forgo, embellish, corroborate, fathom, defile: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 2 set 150. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. forgo · verb/fɔrˈɡoʊ/

   to decide not to do or have something

   To maintain her health, Maria decided to forgo sweets and sugary drinks for a month.

   Synonyms: abandon, relinquish, skip

   Origin: Middle English 'forgonen', from Old English 'forgān', meaning to forsake, from 'for-' (prefix) + 'gān' (to go).

2. embellish · verb/ɛmˈbɛlɪʃ/

   to make something more attractive by adding decorative details or features

   The artist decided to embellish the wooden chair with intricate carvings and vibrant paint, transforming it into a stunning centerpiece.

   Synonyms: decorate, adorn, enhance

   Origin: The word 'embellish' originates from the Middle French 'embellir', which is derived from 'en-' meaning 'to make' and 'belle', meaning 'beautiful'.

3. corroborate · verb/kəˈrɑːbəreɪt/

   to confirm or give support to a statement, theory, or finding

   The witness came forward to corroborate the defendant's alibi, providing a critical piece of evidence in the trial.

   Synonyms: confirm, support, validate

   Origin: from Latin 'corroborare', meaning 'to strengthen', from 'cor-' meaning 'together' and 'roborare' meaning 'to strengthen' or 'to make strong'.

4. fathom · verb/ˈfæθ.əm/

   to understand or comprehend something fully

   I couldn't quite fathom the complexity of the situation until I spoke to my advisor.

   Synonyms: comprehend, grasp, perceive

   Origin: The word 'fathom' originates from the Old English 'fæðm', which means to embrace or to surround, and is related to the measure of length in water (historically used in nautical contexts).

5. defile · verb/dɪˈfaɪl/

   to make foul, dirty, or unclean

   The factory's waste was allowed to defile the river, causing serious environmental damage.

   Synonyms: sully, tarnish, contaminate

   Origin: from the Old French 'defiler' meaning 'to trample down, to march through (a place), to defile', from 'de-' (down) and 'filer' (to thread, to spin), which is from Latin 'filare'.