SAT List 21
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89 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 abdictate | to give up power |
| abrogate | revoke formally |
| affiliation | the act of becoming formally connected or joined |
| anarchy | a state of lawlessness and disorder (usually resulting from a failure of government) |
| apostate | a disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion or political party or friend etc. |
| apotheosis | model of excellence or perfection of a kind |
| atonement | the act of atoning for sin or wrongdoing (especially appeasing a deity) |
| autocratic | offensively self-assured or given to exercising usually unwarranted power |
| banish | expel from a community or group |
| blasphemous | characterized by profanity or cursing |
| bureaucracy | nonelective government officials |
| cabal | a clique (often secret) that seeks power usually through intrigue |
| cant | two surfaces meeting at an angle different from 90 degrees |
| commandeer | consecrate |
| consecrate | render holy by means of religious rites |
| coronation | the ceremony of installing a new monarch |
| debacle | a sudden and violent collapse |
| decree | a legally binding command or decision entered on the court record (as if issued by a court or judge) |
| depose | topple from power |
| despotic | characteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule |
| devote | dedicate |
| devout | devoutly religious |
| doctrine | a belief (or system of beliefs) accepted as authoritative by some group or school |
| ecclesiastic | a clergyman or other person in religious orders |
| edict | a legally binding command or decision entered on the court record (as if issued by a court or judge) |
| embargo | a government order imposing a trade barrier |
| emissary | someone sent on a mission to represent the interests of someone else |
| enfranchise | grant freedom to |
| ethos | (anthropology) the distinctive spirit of a culture or an era |
| exile | the act of expelling a person from their native land |
| expatriate | expel from a country |
| expurgate | edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate |
| figurehead | figure on the bow of some sailing vessels |
| formality | compliance with formal rules |
| hallow | render holy by means of religious rites |
| heresy | belief contrary to what is generally accepted |
| homilectics | act of preaching |
| icon | religious image or idol |
| ideology | system of ideas |
| impeach | to charge with crime in office |
| imperial | relating to an emperor or empire |
| imperious | assuming power or authority without justification |
| impiety | lack of reverence or dutifulness |
| impious | showing little respect or reverence |
| implement | to put into effect |
| incantation | a singing or chanting of magic |
| incumbent | one who holds public office |
| infidel | a nonbeliever |
| inquisitor | someone who asks questions |
| knell | the sound of a bell |
| levy | to impose a fine or to collect a payment |
| martyr | someone who dies in the name of a cause |
| monastic | related to monasteries or monks |
| monolithic | uniform and unyielding |
| muffler | a silencer |
| nepotism | favoritism to a relative |
| nihilist | someone who believes taht existence is meaningless |
| nirvana | ideal state of enlightenment |
| omnipotent | all-powerful |
| omnipresent | everywhere at once |
| omniscient | all-knowing |
| ordinance | decree |
| orthodox | traditional in belief |
| pact | an agreement |
| perdition | damnation |
| philistine | a smug ignorant person; one who lacks knowledge |
| piety | spiritual devotion |
| pious | dutiful to parents; devoted to religion |
| platitude | overused moral statement |
| preponderance | the majority |
| profane | inappropriate and anti-religion |
| proselytize | to convert to a religion |
| prostrate | to stretch out |
| ratify | to formally approve |
| regal | royal |
| regime | method or system of government |
| sacrilegious | violation of something sacred |
| sanction | a threatened penalty |
| sanctuary | a safe heaven |
| satellite | a smaller body associated with or controlled by a larger body |
| seculoar | material (not spiritual) living outside monasteries |
| sermon | reproving a person for his faults |
| sovereign | supreme and self-governing |
| totalitarian | government with centralized and absolute power |
| tribute | tax collected by a ruler |
| unorthodox | not like the usual |
| utopia | a perfect world |
| xenophobia | fear of foreigners |
| zealot | uncompromising fanatic of an ideal |
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