1. Meaning: to shortenExample: "abridge"2. Usage notes from the entry sharpen the focus of the meaning:
"abridge" usage notes: reduce the scope of but keep in the main points3. Part of speech: adjective or verb - make sure you use the word the correct way in a sentence: "I read the abridged version." not "I read the abridge."
4. Antonym: Thinking about the opposite of your word will help you to understand what it means - The antonym for "abridge" is "extenuate"or "to make longer"
5. Analogy: Making up an analogy will force you to really think about the angles of your word's meaning: abridge: extenuate:: shorten: lengthen
6. Sentence Completion: Making up an SAT- like sentence with a clue phrase in it helps you to sharpen your understanding of your word's usage: Since his version was thinner than mine, it was probably an "abridged" version.
7. Mnemonic: Building a sentence from a familiar word that sounds like your vocabulary word can give you a memorable clue to the word's meaning - A bridge abridges travel time over the river - shortens it. When you think of the word "bridge," you will be prompted to think of the meaning of "abridge."
8. Origin: Sometimes an origin with yield a clue to meaning - "abridge" is from the Latin "abbreviare" which sounds like "abbreviate" meaning to shorten
9. Root/Prefix/Suffix: Pieces of the word can give solid clues as to meaning:
"a" = one piece of/ singular
"bridge" = a structure spanning and providing passage over an obstacle10. Category of Word: Thinking of a category to house your word will help you to see the bigger picture - see the section on categories below
11. Users: Thinking of people who would tend to use the word in typical conversation will help you to get the meaning of your word down - "abridge" would be used by an author or a reader
12. Confusing Similar Words: words such as "umbrage" that might sound like "abridge" could be confused with it. Try to think of words that would confuse your understanding of the word that you are studying and make sure that you have the differences between the words down.
SAT Verbal Categories
(Vocabulary Lists 1 – 6)In an effort to understand the subtle meanings of a new word, we categorize each word. In this way, we can see how each word relates to other words and not be forced to just memorize each word in isolation. The point is to make each word familiar, friendly, and usable. The results of our ongoing categorization will be listed below. Use the categories to help you study the words.
WHAT TIME IS IT?
Anachronism-Because something
doesn’t happen in its proper time
Chronological-Because something occurs in order of time
Synchronize-Because things happen at the same time
QUICK THINKING
Impetuous-Because it means spur
of the moment
Impulsive-Because it is
something done on first impulse without thought
Impromptu-Because it means spur
of the moment
Rash-Because it means doing
something without thought
Laconic-Because it means brief
Reticent-Because it means saying
little
Succinct-Because it means brief
Taciturn-Because it means brief
and to the point
Fleeting-Because it means short
lived
Transient-Because it means
temporary
Ephemeral-Because it means
temporary
Evanescent-Because it means short
WHO CAN IT BE NOW?
Anomaly- Because it’s hard to understand
Elusive- Because it’s hard to catch
Amorphous- Because it has no form
Incorporeal- Because it has no substance
Misnomer- Because it has the wrong
name
IF YOU CAN’T SAY ANYTHING NICE
Atheist- Because it’s a disapproval of god
Perfidious- Because it’s an untrustworthy person
Exacerbate- Because it ignites a conflict
Repugnant- Because it is not liked
Abhor- Because
it means hatred
OVERKILL
Redundant- Because you are repeating over and over again
Exorbitant- Because it means unreasonable and out of orbit
Expound- Because you're giving more info than is necessary
Extrovert- Because you're more outgoing than necessary
Superfluous- Beacause it is something that exceeds what is needed to be done
Unremitting- Because you go without stopping
Ecstatic-Because you are very joyous and enthusiastic
I'M A LOSER BABY
Disconsolate- Because it is a down or depressing expression
Dispirited- Because it is a down or depressing expression
Despondent- Because it is discouragement
Dejected- Because it is discouragement
YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL
Refurbish – Because it's making something new again
Rejuvenate- Because it's making someone feel young again
Revitalize – Because you retain the energy that you had lost
Resilient – Because you're bouncing back from a change or adversity
Complacent- Because you're becoming satisfied as well as calm
Placate- because you're calming anger
I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW
Elucidate- Because you're making knowledge clearer
Lucid- Because everything’s clear and understood
Acuity/Acumen- Because it’s a mental state
Acute- Because it describes how you are mentally
Circumspect- Because you look around and know about your surroundings
Chronological- Because the dates are in order and help you understand events
Perspicacity - Because it is a great understanding of one or many things
BORING!
Unfounded- Because there is nothing there
Unfazed- Because it’s calm
Placid- Because you are calm and peaceful
Banal- Because it means common place or worn out
Hackneyed- Because it means the same as banal, overused
Trite- Because it also means
overused
I’LL BE THE JUDGE OF THAT
Unfettered- Because it has to do with the law
Unsubstantiated- Because it’s not proven
Impartial- Because you're treating everything equally
Inauspicious- Because it's not favorable
WEIRD SCIENCE
Unorthodox- Because it’s out of the ordinary
Eccentric- Because you're odd or weird
Amorphous- Because you don’t have a definite shape
Incorporeal- Because there is no material form
Pellucid/Translucent- Because it is very clear
Anachronism- Because it's out of its time
YOU’RE SO VAIN
Unparalleled- Because you think you’re better than everyone else
Supercilious-Because you're cocky and think your better than everyone else
Implacable-Because you wont be calmed
Anarchy-Because you wont agree with the norm
Immutable-Because you refuse to change
Affluent- Because you have it all
Insatiable- Because you always need more
I WILL SURVIVE
Unscathed- Because you are not getting hurt
Eminent- Because it’s notable
Indefatigable- Because you're incapable of becoming tired
Intrepid- Because you are brave
Elusive-Because you can't be caught
Extricate-Because you get it out
Inviolable-Because you can't be beaten
Allay- Because it is to lessen pain
Alleviate- Because it is to reduce intensity
Appease- Because it is to reduce or soothe
Mitigate- Because it is the same as appease
Mollify- Because it is the same appease and mitigate
I'M SO SNEAKY
Clandestine- Because it means
covert
Covert- Because it means the
same as clandestine
Circumspect- Because it means to
be cautious
Furtive- Because it also means
to be sneaky
Surreptitious- Because it means to be stealthy
NASTY BOYS
Miscreant- Because you behave criminally
Malediction-Because you're saying something bad
Impious-Because you're disrespectful
Incorrigible- Because you're incapable of being corrected
Acrid-Because it has a nasty smell or taste
Acrimonious-Because you're full of spite
Segregate- Because you are separating
Intractable- Because you are not disciplined
Intransigent- Because you refuse to compromise
Obstinate- Because you are stubborn
Covert, Stealthy, Surreptitious- Because you're being sneaky
Dogged, obdurate, Recalcitrant- because you are stubborn
Impugn- Because you're being critical
Pugnacious- Because you like to fight
Revoke- Because you're taking back something that you had
Infidelity- Because you have no faith and don’t believe in god
Misanthrope- Because you hate mankind
ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?
Misnomer- Because you call someone by the wrong name
Garrulous- Because it means overly talkative
Verbose- Because it means overly talkative
Reticent- Because it means saying little or keeping to the point
Loquacious- Because it means overly talkative
MY BUDDY
Amicable-Because you are friendly
Gregarious-Because you are very sociable
Confluence- Because you are coming together as one
Ecstatic- Because it means to be excited
Elated, Exhilarated, Exuberant- Because they all mean ecstatic
Fidelity-
Because you have faith in something or someone
YOU'VE GOT
TO START SOMEWHERE
Overture- Because it’s an
introduction to a musical
Prelude- Because its and
introduction to a performance
Prologue- Because its an
introduction to a poem
Preamble- Because its an
introduction to a constitution
Preface- Because it’s an
introductory statement to a book
LETS MAKE THIS SHORT
Laconic- Because it means
succinct
Reticent- Because it means
saying little or keeping brief
Succinct- Because its means
laconic
Taciturn- Because it is saying
little or keeping brief and to the point
HURRY
UP
Impromptu- Because it means done
at the spur of the moment
Rash- Because it means done on
first impulse without careful thought
Impetuous- Because it means done
on the spur of the moment
Impulsive- Because it means the
same as rash
GOODBYE
Coda- Because it means a
concluding musical section
Epilogue- Because it means a
concluding section of a literary work
Postscript- Because it means a
note or series of notes appended to a completed letter
Vocabulary Tales (As the course progresses and our word bank grows, we will use our new words to develop our stories listed below. Keep coming back for updates. Vocabulary words studied are in Italics)
After 10 straight losses Randy Johnson seems to have refurbished his game with three straight shutouts.
Anarchy breaks out at an inauspicious time for the NHL; it isn’t looking good for next year.
This Sunday the Patriots travel to Buffalo to try to capture their elusive 18th straight win. Since coming to New England from the Bengals, Corey Dillon looks to be rejuvenated as he has rushed for over 500 yards in his first three games. The Patriots indefatigable defense seems to be unstoppable. Their inviolable secondary has allowed the fewest completions in the NFL. In our impartial view, we believe they will continue their winning streak and will be unfazed by the Bills' defense and their unremitting fans.
Who gets your vote for this years intrepid MLB MVP?
a. Manny Ramirez
b. Gary Shefield
c. David Ortiz
d. Barry Bonds
e. Albert Pujols
Log on to ESPN.com to vote. Results when we return.
(To be continued...)
True Life: I’m Related to the Eminent Brittney Spears
Being the sister of Britney, I know firsthand that the life of the eccentric Britney Spears is far from normal. Her eminent figure is known all around the world, but I still view her as my big sister. When she comes home, she is very elusive, trying to escape the notice of the paparazzi. When Britney repatriates back to her hometown of Kentwood, she uses it as a vacation to revitalize her spirits. Being an extrovert, she is always friendly to her fans. Her indefatigable drive for music and her many hours put into the studio are the reasons for her immutable success.
Despite the negative remarks from critics, she remains resilient, often bouncing back from her misfortunes. While getting together with our family, Britney is often unfettered and not bothered by the impious media. There are many unfounded articles about her through the numerous magazines and newspapers expounding false rumors which are completely disregarded by our family. The ridiculous, redundant stories heard over and over again get old fast and are unsubstantiated, having nothing to back them up. The only truth about her intrepid lifestyle is shown through her concert performances.
During one of Britney’s concerts there was an inauspicious circumstance that took everyone by surprise. I was sitting back stage, and I noticed the crowd becoming more and more uncontrollable. The guards lost control of the crowd and there was complete anarchy. The safety of my sister was at risk.
(music fades out…
FRIENDS: Pheobe Has Twins
Phoebe Bouffet was normally an excited extrovert, always being the center of attention, but since she conceived her brother’s twins, her emotions have been quite exorbitant and out of the ordinary. The ultra sound had shown the babies’ amorphous shapes inside her growing stomach, and she wished she could somehow revoke her consent to her brother’s favor.
“I feel fat,” she said while insatiably munching on her greasy potato chips.
“Well I think my problem is slightly bigger, Pheebs,” Chandler exclaimed as he ran into the room. “Could I be in a bigger predicament?” Chandler had recently repatriated to New York after his pretend excursion to “Yemen” to escape from his eccentric ex-girlfriend, Janice.
“Wow, Chandler, you really are elusive. I’m surprised you escaped her at all.” Janice was indefatigable. Her obnoxious voice still haunted Chandler, though she was miles away searching for the small and nonexistent country of “Yemen.” “Oh my God!”
“Don’t imitate her Pheebs,” Chandler said, covering his ears.
“No, the baby…I think my water broke.”
(To be continued...)
Family Guy
(Stew, Louise, Peter, Kris, and Megan are in the kitchen)
Stew – What the deuce? Can you extricate my ray gun from the cupboard?
Louise – That would be unorthodox parenting. Why don’t you just play with your teddy bear?
Pete – Hahahaha, yeah Stew; only big kids can have guns. Here you go Kris.
Kris – Thanks dad. (As he shoots Megan, changing her into an amorphous blob)
Stew – How dare you be so impious to me.
Kris – Hahahaha, she looks like jelly.
Louise – KRIS, this isn’t funny.
Stew – This result seems to be an anomaly which I never predicted.
Ryan – (Comes in the door, steps on Megan) Who spilt jelly all over the floor?
Louise – How was your date Ryan?
Ryan – She was too eminent for me.
Pete – Well, she IS Paris Hilton.
Ryan – I don’t think I want to be with an atheist. I’m an unremitting churchgoer because I go so much it's redundant.
Pete – What’s wrong with being an extrovert? I like outgoing people.
Ryan – You have no idea what an atheist is, do you?
Stew – Don’t you know that Pete’s intelligence is incorporeal?
Ryan – But he's dumb as a doornail.
Pete – Thank you.
Stew – Point well made. Pete is too eccentric to understand a simple concept.
Louise – Stop making fun of Pete! He can’t help it!
Pete – That’s it! I’m gonna kill myself! Nobody move, or I’ll slay myself and come back as an incorporeal spirit revitalized and unparalleled, ten times stronger than any man! … It worked for Jesus!
(Pete grabs the ray gun and points it up to his head.)
To be continued....
Everybody Abhors Whitey
“Whitey, get off your break! There's too much anarchy in front. The sub line is out the door!”
“No! This job is too redundant! I’m sick of making sandwiches all the time!”
“That’s it Whitey, I revoke your privileges to work here! You’re fired!”
Intrepid Whitey was angry so he grabbed a handful of olives and threw them at his boss. His boss did not want the customers to be disturbed so he called the police to get Whitey out of the restaurant. Whitey didn’t want to go to jail so he was elusive while sneaking out the back door. He walked home to expound the story to his wife. The unflappable wife just told Whitey not to worry about it.
Whitey wanted to talk to someone that cared so he walked out back to visit his bug collection. He was very eccentric; having collected bugs for over 10 years. His bugs are extremely eminent to Whitey so he cares for them more than anything else.
As Whitey was walking back to the house from his bug shack, he heard a loud bang.
(To be continued...)
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