SAT Exam Essential Vocabulary - Literary Words

Here you will learn some English literary words, such as "connive", "pathos", "semblance", etc. that you will need to ace your SATs.

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SAT Exam Essential Vocabulary

an ability or skill that has been developed through training or practice

Ex: Through years of training , his acquirement of technical drawing became exceptional .
versed [adjective]

knowledgeable or skilled in a particular field or activity, typically as a result of experience or study

Ex:
intrepid [adjective]

very courageous and not afraid of situations that are dangerous

Ex: His intrepid spirit was evident as he boldly faced the challenging climb .
temerity [noun]

the quality of being foolishly or rudely bold

Ex: Despite the risks , he acted with temerity , believing it was necessary for success .
evenhanded [adjective]

fair in judgment or treatment

Ex: In negotiations , it 's crucial to maintain an evenhanded stance to achieve a mutually beneficial outcome .
accursed [adjective]

condemned to suffer or face misfortune as a result of supernatural punishment

Ex: Legend has it that the accursed amulet brought tragedy to all who possessed it .
trying [adjective]

hard to manage or endure

Ex:
taxing [adjective]

demanding or requiring a considerable amount of effort and energy to deal with

Ex:
garb [noun]

the clothes or attire that someone wears, often chosen for a specific occasion or purpose

Ex: He donned protective garb before entering the hazardous environment .
order [noun]

a group of people organized together because they share similar interests or goals

Ex: The international order of scientists collaborated on groundbreaking research projects .
heather [noun]

yarn or fabric with mixed colors that create muted greyish shades, often with flecks of other colors

Ex:
clump [noun]

a tightly packed or clustered group or mass

Ex: She found a clump of wildflowers growing by the roadside .
feast [noun]

a meal with fine food, typically for many people, celebrating a special event

Ex: They prepared a feast to mark the festival .
bristle [noun]

a short, thick, coarse hair growing naturally on an animal or person

Ex: The dog 's neck bristles stood up in alarm .
sundry [adjective]

a collection of different kinds of items gathered together without any particular order

Ex: The box in the attic held sundry toys , books , and old photographs .
modicum [noun]

a relatively small degree of a good and desirable thing

Ex: He has a modicum of talent for painting , though he mostly keeps it as a hobby .

to manage or take care of a situation, task, or responsibility successfully

Ex:
to trail [verb]

to be pulled along by a leading force

Ex: The long scarf trailed in the breeze as she walked along the beach .
tippler [noun]

a person who regularly enjoys drinking alcohol, often seen indulging in social settings

Ex: As a tippler , she appreciates the nuanced flavors of various cocktails .

a feeling of long-lasting sadness that often cannot be explained

Ex: The melancholy of the autumn season was reflected in the falling leaves and the gray skies .
queer [adjective]

deviating from what is considered conventional or expected

Ex: She had a queer sense of humor that not everyone appreciated .
stale [adjective]

lacking freshness or excitement due to overuse, age, or repetition

Ex: The once-thriving show had gone stale after several seasons without change .
stilted [adjective]

showing a formal stiffness, often without a natural flow

Ex:
bosom [noun]

a person's chest

Ex: The pirate hid his treasure map within the folds of his shirt , near his bosom .
prow [noun]

the forward part of a ship or boat, typically pointed and leading ahead through the water

Ex: The artist captured the ship 's prow in intricate detail in their painting .
to abash [verb]

to make someone feel uneasy and ashamed

Ex: It 's not polite to abash someone by pointing out their flaws in public .

to secretly cooperate or conspire with others, typically to commit wrongdoing or deceit

Ex: Some members of the organization are currently conniving to undermine the authority of the leader .
bondsman [noun]

a person who signs a bond to guarantee another's fulfillment of obligations

Ex: She became a bondsman for her sister 's business loan , ensuring timely repayments .

to move clumsily or struggle while walking

Ex: The elderly gentleman began to flounder on the icy sidewalk , careful not to slip and fall .
throng [noun]

a large crowd of people gathered closely together

Ex: The marketplace was filled with a throng eager to buy fresh produce .

to search a place thoroughly, often in a rough or disorderly manner, especially with the intention of stealing or causing damage

Ex: Thieves ransacked the store , taking electronics and jewelry .
to demur [verb]

to express one's disagreement, refusal, or reluctance

Ex: Instead of openly agreeing , John demurred and suggested exploring alternative solutions .

to approach or address someone aggressively or boldly, often with an intent to engage in conversation

Ex: The aggressive panhandler is currently accosting passersby for spare change .

the state of being unhappy and despairing

Ex: Despite his efforts to stay positive , the constant setbacks led him into a spiral of despondency .
deprecatory [adjective]

characterized by remarks or actions that diminish or belittle something's value or significance

Ex:

to treat someone disrespectfully by showing a lack of attention or consideration

Ex: He chose to slight his colleague by not acknowledging the hard work she had put into the project .
indigo [adjective]

having a rich color between dark blue and purple

pyre [noun]

a large stack of wood used for burning the body of a dead person at a funeral

mirth [noun]

a feeling of happiness, joy, or amusement

Ex: The playful banter between colleagues added an atmosphere of mirth to the workplace .
to croon [verb]

to sing in a soft, gentle, and melodious manner, often with a sentimental or romantic tone

Ex: She crooned softly as she played the piano , creating a peaceful atmosphere .
to await [verb]

to wait for something or someone

Ex: The students anxiously await the announcement of exam results .
listlessly [adverb]

in a manner lacking energy, enthusiasm, or interest

Ex: The cat lay on the couch listlessly , ignoring its favorite toy .
stately [adjective]

impressive and great in size

Ex: The library housed a collection of stately volumes , each bound in leather and showcasing the knowledge within .
to wend [verb]

to travel or proceed on a course, especially slowly or indirectly

Ex: After getting lost , they wended back to the main road .

to fail to be successful or make any progress

Ex: The ambitious project languished for years due to a lack of interest and investment .
to wince [verb]

to show a facial expression that signifies shame or pain

Ex:
tempest [noun]

a strong and violent storm characterized by high winds, heavy rain, thunder, and lightning

trace [noun]

an indication or evidence of the former presence or existence of something

spoiled [adjective]

(of a person) displaying a childish behavior due to being treated very well or having been given everything they desired in the past

Ex: The spoiled teenager expected her parents to buy her the latest phone without even asking for it .
smouldering [adjective]

related to a state of intense or suppressed anger that is simmering beneath the surface, often not openly expressed

Ex:
daredevil [adjective]

reckless and willing to do dangerous things

Ex: Despite warnings , the daredevil motorcyclist attempted to jump over rows of cars at high speed .
bower [noun]

a pleasant shady place under trees or climbing plants in a garden or wood

Ex: Birds built their nests in the leafy bowers of the ancient oak trees .

to isolate or separate something or someone from outside influence or contact

Ex: The scientists sequestered the lab rats in a controlled environment to observe their behavior .
basely [adverb]

in a manner that is dishonorable, mean, or morally low

Ex: The thief basely stole money from the charity fund .

to officially decide and declare in a law court that someone is not guilty of a crime

Ex: Last month , the court acquitted the accused after a thorough trial .
leave [noun]

permission or authorization to do something

Ex: The manager granted leave for early departure .

to directly address someone or something in a passionate or emotional manner

Ex: Shakespeare 's characters often apostrophize fate , questioning its role in their lives .
to swoon [verb]

to lose consciousness temporarily, often due to strong emotion, heat, or exhaustion

Ex: The heat made several people swoon during the outdoor concert .
wreath [noun]

a circular arrangement of flowers, leaves, or other materials, often used as a decoration or tribute

Ex: At the memorial service , mourners laid wreaths of lilies and carnations .

to spoil, harm, or destroy something, such as a plant, crop, or place, typically due to disease, pests, or unfavorable conditions

Ex: The ongoing drought is blighting the landscape , turning once lush green fields into parched wastelands .
stringent [adjective]

(of a law, regulation, rule, etc.) extremely limiting and strict

Ex: They had to comply with stringent safety standards on the construction site .
stubble [noun]

the leftover plant material, like seed coverings and bits of stem or leaves, remaining after crops are harvested

Ex:
pathos [noun]

a quality that evokes deep emotions, particularly feelings of pity, sorrow, or empathy

Ex: The documentary conveyed the pathos of poverty through intimate portraits of families .
vatic [adjective]

describing someone or something having qualities associated with prophecy or foresight

Ex: The vatic symbolism in the painting suggested hidden meanings about the human condition .
anon [adverb]

used to indicate that something will happen or be done soon, without delay

Ex:
edifice [noun]

a large, imposing building, especially one that is impressive in size or appearance

Ex: The library was an impressive edifice of knowledge and learning .

to clearly express or show a feeling, quality, or attitude through words, actions, or appearance

Ex: Her calm tone evinced a quiet confidence .

a condition or situation that is similar or only appears to be similar to something

Ex: The peace treaty provided only a semblance of resolution to the ongoing conflict .

in a manner that lacks good judgment or discretion

Ex: She spoke injudiciously about her boss , unaware that he was listening .
clad [adjective]

wearing clothes, especially in a particular manner or material

Ex:
tavern [noun]

a place where alcoholic drinks and sometimes food are served, often for socializing

Ex: In the village square , the tavern was a bustling hub .

to disagree or deny that something is true

Ex: It is difficult to gainsay the impact of climate change on our environment .