consort, prologue, dole, suture, sham: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 2 set 59. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. consort · noun/ˈkɒnˌsɔrt/

   a group of musical instruments or people playing together or a spouse or companion

   The royal consort accompanied the king to all official events, always by his side.

   Synonyms: ensemble, companion, spouse

   Origin: Middle English consorte, from Old French consort, from Latin consortium meaning 'partnership, association'.

2. prologue · noun/ˈproʊlɔg/

   an introductory section of a literary work that sets the stage for the main story

   The prologue of the novel provided essential background information about the main characters and the setting, making it easier to understand the story that followed.

   Synonyms: preface, introduction, foreword

   Origin: From Middle English 'prolog' (from Old French 'prologue', from Latin 'prologus', from Greek 'prologos', meaning 'before word')

3. dole · noun/doʊl/

   a portion or share of something given out

   Each month, the organization distributes a generous dole to families in need.

   Synonyms: share, portion, allocation

   Origin: Middle English dol, from Old English dæl meaning 'a part or portion'

4. suture · noun/ˈsuːtʃər/

   a stitch or series of stitches used to close a wound or surgical incision

   The surgeon carefully placed the suture to ensure the wound healed properly.

   Synonyms: stitch, seam, closure

   Origin: from Latin 'sutura', meaning 'a sewing, stitching' from 'sew' (sewing, stitch)

5. sham · noun/ʃæm/

   something that is not what it purports to be; a spurious imitation

   The politician's promises were revealed to be a sham, misleading voters with false hopes.

   Synonyms: fraud, imitation, pretender

   Origin: The word 'sham' originated in the early 19th century, likely deriving from the obsolete verb 'sham' meaning 'to deceive or to cheat.'