carcass, censure, travail, grandeur, rhetoric: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 2 set 149. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. carcass · noun/ˈkɑr.kəs/

   the dead body of an animal, especially after it has been butchered

   After the hunt, the hunters carefully inspected the carcass of the deer to ensure it was suitable for processing.

   Synonyms: remains, corpse, cadaver

   Origin: Middle English 'carcasse', from Old French 'carcace', from Late Latin 'carcassa', probably from a Gaulish source.

2. censure · noun/ˈsɛnʃər/

   an expression of strong disapproval or criticism

   The senator faced censure from his colleagues after his controversial remarks during the debate.

   Synonyms: criticism, reprimand, condemnation

   Origin: From Latin 'censura', meaning assessment or judgment

3. travail · noun/trəˈveɪl/

   painful or laborious effort

   After months of travail, the team's hard work finally paid off when they launched their innovative product.

   Synonyms: toil, labor, effort

   Origin: From Middle English 'travaile', from Old French 'travailler', from Latin 'tripalium', a torture device.

4. grandeur · noun/ˈɡræn.dʒɚ/

   the quality of being grand or impressive in appearance or style

   The grandeur of the palace took everyone's breath away as they walked through its elaborately decorated halls.

   Synonyms: magnificence, splendor

   Origin: from Middle French 'grandeur', from 'grand' meaning 'large, great', from Latin 'grandis'.

5. rhetoric · noun/ˈrɛtərɪk/

   the art of persuasive speaking or writing

   The politician's speech was filled with powerful rhetoric that captivated the audience and swayed their opinions.

   Synonyms: persuasion, discourse, eloquence

   Origin: from Latin 'rhetorica', from Greek 'rhetorikē', meaning 'art of discourse'