Sunday, October 3, 2010

SAT (The Great, Big List of Word Roots III)

D

  • DE (away, off, reversal or down)
    • descend
    • detract (trachere pull, to take the pull away, to reduce the value or importance of something by depriving it of some stuff)
    • decipher
    • deface (spoil appearance intentionally)
    • defile (deformation of defouler; to trample under foot, to corrupt something or damage rep)
    • defraud (to cheat someone)
    • deplete
    • denounce (criticize publicly)
    • decry (to strongly speak against something)
    • defer (to postpone)
    • defame
    • delineate (to sketch down, explain in detail or draw something)
    • deference (showing respect, especially by accepting decisions or commands)
  • DEM (people)
    • democracy
    • epidemic
    • pandemic (an epidemic having widespread effects)
    • endemic (restricted to one place)
    • demagogue (a leader playing with emotions)
    • demographics (relating to human population)
  • DIA, DI (apart or through)
    • dialogue
    • diagnose
    • diameter
    • dilate
    • digress
    • dilatory (tending to waste time or move slowly)
    • diaphanous (dia- through, phane to show; transparent)
    • dichotomy (division into opposing things; di- apart, tomy to cut)
    • dialectic (tension existing between two contradicting ideas, forces or elements)
  • DIC, DICT, DIT (to tell, to say or to use words)
    • dictionary
    • dictate
    • predict (pre- before, dict to tell)
    • contradict (contra- against, dict to say)
    • verdict (ver- truth, dict to tell)
    • abdicate (renounce position)
    • edict (a formal proclamation by government or ruler / authoritative command)
    • dictum (same as edict)
    • malediction
    • benediction
    • indict (formally accuse of crime)
    • indite (dit- to use words (in), to write something)
    • interdict (inter- in between + to say. prohibit something)
    • diction (choice of words or clarity of speech)
    • obiter dictum (passing comment)
  • DIGN (worth)
    • dignity
    • dignitary
    • dignify
    • deign (to do in haughty manner by considering it a favor, I don't think he will deign to accept our invitation)
    • indignant (angry at unfairness, regarded as unworthy)
    • condign (wholly worthy, fitting or well deserved)
    • disdain (intense scorn or disgust for someone or something, Old French desdeign)
    • infra dig (beneath dignity below somebody's social level)
  • DOC, DAC (to teach)
    • doctor
    • doctrine (underlying rules, ideas taught as truth)
    • indoctrinate (tot each somebody to belief something without question)
    • didactic (geeky, fond of instructing others)
    • docile (quiet and easy to control)
    • doctrinaire (adj; determined to use a specific approach and not accepting a better alternative)
  • DOL (suffering or pain)
    • condolence
    • indolent (painless and slow to change disease, lazy or lethargic)
    • dolorous (involving sorrow)
    • doleful (sad and painful)
  • DON, DOT, DOW (to give)
    • donate
    • donor
    • pardon
    • condone (to let something, esp bad, happen)
    • antidote
    • anecdote (a short and often humorous personal account of something)
    • endow (to provide something desirable, can you endow me with an xtreme gaming rig)
    • dowry (stuff given to bride upon marriage)
  • DUB (doubt)
    • dubious (hesitant or unsure, of uncertain quality)
    • dubiety (uncertainty about something or something doubtful)
    • indubitable (not to be doubted, an indubitable truth)
  • DUC, DUCT (to lead)
    • abduct
    • conduct
    • conductive
    • seduce
    • induct
    • induce
    • ductile
  • DUR (hard)
    • durable
    • endure
    • duress (the use of force to make someone do something (coerce, impel))
    • dour (unfriendly or stubborn)
    • obdurate (ob- to be -dur hard, heard hearted aka not influenced by emotions or stubborn)
  • DYS (faulty)
    • dysfunction
    • dystopia (an imaginary place where everything is shit or a vision of one)
    • dyspepsia (acid indigestion)
    • dyslexia (inability to understand written lingo)

E

  • EPI (upon)
    • epidermis
    • epidemic
    • epilogue
    • epistle (long formal letter)
    • epitome (typical example)
    • epigram (a short and often witty saying)
    • epithet (an insult)
    • epitaph
(discontinued)

    Thursday, September 30, 2010

    SAT (The Great, Big List of Word Roots II)

    B

    • BE (to be, to have a certain quality)
      • belittle
      • befriend
      • belate (something late that losses its effectiveness)
      • bemoan (to lament; to express grief or disappointment)
      • bewilder (puzzle or confuse)
      • beseech (make an earnest request or beg)
      • bemuse (puzzle)
      • begrudge (not want to give or resent something somebody has, He begrudged my success, She begrudged every dime she gave me)
      • bequeath (leave somebody something at will, The powerful magician bequeathed all of power to his apprentice)
      • belie (to show to be false, This photograph belies the testimony of the witness)
      • beguile (to deceive with charm)
      • beset (trouble continually; beset by the scandal)
      • bereft (adj; deprived, lacking, bereaved bereft of ideas, bereft living conditions)
    • BEL, BELLUM (war)
      • belligerent
      • bellicose
      • rebellion
      • rebel
      • antebellum (before war)
    • BEN, BON (good)
      • benevolent
      • benign
      • benefactor
      • beneficiary
      • benefit
      • benediction
      • bonus
      • bon vivant (French somebody who lives a luxurious life)
      • bona fide (Latin sincere and honest, authentic, a bona fide student, a bona fide peculiar event)
    • BI (twice, doubly, two)
      • biannual
      • biennial
      • bilingual
      • binoculars
      • bipartisan (involved in two political parties)
      • bilateral (involving both sides)
      • bigamy (having two wifes (it is considered a crime))
    • BRI, BREV (short, brief or concise)
      • brevity (use of a few words)
      • brief
      • abbreviate
      • abridge

    C

    • CAD, CID (to happen by chance,to fall)
      • accident
      • coincidence
      • decadent (immoral or in decline)
      • cascade (waterfall, downward flow of something, to flow in large amounts)
      • recidivism (re- back -cid fall, to indulge in a previous undesirable behavior especially crime)
      • cadence [rise and fall of voice while taking, falling tone typically at the end of a sentence)
    • CAND (to burn)
      • candle
      • candor (candid or honest quality, Latin to burn white)
      • incandescent (glowing with heat, showing intense emotion, candescre to glow white)
      • incendiary (can burn or catch fire)
    • CAN, CEN or CHANT (to sing)
      • chant
      • enchant
      • accent
      • recant (to withdraw belief or withdraw something previously said, re- back -cantre sing, recant what you have said)
      • incantation (using magic words)
      • incentive (something that encourages people into action, in- in -cantre sing, something that sets the tune)
    • CAP, CIP, CAPIT, CIPIT (head or headlong (in an uncontrolled fashion))
      • capital
      • cape
      • captain
      • disciple (dia- though, -cip head, a follower)
      • principal (primary or school administrator; princip- somebody who takes first place)
      • principle (underlying ideas)
      • precipice (a high cliff or rock face or dangerous waters)
      • precipitate (happen quickly or hurried; pre- before, -cip head)
      • precipitous (done rashly or quickly without enough thought)
      • capitulate (to surrender under agreed conditions or heads :P)
      • capitalism (free market system (Economics))
      • precipitation
      • caption
      • recapitulate (same as recap; going over main points)
    • CAPT,CIP, CEPT (to take)
      • captive
      • capture
      • anticipate (anti- before, cip catch)
      • intercept (inter- between, cept catch)
      • susceptible (sus- up, cept catch)
      • emancipate (set someone free)
      • recipient
      • incipient (to start to develop)
      • percipient (per- through, cip catch, somebody who perceives or having insight)
      • precept (anti- before, cip catch, a rule or instruction that guides somebody's reaction)
    • CARD, CORD, COUR (heart)
      • concord (treat or peaceful coexistence, co- together, cord heart)
      • cardiac
      • courage (having heart)
      • encourage (to give heart)
      • discord (disagreement, dis- apart, cord heart)
      • accord (ac- to, cord heart, to agree or agreement)
      • concordance (similarity or agreement between two or more things)
      • concordant (harmonious)
      • cordial (warm in a friendly sense,deeply felt, of the heart)
    • CARN (flesh)
      • carnivorous
      • carnival (Italian for cessation of meat eating)
      • carnage (widespread massacre)
      • reincarnation (to be in flesh again, rebirth)
      • incarnation (to be in flesh, birth)
    • CAST, CHAST (cut)
      • caste (social class)
      • castigate (criticized to rebuked for behavior)
      • chastise (to punish someone)
      • chaste (abstaining from sex or pure aka uncut)
    • CAUST (burning)
      • caustic
      • holocaust (holo- whole caust burn, complete destruction especially of life)
    • CESS, CEDARE, CEED (to stop, to give way, to go)
      • cease
      • cessation (stoppage,esp, permanent)
      • incessant (continuing)
      • precede
      • exceed
      • recess (re- back, cess go)
      • concede (con- together, cedare give way)
      • cede (cedare give way, surrender)
      • access
      • predecessor
      • successor
      • precedent (ced- to go, pre before)
      • antecedent (ced- to go, ante before)
      • recede (re- back, ced go)
      • abscess (pus filled cavity; lol I can't relate it to the roots btw :-D)
    • CENTR (center)
      • eccentric ( out of center, not conventional)
      • central
      • concentrate (to focus, con together, centrate on center)
      • centrifuge (fugere fleeing, centr center)
      • egocentric (as expected self-centered :P)
    • CERN, CRET, CRIT, CRIM (to separate, to judge, to distinguish)
      • concern (having a caring feeling, con- together, cern separatel)
      • critic (somebody who judges; crit- to judge)
      • secret (inseparable)
      • discrete (discern to distinguish so discrete is something distinguishable or unrelated to anything else)
      • ascertain (to find out something with certainty)
      • certitude (feeling of certainty or something certain to happen)
      • hypocrite
      • discriminate (again from discern aka distinguish)
      • criterion (standard for judging, crit to judge, criteria is plural)
      • discern
      • recrimination (an accusation made in response to the accuser)
    • CHRONOS (time)
      • chronology
      • synchronize
      • chronicle (historical account or narrative,or make a list of events in order of time)
      • chronic (always present or long lasting)
      • chronological (in order of time)
      • anachronism (something from a different time period, ana- backwards, chron time)
      • chronometer (accurate measurer of time)
      • chronometry (study of time measurement)
    • CIRCU (around or from all sides)
      • circumspect
      • circumlocution
      • circumference
      • circumstances
      • circuit (a circular path)
      • circumnavigate (to sail or fly around something)
      • circumambulate
      • circumscribe (circu- around, scribe write; to restrict the functionality of)
      • circuitous (lengthy because indirect...going around)
    • CIS (cut)
      • scissors
      • precise (pre in front, cis cut)
      • concise
      • incisive (quick to understand)
      • incision (a cut or an act of cutting)
      • excise (to cut out, to delete a part of something or remove surgically)
      • exorcise (to swear out an evil spirit)
    • CIT (to put in motion)
      • excite
      • incite
      • solicit (to plead for something insistently)
      • solicitous (completely moved ready or willing, displaying concern or meticulous [giving alot to detail]
    • CLA, CLO, CLU (to shut or close)
      • closet
      • enclose
      • conclude
      • claustrophobia
      • disclose
      • exclusive
      • recluse (somebody living away from people, re- again, clus close)
      • preclude (pre- before, clu close, prevent from happening or debar)
      • seclude (isolate, or make private)
      • cloister (to find a private place, a private place)
      • foreclose (same as preclude)
      • closure
    • CLAIM, CLAM (to shout)
      • exclaim
      • proclaim
      • acclaim
      • clamor (demand with persistence/demand noisily or loud noise)
      • disclaim (deny any connection with something)
      • declaim (to recite or speak formally)
      • reclaim (claim something back)
    • CLI (to lean towards)
      • recline (to lie back)
      • decline
      • climax
      • proclivity (natural tendency, proclivis is inclined)
      • inclination 
      • disinclination (avoid doing something)
    • CO, COL, COM, CON (together, with)
      • connect
      • confide (con- with, fide trust, to tell someone secrets, you confide in someone or confide to someone a secret thing)
      • concede
      • coerce (to force someone into doing something especially against will)
      • cohesive (stuck together; unified)
      • cohort (a unified group of people, soldiers or supporters)
      • confederate (ally or in verb sense to become united in a cause)
      • collaborate (co- together, labor toil, work together)
      • compatible
      • coherent (speak logically or understandably)
      • comply (obey)
      • conjugal (relating to marriage husbands or wives)
      • conjugate (joined in pairs)
      • connubial (nubere to marry; relating to marriage)
      • congenial (friendly)
      • convivial (vivere to live, sociable)
      • coalesce (merge or unite things)
      • coalition (a union\merger or a political alliance))
      • contrite (terere to rub; repentant or arising from a sense of guilt)
      • conciliate (get someone support or firendship back, bring disputing sides together be charming)
      • conclave (clave key; a secret meeting)
      • commensurate (of equal size or in proportion; rewards are commensurate with the efforts made)
    • CRAT, CRACY (to govern)
      • democracy
      • aristocracy
      • bureaucracy (an administrative system in which work is divided b/w departments)
      • theocracy (theo God, government by God)
      • plutocracy (pluotos wealth, governance by the wealthy)
      • autocracy (sorta dictatorship)
    • CRE, CRET, CRESC (to grow)
      • creation
      • increase
      • crescendo (gradual intensifying of music up till the climax)
      • increment (an expected or regular increase or an act of increasing)
      • accretion (an increase in size due to accumulation or fusing together)
      • accrue (to increase amount)
    • CRED (to believe or trust)
      • incredible
      • credibility
      • credentials (proof of ability)
      • credit
      • creed (set of beliefs)
      • credo (a statement or beliefs that is professed (declared openly))
      • credence (the power to inspire belief or trust)
      • credulity (as credulous the ability to belief things readily)
      • credulous (can be tricked because of being naive or readily believing things)
      • incredulous (showing disbelief or unwilling to believe)
    • CRYP (hidden)
      • cryptic
      • crypt (an underground vault)
      • apocryphal
      • cryptography (study of encoding or secret writing) 
    • CUB, CUMB (lie down)
      • cubicle
      • succumb
      • incubate (lie down on, on eggs, incubate a baby, grow germs or stuff often under controlled conditions)
      • incumbent (in- in, -cumb lie, obligatory)
      • recumbent (lie down)
    • CULP (blame)
      • culprit (wrongdoer or accused)
      • culpable (guilty)
      • inculpable
      • exculpate (to free from blame or guilt)
      • inculpate (incriminate or put blame)
      • mea culpa (formal admission and apology of guilt)
    • CUR, COUR (running or a course)
      • occur
      • recur
      • current
      • curriculum
      • courier (official or secret messenger)
      • excursion (ex- out, cur run, a short trip or a temporary difression)
      • incursion (a raid, an unwelcome arrival)
      • cursive (writing in a running conjoined style)
      • concur (to run together occur at the same time or agree over a point)
      • concurrent (happening or existing parallel to one another)
      • incur (to experience something bad, run into)
      • discourse (serious discussion, to run apart)
      • discursive (lengthy that has included non-essential stuff)
      • precursor (something before, forerunner)
      • recourse (use of others for assistance or a source of help, run back (to), recourse to borrowing)
      • cursory (done in quick or superficial way)

    Wednesday, September 29, 2010

    SAT (The Great, Big List of Word Roots)

    You are done with the hard part of memorizing those torturing word lists, now to reinforce your vocabulary with critical Word Roots. You might have encountered a few of them before in word lists but this post exclusively deals with them.

    Rest assured it will be easy...'cause there is nothing new here...you already know most, if not all, of these words...Word Roots are just your servants that help you in remembering these words up till test dates.. ;-)

    The format is simple; a word root...its meaning...examples.

    A final thing; this stuff is not really necessary, if you feel like skipping it then leave it and enjoy!

    A


    • A- (without, lacking)
      • amoral
      • atheist (Unbeliever in god and deities)
      • atypical
      • anonymous (onymous is someone with a name)
      • apathy
      • amorphous (morph is shape)
      • atrophy (trophy is nourishment)
      • apartheid (partheid linked)
      • anomaly (not normal)
      • agnostic (n; someone denying God's existence; someone denying something knowable)
    • AB-, ABS (off, away from, apart or down)
      • abduct (snatch somebody away, ducere is to lead)
      • abhor (hor is to shudder)
      • abolish (outlaw something)
      • abstract (impractical; away from path)
      • abnormal
      • abdicate (to step down or neglect duty)
      • abstinent
      • absolution (act of absolving (forgiving or free from blame or sin))
      • abstruse (hard to understand, struse thrust)
      • abrogate (to put an end to something, abolish)
      • abscond (to run away secretly, hide away, scond hide)
      • abjure (jure is oath, to formally deny something or abstain/avoid)
      • abstemious (abstaining from excessive food or drink, temitum is intoxicating liquor)
      • ablution (lure wash, wash away)
      • abominate (from abominable aka loathsome, it is to hate something)
      • aberrant (errare is to wander; i.e wander away from what is typical [from aberration])
    • AC, ACR (sharp, bitter or acidic)
      • acid
      • acute
      • acerbic (bitter or sharp in tone, manner or taste)
      • exacerbate (acerbe is harsh, make worse or harsh)
      • acrid
      • acrimonious
      • acumen (sharp judgement)
    • ACT, AG (to do or to drive/force)
      • act
      • agent
      • agile
      • agitate
      • exacting (demanding attention)
      • litigate (lit is lawsuite, to drive a lawsuit)
      • prodigal (spendthrift, wasteful, drive away or squander)
      • prodigious (sizeable or marvelous)
      • pedagogue (a teacher, paid is a child so a child driver)
      • synagogue (house of worship of Jews)
      • demagogue (someone who forces people, a leader who manipulates or plays with people's emotions)
    • AD, AL (to, towards or near)
      • adapt
      • adjacent
      • addict
      • admire
      • address
      • adhere
      • administer
      • adore
      • advice
      • adjoin
      • advocate (ad to, vocare call, to speak in favor)
      • allure (lure bring here, al is to, a highly attractive quality or attract powerfully)
      • alloy (al to, ligere bind)
    • ALI, ALTER (another)
      • alternative
      • alias (another name)
      • alibi (accused claim of being somewhere else at the time of crime)
      • alien
      • alienation ( the act of making somebody 'another')
      • altruist (helper of another person)
      • altercation (a heated argument)
      • allegory (all another, gor speak publicly; speak about others in public in from of an act or stuff)
    • AM- (love or friendship)
      • amiable
      • amicable
      • amity
      • amateur (am- love, someone who loves something but isn't perfect at it...) 
      • amorous (am love, expressing or showing love, specially in romantic or sexual way)
      • enamored (en- in, -am love, in love or captivated; I was enamored of her looks)
      • inamorata (Italian for a loved women, in- in, am- love)
      • paramour (a lover, Thee in arms of thy paramour - Ivanhoe :D)
    • AMB- (to move or to walk)
      • ambulatory
      • ambulant
      • ambitious
      • amble (a slow walk, or to walk slowly)
      • preamble (pre- in front, -amb walk, something that precedes, introductory explanation before a speech, report and stuff, High winds were a preamble to this winter's first storm.)
      • ambulance (French for a 'walking hospital')
      • circumambulate (to walk around)
      • perambulator (a baby carriage...hahahaha...whadday name!!)
    • AMPH, AMB (around)
      • amphitheater (a circular building, usually open, with circular seating arrangement)
      • ambit (boundary or range,within the ambit of the jurisdiction)
      • ambiance (atmosphere, a house with an unwelcoming ambiance)
      • ambient (in surrounding area, ambient temperature)
    • AMPHI, AMB (both or more than one)
      • amphibious
      • amphibian
      • ambivalent (having conflicting feelings)
      • ambidextrous (ambi both, dexter right handed; equally capable with both hands, skillful and versatile)
    • ANIM (spirit, mind)
      • unanimous
      • animosity
      • equanimity (ability of maintaining composure)
      • magnanimous
      • pusillanimous (coward)
    • ANNU, ENNI (year)
      • annual
      • anniversary
      • biannual (happening twice a year)
      • biennial (happening once every two years)
      • centennial (happening once in a century)
      • decennial
      • annuity (contract for annual payment, money payed at annually)
      • annals (recorded history, annual records)
      • perennial (something that happens again and again)
      • millennium
    • ANTE (before)
      • ante (amount contributed to the gambling pot before playing)
      • anterior (happening before or something in front, the event happened long anterior to the discovery of electricity, an anterior view of the building)
      • antecedent (cedere give way, something coming before; the book examines the historical antecedents of the French revolution)
      • antedate (occurring before or putting an earlier date on something than original, The colorful artwork on the tapestry antedates the advent of synthetic dyes. The archaeologist mistakenly antedated the fossil to the Jurassic period. 
      • antebellum (before ware)
      • antediluvian (ante- before -diluvian Flood, extremely old fashioned) 
    • ANTHRO, ANDR (human)
      • anthropology
      • android (a scfi robot that behaves like a human)
      • philanthropist
      • misanthrope (someone who hate humans)
      • anthropomorhpic (able to take human form or characteristics)
      • philander (v; having casual affairs with women especially when married)
      • androgynous (blending masculine and feminine, a hermaphrodite)
      • anthropocentric (treating humans as preeminent and important, from the point of view of mankind)
    • ANTI- (against)
      • antiviral
      • antivirus
      • antidote
      • antiseptic
      • antipathy (strongly negative feeling)
      • antipode (an exact opposite. a diametric)
    • APO (detached, away from)
      • apology
      • apostle (promoter of a cause)
      • apostasy (renunciation of faith, political party or set of beliefs)
      • apostatize
      • apocalypse (total destruction or an instance of it)
      • apocryphal (not true but seems to be)
      • apogee (away from Earth, the best or greatest point or culmination)
      • apotheosis ( theo god, transformation into a deity, highest level of glory or power, best example)
      • apoplexy (a fit of anger)
    • APT, EPT (skill or ability)
      • adept
      • adapt
      • aptitude (ability or talent that can be further refined, an aptitude for leadership)
      • inept
    • ARCH, ARCHI (chief or principal)
      • archetype (prime example)
      • architect
      • archipelago (group of islands, Indonesian archipelago)
      • archenemy
      • archangel
    • ARCHY (ruler)
      • monarchy (system of governing by monarchs)
      • patriarchy (patriarch is head of family, patriarchy is a social system in which men dominate)
      • anarchy (no ruler, lack of organization andpresence of chaos)
      • matriarchy (matriarch is woman head of family, matriarchy is a society dominated by women)
      • hierarchy (hierarch is someone of a high rank, hierarchy is formal ranking of a group according to seniority or rank)
      • oligarchy (oligos few. a small governing group)
    • ART (skill, craft or cunning)
      • art
      • artist
      • artisan (a skilled craftsperson)
      • artificial
      • artifice (a cunning and clever trick or a stratagem, facere is to make)
      • artifact (factum is thing made)
      • artful (cunning or skillful)
      • artless (without guile or deception or elegance; totally natural)
    • AUC, AUG or AUX (to increase)
      • augment
      • auction
      • auxiliary (giving support, an auxiliary grant for the flood affectees or a supporting thing or person)
      • august (adj; full of solemn splendor and dignity)
    • AUTO (self)
      • automatic
      • autotrophic
      • autopsy
      • autonomy (self government)
      • autocrat (auto- self -cratos power, someone who holds absolute power and is answerable to none, a bossy person)

    SAT (Even More Vocabulary V)

    ...thank your stars! it is the final part...(I am thanking mine ;-) )

    • Veracity (n) truthfulness. The veracity shown by the felon had him in the gallows, albeit with the hearts of the people who followed his trial.
    • Chronology (n) list of events according to time. A chronology of World War II.
    • Panegyric (n) extravagant praise delivered in formal speech. The infamous King tried to get in the good books of the people by paying skillful orators to deliver his panegyrics in public.
    • Reprobate (n/adj) somebody immoral. The reprobate agent sold his country off for a few million bucks. The reprobate loved flinging stones at the windows of the neighborhood.
    • Untoward (adj) improper or unfortunate. I am not responsible for any untoward incident.
    • Welter (n) jumble or confused conditions. The evening that started with stupendous narratives ended up in welter. Essential concerns were lost in a welter of detail.
    • Inchoate (adj) lacking structure,order or organizations, i.e, infant. An inchoate democracy after a long spell of dictatorship.
    • Disavow (v) to deny. The celebrity couple disavowed the news of their breakup.
    • Repugnant (adj) distasteful, repelling or offensive. She kept staring at me repugnantly. Smoking at public places is considered repugnant in many countries, thats why there is ban on itin most modern countries.
    • Taut (adj) tightly drawn; emotionally tense. Tightrope walkers must ensure that the stretch of rope they are walking on is fully taut; as a slight slack may cost them their life.
    • Cajole (v) to force someone to do a job by flattery. The mother cajoled her son into eating the food by assuring him that it will make him a superman. 
    • Discomfit (v) make someone confused or unsettled. The sudden arrival of the cops discomfited the burglars.
    • Bemuse (v) puzzled, bewildered. The sudden disappearance of his $10 bill left Jade bemused.
    • Accrete (v) to grow. We don't know whether the ring is formed by accreted material or the excreted one. The magnet accreted its mass by pulling steel and other attracted metals to itself. (I am unsure about this one)
    • Contumacious (adj) rebellious in a defiant way. A contumacious horse is a rider's nightmare,especially when it prances.
    • Fulsome (adj) disgusting or repulsive due to great amount of fawning. The pop star was embarrassed by the fulsome compliments of the anchor.
    • Hone (v) to improve or sharpen. Don Bradman, the legendary cricketer, famously honed his reflexes by playing a golf ball, off a tank at close propinquity, with a single wicket.
    • Motility (n) a spontaneous movement. Motility saved Jane from getting crushed underneath the speeding bus.
    • Neophyte (n) a beginner.  We call Counter Strike neophytes, n00bs (I know what you are thiking *knowing laugh* :D)...
    • Rivet (v) to firmly fix attention; hold gaze. I was riveted by the absorbing storyline of the film. Eyes riveted on the computer screen. [!] Don't confuse with riveting (fascinating); a riveting encounter.

    SAT (Even More Vocabulary IV)

    ...misery continued


    • Incursion (n) an unwelcome entry; an invasion. The US troops were involved in an incursion into an Al-Qaeda camp.
    • Invective (adj) using insulting speech. An invective attack on the government.
    • Placate (v) to pacify. Only candy can, as always, placate your child.
    • Accolade (n) an award or honor; high praise. The players received accolades for their superb performance.
    • Assiduous (adj) showing persistent hard-work in doing something; very careful. Inspection teams checking the vaults of commercial banks have to be assiduous in their task.
    • Brook (v) to tolerate or bear. I will brook no more any interference in my personal matters.
    • Desiccate (v) to loose or remove moisture. His tongue had desiccated from the lack of water.
    • Erudite (adj) having profound knowledge. He was an erudite student; far ahead of his classmates.
    • Flag (v) (hang like flag :P) to get weak or tired. The long hike left us flagged.
    • Impudent (adj) [im- without, -pudere shame] excessively bold, impertinent. He tried to get the attention of his classmate by acting all impudent in front of teachers.
    • Baleful (adj) menacing or harmful. Judith gave her brother a baleful stare.
    • Divergent (adj) differing. We might agree on many terms but we are divergent, too, on many.
    • Effluvium (n) an unpleasant smell usually given off by decaying matter. [!] Effluvia (plural) is the commonly used version.
    • Evanescent (adj) fading quickly and soon forgotten. An evanescent burst of color from a balloon. Aurora Borealis is an evanescent phenomenon, disappearing in a heart beat.
    • Exigent (adj) demanding quick action. An exigent situation.
    • Exonerate (v) (same as vindicate, absolve or acquit) to free from blame or responsibility. The court exonerated Jim from all the charges. Upon the return of her neighbor, Fia was exonerated from caring for his dog.
    • Flaunt (v) to show off. The model flaunted her curves in the photoshoot.
    • Improvident (adj) lacking foresight or seeing the consequences. Allowing him to take full salary without a full month's work is so improvident of you; you will make him a malignancy for the whole office.
    • Ineluctable (adj) (see it as in+eluse+with table :D) inescapable; unavoidable. Your are in an ineluctable situation now; surrounded from all sides, the Policeman voiced over the loudspeaker, I didn't even flinch. (Mafioso)
    • Mellifluous (adj) (melli- honey, -fluere flowing) sweetly flowing. Her mellifluous sound echoed through the auditorium; as soothing as a lullaby.
    • Ossify (v) [oss- bone] to turn rigid especially in behavior or conduct. The teacher gave him an ossified stare; and he knew at once that he would bear no more. 
    • Probity (n) moral correctness or honesty. The suitcase full of dough, challenged the probity of the police chief to the extreme; his ossified eyes suddenly softened and we knew we had the man in our pocket. (Mafioso)
    • Proselytize (v) to try to convert somebody to a religion or doctrine. Unlike many economics books; his work doesn't proselytize you but leaves the options open for consideration. (I admit it was a tough one :P)
    • Pundit (n) an expert in a particular field. Baseball pundit. Biology pundit.
    • Recondite (adj) hard to understand and understood only by a select few. A book in a recondite language.
    • Vacuous (adj) [vacuo- empty] inane, unintelligent. You act vacuously before everyone or is it just me?
    • Coda (n) concluding music of a composition.
    • Penchant (n) a strong liking. England seem to have a penchant for three fast bowlers and a spinner in there starting eleven.
    • Abstruse (adj) hard to understand. An abstruse thesis.
    • Cognizant (adj) having a knowledge of something. The truck driver wasn't cognizant of the maximum height allowed on the bridge and ended up ramming the top his vehicle in the enforcing barrier.
    • Gainsay (v) to deny. The convicted spy gainsaid all allegations.
    • Garner (v) to win something or collect something. The ballerina garnered a huge round of applause for her act. You can see ants garnering edibles all around your house.
    • Obdurate (adj) [ob- be, dur- hard] stubborn or insensitive. The terrorists were obdurate in their demands; they weren't stepping down from it and neither were softening them.
    • Propinquity (n) nearness in time or space. The doctors made him divorce Vinny due to the propinquity of blood. The propinquity of the two bombings gave the investigators useful clues about the fugitives.
    • Ribald (adj) vulgar but often humorous speech. A ribald joke.
    • Sinuous (adj) (think about sine curves :-)) having many curves. A sinuous road in the mountains.

    Tuesday, September 28, 2010

    SAT (Even More Vocabulary III)

    ...continued [WARNING] This post contains some (almost all) highly shit words...:-P..proceed on your own risk...


    • Deleterious (adj) (it can delete ya :P) harmful. This drug can be deleterious for kids even if given in the prescribed amounts.
    • Noxious (adj) [noxa- harm] physically harmful or disgusting. This drink has got some noxious preservatives, I won't recommend it!! [!] Obnoxious (also one of the SAT words) is not related to noxious, it means  very offensive or unpleasant; like an obnoxious sludge pile.
    • Disinterested (adj) not biased. Sports judges or referees should be disinterested. [!] Don't confuse it to mean lack of interest (uninterested), it is basically to undo any interest.
    • Fecund (adj) productive or fertile. This area is quite fecund; last year we got a bumper crop from it.
    • Hermetic (adj) airtight or free/protected from any outside influence. A hermetic cookie jar. The count lead a hermetic existence in his mansion, with only few trusted servants around.
    • Salubrious (adj) [salub- health] beneficial for health. Apple is a salubrious fruit.
    • Foster (v) to promote the growth or development of. The fecund region fostered the growth of cash crops.
    • Transitory (adj) not staying for a long time; fleeting. Transitory success.
    • Transient (adj) short in duration. Yesterday was one cloudy day, we will only saw transient sunlight in between unending periods of cloud cover.
    • Goad (v) to urge or force someone into an action. The radical leader goaded his listeners into a rebellious mood. The farmer goaded the cow into moving out of the barn.
    • Ingenuous (adj) naive and overly innocent. The ingenuous kid handed out the wet $100 bill, that he had found on the pavement, to the man for drying. [!] Don'tconfuse with the almost identical ingenious which means clever, effective or inventive.
    • Savor (v) to take in something with an unhurried attitude; relish something. Jane stood there savoring the moment. Eyre savored the thick creamy chocolate in her mouth.
    • Correlate (v) related together. What is the affect of a change in temperature to the three correlated variables. A kid's IQ correlates with his/her academic performance.
    • Facetious (adj) [facetie a joke] supposed to be funny but often silly or inappropriate. Many people take facetious proposals seriously, the same holds true with compliments. [!] The F house; here are some 'f' words that are closely related to one another: flippant (not taking something serious enough), frivolous (silly and not worth of taking seriously), frolicsome (full of fun), frisky (feeling playful)....whew!
    • Petulant (adj) ill tempered and complaining. The petulant manager was an apathy in the office; no one liked him because he would ask you to redo every project.
    • Rampart (n) fortified walls that enclose a city. The missile ripped through the rampart and the sky was rendered red by exploding flesh and drops of blood. (The Battle)
    • Temerity (n) [temerit- rashness] boldness, audacity to an offensive extent. The temerity shown by Wilkinson to the German teacher was unbelievable, he should be expelled for that.
    • Truculent (adj) (the opposite of truce :P) [trux- fierce] aggressively defiant. The truculent daughter would never listened to what her mother asked her to do. The rebel forces were getting truculent by the hour and the leader had started to get worried about her life.
    • Incisive (adj) cutting right to the core or quick to understand. An incisive analysis of the problem. The incisive commander knew what was behind this actions of his opposing better.
    • Aberration (n) deviation from norm. An aberration in the ammeter readings had the student suspicious about it order.
    • Alacrity (n) [alacr- lively] eager enthusiasm and speedy readiness. The alacrity of the soldiers was worth acknowledgement; everyone of them wanted to die for their nation.
    • Arid (adj) extremely dry or unimaginative. An arid desert. An arid script.
    • Beget (v) to produce or cause; to engender. Secrecy begets suspicion.
    • Conundrum (n) a puzzle, riddle. Harry Potter solved a conundrum about the Chamber of Secrets.
    • Debacle (n) a sudden and often humiliating disaster, defeat or failure. The Dhaka debacle of 1971 will remain a dark moment in the history for Pakistan. (History of Asian Countries)
    • Doggerel (n) a comic or out of sync verse. Little Linda's poem was full of doggerels.
    • Exorbitance (n) [ex- out, -orbis circle] an exceedingly large or high amount. Exorbitant prices.
    • Intransigent (adj) refusing to compromise, without even considering to change a stance. The government dreaded their intransigent opposition; when they get stuck on something they won't even budge. An intransigent hardliner. Los Intransigentes is a Spanish political party..."The Uncompromising Ones"!
    • Maverick (adj) an independent thinker who doesn't agree with settled views. A maverick philosopher with out of the ordinary theories.
    • Turpitude (n) [turpis- repulsive] extreme immorality or wickedness; depravity (a state of moral corruption). The government sent the minister packing because of his deed of turpitude; he was involved in one of the biggest corruption scandal in the history of the country.
    • Axiom (n) a widely accepted saying.
    • Impugn (v) to cast doubt on. Recent police raids impugned the authority of the Don. 

    GTW With a New Look!!!!!

    Today I reveal a new look greasethosewheels.blogspot.com, well not with a complete renovation but the logo, and accordingly the background image, undergo a drastic, and hopefully, aesthetic change!!!
    • Credits: None But Me!! :-D
    • Created with: Serif Page Plus X4 and Photoshop CS5
    • Approvers: My pals and siblings...its was the third prototype...and had the consensus with it (finally)...:-P
    Hoping that you find it great [ which m very much sure that you will, considering the vapid precursor ;-) ], do let me know about your thoughts...

    SAT (Even More Vocabulary II)

    ...continued


    • Disseminate (v) [dis- release, semin- seed] to spread something widely, esp info and likes. The news disseminated in the city like wild fire after a website reported the incident. Dandelion seeds disseminate with the aid of wind. This website disseminates propaganda against our team.
    • Eclectic (adj) [ec- out, lec- choose] from varied sources; choosing from varied sources. The eclectic car collection featured vehicles from almost all major car manufacturers. I have an eclectic taste in music; I love anything from Eminem to Linkin Park.
    • Idyllic (adj) serenely beautiful and untroubled; like an idyll (having a simple, unspoiled specially rural charm).What do you think of this idyllic, tropical paradise? A holiday was planned - an idyllic retreat in the Italian Hills. (Mafioso). The property benefits from the idyllic countryside scenery, its breathtaking. [!] Don't confuse it with ideal, which is something seen as perfect.
    • Pristine (adj) unspoiled (not yet ruined by us :P); immaculate. The pristine pine forest seemed to spread everywhere. The gentleman in the pristine white dress gave me a furtive wink and I knew he was the man. (Mafioso)
    • Immaculate (adj) [im- without, macula- blemish] clean, spotless; faultless. He wore an immaculately tailored silk suit, hang on! silk suit!?, where is my Colt...(Mafioso)
    • Prodigy (n) an extraordinarily gifted child; something marvelous or amazing. The piano prodigy was only seven but he played like a maestro. The breathtaking prodigy was recorded in thousands of mobile phone cameras.
    • Frugal (adj) thrifty, economical or parsimonious (very frugal); involving very little expense. We should be frugal with our planet's scarce and depleting resources If we want to sustain life on it. The housekeeping was frugal, as it was back then in the midst of the Great Depression.
    • Qualify (v) to make something less strong or extreme by modifying. The moderator qualified the virulent remarks of the user.
    • Abhorrent (adj) repugnant, arousing strong feelings of disapproval. The practice was abhorrent to virtually every one, no one appreciate domestic violence unless a retard is considered. The material in this OpEd column is abhorrent.
    • Decorous (adj) dignified or formally accepted. In a decorous action he held the door open for the ladies and let them pass first.
    • Infer (v) [in- in, ferre- carry] conclude from reasoning; indicate or lead to. I inferred from her behavior of late that she is not interested in the job we handed out to her. The very steep nature of the hills would normally infer soil erosion.
    • Ostentatious (adj) [ostentare- exhibit] a vulgar display of wealth intended to impress. The ostentatious chandelier was studded with every gem imaginable. An ostentatiously modified car.
    • Pathology (n) disease; study of disease. The chest X-ray showed the suspected site of the pathology, a TB infection. I don't wanna be a pathologist, they see dead stuff all the time.
    • Plumb (v) to measure depth; experience something bad to an extreme degree. We cannot plumb the depth of this region, it is crawling with white sharks. The third failure had had him plumbing the depths of despair and regret. (Mafioso)
    • Spurious (adj) fake or false. The spurious mob boss aided the original in making his getaway as SWAT teams raided his mansion.
    • Subjugate (v) to dominate; to enslave. The old women subjugated the burglar with a surprise revelation of a Colt Magnum.
    • Visionary (adj/n) imaginary; a dreamer. This is visionary stuff, how can you kill an anaconda with a stick. Your are being a visionary; getting 1700 at the SAT with this insouciant attitude is impractical.
    • Reciprocal (dj) something mutual; in return. The clubs had a reciprocal arrangements between them; members of one club had access to the privileges of the other. A reciprocal gesture.
    • Antipathy (n) strong negative feeling. The antipathy displayed by the Mayor towards the Muslims was the talk of the town. Among my antipathies are pompous people.
    • Dissonant (adj) [dis- without, sonare- sound] conflicting or incompatible. Both had dissonant views about the topic and subsequently a heated argument began.
    • Palliate (v) [palliare- hide] mitigate intensity of something; lessen the seriousness of something bad. I successfully palliated the whining of Joey by handing him an ice-lolly. Amisha tried to palliate the situation by saying that she wasn't at home when little Amelia shattered the beloved vase.
    • Substantive (adj) substantial in amount etc; essential. Substantive claims state that 9/11 was a preplanned event. The oxygen cylinder is substantive for your survivals in these conditions.
    • Surreptitious (adj) sneaky, done in an offhand way. The lionesses surreptitiously closed in on the unaware zebra, utilizing the tall Savannah grass to their advantage.
    • Equivocal (adj) ambiguous, difficult to interpret, confusing, raising doubts. Her reply was an equivocal one, apparently not heedful of potential consequences in today's independently interpreting media. His arrival for peace talks with three armed guards was an equivocal gesture that placed the credibility of the talks in jeopardy.
    • Flippant (adj) showing lack of seriousness that is deemed inappropriate. Exams are two days from now, god bless your flippant attitude.
    • Piquant (adj) [piquer- irritate] provocative or sharply irritating. Piquant criticism. 
    • Satiric (adj) using irony in sarcasm. Cracked.com is one of the best satiric website on the net. The judge was a favorite with contestants because he used a satiric approach to criticize their faults rather than an out-an-out reproach.
    • Sullen (adj) dismal and gloomy; quiet in a hostile way. The event was sullen because of the news of twin bombings in the nearby city. She was sullen all day, refusing to talk,, even to her boyfriend.
    • Tacit (adj) [tacere- silent] understood without being said or otherwise expressed openly. A tacit nod from the coach was enough to get him going. There was a tacit agreement in between the judges that Josh will be declared the winner no matte how badly he fought. The committee tacitly approved the recommendations of the Supreme Court. There was a tacit understanding between the two about the person they were dealing with. (Mafioso)
    • Tractable (adj) [can be kept on track :P] obedient; can be controlled. The tractable mustang was an atypical find; normally they are very aggressive and dubious in their approach towards humans.
    • Impromptu (adj) extemporaneous, unrehearsed. An impromptu speech.
    • Debauchery (n) unbridled self-indulgent immoral behavior. A sordid (squalid or nasty; displaying worst aspects of human nature) account of drunken debauchery.