adversity(ad VER si tee) n.a state of poverty and trouble; a condition of mis-
fortune or wretchedness; an instance of calamity
- Those who lived through the Great Depression of the early 1930s learned
how to triumph over adversity. - The only solution to the adversityof those living in the Dust Bowl of
Oklahoma in the 1930s was to move away. - The Japanese automobile and electronics industries helped the country to
recover from the adversityof defeat.
aerate(AER ayt) vt.1. to open to air or to cause air to circulate through; 2. to
get oxygen to the blood (as in respiration); 3. to charge a liquid with gas (such as
making soda pop) - To improve the taste of drinking water, huge plants aerateit before it is
sent to your home. - Your lungs aeratethe blood that is brought there from your heart as part of
your pulmonary circulation. - Soft drink makers aeratetheir drinks by forcing carbon dioxide to dissolve
under pressure.
[-d, aerating, aeration n.]
aesthetic*(es the tik) adj.1. of beauty; 2. sensitive to art and beauty; demon-
strating good taste; being artistic - Van Gogh’s Starry Night has an aestheticquality that defies being expressed
in words. - Aaron was touched by the aestheticarrangement of the flowers blooming
in the garden.
[aesthetically adv., aesthetical, aesthete n.]
affect(uh FEKT) vt.1. to influence; to produce a change; 2. to move or cause an
emotional response; 3. to pretend to be, have, feel, or like —n.an emotional
response; an emotion or feeling attached to an idea - Both crosswind and current affectour ability to row straight across to the
other side of the river. - Seeing the photos of the liberated concentration camp inmates affects
many people. - As the voice of Shrek, Mike Meyers affectsthe role of a lovable green ogre.
[-ed, -ing, affectable adj.] [Syn. assume (sense 3)]
affront (uhf RUHNT) vt.1. to openly or purposefully insult; offend; slight; 2. to
confront in a defiant manner —n.an open or deliberate insult - Don’t affrontBill’s mother by telling her the chicken she prepared tasted
like the take-out chicken’s bucket. - When you tell your parents you’ll do anything you want regardless of
what they think, you affrontthem. - Debbie’s not inviting Sally to her birthday party was a deliberate affront.
[-ed, -ing] [Syn. offend]
A: SAT Words 15