SAT Vocabulary for Juniors

Lesson 11

#1 Elixir: n. a supposed remedy for all ailmentssyn: medicine; panacea

Everyone wants to drink the elixir from the mythic Fountain of Youth.

“Love is the energizing elixir of the universe, the cause and effect of all harmonies.”-Unknown

#2 Desiccated: adj. dried up

His weathered, aged features reminded Nellie of a desiccated prune.

The performance of the famous symphony was technically perfect, but desiccate when the critics later reflected on the show.

#3 Cessation: n. a stopping; a discontinuancesyn: ceasing; end / ant: beginning; commencement

The cessation of pain was a relief for the wounded adventurer, but Dirk knew that it was

only because he was going into shock.

“It is within this fathoms-long carcass, with its mind and its notions, that I declare there is the world, the origin of the world, the cessation of the world and the path leading to the cessation of the world”-Buddha

#4 Juxtapose: v. to place side-by-side for comparisonsyn: measure; examine

To portray a subtle difference in culture, the photographer juxtaposed a bus driver from America, who wore a polo shirt and slacks, with a bus driver from Japan, who wore a

fancy uniform with white gloves.

“It's very colorful with many different colors juxtaposed. That is part of the charm of the design. Every color goes with every color.”-Joe Ruggiero

#5 Kinetic: adj. pertaining to motion

We live in a kinetic world in which, always, somewhere, someone is in motion.

“He was still optimistic, but it was a less kinetic, a more thoughtful optimism.”-H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds

#6 Garrulous: adj. talkativesyn: loquacious; verbose / ant: taciturn

After days of silence, the old prospector suddenly turned into a garrulous

storyteller.

“Old men are garrulous by nature.”-Marcus Tullius Cicero

#7 Fetish: n. an object that receives respect or devotionsyn: charm; talisman

The shaman made a fetish of the bear claw, which was thought to retain the

spirit of the animal.

“Independence - is loyalty to one's best self and principles, and this is often disloyalty to the general idols and fetishes.”-Mark Twain

#8 Scintillate: v. to sparkle; to twinkle; to sparkle intellectually

With witty remarks and fascinating tales, the raconteur scintillated as keynote speaker.

“Let us all hope that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away, and that in some not too distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation with all their scintillating beauty.”-Martin Luther King, Jr

#9 Lachrymose: adj. tearful, weepy

The undertaker hired a professional mourner who could fake lachrymose

behavior on cue.

The child became lachrymose after being scolded for taking a cookie without permission.

#10 Fissure: n. an opening; a groove; a split

A fissure developed in their previously solid relationship.

“Humor is vague, runaway stuff that hisses around the fissures and crevices of the mind, like some sort of loose physic gas”-Jonathan Miller

#11 Epitome: n. a typical examplesyn: embodiment; archetype

When looking for the epitome of creative glory, most playwrights select

Shakespeare.

“Indifference, to me, is the epitome of evil.”-Elie Wiesel

#12 Languid: adj. sluggish; drooping from weaknesssyn: listless; feeble; drooping / ant: robust; vigorous

The fatigued crossing guard slowly lifted and lowered a languid arm.

“Life without a purpose is a languid, drifting thing; every day we ought to review our purpose, saying to ourselves, 'This day let me make a sound beginning, for what we have hitherto done is naught!'”-Thomas Kempis

#13 Delineate: v. to describe, to depict

Professor Thompson hinted at and then fully delineated her plan for the class

year.

“Do you want to know who you are? Don't ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you.”-Thomas Jefferson

#14 Legerdemain: n. sleight of hand; deception

Misdirection is a key component of a magician’s legerdemain.

“He already sang as nobody on this earth had ever sung before; he practised ventriloquism and gave displays of legerdemain so extraordinary that the caravans returning to Asia talked about it during the whole length of their journey.”-Gaston Leroux, The Phantom of the Opera

#15 Libertine: n. one who leads an immoral lifesyn: hedonist; glutton; epicurean

The marquis was a notorious libertine who spent his entire fortune on elaborate parties

and lavish luxuries.

“Maidens and modesty, as I have said, wandered at will alone and unattended, without fear of insult from lawlessness or libertine assault, and if they were undone it was of their own will and pleasure.”-Miguel Cervantes, Don Quixote