to read or examine something carefully and thoroughly
example
Before making a decision, she decided to peruse the contract carefully to ensure she understood all the terms.
synonyms
examinescrutinizeinspect
word origin — The word 'peruse' originates from the late Middle English 'peruse', derived from the word 'per- ' meaning 'thoroughly' and 'use', meaning 'to use.'
SAT Vocabulary Level 2 — Set 63
Set 63 of SAT Vocabulary Level 2 covers 5 words: peruse, hinder, assimilate, appall, discredit. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.
peruse · verb/pəˈruz/
to read or examine something carefully and thoroughly
Before making a decision, she decided to peruse the contract carefully to ensure she understood all the terms.
Synonyms: examine, scrutinize, inspect
Origin: The word 'peruse' originates from the late Middle English 'peruse', derived from the word 'per- ' meaning 'thoroughly' and 'use', meaning 'to use.'
hinder · verb/ˈhɪndər/
to create obstacles or difficulty for someone or something
The heavy rain will hinder our ability to complete the outdoor project on time.
Synonyms: impede, obstruct, hamper
Origin: Middle English 'hinderen,' from Old English 'hindrian,' meaning to delay or prevent
assimilate · verb/əˈsɪməˌleɪt/
to absorb and integrate information or characteristics into a larger system or culture
As a new student in the school, Maria found it challenging to assimilate into the diverse community of her classmates.
Synonyms: integrate, absorb, incorporate
Origin: from Latin 'assimilare', meaning 'to make similar'
appall · verb/əˈpɔl/
to greatly shock or horrify
The brutal treatment of the prisoners appalled the international community, prompting calls for action.
Synonyms: shock, horrify, disgust
Origin: The word 'appall' originates from the Old French word 'apalir' meaning 'to make pale', which is from 'a-' meaning 'to' and 'pâlir' meaning 'to pall' or 'to grow pale'.
discredit · verb/dɪsˈkrɛdɪt/
to harm the reputation or credibility of someone or something
The journalist's goal was to discredit the politician by revealing inconsistencies in his statements.
Synonyms: disparage, denigrate, undermine
Origin: The word 'discredit' originates from the early 17th century, derived from the prefix 'dis-' meaning 'opposite of' combined with 'credit', which stems from the Latin 'creditum', meaning 'something entrusted to another'.