134 MCGRAW-HILL’S SAT
Vocabulary Lesson 32: Must Be the Money
Today’s roots: pecunia money parsi to save
pro- ahead indu within
❑ destitute(adj) completely penniless (destitutusabandoned)
The stock market collapse of 2000–2002 left many an adept investor destitute.
Synonyms:impoverished, penniless Antonyms:affluent, wealthy
❑ frugal(adj) economical; good with money (fruxfruit, profit)
Afrugalshopper does not make a purchase before checking many other places for a lower price.
Synonyms:thrifty, parsimonious Antonyms:squandering, prodigal
❑ remuneration(n) payment for services (re-back+munerarito give)
The job is tedious, but the remunerationis worthwhile—over fifty dollars per hour!
Synonyms:income, earnings
❑ impecunious(adj) without money (im-not+pecuniamoney)
You would never guess that Marisa was so impecuniousif you watched her spend money at the mall.
Synonyms:destitute, penurious Antonyms:affluent, wealthy
❑ improvident(adj) failing to provide for the future (im-not+pro-ahead+videreto see)
Despite once being a millionaire, Claudio was now broke due to his improvidentspending decisions.
Synonyms:prodigal, negligent, spendthrifty Antonyms:thrifty, frugal
❑ parsimony(n) excessive thriftiness (parsi-to spare, save +moniuman action, a condition)
Al’sparsimoniousnessreached an extreme when he hand-delivered a bill rather than spending money on a stamp.
Synonyms:miserliness, stinginess Antonyms:magnanimity, munificence
❑ venal(adj) able to be bribed (venalisthat is for sale)
The local outlaws knew that the venalsheriff could be paid to let them escape.
Synonym:corruptible
❑ thrifty(adj) economical; good with money
Synonyms:frugal, provident, parsimonious
❑ pauper(n) an extremely poor individual (paulittle+parereto get)
Synonym:mendicant
❑ mercenary(n) one who gives his services to the highest bidder (mercespay, reward)
❑ perquisite(n) payment or privilege received in addition to wages (perkfor short)
Debra enjoyed the perquisites of being the newspaper’s culture editor, such as free tickets to the opera and ballet.
❑ insolvent(adj) bankrupt (in-not+solventable to pay what one owes)
Synonym:broke
❑ indigent(adj) impoverished, poor (indu-within+egereto need, want)
Synonym:destitute
❑ pecuniary(adj) pertaining to money (pecuniamoney)