splice, intercept, alienate, wane, forsake: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 2 set 32. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. splice · verb/splaɪs/

   to join or connect pieces of something together

   The engineer had to splice the two cables together to restore the connection.

   Synonyms: join, connect, unify

   Origin: The word splice comes from the Old English 'spliċċan', meaning 'to split' or 'to divide', which evolved in usage to refer to the joining of materials.

2. intercept · verb/ˌɪntərˈsɛpt/

   to stop or seize something on its way from one place to another

   The police were able to intercept the drug shipment before it reached the city.

   Synonyms: stop, seize, catch

   Origin: from Middle French 'intercepter', from Latin 'intercipere', meaning 'to catch between'

3. alienate · verb/ˈeɪliəˌneɪt/

   to make (someone) feel isolated or estranged

   His harsh criticism began to alienate him from his friends, leaving him feeling increasingly alone.

   Synonyms: estrange, isolate, alien

   Origin: from Latin 'alienare', meaning 'to make someone a stranger', from 'alienus', meaning 'belonging to another' or 'foreign'

4. wane · verb/weɪn/

   to decrease in size, amount, intensity, or degree

   As the evening wore on, the light from the setting sun began to wane, casting longer shadows across the garden.

   Synonyms: diminish, decrease, fade

   Origin: Old English 'wanian' meaning to lessen or diminish

5. forsake · verb/fɔrˈseɪk/

   to abandon or renounce something or someone

   Despite the hardships, she refused to forsake her dreams of becoming an artist.

   Synonyms: abandon, renounce, desert

   Origin: Middle English forsaken, from Old English forsacan meaning 'to deny, refuse, or abandon'; composed of 'for-' + 'sacan' (to deny).