SAT/CAHSEE/STAR/SRI Vocabulary

1. function what something is used for
2. expense amounts paid for goods and services that may be currently tax deductible (as opposed to capital expenditures)
3. stalk follow stealthily or recur constantly and spontaneously to
4. tentacle any of various elongated tactile or prehensile flexible organs that occur on the head or near the mouth in many animals; used for feeling or grasping or locomotion
5. gulping the drinking of large mouthfuls rapidly
6. auditorium the area of a theater or concert hall where the audience sits
7. sympathetic expressing or feeling or resulting from sympathy or compassion or friendly fellow feelings; disposed toward
8. festivity any joyous diversion
9. Iditarod an important dogsled race run annually on the Iditarod Trail
10. sporadic recurring in scattered and irregular or unpredictable instances
11. agricultural relating to or used in or promoting agriculture or farming
12. isolated remote and separate physically or socially
13. bewildered perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment
14. utilized put to use
15. sturdy having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships
16. elegant refined and tasteful in appearance or behavior or style
17. verdant characterized by abundance of verdure
18. hue the quality of a color as determined by its dominant wavelength
19. solitude the state or situation of being alone
20. revered profoundly honored
21. pioneer one the first colonists or settlers in a new territory
22. tourist someone who travels for pleasure
23. lieutenant a commissioned military officer
24. superintendent a person who directs and manages an organization
25. idolized regarded with deep or rapturous love (especially as if for a god)
26. lecture a speech that is open to the public
27. thrive make steady progress; be at the high point in one's career or reach a high point in historical significance or importance
28. thriving very lively and profitable
29. polluted rendered unwholesome by contaminants and pollution
30. exhausted depleted of energy, force, or strength
31. efficient being effective without wasting time or effort or expense
32. foreordained established or prearranged unalterably
33. ease freedom from difficulty or hardship or effort
34. invite ask someone in a friendly way to do something
35. benefactor a person who helps people or institutions (especially with financial help)
36. pungent strong and sharp;"the pungent taste of radishes"
37. bothersome causing irritation or annoyance
38. melancholy a feeling of thoughtful sadness
39. torment the act of harassing someone
40. tormented experiencing intense pain especially mental pain
41. seep pass gradually or leak through or as if through small openings
42. inadequate not sufficient to meet a need
43. monument a structure erected to commemorate persons or events
44. decorate make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.
45. disguise any attire that modifies the appearance in order to conceal the wearer's identity
46. philosophical of or relating to philosophy or philosophers
47. callous emotionally hardened
48. conspicuously in a manner tending to attract attention
49. bewilderment confusion resulting from failure to understand
50. bewilder cause to be confused emotionally
51. molasses thick dark syrup produced by boiling down juice from sugar cane; especially during sugar refining
52. accommodating obliging; willing to do favors
53. surreptitiously in a surreptitious manner
54. prevalent most frequent or common
55. aesthetic concerning or characterized by an appreciation of beauty or good taste
56. lethargic deficient in alertness or activity
57. obsequious attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery
58. ominous threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
59. prophecy a prediction uttered under divine inspiration
60. reservation the act of keeping back or setting aside for some future occasion
61. attend be present at (meetings, church services, university), etc.
62. enrich make better or improve in quality
63. pasture a field covered with grass or herbage and suitable for grazing by livestock
64. bilingual using or knowing two languages
65. condescending (used of behavior or attitude) characteristic of those who treat others with condescension
66. intrigue cause to be interested or curious
67. versatile having great diversity or variety
68. indeterminate not precisely determined or established; not fixed or known in advance
69. reimburse pay back for some expense incurred
70. iguana large herbivorous tropical American arboreal lizards with a spiny crest along the back; used as human food in Central America and South America
71. flamboyant elaborately or excessively ornamented
72. afflicted grievously affected especially by disease
73. consensual existing by consent
74. agonizingly in a very painful manner
75. cowardice the trait of lacking courage
76. gaudy tastelessly showy
77. unpretentious lacking pretension or affectation
78. pretentious making claim to or creating an appearance of (often undeserved) importance or distinction
79. livelihood the financial means whereby one lives
80. fortification defensive structure consisting of walls or mounds built around a stronghold to strengthen it
81. cessation a stopping
82. homogenous all of the same or similar kind or nature
83. muse the source of an artist's inspiration
84. contusion an injury that doesn't break the skin but results in some discoloration
85. cooperative involving the joint activity of two or more
86. overestimate make too high an estimate of
87. clumsily in a clumsy manner
88. enormous extraordinarily large in size or extent or amount or power or degree
89. dynamic characterized by action or forcefulness or force of personality
90. domesticated accustomed to home life
91. obviously unmistakably (`plain' is often used informally for `plainly')
92. scrutinize examine carefully for accuracy with the intent of verification
93. entice provoke someone to do something through (often false or exaggerated) promises or persuasion
94. spasmodic occurring in spells and often abruptly
95. inevitable incapable of being avoided or prevented
96. executive a person responsible for the administration of a business
97. abysmally in a terrible manner
98. acquaintance personal knowledge or information about someone or something
99. eminence high status importance owing to marked superiority
100. provisions a stock or supply of foods
101. persistent stubbornly unyielding
102. indignant angered at something unjust or wrong
103. discrete constituting a separate entity or part
104. squander spend thoughtlessly; throw away
105. interrogation an instance of questioning
106. malicious having the nature of or resulting from malice
107. wearily in a weary manner
108. employment the state of being employed or having a job
109. prevalent most frequent or common
110. implement pursue to a conclusion or bring to a successful issue
111. arid lacking sufficient water or rainfall
112. persistent stubbornly unyielding
113. insufficient of a quantity not able to fulfill a need or requirement
114. sonar a measuring instrument that sends out an acoustic pulse in water and measures distances in terms of the time for the echo of the pulse to return
115. fatigued drained of energy or effectiveness; extremely tired; completely exhausted
116. unrelenting not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
117. rare marked by an uncommon quality; especially superlative or extreme of its kind
118. inexperienced lacking practical experience or training
119. exhausted depleted of energy, force, or strength
120. descriptive serving to describe or inform or characterized by description
121. insincere lacking sincerity
122. eccentric conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual
123. clumsy lacking grace in movement or posture
124. freighter a cargo ship
125. pungent strong and sharp;"the pungent taste of radishes"
126. deplorable of very poor quality or condition
127. industrious characterized by hard work and perseverance
128. canopy a covering (usually of cloth) that serves as a roof to shelter an area from the weather
129. counsel give advice to
130. reservoir lake used to store water for community use
131. dramatic pertaining to or characteristic of drama
132. memorize commit to memory; learn by heart
133. relevant having a bearing on or connection with the subject at issue
134. pedestrian a person who travels by foot
135. consumer a person who uses goods or services
136. structure a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts
137. arrogant having or showing feelings of unwarranted importance out of overbearing pride
138. defective having a defect
139. attainable capable of being attained or accomplished
140. fierce marked by extreme and violent energy
141. gross visible to the naked eye (especially of rocks and anatomical features)
142. glaring conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible
143. vulgar conspicuously and tastelessly indecent
144. beneficial promoting or enhancing well-being
145. apparent clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
146. sullen showing a brooding ill humor
147. impulse a sudden desire
148. retrieve get or find back; recover the use of
149. emerge come out into view, as from concealment
150. sorrow an emotion of great sadness associated with loss or bereavement
151. throttle place limits on (extent or access)
152. surly inclined to anger or bad feelings with overtones of menace
153. narrative consisting of or characterized by the telling of a story
154. particularly specifically or especially distinguished from others
155. conventional conforming with accepted standards
156. nostalgic unhappy about being away and longing for familiar things or persons
157. virtue the quality of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong
158. fluidity the property of flowing easily
159. dislodge remove or force out from a position
160. sovereign (of political bodies) not controlled by outside forces
161. rhetoric study of the technique and rules for using language effectively (especially in public speaking)
162. equivocal open to question
163. forge move ahead steadily
164. feud a bitter quarrel between two parties
165. riveting capable of arousing and holding the attention
166. monotonous sounded or spoken in a tone unvarying in pitch
167. scold censure severely or angrily
168. refute overthrow by argument, evidence, or proof
169. tangible perceptible by the senses especially the sense of touch
170. mislead lead someone in the wrong direction or give someone wrong directions
171. introspective given to examining own sensory and perceptual experiences
172. hypothesis a proposal intended to explain certain facts or observations
173. obscure make unclear, indistinct, or blurred
174. regression returning to a former state
175. invariably without variation or change, in every case
176. deteriorate become worse or disintegrate
177. deterioration process of changing to an inferior state
178. obscure not clearly understood or expressed
179. scold censure severely or angrily
180. affirm to declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true
181. deter try to prevent; show opposition to
182. climactic consisting of or causing a climax
183. trajectory the path followed by an object moving through space
184. regime the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit
185. heir a person who inherits some title or office
186. vexed troubled persistently especially with petty annoyances
187. censure harsh criticism or disapproval
188. discern detect with the senses
189. verbatim in precisely the same words used by a writer or speaker
190. perjury criminal offense of making false statements under oath
191. devise a will disposing of real property
192. scant less than the correct or legal or full amount often deliberately so
193. chastise censure severely
194. haughty having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy
195. regal belonging to or befitting a supreme ruler
196. ransom payment for the release of someone
197. stout having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships
198. motto a favorite saying of a sect or political group
199. hasty excessively quick
200. procure get by special effort
201. assail attack someone physically or emotionally
202. succor help in a difficult situation
203. doctrine a belief (or system of beliefs) accepted as authoritative by some group or school
204. irk irritate or vex
205. matrimony the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)
206. statute an act passed by a legislative body
207. tempest (literary) a violent wind
208. cabinetry the craft of making furniture (especially furniture of high quality)
209. smog air pollution by a mixture of smoke and fog
210. inattentive showing a lack of attention or care
211. moccasin soft leather shoe; originally worn by Native Americans
212. excavator a workman who excavates for foundations of buildings or for quarrying
213. subdue put down by force or intimidation
214. embark go on board
215. frantically in an uncontrolled manner
216. surpass be or do something to a greater degree
217. upholster provide furniture with padding, springs, webbing, and covers
218. immobile not capable of movement or of being moved
219. harmonious exhibiting equivalence or correspondence among constituents of an entity or between different entities
220. spectator a close observer; someone who looks at something (such as an exhibition of some kind)
221. downy like down or as soft as down
222. prattle speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly
223. futile producing no result or effect
224. asymmetrical characterized by asymmetry in the spatial arrangement or placement of parts or components
225. mandate a document giving an official instruction or command
226. mourning state of sorrow over the death or departure of a loved one
227. fatigue temporary loss of strength and energy resulting from hard physical or mental work
228. emit give off, send forth, or discharge; as of light, heat, or radiation, vapor, etc.
229. rigid incapable of or resistant to bending
230. churn a vessel in which cream is agitated to separate butterfat from buttermilk
231. merchant a businessperson engaged in retail trade
232. exclusive excluding much or all; especially all but a particular group or minority
233. shudder tremble convulsively, as from fear or excitement
234. miserable very unhappy; full of misery
235. exhaust wear out completely
236. innocence the state of being unsullied by sin or moral wrong; lacking a knowledge of evil
237. investment the act of investing; laying out money or capital in an enterprise with the expectation of profit
238. demolition the act of demolishing
239. plaster coat with plaster
240. considerate showing concern for the rights and feelings of others
241. industrious characterized by hard work and perseverance
242. attractive pleasing to the eye or mind especially through beauty or charm
243. appoint assign a duty, responsibility or obligation to
244. feeble pathetically lacking in force or effectiveness
245. belated after the expected or usual time; delayed
246. reference the act of referring or consulting
247. surf waves breaking on the shore
248. volley utter rapidly
249. downwind towards the side away from the wind
250. murky (of liquids) clouded as with sediment
251. knead manually manipulate (someone's body), usually for medicinal or relaxation purposes
252. affection a positive feeling of liking
253. enthusiasm a feeling of excitement
254. tentative unsettled in mind or opinion
255. absorb suck or take up or in
256. controlling able to control or determine policy
257. bewilder cause to be confused emotionally
258. unabashed not embarrassed

http://www.vocabtest.com/vocabulary_word_test.php?grade=8&unit=5

circumvent v. 1.to outwit; to defeat by behaving more cleverly; to outsmart; to baffle
2. to avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues); to get around

controversial adj. describes issues that cause argument, dispute, or disagreement

divergent adj. describes going in different directions; different from each other; departing from conversation, deviant

dubious adj. describes someone who is doubtful; uncertain; not convinced

flippantly adj. done in a casual, disrespectful way; humorously disrespectful; lacking seriousness

fortuitous adj. describes an event that happens by happy chance or accident; lucky

incendiary adj 1. describes something that is capable of catching or causing fires;
2. describes something that is designed to start fires;
3. describes someone who tends to stir up fighting or rebellion;
n. 1. one who deliberately sets fires, arsonist;
2. one who causes conflict or rebellion

indolent adj. describes someone who is habitually lazy or inactive; avoiding exertion

insidious adj. intended to deceive or entrap; sly, treacherous; dangerous in a secret sort of way

permissive adj. allowing much freedom; lenient; describes a parenting style that is characterized by the parent making few demands on the child

recalcitrant adj. marked by stubborn resistance to authority or guidance; defiant; stubbornly disobedient

strife n. bitter disagreement; fighting; conflict; struggle

trepidation n. a feeling of alarm or dread; fear and anxiety

incisive (adj) having/ indicating keen insight (perspicacious, judicious)

laconic (adj) using few words (taciturn, reticent)

schism (n) division into political/ religious factions (faction)

succinct (adj) clear, precise (terse, concise)

congenital (adj) existing at birth (innate, inborn)

brusque (adj) rudely abrupt (curt, petulant)

concord (n) state of harmony (unanimity, consensus)

abridge (v) to shorten a text (abbreviate)

judicious (adj) (sensible, prudent, circumspect, sagacious)

adjudicate (v) hear and judge a case (adjudge)

astute (adj) (shrewd, keen, sagacious, incisive, perspicacious)

acumen (n) quality of being able to make good judgments and quick decisions (discernment, shrewdness)

adjudge (v) to determine based upon law (adjudicate)

pragmatic (adj) concerned with practical outcomes

adjure (v) command solemnly, as under oath (beseech, enjoin, entreat)

perjure (v) to lie under oath (prevaricate)

jurisdiction (n) sphere of power and authority (domain)

prudent (adj) using good judgement (judicious, sensible)

jurisprudence (n) science or philosophy of law

eloquent (adj) well spoken (articulate, fluent)

discursive (adj) straying from the topic (digressive, desultory)

loquacious (adj) very talkative (garrulous, voluble)

anecdote (n) short humorous story

circumlocution (n) talking around a topic (evasion)

tout (v) follow/praise energetically (herald, laud, acclaim)

colloquial (adj) conversational language

tangential (adj) off-topic (irrelevant, incidental, immaterial)

grandiloquent (adj) pompous manner of talking (portentous, pontifical)

elocution (n) express speech delivery

verbatim (adj) word for word

garrulous (adj) talkative (loquacious, voluble)

verbose (adj) wordy (prolix, discursive, digressive)

pontificate (v) pompous manner of speech (declaim, sermonize, dogmatize)

benefactor (n) one who support or helps another (philanthropist)

euphonious (adj) sweet sounding (mellifluous, dulcet)

benign (adj) (harmless, innocuous)

benevolent (adj) kind (altruistic, magnanimous)

gratify (v) to please (appease, mollify)

benediction (n) expression of good wishes (blessing, sanction)

gratuity (n) small payment in gratitude

euphemism (n) substitution of an inoffensive term for an offensive one

beneficiary (n) one who receives benefits (heir, legatee, recipient)

ingratiate (v) put oneself in good favor with others (flatter, cajole, wheedle)

immutable (adj) unchangeable (permanent, inveterate)

metamorphosis (n) (transformation, transmogrification, mutation)

vacillate (v) to change one's mind repeatedly (fluctuate, waver)

transmute (v) transform (metamorphose, transmogrify, alter)

amorphous (adj) changeable in form/ lacking shape (nebulous, vague)

fickle (adj) likely to change opinion unpredictably (vacillating, mercurial)

mercurial (adj) subject to wild changes in nature (erratic, vacillating, fickle)

protean (adj) capable of assuming different forms (labile, polymorphous)

hackneyed (adj) (overused, trite, prosaic, banal)

magnanimous (adj) generous, altruistic, philanthropist)

equanimity (n) quality of being even-tempered (composure)

vacuous (adj) lacking substance (inane, asinine, fatuous)

prosaic (adj) (unimaginative, ordinary, mundane, pedestrian)

sanguine (adj) cheerfully optimistic (blithe, buoyant)

lassitude (n) feeling of weaklessness or listlessness (lethargy, stupor)

phlegmatic (adj) sluggish, lethargic, languorous, somnolent)

pusillanimous (adj) (cowardly, timorous, dastardly, craven)

choleric (adj) easily angered (irascible, fractious, splenetic)

recalcitrant (adj) stubbornly resistant to authority (refractory)

querulous (adj) disposed to complaining (peevish, caviling, captious)

splenetic (adj) easily angered (irritable, choleric, bilious)