Page 246 - WEBSTER Essential vocabulary

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U – Z: SAT Words
victory (VIK ter ee) n. 1. a final and complete triumph in battle; 2. a specific 237
military battle that ended in triumph for your side; 3. success in any contest requir-
ing the overcoming of obstacles
• Lord Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar is commemorated by a statue in London’s
square of the same name.
• L’Arc de Triomphe in Paris has seen victories celebrated by armies of several
countries.
• Some athletes go to the Olympics to compete, while others go seeking victory.
[victories pl.] [Syn. conquest, triumph]
vigilant (VIJ il int) adj. staying watchful and alert for danger
• When you are outside your home with a child, you must be vigilant at all
times.
• Cats appear to be vigilant even when they’re asleep.
[-ly adv.] [Syn. watchful]
vigor (VIG oer) n. 1. active force or strength; 2. active or healthy growth;
3. intensity; force; energy
• A defense attorney’s job is to defend his client with vigor.
• Rosebushes appear to die in the winter in northern climates, but with the
first sign of spring they exhibit new vigor.
• It takes the vigor of multiple rocket engines to boost a satellite into orbit.
[-ous adj., -ously adv.]
violence (VY uh lins) n. 1. physical force that causes damage, destruction, and
personal injury; 2. intense force and energy, such as that of a tropical storm, earth-
quake, tornado, and so on; 3. a violent act or deed
• Gang violence has become all too common in certain areas of certain cities.
• Battery is an act of violence of one person on another.
• Tornadoes often cause violence to people who are caught out in them.
violent (VY uh lint) adj. 1. acting with great force so as to injure, damage, or
destroy; 2. caused by an act of violence; 3. furious; extreme; intense
• A homicidal maniac has a tendency to be violent.
• Video games depicting violent acts are not necessarily harmful to children,
nor are they necessarily helpful.
• When cold fronts meet warm fronts, violent weather conditions often
develop.
[-ly adv.]
virtue (VOER choo) n. 1. moral excellence and goodness of heart; 2. meritori-
ous in moral quality and rightness of action; 3. effective power or force
• We show virtue by the way we live.
• Bill won the day by virtue of having four kings.
• The virtue of medicine is well known.