victory (VIK ter ee) n. 1. a final and complete triumph in battle; 2. a specific
military battle that ended in triumph for your side; 3. success in any contest requir-
ing the overcoming of obstacles
- Lord Nelson’s victoryat Trafalgar is commemorated by a statue in London’s
square of the same name. - L’Arc de Triomphe in Paris has seen victoriescelebrated by armies of several
countries. - Some athletes go to the Olympics to compete, while others go seeking victory.
[victories pl.] [Syn. conquest, triumph]
vigilant (VIJ il int) adj. staying watchful and alert for danger - When you are outside your home with a child, you must be vigilantat all
times. - Cats appear to be vigilanteven when they’re asleep.
[-ly adv.] [Syn. watchful]
vigor (VIG oer) n. 1. active force or strength; 2. active or healthy growth;
- intensity; force; energy
- A defense attorney’s job is to defend his client with vigor.
- Rosebushes appear to die in the winter in northern climates, but with the
first sign of spring they exhibit new vigor. - It takes the vigorof multiple rocket engines to boost a satellite into orbit.
[-ous adj., -ously adv.]
violence(VY uh lins) n. 1. physical force that causes damage, destruction, and
personal injury; 2. intense force and energy, such as that of a tropical storm, earth-
quake, tornado, and so on; 3. a violent act or deed - Gang violencehas become all too common in certain areas of certain cities.
- Battery is an act of violenceof one person on another.
- Tornadoes often cause violenceto people who are caught out in them.
violent(VY uh lint) adj. 1. acting with great force so as to injure, damage, or
destroy; 2. caused by an act of violence; 3. furious; extreme; intense - A homicidal maniac has a tendency to be violent.
- Video games depicting violentacts are not necessarily harmful to children,
nor are they necessarily helpful. - When cold fronts meet warm fronts, violentweather conditions often
develop.
[-ly adv.]
virtue(VOER choo) n. 1. moral excellence and goodness of heart; 2. meritori-
ous in moral quality and rightness of action; 3. effective power or force - We show virtueby the way we live.
- Bill won the day by virtueof having four kings.
- The virtueof medicine is well known.
U – Z: SAT Words 237