mend, renounce, demean, withstand, envelop: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 2 set 70. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. mend · verb/mɛnd/

   to repair or fix something that is broken or damaged

   She decided to mend the torn shirt before the party.

   Synonyms: repair, fix, restore

   Origin: Middle English 'menden', from Old English 'mendan', meaning 'to improve or repair'

2. renounce · verb/rɪˈnaʊns/

   to formally give up or reject a claim, right, or belief

   He decided to renounce his claim to the family estate after years of legal battles.

   Synonyms: relinquish, forgo

   Origin: from Old French 'renoncier', from Latin 'renuntiare', meaning 'to announce or report again', where 're-' means 'back' and 'nuntiare' means 'to announce'.

3. demean · verb/dɪˈmin/

   to lower in dignity or honor

   It is unacceptable to demean others in order to elevate one's self-esteem.

   Synonyms: debase, degrade, belittle

   Origin: The word 'demean' originates from the Latin 'demanare', meaning 'to lead down or lower', with 'de-' meaning 'down' and 'manare' meaning 'to lead or conduct'.

4. withstand · verb/wɪðˈstænd/

   to resist or stand up against something

   The bridge was designed to withstand strong winds and heavy loads, ensuring its safety during storms.

   Synonyms: resist, endure, tolerate

   Origin: Old English 'wiþstandan', from 'wiþ' (against) + 'standan' (to stand)

5. envelop · verb/ɪnˈvɛl.əp/

   to cover or wrap something completely

   The thick fog began to envelop the city, making it nearly impossible to see more than a few feet ahead.

   Synonyms: wrap, cover, encase

   Origin: from Middle French 'enveloper', from 'en-' (to cover) + 'velopper' (to wrap up), from Old French 'velopper', based on Latin 'volvere' (to roll)