Remember: when learning any vocabulary, you should not only write down the word and denotation, (dictionary definition) …but you also need to generate symbols for the word, gestures for the word, antonyms for the word, personal connections/applications (how the word applies to you) and the definition of the word by your own interpretation.
7 way Vocabulary Breakdown example:
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WORD– Foible (noun)
DENOTATION– weakness, flaw, shortcoming in character SYMBOL- (Draw a picture)
GESTURE- Pretend to limp around
ANTONYM- strength, aptitude
TEXT CONNECTION-One of Meg Murry’s greatest foibles is her irascibility; she is an unpredictable volcano of emotions!
OWN DEFINITION- A foible is a shortcoming or flaw in someone or something.
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Apply a word in as many contexts as you can–Otherwise, you are just memorizing and regurgitating them; make them mean something and use them properly in your reading, speaking and writing.
It is the context through which the word is applied that drives its meaning and purpose!
Pocabularem…
…sooo, i have a foible— a cracking, breaking, weakness- it’s a laceration in my heart—-
No need to harangue me about it, insults pale in comparison to its reality
Stop abashing me, i exact you to stop…the foible…not you, you see now?
i have a foible, but so do you, it may not be the same…
SAT “Quack” Vocabulary Part 1
Foible- weakness, flaw, shortcoming in character
Lacerate- to rip, maul, tear, mutilate, or mangle
Harangue- mean, nasty, angry speech
Exact- to demand of or from
Abash- to embarrass
Tact- skill with words or in dealing with people (in hard situations)
Uncouth-crude, unrefined; awkward
Fetish- an abnormally obsessive preoccupation; a fixation
Phobia- a persistent, illogical fear
Masticate- to chew
Laconic- not saying much; brief, succinct, and concise
Malevolent- wishing evil on others; malicious
Meander- to wander around aimlessly
Apex- tip, peak, summit, highest point
Nadir- the absolute lowest point
Disseminate- to dispense objects; to distribute
Emaciated- to be excessively thin or weak
Puissant- powerful, mighty
Citadel- a fortress overlooking a city; a stronghold
Atrophy- to wither away
SAT “Quack” Vocabulary Part 2
Ornate- elaborately or excessively decorated
Austere- stern in manner, plain, no excess
Cerebral- of or relating to the brain
Incommodious- lacking space; uncomfortable
Noisome- offensive or disgusting
Cacophony- harsh sounds or disturbing noises
Veritable-unquestionable; true; actual
Verbatim- using the exact same words; word for word
Concurrent- at the same time; in conjunction
Evade- to elude or avoid by cunning
impede- to obstruct or interfere with; to delay
Askew- to one side; crooked
Queue- to form or wait in a line (a waiting line)
Accolade- award or honor
Torrid- parched by the sun; hot or burning
Trepidation- fear or state of anxiety; fear which makes you tremble
Fraught- teeming with; causing emotional distress
Wane- to decrease gradually
Oust- to eject; force out; banish
Temerity- reckless; wild craziness; disregard for danger
SAT “Quack” Vocabulary Part 3
Connoisseur- an expert, particularly in matters of art and taste
Asunder- in separate parts; apart from each other in position
Raze- to tear down; demolish to the ground
Blighted- ruined; destroyed, withered
Aghast- horrified
Milieu- environment or surroundings
Arduous- hard; difficult, tiresome
Coterie- a circle of close friends; inner circle
Awry- off course; twisted to one side
Table- to remove from consideration; postpone
Harried- to be troubled; bothered
Irascible- easily angered; irritable
Congenial- pleasant; friendly
Boisterous- rowdy and raucous
Chimerical- unreal, imaginary, highly unrealistic
Vertigo- sensation of dizziness, disorientation
Fallacious- false, wrong, incorrect
Impasse- dead end (impassable)
Zeal- enthusiasm
Berate- to scold severely
SAT “Quack” Vocabulary Part 4
Vacillate- to swing from one course or opinion to another
Lassitude- listlessness, weariness, fatigue
Garrulous- very talkative, loquacious
Myriad- an extremely large number
Noxious- physically or mentally destructive; harmful to human beings
Accost- to approach and speak to boldly, or aggressively, as with a demand or request
Beatific- displaying or imparting joy
Nuance- subtle variation in color, meaning, or some other quality
Quagmire- a difficult or precarious
Somber- dark, dull, gloomy
Unawares- by surprise; unexpectedly
Suffrage- the right to vote; franchise
Cloister- a tranquil, secluded place
Docile- yielding to supervision; easily taught; obedient
Surfeit- an excessive amount; surplus
Incongruous- not appropriate; unsuited for the surroundings; not fitting in
Aloof- distant and reserved in manner; uninvolved
Harrowing- Extremely distressing, disturbing, or frightening
Chronic- continuing for a long time
Accentuate- to stress, or emphasize
SAT “Quack” Vocabulary Part 5
Truncate- to shorten
Baneful- causing woe; destructive, harmful, deadly
Circumspect- prudent; cautious
Admonish- to warn; to caution
Tantamount- of equal value or significance
Neologism- a new word or phrase; a new usage of a word
Respite- a period of rest or relief
Capitulate- to surrender; to give up, give in
Aphorism- concise statement of a truth or principle
Confute- to argue or point out error
Dexterous- adroit or skillful in the use of hands or body
Entice- to lure to attract, to tempt in a pleasuring fashion
Indolent- lazy
Perfunctory- unenthusiastic; careless
Vapid- without liveliness; dull and spiritless
Visage- a face or facial expression
Slovenly- messy; characteristic of a slob
Stolid- showing little emotion or pain; emotionally solid
Taciturn- not talkative by nature.
Egregious- extremely bad, flagrant