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A SAT Nouns

Terms

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abacus
a Chinese device used to perform arithmetic equations by moving beads along rods
1. Betty used her ABACUS to count her piggybank's change.
2. The boys entertained the class using their ABACUS to answer problems.
abbess
a woman, commonly called Mother Superior in charge of a convent of nuns
1. The ABBESS was very strict, but she was loved by the sisters.
2. The elderly ABBESS could be counted on to comfort those in need.
abeyance
a state of not being presently used; temporary suspension or cessation
1. The road repair project is being held in ABEYANCE until agreement is reached on project funding.
2. Hostilities between the two countries have been in ABEYANCE since the peace agreement last June.
ablution
a cleansing with water or other liquid, especially as a religious ritual; the liquidc used in such an act
1. The witch doctor used ABLUTIONS of clear water to cleanse the stricken man of his illness.
2. The ABLUTIONARY (adj) water appeared to help the suffering woman.
abyss
bottomless pit; a profound depth of void
1. The lost spaceship wandered endlessly in the vast ABYSS of space.
2. After digging for three days through the snow of the avalanche without finding the missing skier, the rescuers faced an emotional ABYSS of despair.
access
authorization or capacity to enter, look at, or use something
1. The only ACCESS to the island restaurant is by boat.
2. Our company accountant has ACCESS to all of our offices records at any time.
accolade
an award, an honor; approval, praise
1. You cannot imagine the ACCOLADES received by the chemistry teacher from her students when she accidentally blew up the lab and class was canceled for the remainder of the term.
2. The ACCOLADES Rachel received for making the Olympic Swim Team were well deserved; she practices four hours a day.
accomplice
a person who knowingly aids or abets another in an unlawful act or crime
1. Jerry was charged as an ACCOMPLICE because he had been in on the murder plan from the start.
2. The teacher realized that the child must have had an ACCOMPLICE to enable him to get back into the school after dark.
acme
the highest point
1. When he thought the stock market had reached its ACME, Mr. Johnson sold his stock.
2. It had been a hot morning, but the sun had not yet reached its ACME.
acronym
a word created from the initials of other words
1. AIDS is an ACRONYM for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
2. SCUBA is an ACRONYM for Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus.
acuity
sharpness, keenness of perception, deftness
1. The student showed great ACUITY for his scientific study of comets.
2. John's ACUITY at knowing when to hold and when to fold in poker was unsurpassed.
acumen
mental keenness or sharpness
1. Bill's business ACUMEN was evident even when he was a young boy with a paper route.
2. Mathematical ACUMEN is an asset in the financial world.
adage
a wise saying or proverb; an old familiar saying that expresses folk wisdom
1. He remembered the old ADAGE, "Look before you lea," as he stepped back from the diving board above the pool that contained no water.
2. The old woman had an appropriate ADAGE for every situation.
adherent
a follower of a leader; supporter
1. The political candidate praised his ADHERENTS for their support.
2. People who believe in a particular religion are said to be ADHERENTS of that faith.
adjunt
something connected or added in a subordinate position; an assistant
1. The library was an ADJUNCT to the Blakemore's original home.
2. The general's adjutant is not an ADJUNT, but a permant part of his staff command.
adrenaline
a hormone produced by the adrenal bland, stimulation of energy and strength
1. She won the race as one last surge of ADRENALINE propelled her forward to the finish line.
2. When he was frightened by the noises emanating from the cemetary, a surge of ADRENALINE enabled Roscoe to jump a six-foot fence and race down the street.
adulation
extreme flattery or admiration
1. When George met his favorite musician, ADULATION was clearly written all over George's face.
2. All through her life, Melissa lived in ADULATION of her older sister.
advent
the arrival or beginning; coming
1. Quills made of bird feathers were the chief writing implement until the ADVENT of steel fountain pens in the mid-19th century.
2. The ADVENT of winter was apparent to Luke the morning he arose and discovered all the fallen leaves on the ground outside his bedroom window.
advocate
one who supports a cause; one who defends or pleads on behalf of another
1. He is a strong ADVOCATE of capital punishment because he feels it will be a deterrent to criminals.
2. Joslyn ADVOCATES equal rights between the sexes, including the right for girls to play on boys sports teams.
aegis
a shield or protection
1. The dentist used a numbing agent as an AEGIS against the pain that would result when he performed the root canal.
2. The young actress's nasty attitude was her AEGIS against being hurt.
affectation
false behavior intended to impress
1. Bonnie's AFFECTATION was that she personally knew every actor in Hollywood, which was an untruth.
2. When Ray came home from a vacation in England with a British accent, it was obviously an AFFECTATION.
affidavit
a sworn written statement
1. The defense lawyer had a sworn AFFIDAVIT claiming his client was playing bridge at a neighbor's home the night of the crime.
2. Roseanne had an AFFIDAVIT from her neighbor giving her permission to cut down the tree on their mutual property line.
affinity
a natural attraction; kinship; similarity
1. Max has an AFFINITY for sports and excelled at football, basketball, and tennis.
2. Monkeys have an AFFINITY for climing, birds for flying, and fish for swimming.
affliction
a condition of pain or suffering; the cause of misery, illness, or suffering
1. Due to the lack of resources and food, malnutrition is one of the common AFLICTIONS in Third World countries like Nigeria and Borneo.
2. Osteoporosis is a degenerative bone disease which usually AFFLICTS (v) the elderly.
affront
an action intended to insult or offend someone; an injury to one's dignity
1. She saw her fellow lawyer's rejection of her as a personal AFFRONT.
2. Littering public grounds such as parks and highways in an AFFRONT to the community and to the ecology.
aftermath
events following some occurrence; a consequence of
1. Poverty and economic depression are often the horrendous AFTERMATH of wars.
2. The logical AFTERMATH of Christmas shopping is a deluge of gifts returned to the stores where they were first purchased as gifts.
agenda
schedule; program
1. While touring Europe, we followed a strict AGENDA in order to see as much as possible in the time we had.
2. The politician seemed to have no hidden AGENDA, but after he was elected govenor, the voters learned he was a pawn of wealty industrial interests.
aggrandizement
an exaggeration, an apperance of greater power or influence
1. The greatest AGGRANDIZEMENT of the entire evening was when the Russian delegate claimed Russia had won World War II single-handedly.
2. Hitler feigned concern for other countries, but territorial AGGRANDIZEMENT was his true motive.
aggregate
total; collection of different things
1. The so-called "Soup de Jour" was actually an AGGREGATE of the restaurant's leftovers.
2. Ino rder to win the election, the Govenor knew he must find an AGGREGATE of voters to support his political platform.
agnostic
one who believes it is impossible to know whether God exists
1. Although Helen calls herself an athiest, she is really an AGNOSTIC because she says she really doesn't know.
2. Some scientists are AGNOSTIC because they say there is no proof that God exists, yet they admit there is no scientific proof that he does not.
ague
a malarial fever characterized by drastic changes of hot and cold body temperature
1. The hunters returning from South America were struck with an attack of AGUE.
2. The physician diagnosed the patient as having AGUE.
alacrity
cheerful expectancy; eagerness
1. Mary Ellen packed with great ALACRITY, thinking of all the adventures she might encounter at summer camp.
2. In a moment of ALACRITY, Ben realized the gathering was a surprise party in his honor.
alchemy
a magical power or process of transmutation; medieval study and practice of chemistry
1. The ALCHEMY of medieval times may seem primitive to us, but it was the foundation of our present research to find cures for many illnesses.
2. The ALCHEMY of cosmetics transforms ugly ducklings into beautiful swans.
alcove
nook, corner, any recessed space
1. The living room had a dining ALCOVE by the rear windows.
2. Henry turned the ALCOVE off the kitchen into a recreation room.
allegory
a symbolic story
1. Saint Augustine's "City of God" is an ALLEGORY of the triumph of Good over Evil.
2. Alice in Wonderland can be interpreted as an ALLEGORY.
alibi
an excuse to avoid blame, a credible excuse or explanation of innocence
1. John always had a credible ALIBI for not doing his homework on time.
2. In most murder movies the hero is the chief suspect who is innocent but who has no ALIBI for the time the murder was commited.
allegiance
devotion or loyalty to a person, country, or cause
1. In many American schools, students pledge ALLEGIANCE to the flag of the United States at the beginning of each school day.
2. Henry says he has no ALLEGIANCE to any team and will play for one that pays the best.
alloy
combination of two or more metals
1. Bronze is an ALLOY consisting of copper and tin.
2. The wiring used in computers is mostly made up of ALLOYS that are excellent conductors of electricity.
ally
to unite formally by treaty or league; a friend or close associate in a common cause
1. Little dogs find it a good idea to ALLY themselves with big dogs when for protection from even bigger dogs.
2. United States and England were ALLIES during World War II.
alms
money or goods given as charity to the poor
1. Goodwill collected ALMS from the community during its spring donation drive.
2. The ALMS were distributed to the poor.
also-ran
one who is defeated in a race, election, or other competition; a loser
1. Even though Al Gore received millions of votes in the presidential election, he was an also-ran to George W. Bush.
2. With twenty thousand runners in teh New York Marathon, even if you defeat nineteen thousand nine hundred and ninety eight, you will be an also-ran.
altar
an elevated structure, as a mound or platform where religious rites are performed
1. The wedding was performed in front of the congregation at the church ALTAR.
2. Gerry was a ham actor who devoted his life to the ALTAR of fame and glory.
altercation
a vehement argument, a heated quarrel
1. The shoplifter had an ALTERCATION with the policeman.
2. When Professor Pitt and the South started the Civil War, an ALTERCATION broke out among the southern students in his class.
alternative
the choice between two possibilities; a situation presenting such a choice
1. "I've had two by-pass operations," said Harry. "It's no fun, but better than the ALTERNATIVE."
2. The hikers decided tehre was no ALTERNATIVE but to wade across the stream.
altruism
devotion to helping others; selflessness
1. The Salvation Army is an organization devoted to ALTRUISM.
2. The college depended on the ALTRUISM of its graduates to provide scholarships for deserving students.
amalgam
fusion; compound; a blend of different things
1. Julie's character is a curious AMALGAM of charm and aloofness.
2. Dr. Harvey, the dentist, filled the large cavity with an AMALGAM of gold and silver.
ambiance
mood, feeling; general atmosphere
1. The AMBIANCE in teh locker room was depressing after the team lost the championship.
2. For their daughter's birthday party, the Jeffersons created an AMBIANCE of gaiety with balloons and party favors.
ambivalence
indecision; experiencing contradictory emotions
1. Jim's AMBIVALENT (adj) of both respect and disgust for his boss made him unsure about accepting the promotion.
2. Ric's AMBIVALENCE about whether to attend college or to take a job instead caused him many sleepless nights.
amenity
comfortable, pleasant feature
1. The hotels at Disney World offer all the atheltic AMENITIES one could hope for: swimming, golf, tennis, and a gymnasium for exercising.
2. The log cabin had no AMENITIES such as electricity or running water.
amity
friendship, good will, harmony
1. The AMITY of the ship's crew made our cruise very enjoyable.
2. Because of their friendship, James and Mary decided "AMITY" would be a good name for their new boat.
amnesty
political pardon
1. The new president granted full AMNESTY to all political prisoners.
2. After the Vietnam War, many draft dodgers who had gone to Canada were greanted AMNESTY and later returned home.
anachronism
incongruity; something out of time or place in history
1. In his play, Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare makes mention of a clock. This is an ANACHRONISM because at the time of the play clocks had not yet been invented.
2. A caveman depicted watching television in his cave would be an ANACHRONISM.
analogy
a comparision of two things; similarity
1. Our teacher drew an ANALOGY between professional wrestlers and Roman gladiators.
2. The ANALOGY section of the SAT asks students to find the relationship that is similar among pairs of words.
anarchy
disorder; lawlessness; without government
1. After the military coup, the South American country was in a state of ANARCHY.
2. The day the substitute teacher arrived, ANARCHY broke out in the classroom.
anathema
something or someone greatly disliked or disapproved of
1. Fur coats are ANATHEMA for people who believe in animals should not be killed to clothe humans.
2. Meat is ANATHEMA to vegetarians.
anecdote
a short, humorous story
1. The seminar was interesting because the speaker included many personal ANECDOTES.
2. Mr. Alkek told a humorous ANECDOTE about the time he applied for his first job and was so nervous he couldn't remember his own name.
angst
strong anxiety and unhappiness; a feeling of dread
1. Ken believes the world is coming to an end, so he is filled with ANGST, troubled by constant worries about the catastrophe ahead.
2. Bonnie chewed her nails and waited with ANGST for her lab results.
anguish
agonizing pain, netal or physical
1. George's rememberances of the war and his dead comrades filled him with ANGUISH.
2. It was ANGUISHING (adj) for Jill to see her husband after cancer had reduced him to a shadow of his former self.
animosity
a feeling of ill-will; bitter hostility
1. After fighting over the same boyfriend, the two sisters had a strong ANIMOSITY toward each other.
2. The ANIMOSITY between the opposing teams was evident in their vicious play.
annals
descriptive record; history
1. The championship team of 1963 went down in the school's ANNALS as the best ever.
2. The ANNALS of history are rife with endless wars between tribes, kingdoms, and nations.
annex
an addition or attachment
1. The wedding reception was held in the ANNEX of the church.
2. Bill built an ANNEX adjacent to his office for storage purposes.
annotation
an explanatory note added to a text
1. The ANNOTATIONS That explained in detail what was written on each page were printed in italics at the bottom of each page.
2. Carl read the explanatory ANNOTATIONS in his chemistry book before taking the test.
annuity
any income paid at fixed intervals
1. Each year Muriel recieves a small ANNUITY from her late husband's retirement account.
2. The farmer sold his farm with payments over twenty years, an ANNUITY he and his wife now live on comfortably.
anomaly
an irregularity; a deviation from the norm
1. A cold day in July is an ANOMALY in South Florida.
2. It was an ANOMALY for Karen to fail her math test because she is usually a straight "A" student.
anomie
condition of an individual or of society resulting from a breakdown in standards and values
1. Bill's general feeling of ANOMIE caused him to lose interest in his career.
2. ANOMIE in the cities that summer was the basis for widespread labor riots.
anonymity
the condition of being unknown or nameless
1. Although Emily Dickinson allowed several of her poems to be published, she did not use her name because she preferred to remain in ANONYMITY.
2. It was difficult to trace the origin of the painting because of the ANONYMITY of the artist.
antagonism
active hostility or opposition
1. Neighborhood gangs in large cities are encountering increasing ANTAGONISM from their communities.
2. Jule's aspirations as an actress met with ANTAGONISM from her father, who wanted her to be a test pilot.
antecedent
something going before; an occurrence or event preceding another
1. The steam engine was the ANTECEDENT to the gasoline engine.
2. The atomic bomb was the ANTECEDENT to the hydrogen bomb.
anthology
a collection of artistic works which usually have a similar form or subject
1. This Bob Dylan ANTHOLOGY includes some rare recordings of his best songs.
2. New Monic Books is planning an ANTHOLOGY of books of teaching techniques usually easy-memory techniques.
antipathy
a natural basic dislike; aversion
1. Mary Ellen loves to cook but has always felt a certain ANTIPATHY toward housework.
2. Dr. Howell's ANTIPATHY toward students who cheat on tests is well known.
antiquity
the quality of ancientness; ancient times
1. The greater the rarity and ANTIQUITY of art objects, the more valuable they usually become.
2. Our doctor said the greater the ANTIQUITY of one's bones, the more brittle they become.
antithesis
the direct opposite
1. Although Jane and June are twins, in temperament the unflappable Jane is the ANTITHESIS of the expectable June.
2. North is the ANTITHESIS of South.
antonym
a word of opposite meaning; the opposite of "synonym"
1. "Hot" and "cold" are examples of ANTONYMS.
2. "Short" and "tall," "ugly" and "pretty," "fast" and "slow," are opposites and therefore ANTONYMS.
anxiety
apprehension; uneasiness; nervousness; disquet
1. Seth felt pangs of ANXIETY because he knew he was going to be late for his daughter's wedding.
2. The rescue worker's ANXIETY deepened when the mountain clibmers hadn't returned by nightfall.
apathy
absence or suppression of emotion or excitment.
1. The APATHY of the senior class was apparent when so few came to the senior prom.
2. After a serious illness, it is common for a person to feel APATHETIC until he regains his strength.
aperture
a narrow opening; usually a hole; especially one that ocntrols the amount of light reaching an optical instrument
1. All cameras have an APERTURE control that regulates the amount of light striking the undeveloped film.
2. The little APERTURE in the fence allowed the children to spy on our neighbors party.
apex
the highest point; peak
1. Shadows are the shortest when the sun reaches its APEX.
2. When the swing reached its APEX, we feared the little girl might fall and be injured.
aphorism
a brief, witty saying
1. Benjamin Franklin was famous for his many APHORISMS.
2. "A penny saved is a penny earned" is an example of a common APHORISM almost everyone has heard.
apocalypse
a prophetic prediction, especially one concerning the end of the world
1. The APOCALYPTIC (adj) visions of soothsayers predicting the end of the world have fortunately always been wrong.
2. Many scientists have a theory that the APOCALYPSE could occur when a huge meteor collides with Earth.
apogee
the most important; the highest or most distant point, espeically in space
1. At their APOGEE, the novels of Mickey Spillane claimed worldwide sales of over 180 million books.
2. The young model felt she had reached the APOGEE of her career when her face was on the cover of Vogue magazine.
apoplexy
the sudden loss of bodily functions caused by the rupture of a blood vessel
1. Suddenly paralyzed with APOPLEXY, which later turned out to be a brain hemorrhage, my grandfather was taken to the hospital by amubulance.
2. Molly was seized by APOPLEXY when she saw a giant man peering into her bedroom window.
apostasy
the absolute rejection of one's religion, principles, or loyalties
1. The APOSTASY from communism in the Soviet Union during the 1980s has helped make peace efforts easier between Russia and democratic countries.
2. Coach Burrel was an APOSTATE; he thought his team should never throw a forward pass.
apotheosis
the perfect example;divine
1. Einstein is often referred to as the APOTHEOSIS of intellect.
2. Many disagree was to whether Coke or Pepsi is the APOTHEOSIS of soft drinks.
apparel
clothing, personal attire, something worn
1. The botique is knwon for its designer APPAREL.
2. Uniforms are considered proper APPAREL at some schools.
apparition
a ghostly image; phantom; specter
1. Josh claimed strange APPARITIONS were entering his room at night.
2. An American Indian in war paint is a strange APPARITION to see in downtown Manhattan.
appellation
a name, title, or other designation
1. Mussolini, the Italian Dictator, was known by the more familiar APPELLATION "El Duce."
2. My childrean create APPELLATIONS like "Blue Bear" and "Frog Face" for their stuffed animals.
appendage
something which exists as a smaller and less important part of something larger
1. Arms and legs are APPENDAGES of the human body.
2. At parties John Paulhates being made to fee like an APPENDAGE to the company instead of an important part of it.
apprentice
one who is learning a vocation
1. Jack was an APPRENTICE electrican two years before he received his electrician's license.
2. A horse-racing jockey must serve a one year APPRENTICESHIP unless he first wins forty races.
approbation
praise; approval
1. The Olympic team was met with parades and cheering APPROBATION when they returned home.
2. The third graders all wanted to be liked and sought the APPROBATION of their teachers.
appurtenance
an additional feature; something that supplements a more important thing; an accessory
1. The swimming pool was only an APPURTENANCE, but it made the Handleys decide the house was the one they would purchase.
2. Military careers do not pay well, but the APPURTENANCES are good: free room and board and a good retirement plan.
aptitude
capacity for learning; natural ability
1. Jess is all thumbs and has no APTITUDE for fixing things around the house.
2. The special APTITUDE of flora and fauna to adapt to changing environemental conditions is what allows them to continue their existence.
arbiter
judge; one who makes decisions
1. To settle the problem between two parties, an ARBITER was called to assess the disagreement.
2. The baseball plate umpire serves as ARBITER for all pitched balls that cross home plate.
arcade
a covered area or passageway in which there are shops; archways connected by pillars or columns
1. They are building a new shopping ARCADE, and Jim's wife can't wait to see the new stores.
2. The kids love to visit the ARCADE to play video games.
archetype
the original model or pattern
1. The Wright Brothers' first airplane was an ARCHETYPE of more advanced airplanes that were to follow.
2. Hercules is the ARCHETYPAL strong man.
archipelago
a large body of water containing many islands; a group of islands
1. The islands in the Hawaiian ARCHIPELAGO make up the 50th state in the United States.
2. The Florida Keys is an over a hundred mile long ARCHIPELAGO of islands connected by 34 bridges.
armada
a fleet of warships
1. An ARMADA entered the harbor ready for battle.
2. The Spanish ARMADA of 1933, 18 ships in all, sank in the Floriday Keys during a hurricane.

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