Help your child learn SAT Words.
WORD OF THE DAY:
Monday, August 24 – ABASE (v.) – to lower, demean, degrade
The honor student abased himself by his poor behavior in class.
Tuesday, August 25 – ABATE (v.) – to lessen, to reduce in severity
The thunderstorm finally abated its strength after several minutes of heavy rain.
Wednesday, August 26 – ABBREVIATE (v.) – to shorten, reduce
When writing a formal essay, do not abbreviate any words.
Thursday, August 27 – ABDUCT (v.) – to kidnap
In the book that she read for her report, the killer abducted his victims before he harmed them.
Friday, August 28 – ABERRATION (n.) – a deviation from the expected course
After the student finished his chemistry experiment, he noticed a decided aberration from his hypothesis.
Wednesday, September 9 – ABUNDANT (adj.) – in great numbers
After a week of heavy rain, the mosquitoes were very abundant in the back yard.
Thursday, September 10 – ACCEDE (v.) – to agree
The student finally acceded to his teacher’s advice to study thoroughly for the final exam.
Friday, September 11 – ACCENTUATE (v.) – to emphasize, highlight
The counselor accentuated the importance of a good introductory essay when applying for college admittance.
Monday, September 14 – ACCOMMODATING (adj.) – obliging, helpful
Customers respond in a positive manner if the employees are accommodating when they go into a store.
Tuesday, September 15 – ACCOST (v.) – to approach or confront aggressively
The administrator accosted the students who were trying to run into the woods instead of going to class.
Wednesday, September 16 – ACUMEN (n.) – keen insight
The senior demonstrated his acumen in AP calculus because he had learned many math concepts in his IB math studies class.
Thursday, September 17 – ACUTE (adj.) – sharp, severe
The boy was absent because he contracted an acute case of swine flu.
Friday, September 18 – AFFABLE (adj.) – friendly, amiable
Try to be affable on your first day in a class because it can help you meet new people.
Monday, September 21 – AFFLUENT (adj.) – rich, wealthy
You do not have to be affluent to have a happy life.
Tuesday, September 22 – AGGRANDIZE (v.) – to increase or make grater
In the medieval history class, we learned that dukes would aggrandize their territory by attacking nearby castles.
Wednesday, September 23 – AGHAST (adj.) – struck by amazement or terror
Jose’s parents were aghast after seeing his report card with all A’s on it.
Thursday, September 24 – AGRORAPHOBIA (n.) – an abnormal fear of open or public places
The students who wander the halls during classes do not suffer agoraphobia.
Tuesday, September 29 – AKIMBO (adj.) – with hands on hip and elbows extending outwards
When Maria came home very late one evening her mother was waiting for her at the door with arms akimbo.
Wednesday, September 30 – ALACRITY (n.) – speed, readiness
The 9th graders greeted the Biology H.S.A. with great alacrity because they had been taught well.
Thursday, October 1 – ALGID (adj.) – frigid, cold
The temporary classroom was not algid because it had its own heating system.
Friday, October 2 – ALLAY (v.) to soothe, assuage
The coach allayed his player’s fears about playing a team which had never lost a game.
Monday, October 5 – ALLEVIATE (v.) – to relieve
To alleviate the student’s stress during testing, the examiner allowed them a break between sessions.
Tuesday, October 6 – ALOOF (adj.) – reserved, distant
Although some saw her aloof behavior as arrogance, in reality it was only shyness.
Wednesday, October 7 – ALTERCATION (n.) – an argument, dispute
There was an altercation between the students from the two schools during the state finals.
Thursday, October 8 – AMALGAMATION (n.) – a union, a merger
Because of the poor economy during the recession, many businesses are forming an amalgamation so that they can make a profit.
Friday, October 9 – AMBIVALENT (adj.) – having contradictory feelings
The student was ambivalent about whether to take rigorous courses during her senior year.
Wednesday, October 14 – AMEND (v.) – to change for the better, improve
The School Board wanted to amend the Code of Student Conduct so that it could be more easily understood.
Thursday, October 15 – AMIABLE (adj.) – friendly, affable
The new cat seemed very amiable because he allowed everyone to pet him.
Monday, October 19 – AMOROUS (adj.) – relating to or showing love
Romeo and Juliet are always remembered because they were an amorous young couple.
Tuesday, October 20 – ANOMALY (n.) – something that does not fit into the normal order
While he was viewing the sky one night, he noticed an anomaly in one of the constellations and wondered if it could be a UFO.
Wednesday, October 21 – ANTECHAMBER (n.) – a waiting room
The president had the reporter wait in the antechamber before the press conference.
Thursday, October 22 – ANXIETY (n.) – uneasiness
The student had just finished driver’s education, but he was still anticipating the driving test with anxiety.
Friday, October 23 – APHORISM (n.) – a short saying
Every day on the morning announcements, a staff member gives an aphorism about character development.
Thursday, October 29 – ASCETIC (n.) – one who practices restraint as a means of self-discipline, usually religious
Mahatama Gandhi is often thought to be the epitome of an ascetic
Monday, November 2 – ASSUAGE (v.) – to ease; to pacify
The mother assuaged her child’s far of the dark by providing a night light.
Tuesday, November 3 – ATONE (v.) – to apologize, to make amends
Some people never atone for their mistakes because they just keep making them
Wednesday, November 4 – AUDACIOUS (adj.) – excessively bold
The other school’s football coach seemed very audacious with his team, but he inspired them to win the game.
Thursday, November 5 – AUGMENT (v.) – to increase or make larger
The senior had to augment his earnings to make sure that he could pay for the yearbook, the prom and his cap and gown.
Friday, November 6 – AUSTERE (adj.) – very bare, bleak and simple
When Calvin finally got to his dorm room, he found it very austere because there was only a bed, desk and dresser.
Monday, November 9 – BALEFUL (adj.) – harmful; threatening
As the sky turned dark gray and the thunderstorm case rolling in, we knew that we were going to experience a baleful event.
Tuesday, November 10 – BARD (n.) – a poet, often a singer as well
The epic poem of Beowulf was sung by a bard.
Thursday, November 12 – BATTERY (n.) – an assault or an array of similar things intended to use together
The School Resource Officer charged the student with assault and battery after the fight.
Friday, November 13 – BELLIGERENT (adj.) – contentious, ready to fight
Do not be so belligerent because there is always peer mediation.
Monday, November 16 – BENEVOLENT (adj.) – kind, good, caring
The parents of the student established a scholarship in their son’s name because they were benevolent.
Tuesday, November 17 – BENIGN (adj.) – non-threatening, innocuous
The man was elated when he found out his tumor was benign.
Wednesday, November 18 – BERATE (v.) – to rebuke or scold angrily and at length
The teacher berated her students because they did not turn in a major assignment.
Thursday, November 19 – BEREFT (adj.) – without, devoid of
The land was bereft of trees after the forest fire.
Friday, November 20 – BIDE (v.) – to await; to wait for
Students bided their time by listening to music until the bus arrived.