Page 30 - WEBSTER Essential vocabulary

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A: SAT Words
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anachronism (un AK ron i zm) n. 1. the putting forth of something as having
happened outside its appropriate time, especially earlier; 2. anything that seems to
be out of its proper time frame in history
• The depiction in some movies of people interacting with dinosaurs is an
often-portrayed anachronism.
• Anachronism is a frequently used tool of literature because it allows all sorts
of interactions that would be otherwise impossible.
• Having a conversation with the founding fathers or interviewing Abe
Lincoln or Marie Curie are but three literary uses for anachronism.
[anachronistic adj., anachronistically adv.]
analogy (uh NAL uh gee) n. 1. a likeness in some ways between things that are
otherwise not alike; 2. the likening of one thing to another based on some shared
similarity
• There is an analogy between polar bears and humans, in that both are
mammals and both live on earth.
• Mork’s analogy convinced Mindy that her problem closely resembled the
one Curtis had last month; the circumstances were the same although the
names and locations differed.
[analogous adj., analogously adv.] [Syn. likeness]
analysis* (uh NA lis is) n. 1. breaking up or separating a whole into its parts so
that they can be inspected to determine their nature, proportions, functions, etc.;
any detailed inspection; 2. a statement of the results of this process
• The statement is undergoing detailed analysis to determine its true meaning.
• The specimen was sent to the laboratory for analysis.
• The historian’s analysis of the spaghetti company’s battle for supremacy is
available in his latest book, Pasta for You.
analytical (an uh LIT ik uhl) adj. 1. something that separates into constituent
parts; 2. skilled at using analysis
• Greg’s analytical mind breaks each problem into tiny parts and carefully
examines each and every one.
• The more one practices analytical procedures, the more skilled at them he
or she is likely to become.
[analytic, analytically adv.] [Antonym: synthetic]
analyze (AN i LYZ) vt. 1. to separate into constituent parts so as to determine
their nature, proportion, interrelationship, etc.; 2. to examine in detail to find out
the nature, tendencies, etc. of something; 3. to psychoanalyze
• Heat is often very handy as a tool to help analyze the composition of sub-
stances, because once vaporized the substances’ unique light spectra can be
recorded.
• A microscope is a useful tool to analyze things that are invisible to the
naked eye.
• Some people need analyzing by a shrink.
[-d, analyzing, analyzer n.]