SAT Words 22-26

Root 5

22. auspicious

The cars were not selling well, not a particularly auspicious start for a

special edition.

auspicious• (aw-SPIH-shuss) adjective

• Sounds like: our space shoes

• Picture… two astronauts just landing on the planet Neptune. Looking out the window of their spaceship, they see that they are surrounded by a frozen lake. In order to accomplish their mission, they must cross the ice and return to the spaceship quickly. One astronaut thinks it’s going to be very difficult. The other pulls out two pairs of special boots fitted with large ice skate blades. “This will be easy,” he says. Then, gesturing to the boots, “Our space shoes!”

• Other forms: auspiciousness (noun); auspiciously (adv.)

• Definition: taking place under promising conditions; likely to succeed

23. austere

The pies' dark crusts have an irredeemably doughy chew, and

their filling is austere beef without a hint of spice.

austere• (aw-STEER) adjective• Sounds like: our steer

• Picture… a rancher giving a tour of his ranch: “And this is our steer. He lives in this simple barn, eats plain dry grass, and frowns a lot. We’re not sure why.”

• Other forms: austerity (noun); austerely (adverb)

• Definition: stern; plain; without luxuries

24. averse

Investors these days are averse to risky emerging-market government debt.

averse• (ah-VERSE) adjective

• Looks exactly like: a verse

• Picture… a young boy running from the classroom, screaming “Poetry! I can’t listen to poetry! Not even a verse!” (Averse sounds a little like reverse, so also think of a person going in reverse to avoid something.)

• Note: Don’t confuse with “adverse,” which means unfavorable. Strong rains may produce adverse conditions for golf. A golfer may be averse to playing in the rain.

• Definition: feeling repelled; wanting to

avoid

25. banal

This should have been a thriller but instead is

totally banal.

banal

• (ba-NAHL) adjective

• Looks like: ban Al

• Picture… a club’s members wanting to keep Al from joining. “I say we ban Al,” says one. “He’s too boring.”

• Other form: banality (noun)

• Definition: boring; trite; insipid

26. benediction

There was a time when this place breathed actual

benedictions and was a home of active peace.

benediction

• (ben-neh-DIK-shun) noun

• Sounds like: Benedict shine

• Picture… Benedict, who always says good and encouraging things to people, so that they walk away from him shining with happiness.

• Note: Any word beginning with the prefix “bene-” has a positive meaning, and usually refers to a good result (or benefit).

• Definition: good wishes; a blessing

Root 5: fal, fall, fals, fail, fault

Yes, employees are getting more and more brazen in

their efforts to falsify employers' drug tests.

fal, fall, fals, fail, fault

• Meaning: false, mistake, fail

• Sample words: falsify, fallible, default, fallacy