Week 3 and 4 Vocabulary

Mrs. BlakeEnglish III/ English III Honors

SAT Vocabulary

Group 1

English III- Words 1-10

English III Honors- Words 1-15

Altruistic

[al tru IS tik] Adjective

Unselfishly concerned for the welfare of othersSynonyms: Generous, ______, ______Antonyms: belligerent, ______, ______Derivations: altruism, altruist, altruistically

Nuns and nurses are usually very altruistic people since they seek ways to help people.

Group 1

Word 1

Ambivalent

• [am BIV uh lunt]• Adjective

• Having contrary feelings or attitudes, uncertain as to course of action– Synonyms: undecided, ______, _____– Antonyms: certain, ______, _____– Derivations: ambivalence

– I am ambivalent about a permanent relationship with him, because I like him one day and don’t the next.

Group 1Word 2

Angular

[ANG gyuh ler] Adjective

Lean, sharp corneredSynonyms: gaunt, ______, _____Antonyms: rotund, ______, _____Derivations: angulated, angularity, angulations

The patient has lost so much weight that his face has become quite angular.

Group 1Word 3

Arrogant

[AIR uh gunt] Adjective

Overbearingly assuming; insolently proudSynonyms: presumptuous, ______, _____Antonyms: meek, ______, _____Derivations: arrogance, arrogance, arrogantly

Because the girl was so arrogant, she had few friends.

Group 1Word 4

Aversion

• [uh VER shun]• Noun

• Strong disinclination or disliking– Synonyms: reluctance, ______, _____– Antonyms: inclination, ______, _____– Derivations: averseness, aversely, averse

– I have an aversion to eating peas; I just don’t like that vegetable!

Group 1Word 5

Discern

[deh SURN] Verb

To differentiate between two or more thingsSynonyms: differentiate, ______, _____Antonyms: to be oblivious, ______, _____Derivations: discerner, discernible (able), discernibly

(ably), discernment

Because of the fog, the pilot was barely able to discern the landing strip.

Group 1Word 6

Disdain

• [dis DANE]• Verb

• Intense dislike; to treat with scorn or contempt, to reject as unworthy– Synonyms: arrogant, ______, _____

– Antonyms: admiration, ______, _____– Derivations: disdained, disdainful, disdainfully, disdainfulness

– Never having had to do manual labor, he disdained the idea of becoming a cotton picker.

Group 1Word 7

Disparage

[deh SPAR ij] Verb

To degrade, to speak of someone or something in a derogatory manner Synonyms: belittle, ______, _____Antonyms: to praise profusely, ______, _____Derivations: disparagement, disparager, disparagingly

His disparaging remarks about me caused the committee to give the job to another person.

Group 1Word 8

Disparity

[deh SPAR eh tee] Noun

The condition or fact of being unequal in age, rank or degree Synonyms: inequality, ______, _____Antonyms: similarity, ______, _____Derivations: disparate, disparately, disparateness, disparatum

The couple got married even though there was a great disparity in their ages.

Group 1Word 9

Embellish

[em BEL ish] Verb

To decorate, to make beautiful with ornamentation Synonyms: garnish, ______, _____Antonyms: to abbreviate, ______, _____Derivations: embellisher, embellishment

He would embellish his narratives with anecdotes about famous people.

Group 1Word 10

Engender

• en JEN der• Verb

• To cause, to produce, to create– Synonyms: propagate , ______, _____– Antonyms: to squelch , ______, _____– Derivations: engendered, engenderer, engenders,

engendering

– His angry words engendered strife in his relationship with his wife.

Group 1Word 11

Innocuous

[en NOK yoo us] Adjective

producing no injurySynonyms: harmless , ______, _____Antonyms: dangerous, ______, _____Derivations: innocuously, innocuousness

Since the drink was innocuous, the mother gave it to her child.

Group 1Word 12

Insipid

[in SIP id] Adjective

Boring and stupidSynonyms: inane, ______, _____Antonyms: spirited, ______, _____Derivations: insipidity, insipidly, insipidness

I am bored by your insipid talk.

Group 1Word 13

Lament

[luh MENT] Verb

To mourn or to express sorrow in a demonstrative mannerSynonyms: bemoan, ______, _____Antonyms: rejoice, ______, _____Derivations: lamented, lamenting, lamentation,

lamentable

She lamented the death of her father in a very lachrymose manner.

Group 1Word 14