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shard

noun/ʃɑrd/

definition

a piece of a broken or shattered object

example

After the vase fell off the shelf, a sharp shard of glass lay scattered across the floor.

synonyms
fragmentpiecesplinter
word origin — Middle English, from Old English 'sceard,' meaning 'a gap, a notch, or a notch cut out.'

SAT Vocabulary Level 3 — Set 107

Set 107 of SAT Vocabulary Level 3 covers 5 words: shard, insularity, penury, schism, prudery. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

  1. shard · noun/ʃɑrd/

    a piece of a broken or shattered object

    After the vase fell off the shelf, a sharp shard of glass lay scattered across the floor.

    Synonyms: fragment, piece, splinter

    Origin: Middle English, from Old English 'sceard,' meaning 'a gap, a notch, or a notch cut out.'

  2. insularity · noun/ˌɪnˈsjuːlərɪti/

    the state of being disconnected or isolated from others

    The insularity of the small community made it difficult for new ideas to take root and flourish.

    Synonyms: isolation, separateness, narrow-mindedness

    Origin: derived from Latin 'insularis', meaning 'of an island', from 'insula', meaning 'island'.

  3. penury · noun/ˈpɛn.jʊr.i/

    extreme poverty or scarcity

    After losing his job, he found himself in a state of penury, struggling to make ends meet.

    Synonyms: destitution, impoverishment, scarcity

    Origin: derived from the Latin word 'pœnuria', meaning 'scarcity' or 'want'

  4. schism · noun/skɪz.əm/

    a division or disagreement in a group, especially in a religious context

    The schism within the church has led to a significant decline in congregation numbers as members choose sides.

    Synonyms: division, split, rift

    Origin: from Greek 'schisma', meaning 'a cleft, divide, or split'

  5. prudery · noun/ˈpruːdəri/

    the behavior or attitude of being excessively concerned with propriety or modesty

    Her prudery was evident when she criticized the film for its frank depiction of relationships, deeming it inappropriate for public viewing.

    Synonyms: modesty, puritanism, decency

    Origin: The word 'prudery' is derived from the adjective 'prude,' which originated in the late 17th century from the French word 'prude,' meaning 'virtuous, modest.' It is a contraction of 'prudit' (derived from the Latin 'prudentem') meaning 'wise, sensible'.