Set 19 · Study 1 / 5

Exit

mire

noun/ˈmaɪr/

definition

a situation or state of difficulty or distress from which it is hard to escape

example

After losing her job and facing mounting debts, she found herself in a financial mire that seemed impossible to escape.

synonyms
quagmirepredicamententanglement
word origin — Old English 'mīr,' meaning 'mud' or 'wet, boggy ground,' extending to metaphorical uses relating to difficult situations.

SAT Vocabulary Level 2 — Set 19

Set 19 of SAT Vocabulary Level 2 covers 5 words: mire, equinox, archetype, conifer, cabal. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

  1. mire · noun/ˈmaɪr/

    a situation or state of difficulty or distress from which it is hard to escape

    After losing her job and facing mounting debts, she found herself in a financial mire that seemed impossible to escape.

    Synonyms: quagmire, predicament, entanglement

    Origin: Old English 'mīr,' meaning 'mud' or 'wet, boggy ground,' extending to metaphorical uses relating to difficult situations.

  2. equinox · noun/ˈiː.kwɪ.nɑːks/

    the time when day and night are of equal length occurring twice a year

    The autumn equinox marks the beginning of fall, as day and night become equal in length.

    Synonyms: seasonal equinox, day-night equalization

    Origin: From Latin 'aequinoctium', from 'aequus' meaning 'equal' + 'noctis' meaning 'night'.

  3. archetype · noun/ˈɑr.kɪˌtaɪp/

    a very typical example of a certain person or thing

    She is the archetype of a successful entrepreneur, embodying creativity, determination, and innovation.

    Synonyms: model, example, paradigm

    Origin: from the Greek 'arkhetypos', meaning 'original model' or 'pattern'

  4. conifer · noun/ˈkɑːnɪfɚ/

    a type of tree or shrub that produces cones and has needle-like leaves

    The forest was filled with tall conifer trees that provided shelter for many species of wildlife.

    Synonyms: pine, spruce, fir

    Origin: from Latin 'conifer', meaning 'cone-bearing', from 'conus' (cone) + 'ferre' (to bear)

  5. cabal · noun/kəˈbɑl/

    a secret group of people working together for a specific purpose

    The political cabal operated behind the scenes, manipulating key decisions to benefit their interests.

    Synonyms: clique, faction, conspiracy

    Origin: The word 'cabal' originates from the early 17th century, derived from the French 'cabal' or Spanish 'cabal', which referred to a small group of people or a secret intrigue. It is also associated with the Hebrew word 'qabbālāh', meaning 'reception' or 'tradition'.