124 MCGRAW-HILL’S SAT
Vocabulary Lesson 27: Good Guys and Bad Guys
Today’s roots: archos leader, government theos god
a-, an- without pacis peace❑ hedonist(n) a pleasure seeker (hedonepleasure)
The ’60s are often considered the age of the hedonist,a time when everyone felt they had the right to have fun.
Synonyms:epicurean, epicure, sybarite, bon vivant❑ ascetic(n) one who lives a holy life of self-denial (asketesmonk)
Tim has spent years at a time as an ascetic,each time giving away all he owns and living on rice and prayer.
Synonym:monk❑ anarchist(n) one who opposes all political authority (an-without+archosleader)
Before the coup d’état, the dictator claimed to be an anarchist;that all changed once he was given power.
Synonyms:insurgent, rebel❑ pacifist(n) an individual who is opposed to violence (pacispeace+facereto make)
Forever a pacifist,Julie organized a rally protesting the war in the Middle East.
Synonym:peace-seeker Antonyms:warmonger, combatant❑ atheist(n) one who does not believe that God exists (a-without+theosgod)
Although she is an atheistand does not worship the Buddha, Cathy meditates with her Buddhist friends.❑ nihilist(n) one who rejects moral distinctions and knowable “truths”
Because she is a nihilist,Carrie likes to contend that the world may be a figment of her imagination.❑ despot(n) a tyrant; one who rules oppressively (despotesGk absolute ruler)
Thedespotrules with reckless abandon, doing only what he wants, with no concern for the citizens.
Synonyms:tyrant, oppressor❑ narcissist(n) one in love with his/her own image (from Narcissus, who fell in love with himself)
❑ zealot(n) one who engages passionately in a cause
Synonyms:enthusiast, fanatic, devotee❑ sybarite(n) an individual who seeks luxury
Synonym:hedonist❑ pessimist(n) an individual who focuses on the negative side of a situation (pessimusworst)
Synonyms:alarmist, Cassandra, defeatist❑ optimist(n) one who focuses on the positive side of a situation (optimusbest)
Synonyms:idealist, Pollyanna, Pangloss, Candide❑ fanatic(n) one who shows extreme enthusiasm for a cause (fanaticusenthusiastic)
Synonyms:extremist, radical, zealot, enthusiast