Page 248 - WEBSTER Essential vocabulary

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U – Z: SAT Words
vocation (voh KAY shin) n. 1. a calling to enter a certain career; 2. any career,
profession, or trade
• Eric’s vocation as a beachcomber was sealed from the moment his mother
bought him the comb.
• Everyone should have some vocation or a railroad car full of money.
vociferously (voh SIF oer is lee) adv. 1. loudly making one’s feelings known;
2. characteristically making a fuss to be sure of being heard
• The crow cawed vociferously, as if complaining about the screen separating
it from the cherry pie.
• The crowd vociferously yelled at the center fielder to throw the ball to home
plate.
[vociferous adj., vociferousness n.] [Syn. clamorously, stridently, boisterously]
vulgar (VUHL goer) adj. 1. common; popular with the great majority of people;
2. in the vernacular; 3. characterized by lack of culture or refinement; boorish
• Certain computer terms like RAM and ROM have found their way into
vulgar usage.
• Vulgar Latin was quite different from the Latin used in literature.
• Richard’s wearing jeans to the opera last Thursday was rather vulgar, in
Karen’s opinion.
[-ly adv.] [Syn. coarse, common]
ward (WAWRD) vt. to fend off; parry; push aside or away —n. 1. the act of
guarding; 2. the state of being under guard; 3. a child or other person placed under
the guardianship of another or of a court; 4. each of the parts or divisions of a
hospital or a jail; 5. an administrative district of a city or town
• The sun tried to ward off the winter cold.
• The guard was ward over the second floor.
• The class was the ward of the school while in the building.
• By order of the court, Burt Ward was made Bruce Wayne’s ward.
• The hospital had a maternity ward and a prison ward, which some would
say are one and the same.
• The congressman was elected to represent the third ward.
[-ed, -ing]
whereas (wair AZ) conj. 1. it being the case that; because; 2. but, on the other
hand; 3. in as much as
• Whereas you already have the umbrella, why don’t you open it?
• You have the steering wheel, whereas I have the car key.
• Whereas tomorrow is your birthday, let’s party today.
whimsical (WIM zi kil) adj. 1. characterized by capriciousness; 2. oddly extraor-
dinary; fanciful; freakish; 3. unpredictable; subject to change
• Artist Peter Max is known for his whimsical cartoons.
• Teresa took a whimsical notion to jump into the Pacific Ocean.
• We’d love to tell you what the bus schedule is, but as far as we can tell, it’s
purely whimsical, depending on the driver’s inclination.
[-ly adv.]