Essential Vocabulary Lists for Literature Students
List 1: SAT E & F
Elaboration (n.):
addition of details; intricacy.
§Tell me what happened simply, without any
Embellish (v.):
make more beautiful; make a story more interesting by adding details.
§The costume designer
Encompass (v.):
surround
§A moat or deep water filled trench
Endorse (v.):
approve; support.
§Everyone waited to see which one of the rival candidates for the city council the mayor would
Enigma (n.):
puzzle; mystery.
§“What do women want?” asked Dr. Drew. Their behavior was an
Equity (n.):
fairness; justice.
§Our courts guarantee
Euphoria (n.):
feeling of great happiness and well-being.
§Delighted with her grades, Emma was filled with
Erudite (adj.):
learned; scholarly.
§Unlike much scholarly writing, Annabelle’s prose was entertaining as well as
Exculpate (v.):
clear from blame.
§He was
Exhort (v.):
urge.
§The evangelist
Feign (v.):
pretend.
§Bobby
Feral (adj.):
not domestic; wild.
§Abandoned by their owner, dogs may revert to their
Flabbergasted (adj.):
astounded; astonished; overcome with surprise.
§In the film “Flubber,” the hero invents a remarkable substance whose amazing properties leave his workers
Forgo (v.):
give up; do without.
§Determined to lose weight for the summer, Aida decided to
Fugitive (adj.):
fleeting or transitory; roving.
§The film brought new
Fiasco (n.):
total failure.
§Tania’s attempted to look sophisticated by taking up smoking was a
Figment (n.):
invention; imaginary thing.
§Was he hearing real voices at night or was it just a
Foil (v.):
defeat; frustrate.
§In the end, Sky Walker is able to
Foolhardy (adj.):
rash.
§Don’t be
Fret (n.):
to be annoyed or vexed.
§To
List 2: How Much Land Does a Man Need?
Pique (n.):
Feeling of irritation or resentment.
Disparage (v.):
Belittle; depreciate; downgrade.
Aggrieve (v.):
Injure by injustice; afflict with pain.
Arable (adj.):
Cultivatable; farmable; fertile.
Haggle (v.):
Bargain; barter; negotiate; dispute.
Prostrate (adj.):
Lying flat, face down.
Sneer (v.):
Smile or speak in a mocking manner; smirk.
Fallow (adj.):
Land left unseeded and unused to restore its fertility.
Contentedly (adv.):
Happily; with satisfaction.
Civilly (adv.):
Politely; courteously.
Blunder (n.):
A stupid or careless mistake.
Utter (v.):
Give forth (cries, notes, etc.) with the voice; speak or pronounce.
Glisten (v.):
Shine with a sparkling light.
Girdle (n.):
A belt or cord worn round the waist.
Chuckle (v.):
Laugh quietly or inwardly; giggle.
Dismount (v.):
Get off a horse, bicycle, or anything that one is riding.
Kindle (v.):
Set (something) on fire; arouse or inspire (an emotion or feeling); awaken.
Clinch (v.):
Confirm or settle (a contract or bargain); seal; finalize.
Dispute (n.):
A disagreement or argument; discussion; debate.
Ascend (v.):
Go up or climb.
List 3: Marriage Is a Private Affair
Beneficial (adj.):
Promoting or enhancing well-being.
Fluently (adv.):
In a fluent manner.
Homily (n.):
A sermon on a moral or religious topic.
Obstinately (adv.):
In a stubborn, unregenerate manner.
Prejudiced (adj.):
Showing bias or influenced by preconceived ideas.
Remorse (n.):
A feeling of deep regret, usually for some misdeed.
Vehemently (adv.):
In a fierce, intense manner.
Cosmopolitan (adj.):
Containing elements from all over the world.
Dissuasion (n.):
An attempt to deter someone from a course of action.
Deference (n.):
Polite respect; submission to someone else’s wishes.
Persevere (v.):
To persist in an action or belief despite its difficulty.
Disconcertingly (adv.):
Disturbing to one’s composure or self-possession; upsetting, discomfiting.
Hostile (adj.):
Aggressive; intimidating; unreceptive.
Perfunctorily (adv.):
Automatically and without thinking.
Vague (adj.):
Indistinct or unclear.
List 4: Shooting an Elephant
Imperialism (n.):
Colonialism.
Terrorism (n.):
The unlawful use of violence and intimidation against civilians for political aims.
Labyrinth (n.):
Maze.
Remnant (n.):
Remains; remainder.
Aimless (adj.):
Pointless; purposeless.
Petty (adj.):
Trivial; of little importance.
Hideous (adj.):
Extremely ugly.
Sneer (v.):
Smirk; smile or speak in a mocking manner.
Perplexing (adj.):
Confusing.
Wretched (adj.):
Miserable.
Tyranny (n.):
Dictatorship; autocracy.
Trench (n.):
Ditch; waterway; puddle.
Vaguely (adv.):
Ambiguously; unclearly.
Soggy (adj.):
Wet and soft.
Savage (adj.):
Fierce; violent.
Squeamish (adj.):
Easily made disgusted; fussy; scrupulous.
Corpse (n.):
Dead body; carcass.
Trigger (v./n.):
Stimulate (v) – part of a gun that releases the bullet (n).
Slobber (v.):
Slaver; have saliva dripping from the mouth.
Dreadful (adj.):
Terrible; horrible; awful.
List 6: The Demon Lover
Aperture (n.):
A natural opening in something; hole.
Emanate (v.):
Originate from; come from; give out; issue or spread out from (a source).
Passé (adj.):
No longer fashionable; out of date.
Prosaic (adj.):
Lacking wit or imagination; dull; ordinary.
Retract (v.):
Draw or be drawn back or back in; withdraw.
Assent (n.):
Expression of approval or agreement; acceptance.
Intermittent (adj.):
Starting and stopping at intervals; periodic; sporadic.
Impassively (adv.):
Calmly; indifferently.
Contemptuous (adj.):
Showing or expressing hate; scornful; insulting; disrespectful.
Spectral (adj.):
Ghostly; of or relating to a ghost.
Negligence (n.):
Failure to take proper care in doing something; carelessness; irresponsibility.
Circumscribe (v.):
Restrict; limit.
Forswear (v.):
Agree to give up or do without; forgo.