wrath, prose, foliage, antecedent, rebellion: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 2 set 78. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. wrath · noun/ræθ/

   extreme anger or rage

   The hero faced the wrath of the angry mob after he was falsely accused of a crime.

   Synonyms: fury, rage, ire

   Origin: Old English 'wrāth', meaning 'vengeance, fury'

2. prose · noun/proʊz/

   written or spoken language in its ordinary form without metrical structure

   The author's vivid prose painted a picture of the serene landscape, making readers feel as if they were there.

   Synonyms: text, writing, composition

   Origin: from Latin 'prosa', meaning 'straightforward' or 'direct'.

3. foliage · noun/ˈfoʊ.lɪ.ɪdʒ/

   the leaves of a plant or tree

   The vibrant foliage of the trees turned brilliant shades of red and gold in the autumn.

   Synonyms: leaves, greenery, vegetation

   Origin: from Middle English 'folaige', from Old French 'feuillage', derived from 'feuille' meaning 'leaf', which ultimately comes from Latin 'folium' meaning 'leaf'.

4. antecedent · noun/ˌæntɪˈsidənt/

   a thing or event that precedes another

   The antecedent of her success can be traced back to her rigorous training regimen.

   Synonyms: predecessor, forerunner, precursor

   Origin: from Latin 'antecedens', meaning 'going before' (from 'ante' meaning 'before' and 'cedere' meaning 'to go')

5. rebellion · noun/rɪˈbɛljən/

   an action or process of resisting authority control or tradition

   The citizens organized a rebellion against the oppressive regime, demanding immediate changes to their governance.

   Synonyms: revolt, uprising, insurrection

   Origin: from Middle English 'rebellioun', from Old French 'rebellion', from Latin 'rebellio', from 'rebellis' meaning 'to rebel'