Barrons S

saboteur

one who commits sabotage; destroyer of property; N. sabotage: destruction of property (usually carried out secretly)

saccharine

cloying sweet; characteristic of sugar or saccharin

sacrilegious

desecrating; profane; N. sacrilege: desecration

n sacrosanct

invioably sacred; most sacred; inviolable

n sadistic

inclined to cruelty; N. sadism: delight in cruelty

saga

Scandinavian myth; any legend; long heroic narrative

n sagacious

wise; perceptive; shrewd; having insight; N. sagacity

n sage

person celebrated for wisdom; wise person; ADJ: wise

n salacious

lascivious; lustful; Ex. salacious monk

n salient

prominent; projecting beyond a line; conspicuous; Ex. salient features

saline

salty

n sallow

(of the skin) yellowish and unhealthy-looking; sickly in color; Ex. sallow complexion due to jaundice

n salubrious

healthful; conducive to health or well-being; socially desirable; Ex. salubrious area; CF. health

n salutary

tending to improve; beneficial; wholesome; Ex. The punishment had a salutary effect on the boy; CF. health

salvage

rescue (goods or property) from loss; N: saving; property saved

n sanctimonious

displaying ostentatious or hypocritical devoutness; N. sanctimony: hypocritical piety

sanction

approve; ratify; N: permission; penalty intended to enforce compliance

sanctuary

place of refuge; shelter; shrine; holy place; Ex. The outlaw was granted sanctuary in the church.

sanguinary

bloody; with much bloodshed

sanguine

optimistic; cheerful; hopeful; of the color of blood; red

n sap

diminish; weaken; undermine the foundations of (a fortification); Ex. The element kryptonite sapped his strength.

sarcasm

cutting ironic remark; scornful remarks; stinging rebuke; ADJ. sarcastic

n sardonic

scornfully mocking; disdainful; sarcastic; cynical; Ex. sardonic smile

n sartorial

pertaining to tailors or tailoring; Ex. a man of great sartorial elegance; CF. sartor: tailor

n sate

satisfy to the full; satisfy to excess; cloy

s doze

sleep lightly; nap

satellite

small body revolving around a larger one

satiate

satisfy fully (physical needs such as hunger); sate; N. satiety: condition of being satiated

satire

form of literature in which irony

satirical

using satire; mocking

saturate

soak thoroughly; imbue; impregnate; charge; fill to capacity

n saturnine

morose; gloomy; Ex. Do not be misled by his saturnine countenance.

n satyr

half-human

n saunter

stroll(go for a leisurely walk) slowly; N.

n savant

scholar; learned person; CF. savoir: know

n savor

enjoy; have a distinctive flavor

n savory

pleasant in taste; tasty; pleasing

n scabbard

case for a sword blade; sheath

n scad

a great quantity; Ex. scads of clothes

n scaffold

temporary platform for workers (to work at heights above the ground); bracing framework; platform for execution

scale

climb up; ascend; remove or come off in scales; N: flake of epidermis; ascending or descending series of musical tones

scanty

meager; insufficient

n scapegoat

someone who bears the blame for others; whipping boy; CF. escape+goat

n scavenge

hunt through discarded materials for usable items or food; search

s refuse

anything discarded or rejected as worthless; trash

scenario

plot outline; screenplay(script for a movie); opera libretto; outline of possible future events

schematic

of a schema or scheme; relating to an outline or diagram; using a system of symbols; N. schema: diagrammatic representation; outline

s scheme

systematic plan; plot; clever dishonest plan; orderly arrangement of elements; Ex. health insurance scheme; Ex. a scheme to escape taxes; Ex. a color scheme; Ex. a story with no scheme; V: contrive a scheme

n schism

division into factions (esp. within a religious body); split

n scintilla

trace; minute amount; shred; least bit; Ex. There is not a scintilla of truth; CF. spark

n scintillate

sparkle; flash; be animated; be full of life; Ex. scintillating conversation

n scoff

laugh (at); mock; ridicule; Ex. scoff at their threats

n scotch

stamp out(put an end to); thwart; hinder; Ex. scotch the rumor; CF. cut; CF. È°µ¿À» ÁÙÀÌ´Â ÀǹÌ

s score

number of points; written form of a musical composition; reason; group of 20; notch or incision; Ex. full/vocal score; Ex. Don't worry on that score; V: mark with lines or notches; Ex. score the paper to make it easy to fold

s stamp

step on heavily (so as to crush or extinguish); put an end to; imprint or impress with a mark

n scourge

lash; whip (formerly used for punishment); source of severe punishment; V: whip; afflict

n scruple

hesitate for ethical reasons; fret about; Ex. She did not scruple to read his diary; N: uneasy feeling arising from conscience; conscience

scrupulous

conscientious; extremely thorough; Ex. scrupulous worker

scrutinize

examine closely and critically; N. scrutiny

n scuffle

struggle confusedly; move off in a confused hurry; N. CF. scuffling twins ?

s shuffle

mix together; jumble; move (something) from one place to another; slide (the feet) along the ground while walking; Ex. shuffle papers from one pile to another; N.

n scurrilous

abusive; obscene; indecent; Ex. scurrilous remark

n scurry

move hastily; hurry; move briskly

n scurvy

contemptible; despicable; N: disease caused by deficiency of Vitamin C

n scuttle

sink (a ship) by cutting holes in the hull; scrap; discard; N: small hatch in a ship's deck or hull

s hull

husk; dry outer covering of a seed; frame or body of a ship

n seamy

sordid; base; filthy; unwholesome; Ex. seamy side of city life

s base

contemptible; morally bad; inferior in value or quality; Ex. base motives/conduct; Ex. base metal such as iron

n sear

burn the surface of; char or burn; brand; parch; cause (a plant) to wither

s char

make or become black by burning; reduce or be reduced to carbon or charcoal(black substance made by burning wood) by incomplete combustion

s scorch

sear; N.

s brand

trademark; mark burned on the hide of an animal; mark burned into the flesh of criminals; mark of disgrace; V: mark with a brand; give a lasting bad name; stigmatize; Ex. The press branded him a liar.

s hide

skin of an animal

seasoned

experienced

s season

enhance the flavor of by adding a spice

s seasonal

of a particular season; Ex. seasonal rise in employment

s seasonable

occurring at the proper time or season; opportune; Ex. seasonable intervention in the dispute

secession

withdrawal; V. secede: withdraw formally from membership

seclusion

isolation; solitude; V. seclude: set apart from others; isolate

n secrete

conceal; hide away or cache; produce and release a substance into an organism; CF. secretive

sect

separate religious body; faction; group of people with common beliefs within a larger group

s sectarian

of a sect; narrow-minded; parochial; N: member of a sect; narrow-minded person

s denomination

religious group; unit in a system; name or designation; CF. denominator: common trait or characteristic

secular

worldly; not pertaining to church matters or religion; temporal

n sedate

composed (with no excitement); grave; V: administer a sedative to; CF. sedative

sedentary

requiring sitting; done while sitting; not moving from one place to another; settled; Ex. sedentary job/population

sedition

conduct or language inciting rebellion; rebellion; resistance to authority; insubordination; ADJ. seditious

n sedulous

diligent; assiduous; paying attention; N. sedulity

n seedy

run-down; decrepit; disreputable; having many seeds; Ex. seedy downtown hotel

s run-down

(of a place) dilapidated; in a bad condition; (of a person) weak or exhausted

n seemly

(of behavior) proper; appropriate

n seep

pass slowly through small openings; ooze; trickle; N. seepage

n seethe

be violently disturbed; boil; (of a liquid) move about wildly as if boiling; Ex. The nation was seething with discontent.

n seine

seine net; net for catching fish

seismic

pertaining to earthquakes

n semblance

outward appearance; guise; Ex. We called in the troops to bring a/some semblance of order to the city.

seminal

related to seed or semen; germinal; creative; providing a basis for further development; influencing future developments; Ex. seminal research in a new field

n seminary

school for training future ministers; secondary school

senility

old age; feeblemindedness of old age; ADJ. senile: resulting from old age; showing the weakness of body or mind from old age; Ex. senile dementia

s feebleminded

deficient in intelligence; very stupid

n sensitization

process of being made sensitive or acutely responsive to an external agent or substance; V. sensitize: make or become sensitive

sensual

devoted to the pleasures of the sense; carnal; voluptuous; Ex. sensual woman/curves/lips

s voluptuous

sensual; of or giving sensual pleasure; indulging in sensual pleasures; Ex. voluptuous lines; Ex. voluptuous life of the Romans; N. voluptuary: voluptuous person

sensuous

giving pleasure to the senses; pertaining to the physical senses; operating through the senses; sensuous feeling of soft velvet on the skin

n sententious

pithy; terse; concise; aphoristic

n sentient

capable of sensation and conscious; aware; sensitive; Ex. sentient creature; N. sentience

sentinel

sentry; lookout

s lookout

act of keeping watch; high place commanding a wide view; person who keeps watch

n septic

of or causing sepsis; putrid; producing putrefaction; N. sepsis: poisoning of part of the body (producing pus)

n sepulcher

tomb; V: place in a sepulcher; ADJ. sepulchral

n sequester

isolate; segregate; seclude; retire from public life

n sere

sear; parched; dry

n serendipity

gift for finding valuable things by accident; accidental good fortune or luck; CF. The Three Princes of Serendip

serenity

calmness; placidity; ADJ. serene

n serpentine

winding; twisting; of or like a serpent; Ex. serpentine course of the river; N. serpent: snake

n serrated

having a sawtoothed edge; Ex. serrated leaf

servile

slavish; cringing; N. servility

servitude

slavery; compulsory labor imposed as a punishment

n sever

separate; cut off (a part) from a whole; break up (a relationship); N. severance; CF. severance pay: extra pay given an employee upon leaving a position

severity

harshness; intensity; sternness; austerity; ADJ. severe: harsh; strict; extremely violent or intense

n sextant

navigation tool used to determine a ship's latitude and longitude (by measuring the altitudes of stars)

n shackle

chain; fetter; confine with shackles; N.

n sham

pretend; feign; ADJ: not genuine; fake; Ex. sham jewelry; N: something that is not what it appears; impostor; pretense; Ex. The agreement was a sham.

n shambles

(place or scene of) complete disorder or ruin; wreck; mess; Ex. After the hurricane

n shard

fragment generally of broken pottery (glass

n shaving

very thin piece

s plane

carpenter's tool for smoothing and leveling wood; V. CF. flat

n sheaf

bundle of stalks of grain; any bundle of things tied together

n sheathe

place into a case; insert into or provide with a sheath; Ex. He sheathed his dagger; N. sheath: case for a blade

n sherbet

flavored dessert ice

n shimmer

shine with a flickering light; glimmer intermittently; Ex. The moonlight shimmered on the water; N.

n shirk

avoid (responsibility

n shoddy

made of inferior material; sham; not genuine; inferior; dishonest; Ex. shoddy goods/trick

n shrew

scolding woman; very small mouselike animal

shrewd

clever; astute

n shun

keep away from; avoid deliberately; Ex. She has been shunned by her neighbors.

n shunt

move (a railway train) from one track to another; turn aside; divert; sidetrack; Ex. shunt traffic around an accident; N.

s sidetrack

switch (a railroad car) to a siding; divert from a main issue; N. CF. siding: short section of railroad track connected by switches with a main track

n shyster

lawyer using questionable methods; unscrupulous practioner

sibling

brother or sister

n sibylline

prophetic; oracular; N. sibyl: woman prophet (in the ancient world)

n sidereal

relating to stars; Ex. sidereal day

n silt

sediment deposited by running water (at the entrance to a harbor or by a bend in a river)

n simian

monkeylike; N: ape or monkey

simile

comparison of one thing with another

n simper

smirk; smile in a silly way; smile affectedly

simplistic

oversimplified

simulate

feign; imitate

n sinecure

well-paid position with little responsibility; CF. sine cure: without care; CF. San Serif

n sinewy

(of meat) tough; strong and firm; muscular; N. sinew: tendon; strong cord connecting a muscle to a bone

singular

being only one; individual; unique; extraordinary; odd; Ex. singular beauty/behavior

sinister

evil; ominous

n sinuous

twisting; winding; bending in and out; not morally honest

skeptic

sceptic; doubter; person who suspends judgment until he has examined the evidence supporting a point of view; ADJ. skeptical; N. skepticism; scepticism

n skiff

small light sailboat or rowboat

n skimp

provide or use scantily; live very economically; Ex. skimp on necessities; ADJ. skimpy: inadequate in amount; scanty; stingy; niggardly

n skinflint

miser; stingy person

skirmish

minor fight; minor battle in war; V.

n skittish

inconstant; capricious; frivolous; not serious; Ex. charming but skittish young woman; CF. skit

s frisk

move about playfully; froric; ADJ. frisky: playful

n skulduggery(skullduggery)

dishonest behavior or action; Ex. skulduggery in the election

n skulk

move furtively and secretly; Ex. He skulked through the less fashionable sections of the city.

n slacken

slow up; loosen; make or become slack

s slack

moving slowly; sluggish; inactive; (of a rope) loose; negligent; lax; Ex. slack season; Ex. slack in one's work; N. V.

n slag

glassy residue from smelting metal; dross; waste matter

slake

satisfy (thirst); quench; sate

slander

defamation; utterance of false and malicious statements; V. ADJ. slanderous

n slapdash

hasty and careless; haphazard; sloppy(carelessly done)

n sleazy

shabby and dirty; flimsy; insubstantial; Ex. sleazy back-street hotel/fabric

n sleeper

one that achieves unexpected success; something originally of little value or importance that in time becomes very valuable

sleight

dexterity; CF. sleight of hand: legerdemain; quickness of the hands in doing tricks

n slew

large quantity or number; Ex. slew of errands left

n slight

insult to one's dignity; snub; V: treat as if of small importance; insult; snub; ADJ. small in size; of small importance

n slipshod

slovenly; careless; sloppy; untidy; shabby; Ex. slipshod work

n slither

slip or slide

sloth

slow moving tree-dwelling mammal; laziness; ADJ. slothful: lazy; indolent

n slough

(of a snake) shed or cast off (dead outer skin); N: outer layer that is shed

n slovenly

untidy; careless in work habits; slipshod; N. sloven: one who is habitually untidy or careless

s sledge

large sled drawn by work animals

s sleigh

large vehicle drawn by a horse over snow or ice

n sluggard

lazy person

sluggish

lazy; slow; inactive; lethargic; CF. slug: nail with no shell

n sluice

artificial channel for directing or controlling the flow of water (with a gate to regulate the flow)

n slur

slander; insult to one's character or reputation; V.

n slur

pronounce indistinctly; speak indistinctly; mumble

n smattering

slight knowledge; small scattered number or amount; Ex. smattering of German

n smelt

melt (ore) for separating and removing the metal; melt or blend ores changing their chemical composition

n smirk

conceited smile; offensively self-satisfied smile (often at someone else's misfortune); V.

n smolder

smoulder; burn slowly without flame; be liable to break out at any moment; exist in a suppressed state; Ex. smoldering anger

n snicker

half-stifled(suppressed) laugh; V.

n snivel

complain or whine tearfully; run at the nose; snuffle; Ex. Don't come back sniveling to me.

s snuffle

sniffle; sniff repeatedly (in order to keep liquid from running out of the nose)

sobriety

moderation (especially regarding indulgence in alcohol); seriousness

s sober

serious; solemn; not drunken; abstemious or temperate; V: make or become sober

n sodden

thoroughly soaked; dull or stupid as if from drink

n sojourn

temporary stay; V: stay for a time

n solace

comfort in sorrow or trouble; consolation; V: comfort or console in time of sorrow or trouble

n solder

repair or make whole by using a metal alloy; N: metal alloy (usually tin and lead) used in the molten state to join metallic parts

n solecism

nonstandard grammatical construction; construction that is flagrantly incorrect grammatically; violation of social etiquette

solemnity

seriousness; gravity

solicit

entreat; request earnestly; seek to obtain; Ex. solicit votes; CF. solicitor: one who solicits; chief law officer

n solicitous

anxious; worried; concerned; eager; Ex. solicitous to do something; N. solicitude

soliloquy

talking to oneself (esp. in a play); CF. monologue: soliloquy; long speech by one person (often monopolizing a conversation)

solitude

state of being alone; seclusion; ADJ. solitary: existing or living alone (esp. by choice); remote or secluded; single; sole; Ex. solitary life/inn; Ex. no solitary piece of proof

solstice

point or time at which the sun is farthest from the equator

soluble

able to be dissolved in a liquid; able to be worked out or solved

solvent

able to pay all depths; N. solvency

solvent

substance that dissolves another; ADJ: capable of dissolving another substance

somatic

pertaining to the body; bodily; physical

n somber

dark; gloomy; melancholy; depressing; CF. shadow

somnambulist

sleepwalker; V. somnambulate; N. somnambulism

n somnolent

half asleep; drowsy; N. somnolence

n sonorous

resonant; producing a full deep sound; producing sound

s sonic

of sound or its speed in air; CF. subsonic

s sonnet

14-line poetic verse form with a fixed rhyme pattern

sophist

teacher of philosophy; quibbler; employer of fallacious reasoning; N. sophism: plausible but fallacious argument

sophisticated

worldly wise and urbane; refined; complex; N. sophistication; V. sophisticate

sophistry

seemingly plausible but fallacious reasoning; sophism

n sophomoric

immature; half-baked; like a sophomore

n soporific

sleep-causing; marked by sleepiness; drowsy

n sordid

filthy; foul; base; vile; Ex. sordid bed/story

n spangle

small shiny metallic piece sewn to clothing for ornamentation

sparse

not thick; thinly scattered; scanty

n spartan

without attention to comfort; lacking luxury and comfort; sternly disciplined; Ex. spartan living condition/life

n spasmodic

fitful; periodic; of or like a spasm; N. spasm: sudden involuntary muscular contraction; sudden burst of energy or emotion

n spat

squabble; minor dispute; minor quarrel

n spate

sudden flood or rush; Ex. spate of accidents

spatial

relating to space

n spatula

broad-bladed instrument used for spreading or mixing

spawn

lay eggs (in large numbers); produce offspring (in large numbers); N: eggs of aquatic animals

specious

seemingly reasonable but incorrect; misleading (often intentionally)

spectral

ghostly; N. specter: spectre; ghost; phantom

spectrum

colored band produced when a beam of light passes through a prism; broad and continuous range; Ex. whole spectrum of modern thoughts

n spendthrift

someone who wastes money; CF. thrift: accumulated wealth

n sphinx-like

enigmatic; mysterious

n splice

join together end to end to make one continuous length; fasten together; unite; Ex. splice two strips of tape; N.

spontaneity

lack of premeditation; naturalness; freedom from constraint; ADJ. spontaneous: self-generated; unpremeditated; happening without being planned

n spoonerism

accidental transposition of sounds in successive words; Ex. ``Let me sew you to your sheet'' for ``Let me show you to your seat''; CF. William Spooner

s transpose

reverse the order or position of

sporadic

occurring irregularly; intermittent

n sportive

playful; frolicsome; merry; CF. sport: play or frolic; CF. sportsmanlike

n spruce

neat and trim in appearance; smart; Ex. Be spruce for your job interview; V.

n spry

(esp. of older people) vigorously active; nimble

s nimble

quick in movement; agile; quick in understanding; Ex. nimble climber/mind

n spurious

false; counterfeit; forged; illogical; Ex. spurious arguments

n spurn

reject disdainfully; scorn; Ex. She spurned all offers of help.

n squabble

minor quarrel; bickering; V: engage in a minor quarrel; Ex. squabbling children

n squalor

condition of being squalid; filth; degradation; dirty neglected state; ADJ. squalid: dirty; sordid; morally repulsive; Ex. squalid story

squander

waste; spend foolishly

n squat

short and thick; stocky; Ex. ugly squat tower; V. N.

n staccato

played in an abrupt manner; marked by abrupt sharp sound; Ex. staccato applause

s legato

(of music) played smoothly

stagnant

(of water) not flowing (often bad-smelling); motionless; stale; not developing; inactive; dull; Ex. stagnant industrial output

n staid

serious and sedate; sober; Ex. staid during the funeral ceremony

stalemate

deadlock; situation in which further action is blocked

n stalwart

physically strong; brawny; steadfast; strong in mind or determination; Ex. stalwart supporter; N: stalwart follower

stamina

power of endurance; strength; staying power

n stanch

stop or check flow of blood; Ex. stanch the gushing wound

n stanza

division of a poem (composed of two or more lines)

static

having no motion; unchanging; lacking development; N. stasis: stable state

statute

law enacted by the legislature

statutory

created by statute or legislative action; regulated by statute; Ex. statutory age limit

n steadfast

steadily loyal; unswerving; steady

stealth

action of moving secretly or unseen; slyness; sneakiness; secretiveness; ADJ. stealthy

n steep

soak; saturate; Ex. steep the fabric in the dye bath; ADJ: precipitous

stellar

pertaining to the stars; of a star performer; outstanding; Ex. stellar attraction of the entire performance

n stem

stop or check (the flow of); Ex. stem the bleeding from the slashed artery; N: main axis of a plant; stalk

stem_from

arise from; originate from

n stentorian

(of the voice) extremely loud; CF. Stentor: a loud herald in the Iliad

stereotype

one regarded as embodying a set image or type; fixed and unvarying representation; standardized mental picture often reflecting prejudice; Ex. stereotype of the happy slave; V: make a stereotype of; represent by a stereotype; Ex. It is wrong to stereotype people; Ex. stereotyped answer

n stickler

perfectionist; person who insists things be exactly right

n stifle

suppress; extinguish; inhibit; smother or suffocate

s smother

kill from lack of air; suppress; cover thickly; Ex. smothered in little stickers

s suffocate

die or kill from lack of air; suppress

n stigma

token of disgrace; brand; V. stigmatize: mark with a stigma; characterize as disgraceful

n stilted

bombastic; stiffly pompous; Ex. stilted rhetoric; CF. stiff: formal

n stint

set limits in amount or number; be thrifty; ADJ. stinting

n stint

supply; allotted amount of work; assigned portion of work; limitation; Ex. two-year stint in the army; Ex. without stint

n stipend

pay for services

n stipple

paint or draw with dots or short strokes

stipulate

state as a necessary condition (of an agreement); make express conditions; specify; Ex. He stipulated payment in advance

n stock

standard; kept regularly in stock or supply; typical; routine; common; Ex. stock sizes of paper; Ex. stock excuse/character; N: goods for sale in a shop; OP. unique

n stockade

wooden enclosure or pen; fixed line of posts used as defensive barrier

s pen

fenced enclosure for animals; confining space; Ex. sheep pen; V: confine in a pen; enclose

n stodgy

dull; stuffy; boringly conservative; Ex. stodgy book

stoic

stoical; impassive; unmoved by joy or grief; N. CF. stoicism

n stoke

stir up a fire or furnace; feed plentifully

n stolid

dull; impassive; showing little emotion when strong feelings are expected

stratagem

deceptive scheme; clever trick

stratified

divided into classes; arranged into strata; V. stratify

stratum

layer of earth's surface; layer of society; PL. strata

n strew

spread randomly; sprinkle; scatter; Ex. flower girl strewing rose petals

n striated

marked with parallel bands; striped; grooved; Ex. striated rocks; V. striate; N. stria: thin groove or line

n stricture

severe and adverse criticism; critical comments; limit or restriction

n strident

loud and harsh; insistent; N. stridency

stringent

(of rules) binding; rigid; marked by scarcity of money; Ex. stringent economic conditions

n strut

pompous walk; V: walk in a self-important manner

n strut

supporting bar; CF. airplane wingÀ̳ª building µîÀ» support

n studied

carefully contrived; calculated; unspontaneous; deliberate; thoughtful; Ex. studied remark

n stultify

make stupid in mind; cause to appear or become stupid or inconsistent; suppress; frustrate or hinder; Ex. stultifying effect of uninteresting work; Ex. stultify free expression