to adopt or support a cause, belief, or way of life
example
The organization decided to espouse environmental sustainability by implementing green practices in all its operations.
synonyms
adoptsupportembrace
word origin — Middle English 'espousen', derived from Old French 'espouser', from Latin 'sponsare' meaning 'to betroth'.
SAT Vocabulary Level 2 — Set 131
Set 131 of SAT Vocabulary Level 2 covers 5 words: espouse, meander, misunderstand, scour, preclude. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.
espouse · verb/ɪˈspaʊz/
to adopt or support a cause, belief, or way of life
The organization decided to espouse environmental sustainability by implementing green practices in all its operations.
Synonyms: adopt, support, embrace
Origin: Middle English 'espousen', derived from Old French 'espouser', from Latin 'sponsare' meaning 'to betroth'.
meander · verb/miˈændɚ/
to follow a winding course or take a circuitous route
The river tends to meander through the valley, creating beautiful landscapes as it follows its winding path.
Synonyms: winding, wander, roam
Origin: The word 'meander' comes from the name of the Meander River in ancient Phrygia (modern-day Turkey), known for its winding course.
misunderstand · verb/ˌmɪsʌndərˈstænd/
to interpret or understand something incorrectly
She often misunderstands my intentions, thinking I am upset when I am not.
Synonyms: misinterpret, misconstrue, misread
Origin: The word 'misunderstand' derives from the prefix 'mis-' meaning 'wrongly' combined with 'understand', which comes from Old English 'understandan', meaning to comprehend.
scour · verb/skaʊr/
to clean or remove dirt by scrubbing vigorously
After a long day of cooking, she had to scour the pots and pans to remove the stubborn grease.
Synonyms: scrub, cleanse, polish
Origin: Middle English 'scouren', from Old English 'scūrian' meaning 'to cleanse or scavenge'
preclude · verb/prɪˈklud/
to make impossible or prevent something from happening
The heavy rainfall was sufficient to preclude any possibility of the outdoor event taking place.
Synonyms: prevent, exclude, hinder
Origin: From Latin 'praecludere', meaning 'to shut out' (from 'prae-' meaning 'before' + 'claudere' meaning 'to shut')