127
Watership Down
by Richard Adams
Definitions
Copyright © 2002 by Advanced Placement Strategies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Used under license by Laying the Foundation, Inc. www.layingthefoundation.org
127
Watership Down
by Richard Adams
Copyright © 2002 by Advanced Placement Strategies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Used under license by Laying the Foundation, Inc. www.layingthefoundation.org
Watership Down
by Richard Adams
These words which appear in Watership Down have been identified as words or derivatives of words that have
appeared on past SAT tests. They are listed here in alphabetical order.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
accord
acquiesce
adversity
alcove
apathy
blunder
censorious
compost
disconcerting
dissolution
docile
drone
ductile
effusion
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
emulate
foreboding
grate
gravity
gregarious
impertinent
impervious
impudent
incessant
indignation
inert
ingenuity
lassitude
latent
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
lurid
malodorous
mercurial
muted
mutinous
myriad
nonchalance
oblivion
obscure
oscillating
paradoxical
parry
petulance
precarious
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
56.
precipitous
propitious
quench
querulous
raucous
respite
reticence
skulk
stupefy
taper
tenacious
torpid
undulant
vigilant
These words which appear in Watership Down have been identified as words or derivatives of words that
have appeared on past SAT tests. They are listed here in the order in which they appear in the novel.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
dissension
mutiny
stupefied
grating
propitious
raucous
lassitude
skulk
disconcerted
gravity
oblivious
foreboding
tapers
acquiescence
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
blundering
precipitous
tenacious
undulating
respite
obscure
ductile
docilely
gregarious
reticence
latent
censorious
inert
malodorous
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
oscillated
nonchalance
propriety
stealthily
quenching
accord
parrying
impertinence
droning
ingenuity
precarious
torpid
impervious
emulation
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
56.
Copyright © 2002 by Advanced Placement Strategies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Used under license by Laying the Foundation, Inc. www.layingthefoundation.org
petulant
alcove
incessant
muted
lurid
paradoxically
effusively
adversity
querulously
vigilant
myriads
mercurial
impudently
dissolution
Watership Down
by Richard Adams
Vocabulary Test 1
Directions: Match the word in the left column with the correct definition in the right column.
Exercise A
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
accord
acquiesce
adversity
alcove
apathy
blunder
censorious
compost
disconcerting
dissolution
docile
drone
ductile
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.
l.
m.
upsetting, frustrating
a partly enclosed extension of a room or part of a room
a composition of largely decaying matter (fertilizer)
disintegration, decomposition and dispersion
to give in, comply
easily managed, obedient, passive
critical
misfortune, unfavorable happening
speaking in a monotonous tone
agreement, state of harmony
capable of being fashioned into a new form
to make a mistake as a result of stupidity
lack of concern or feeling, indifference
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.
l.
m.
n.
o.
a pouring forth, usually overdone in writing and speech
unable to move or act, sluggish
not capable of being penetrated or damaged
to try to equal or be like through imitation
anger as a result of something unjust
insolent rudeness, not within proper bounds of good taste
premonition of evil, an ominous omen
disrespectful, characterized by improper behavior
sociable and outgoing
to cause irritation
uninterrupted
seriousness, importance
not visible, dormant
cleverness, inventiveness
feeling of weariness, fatigue
Exercise B
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
effusion
emulate
foreboding
grate
gravity
gregarious
impertinent
impervious
impudent
incessant
indignation
inert
ingenuity
lassitude
latent
Copyright © 2002 by Advanced Placement Strategies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Used under license by Laying the Foundation, Inc. www.layingthefoundation.org
Watership Down
by Richard Adams
Vocabulary Test 2
Directions: Match the word in the left column with the correct definition in the right column.
Exercise A
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
lurid
malodorous
mercurial
muted
mutinous
myriad
nonchalance
oblivion
obscure
oscillating
paradoxical
parry
petulance
precarious
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.
l.
m.
n.
indifference, showing little interest
changing unpredictably, fickle
state of being forgotten
dangerous, risky, not a secure situation
foul-smelling, highly improper
to deflect or ward off a blow
difficult to see, vague
toned down, silenced
something that appears false but is actually correct
sensational, gruesome, causing shock or horror
moving back and forth, swinging, varying
rebellious, unruly
a very large indefinite number
unreasonable touchiness or irritability
k.
l.
m.
n.
o.
p.
q.
r.
s.
t.
u.
v.
w.
x.
constantly complaining, whining
to dull the senses as to put into a stupor
to extinguish, put out, to relieve with liquid
very alert, watchful
to decrease in thickness or width
loud and boisterous, harsh, disorderly
favorably disposed, graciously inclined
to move in a sneaky, furtive, or stealthy manner
moving with or resembling a wavelike motion
a rest, a delay, a period of relief
marked by great rapidity, haste, or lack of caution
sluggish, inactive, dull
restraint in speech, reluctance to speak
persistent, holding fast to a position
Exercise B
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
precipitous
propitious
quench
querulous
raucous
respite
reticence
skulk
stupefy
taper
tenacious
torpid
undulant
vigilant
Copyright © 2002 by Advanced Placement Strategies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Used under license by Laying the Foundation, Inc. www.layingthefoundation.org
Watership Down
by Richard Adams
Vocabulary Test 1
1.
j
2.
e
3.
h
4.
b
5.
m
6.
l
7.
g
8.
c
9.
a
10.
d
11.
f
12.
i
13.
k
14.
a
15.
d
16.
g
17.
j
18.
l
19.
i
20.
f
21.
c
22.
h
23.
k
24.
e
25.
b
26.
n
27.
o
28.
m
Vocabulary Test 2
1.
j
2.
e
3.
b
4.
h
5.
l
6.
m
7.
a
8.
c
9.
g
10.
k
11.
i
12.
f
13.
n
14.
d
15.
u
16.
q
17.
m
18.
k
19.
p
20.
t
21.
w
22.
r
23.
l
24.
o
25.
x
26.
v
27.
s
28.
n
Copyright © 2002 by Advanced Placement Strategies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Used under license by Laying the Foundation, Inc. www.layingthefoundation.org
Watership Down
Definitions
1. accord
uh KORD
agreement, state of harmony
,<<accorduh
Synonyms >>
Antonym >> disharmony; disagreement
We are in accord concerning the method of handling this problem.
Derivatives >>
accordable, accorder, accordance, accordant
2. acquiesce
AK wee es
to give in, to comply
,<<acquiesceAK
Synonyms >>
accede, agree, assent, consent, subscribe
Antonym >> to object; to disagree
I was so desperate that I had to acquiesce to his demands.
Derivatives >>
3. adversity
,<<adversityad
Synonyms >>
acquiescence, acquiescent, acquiescingly, acquiescently
ad VER suh tee
misfortune, unfavorable happening
Antonym >> prosperity
He has suffered much adversity by first losing his job and then losing his wife.
Derivatives >>
adverse
AL kove
4. alcove
a partially enclosed extension of a room or part of a room
Synonyms >>
Antonym >>
An alcove is to a room as an inlet is to a lake.
Derivatives >>
alcoves
AP uh thee
5. apathy
Synonyms >>
phlegm, stoicism, stolidness
a lack of concern or feeling, indifference
Antonym >> enthusiastic devotion
The man looked upon the turn of events with apathy.
Derivatives >>
apathetic, apathetical, apathetically
BLUN der
6. blunder
to make a mistake as a result of stupidity or carelessness
Antonym >> act wisely
Synonyms >>
His election campaign was wrecked by one blunder after another
Derivatives >>
7.
blunderer, blunderingly, blundering
censorious
sen SORE ee us
critical
,<<censoriousse
Synonyms >>
carping, captious
The artist was hurt by the censorious remarks of the critic.
Derivatives >>
Antonym >> complimentary
censor, censoriously, censoriousness, censorial, censorship
8. compost
KOM post
a composition of largely decaying matter used as fertilizer
,<<compostKO
Synonyms >>
Antonym >>
A compost plant produces fertilizer from garbage.
Derivatives >>
9.
composts
disconcerting
dis kun SUR ting
,<<disconcertin
Synonyms >>
upsetting, frustrating
Antonym >> refreshing; calming
That he has not responded to the medicine is disconcerting.
Derivatives >>
disconcert, disconcerted, disconcertedness, disconcerting, disconcertingly, disconcertingness, disconcertment
10. dissolution
dis uh LOO shun
,<<dissolutiondi
Synonyms >>
disintegration, decomposition and dispersion
Antonym >> integration
The dissolution of the partnership caused him much grief.
Derivatives >>
11. docile
,<<docileDOS
Synonyms >>
dissolute, dissolutely, dissoluteness, dissolutive, dissoluble
DOS ul
amenable, tractable
easily managed, obedient, passive
Antonym >> unruly; unmanageable
The dog was docile until the doorbell rang.
Derivatives >>
docible, docibility, docilely, docility
Copyright © 2002 by Advanced Placement Strategies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Used under license by Laying the Foundation, Inc. www.layingthefoundation.org
12. drone
DRONE
speaking in a monotonous tone; a continuous low humming sound
,<<droneDRON
Synonyms >>
Antonym >>
I could hardly endure the constant drone of the speaker's voice.
Derivatives >>
droned, droning, drones, droner, droningly, dronish
13. ductile
DUK tul
capable of being fashioned into a new form
,<<ductileDUK
Synonyms >>
pliable, pliant, malleable, adaptable
Antonym >> unmalleable
The crowd seemed like a ductile mass easily swayed in any direction.
Deri vatives >>
14. effusion
,<<effusioneh
Synonyms >>
ductible, ductilely, ductility
eh FYOO zhun
a pouring forth (usually overdone in writing or speech)
Antonym >> restraint; reserve
The effusion of profane language in his speech offended many.
Derivatives >>
15. emulate
,<<emulateEM
Synonyms >>
effuse, effusive, effusiveness, effusively
EM yuh late
to try to equal or to be like (usually through imitation)
Antonym >>
He has a lot of fine qualities that I try to emulate.
Derivatives >>
emulation, emulative, emulator, emulatively
16. foreboding
fore BOE ding
premonition of evil, an ominous omen
,<<forebodingfo
Synonyms >>
prediction, portent, presentiment
Antonym >> serene
The black clouds overhead were a foreboding of bad weather.
Derivatives >>
forebode, foreboder
GRATE
17. grate
to cause irritation
Antonym >> to soothe
Synonyms >>
Her acrimonious comments grate on my nerves.
Derivatives >>
grated, grating, grater
GRAV eh tee
18. gravity
Synonyms >>
seriousness, importance
earnestness, sedateness, sobriety, solemnity, staidness
Antonym >> unimportance
The gravity of the situation was heightened by the death of the president .
Derivatives >>
grave, graver, gravely
19. gregarious
greh GAR ee us
sociable and outgoing
,<<gregariousgr
Synonyms >>
Antonym >> shy; reserved
He became much more gregarious after he developed an interest in girls.
Derivatives >>
gregariously, gregariousness
20. impertinent
im PUR tuh nunt
insolently rude, not within the proper bounds of good taste or manners
,<<impertinenti
Synonyms >>
intrusive, meddlesome, obtrusive, officious
Antonym >> reverent; respectful
His impertinent remarks did not help his case in the eyes of the jury.
Derivatives >>
impertinence, impertinency, impertinently, impertinentness
21. impervious
im PUR vee us
incapable of being entered or penetrated, not capable of being damaged
,<<imperviousi
Synonyms >>
Antonym >> penetrable
Because this watch is impervious to water , I can go swimming while wearing it.
Derivatives >>
22. impudent
,<<impudentIM
Synonyms >>
imperviously, imperviousness
IM pyuh dunt
disrespectful, characterized by improper bold behavior
Antonym >> respectful
The student's impudent act of using profanity toward Mrs. Dove caused him to be expelled.
Derivatives >>
23. incessant
,<<incessantin
Synonyms >>
impudence, impudency, impudently, impudentness, impudicity
in SES unt
uninterrupted
constant, perennial, perpetual, unremitting
Antonym >> intermittent
The dog's incessant barking caused the man to have difficulty falling asleep.
Derivatives >>
24. indignation
Synonyms >>
incessancy, incessantly, incessantness, incession
in dig NAY shun
fury, ire, rage, wrath
anger as a result of something unjust
Antonym >> serenity
I have much indignation about the light sentence given to the drunk driver who ran over my child .
Derivatives >>
indignant, indignantly, indignance, indignify, indignities
25. inert ,<<inertin in URT
Synonyms >>
idle, passive, supine
unable to move or to act, sluggish
Antonym >> active
It takes a long time to get things done when we must depend on inert bureaucrats.
Derivatives >>
inertia, inertial, inertion, inertness, inertly
Copyright © 2002 by Advanced Placement Strategies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Used under license by Laying the Foundation, Inc. www.layingthefoundation.org
26. ingenuity
in juh NOO eh tee
cleverness, inventiveness, resourcefulness
,<<ingenuityin
Synonyms >>
adroitness, cunning, deftness, dexterity
Antonym >> lack of cleverness
He showed much ingenuity in his unique way of solving the problem.
Derivatives >>
ingenious, ingeniously, ingeniousness
27. lassitude
LAS eh tood
feeling of weariness; fatigue
,<<lassitudeLAS
Synonyms >>
languor, lethargy, stupor, torpor
Antonym >> restlessness
The hot weather in some parts of Mexico probably created the lassitude that led to the siesta.
Derivatives >>
28. latent
,<<latentLATE
Synonyms >>
lassitudes
LATE unt
abeyant, quiescent
not visible, dormant
Antonym >> obvious
Sometimes a teacher can cause latent talents to emerge.
Derivatives >>
29. lurid
,<<luridLOOR
Synonyms >>
latency
LOOR id
grisly, ghastly, macabre
sensational, gruesome and causing shock or horror
Antonym >>
The tabloid published every lurid detail of the ax murder.
Derivatives >>
30. malodorous
,<<malodorous
Synonyms >>
luridity, luridness
mal OH dur us
foul-smelling, highly improper
fetid, fusty, musty, noisome, putrid, rancid, rank
Antonym >> aromatic
Insider trading is a malodorous practice that should be punished.
Derivatives >>
malodor, malodorant
mur KYOOR ee ul
31. mercurial
Synonyms >>
changing unpredictably, fickle
capricious, inconstant, unstable
Antonym >> stolid
Due to his mercurial temperament, employees always approached him carefully, unsure of what his mood would be.
Derivatives >>
mercuriality, mercurially
MYOO tid
32. muted
toned down or silenced
Antonym >> amplified
Synonyms >>
The conductor wanted the music to be muted at one spot in the performance.
Derivatives >>
mute, mutedly, mutely, muteness
33. mutinous
MYOOT un us
rebellious, unruly
,<<mutinousMY
Synonyms >>
Antonym >> agreeable; compatible
The crew grew mutinous because they thought they might sail right off the edge of the earth.
Derivatives >>
mutiny, mutinously, mutinousness, mutinize, mutinies
34. myriad
MIR ee id
a very large and indefinite number
,<<myriadMIR
Synonyms >>
Antonym >> small number
The myriad of races and cultures that make up America is said to resemble a mosaic.
Derivatives >>
myriadfold, myriadly
35. nonchalance
non shuh LAWNS
indifference, a showing of little interest
,<<nonchalance
Synonyms >>
Antonym >> intensity
He took the news of his failing grade with nonchalance.
Derivatives >>
36. oblivion
,<<oblivionuh
Synonyms >>
nonchalant, nonchalantly, nonchalantness
uh BLIV ee un
state of being forgotten
Antonym >> remembrance
Until the singer's recent hit, his career had fallen into a state of oblivion.
Derivatives >>
37. obscure
,<<obscureub
Synonyms >>
oblivious, obliviously
ub SKYOOR
difficult to see, vague
abstruse, ambiguous, cryptic, enigmatic, equivocal, recondite Antonym >> clear; apparent
Because the meaning of the play was obscure, I was unable to enjoy it.
Derivatives >>
obscuration, obscurative, obscuredly, obscurely, obscurement, obscureness, obscurity
OS uh lay ting
38. oscillating
moving back and forth, swinging, varying
Antonym >> remaining steady
Synonyms >>
The oscillating pendulum was beginning to unnerve me.
Derivatives >>
39. paradoxical
oscillate, oscillates, oscillated, oscillation, oscillator, oscillatory
pair uh DOKS uh kul
something that appears false or contradictory but is actually correct
Synonyms >>
Antonym >>
It is paradoxical that a man from the South, Lyndon Johnson, led the fight for the passage of a civil rights bill.
Derivatives >>
paradoxicality, paradoxicalness, paradoxology, paradoxality
Copyright © 2002 by Advanced Placement Strategies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Used under license by Laying the Foundation, Inc. www.layingthefoundation.org
40. parry
PAIR ee
to deflect or to ward off a blow
,<<parryPAIR
Synonyms >>
Antonym >>
The champion boxer won the match because he was able to parry his opponent's blows so successfully.
Derivatives >>
parried, parrying
41. petulance
PECH uh luns
unreasonable touchiness or irritability
,<<petulancePE
Synonyms >>
Antonym >> serenity
Petulance is sometimes the trait of a child who is not getting his way.
Derivatives >>
petulant, petulancy, petulantly
42. precarious
pre KARE ee us
,<<precariouspr
Synonyms >>
dangerous, risky, not a secure situation
Antonym >> safe
It seems that a tightrope walker is often in a precarious situation.
Derivatives >>
precariously, precariousness
43. precipitous
preh SIP eh tus
marked by great rapidity, haste, or lack of caution
,<<precipitousp
Synonyms >>
hasty, sudden, rash; steep, sheer
Antonym >> gradual
Her precipitous behavior led her to make silly mistakes. The precipitous slope rose before us.
Derivatives >>
44. propitious
,<<propitiouspr
Synonyms >>
precipitously, precipitousness, precipice
pruh PISH us
favorably disposed, graciously inclined
helpful, advantageous, benevolent, favorable, auspicious
Antonym >> unfavorable; inauspicious
America has conditions propitious to democracy.
Derivatives >>
propitiously, propitiousness, propitiate, propitiated, propitiatory
KWENCH
45. quench
to extinguish, to put out; to relieve with liquid
Antonym >> to stir up
Synonyms >>
He quenched the hot coals in the barbecue pit with water.
Derivatives >>
quencher, quenched, quenching, quenchable, quenchableness
KWER uh lus
46. querulous
constantly complaining, whining
Antonym >> uncomplaining
Synonyms >>
Amy irritates me when she constantly speaks in her querulous voice.
Derivatives >>
querulously, querulousness, querulist, querulent
47. raucous
RAH kus
loud and boisterous, harsh, disorderly
,<<raucousRAH
Synonyms >>
stentorian, strident
Antonym >> quiet; mild
The raucous crowd at the fight threw chairs into the ring to show disagreement with the decision.
Derivatives >>
raucously, raucousness, raucid, raucity
48. respite
RES pit
a rest, a delay, a period of relief
,<<respiteRES
Synonyms >>
Antonym >> continuance
I enjoy a quiet lunch that serves a respite from my tense job of being an air traffic controller.
Derivatives >>
respiteless
49. reticence
RET uh sunt
restraint in speech, reluctance to speak
,<<reticenceRE
Synonyms >>
reserve, taciturnity
Antonym >> candor
A lawyer must have great reticence in discussing matters that could violate his client's rights.
Derivatives >>
50. skulk
,<<skulkSKUL
Synonyms >>
reticency, reticent, reticently
SKULK
lurk, slink, sneak
to move in a sneaky, furtive, or stealthy manner
Antonym >> to be open; to lack secrecy
The burglar skulked about on the balcony.
Derivatives >>
51. stupefy
,<<stupefySTO
Synonyms >>
skulker, skulked, skulking, skulks
STOO puh fie
to dull the senses as to put into a stupor
Antonym >> to excite
That boring lecture would stupefy anyone with any intelligence.
Derivatives >>
stupefyingly, stupefaction, stupefacient, stupefactive
TAY pur
52. taper
to decrease in thickness or width
Antonym >> to make wider
Synonyms >>
The intensity of the pain will taper off as time goes on. Some shirts are tapered at the bottom.
Derivatives >>
tapered, tapering
teh NAY shus
53. tenacious
Synonyms >>
mettlesome, resolved
persistent, holding fast to a position
Antonym >> fickle
England was tenacious in its desire not to fall to the Germans.
Derivatives >>
tenaciously, tenaciousness, tenacity
Copyright © 2002 by Advanced Placement Strategies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Used under license by Laying the Foundation, Inc. www.layingthefoundation.org
54. torpid
TOR pid
sluggish, inactive, dull
,<<torpidTOR
Synonyms >>
He is always torpid on Sunday mornings.
Derivatives >>
Antonym >> active; animated
torpor, torpidity, torpidness, torpify, torpidly, torpitude, torporific
55. undulant
UN juh lunt
moving with or resembling a wavelike motion
,<<undulantUN
Synonyms >>
Antonym >> motionless
Playing golf on an undulant terrain is usually difficult.
Derivatives >>
56. vigilant
,<<vigilantVIJ
Synonyms >>
undulance, undulate, undulated, undulating, undulation, undulatory
VIJ uh lunt
very alert, watchful
Antonym >> unconcerned; inattentive
I have been vigilant in trying to find the thief.
Derivatives >>
vigilance, vigilantly, vigilantness, vigil
Copyright © 2002 by Advanced Placement Strategies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Used under license by Laying the Foundation, Inc. www.layingthefoundation.org