tome, essay, margin, ally, curator: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 1 set 317. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. tome · noun/toʊm/

   a large, heavy book

   She spent the entire afternoon reading from an ancient tome filled with forgotten knowledge.

   Synonyms: volume, book, manuscript

   Origin: from Latin 'tomus', meaning 'a volume' or 'a section', which came from the Greek 'tomos', meaning 'a cut' or 'a piece'.

2. essay · noun/ˈɛseɪ/

   a short piece of writing on a particular subject

   For her English class, she wrote a compelling essay about the impact of climate change on global ecosystems.

   Synonyms: composition, article, paper

   Origin: from Middle French 'essayer', meaning 'to try' or 'to attempt'; derived from Latin 'exagere', meaning 'to weigh' or 'to drive out'.

3. margin · noun/ˈmɑrdʒɪn/

   the amount by which a thing is bounded or defined

   The document had a wide margin on the left side, allowing space for notes and comments.

   Synonyms: border, edge, boundary

   Origin: Late Latin 'mārgō' meaning 'border, edge'

4. ally · noun/ˈælaɪ/

   a person or group that supports or cooperates with another in a mutual cause

   During the summit, the country sought to strengthen its alliances with key allies in the region to promote stability.

   Synonyms: partner, supporter, associate

   Origin: from Middle English 'ali' or 'alye', from Old French 'alié', from Latin 'alliatum', meaning 'to bind to or join', from 'alligare,' meaning 'to bind'.

5. curator · noun/kjʊˈreɪtər/

   a person who selects and organizes content for a museum, gallery, or other exhibit

   The curator of the modern art gallery carefully selected the pieces for the upcoming exhibit.

   Synonyms: custodian, keeper, overseer

   Origin: from Latin 'curator', meaning 'one who looks after' or 'caretaker', derived from 'curare', meaning 'to care for'