SAT Vocabulary Level 3 — Set 151

Set 151 of SAT Vocabulary Level 3 covers 5 words: belligerence, extravagance, chauvinist, altercation, buffoon. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

1. belligerence · noun/bəˈlɪdʒərəns/

   aggressive or warlike behavior

   The belligerence exhibited by the rival nations made it clear that war was imminent.

   Synonyms: hostility, aggression, pugnacity

   Origin: derived from the Latin 'belligerare', meaning 'to wage war', from 'bellum' meaning 'war' and '-gero' meaning 'to bear or carry'.

2. extravagance · noun/ɪkˈstrævəɡəns/

   excessive or unnecessary spending or actions

   The company's extravagance on lavish office parties has caused concern among shareholders about its financial health.

   Synonyms: excess, lavishness, opulence

   Origin: From Latin 'extravagantia', meaning 'a wandering outside' or 'extravagance', from 'extravagari' which means 'to stray' or 'wander'.

3. chauvinist · noun/ˈʃoʊ.vɪ.nɪst/

   a person displaying excessive or prejudiced loyalty or support for their own cause, group, or gender

   His chauvinist attitudes often led him to dismiss the contributions of his female colleagues in the workplace.

   Synonyms: jingoist, nationalist, partisan

   Origin: The term 'chauvinist' is derived from the name of Nicolas Chauvin, a possibly fictional soldier who showed excessive patriotism for Napoleon and his country in 19th-century France.

4. altercation · noun/ˌɔːltərˈkeɪʃən/

   a noisy argument or disagreement especially in public

   The altercation between the two neighbors drew the attention of everyone in the street as they shouted over a property line dispute.

   Synonyms: dispute, quarrel, disagreement

   Origin: from Latin 'altercatio', meaning 'to dispute or argue', from 'altercari', meaning 'to argue or dispute'.

5. buffoon · noun/bəˈfun/

   a foolish or absurd person

   Despite his attempts to be taken seriously, his constant antics made him seem more like a buffoon than a leader.

   Synonyms: clown, fool, idiot

   Origin: The word 'buffoon' originates from the French 'buffon', which means a clown or jester, and it is derived from the Italian 'buffone', which also means a jester or a buffoon, with roots in the Latin 'bufō', meaning 'to puff or blow'.