irregular, exquisite, capable, dominant, discrete: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 1 set 78. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. irregular · adjective/ɪˈrɛɡjələr/

   not conforming to established rules or norms

   The committee raised concerns about his irregular behavior during the meetings, which diverged from standard procedures.

   Synonyms: unusual, abnormal, atypical

   Origin: from Latin 'irregularis', where 'in-' means 'not' and 'regularis' means 'regular'

2. exquisite · adjective/ɪkˈskwɪzɪt/

   extremely beautiful and delicate

   The artist created an exquisite painting that captivated everyone with its intricate details.

   Synonyms: beautiful, lovely, elegant

   Origin: From Latin 'exquisitus', meaning 'carefully sought out, refined, delicate'

3. capable · adjective/ˈkeɪ.pə.bəl/

   having the ability, capacity, or power to do something

   She is capable of completing complex tasks quickly and efficiently.

   Synonyms: able, competent, proficient

   Origin: from Middle English 'capable', from Latin 'capabilis' meaning 'able to seize or take in', from 'capere' meaning 'to seize, take'.

4. dominant · adjective/ˈdɑːmɪnənt/

   most important powerful or influential

   In the corporate sector, the dominant company often sets the trends that smaller businesses follow.

   Synonyms: predominant, prevailing, controlling

   Origin: from Latin 'dominans', the present participle of 'dominare', meaning 'to rule or control'

5. discrete · adjective/dɪsˈkrit/

   individually separate and distinct

   The research identified three discrete categories of customer preferences, each requiring a tailored marketing approach.

   Synonyms: distinct, separate, individual

   Origin: from Latin 'discretus', meaning 'separate, distinct', from the verb 'discernere', meaning 'to separate' or 'to distinguish'