SAT Vocabulary Level 3 — Set 1

Set 1 of SAT Vocabulary Level 3 covers 5 words: errant, taut, egalitarian, captious, cantankerous. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

1. errant · adjective/ˈɛr ənt/

   departing from the proper course or standards

   The errant behavior of the students during the field trip caught the attention of the teachers.

   Synonyms: straying, wandering, wayward

   Origin: Middle English, from Old French 'errant', present participle of 'errer' meaning to wander, from Latin 'errare' meaning to wander or stray.

2. taut · adjective/tɔt/

   stretched or pulled tight without slack

   The artist painted the canvas with taut lines, emphasizing the energy of the scene.

   Synonyms: tight, tense, rigid

   Origin: Middle English 'taut', from Old English 'tawian', meaning to tighten or draw tight.

3. egalitarian · adjective/ɪˌɡæl.ɪˈter.i.ən/

   believing in or based on the principle that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities

   The organization's mission is to promote an egalitarian society where all individuals have equal access to education and healthcare.

   Synonyms: equal, impartial, equitable

   Origin: from French 'égalitaire', from 'égal' meaning 'equal', derived from Latin 'aequalis' meaning 'equal, level'.

4. captious · adjective/ˈkæp.tʃəs/

   tending to find fault or raise petty objections

   The captious critics found something wrong with every aspect of the film, from the lighting to the soundtrack.

   Synonyms: faultfinding, nitpicking, critical

   Origin: The word 'captious' originates from the Latin 'captiosus', meaning 'deceptive' or 'sneaky', derived from 'captio', meaning 'a taking or seizing'.

5. cantankerous · adjective/kænˈtæŋkərəs/

   bad-tempered or argumentative

   Despite his cantankerous demeanor, he had a heart of gold and cared deeply for his friends.

   Synonyms: grumpy, irritable, quarrelsome

   Origin: The word 'cantankerous' likely derives from the Middle French 'cantanker', meaning 'to complain or to quarrel', and it has roots in the late 17th century.