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culmination

noun/ˌkʌl.məˈneɪ.ʃən/

the highest point or climax of something

The culmination of her years of hard work was finally recognized when she received the prestigious award.

climaxpeakzenith
word origin — from Latin 'culminatio', meaning 'a climbing up, reaching the top', from 'culmen' meaning 'top' or 'summit'

SAT Vocabulary Level 2 — Set 7

Set 7 of SAT Vocabulary Level 2 covers 5 words: culmination, cantata, plight, tranquility, bourgeois. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

  1. culmination · noun/ˌkʌl.məˈneɪ.ʃən/

    the highest point or climax of something

    The culmination of her years of hard work was finally recognized when she received the prestigious award.

    Synonyms: climax, peak, zenith

    Origin: from Latin 'culminatio', meaning 'a climbing up, reaching the top', from 'culmen' meaning 'top' or 'summit'

  2. cantata · noun/kænˈtɑtə/

    a vocal composition with instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements

    The choir performed a beautiful cantata that showcased the intricate interplay between the voices and the orchestra.

    Synonyms: song, choral work, vocal piece

    Origin: from Italian 'cantata', meaning 'sung', from the past participle of 'cantare' which means 'to sing'

  3. plight · noun/plaɪt/

    a difficult or unfortunate situation

    The organization works tirelessly to alleviate the plight of refugees living in overcrowded camps.

    Synonyms: predicament, dilemma, hardship

    Origin: Middle English 'plite', from Old English 'pliht', of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch 'plicht' and German 'pflicht'.

  4. tranquility · noun/træŋˈkwɪl.ə.ti/

    a state of calm and peace

    After a long week of work, I seek tranquility in the peacefulness of nature.

    Synonyms: calm, peace, serenity

    Origin: from Latin 'tranquillitas', from 'tranquillus' meaning 'calm, quiet'

  5. bourgeois · noun/ˈbʊrʒwɑ/

    a member of the middle class typically associated with materialistic values and conventional attitudes

    The bourgeois values of the small-town residents often clashed with the more progressive views of the younger generation.

    Synonyms: middle class, capitalist, materialist

    Origin: The word 'bourgeois' originates from the Old French term 'burgeis', which means 'town dweller', ultimately derived from Latin 'burgus', meaning 'fortified town'.