bane, antagonism, sect, siege, humility: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 2 set 170. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. bane · noun/beɪn/

   a cause of great distress or annoyance

   The long commutes to work have become a bane of my daily routine.

   Synonyms: curse, scourge, plague

   Origin: Derived from Old English 'bana', meaning 'killer, murderer' or 'something causing death'.

2. antagonism · noun/ænˈtæɡənɪzəm/

   active resistance or hostility between opposing forces or ideas

   The antagonism between the rival factions escalated into a violent confrontation at the town hall meeting.

   Synonyms: hostility, opposition, enmity

   Origin: from Greek antagonismós, meaning 'opposition', derived from anti- 'against' and agōn 'struggle, contest'

3. sect · noun/sɛkt/

   a subgroup of a larger religious, political, or philosophical group, often regarded as unorthodox

   The religious sect that emerged in the 19th century attracted many followers with its radical beliefs.

   Synonyms: denomination, faction, cult

   Origin: from Latin 'secta' meaning 'a way, a course,' derived from 'sequi' meaning 'to follow'.

4. siege · noun/sidʒ/

   a military operation in which enemy forces surround a town or building to cut off supplies and force surrender

   The city endured a long and grueling siege, as enemy forces surrounded its walls and cut off all supply routes.

   Synonyms: blockade, encirclement, assault

   Origin: Middle English, from Old French 'siege', from Latin 'seges' meaning 'to sit'

5. humility · noun/hjuˈmɪlɪti/

   a modest or low view of one's importance

   His humility allowed him to accept constructive criticism without taking offense.

   Synonyms: humbleness, modesty, meekness

   Origin: from Latin 'humilitas', from 'humilis' meaning 'lowly, low'