offend, alleviate, eliminate, gather, dispose: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 1 set 240. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. offend · verb/əˈfɛnd/

   to cause someone to feel upset or annoyed

   She didn't mean to offend anyone with her comments, but they were taken the wrong way.

   Synonyms: sully, upset, irritate

   Origin: from Old French 'ofendre', from Latin 'offendere', meaning 'to strike against' or 'to harm'.

2. alleviate · verb/əˈliːviˌeɪt/

   to make something less severe or serious

   The doctor prescribed medication to alleviate the patient's pain after surgery.

   Synonyms: relieve, reduce, lessen

   Origin: from Latin 'alleviāre', meaning 'to lighten or lift up'

3. eliminate · verb/ɪˈlɪməˌneɪt/

   to remove or get rid of something

   The new policy aims to eliminate waste in the production process, ensuring a more sustainable approach.

   Synonyms: remove, get rid of, eradicate

   Origin: from Latin 'eliminare', meaning 'to remove' or 'to exclude'

4. gather · verb/ˈɡæðər/

   to come together or accumulate in one place

   Every Saturday, friends gather at the park for a picnic and to enjoy each other's company.

   Synonyms: assemble, collect, convene

   Origin: Middle English 'gaderen', from Old Norse 'gæðra', meaning to bring together

5. dispose · verb/dɪsˈpoʊz/

   to get rid of something or to arrange in a particular order

   After the party, I needed to dispose of the leftover food properly to avoid attracting pests.

   Synonyms: discard, arrange, place

   Origin: from Middle French disposer, from Latin disponere, meaning 'to put in order' or 'to arrange'.