comely, undaunted, quiescent, sedentary, preachy: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 3 set 108. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. comely · adjective/ˈkʌmli/

   pleasing in appearance or attractive

   The comely features of the actress captivated the audience during her performance.

   Synonyms: attractive, beautiful, lovely

   Origin: Middle English, from Old English 'cōmlic', meaning 'beautiful, pleasant'.

2. undaunted · adjective/ʌnˈdɔntɪd/

   not intimidated or discouraged by difficulty, danger, or disappointment

   Despite facing numerous challenges, she remained undaunted in her pursuit of success.

   Synonyms: unfazed, unflinching, undeterred

   Origin: The word 'undaunted' originates from the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' and the past participle 'daunted,' which comes from the Old French 'danter,' meaning 'to intimidate or to frighten.'

3. quiescent · adjective/kwɪˈɛs.ənt/

   in a state of inactivity or dormancy

   During the winter months, the plants remain quiescent, conserving energy until spring brings new growth.

   Synonyms: inactive, dormant, still

   Origin: from Latin 'quiescentem', present participle of 'quiescere' meaning 'to rest, to be quiet'

4. sedentary · adjective/ˈsɛd.ənˌtɛr.i/

   inactive or characterized by sitting and a lack of physical exercise

   Many office workers lead a sedentary lifestyle, spending long hours sitting at their desks.

   Synonyms: inactive, stationary, desk-bound

   Origin: from Latin 'sedentarius,' meaning 'sitting, seated,' from 'sedere,' meaning 'to sit;' influenced by the idea of sedentary lifestyle.

5. preachy · adjective/ˈpriːtʃi/

   overly inclined to advise others in a moralizing manner

   I found the movie quite preachy, as it constantly pushed its moral message without letting the story unfold naturally.

   Synonyms: moralizing, didactic, sententious

   Origin: Originating from the verb 'preach', which comes from Old French 'precher', from Latin 'praedicare', meaning 'to proclaim, declare, or make known'.