English Vocabulary · SAT Preparation Live Review Preview
SAT Vocabulary Words
The current digital SAT Reading and Writing section uses short passages from literature, history and social studies, the humanities, and science. Its Craft and Structure questions ask students to determine the meaning of high-utility words in context and to choose the most logical and precise word or phrase. Vocabulary also supports evidence, inference, rhetorical synthesis, transitions, and clear Standard English expression across the section.
This independently authored 800-word beta curriculum is arranged in twenty-three pages of up to thirty-five words. Pages containing words 1–500 include five cloze questions drawn only from that enhanced range; words 501–800 remain fully visible and editable while the expanded practice layer is developed. Each row includes a passage-field label and an editable word-study note about a transparent affix, compound structure, capitalization, or dictionary base form. The list is an unofficial KSSR learning resource and is not endorsed by or affiliated with College Board. SAT is a registered trademark of College Board.
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| # | Word | Details | Meaning | Sample sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 736 | abrogate | verb StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Base-form focus: abrogate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 废除 | The legislature voted to abrogate the outdated treaty. |
| 737 | acquisitive | adjective StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Suffix focus: -ive commonly forms an adjective meaning having a quality or tendency. | 贪婪的 | The satire mocks an acquisitive society that measures worth by ownership. |
| 738 | adventitious | adjective StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by. | 外 | An adventitious discovery redirected the entire investigation. |
| 739 | apprise | verb StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Base-form focus: apprise is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 報 | The attorney promised to apprise the family of every development. |
| 740 | arrogate | verb StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Base-form focus: arrogate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 擅自 | The governor cannot arrogate powers reserved for the courts. |
| 741 | atonement | noun StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Suffix focus: -ment commonly forms a noun for an action, process, state, or result. | 1. 補償 2. 贖罪 | His public service became an attempt at atonement. |
| 742 | attenuation | noun StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Suffix focus: -ation commonly forms a noun naming an action, process, or result. | 衰减 | The wall produced measurable attenuation of the sound. |
| 743 | bifurcate | verb StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Base-form focus: bifurcate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 分叉 | The trail will bifurcate near the ridge. |
| 744 | broach | verb StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Base-form focus: broach is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 拉刀 | She waited until dinner ended to broach the funding dispute. |
| 745 | buttress | verb StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Base-form focus: buttress is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 熊 | The newly found letters buttress the historian's interpretation. |
| 746 | cadge | verb StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Base-form focus: cadge is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 带 | The traveler tried to cadge a meal from the innkeeper. |
| 747 | capitulation | noun StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Suffix focus: -ation commonly forms a noun naming an action, process, or result. | 投降 | The treaty marked the army's complete capitulation. |
| 748 | cogitate | verb StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Base-form focus: cogitate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 沉思 | The philosopher would cogitate for hours before writing a paragraph. |
| 749 | complicity | noun StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Suffix focus: -ity commonly forms a noun naming a quality, state, or condition. | 1. 同謀 2. 共謀 | The documents revealed the bank's complicity in the fraud. |
| 750 | concord | noun StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Base-form focus: concord is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 协和 | The settlement restored a measure of concord between the communities. |
| 751 | conduit | noun StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Base-form focus: conduit is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 运河 | The river served as a conduit for trade and ideas. |
| 752 | conundrum | noun StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Base-form focus: conundrum is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. 字谜 2. 困境 | The need for growth without more pollution presents a conundrum. |
| 753 | corporeal | adjective StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Base-form focus: corporeal is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 有形的 | The poem contrasts corporeal desire with spiritual aspiration. |
| 754 | cosset | verb StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Base-form focus: cosset is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 娇惯 | The program should support students without trying to cosset them. |
| 755 | daunt | verb StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Base-form focus: daunt is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. 氣餒 2. 畏縮 | The scale of the archive did not daunt the researcher. |
| 756 | defray | verb StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Base-form focus: defray is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 1. 支付 2. 支付，付钱 | A grant will defray travel expenses. |
| 757 | demur | verb StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Base-form focus: demur is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 提出异议 | Two members began to demur when the vote was rushed. |
| 758 | denouement | noun StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Suffix focus: -ment commonly forms a noun for an action, process, state, or result. | 结局 | The mystery's denouement reveals why the witness lied. |
| 759 | depredation | noun StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Suffix focus: -ation commonly forms a noun naming an action, process, or result. | 掠夺 | The forest still bears signs of wartime depredation. |
| 760 | descry | verb StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Base-form focus: descry is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 看见 | From the tower, scouts could descry a sail on the horizon. |
| 761 | detente | noun StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Base-form focus: detente is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 缓和 | The cultural exchange contributed to a brief detente. |
| 762 | diaphanous | adjective StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by. | 透明的 | A diaphanous curtain moved in the breeze. |
| 763 | dissemble | verb StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Base-form focus: dissemble is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 去 | The diplomat tried to dissemble her alarm. |
| 764 | ebullience | noun StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Suffix focus: -ence commonly forms a noun naming an action, quality, or state. | 沸腾 | The crowd's ebullience continued long after the victory. |
| 765 | efficacious | adjective StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Suffix focus: -ous commonly forms an adjective meaning full of or characterized by. | 1. 有效 2. 管用 3. 奏效 | The trial found the treatment safe and efficacious. |
| 766 | encomium | noun StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Base-form focus: encomium is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 赞美 | The retirement dinner included an encomium to the professor's mentorship. |
| 767 | enervating | adjective StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Base-form focus: enervating is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 使人衰弱 | The enervating humidity slowed the workers. |
| 768 | epistemic | adjective StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Base-form focus: epistemic is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 认识论的 | The essay examines the epistemic limits of eyewitness testimony. |
| 769 | expiate | verb StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Base-form focus: expiate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 赎罪 | The character hopes to expiate his betrayal through sacrifice. |
| 770 | expurgate | verb StudyField: SAT science and social-science vocabulary Word study: Base-form focus: expurgate is the dictionary headword; compare its inflected or derived forms in context. | 清除 | The editor refused to expurgate the historical letters. |
Vocabulary reading and practice
An Adventitious Claim
Reading practice for pages 22–23. Five relevant words are highlighted.
English reading
An acquisitive executive tries to arrogate authority that belongs to the full board. She asks lawyers to abrogate an oversight rule and presents an adventitious rise in sales as proof that her plan works, although the rise came from an unrelated holiday. A careful analyst must apprise the board of that missing context.
Simplified Chinese translation
一位贪得无厌的高管试图攫取本应属于全体董事会的权力。她要求律师废除一项监督规定，并把一次偶然的销售额增长当作她的计划有效的证据，尽管这次增长是由一个无关的节日造成的。谨慎的分析师必须把这一缺失的背景情况告知董事会。
Reading comprehension
1. What authority does the executive try to arrogate?
She tries to claim authority belonging to the board.
2. Why is the sales rise adventitious?
It came from an unrelated holiday.
3. What must the analyst do?
The analyst must apprise the board of the missing context.
Vocabulary quiz
Choose the dictionary equivalent for each of 5 selected words.
Vocabulary chart page
This page focuses on the word chart. Reading passages appear once in each three-page group, while cloze quizzes remain in the established enhanced range for this level.
About the digital SAT
The digital SAT Reading and Writing section measures comprehension, analysis, synthesis, rhetoric, and command of language. Its Words in Context questions ask students to determine a word’s meaning or choose the most logical and precise word for a particular passage. That means SAT vocabulary study should focus on useful academic words, multiple meanings, tone, and exact usage—not on memorizing rare words in isolation.
Use this list as one part of SAT preparation. Read each example closely, compare near-synonyms, and notice how surrounding sentences control meaning. The lesson readings and questions are designed to practise the same habits of contextual reasoning, while official College Board questions remain the best guide to the test’s exact format.
Sources and curriculum references
These references guide selection and calibration. Definitions, sample sentences, readings, questions, and teaching notes are independently written and reviewed.
- College Board: The SAT Reading and Writing Section
- College Board: Student Question Bank — Reading and Writing
- College Board: Digital SAT Suite Assessment Framework
- WikDict downloadable bilingual dictionaries
- Kaikki.org / Wiktextract machine-readable Wiktionary data
- Language-Learning-decks public flashcard datasets
- SBBIC English-to-Khmer Dictionary
- English–Khmer Dictionary Dataset (machine-generated Khmer fallback; human review required)
- PanLex meanings snapshot (direct CC0 gap candidates; human review required)
- Cambridge bilingual dictionaries (individual editorial sense checks)
- Collins English–Hindi Dictionary (individual editorial checks)
- Hindwi and Rekhta dictionaries (individual Hindi/Urdu checks)
- National Institute of Korean Language: Basic Korean Dictionary
- JMdict/EDRDG Japanese dictionary project
- CC-CEDICT Chinese dictionary project
- VDict Vietnamese Dictionary (individual editorial check)
- Google Translate (machine-assisted lesson-reading draft; fluent review required)
- Kuperman et al.: Age-of-acquisition ratings for 30,000 English words