Page 236 - WEBSTER Essential vocabulary

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T: SAT Words
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tradition (truh DISH in) n. 1. a custom, belief, proverb, or story handed down
orally from generation to generation; 2. the act of handing down same; 3. long
established practices; precedent; 4. a historic line of principles, attitudes, or codes of
behavior
• The story of the Trojan War had been Greek tradition for hundreds of years
before Homer wrote it down in The Iliad.
• Tradition was often entrusted to minstrels, who were singing storytellers
and entertainers.
• The Thanksgiving turkey dinner is an American tradition.
• Bushido is the Japanese tradition of behavior passed down by the samurai
warriors.
trait (TRAYT) n. 1. a distinguishing characteristic or quality; 2. character; 3. a
quality of personality
• A palamino horse is distinguishable from all others by the trait of its golden
skin color.
• Nose shape is a trait that differs less among people than among dogs.
• Honesty is a desirable trait, often lacking in used-car salespersons.
[Syn. quality]
tranquillity* (tran KWIL i tee) n. the quality or state of peacefulness; calmness;
serenity
• A pastoral scene is one noted for its apparent tranquillity.
• Of course, the artist never portrays the cougar waiting behind the rock to
disrupt the tranquillity of the grazing flock.

QUICK REVIEW #81

Match the word from column 2 with the word from column 1 that means most
nearly the same thing.

1. therapeutic a. peacefulness
2. thorough b. bear
3. throng c. precedent
4. timorous d. pressure bandage
5. tolerate e. apathetic

6. tome f. quality
7. torpid g. obedient
8. tourniquet h. multitude
9. tractable i. curative
10. tradition j. encyclopedia
11. trait k. accurate
12. tranquillity l. afraid