SAT Vocabulary Level 2 — Set 6

Set 6 of SAT Vocabulary Level 2 covers 5 words: aver, assail, engender, gawk, decry. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

1. aver · verb/əˈvɜr/

   to assert or affirm with confidence

   The scientist was quick to aver the validity of his groundbreaking research during the conference.

   Synonyms: assert, affirm, declare

   Origin: from Middle French 'avérer' and Latin 'adverare', meaning 'to confirm or make true'

2. assail · verb/əˈseɪl/

   to attack violently or suddenly

   The protesters began to assail the police officers with rocks and bottles, demanding justice for their cause.

   Synonyms: attack, assault, strike

   Origin: Middle English assailen, from Old French assaillir, from Latin assilīre, meaning 'to jump at, to attack'.

3. engender · verb/ɪnˈdʒɛndər/

   to cause or give rise to a feeling, situation, or condition

   The charity event aimed to engender a sense of community among the residents.

   Synonyms: generate, produce, induce

   Origin: from the Latin 'ingenerare', which means 'to generate'

4. gawk · verb/ɡɔk/

   to stare openly and stupidly

   The tourists gawked at the towering skyscrapers, unable to believe their eyes.

   Synonyms: stare, goggle, gawk

   Origin: The word 'gawk' is believed to have originated in the early 18th century, possibly as a variation of the word 'gawk,' which means 'to act stupidly' or 'to be awkward.' The exact etymology is uncertain, but it may be derived from the Old Norse 'gawka,' which means 'to stare.'

5. decry · verb/dɪˈkraɪ/

   to publicly denounce or criticize something

   Many activists took to social media to decry the government's decision to cut funding for public education.

   Synonyms: denounce, condemn, criticize

   Origin: The word 'decry' originates from the French 'décrier', which means to cry down or discredit, from the prefix 'de-' and the Old French 'crier', meaning to cry.