132 MCGRAW-HILL’S SAT
Vocabulary Lesson 30: Come to Your Senses!
Today’s roots: audire to hear palpare to touch
gustare to taste cernere to separate❑ tactile(adj) able to be sensed by touch (tactilisto touch)
The petting zoo provides a fun tactileexperience for children, allowing them to touch dozens of animals.
Synonym:palpable❑ olfactory(adj) relating to the sense of smell (olere ato smell of +facereto make)
For those with a strong olfactorysense, the spray of a skunk is extremely pungent.❑ gustatory(adj) relating to the sense of taste (gustareto taste)
The meal was a gustatoryextravaganza; her taste buds were exploding from all the savory spices.❑ auditory(adj) relating to the sense of hearing (audireto hear)
Kris’sauditorydeterioration prevented him from appreciating the subtle tonality of the music.
Synonym:aural❑ discern(v) to perceive as separate; to sense keenly (dis-away+cerneredistinguish, separate)
The fog made it difficult for me to discernhow many people stood at the far end of the parking lot.
Synonyms:perceive, distinguish, ascertain❑ pungent(adj) having a sharp or irritating odor (pungereto sting)
Many find garlic breath to be so pungentthat they avoid cooking with the herb entirely.
Synonyms:piquant, zesty❑ palpable(adj) detectable by touch (palpareto touch)
As the tightrope walker attempted to regain his balance, the tension in the audience was nearly palpable.
Synonyms:tangible, tactile❑ ascertain(v) to learn for certain
Synonym:discern❑ savory(adj) pleasant tasting; appetizing
Synonym:palatable❑ putrid(adj) rotten; having a foul odor (putrisrotten)
Synonyms:rancid, decayed❑ myopic(adj) short-sightedness
Synonyms:narrow-minded, injudicious, undiscerning❑ perceive(v) to become aware
Synonyms:discern, ascertain❑ aural(adj) relating to the sense of hearing (aurisear)
Synonym:auditory❑ tangible(adj) detectable by touch; substantial (tangereto touch)
Synonyms:palpable, concrete