SAT Vocabulary Level 2 — Set 235

Set 235 of SAT Vocabulary Level 2 covers 5 words: hostility, penchant, deceit, postulate, escalation. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

1. hostility · noun/hɑˈsˈtɪl.ɪ.ti/

   aggressive behavior or attitudes towards someone or something

   Her hostility towards the new policies was evident in her passionate arguments during the meeting.

   Synonyms: animosity, antagonism, enmity

   Origin: from Latin 'hostilitas', from 'hostis' meaning 'enemy'

2. penchant · noun/ˈpɛn.tʃənt/

   a strong or habitual liking for something or a tendency to do something

   She has a penchant for fine dining, often seeking out the best restaurants in town.

   Synonyms: fondness, inclination, propensity

   Origin: French, from 'penchant' meaning 'to lean towards'

3. deceit · noun/dɪˈsiːt/

   the act of concealing or misrepresenting the truth

   His deceit became apparent when the truth about his lies was finally revealed to everyone.

   Synonyms: deception, fraud, trickery

   Origin: from Middle English 'deceit', borrowed from Old French 'deceite', from Latin 'dictio' which means 'to deceive'

4. postulate · noun/ˈpɑːstjʊleɪt/

   a statement accepted as true for the purposes of argument or investigation

   In physics, the theory begins with the postulate that energy cannot be created or destroyed.

   Synonyms: assumption, premise, proposition

   Origin: from Latin 'postulatum', past participle of 'postulare' meaning 'to demand, require, or assume'

5. escalation · noun/ˌɛskəˈleɪʃən/

   increased intensity or seriousness of a situation or conflict

   The escalation of tensions between the two countries has led to concerns about a potential conflict.

   Synonyms: intensification, surge, increase

   Origin: Originating from the verb 'escalate', which comes from the Latin word 'scala', meaning 'ladder', implying a gradual rise or increase.