88 MCGRAW-HILL’S SAT
Vocabulary Lesson 7: The Humours
Today’s roots: sanguis blood melan black
choler bile anima spirit, mindIn medieval Europe, it was widely believed that one’s health and disposition were largely determined by the bal-
ance of four bodily liquids called “humours”: blood (sang), phlegm, black bile (melancholer), and yellow bile
(choler).
❑ sanguine(adj) cheerfully optimistic (sanguisblood)
After acing his final, David was sanguineabout his prospects for a good overall course grade.
Synonyms:blithe, buoyant Antonyms:morose, forlorn, melancholy, sullen❑ phlegmatic(adj) sluggish
His prolonged illness turned Julio from a spry, happy bon vivant into a morose and phlegmaticbore.
Synonyms:languorous, lethargic, somnolent, torpid Antonyms:vigorous, vibrant, hale, spry❑ melancholy(adj) sad, depressed (melan-black+cholerbile)
She has been so melancholyever since she broke up with her boyfriend; sometimes she is even too depressed to talk with
her friends.
Synonyms:morose, despondent, disconsolate, sullen Antonyms:blithe, buoyant, sanguine❑ choleric(adj) easily angered (choler-bile+-iccharacterized by)
Gena’s mom is really nice but her dad is choleric;he freaks out about the smallest things.
Synonyms:irascible, fractious, bilious, splenetic❑ recalcitrant(adj) stubbornly resistant to authority (re-back+calcitrarekick)
Christine is a talented volleyball player, but she’s so recalcitrantthat our coach often keeps her on the bench.
Synonyms:refractory, intractable Antonyms:compliant, docile, tractable, obsequious, obeisant❑ lethargic(adj) sluggish; dully apathetic
After three weeks of factoring polynomials, my entire class became lethargic;we were bored to death!
Synonyms:languorous, phlegmatic, torpid Antonyms:vigorous, vibrant, hale, spry❑ splenetic(adj) irritable; easily angered (splen-spleen)
Synonyms:bilious, choleric❑ querulous(adj) disposed to complaining
Synonyms:peevish, captious, carping, caviling❑ dolorous(adj) marked by or expressive of sorrow or pain (dolor-pain)
Synonyms:lugubrious, doleful❑ animosity(n) hostility; ill-will (animosusbold)
Synonyms:malevolence, antagonism, invidiousness❑ pusillanimous(adj) cowardly (pusillus-weak+animaspirit)
Synonyms:timorous, craven, dastardly❑ lassitude(n) feeling of weakness or listlessness
Synonyms:lethargy, languor, torpor, stupor