PowerScore SAT 50 Medium Repeat Offenders | Day 7

Definition: abhor (vb)

• to analyze with curiosity
• to regard with disgust or hatred
• to ignore completely
• to embrace with joy

Answer explanation

Example: Abigail loves to garden, but she abhors snakes so she has given up her passion for fear of finding a snake while weeding.

Word Forms: abhorrent, abhorrently, abhorrence, abhorrer

Related Word: horror

Definition: acute (adj)

• dull or mild; weak
• sharp or severe; intense
• blunt or soft; gentle
• calm or relaxed; easy

Answer explanation

(1) Example: The patient complained of acute pain in his lower right abdomen, leading the doctor to test for appendicitis.

(2) Example: The acute student quickly solved the difficult puzzle.

Word Forms: acutely, acuteness

Definition: adept (adj)

• ignorant or uninformed
• clumsy or awkward
• skilled or proficient
• inexperienced or unskilled

Answer explanation

Example: The adept juggler was able to juggle a golf ball, an orange, a volleyball, and a bowling ball all at the same time.

Word Forms: adept (n.), adeptly, adeptness

Definition: adroit (adj)

• skillful or adept
• unskilled or incompetent
• clumsy or awkward
• slow or hesitant

Answer explanation

Example: The adroit mechanic was able to fix Addy’s old car, even though six other mechanics said it couldn’t be repaired.

Word Forms: adroitly, adroitness

Definition: affable (adj)

• indifferent and unresponsive
• friendly and easy to talk to
• hostile and confrontational
• rude and difficult to approach

Answer explanation

Example: In the fable, the affable princess was adored by all except for her three stepsisters who were angered by her friendliness.

Word Forms: affably, affability, affableness

Antonym Forms: inaffable, inaffibility

Definition: agile (adj)

• slow and clumsy
• unable to change direction
• fixed in one position
• able to move quickly and easily

Answer explanation

Example: The agile monkey entertained the onlookers by effortlessly swinging from tree to tree in the enclosure.

Word Forms: agilely, agileness, agility

Definition: apathy (n)

• A strong desire to engage in activities.

• A state of heightened awareness and concern.

• A lack of interest or concern.

• Excessive enthusiasm and energy.

Answer explanation

Example: The teacher was disappointed in the students’ apathy toward the field trip; she had mistakenly believed that this trip would finally excite them about learning.

Word Forms: apathetic, apathetical, apathetically, apathist

Related Words: sympathy, empathy, antipathy

Definition: archaic (adj)

• modern and trendy
• contemporary and stylish
• old-fashioned or outdated
• current and fashionable

Answer explanation

Example: The college cannot have sorority or fraternity houses because of an archaic town law that does not allow unmarried people to live together.

Word Forms: archaically, archaism, archaistic, archaist

Related Word: archaeology

Definition: ardor (n)

• intense enthusiasm or passion
• indifference
• mild curiosity
• lack of interest

Answer explanation

Example: Mrs. Armstrong, my English teacher, is known for her ardor for the literature William Faulkner; last summer she even visited his hometown in Mississippi in order to better visualize the settings of his books

Definition: arid (adj)

• damp or soggy
• wet and saturated
• dry or lacking moisture
• humid or moist

Answer explanation

Example: My grandmother claims that Arizona’s arid climate helps her arthritis, while Alabama’s humidity makes her hands swell.

Word Forms: aridity, aridness, aridly