Page 22 - WEBSTER Essential vocabulary

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A: SAT Words
adept (uh DEPT) adj. very skilled, expert —n. a person who is very skilled in 13
some field of endeavor or knowledge
• George Jetson will be a very adept widget maker.
• When it comes to guarding those Academy Award winners, the accounting
firm of Price Waterhouse has shown itself to be adept.
[adeptly adv., adeptness n.] [Syn. expert]
adhere* (ad HEER) vi. 1. to stick to something; stick to a plan; 2. to stay firm in
support of a leader or a plan
• Peanut butter will adhere to one’s teeth almost every time.
• The candidate adhered to her promise to support the health plan, even
after she was elected.
• The secretary adhered to his boss’s story, even after the latter had
changed it.
[-d, adhering, adherer, adherence n.] [Syn. stick]
adjudicate (uh JOO dik ayt) vt. to hear and decide a court case —vi. to serve as
a judge to decide some dispute or problem
• Judge Judy adjudicates cases on television five days a week.
• Melissa agreed to adjudicate a dispute between two of her neighbors on
how high to construct a fence between their backyards.
[-d, adjudicating]
admirable (AD muh ruh bl) adj. inspiring or deserving admiration or praise;
excellent; splendid
• Melissa’s success in totally renovating the house with limited available
resources is admirable.
• The varsity hockey team did an admirable job defending against their
opponent’s star shooter.
• The orchestra performed admirably at last night’s concert.
[admirably adv.]
admire (ad MYR) vt. 1. to look upon with approval, wonder, and delight; 2. to
have a high regard for
• Any basketball fan has to admire the effortlessness with which Jason Kidd
dishes the rock to his teammates.
• Students of the Korean police action of the 1950s admire General
MacArthur’s daring in landing his troops and equipment behind the
enemy lines at Inchon.
[-d, admiring, admiration n.]
adorn (uh DAWRN) vt. 1. to be ornamental to; add beauty or distinction to; 2.
put decorations on; ornament
• Many ornaments are hung on a Christmas tree to adorn it.
• Jewelry often adorns a woman’s arms and neck.
• In summer, a house’s lawn is often adorned by colorful flowers.
[-ed, -ing, adornment n.] [Syn. beautify, decorate, bedeck]