Page 140 - WEBSTER Essential vocabulary

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I: SAT Words
impound (im POWND) vt. 1. to take and hold or shut up (an animal) in a 131
pound; 2. to take and hold (a vehicle, money, papers, etc.) in legal custody
• The pug was impounded for seven days to make sure that he had no danger-
ous illnesses.
• Francine’s car was impounded until $435 in overdue parking tickets were
paid.
[-ed, -ing]
impression (im PRESH in) n. 1. a mark or imprint caused by physical pressure;
2. an effect formed in the mind or senses by some force or activity; 3. a vague
notion, feeling, or recollection
• When you sit on the sofa, your derriere makes an impression in the cushion.
• Rosa’s demeanor gave Pietro the impression that she would welcome an
invitation from him to the prom.
• Howard had the impression that he’d seen all this before.
[Syn. idea]
impressive (im PRES iv) adj. tending to have or having a significant effect on
the mind; wondrous; causing admiration
• Irwin’s ability to lift 350 lbs. can only be called impressive.
• Marjory displayed an impressive command of spelling at the national
spelling bee.
[-ly adv., -ness n.]
improve (im PROOV) vt. 1. to make better; improve the condition or quality of;
2. to make more valuable (as in by cultivating or building on land)
• New spark plugs improve the way some cars run.
• Keeping the amount of salt low improves the healthfulness of soup.
• When Virginia improved her property by building the boathouse, she was
not surprised to see her taxes go up.
[-d, improving] [Syn. better]
impugn (im PYOON) vt. to criticize or challenge as false or questionable in
nature
• The defense witness was called to impugn the testimony of an earlier prose-
cution witness.
• The interview with Ari’s eighth-grade teacher was enough to impugn Ari’s
reputation for honesty.
[-ed, -ing] [Syn. deny]
impulse (IM puhls) n. 1. a driving force; push; impetus; thrust; sudden urge; 2.
an inclination to act, without premeditation; a motive coming from within
• An impulse caused by the forced ejection of hot gases drives a jet engine.
• The impulse of his push made her fall from the cliff.
• Around midnight, Barbara had a sudden impulse to eat a pistachio ice-
cream cone.
[impulsive adj., impulsively adv.] [Syn. thrust]