forestall, satirize, vitiate, distend, unhinge: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 3 set 105. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. forestall · verb/fɔrˈstɔl/

   to prevent or obstruct something by taking action in advance

   The government implemented strict regulations to forestall potential environmental disasters before they could occur.

   Synonyms: preempt, prevent, thwart

   Origin: The word 'forestall' originates from the Middle English 'forstolen', which is derived from the Old English 'for-' meaning 'before' and 'stalla' meaning 'to place' or 'to stand'.

2. satirize · verb/ˈsætəˌraɪz/

   to criticize or mock someone or something using humor or exaggeration

   The comedian used his stand-up routine to satirize the absurdities of modern politics, making the audience erupt in laughter.

   Synonyms: mock, parody, ridicule

   Origin: The word 'satirize' comes from the Latin 'satura', meaning 'medley' or 'mixture', which referred to a type of comic verse in ancient Roman literature. It evolved through the French 'satiriser' in the 17th century.

3. vitiate · verb/ˈvɪʃ.i.eɪt/

   to impair the quality or efficiency of

   The poor lighting in the conference room will vitiate the effectiveness of our presentation.

   Synonyms: impair, weaken, undermine

   Origin: from Latin 'vitiatus', past participle of 'vitiāre' meaning 'to spoil, to make defective'

4. distend · verb/dɪˈstɛnd/

   to stretch or expand beyond normal limits

   After consuming a large meal, my stomach began to distend uncomfortably, making it hard to move.

   Synonyms: swell, .expand, inflate

   Origin: from Latin 'distendere', from 'dis-' (apart) + 'tendere' (to stretch)

5. unhinge · verb/ʌnˈhɪndʒ/

   to cause to lose stability or composure

   The sudden announcement of the layoffs was enough to unhinge the entire team, leaving them questioning their future at the company.

   Synonyms: dislocate, unbalance, destabilize

   Origin: The word 'unhinge' is derived from the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' and 'hinge', which comes from the Old English 'henging', meaning a pivot or joint.