predetermine, pique, rectify, exhort, impoverish: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 2 set 219. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. predetermine · verb/ˌpriːdɪˈtɜrmɪn/

   to decide or establish something in advance

   The guidelines were created to predetermine the eligibility criteria for the scholarship program.

   Synonyms: decide, establish, determine

   Origin: from the prefix 'pre-' meaning 'before' + 'determine', from Latin 'determinare' meaning 'to limit' or 'settle'.

2. pique · verb/pik/

   to stimulate interest or curiosity

   The intriguing documentary about space travel managed to pique my interest in astronomy.

   Synonyms: arouse, provoke, stimulate

   Origin: From French 'piquer', meaning 'to sting or prick', originating from Latin 'piccare'.

3. rectify · verb/ˈrɛktɪfaɪ/

   to correct or set right something that is wrong

   The management decided to rectify the errors in the report before it was submitted to the clients.

   Synonyms: correct, amend, fix

   Origin: from Latin 'rectificare', which means 'to make right', from 'rectus' meaning 'right' and 'facere' meaning 'to make'

4. exhort · verb/ɪɡˈzɔrt/

   to strongly encourage or urge someone to do something

   The teacher exhorted her students to study hard for the upcoming exams.

   Synonyms: encourage, urge, spur

   Origin: Middle English 'exort' from Latin 'exhortari', meaning 'to incite, encourage'.

5. impoverish · verb/ɪmˈpɑː.vər.ɪʃ/

   to make someone poor or to reduce the quality of something

   The prolonged drought will impoverish the farmers, leaving them unable to sustain their families.

   Synonyms: deprive, bankrupt, degrade

   Origin: The word 'impoverish' comes from the Middle French 'appauvrir', which is derived from 'pauvre', meaning 'poor'.