SAT Vocabulary Level 2 — Set 330

Set 330 of SAT Vocabulary Level 2 covers 5 words: retaliation, nettle, fallacy, culvert, stratum. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

1. retaliation · noun/rɪˈtæl.iˌeɪ.ʃən/

   the act of returning an injury or wrong by inflicting harm or punishment

   The country's leaders announced a swift retaliation against the enemy for their recent attacks.

   Synonyms: revenge, retribution, vengeance

   Origin: from Latin 'retaliatio', from 'retaliari' meaning 'to return, reciprocate', composed of 're-' meaning 'again' and 'taliari' meaning 'to rend, tear'.

2. nettle · noun/ˈnɛtəl/

   a flowering plant of the genus urtica that has stinging hairs

   Be careful while walking in the woods, as you might accidentally brush against a nettle and get stung by its hairs.

   Synonyms: stinging plant, bramble, thorn

   Origin: Old English 'netele', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch 'netel' and German 'Nessel'.

3. fallacy · noun/ˈfæləsi/

   an error in reasoning or a misleading argument

   The argument presented in the debate was based on a common fallacy, as it relied on misleading information to sway the audience's opinion.

   Synonyms: misconception, delusion, error

   Origin: from Latin 'fallacia', meaning 'deception, trick' derived from 'fallax', meaning 'deceptive'.

4. culvert · noun/ˈkʌlvərt/

   a structure that allows water to flow under a road or path

   The heavy rains caused the river to overflow, but the culvert under the road helped to manage the excess water effectively.

   Synonyms: drain, conduit, tunnel

   Origin: The word 'culvert' comes from the Old French 'couverte', meaning 'to cover' or 'to conceal', which is derived from 'couvrir', meaning 'to cover'.

5. stratum · noun/ˈstrætəm/

   a layer or level of material or organization

   The geological survey revealed several stratum of sediment, each representing a different period in Earth's history.

   Synonyms: layer, level, tier

   Origin: from Latin 'stratum', meaning 'a layer, bed, or covering', derived from the verb 'sternere', meaning 'to spread out, to lay down'.