive (adj) ob- toward + trudere to push

[1] (of things) prominent in an annoying way : Although cell phones themselves have become less physically obtrusive over time, their users have become far more obnoxious.

Synonyms: conspicuous, intrusive

[2] (of people) obnoxiously intrusive : Donna’s questions seemed solicitous at first, but soon became obtrusive.

Form: unobtrusive = not tending to get in the way

Synonyms: officious, meddlesome

Root family: [trus, trud] extrude (to thrust out), abstruse (very difficult to understand), intruder (one who pushes in where he or she is unwelcome)

pacify (v) pax peace

to quell the agitation of something; to make peaceful : The lullaby seemed to pacify the crying baby.

Form: pacifist = one who advocates for peace rather than war

Synonyms: propitiate, appease, mollify, placate

Root family: [pac, peas] appease (to pacify), pact (a peace agreement)

Usage: The words pacify, placate, appease, propitiate, mollify, and conciliate all share the meaning of “making someone feel better,” but they offer different shades of meaning. To pacify is to calm someone down, like a crying child, but to placate is to pacify and gain favor at the same time. To appease is to calm someone down by complying (perhaps reluctantly) with his or her demands, but to propitiate is to make a deliberate show of pleasing someone (as a god or superior). To mollify is to soothe, as a mother soothes an anxious child, but to conciliate is to win over someone who may not trust you.

pervasive (adj) per- through + vadere to go

widespread : Bigotry is still pervasive in this region, and fear of outsiders is preventing its economic development.

Form: pervade = to be present throughout a region or area

Root family: [per-] perspicacious (showing keen insight), permeable (allowing liquids or gases to pass through), impervious (not able to be influenced)

Root family: [vad] invade (to intrude on a region and occupy it), evade (to escape or avoid)

Don’t confuse with: perverse (showing a stubborn desire to do something unacceptable)

potent (adj) potentia power

particularly powerful, influential, or effective : Oprah’s endorsement is a potent marketing tool.

Forms: impotent = weak and ineffective, potency = strength

Synonyms: formidable, efficacious, redoubtable

Root family: [poten] despot (cruel ruler), potentate (powerful ruler), omnipotent (all-powerful)

Don’t confuse with: potable (drinkable)

predominant (adj) dominat ruled, governed

acting as the main element or the most powerful influence : After their demoralizing defeat, the predominant mood among the players was gloom.

Form: predominance = the state of being the controlling influence

Synonyms: paramount, foremost

Root family: [domit, domin] dominate (to have power over), dominion (sovereignty; control), domain (an area controlled by a ruler; a specific sphere of knowledge), domineering (overbearing), indomitable (unconquerable)

Don’t confuse with: preeminent (highly distinguished)

propagate (v)

[1] to spread and promote : The followers of Plato propagated the concept of “ideal forms” that transcended ordinary sensory experience.

[2] to breed, as organisms : The poison ivy propagated throughout the garden.

Form: propagation = the process of spreading or breeding

Synonyms: disseminate, promulgate

Don’t confuse with: propaganda (biased and misleading information used to promote a particular political cause), prognosticate (to foretell an event)

recluse (n) re- back + claudere to close

a person who lives a solitary lifestyle : Scout and Jem Finch were fascinated by Boo Radley, a mysterious recluse who lived near them.

Form: reclusive = solitary

Synonym: hermit

Root family: [clud, clus, claus, clois] claustrophobia (fear of being in enclosed spaces), cloister (seclude as in a monastery), exclusive (highly restricted), preclude (render impossible), secluded (isolated)

Don’t confuse reclusive with exclusive (highly restricted)

relinquish (v) re- (intensive) + linquere to abandon

to voluntarily give up : Simmons relinquished his position in order to start his own company.

Synonym: renounce

Root family: [linqu, lict] delinquent (failing in one’s duties), relic (a surviving object of historical value), derelict (shamefully negligent in one’s duties)

Don’t confuse with: distinguish (to recognize as different)

ruthless (adj)

without mercy : The piranhas attacked with ruthless abandon.

Synonyms: callous, inhumane

sanction (n) sanctus holy

[1] official approval : The king gave his sanction to the agreement among the nobles.

Form: sanction (v) = to give official approval to

[2] a penalty, usually one imposed by one government upon another : The United Nations voted to impose sanctions on the rogue nation until its government freed its dissidents.

Form: sanction (v) = to impose a penalty

Root family: sanctimonious (acting morally superior), sanctify (to make holy), sanctity (sacredness), sanctuary (place of refuge)

Mnemonic: Sanction is an unusual word because its two meanings are nearly opposite. It derives from sanctus (holy) and originally referred to any decree by a church representative, such as the Pope, which officially condemned or approved something. In modern usage, the positive sense (official approval) is usually intended when the words is applied in a domestic context, but in the negative sense (an official penalty) when applied to foreign affairs.

Images sequester (v)

to isolate from outside influences : Andrew Wiles sequestered himself for months at a time to work on proving Fermat’s theorem.

Synonyms: cloister, seclude, segregate

Don’t confuse with: semester (one half of an academic year)

Mnemonic: Picture a sequined quester (that is, someone like Frodo Baggins or Don Quixote who is on a quest, wearing a sequined cape) who is being sequestered in a dungeon by an evil nemesis.

servile (adj) servus slave

[1] excessively willing to serve others : The new intern is helpful without being servile.

Form: servility = the quality or habit of being servile

Synonyms: obsequious, sycophantic, deferential, fawning, ingratiating

[2] pertaining to or akin to slave labor : She accepted even the most servile task with good nature.

subjugate (v) sub- under + jugum yoke (< jungere to join)

to bring under one’s domination : The West Indians were subjugated by the early European settlers.

Form: subjugation = the act or process of dominating

Synonyms: vanquish, subdue

Root family: [sub-] submissive (meekly obedient), subvert (to undermine the authority of another), surreptitious (secret)

Root family: [junc, join] conjunction (a part of speech, such as and, but, or or, used to join clauses or terms in a list), disjoint (separate and nonoverlapping), juncture (a place where things join)

Don’t confuse with: subjunctive (relating to the mood of verbs indicating something imagined, wished, possible, or counter to fact), conjugate (to give different forms of a verb)

Mnemonic: Imagine a lowly royal subject trapped under the gate outside the royal palace and being held there by the royal guards. He is clearly a victim of subjugation.

tenacious (adj) tenere to hold

holding fast to a position or claim; stubbornly persistent : Reynolds is a tenacious debater and will rarely yield a single point to an opponent.

Form: tenacity = stubborn persistence

Synonyms: dogged, unflagging, obdurate, staunch, indefatigable, obstinate, intransigent

Root family: [ten, tain] retain (to hold back), abstain (to refrain), attention (the process of focusing mental energy), sustain (to keep something going), untenable (not able to be defended or maintained)

Don’t confuse tenacity with temerity (boldness).

Usage: You can be stubborn in many ways. If you are tenacious, you “hold fast” to a position (tenax = holding tight) like a pit bull holding on to a bone. When you refuse to change your mind even in the face of substantial evidence, you are being obstinate. If you refuse to compromise with or accommodate another person or position, you are intransigent. When you “kick back” at someone who is trying to guide you or change your mind, you are being recalcitrant (recalcitrare = to kick back at something). If your stubbornness is an attempt to fulfill a duty or commitment, you are more noble than pigheaded, so you are steadfast or resolute.

tractable (adj) tractare to pull, to handle

easily managed or influenced : The children proved to be more tractable after they had been given their afternoon snack.

Form: intractable = difficult to manage

Root family: [tract] abstract (lacking concrete existence), protract (to extend in time), tractor (vehicle that pulls farm instruments), detract (reduce the value of someone or something)

Don’t confuse with: trackable (able to be followed)

Mnemonic: Something tractable is pull-able (tractare = to pull), which means it’s easy to manage, handle, or control.

unremitting (adj) un- not + re- back + mittere to send

incessant; never decreasing in intensity : The unremitting winds threatened to tear the roof off the house.

Form: remit = [1] to cease from inflicting something, [2] to send payment, [3] to refer to an authority

Synonyms: relentless, inexorable, unabating, interminable

Root family: [re-] recluse (a person who lives a solitary lifestyle), refute (to prove something false), revoke (to take back), renounce (to give up or put aside publicly), reciprocate (to respond in kind), resigned (accepting of an undesirable situation), regress (to return to a less developed state), relegate (to place in a lower rank)

Root family: [miss, mit] submissive (meekly obedient), dismiss (send away), intermittent

Images usurper (n)

one who forcibly takes a position of power : Henry was the usurper of his uncle’s throne.

Forms: usurp = to take power by force, usurpation = act of usurping

Don’t confuse usurpation with usury (the practice of charging excessively high interest rates for loans)

5 THE LANGUAGE OF LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE

allude (v) ad- to + ludere to play

to hint at indirectly : Many of the Harry Potter novels allude to events that occurred in previous books.

Form: allusion = an indirect reference

Root family: [ad-] aspire (to strive for a lofty goal), adhere (stick fast (to)), advocate (to provide vocal support for), acquiesce (to comply reluctantly), annul (to declare invalid)

Root family: [lud, lus] collusion (a secret understanding that has a harmful purpose), delude (to make someone believe something that is not true), illusion (something that gives a false impression of reality), ludicrous (foolish and ridiculous)

Don’t confuse with: elude (to avoid a pursuer skillfully)

Don’t confuse allusion with illusion (a false idea or perception)

analogy (n)

a correspondence between two things based on structural similarity : To explain the behavior of a magnetic field, our physics professor used the analogy of a field of wheat.

Forms: analogous = similar in terms of general structure, analog = something that is regarded as structurally similar to another thing

Don’t confuse with: apology (argument for a particular position)

anecdote (n)

a short amusing or informative story : My grandfather told many funny anecdotes about life on a submarine.

Form: anecdotal = pertaining to or deriving from an anecdote

Don’t confuse with: antidote (a medicine taken to counteract a poison)

anthology (n) anthos flower + logia collection

a published collection of writings : Several of the poems in the anthology were chosen for national awards.

Synonym: chrestomathy (an instructive collection of passages)

Don’t confuse with: anthropology (the study of human cultures)

bombastic (adj)

(pertaining to speech) pompous and blustery, with little meaning : Some cable news shows have replaced reputable journalists with bombastic blowhards.

Form: bombast = pompous, blustery speech

Synonyms: pompous, turgid, orotund

coherent (adj) co- together + haerere to stick

[1] clear, rational and consistent : David could not construct a coherent sentence, so we couldn’t understand his point.

[2] forming a united whole : The several tribes joined to form a coherent fighting force.

Forms: coherence = the quality of being clear and rational; the quality of forming a whole, incoherent = unclear or irrational; lacking coherence

Synonym: cohesive

Root family: [her, hes] adhesive (glue-like substance), cohesive (forming a united whole), inherent (existing as an inseparable attribute), adherent (a faithful believer in a particular practice or philosophy)

Usage: Coherent and cohesive derive from the same roots and are synonyms as long as they are used to mean “forming a whole.” However, coherent is more commonly used to mean “clear, rational and consistent,” whereas cohesive is the preferred adjective for describing things that form a whole.

Images colloquial (adj) co- together + loqui to talk

pertaining to informal, conversational speech : The teacher said that my essay was well reasoned, but that I should avoid colloquial terms like “totally” in a formal paper.

Forms: colloquy = casual conversation, colloquialism = a word or phrase commonly heard in casual, but not formal, conversation

Synonym: vernacular

Root family: [loqu, locu] loquacious (talkative), eloquent (well-spoken), circumlocutory (inclined to speak evasively), obloquy (verbal abuse)

Mnemonic: A fancy word for casual conversation is colloquy (co- together + loqui to talk), so colloquial language is the language you use when talking to friends, but not when giving a formal speech or writing a formal essay.

derivative (adj) de- down + rivus stream

imitative of someone else’s work and therefore unoriginal : The judges suggested that Daria’s version of the song was too derivative and suggested that she try to make it more original.

Root family: [de-] decadent (excessively self-indulgent), deplore (to express strong disapproval), denounce (declare as bad), detract (reduce the value of something), debase (reduce in value), denigrate (criticize unfairly), deference (submission to the authority of another), condescend (to act superior to someone else)

Root family: [riv] river (a large stream), arrival (coming)

eclectic (adj) ex- out + legere to choose

deriving from a variety of sources : Ted has very eclectic tastes in music, ranging from country to jazz to reggae.

Root family: [lect] elect (to choose by voting), select (to choose carefully), delectable (very tasty)

Don’t confuse with: electric (powered by electricity), ecstatic (extremely happy)

eloquent (adj) loqui to talk

articulate and well spoken : The jury was clearly persuaded by the attorney’s eloquent summary.

Form: eloquence = fluency in speaking or writing

Root family: [loqu, locu] loquacious (talkative), colloquial (conversational), circumlocutory (inclined to speak evasively), obloquy (verbal abuse)

Don’t confuse with: elegant (graceful and stylish)

Mnemonic: Avoid confusing eloquent and elegant by focusing on the root loqu, meaning “talk.” A dress can be elegant, but it certainly can’t be eloquent because it can’t talk.

epilogue (n) epi- upon, in addition + logos words

a section at the end of a novel or play that explains the conclusion : The epilogue explained that the protagonist never remarried.

Root family: [epi-] epigram (a pithy saying), epidemic (a widespread disease)

Root family: [log] eulogy (a praising speech, usually for a deceased person)

Don’t confuse with: monologue (a long speech in a play)

evocative (adj) e- out + vocare to call

tending to draw out strong feelings, ideas, or sensations : Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s magical novels are as evocative as they are disorienting.

Forms: evoke = to draw out an idea, emotion, or sensation; to elicit, evocation = the process of bringing a feeling or idea into the conscious mind

Root family: [e-, ex-] extol (to praise highly), extemporaneous (without planning), exuberant (filled with liveliness and energy), elusive (difficult to catch or achieve), exorbitant (excessive)

Root family: [voc, vok] advocate (to speak out for), revoke (to take back), provocative (causing anger or annoyance), equivocate (to speak ambiguously and noncommittally)

Don’t confuse with: provocative (causing anger or annoyance)

irony (n)

a situation that directly contradicts expectations : Rose considered it a delicious irony that her accountant friend Teri miscalculated the waiter’s tip so egregiously.

Form: ironic = contradicting expectations, often humorously

Don’t confuse with: iron (a strong, hard, magnetic metal). Although irony can be used as an adjective to mean “like iron,” it is best to avoid this usage because of the confusion with the adjective, which has an entirely different origin.

Usage: It is common to confuse irony with interesting coincidence, but they are not the same thing. Dying on one’s birthday may well be an interesting coincidence, but it is certainly not ironic, because death is no less expected on one’s birthday than on any other day. Dramatic irony is a literary device in which the audience is aware of an important fact that is unknown to one or more of the characters in a play.

laconic (adj) Laconia Sparta

inclined to use very few words : Harold was so laconic at parties that few knew that he was an articulate and celebrated writer.

Synonyms: taciturn, reticent

Mnemonic: Sparta, the martial city-state of ancient Greece, was known for its disciplined warrior culture. Hence, spartan has come to mean “disciplined, austere, or strict.” From the Latin word for Sparta, Laconia, we get laconic, meaning “inclined to use very few words,” because Spartans, unlike the Athenians, who were educated in philosophy, poetry, and oration, were not considered particularly well spoken.

lament (v)

to mourn or express deep regret : Our friends lamented the loss of our old playground.

Forms: lamentable = regrettable, lamentation = a passionate expression of mourning

Synonyms: rue, deplore

loquacious (adj) loqui to talk

talkative; tending to chatter : Although Anita is well liked, she is a bit too loquacious to be a good listener.

Form: loquacity = the quality of being loquacious

Synonyms: garrulous, voluble

Root family: colloquial (conversational), eloquent (well-spoken), circumlocutory (inclined to speak evasively)

melodrama (n) melos music + drama

sensational drama designed to appeal to the emotions : I prefer realistic crime dramas to melodramas like soap operas.

Form: melodramatic = excessively dramatic

Root family: [melo] melodious (tuneful)

platitude (n)

an overused proverb : My father bored us with his platitudes about hard work and sacrifice.

Synonym: banality, bromide, inanity, cliché

Don’t confuse with: platypus (a semiaquatic egg-laying mammal)

Mnemonic: Imagine a platypus with an attitude spouting inane platitudes like “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket!”

poignant (adj) pungere to prick

emotionally moving; keenly distressing : The climax of the movie was so poignant that virtually the entire audience was reduced to tears.

Form: poignancy = the quality of being emotionally moving

Synonyms: moving, affecting, plaintive

Root family: [punc, pung, poign] punctilious (scrupulously attentive to rules), punctual (on time), compunction (sharp feeling of guilt), puncture (to pierce), pungent (sharp tasting or smelling)

Don’t confuse with: pugnacious

Mnemonic: Poignant derive from pungere (to prick) because sharp emotions often elicit a sharp physical sensation, like a poke in the stomach.

satiric (adj)

employing humor, irony, or ridicule to poke fun at something : The skit was a satiric jab at the gridlocked congress.

Forms: satire = humor, irony, or ridicule used to poke fun at something, satirize = to poke fun at something with satire, satirical = satiric

Don’t confuse satire with satyr (in Greek mythology, a lustful, drunken god with a horse’s ears and tail)

verbose (adj) verbum word

excessively wordy : Sadly, many academics cannot distinguish intelligent prose from that which is merely verbose.

Synonyms: prolix, discursive

Root family: [verb] verbatim (word for word), proverb (a pithy, well-known saying)

CHAPTER 3

THE LANGUAGE OF IDEAS: VOCABULARY FOR SAT EVIDENCE-BASED READING

The SAT Reading Test: Vocabulary

Daily Flashcard Study Methods

1 THE LANGUAGE OF IDEAS AND LEARNING

2 THE LANGUAGE OF ARGUMENT, REASONING, AND PERSUASION

3 THE LANGUAGE OF DISSENT, CRITICISM, AND REBELLION

4 THE LANGUAGE OF POWER AND SUBMISSION

5 THE LANGUAGE OF LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE